scholarly journals The social gradient in adolescent mental health: mediated or moderated by belief in a just world?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Weinberg ◽  
Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens ◽  
Margot Peeters ◽  
Kirsten Visser ◽  
Jet Tigchelaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Social Gradient ◽  
Just World ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Family Affluence ◽  
Peer Problems ◽  
Family Wealth ◽  
The Social

Abstract Purpose A social gradient in adolescent mental health exists: adolescents with higher socioeconomic status (SES) have fewer mental health problems than their peers with lower SES. Little is known about whether adolescents’ societal beliefs play a role in this social gradient. Belief in a just world (BJW) may be a mediator or moderator of the social gradient in adolescent mental health. Methods Using data from 848 adolescents (Mage = 17) in the Netherlands, path analyses examined whether two indicators of BJW (general and personal) mediated or moderated the associations between two indicators of SES (family affluence and perceived family wealth), and four indicators of adolescent mental health problems (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems). Results Adolescents with lower family affluence and lower perceived family wealth reported more emotional symptoms, and the association between perceived family wealth and emotional symptoms was mediated by lower personal and general BJW. Furthermore, higher personal BJW amplified the negative association between SES and peer problems. Conclusion This study suggests BJW may both mediate and amplify the social gradient in adolescent mental health. Adolescents’ beliefs about society may be important to include in research aimed at understanding this social gradient.

scholarly journals The social gradient in adolescent mental health: mediated or moderated by belief in a just world?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dom Weinberg ◽  
gonneke stevens ◽  
Margot Peeters ◽  
Kirsten Visser ◽  
Jet Tigchelaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Social Gradient ◽  
Just World ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Peer Problems ◽  
Family Wealth ◽  
The Social

Purpose. A social gradient in adolescent mental health exists: adolescents with higher so-cioeconomic status (SES) have fewer mental health problems than their peers with lower SES. Little is known about whether adolescents’ societal beliefs play a role in this social gradient. Belief in a just world (BJW) may be a mediator or moderator of the social gradient in adolescent mental health.Methods. Using data from 1,130 adolescents (Mage = 17) in the Netherlands, path analyses examined whether two indicators of BJW (general and personal) mediated or moderated the associations between two indicators of SES (family affluence and perceived family wealth), and four indicators of adolescent mental health problems (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer problems).Results. Adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported more emotional symp-toms and peer problems, and these associations were partly mediated by lower personal and general BJW. Furthermore, higher personal BJW amplified the negative association be-tween SES and peer problems.Conclusion. This study suggests BJW may both mediate and amplify the social gradient in adolescent mental health. Adolescents’ beliefs about society may be important to include in research aimed at understanding this social gradient.

scholarly journals The role of social cognitions in the social gradient in adolescent mental health: A longitudinal mediation model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dom Weinberg ◽  
gonneke stevens ◽  
Margot Peeters ◽  
Kirsten Visser ◽  
Willem Frankenhuis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Social Gradient ◽  
Social Cognitions ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Peer Problems ◽  
Family Wealth ◽  
The Social

Purpose. The social gradient in adolescent mental health is well established: adolescents’ socioeconomic status (SES) is negatively associated with their mental health. However, de-spite changes in social cognition during adolescence, and theory and evidence that SES, so-cial cognitions, and adolescent mental health are associated, little is known about whether social cognitions mediate this gradient.Methods. This study used three data waves, each six months apart, from a socioeconomi-cally diverse sample of 1,429 adolescents (Mage = 17.9) in the Netherlands. With a longitu-dinal mediation model, we examined whether three social cognitions (self-esteem, sense of control, and optimism) mediated the associations between perceived family wealth and four indicators of adolescent mental health problems (emotional symptoms, conduct prob-lems, hyperactivity, and peer problems).Results. Adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported more emotional symp-toms and peer problems concurrently and an increase in peer problems six months later. Adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported a decrease in sense of control six months later, and lower sense of control predicted increases in emotional symptoms and hyperactivity six months later (though not in the multivariate model with all three social cognitions). Perceived family wealth predicted neither later self-esteem nor optimism, though we found concurrent positive associations between perceived family wealth and all three social cognitions, and concurrent negative associations between social cognitions and mental health problems.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that social cognitions may be an overlooked mediator of the social gradient in adolescent mental health. Future research on this social gradient may benefit from incorporating a focus on social cognition.

scholarly journals Revising the self-report strengths and difficulties questionnaire for cross-country comparisons of adolescent mental health problems: the SDQ-R

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Duinhof ◽  
K. M. Lek ◽  
M. E. de Looze ◽  
A. Cosma ◽  
J. Mazur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Cross Country

Abstract Aims The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been used in many epidemiological studies to assess adolescent mental health problems, but cross-country comparisons of the self-report SDQ are scarce and so far failed to find a good-fitting, common, invariant measurement model across countries. The present study aims to evaluate and establish a version of the self-report SDQ that allows for a valid cross-country comparison of adolescent self-reported mental health problems. Methods Using the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, the measurement model and measurement invariance of the 20 items of the self-report SDQ measuring adolescent mental health problems were evaluated. Nationally representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year old adolescents (n = 33 233) from seven countries of different regions in Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia) were used. Results In order to establish a good-fitting and common measurement model, the five reverse worded items of the self-report SDQ had to be removed. Using this revised version of the self-report SDQ, the SDQ-R, partial measurement invariance was established, indicating that latent factor means assessing conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationships problems and hyperactivity-inattention problems could be validly compared across the countries in this study. Results showed that adolescents in Greece scored relatively low on almost all problem subscales, whereas adolescents in Poland scored relatively high on almost all problem subscales. Adolescents in the Netherlands reported the most divergent profile of mental health problems with the lowest levels of conduct problems, low levels of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems, but the highest levels of hyperactivity-inattention problems. Conclusions With six factor loadings being non-invariant, partial measurement invariance was established, indicating that the 15-item SDQ-R could be used in our cross-country comparison of adolescent mental health problems. To move the field of internationally comparative research on adolescent mental health forward, studies should test the applicability of the SDQ-R in other countries in- and outside Europe, continue to develop the SDQ-R as a cross-country invariant measure of adolescent mental health, and examine explanations for the found country differences in adolescent mental health problems.

Comparing the social networks of service users with long term mental health needs living in community with those in a general adult in-patient unit

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110175
Author(s):  
Roberto Rusca ◽  
Ike-Foster Onwuchekwa ◽  
Catherine Kinane ◽  
Douglas MacInnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
The Social

Background: Relationships are vital to recovery however, there is uncertainty whether users have different types of social networks in different mental health settings and how these networks may impact on users’ wellbeing. Aims: To compare the social networks of people with long-term mental illness in the community with those of people in a general adult in-patient unit. Method: A sample of general adult in-patients with enduring mental health problems, aged between 18 and 65, was compared with a similar sample attending a general adult psychiatric clinic. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and information about participants’ social networks. Participants also completed the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to examine well-being and the Significant Others Scale to explore their social network support. Results: The study recruited 53 participants (25 living in the community and 28 current in-patients) with 339 named as important members of their social networks. Both groups recorded low numbers in their social networks though the community sample had a significantly greater number of social contacts (7.4 vs. 5.4), more monthly contacts with members of their network and significantly higher levels of social media use. The in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Conclusions: People with serious and enduring mental health problems living in the community had a significantly greater number of people in their social network than those who were in-patients while the in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Recommendations for future work have been made.

scholarly journals Dual impacts of coronavirus anxiety on mental health in 35 societies

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Xiaohua Chen ◽  
Jacky C. K. Ng ◽  
Bryant P. H. Hui ◽  
Algae K. Y. Au ◽  
Wesley C. H. Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Vulnerability

AbstractThe spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected both physical health and mental well-being around the world. Stress-related reactions, if prolonged, may result in mental health problems. We examined the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in a multinational study and explored the effects of government responses to the outbreak. We sampled 18,171 community adults from 35 countries/societies, stratified by age, gender, and region of residence. Across the 35 societies, 26.6% of participants reported moderate to extremely severe depression symptoms, 28.2% moderate to extremely severe anxiety symptoms, and 18.3% moderate to extremely severe stress symptoms. Coronavirus anxiety comprises two factors, namely Perceived Vulnerability and Threat Response. After controlling for age, gender, and education level, perceived vulnerability predicted higher levels of negative emotional symptoms and psychological distress, whereas threat response predicted higher levels of self-rated health and subjective well-being. People in societies with more stringent control policies had more threat response and reported better subjective health. Coronavirus anxiety exerts detrimental effects on subjective health and well-being, but also has the adaptive function in mobilizing safety behaviors, providing support for an evolutionary perspective on psychological adaptation.

Risk Score for Predicting Adolescent Mental Health Problems Among Children Using Parental Report Only: The TRAILS Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 589-596
Author(s):  
Huibert Burger ◽  
Marco P. Boks ◽  
Catharina A. Hartman ◽  
Maartje F. Aukes ◽  
Frank C. Verhulst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Parental Report
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