Differential participation in community cultural activities amongst those with poor mental health: Analyses of the UK Taking Part Survey

Risk factors for poor mental health among UK veterans include demonstrating symptoms while in service, being unmarried, holding lower rank, experiencing childhood adversity and having a combat role; however, deploy ment to a combat zone does not appear to be associated with mental health outcomes. While presentation of late-onset, post-service difficulties may explain some of the difference between veterans and those in service, delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be partly explained by prior subthreshold PTSD, as well as other mental health difficulties. In the longer term, veterans do not appear to suffer worse mental health than equivalent civilians. This overall lack of difference, despite increased mental health difficulties in those who have recently left, suggests that veterans are not at risk of worse mental health and/or that poor mental health is a cause, rather than a consequence, of leaving service.

Download Full-text

Does poor mental health explain socio-demographic gradients in breast cancer screening uptake? A population-based study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz220 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 538-543

Author(s):

Emma Ross ◽

Aideen Maguire ◽

Michael Donnelly ◽

Adrian Mairs ◽

Clare Hall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Mental Health ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Breast Cancer Screening ◽

Breast Screening ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Screening Uptake ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Research from the USA indicates disparities in breast cancer screening uptake for women with poor mental health. However, no attempt has been made to examine the contribution of poor mental health to socio-demographic variations in breast screening uptake. The current study aims to examine the impact of self-reported chronic poor mental health on attendance at breast screening in the UK, and to what extent this explains socio-demographic inequalities in screening uptake. Methods Breast screening records were linked to 2011 Census records within the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study. This identified a cohort of 57 328 women who were followed through one 3-year screening cycle of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme. Information on mental health status, in addition to other individual and household-level attributes, was derived from the 2011 Census. Logistic regression was employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of attendance at screening. Results 10.7% of women in the cohort reported poor mental health, and in fully adjusted analyses, these individuals were 23% less likely to attend breast screening (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.73–0.82). Although poor mental health was a strong predictor of screening uptake, it did not explain the observed inequalities in uptake by socio-economic status, marital status, or area of residence. Conclusions This study provides novel evidence of inequalities in breast screening uptake for women with chronic poor mental health in the UK. Targeted interventions are necessary to ensure equitable screening access and to enhance overall mortality benefit.

Download Full-text

Do predictors of mental health differ between home and international students studying in the UK?

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education ◽

10.1108/jarhe-03-2018-0040 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 224-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Catrin Pedder Jones ◽

Annemarie Lodder ◽

Chris Papadopoulos

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

International Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Content Type ◽

General Mental Health ◽

The Uk ◽

The University

Purpose Previous research has found that international students can experience poor mental health, low levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem and high levels of loneliness when studying in a foreign country. No study has directly compared these between international and home students studying in the UK. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A total of 247 students completed an online survey at the University of Bedfordshire. Findings The hypothesis that international students experience higher loneliness, lower self-esteem, lower life satisfaction and poorer general mental health than home students was rejected. Home students had significantly lower self-esteem, life satisfaction and general mental health scores. Black ethnicity and home student status significantly predicted general mental health and self-esteem in regression analyses. The predictive utility of home student status was maintained when other variables were controlled for in regression models. Originality/value This research suggests that the UK universities should ensure that both home and international students are adequately supported for their mental health.

Download Full-text

The experiences of autistic adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK and implications for autism services development

Advances in Autism ◽

10.1108/aia-06-2021-0026 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Bettina Riese ◽

Raja A.S. Mukherjee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Content Type ◽

Autistic Adults ◽

The Uk ◽

Ongoing Support ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose COVID-19 has been challenging for many in the UK. This is no different to many with autism spectrum disorder. Based on the experiences and issues raised by a small group of autistic women in an ongoing support group, consideration if this holds true for the wider adult autistic community across further lockdowns and restrictions to public life was explored. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was created based on the issues raised. Participants indicated the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Findings Autistic adults experienced an increase in anxiety and poor mental health, which in turn has exacerbated autistic features, such as rigidity. The data indicates that autistic adults can adapt to change provided there is support in maintaining routines. Research limitations/implications The research is limited due to the small number of participants (N = 120), as well as national variations in service provision. Practical implications Our data raises wider questions about the nature of support for autistic adults without cognitive impairments during times of crises and how services can respond and may even be shaped in the future to provide support that is cost-effective and relevant to autistic adults. Social implications To ensure that services have an awareness of how crises impact on autistic adults and how relatively simple changes may avert poor mental health. Originality/value That the creation of local support networks, and the ability to access these, is a key feature of autism-specific support.

Download Full-text

Evidence of Impact of Outdoor Swimming on Health using an Online Survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25589 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heather Massey ◽

Paul Gorczynski ◽

C Mark Harper ◽

Lisa Sansom ◽

Kieren McEwan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Medical Conditions ◽

Starting Point ◽

Injury Category ◽

Current Sample ◽

The Uk ◽

Evidence Of Impact ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Outdoor swimming has grown in popularity in many countries including the UK. Many anecdotal accounts indicate an improvement in medical conditions which are considered a consequence of outdoor swimming. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to better understand outdoor swimmers’ perceptions of their health and the extent to which participation impacted upon their existing, self-reported symptoms. METHODS A survey was deployed investigating outdoor swimming behaviours and reports of any diagnosed medical conditions, if any. Medical conditions were coded into categories and descriptive statistics generated regarding the outdoor swimmers’ behaviours and about the effect outdoor swimming had on their medical symptoms, if any. The medical categories were clustered in to five larger categories based on their prevalence in the current sample: mental health, musculoskeletal & injury, neurological, cardiovascular & blood disease, ‘Other’ which consists of all conditions not categorised in the four previous groups. RESULTS In total, 722 outdoor swimmers responded, of which 498 (69%) were female. The probability of outdoor swimming having ‘some impact’ on health across all medical categories was 3.57 times higher compared to no impact (B=1.28,95% CI [0.63, 1.91], P<.001), 44.32 times higher for the mental health category (B=3.79, 95% CI [2.28, 5.30], P<.001), 5.25 times higher for Musculoskeletal & injury category (B = 1.66, 95% CI [0.52, 2.79], P=.004) and 4.02 times higher for ‘Other’ category (B = 1.39, 95% CI [0.27, 2.51], P=.015). Overall, outdoor swimming was associated with perceived reductions in symptoms of poor mental health (2(2)=25.099, P<0.001), musculoskeletal and injury (2 (2)=8.242, P=.038), cardiovascular and blood (2(2)=14.685, P=.006) and ‘other’ conditions (2(2)= 18.213, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Physical activity taken in the form of outdoor swimming is perceived to have positive impacts on health and is associated with perceived symptom reductions in mental health, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. This study cannot provide causal relationships, or provide mechanistic insight. It does, however, provide a starting point for more targeted prospective intervention research into individual conditions or categories of condition to establish the impact in those who choose to start outdoor swimming.

Download Full-text

Bi-directional associations between religious attendance and mental health: findings from a British birth cohort study

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2021-216943 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jech-2021-216943

Author(s):

Aradhna Kaushal ◽

Mai Stafford ◽

Dorina Cadar ◽

Marcus Richards

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Religious Attendance ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

The Uk

BackgroundThere is evidence that religious attendance is associated with positive outcomes for mental health; however, there are few longitudinal studies, and even fewer, which take into account the possibility of bi-directional associations. This study aimed to investigate bi-directional associations between religious attendance and mental health.MethodsParticipants were 2125 study members who provided data at age 68–69 from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (1946 British birth cohort study). Mental health was assessed using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire at ages 53, 60–64 and 68–69. Religious attendance was measured using a 4-point scale (weekly=3, monthly=2, less than monthly=1 or never=0) at ages 43, 60–64 and 68–69. Cross-lagged path analysis was used to assess reciprocal associations between mental health and religious attendance, adjusting for gender and education.ResultsPrevious religious attendance was strongly related to later attendance (r=0.62–0.74). Similarly, mental health at baseline was strongly associated with subsequent mental health scores (r=0.46–0.54). Poor mental health at age 53 and 60–64 was associated with more frequent religious attendance at age 60–64 (b=0.04; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.06; p<0.05), and 68–69 (b=0.03; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.06; p<0.05), respectively. There was no evidence that religious attendance at age 43, 60–64 or 68–69 was associated with later or concurrent mental health.ConclusionUsing birth cohort data from the UK, it was found that poor mental health was associated with later religious attendance but not vice versa. Future research should confirm these novel findings and explore the underlying mechanisms between religious attendance and mental health.

Download Full-text

Reducing worry and rumination in young adults via a mobile phone app: study protocol of the ECoWeB (Emotional Competence for Well-Being in Young Adults) randomised controlled trial focused on repetitive negative thinking

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03536-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Edge ◽

Alexandra Newbold ◽

Thomas Ehring ◽

Tabea Rosenkranz ◽

Mads Frost ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Young People ◽

Emotional Competence ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

The Uk

Abstract Background Promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people is a major global priority. Building emotional competence skills via a mobile app may be an effective, scalable and acceptable way to do this. A particular risk factor for anxiety and depression is elevated worry and rumination (repetitive negative thinking, RNT). An app designed to reduce RNT may prevent future incidence of depression and anxiety. Method/design The Emotional Competence for Well-Being in Young Adults study developed an emotional competence app to be tested via randomised controlled trials in a longitudinal prospective cohort. This off-shoot study adapts the app to focus on targeting RNT (worry, rumination), known risk factors for poor mental health. In this study, 16–24 year olds in the UK, who report elevated worry and rumination on standardised questionnaires are randomised to (i) receive the RNT-targeting app immediately for 6 weeks (ii) a waiting list control who receive the app after 6 weeks. In total, the study will aim to recruit 204 participants, with no current diagnosis of major depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis, across the UK. Assessments take place at baseline (pre-randomisation), 6 and 12 weeks post-randomisation. Primary endpoint and outcome for the study is level of rumination assessed on the Rumination Response Styles Questionnaire at 6 weeks. Worry, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and well-being are secondary outcomes. Compliance, adverse events and potentially mediating variables will be carefully monitored. Discussion This trial aims to better understand the benefits of tackling RNT via an mobile phone app intervention in young people. This prevention mechanism trial will establish whether targeting worry and rumination directly via an app provides a feasible approach to prevent depression and anxiety, with scope to become a widescale public health strategy for preventing poor mental health and promoting well-being in young people. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04950257. Registered 6 July 2021 – Retrospectively registered.

Download Full-text

A three-wave network analysis of COVID-19's impact on schizotypal traits, paranoia and mental health through loneliness

10.31234/osf.io/p9wrv ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Keri Ka-Yee Wong ◽

Wang yi ◽

Gianluca Esposito ◽

Adrian Raine

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Peer Review Process ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Long Run ◽

The Uk ◽

Anxiety Depression

**This manuscript has been submitted for publication and is likely to be edited as part of the peer-review process. Correspondence regarding this paper should be addressed to Keri Ka-Yee Wong, [email protected].**Background. The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people’s mental wellbeing. Studies to date have examined the prevalence of mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, loneliness), yet fewer longitudinal studies have compared across background factors and other psychological variables to identify vulnerable sub-groups. This study tests to what extent higher levels of psychotic-like experiences – indexed by schizotypal traits and paranoia – are associated with various mental health variables 6- and 12-months since April 2020.Methods. Over 2,300 adult volunteers (18-89 years, female=74.9%) with access to the study link online were recruited from the UK, USA, Greece, and Italy. Self-reported levels of schizotypy, paranoia, anxiety, depression, aggression, loneliness, and stress from three timepoints (17 April to 13 July 2020, N1 =1,599; 17 October to 31 January 2021, N2 =774; and 17 April to 31 July 2021, N3 =586) were mapped using network analysis and compared across time and background variables (sex, age, income, country). Results. Schizotypal traits and paranoia were positively associated with poorer mental health through loneliness, with no effect of age, sex, income levels, countries, and timepoints. Loneliness was the most influential variable across all networks, despite overall reductions in levels of loneliness, schizotypy, paranoia, and aggression during the easing of lockdown. Individuals with higher levels of schizotypal traits/paranoia reported poorer mental health outcomes than individuals in the low-trait groups.Conclusion. Schizotypal traits and paranoia are associated with poor mental health outcomes through self-perceived loneliness, suggesting that increasing social/community cohesion may improve individuals’ mental wellbeing in the long run.

Download Full-text

Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographic Inequalities in 11 UK Longitudinal Studies

10.1101/2021.10.22.21265368 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kishan Patel ◽

Elaine Robertson ◽

Alex Siu Fung Kwong ◽

Gareth J Griffith ◽

Kathryn Willan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Population Based ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

First Year ◽

Population Mental Health ◽

Time Periods ◽

The Uk ◽

Degree Level

Background: How population mental health has evolved across the COVID-19 pandemic under varied lockdown measures is poorly understood, with impacts on health inequalities unclear. We investigated changes in mental health and sociodemographic inequalities from before and across the first year of the pandemic in 11 longitudinal studies. Methods: Data from 11 UK longitudinal population-based studies with pre-pandemic measures of psychological distress were analysed and estimates pooled. Trends in the prevalence of poor mental health were assessed across the pandemic at three time periods: initial lockdown (TP1, Mar-June 20); easing of restrictions (TP2, July-Oct 20); and a subsequent lockdown (TP3, Nov 20-Mar 21). Multi-level regression was used to examine changes in psychological distress compared to pre-pandemic; with stratified analyses by sex, ethnicity, education, age, and UK country. Results: Across the 11 studies (n=54,609), mental health had deteriorated from pre-pandemic scores across all three pandemic time periods (TP1 Standardised Mean Difference (SMD): 0.13 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.23); TP2 SMD: 0.18 (0.09, 0.27); TP3 SMD: 0.20 (0.09, 0.31)). Changes in psychological distress across the pandemic were higher in females (TP3 SMD: 0.23 (0.11, 0.35)) than males (TP3 SMD: 0.16 (0.06, 0.26)), and slightly lower in below-degree level educated persons at some time periods (TP3 SMD: 0.18 (0.06, 0.30)) compared to those who held degrees (TP3 SMD: 0.26 (0.14, 0.38)). Increased distress was most prominent amongst adults aged 35-44 years (TP3 SMD: 0.49 (0.15, 0.84)). We did not find evidence of changes in distress differing by ethnicity or UK country. Conclusions: The substantial deterioration in mental health seen in the UK during the first lockdown did not reverse when lockdown lifted, and a sustained worsening is observed across the pandemic. Mental health declines have not been equal across the population, with females, those with higher degrees, and younger adults more affected.

Download Full-text

Be Quiet and Man Up: A Qualitative Study into Men Who Experienced Birth Trauma

10.21203/rs.2.16974/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emily Daniels ◽

Emily Arden-Close ◽

Andrew Mayers

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Postnatal Period ◽

Birth Trauma ◽

Father’S Role ◽

Traumatic Birth ◽

The Uk ◽

Paternal Mental Health ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Research focusing on paternal mental health is limited, especially regarding the impact of the experience of poor mental health in the perinatal period. For example, little is known about the experiences of men who witness their partner’s traumatic birth and the subsequent impact on the father’s mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore fathers’ experiences of witnessing a traumatic birth, how these experiences impacted their wellbeing, and what support they received during and following the traumatic birth. Methods: Sixty-one participants were recruited via targeted social media to complete an anonymous online qualitative questionnaire regarding their birth trauma experience. Eligible participants were aged eighteen or over, resided in the UK and had witnessed their partner’s traumatic birth (that did not result in loss of life). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the questionnaire data. Results: Three main themes were identified: ‘fathers’ understanding of the experience’ (subthemes: nothing can prepare you for it; merely a passenger; mixed experiences with staff; not about me); ‘life after birth trauma’ (subthemes: manhood after birth; inability to be happy; impact on relationships); and ‘the support fathers received vs what they wanted’ (subthemes: prenatal support; birth support; and postnatal support). Conclusions: Fathers reported that witnessing their partner’s traumatic birth had a significant impact on them. They felt this affected their mental health and relationships long into the postnatal period. However, there is no nationally recognised support in place for fathers to use as a result of their experiences. The participants attributed this to being perceived as less important than women in the postnatal period, and maternity services’ perceptions of the father more generally. Implications include ensuring support is available for mother and father following a traumatic birth, with additional staff training geared towards the father’s role.

Download Full-text