A path model of the effects of spirituality on depressive symptoms and 24-hurinary-free cortisol in HIV-positive persons

The unemployment rate has dramatically increased in southern Europe in the last decade. Although it is well-known that unemployment impairs mental health, the specific roles of personal resources like emotional intelligence (EI) and potential underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Prior studies have shown that resilience and self-esteem are mediators in the link between EI and mental health. The present study aims to bridge these gaps by testing a sequential path model. Specifically, we propose that EI is associated with lower depressive symptoms, which is explained by higher resilient coping strategies and a resulting increased self-esteem among unemployed individuals. A sample of Spanish unemployed persons completed measures of EI, resilience, self-esteem and depression. The results showed that higher levels of EI were positively associated with resilience and self-esteem and negatively related to depressive symptoms. Path analyses showed that resilience and self-esteem mediated the relation between EI and depression in sequence. These findings suggest that EI plays a key role in promoting mental health and provide preliminary evidence regarding potential mechanisms through which EI contributes to mental health during unemployment. Implications for assessing the absence of these positive resources in developing effective job search programs geared toward promoting mental health and re-employment are discussed.

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Attitudes that determine willingness to seek psychiatric help for depression: a representative population survey applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291709005832 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 39 (11) ◽

pp. 1855-1865 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

G. Schomerus ◽

H. Matschinger ◽

M. C. Angermeyer

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽

Population Sample ◽

Path Model ◽

Control Beliefs ◽

Planned Behaviour ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Patient Health ◽

Analogous Model

BackgroundMany people suffering from mental disorders do not seek appropriate help. We have examined attitudes that further or hinder help-seeking for depression with an established socio-psychological model, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), comparing models for respondents with and without depressive symptoms.MethodA qualitative preparatory study (n=29) elicited salient behavioural (BB), normative (NB) and control beliefs (CB) that were later included in the TPB questionnaire. Telephone interviews with a representative population sample in Germany (n=2303) started with a labelled vignette describing symptoms of a major depression, followed by items covering the components of the TPB. Intention to see a psychiatrist for the problem described was elicited at the beginning and at the end of the interview. We screened participants for current depressive symptoms using the mood subscale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).ResultsIn non-depressed respondents (n=2167), a TPB path model predicted 42% of the variance for the first and 51% for the second question on intention. In an analogous model for depressed respondents (n=136), these values increased to 50% and 61% respectively. Path coefficients in both models were similar. In both depressed and non-depressed persons, attitude towards the behaviour was more important than the subjective norm, whereas perceived behavioural control was of minor influence.ConclusionsWillingness to seek psychiatric help for depression can largely be explained by a set of attitudes and beliefs as conceptualized by the TPB. Our findings suggest that changing attitudes in the general population are likely to effect help-seeking when people experience depressive symptoms.

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Food Insecurity Partially Mediates the Association Between Drug Use and Depressive Symptoms among Men who have Sex with Men in Los Angeles, California

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021002494 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-26

Author(s):

David A. Wiss ◽

Marjan Javanbakht ◽

Michael J. Li ◽

Michael Prelip ◽

Robert Bolan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

High Risk ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Drug Use ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hiv Negative

Abstract Objective: To understand the relationship between drug use, food insecurity (FI), and mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM). Design: Cohort study (2014-2019) with at least one follow-up. Setting: Visits at 6-month intervals included self-assessment for FI and depressive symptoms. Urine testing results confirmed drug use. Factors associated with FI were assessed using multiple logistic regression with random effects for repeated measures. General structural equation modeling tested whether FI mediates the relationship between drug use and depressive symptoms. Participants: Data were from HIV-positive and high-risk HIV negative MSM in Los Angeles, CA (n=431; 1,192 visits). Results: At baseline, FI was reported by 50.8% of participants, depressive symptoms in 36.7%, and 52.7% of urine screening tests were positive for drugs (i.e., marijuana, opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy). A positive drug test was associated with a 96% increase in the odds of being food insecure (95% CI: 1.26-3.07). Compared to those with high food security, individuals with very low food security have a nearly 7-fold increase in the odds of reporting depressive symptoms (95% CI: 3.71-11.92). Findings showed 14.9% of the association between drug use (exposure) and depressive symptoms (outcome) can be explained by FI (mediator). Conclusion: The prevalence of FI among this cohort of HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative MSM was high; the association between drug use and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by FI. Findings suggest that enhancing access to food and nutrition may improve mood in the context of drug use, especially among MSM at risk for HIV-transmission.

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Lack of Medical Support in HIV Infection and Unstable Mood States

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1997.81.2.635 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 81 (2) ◽

pp. 635-639

Author(s):

Motoko Hayashi ◽

Isao Fukunishi

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Major Depression ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Mood Disorders ◽

Early Stage ◽

Mood States ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Medical Support ◽

Hiv Patients

This study examined what kinds of social support are related to mood states in a sample of 50 HIV-positive patients without AIDS (46 men and 4 women; M age 36.5 yr., SD = 9.8). In the early stage of HIV infection, HIV patients without AIDS may be prone to depressive symptoms although none of these HIV-positive patients' symptoms fulfilled the DSM-III-R Mood Disorders including Major Depression. The depressive symptoms were not significantly related to lack of ordinary social support such as friends and family but were significantly associated with dissatisfaction with HIV/AIDS-related medical support

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Subtypes of depressive symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers: An exploratory study on a sample of HIV-positive patients

Brain Behavior and Immunity ◽

10.1016/j.bbi.2016.02.013 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 105-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

A. Norcini Pala ◽

P. Steca ◽

R. Bagrodia ◽

L. Helpman ◽

V. Colangeli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Inflammatory Biomarkers ◽

Hiv Positive

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Depressive Symptoms Among HIV Positive Men: Life Stress, Coping, and Social Support

Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research ◽

10.1111/j.1751-9861.1993.tb00028.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 64-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Thomas L. Patterson* ◽

Shirley J. Semple ◽

Lydia R. Temoshok ◽

J. Hampton Atkinson ◽

J. Allen McCutchan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Life Stress ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Stress Coping ◽

Hiv Positive Men

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Situational HIV stigma and stimulant use: A day-level autoregressive cross-lagged path model among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.01.003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 109-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. Jonathon Rendina ◽

Brett M. Millar ◽

Jeffrey T. Parsons

Keyword(s):

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Path Model ◽

Hiv Stigma ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Stimulant Use ◽

And Bisexual

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Risky Alcohol Consumption and Associated Health Behaviour Among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in a UK Sexual Health and HIV Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-019-02714-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 1717-1726 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emmi Suonpera ◽

Rebecca Matthews ◽

Ana Milinkovic ◽

Alejandro Arenas-Pinto

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Drug Use ◽

Questionnaire Study ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Problematic Drug ◽

Risky Alcohol ◽

Risky Alcohol Consumption ◽

Hiv Negative

Abstract Alcohol misuse has been associated with negative consequences among HIV-positive patients. Data on real prevalence of risky alcohol consumption among the HIV-positive population in the UK are lacking. A cross-sectional questionnaire study using standardised validated instruments among HIV-positive (n = 227) and HIV-negative (n = 69) patients was performed. The prevalence of risky alcohol consumption (AUDIT) and associations with depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), problematic drug use (DUDIT), adherence to ART (CASE Adherence Index), sexual behaviour and demographic characteristics were assessed among both patient groups independently. A quarter (25.1%) of HIV-positive patients and 36.1% of HIV-negative patients reported risky alcohol consumption (AUDIT-score ≥ 8). In the multivariable analysis among HIV-positive patients depressive symptoms (p = 0.03) and problematic drug use (p = 0.007) were associated with risky alcohol consumption. Among HIV-negative patients these associations were not present. Risky alcohol consumption among HIV-positive patients is prevalent, and together with depressive symptoms and problematic drug use, may influence HIV-disease progression and patients’ wellbeing.

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