scholarly journals Biological sensitivity to context moderates the effects of the early teacher–child relationship on the development of mental health by adolescence

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn J. Essex ◽  
Jeffrey M. Armstrong ◽  
Linnea R. Burk ◽  
H. Hill Goldsmith ◽  
W. Thomas Boyce
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
Biological Sensitivity To Context

AbstractThe moderating effects of biological sensitivity to context (physiological and behavioral stress reactivity) on the association between the early teacher–child relationship and the development of adolescent mental health problems were examined in a community sample of 96 children. Grade 1 measures of biological sensitivity to context included physiological (i.e., slope of mean arterial pressure across a 20- to 30-min stress protocol) and behavioral (i.e., temperamental inhibition/disinhibition) markers. Grade 1 measures of the teacher–child relationship included positive (i.e., closeness) and negative (i.e., conflict) qualities. Mental health symptoms were assessed at Grades 1 and 7. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated substantial association of the teacher–child relationship with the development of adolescent mental health symptoms, especially for more reactive children. In addition to teacher–child relationship main effects, all four Reactivity × Teacher–Child Relationship interaction terms were statistically significant when controlling for Grade 1 symptom severity, suggesting that both physiological and behavioral reactivity moderate the association of both adverse and supportive aspects of the teacher–child relationship with Grade 7 symptom severity over and above Grade 1 severity. There were important differences, depending on which stress reactivity measure was considered. The importance of these findings for recent theoretical arguments regarding biological sensitivity to context and differential susceptibility is discussed.

scholarly journals Fathers’ Childhood Experiences, Adult Mental Health Problems and Perceptions of Interactions With Their 36 Month-Old Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Roni Mermelshtine ◽  
Jacqueline Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Paternal Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Parenting Support ◽  
Paternal Mental Health

Perceptions of poor care in the family of origin can relate to adverse mental health and poor adaptation for mothers but there is less evidence about fathers. This study investigated the relevance of fathers’ recollections of their own parents (Generation 1) for their (Generation 2) current mental health symptoms and for interactions with their 3-year-old children (Generations 2/3), in a community sample of 482 British fathers. Recollections of G1 maternal and paternal behaviour were associated in uncontrolled correlations with G2 paternal mental health, but taking family social class and maternal (G2) mental health into account they did not significantly predict G2 fathers’ mental health symptoms at 36 months postpartum, though a trend remained for G1 paternal care. Significant predictors were paternal depression symptoms in the first year postpartum and G2 mothers’ current mental health. Predictors of more dysfunctional father-child (G2/G3) interactions at 36 months postpartum were working class status, recall of more G1 maternal controlling behaviour and more concurrent paternal mental health symptoms; predictors of less G2/G3 dysfunction were G2 paternal use of more positive discipline. Potential implications of the results for parenting support and advice are discussed, recognising that intergenerational transmission of parent-child relationships is likely for fathers.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled treatment trial with an embedded stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachana Parikh ◽  
Daniel Michelson ◽  
Kanika Malik ◽  
Sachin Shinde ◽  
Helen A. Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based

Abstract Background Conduct, anxiety and depressive disorders account for over 75% of the adolescent mental health burden globally. The current protocol will test a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for school-going adolescents with common mental health problems in India. The protocol also tests the effects of a classroom-based sensitization intervention on the demand for counselling services in an embedded recruitment trial. Methods We will conduct a two-arm individually randomized controlled trial in six Government-run secondary schools in New Delhi. The targeted sample is 240 adolescents in grades 9-12 with persistent, elevated mental health symptoms and associated impact. Participants will receive either a brief problem-solving intervention delivered over 3 weeks by lay counsellors (intervention), or enhanced usual care comprised of problem-solving booklets (control). Self-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and idiographic problems will be assessed at 6 weeks (co-primary outcomes) and again at 12 weeks post-randomization. In addition, adolescent-reported impact of mental health difficulties, perceived stress, mental wellbeing and clinical remission, as well as parent-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and impact scores, will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-randomization. We will also complete a parallel process evaluation, including estimations of the costs of delivering the interventions. An embedded recruitment trial will apply a stepped-wedge, cluster (class)-randomized controlled design in 70 classes across the six schools. This will evaluate the added impact of a classroom-based sensitization intervention over school-level recruitment sensitization activities on the primary outcome of referral rate into the host trial (i.e. the proportion of adolescents referred as a function of the total sampling frame in each condition of the embedded recruitment trial). Other outcomes will be the proportion of referrals eligible to participate in the host trial, proportion of self-generated referrals, and severity and pattern of symptoms among referred adolescents in each condition. Power calculations were undertaken separately for each trial. A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed separately for each trial prior to unblinding. Discussion Both trials were initiated on 20 August 2018. A single research protocol for both trials offers a resource-efficient methodology for testing the effectiveness of linked procedures to enhance uptake and outcomes of a school-based psychological intervention for common adolescent mental health problems.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled trial with an embedded stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachana Parikh ◽  
Daniel Michelson ◽  
Kanika Malik ◽  
Sachin Shinde ◽  
Helen A. Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Link Type

Abstract Background Conduct, anxiety, and depressive disorders account for over 75% of the adolescent mental health burden globally. The current protocol will test a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for school-going adolescents with common mental health problems in India. The protocol also tests the effects of a classroom-based sensitization intervention on the demand for counselling services in an embedded recruitment trial. Methods/design We will conduct a two-arm, individually randomized controlled trial in six Government-run secondary schools in New Delhi. The targeted sample is 240 adolescents in grades 9–12 with persistent, elevated mental health symptoms and associated distress/impairment. Participants will receive either a brief problem-solving intervention delivered over 3 weeks by lay counsellors (intervention) or enhanced usual care comprised of problem-solving booklets (control). Self-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and idiographic problems will be assessed at 6 weeks (co-primary outcomes) and again at 12 weeks post-randomization. In addition, adolescent-reported distress/impairment, perceived stress, mental wellbeing, and clinical remission, as well as parent-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and impact scores, will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-randomization. We will also complete a parallel process evaluation, including estimations of the costs of delivering the interventions. An embedded recruitment trial will apply a stepped-wedge, cluster (class)-randomized controlled design in 70 classes across the six schools. This will evaluate the added effect of a classroom-based sensitization intervention over and above school-level sensitization activities on the primary outcome of referral rate into the host trial. Other outcomes will be the proportion of referrals eligible to participate in the host trial, proportion of self-generated referrals, and severity and pattern of symptoms among referred adolescents in each condition. Power calculations were undertaken separately for each trial. A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed separately for each trial prior to unblinding. Discussion Both trials were initiated on 20 August 2018. A single research protocol for both trials offers a resource-efficient methodology for testing the effectiveness of linked procedures to enhance uptake and outcomes of a school-based psychological intervention for common adolescent mental health problems. Trial registration Both trials are registered prospectively with the National Institute of Health registry (www.clinicaltrials.gov), registration numbers NCT03633916 and NCT03630471, registered on 16th August, 2018 and 14th August, 2018 respectively).

Living in Uncertain Times: Pre-existing Mental Health Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perceived COVID-19 Threat as Predictors of Psychological Distress During the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M Bell ◽  
Diane Holmberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Trauma Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Distress Intolerance ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Threat Levels

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people are facing heightened uncertainty about the future and increasing rates of psychological distress. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and perceived COVID-19 threat may be contributing to mental health problems. This study investigated changes in mental health problems prior to and during the first two pandemic waves in the U.S., and the extent to which IU and perceived COVID-19 threat predicted these problems. MTurk participants (n=192; 50% women) were recruited from a pre-pandemic study in December 2019/January 2020 for a follow-up study on COVID-19 experiences, across five timepoints between April and August 2020. IU, perceived COVID-19 threat, and mental health problems (i.e., worry, COVID-19 fear, and trauma symptoms) were assessed. On average, mental health problems were not elevated, relative to pre-pandemic levels, and remained stable across time. Heightened IU and perceived COVID-19 threat were associated with more mental health problems. Surprisingly, objective measures of COVID-19 threat (e.g., state case rates) showed no associations with IU, and were slightly negatively correlated with psychological distress and perceived threat. Pre-existing mental health symptoms, IU and perceived COVID-19 threat may foster vulnerability to mental health problems during the pandemic, more so than objective threat levels.

Abstract P248: Assessing for Bi-Directional Relationships between Body Mass Index and Mental Health Symptoms in Girls

Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M McTigue ◽  
Elan Cohen ◽  
Alison Hipwell ◽  
Charity Moore ◽  
Rolf Loeber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Oppositional Defiant

Introduction Obesity and mental health problems are increasing in youth; both are often under-treated. The interplay between mental health and body weight development in adolescent girls is not well understood. Hypothesis Bi-directional associations will be established between mental health symptoms (depression and conduct symptoms) and BMI in urban pre-adolescent girls. Methods We examined data from participants in an accelerated longitudinal cohort study of largely disadvantaged urban girls from a single US city (n=2,451; 53% African American). Data were collected annually over 6 years, starting in 2003 when girls were age 8-11. Depression and conduct symptoms (oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder symptoms combined) were collected via the validated Child Symptom Inventory (CSI-4) and height and weight were measured. Transitional models assessed for bi-directional associations between mental health symptoms and BMI. Random-effects mixed models identified within-subject and between-subject effects in models examining whether mental health symptoms predicted BMI. All models were adjusted for race, age, and receipt of public assistance, and when applicable, included interaction terms. Results Transitional models showed that prior depression symptoms (β=0.27; p<0.001) predicted an increase in BMI while prior conduct symptoms (β=0.04; p=0.05) showed a small and borderline significant effect on BMI. An increase in prior BMI predicted an increase in depression symptoms (β=0.074, p<0.001) but not conduct symptoms (β=0.028, p=0.125). Mixed models revealed significant between-girl and within-girl effects (β = 0.38 and 0.038, respectively, both with p<0.001) for depression symptoms predicting BMI. Conduct symptoms showed a significant between-girl effect (β=0.51; p=0.045) but a non-significant within-girl effect (β=0.011; p=0.080) when used to predict BMI. Conclusions We identified a clear bi-directional relationship between depression symptoms and BMI in under-privileged girls, and mixed models confirmed that a change in depression score is associated with increased BMI. While an increase in conduct symptoms shows a weak positive association with BMI, the association was not bi-directional. The potential for BMI and depression to each reinforce the other may represent a mechanism for the development of high-risk weight patterns in girls. Early identification of those at risk may facilitate preventive measures for both weight and mental health outcomes.

Parent and child mental health trajectories April 2020 to May 2021: Strict lockdown versus no lockdown in Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110653
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Westrupp ◽  
Christopher J Greenwood ◽  
Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz ◽  
Craig A Olsson ◽  
Emma Sciberras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Trajectories ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Parent Child

Objective: To control a second-wave COVID-19 outbreak, the state of Victoria in Australia experienced one of the world’s first long and strict lockdowns over July–October 2020, while the rest of Australia experienced ‘COVID-normal’ with minimal restrictions. We (1) investigate trajectories of parent/child mental health outcomes in Victoria vs non-Victoria and (2) identify baseline demographic, individual and COVID-19-related factors associated with mental health trajectories. Methods: Online community sample of 2004 Australian parents with rapid repeated assessment over 14 time-points over April 2020 to May 2021. Measures assessed parent mental health (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21), child depression symptoms (13-item Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) and child anxiety symptoms (four items from Brief Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale). Results: Mental health trajectories shadowed COVID-19 infection rates. Victorians reported a peak in mental health symptoms at the time of the second-wave lockdown compared to other states. Key baseline predictors, including parent and child loneliness (standardized regression coefficient [β] = 0.09–0.46), parent/child diagnoses (β = 0.07–0.21), couple conflict (β = 0.07–0.18) and COVID-19 stressors, such as worry/concern about COVID-19, illness and loss of job (β = 0.12–0.15), predicted elevated trajectories. Effects of predictors on parent and child mental health trajectories are illustrated in an online interactive app for readers ( https://lingtax.shinyapps.io/CPAS_trend/ ). Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of worse trajectories of parent and child mental health symptoms at a time coinciding with a second COVID-19 outbreak involving strict lockdown in Victoria, compared to non-locked states in Australia. We identified several baseline factors that may be useful in detecting high-risk families who are likely to require additional support early on in future lockdowns.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled treatment trial with an embedded stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachana Parikh ◽  
Rooplata Sahu ◽  
Christopher G Fairburn ◽  
Bruce Chorpita ◽  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Stepped Wedge ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based

Abstract Background Conduct, anxiety and depressive disorders account for over 75% of the adolescent mental health burden globally. The current protocol will test a low-intensity problem-solving intervention to improve mental health symptoms and recovery rates for school-going adolescents in India. The protocol also tests the effects of a classroom-based sensitization intervention on the demand for counselling services in an embedded recruitment trial. Methods We will conduct a two-arm individually randomized controlled trial in six Government-run secondary schools in New Delhi. The targeted sample is 240 adolescents in grades 9-12 with persistent, elevated mental health symptoms and associated impact. Participants will receive either a brief problem-solving intervention delivered over 3 weeks by lay counsellors (intervention), or enhanced usual care comprised of problem-solving booklets (control). Self-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and idiographic problems will be assessed at 6 weeks (co-primary outcomes) and again at 12 weeks post-randomization. In addition, adolescent-reported impact of mental health difficulties, perceived stress, mental wellbeing and clinical remission, as well as parent-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and impact scores, will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-randomization. Parallel process evaluation, including estimations of the costs of delivering the interventions, will be conducted. An embedded recruitment trial will apply a stepped-wedge, cluster (class)-randomized controlled design in 70 classes across the six schools. This will evaluate the added impact of a classroom-based sensitization intervention over school-level recruitment sensitization activities on the primary outcome of referral rate (number of referred students as a proportion of the total sampling frame in each arm). Secondary outcomes will be the proportion of referrals eligible to participate in the host trial, proportion of self-generated referrals, and severity and pattern of symptoms across the arms. Power calculations were undertaken separately for each trial. A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed separately for each trial prior to unbinding. Discussion Both trials were initiated on 20 August 2018. A single research protocol for both trials offers a resource-efficient methodology for testing the effectiveness of linked procedures to enhance uptake and outcomes of a school-based psychological intervention for adolescents. Trial registration: Both trials are registered prospectively with the National Institute of Health registry (www.clinicaltrials.gov, registration numbers NCT03633916 and NCT03630471) Keywords: mental health, problem-solving, psychological treatment, stepped-wedge trial, adolescents, schools, randomized controlled trial, low- and middle-income countries, India.

Development and Validation of Two Abbreviated Intraminority Gay Community Stress Scales

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112110429
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Maiolatesi ◽  
Satyanand Satyanarayana ◽  
Richard Bränström ◽  
John E. Pachankis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Community Stress

Social stressors stemming from within the gay community might render gay and bisexual men vulnerable to mental health problems. The 20-item intraminority Gay Community Stress Scale (GCSS) is a reliable measure of gay community stress, but the scale’s length limits its widespread use in sexual minority mental health research. Using three independent samples of gay and bisexual men, the present research developed two abbreviated versions of the GCSS using nonparametric item response modeling and validated them. Results indicated that eight items provided maximal information about the gay community stress construct; these items were selected to form the eight-item GCSS. The eight-item GCSS reproduced the factor structure of the parent scale, and gay community stress scores obtained from it correlated with other identity-specific social stress constructs and mental health symptoms. Associations between gay community stress and mental health symptoms remained significant even after controlling for related identity-specific stressors, general life stress, and relevant demographics. A four-item version was also developed and assessed, showing good structural, convergent, criterion, and incremental validity and adequate reliability. The eight- and four-item versions of the GCSS offer efficient measures of gay community stress, an increasingly recognized source of stress for gay and bisexual men.

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