Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life in Victims of the 2013 Flood Disaster in Germany – A Longitudinal Study of Health-Related Flood Consequences and Evaluation of Institutionalized Low-Threshold Psycho-Social Support

2021 ◽  
pp. 102179
Author(s):  
Apel Daniel ◽  
Coenen Michaela
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Flood Disaster ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Low Threshold

Predictors of change in health-related quality of life among older people with depression: a longitudinal study

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1171-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Wai-chi Chan ◽  
Helen FK Chiu ◽  
Wai-tong Chien ◽  
William Goggins ◽  
David Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

ABSTRACTBackground: Depression is a common psychological problem among older people. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is now recognized by healthcare providers as an important treatment goal for people with depression. This study aimed to identify predictors of change in HRQoL among older people with depression.Methods: In a longitudinal study, data were collected when participants were newly diagnosed with a depressive disorder at a regional outpatient department in Hong Kong and 12 months later. Seventy-seven Chinese participants aged 65 years or older completed the study. Measures included the Physical Health Condition Checklist (PHCC), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version (WHOQOL).Results: Significant improvements between the first and second assessments were noted in the total WHOQOL scores, GDS scores, and the number of the social support. The results of linear regression models showed that the increases in the IADL scores and decreases in the PHCC and GDS scores were significantly associated with higher final WHOQOL scores.Discussion: Treatment for depression was effective in improving the participants’ overall condition and their perceived HRQoL. The results suggest that interventions to alleviate older people's level of depression, manage their physical ill health and enhance their instrumental activities of daily living ability could help improve their perceived HRQoL.

scholarly journals Effects of the economic crisis and social support on health-related quality of life: first wave of a longitudinal study in Spain

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (632) ◽  
pp. e198-e203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Fernandez ◽  
Judith Garcia-Alonso ◽  
Concepción Royo-Pastor ◽  
Immaculada Garrell-Corbera ◽  
Jordi Rengel-Chica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Loneliness as a mediator of social relationships and health-related quality of life among refugees living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Hans Belau ◽  
Heiko Becher ◽  
Alexander Kraemer
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Since 2015, more than one million people fled to Germany – mainly from war-affected countries. Nevertheless, little is known about social determinants in refugees located in Germany. This study aims to test the mediation effect of loneliness between social relationships, comprising social integration and social support, and health-related quality of life among refugees living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Methods The investigation utilizes data from the FlueGe Health Study (N=326), a cross-sectional study conducted by Bielefeld University. The data was collected between February and November 2018 and included interviews and examinations. Participants were recruited from shared and private accommodation in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. We first analyzed correlations between social integration, social support, loneliness, and physical and mental component of health-related quality of life. We then conducted mediation analyses using structural equation modeling. Results The majority of respondents were socially isolated, perceiving a moderate degree of loneliness and social support. In addition, the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life indicate that participants predominantly experienced mental rather than physical impairments. Results from mediation analyses showed indirect effects of loneliness on the association between social integration and mental health (ß = 0.495, 95% bias-corrected and accelerated confidence interval (BCa CI) = [0.018, 0.972]), and between social support and both physical (ß = 0.022, 95% BCa CI = [0.004, 0.040]) and mental health (ß = 0.067, 95% BCa CI = [0.037, 0.097]). Conclusions Loneliness played a mediating role in the association between social relationships and health-related quality of life among refugees living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The results provide implications for both, health policy and the host society.

scholarly journals Child self-report and child-parent agreement regarding health-related quality of life under COVID-19 lockdown in the French Grand Est area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Bourion-Bedes ◽  
Hélène Rousseau ◽  
Martine Batt ◽  
Pascale Tarquinio ◽  
Romain Lebreuilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Sex And Age Differences

Abstract Purpose: Billions of children worldwide were sent under lockdown due to the coronavirus disease. This study aimed to investigate child-reported and parent-rated health-related quality of life among 8- to 18-year-olds and the agreement between the children’s assessments and those of their parents during lockdown.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among French children living in the Grand Est area. An online survey was used to collect data on the children’s sociodemographics, living environments, education and HRQoL. The latter was assessed with KIDSCREEN-27, which consists of five domains. Sex and age differences in parent ratings and child-reported data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Child-parent agreement was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: In total, 471 child-parent pairs from 341 households were included. Compared to European norms, children scored lower on all dimensions during the first lockdown: physical well-being (45.9/49.94 EU), psychological well-being (48.8/49.77 EU), parent relations and autonomy (47.7/49.99 EU), social support and peers (36.4/49.94) and school (48.2/50). Significant child-reported sex and age differences were identified for both psychological and physical well-being dimensions. Moderate to good agreement existed between children’s and parents’ ratings on all KIDSCREEN dimensions (ICC ranged from 0.60 to 0.76).Conclusion: The study suggests the need to focus on children’s social support and peers during epidemics and to consider the children’s self-reported HRQoL. Additional research should be conducted to identify ways of minimizing the gap between mental health needs and the services available and to help more children maintain their physical and mental health during the current crisis.

scholarly journals The Role of Perceived Social Support in Assessing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mental Health-Related Quality of Life in Veterans

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 396
Author(s):  
Melita Jukić ◽  
Ana Marija Lukinac ◽  
Ivan Požgain ◽  
Jasminka Talapko ◽  
Marko Jukić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

This study aims to establish the effect of self-perceived social support on the intensity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and Mental Health-Related Quality of Life (MHRQoL) in veterans more than two decades after exposure to trauma in the Homeland War in Croatia, which took place from 1990 to 1995. The sample comprised 259 Croatian Homeland War veterans diagnosed with PTSD, with at least 6 months of combat experience. Among them, 90 subjects had also experienced imprisonment in enemy prison camps (at least 1 month of captivity). The subjects were evaluated using the questionnaire on self-perceived social support, sociodemographic questionnaire, PTSD self-report checklist (PCL-5) and Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey questionnaire. A general regression model analysis was performed to determine whether social support affected patients’ MHRQoL and intensity of the PTSD symptoms. The obtained results showed that veterans who had a more positive perception of social support after the events of the war had less intense PTSD symptoms and better MHRQoL. Furthermore, captivity and socioeconomic status were shown to be important predictors of PTSD and MHRQoL. The nonimprisoned veteran group was more likely to develop more severe PTSD symptoms and have poorer MHRQoL compared to the group of former prisoners of war (ex-POWs). This could be due to better post-war care and social support, which ex-POWs received after their release from captivity.

scholarly journals Perceived Social Support Attenuates the Association between Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults Experiencing Homelessness

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10713
Author(s):  
Midhat Z. Jafry ◽  
Jayda Martinez ◽  
Tzuan A. Chen ◽  
Michael S. Businelle ◽  
Darla E. Kendzor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is defined as a multidimensional subjective assessment of one’s physical and mental health. Homelessness is associated with numerous stressors that can reduce HRQoL. Social support is defined as the availability of individuals, or resources provided by individuals, to cope with stress. Interpersonal social support may be important in buffering HRQoL from the negative implications of stress. Here, we examine this association in a marginalized group known for high rates of physical and mental health comorbidities: adults experiencing homelessness. Participants (N = 581; 63.7% men; Mage = 43.6 ± 12.2) were recruited from homeless-serving agencies in Oklahoma City. Social support was measured with the 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL). HRQoL was measured by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey using self-rated health, the number of poor mental and poor physical health days over the preceding 30 days, as well as the number of limited activity days as the result of poor mental and/or physical health. Perceived stress was assessed using the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The potential moderation effect of social support was examined by assessing the interaction term of social support and stress in a series of linear regression analyses, controlling for sex, age, months homeless, race, education, health insurance status, serious mental illness diagnosis, and recruitment agency/site. There was a significant interaction effect of social support and stress on the prediction of days of poor physical health, days of poor mental health, and days of limited activity (p in all cases ≤ 0.05). Results add to a growing literature on the potentially protective benefits of social support for HRQoL, extend them to a large sample of adults experiencing homelessness in the South, and demonstrate the significance of this moderating effect of social support over and above the influence of several prominent sociodemographic and diagnostic variables. Future work should determine if interventions designed to enhance social support can buffer HRQoL from the deleterious effects of stress among this vulnerable population.

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