Female sex and femininity independently associate with common somatic symptom trajectories

Abstract Background Multiple predictors have been associated with persistent somatic symptoms. However, previous studies problematically defined the persistence of symptoms, conflated participants' sex and gender, and focused on patient populations. Therefore, we studied associations between predictors, especially sex and gender, and longitudinal patterns of somatic symptoms in the general adult population. We also assessed whether predictors for persisting symptoms differ between sexes. Method To identify developmental trajectories of somatic symptoms, assessed by the SCL-90 SOM, we used latent class trajectory modeling in the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study [N = 150 494; 58.6% female; median time to follow-up: 46.0 (min–max: 22.0–123.0) months]. To identify predictors of trajectories, we applied multiple logistic regression analyses. Predictors were measured by surveys at baseline and a composite gender index was previously developed. Results A five-class linear LCGA model fitted the data best: 93.7% of the population had a stable symptom trajectory, whereas 1.5% and 4.8% of the population had a consistently increasing or decreasing symptom trajectory, respectively. Female sex predicted severe, stable symptom severity (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.36–2.22), but not increasing symptom severity (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.99–1.40). Femininity was protective hereof (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.82 and OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51–0.85, respectively). Merely a few predictors of symptom severity, for instance hours of paid employment and physical functioning, differed in strength between sexes. Yet, effect sizes were small. Conclusion Female sex and femininity predict symptom trajectories. No large sex differences in the strength of additional predictors were found, thus it may not be clinically useful to distinguish between predictors specific to male or female patients of persistent somatic symptoms.

Download Full-text

Mental Health Trajectories of Fathers Following Very Preterm Birth: Associations With Parenting

Journal of Pediatric Psychology ◽

10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (7) ◽

pp. 725-735

Author(s):

Grace E McMahon ◽

Peter J Anderson ◽

Rebecca Giallo ◽

Carmen C Pace ◽

Jeanie L Cheong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Latent Class ◽

Parenting Behaviors ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Symptom Trajectories ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Symptom Trajectory ◽

Ongoing Support

Abstract Objective Mothers of infants born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk of mental health difficulties. However, less is known about the course of fathers’ depressive and anxiety symptoms over time, and the implications this may have for early parenting behaviors. Methods In total, 100 fathers of 125 infants born VPT (<30 weeks’ gestation) completed questionnaires assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms shortly after their infant’s birth, and when their infant reached term-equivalent age, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months’ corrected age. At 12 months’ corrected age, fathers’ parenting behaviors were assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales. Longitudinal latent class analysis was used to identify trajectories of fathers’ depressive and anxiety symptoms, and linear regression equations examined relationships between these trajectories and fathers’ parenting behaviors. Results For both depressive and anxiety symptoms, two distinct trajectories were identified. For depression, most fathers were assigned to the persistently low symptom trajectory (82%), while the remainder were assigned to the persistently high symptom trajectory (18%). For anxiety, 49% of fathers were assigned to the persistently low symptom trajectory, while 51% were assigned to the trajectory characterized by moderate symptoms over the first postnatal year. There were no significant differences in parenting behaviors between fathers assigned to the different depressive and anxiety symptom trajectories. Conclusions Fathers of infants born VPT are at risk of chronic depressive and anxiety symptoms over the first postnatal year, highlighting the need for screening and ongoing support.

Download Full-text

13.0 Advancing Sex- and Gender-Based Research to Understand Mechanisms and Developmental Trajectories of Depression: New Findings and Implications for Research and Treatment

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jaac.2017.07.650 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 56 (10) ◽

pp. S320-S321

Author(s):

Rebecca DelCarmen-Wiggins ◽

Elizabeth Jane Costello

Keyword(s):

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

New Findings ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender

Download Full-text

Predictors of depressive symptom trajectories in a prospective follow-up of late adolescents

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719002551 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (13) ◽

pp. 2283-2288

Author(s):

William Coryell ◽

James Mills ◽

Lilian Dindo ◽

Chadi A. Calarge

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Group Membership ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Negative Emotionality ◽

Prognostic Indicators ◽

Female Sex ◽

Symptom Trajectories ◽

Symptom Patterns ◽

Symptom Trajectory

AbstractBackgroundGroup-based trajectory modeling holds promise for the study of prognostic indicators in the mood disorders because the courses that the individuals with these disorders follow are so highly variable. However, trajectory analyses of major depressive disorder have so far not included some of the more robust predictors of mood disorder outcome, nor have they described interactions between these predictors.MethodsA group of 186 individuals aged 15–20 years with past or current depressive symptoms, who had recently begun taking a serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressant, underwent extensive baseline evaluations and were then followed for up to 2 years. Trajectory analyses used weekly ratings of depressive symptoms and the resulting groups were compared by the risk factors of sex, psychiatric comorbidity, negative emotionality, and childhood adversity.ResultsA three-group solution provided the best statistical fit to the 2-year symptom trajectory. Negative emotionality and childhood adversity, though correlated, independently predicted membership in higher-morbidity groups. Female sex and comorbidity with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were also significantly more likely in the trajectory groups with higher symptom levels. However, the presence of GAD, rather than female sex, was the most important determinant of group membership. Negative emotionality was predictive of group membership only among women.ConclusionsTrajectory analyses indicated that week-to-week variations in depressive symptoms across individuals could best be condensed into low, remitting and persistent symptom patterns. Female sex, anxiety symptoms, negative emotionality and childhood adversity were each independently associated with trajectories of higher morbidity but negative emotionality may be prognostically important only among women.

Download Full-text

Completing the Picture: Women and the Female Principle in the Mithraic Cult

Numen ◽

10.1163/156852706776942302 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 48-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alison Griffith

Keyword(s):

The Other ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

Physical Evidence ◽

Female Sex ◽

And Gender ◽

Epigraphic Evidence

AbstractIn the recently revived debate on the possible involvement of women in the Mithraic cult the main points of contention are the value and reliability of limited archaeological and epigraphic evidence and of two passing references to women's involvement in works by Porphyry and Tertullian. At one end of the spectrum, Richard Gordon proposed an alternate "Mithraic" world that not only excluded women but also subverted the female principle entirely. At the other end, Jonathan David challenged the claim that women were excluded from the Mithraic cult and proposed the possibility of lea and mater grades. The first part of this paper tackles the vexed issue of "evidence" by conducting a more thorough and stringent review of the physical evidence than that offered by David on this subject. The conclusion that none of this evidence is unequivocally Mithraic is hardly new; the aim is to put the debate to rest. The second part of this paper explores Porphyry's distinct but ambiguous reference to women as "hyenas" in the context of the Mithraic cult. In this section Gordon's theory of an alternate Mithraic reality is modified in order to reconcile numerous female sex and gender associations apparent in the iconography of the tauroctony scene.

Download Full-text

Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Korean Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.553 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 171-171

Author(s):

Jinhee Shin ◽

Eunhee Cho

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Depressive Symptom ◽

Growth Analysis ◽

Latent Class ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Latent Class Growth Analysis ◽

Symptom Trajectories ◽

Symptom Trajectory ◽

Latent Class Growth

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms and investigate predictive variables of latent class in Korean community-dwelling older adults. Methods Study participants comprised 2,016 community-dwelling Korean adults aged over 65 years, using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2006–2016. The KLoSA, a nationally representative panel survey, has been conducted biannually since 2006. We used latent class growth analysis to identify depressive symptom trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of each class of depressive symptoms. Results Five depressive symptom trajectory groups were identified: Class 1, no depressive symptom (13.8%); Class 2, low depressive symptom (32.8%); Class 3, decreasing depressive symptom (10.6%); Class 4, increasing depressive symptoms (24.0%); and Class 5, persistent depressive symptoms (18.8%). We found that older adults followed five distinct depressive symptom trajectories over 10 years. Mini-Mental State Examination scores, number of chronic diseases, educational level, gender, current employment, contact with children, and social activity were associated with a higher risk of these trajectories. Conclusions Depressive symptoms are associated with social networks as cognitive function scores increase and number of chronic diseases decrease. Interventions to strengthening existing social networks and developing relationships should be tailored to target specific needs for each trajectory, and chronic disease management, including cognitive function, may be beneficial in preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. KEYWORDS Older adults, Depressive symptom, Trajectory, Latent class growth analysis, Korean

Download Full-text

Developmental trajectories of ADHD symptoms in a large population-representative longitudinal study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291721000349 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Aja Louise Murray ◽

Hildigunnur Anna Hall ◽

Lydia Gabriela Speyer ◽

Lara Carter ◽

Daniel Mirman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

School Readiness ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Latent Class ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Large Population ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Symptom Trajectories ◽

Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽

The Uk

Abstract Background Previous research has suggested that there is substantial heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Sometimes, qualitative distinctions between trajectories with different ages of onset and/or patterns of remission are made; however, little is known about the predictors and broader clinical meaningfulness of these candidate ‘developmental subtypes’ of ADHD symptoms. Methods We applied latent class growth analysis to data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; N = 11 316; ages 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14) to evaluate whether developmental trajectories of ADHD symptoms differing in early life predictors could be identified. Our optimal model included six trajectory groups, labelled unaffected (34.9% of the sample), mildly affected (24.1%), subclinical remitting (12.8%), pre-school onset partially remitting (14.1%), developmentally increasing (7.6%) and pre-school onset persistent (6.4%). Results Factors such as gender, conduct problems, cognitive ability, maternal education, premature birth, peer problems and school readiness scores differentiated between specific ADHD symptom trajectories. Conclusions Taken together, our findings provide preliminary evidence that distinguishing different trajectories of ADHD symptoms could be clinically informative.

Download Full-text

Developmental trajectories of ADHD symptoms in a large population-representative longitudinal study

10.31234/osf.io/qhs6b ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aja Louise Murray ◽

Hildigunnur Anna Hall ◽

Lydia Gabriela Speyer ◽

Lara Carter ◽

Daniel Mirman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

School Readiness ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Latent Class ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Large Population ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Symptom Trajectories ◽

Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽

The Uk

Background: Previous research has suggested that there is substantial heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of ADHD symptoms. Sometimes qualitative distinctions between trajectories with different ages of onset and/or patterns of remission are made; however, little is known about the predictors and broader clinical meaningfulness of these candidate ‘developmental subtypes’ of ADHD symptoms. Methods: We applied latent class growth analysis to data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; N=11,316; ages 3,5,7,11 and 14) to evaluate whether developmental trajectories of ADHD symptoms differing in early life predictors could be identified. Our optimal model included six trajectory groups, labelled unaffected (34.9% of the sample), mildly affected (24.1%), subclinical remitting (12.8%), pre-school onset partially remitting (14.1%), developmentally increasing (7.6%), and pre-school onset persistent (6.4%). Results: Factors such as gender, conduct problems, cognitive ability, maternal education, premature birth, peer problems, and school readiness scores differentiated between specific ADHD symptom trajectories. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings provide preliminary evidence that distinguishing different trajectories of ADHD symptoms could be clinically informative.

Download Full-text

Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.751828 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Jing Yuan ◽

Shuping Sang ◽

Jessica Pham ◽

Wei-Jia Kong

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Hearing Impairment ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Health And Retirement Study ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

Female Sex ◽

Hearing Acuity ◽

Multivariable Models ◽

And Gender ◽

Retirement Study

Introduction: Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort.Methods: The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables.Results: Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.08).Conclusions: Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.

Download Full-text