scholarly journals Associations Between Positive Mental Wellbeing and Depressive Symptoms in Australian Adolescents

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinne Zadow ◽  
Stephen Houghton ◽  
Simon C. Hunter ◽  
Michael Rosenberg ◽  
Lisa Wood
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
Symptom Scores ◽  
Highly Correlated

This study examined the association and directionality of effect between mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms in Australian adolescents. Data were collected on two occasions 21 months apart. At Time 1, 1,762 10- to 14-year-old adolescents from a range of socio-economic status areas participated. At Time 2 (T2), 1,575 participated again. On both occasions, the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) and the Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2) were administered via online survey. Cross-lagged, longitudinal path analyses demonstrated a negative association between earlier symptoms of depression and later positive mental wellbeing, and that the reverse was also true, though weaker. The model accounted for 20% of the variance in males’ T2 CDI 2 depressive symptom scores (26% for females) and 21% of the variance in males’ T2 SWEMWBS mental wellbeing scores (23% for females). Depressive symptomatology and mental wellbeing were highly correlated, but symptoms of depression were more strongly associated with later mental wellbeing than vice versa. This has implications for educational psychologists, teachers, health professionals, and policy makers seeking to reduce depressive symptoms or promote mental wellbeing. Focusing solely on the promotion of mental wellbeing, without intervening to reduce symptoms of depression, may limit the potential outcomes that might be achieved.

Keeping up with the Wangs: A cross-sectional multilevel analysis of individual and contextual influences on mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Adele H. Wang ◽  
CMA Haworth ◽  
Qiang Ren
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Marriage Rate ◽  
Contextual Effects ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Population Census ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Average Education

BackgroundIn recent decades, China has experienced dramatic changes to its social and economic environment, which has affected the distribution of wellbeing across its citizens. While several studies have investigated individual level predictors of wellbeing in the Chinese population, less research has been done looking at contextual effects. This cross-sectional study looks at the individual and contextual effects of (regional) education, unemployment and marriage (rate) on individual happiness, life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology. MethodsData were collected from over 29,000 individuals (aged 18 to 110, 51.91% female) in the China Family Panel Studies, and merged with county level census data obtained from the 2010 China Population Census and Statistical Yearbook. To explore contextual effects, we used multilevel models accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data. ResultsWe found that a one-year increase in education was associated with a 0.17% increase in happiness and a 0.16% decrease in depressive symptoms. Unemployed men were 1% less happy, 1% less satisfied with life and reported 0.84% more depressive symptoms than employed men while minimal effects were seen for women. Single, divorced and widowed individuals had worse outcomes than married individuals (ranging from 2.96% to 21% differences). We found interaction effects for education and employment. Less educated individuals had greater happiness and less depressive symptoms in counties with higher average education compared to counterparts in less educated counties. In contrast, more educated individuals were less satisfied with life in more educated counties, an effect that is possibly due to social comparison. Employed individuals had lower life satisfaction in areas of high unemployment, while levels were constant for the unemployed. A 1% increase in county marriage rate was associated with 0.33% and 0.24% increases in happiness and life satisfaction respectively, with no interactions. We speculate that this effect could be due to greater social cohesion in the neighbourhood.ConclusionsOur results show that policies designed to improve employment and marriage rates will be beneficial for all, while interventions to encourage positive social comparison strategies may help to offset the negative effects of increasing neighbourhood average education on the highly educated.

Examining the Temporal Dynamics of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms During a Therapist-Supported, Smartphone-Based Intervention for Major Depression (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Allende ◽  
Valerie Forman-Hoffman ◽  
Philippe Goldin
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Temporal Relationship ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Quadratic Function ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
Highly Correlated

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Anxiety and depression symptoms are highly correlated in adults with depression; however, little is known about their interaction and temporal dynamics of change during treatment. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to examine the temporal dynamics of anxiety and depressive symptoms during a 12-week therapist-supported, smartphone-delivered digital health intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety, the Meru Health Program (MHP). Method: A total of 290 participants from the MHP were included in the present analyses (age Mean = 39.64, SD = 10.25 years; 79% female; 54% self-reported psychotropic medication use). A variance components model was used to examine whether (1) reporting greater anxiety during the current week relative to anxiety reported in other weeks would be associated with greater reporting of depressive symptoms during the current week, while a time-varying effect model was used to examine whether, (2) consistent with findings reported by Wright et al. (2014), the temporal relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms during the intervention would be expressed as a quadratic function marked by a weak association at baseline, followed by an increase to a peak before demonstrating a negligible decrease until the end of treatment. Results: In support of hypothesis 1, we found that reporting greater anxiety symptoms during the current week relative to other weeks was associated with greater depressive symptoms during the current week. Contrary to hypothesis 2, the temporal relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms evidenced a recurring pattern, with the association increasing during the initial weeks, decreasing during mid-treatment and sharply increasing toward the end of treatment. Conclusions: The present findings demonstrate that anxiety and depressive symptoms overlap and fluctuate in concert during a smartphone-based intervention for anxiety and depressive symptoms. The present findings may warrant more refined intervention strategies specifically tailored to co-occurring patterns of change in symptoms.

Resilience, pessimism, and depression in undergraduates in Hong Kong during Covid-19: A cross-sectional online survey study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Yi Sum ◽  
Sherry Kit Wa Chan ◽  
Gloria Hoi Yan Wong
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Family Conflict ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Adolescence and young adulthood is a period of heightened risk of mental disorders onset. The Covid-19 pandemic may have impacted the daily lives and learning of students, exposing them to risks of emotional distress. Understanding factors associated with individual differences in distress can inform remedial strategies for schools. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of Covid-19 on undergraduate students’ lifestyle and learning, and explore relationship between depressive symptoms, resilience, and optimism/pessimism bias in undergraduate students in Hong Kong. METHODS Cross-sectional online survey of undergraduate students in a university (n=1020) before and during the third wave of Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong between May and August 2020. Changes in habits and family conflicts, depressive symptoms (measured using Patient Health Questionnaire-9), resilience (measured using Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), optimism/pessimism towards Covid-19 risks, and knowledge about Covid-19 were recorded. Multivariable linear regression and mediation analyses were used to explore relationships with depressive symptoms. RESULTS 61.7% of respondents have mild to severe depressive symptoms. The regression model found that 18.5% of the variance in depressive symptoms was explained by resilience, pessimism bias, changes in sleep, decrease in study at home, and increase in family conflict. Mediation analysis showed that resilience is indirectly related to depressive symptoms through its relationship with pessimism (ab = -0.042, CI = -0.057 to -0.013). Higher resilience was associated with lower depressive symptoms even after accounting for resilience’s indirect effect through pessimism (c’ = 0.311, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the mental health vulnerability of undergraduate students. Measures to reduce family conflict, maintain healthy daily habits, adjust optimism/pessimism bias, and enhance resilience may be useful for improving the mental wellbeing of undergraduate students during the pandemic.

Functional Status and Depression among Men and Women with Congestive Heart Failure

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terje A. Murberg ◽  
Edvin Bru ◽  
Torbjørn Aarsland ◽  
Sven Svebak
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Congestive Heart Failure ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Nyha Class ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Patient’S Perception

Objective: The study was designed 1) to examine the prevalence of depression in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF); 2) to explore associations between the physician's rating of functional status (NYHA class) and patient's assessment of functional status (physical limitation, dyspnea) with symptoms of depression; and 3) to explore gender related differences in relation to physician's rating and patient's rating of function status, and symptoms of depression. Method: A sample of 119 clinically stable heart failure patients (85 males and 34 females) was recruited from an outpatient cardiology hospital practice. The patients underwent a physical examination and completed a set of questionnaires. Prevalence of depressive symptoms and the association of these symptoms with NYHA class and patient's perceived functional status was studied. Results: Findings indicate that depressive symptoms were not predominant among this sample of CHF patients. Path analyses showed non-significant direct associations between NYHA class as well as patient's perception of dyspnea with depression. In contract, the subjective indicator of physical limitations was strongly associated with symptoms of depression among the males, but this relation was not significant among the females. Conclusions: Results suggest that men and women respond differently to the burden of heart failure. However, interpretation of the results from the present study should be considered as tentative and additional research is required to examine mechanisms that explain gender differences in response to heart failure.

scholarly journals The Dark Triad of Personality’s Relationship with Compliance towards COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendations along with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Polish Citizens

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5478
Author(s):  
Anna M. Gogola ◽  
Paweł Dębski ◽  
Agnieszka Goryczka ◽  
Piotr Gorczyca ◽  
Magdalena Piegza
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Dirty Dozen ◽  
Polish Version

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to comply with rules of a sanitary regime and social distancing on a daily basis. The aim of our research was to assess the differences in the levels of Dark Triad traits between people who obeyed and disobeyed the pandemic restrictions. Additionally, we considered the possible correlation between the Dark Triad and the intensity of symptoms of depression and anxiety. A total of 604 Polish participants, whose average age was 28.95 ± 11.27 years, completed an online survey which measured Dark Triad traits using the Polish version of the Dirty Dozen test. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The results revealed a possible relationship between personality traits and compliance with pandemic restrictions. Individuals with higher levels of psychopathy tended to disobey newly introduced rules. On the other hand, a higher level of subclinical narcissism might have contributed to a better civil compliance. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the intensity of the Dark Triad and the occurrence of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, narcissism was linked to anxiety symptoms. These results can contribute to a better understanding of behavioural patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic within the group of individuals who exhibit the Dark Triad traits. Our conclusions might help to identify individuals who are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems.

scholarly journals Should Unexplained Painful Physical Symptoms be Considered within the Spectrum of Depressive Symptoms?

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihyung Hong ◽  
Diego Novick ◽  
William Montgomery ◽  
Jaume Aguado ◽  
Héctor Dueñas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Disturbance Factor ◽  
Highly Correlated

Objective: To examine whether painful physical symptoms (PPS) can be considered within the spectrum of depressive symptoms. Methods: Data for this post-hoc analysis were taken from a 6-month observational study mostly conducted in East Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East of 1,549 depressed patients without sexual dysfunction at baseline. Both explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were performed on the combined items of the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report and the Somatic Symptom Inventory (seven pain-related items only). An additional second-order CFA was also conducted to examine an association between retained factors and the overall “depressive symptoms” factor. In addition, Spearman’s correlation was used to assess levels of correlation between retained factors and depression severity as well as quality of life. Results: Both EFA and CFA suggested and validated a four-factor solution, which included a pain factor. The other three factors identified were a mood/cognitive factor, a sleep disturbance factor, and an appetite/weight disturbance factor. All four factors were significantly associated with the overall factor of depression. They were also highly correlated to depression severity and quality of life (p<0.001 for all). The levels of correlations with the pain factor were generally greater than those with the appetite/weight factor and similar to those with the sleep factor. Conclusion: It may be reasonable to consider PPS within a broad spectrum of depressive symptoms. At least, they should be routinely assessed in patients with depression. Further research is warranted to validate these preliminary findings.

scholarly journals Feelings, Behavioral Actions and Depressive Symptoms Related to COVID-19 among Undergraduates in Hail, Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1280
Author(s):  
Badr K. Aldhmadi ◽  
Ramaiah Itumalla ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Bilesha Perera
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Precautionary Measures

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a profound psychological impact on university undergraduates. Feelings, behavioral actions, and depressive symptoms related to COVID-19 in undergraduates in Hail, Saudi Arabia, were assessed using an online survey. Eighteen feelings and six behavioral acts were assessed. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptomatology. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression techniques were used. The mean age of the participants (n = 418) was 20.2 years (standard deviation (SD) = 1.8 years), and 52.9% (n = 221) were males. Elevated levels of depressive symptoms were reported by 47.1% of male and 51.3% of female participants. Social isolation, loss of interest, obsessive monitoring of symptoms, concentration difficulties, recurrent negative thoughts, and worries about health services emerged as vital negative feelings related to COVID-19 that were expressed by the participants. Younger age (odds ratio (OR) = 0.636, confidence interval (CI) = 0.428–0.946) and coming from the middle-income category (OR = 0.388, CI = 0.151–0.994) were found to be protective factors against developing depressive symptoms. Frequent cleaning of hands, wearing masks when going out, and adherence to social distancing rules were practiced by 71.5% (95% CI = 67.2%–75.8%), 78.7% (95% CI = (74.4%–82.5%) and 66.0% (95% CI = (61.3%–70.5%) of the participants, respectively. These behavioral acts were not associated with the development of depressive symptoms. Although the practice of COVID-19 precautionary measures by the participants was satisfactory, nearly half of the participants reported depressive symptoms. Innovative educational strategies are needed to curb concentration difficulties and social isolation experienced by undergraduates during outbreaks such as COVID-19.

scholarly journals Stuck in a lockdown: dreams, bad dreams, nightmares, and their relationship to stress, depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Solomonova ◽  
Claudia Picard-Deland ◽  
Iris Rapoport ◽  
Marie-Helene Pennestri ◽  
Mysa Saad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Dream Content ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Indices ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Typical Dreams

Background: An upsurge in dream and nightmare frequency has been noted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and research shows increases in levels of stress, depression and anxiety during this time. Growing evidence suggests that dream content has a bi-directional relationship with psychopathology, and that dreams react to new, personally significant and emotional experiences. The first lockdown experience was an acute event, characterized by a combination of several unprecedented factors (new pandemic, threat of the disease, global uncertainty, , experience of social isolation, exposure to stressful information) that resulted in a large-scale disruption of life routines. This study aimed at investigating changes in dream, bad dream and nightmare recall; most prevalent dream themes, and the relationship between dreams, bad dreams, nightmares and symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety during the first COVID-19 lockdown (April-May 2020) through a national online survey.Methods: 968 participants completed an online survey. Dream themes were measured using the Typical Dreams Questionnaire; stress levels were measured by the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale; symptoms of anxiety were assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale; and symptoms of depression were assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. Results: 34% (328) of participants reported increased dream recall during the lockdown. The most common dream themes were centered around the topics of 1) inefficacy (e.g., trying again and again, arriving late), 2) human threat (e.g., being chased, attacked); 3) death; and 4) pandemic imagery (e.g., being separated from loved ones, being sick). Dream, bad dream and nightmare frequency was highest in individuals with moderate to severe stress levels. Frequency of bad dreams nightmares and dreams about the pandemic, inefficacy and death were associated with higher levels of stress, as well as with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conclusions: Results support theories of dream formation, environmental susceptibility and stress reactivity. Dream content during the lockdown broadly reflected existential concerns and was associated with increased symptoms of mental health indices.

Oncologists' recognition of depression in their patients with cancer.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1594-1600 ◽  
Author(s):  
S D Passik ◽  
W Dugan ◽  
M V McDonald ◽  
B Rosenfeld ◽  
D E Theobald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Ambulatory Oncology ◽  
Highly Correlated

PURPOSE This study was performed as part of a large depression screening project in cancer patients to determine the degree of physician recognition of levels of depressive symptoms in cancer patients and to describe patient characteristics that influence the accuracy of physician perception of depressive symptoms. METHODS Twenty-five ambulatory oncology clinics affiliated with Community Cancer Care, Inc of Indiana enrolled and surveyed 1,109 subjects treated by 12 oncologists. Subjects completed the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and physicians were asked to rate their patients' level of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain using numerical rating scales. Subjects' sex, age, primary tumor type, medications, primary caregiver, and disease stage at diagnosis were also recorded. RESULTS Physician ratings of depression were significantly associated with their patients' levels of endorsement of depressive symptoms on the ZSDS. However, agreement between physicians and patients is most frequently clustered when patients report little or no depressive symptoms. While physician ratings are concordant with patient endorsement of no significant depressive symptomatology 79% of the time, they are only concordant 33% and 13% of the time in the mild-to-moderate/severe ranges, respectively. Physician ratings were most influenced by patient endorsement of frequent and obvious mood symptoms, ie, sadness, crying, and irritability. Physician ratings also appeared to be influenced by medical correlates of patients' level of depressive symptoms (functional status, stage of disease, and site of tumor). Additionally, patients whose depression was inaccurately classified reported significantly higher levels of pain and had higher levels of disability. Physicians' ratings of depression were most highly correlated with physicians' ratings of patients' anxiety and pain. CONCLUSION Physicians' perceptions of depressive symptoms in their patients are correlated with patient's ratings, but there is a marked tendency to underestimate the level of depressive symptoms in patients who are more depressed. They are most influenced by symptoms such as crying and depressed mood, and medical factors that are useful, but not the most reliable, indicators of depression in this population. Physicians' ratings of their patients' distress symptoms seem to be global in nature--they are highly correlated with anxiety, pain, and global dysfunction. Physician assessment might be improved if they were instructed to assess and probe for the more reliable cognitive symptoms such as anhedonia, guilt, suicidal thinking, and hopelessness. Screening instruments and the use of brief follow-up interviews would help to identify patients who are depressed.

scholarly journals Alexithymia traits outweigh autism traits in the explanation of depression in adults with autism

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Bloch ◽  
Lana Burghof ◽  
Fritz-Georg Lehnhardt ◽  
Kai Vogeley ◽  
Christine Falter-Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Autism Traits ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWhen contemplating the alarming depression rates in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is a need to find factors explaining heightened symptoms of depression. Beyond the impact of autism traits, markedly increased levels of alexithymia traits should be considered as a candidate for explaining why individuals with ASD report higher levels of depressive symptoms. Here, we aim to identify the extent to which autism or alexithymia traits indicate depressive symptoms in ASD and whether the pattern of association are specific to ASD. Data of a large (N = 400) representative clinical population of adults referred to autism diagnostics have been investigated and split by cases with a confirmed ASD diagnosis (N = 281) and cases with a ruled out ASD diagnosis (N = 119). Dominance analysis revealed the alexithymia factor, difficulties in identifying feelings, as the strongest predictor for depressive symptomatology in ASD, outweighing autism traits and other alexithymia factors. This pattern of prediction was not specific to ASD and was shared by clinical controls from the referral population with a ruled out ASD diagnosis. Thus, the association of alexithymia traits with depression is not unique to ASD and may constitute a general psychopathological mechanism in clinical samples.

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