scholarly journals Depressive symptoms and psychological distress among rural African Americans: The role of material hardship and self-rated health

2018 ◽  
Vol 236 ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addie Weaver ◽  
Robert Joseph Taylor ◽  
Linda M. Chatters ◽  
Joseph A. Himle
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Material Hardship ◽  
Self Rated Health

scholarly journals Sense of Coherence in Association with Stress Experience and Health in Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Unni Karin Moksnes ◽  
Geir Arild Espnes
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Subjective Health Complaints ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Stress And Health

This study investigated the associations between sex, age, socio-economic status, stress, sense of coherence (SOC), and health (mental wellbeing, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and subjective health complaints) in Norwegian adolescents aged 13–19 years. Furthermore, the study investigated the potential protective or compensatory role from SOC on the association between stress and health. Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1233 adolescents. Data were analyzed with descriptive, comparative, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Girls reported significantly higher scores on depressive symptoms and subjective health complaints than boys. Stress was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. SOC associated significantly with all outcome variables; and especially with mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms. Significant interaction effects of sex in combination with stress and SOC were found in association with depression and mental wellbeing. Associations were strongest for girls. Conclusion: The findings provided support for the significant role of SOC as a coping resource, especially in relation to adolescents’ mental health; weaker associations were found with subjective health complains and self-rated health. The findings also mainly supported a compensatory role of SOC on the association between stress and health during adolescence.

scholarly journals Why not Seek Therapy? The Role of Stigma and Psychological Symptoms in College Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (67) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makilim Nunes Baptista ◽  
Cristian Zanon
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract: The decision to seek therapy can reduce psychological distress and factors like public stigma, self stigma, fear of self exposure to therapist, among others, may constitute barriers in this process. This study investigated: how is the group of variables described in the literature as predictors of seeking therapy, and the relationship of variables associated with stigma and depressive symptoms, anxiogenic symptoms and stress with this search. For this purpose, 272 students responded scales that assessed these variables. The principal component analysis indicated four clusters of variables (symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress; feelings of shame, inadequacy and inhibition; perception of benefits to seek therapy; self stigma and stigma by the others). These components are hierarchically inserted into the multiple regression, indicating that the symptoms have little importance compared to the attitude of seeking therapy and stigmas.

The Role of Aspirations and Obligations in Explaining the Relationship between Identity Discrepancies and Psychological Distress

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1019-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Marcussen ◽  
Mary Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Identity Salience ◽  
Reflected Appraisals ◽  
Worker Identity ◽  
Development Of Identity ◽  
The Relationship

Using a national sample of adults, we examine the relationship between identity discrepancies and mental health in spouse and worker identities. Building on previous research, we predict that discrepancies between how individuals want to be with respect to a particular identity ( aspirations) and perceptions of how others view them in that identity ( reflected appraisals) will be associated with depressive symptoms. Alternatively, discrepancies between how individuals feels they should be ( obligations) and reflected appraisals will be associated with anxiety symptoms. We further examine whether identity salience moderates the relationship between discrepancies and distress. We find aspiration discrepancies are associated with depression as predicted in the spouse identity but not for the worker identity. With respect to obligation discrepancies, we find evidence for the predicted relationships for the spouse and worker identity only when identities are considered salient. We discuss the implications of our findings for the development of identity models of distress.

Self-Criticism and Depressive Symptoms: Mediating Role of Self-Compassion

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaiyu Zhang ◽  
Natalie N. Watson-Singleton ◽  
Sara E. Pollard ◽  
Delishia M. Pittman ◽  
Dorian A. Lamis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Positive Trait ◽  
Self Compassion

Self-compassion is gaining recognition as a resilience factor with implications for positive mental health. This study investigated the role of self-compassion in alleviating the effect of self-criticism on depressive symptoms. Participants were 147 urban, low-income African Americans with a recent suicide attempt. They were administered measures of self-criticism, depressive symptoms, and self-compassion. Results from this cross-sectional investigation showed that self-criticism was positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with self-compassion, and self-compassion was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Bootstrapping analysis revealed that self-compassion mediated the self-criticism–depressive symptoms link, suggesting that self-compassion ameliorates the negative impact of self-criticism on depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that low-income African Americans with recent suicide attempt histories may benefit from interventions that focus on enhancing self-compassion. These results also highlight self-compassion as a positive trait with promise to improve people’s quality of life and suggest that self-compassion-focused interventions are consistent with a positive psychology framework.

scholarly journals Social Network Types and Health among Older Adults in Rural China: The Mediating Role of Social Support

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Ye ◽  
Xinping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Self Rated Health

This study aimed to identify social network types among older adults in rural China, to explore the relationship between social network types and the health of the older adults, and further, to examine the mediating role of social support in this relationship. A cross-sectional survey method was employed to investigate the health of adults aged 60 or older in rural areas of Hubei Province from 5 September 2018 to 15 October 2018; 405 samples were obtained. First, using k-means clustering analysis, we found five robust network types: diverse, restricted, family, friends and a specific type—family-restricted. Second, the results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that social network types were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health in older adults. Older people with diverse friend networks were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, whereas those with restricted and family-restricted networks were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-rated health. Finally, the results of multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that social support partially mediated the association of the identified social network types with depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Enriching the social network relationships of older adults and providing them with more social support should be conducive to promoting their mental and physical health.

Psychological distress among social workers

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732094944
Author(s):  
Maya Kagan ◽  
Lee GreenblattKimron
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Support Mechanisms ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Summary The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating role of social support in the association between self-efficacy and psychological distress among social workers. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 726 social workers in Israel. Selected variables, found in previous studies to correlate with psychological distress, served in the current study as covariates: gender, years of professional experience, self-rated health, self-defined burnout, and self-reported loneliness. Findings The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that social workers who had more years of professional experience, better self-rated health, lower levels of burnout and of self-reported loneliness, reported lower levels of psychological distress. Higher levels of self-efficacy were found to be associated with lower levels of psychological distress only among social workers with lower levels of perceived social support. Application In the absence of adequate social support, self-efficacy can be an important resource for social workers, since it is related to lower levels of psychological distress. Hence, it is recommended that action be taken to promote awareness and enhance social workers’ self-efficacy at the academic level, from the initial stages of their socialization into the profession and at their work places. Also, action should be taken on the policy level to provide assistance with developing and maintaining social workers’ support mechanisms.

scholarly journals Educational Attainment Better Protects African American Women than African American Men Against Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Distress

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
African American ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
High Education ◽  
African Americans ◽  
African American Men ◽  
Education Attainment ◽  
African American Adults

Background: Recent research has shown smaller health effects of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as education attainment for African Americans as compared to whites. However, less is known about diminished returns based on gender within African Americans. Aim: To test whether among African American men are at a relative disadvantage compared to women in terms of having improved mental health as a result of their education attainment. This study thus explored gender differences in the association between education attainment and mental health, using a representative sample of American adults. Methods: The National Survey of American Life (NSAL; 2003) recruited 3570 African American adults (2299 females and 1271 males). The dependent variables were depressive symptoms and psychological distress. The independent variable was education attainment. Race was the focal moderator. Age, employment status, and marital status were covariates. Linear regressions were used for data analysis. Results: In the pooled sample that included both male and female African American adults, high education attainment was associated with lower depressive symptoms and psychological distress, net of covariates. Significant interactions were found between gender and education attainment with effects on depressive symptoms and psychological distress, suggesting stronger protective effects of high education attainment against depressive symptoms and psychological distress for female as compared to male African Americans. Conclusion: A smaller gain in mental health with respect to educational attainment for male African American males as compared to African American females is in line with studies showing high risk of depression in African American men of high-socioeconomic status. High-SES African American men need screening for depression and psychological distress.

scholarly journals Social Support, Everyday Discrimination, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older African Americans: A Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidi Qin ◽  
Ann W Nguyen ◽  
Dawne M Mouzon ◽  
Tyrone C Hamler ◽  
Fei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Older African Americans ◽  
Everyday Discrimination ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background and Objectives The purpose of the study was to explore the long-term effects of everyday discrimination on depressive symptoms among older African Americans, as well as the moderating role of social support in this association. Research Design and Methods Mixed-effects negative binomial regression analyses were performed on data selected from 6 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2016; baseline N = 1,144). The number of depressive symptoms was calculated based on an 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression measure. Everyday discrimination was measured using a 6-item scale. Contact with and perceived support from extended family and friends were assessed. Results Older African Americans who experienced more frequent perceived discrimination had more depressive symptoms over time. Significant interactions between discrimination and perceived support from extended family and friends were found, indicating that among older African Americans who reported higher support from extended family and friends, perceived discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms over time. However, perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms were not longitudinally related among those who reported lower levels of perceived support. Discussion and Implications This is one of the few studies to examine the effects of discrimination on depressive symptoms over time and the first longitudinal study to test the role of social support in coping with discrimination in older African Americans. This study extends cross-sectional works on discrimination and mental health, indicating that experiences of discrimination can result in worse mental health over time. The significant interactions are consistent with the resource mobilization framework, which suggests that individuals who are more negatively affected by discrimination (more depressive symptoms) are more likely to reach out to friends and family to cope with discrimination.

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