Effects of divorce and widowhood on subsequent health behaviours and outcomes in a sample of middle-aged and older Australian adults

AbstractMarital disruption is a common life event with potential health implications. We examined the prospective association of divorce/widowhood with subsequent lifestyles, psychological, and overall health outcomes within short and longer terms using three waves of data from the 45 and Up Study in Australia (T1, 2006–09; T2, 2010; T3, 2012–16). Marital status and health-related outcomes were self-reported using validated questionnaires. Nine outcomes were examined including lifestyles (smoking, drinking, diet and physical activity), psychological outcomes (distress, anxiety and depression) and overall health/quality of life. Logistic regression was adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and baseline health outcomes. Of the 33,184 participants who were married at T1 (mean age 59.5 ± 9.3 years), after 3.4 years, 2.9% became divorced and 2.4% widowed at T2. Recent divorce was positively associated with smoking, poor quality of life, high psychological distress, anxiety and depression at T2. Similar but weaker associations were observed for widowhood. However, these associations were much attenuated at T3 (5 years from T2). Marital disruption in midlife or at an older age can be detrimental to health, particularly psychological health in the short term. Public awareness of the health consequences of spousal loss should be raised. Resources, including professional support, should be allocated to help individuals navigate these difficult life transitions.

Download Full-text

Performing Testicular Self-Examination, Driving Automobiles, and Anxiety: What Is the Logical Link?

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988316635048 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 594-596 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael J. Rovito

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Testicular Cancer ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

False Positive ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Potential Health ◽

Health Concerns ◽

Self Examination ◽

Positive Results

The debate of whether testicular self-examination (TSE) should be promoted among males generally centers on a harm–benefit corollary. The benefits of TSE include improving health outcomes, inclusive of an increase in both quality of life and knowledge/awareness of potential health concerns, as well as promoting proactivity in achieving wellness. The harms include claims that false-positive results can increase anxiety and produce costs via unnecessary treatments and therapies. Further claims point to the lack of evidence suggesting TSE decreases testicular cancer mortality. This commentary primarily discusses the anxiety portion of this debate from a logic-based perspective. The argument that TSE should not be promoted among males due to the risk of inciting false-positive anxiety appears to be flawed. A 5-point perspective is presented on the illogical discouragement of TSE due to theorized levels of false-positive anxiety while existing evidence suggests late-stage testicular cancer is associated with anxiety and depression.

Download Full-text

‘Quality of Life’ of Persons with Disability: An Assessment in Selected Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

American International Journal of Social Science Research ◽

10.46281/aijssr.v1i1.158 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Mir Hasan Shakil Mahmud ◽

Md. Abul Kalam Azad

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Persons With Disabilities ◽

Prone Area ◽

Post Disaster ◽

Flood Prone Areas

The present study is on “Quality of Life” of person with disabilities living in flood prone areas of Bangladesh. In this aspect the specific objectives have been designed to determine the effects of disaster on physical and psychological health and social relationship between disabilities and community. The study has also assessed the adaptive capacity of persons with disabilities during and post-disaster period and find out the challenges faced by the persons with disabilities during disaster and post disaster that undermining their quality of life. In the determination of quality of life of PWDs in the selected flood prone area in Bangladesh a mixed method incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research approaches was used to conduct this study by using the tools of observation, case study, and face to face semi structured interview, with PWDs in Northern district of Gaibandha. The study shows that out of 110 respondent, nearly 63 per cent required assistance, while over 38 per cent respondent are required partial assistance, and 20 percent are required supervision. The study reveals that more than 9 per cent of the respondents maintains very poor quality of life while 20 per cent are maintaining poor quality of life, nearly 34 per cent respondents are identified their life neither poor or nor good in selected area.

Download Full-text

Effects of Mind–Body Interventions Involving Meditative Movements on Quality of Life, Depressive Symptoms, Fear of Falling and Sleep Quality in Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186556 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6556

Author(s):

Manuel Weber ◽

Thiemo Schnorr ◽

Mareike Morat ◽

Tobias Morat ◽

Lars Donath

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Randomized Controlled

Background: The aim of the present systematic meta-analytical review was to quantify the effects of different mind–body interventions (MBI) involving meditative movements on relevant psychological health outcomes (i.e., quality of life (QoL), depressive symptoms, fear of falling (FoF) and sleep quality) in older adults without mental disorders. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in five databases (Ovid, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science). Inclusion criteria were: (i) the study was a (cluster) randomized controlled trial, (ii) the subjects were aged ≥59 years without mental illnesses, (iii) an intervention arm performing MBI compared to a non-exercise control group (e.g., wait-list or usual care), (iv) psychological health outcomes related to QoL, depressive symptoms, FoF or sleep quality were assessed and (v) a PEDro score of ≥5. The interventions of the included studies were sub-grouped into Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) and Yoga/Pilates (YP). Statistical analyses were conducted using a random-effects inverse-variance model. Results: Thirty-seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (comprising 3224 participants) were included. Small to moderate-but-significant overall effect sizes favoring experimental groups (Hedges’ g: 0.25 to 0.71) compared to non-exercise control groups were observed in all outcomes (all p values ≤ 0.007), apart from one subdomain of quality of life (i.e., social functioning, p = 0.15). Interestingly, a significant larger effect on QoL and depressive symptoms with increasing training frequency was found for TCQ (p = 0.03; p = 0.004). Conclusions: MBI involving meditative movements may serve as a promising opportunity to improve psychological health domains such as QoL, depressive symptoms, FoF and sleep quality in older adults. Hence, these forms of exercise may represent potential preventive measures regarding the increase of late-life mental disorders, which need to be further confirmed by future research.

Download Full-text

Low cognitive reserve is associated with chronic migraine with medication overuse and poor quality of life

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102414553822 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (8) ◽

pp. 683-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Marian Gómez-Beldarrain ◽

Ane Anton-Ladislao ◽

Urko Aguirre-Larracoechea ◽

Isabel Oroz ◽

Juan Carlos García-Moncó

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Migraine ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Medication Overuse ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sf 36

Objective The objective of this article is to test the hypothesis that cognitive reserve (CR) is related to migraine chronification, medication overuse and poor quality of life in migraineurs. Design/methods A cross-sectional study on patients with chronic migraine with medication overuse (CM-MOH), episodic migraine (EM), and controls, matched by sex, age and education, was carried out. CR was assessed by a specific questionnaire, and quality of life was measured by general and specific questionnaires (SF-36 and MSQoL). Migraine Disability Assessment Scale and Beck questionnaires for depression and anxiety were used. Medication dependence was evaluated by the medication-dependence questionnaire in headache (MDQ-H). Results Fifty-five individuals were enrolled: 18 CM-MOH patients (32.73%), 22 EM patients (40%) and 15 controls (27.27%). Fifty (90.91%) of them were females and aged 43.53 (7.54) years. Univariate analysis showed a significant association between the study group and CR, and all items of the SF-36, anxiety and depression questionnaires, MSQoL and MDQ-H. The lower CR and CM-MOH group were related to a worse quality of life, more anxiety and depression and the highest medication dependence scores. Multivariate analysis showed that higher CR scores were related to higher quality of life as measured by the physical and mental composite scores of the SF-36, and to lower anxiety (beta = −1.08, p = 0.001) and depression (beta = −0.56, p = 0.03) levels. Focusing on MSQoL, the increase in CR was predictive of a better quality of life (beta = 1.88, p < 0.0001). By all the models, the explained variance of the sample ranged from 39% (mental composite score) to 58% (MSQoL). Conclusions Low CR appears to be an independent factor associated with the deterioration of quality of life, the presence of anxiety and depression, and drug dependence and medication overuse in CM-MOH.

Download Full-text

Quality of Life and Migraine Disability among Female Migraine Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/523717 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Munvar Miya Shaik ◽

Norul Badriah Hassan ◽

Huay Lin Tan ◽

Siew Hua Gan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Poor Quality ◽

World Health ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Pain Scores ◽

Health Organization

Background. Disability caused by migraine may be one of the main causes of burden contributing to poor quality of life (QOL) among migraine patients. Thus, this study aimed to measure QOL among migraine sufferers in comparison with healthy controls.Methods. Female diagnosed migraine patients (n= 100) and healthy controls (n=100) completed the Malay version of the World Health Organization QOL Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Only migraine patients completed the Malay version of the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire.Results. Females with migraines had significantly lower total WHOQOL-BREF scores (84.3) than did healthy controls (91.9,P<0.001). Similarly, physical health (23.4 versus 27.7,P<0.001) and psychological health scores (21.7 versus 23.2,P< 0.001) were significantly lower than those for healthy controls. Seventy-three percent of patients experienced severe disability, with significantly higher number of days with headaches (13.8 days/3 months,P< 0.001) and pain scores (7.4,P< 0.013). Furthermore, migraine patients with lower total QOL scores had 1.2 times higher odds of having disability than patients with higher total QOL scores.Conclusions. The present study showed that migraine sufferers experienced significantly lower QOL than the control group from a similar population. Disability was severe and frequent and was associated with lower QOL among the migraine patients.

Download Full-text

The Impact of Schizotypy on Quality of Life Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

10.21203/rs.3.rs-659129/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Albin Klang ◽

Britta Westerberg ◽

Mats B. Humble ◽

Susanne Bejerot

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Schizotypal Personality ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizotypal personality disorder can be difficult to distinguish. Deficits in social relationships and social interaction, present in both conditions, are known to impair quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate if schizotypal symptoms affect quality of life among adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and to study the association between schizotypy and autistic traits among them. Methods: Participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (n=110) completed questionnaires exploring schizotypy (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire – Brief Revised (SPQ-BR)), autistic traits (The Ritvo Autism, Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised Screen 14 items), anxiety and depression (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) and quality of life (Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale and the European quality of life index version 5D). Results: Schizotypy was found to be associated with anxiety, depressive and autistic symptoms, and poor quality of life. Although schizotypy was a predictor for impaired quality of life, this relationship was mediated by symptoms of anxiety and depression, plausibly inherent to autism. Autistic traits were positively associated with all higher order constructs of the SPQ-BR, i.e. positive and negative schizotypy, disorganization and social anxiety, as well as with poor quality of life. Conclusions: There is considerable overlap between schizotypy and autism that needs to be considered in research. Prominent schizotypal traits in people with ASD may constitute an endophenotype coinciding with a particularly poor quality of life.

Download Full-text

Anxiety, depression and quality of life in mothers of intellectually disabled children

Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal ◽

10.3126/jpan.v6i2.21757 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 28-35

Author(s):

N Sapkota ◽

A K Pandey ◽

BK Deo ◽

MK Shrivastava

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Disabled Children ◽

Intellectually Disabled ◽

Icd 10 ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Relationship

Introduction: Studies have shown that there is an association between Anxiety, Depression in mothers of children having Intellectual disability with poor quality of life (QOL) in mothers of such children. This study was carried with the objectives to describe the clinico-socio-demographic profile of mothers of intellectually disabled children and to investigate the relationship among anxiety and depression with quality of life in mothers with intellectually disabled children.Material And Method: Mothers (N=31), whose children's IQ score was below 70, were enrolled in to the study with their informed consent. Depression and Anxiety disorders were diagnosed as per ICD 10. Severity of depression was measured with BDI and Anxiety symptoms with STAI. WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess Quality of life. The relationship among anxiety, depression and QOL were analysed using diagonal matrix, ANOVA and Pearson correlation test.Results: The mean age of participants was 50.23 (S.D= 6.11), BDI score was 13.65(S.D= 11.301), STAI score was 53.90 (SD= 15.821), WHOQOL- BREF in all four domains was 290.90 (S.D=49.42). There was significant correlation between BDI and STAI (P=0.01, r:0.651 ) and the three domains of WHOQOL- BREF(P=0.01, r:0.821, 0.843, 0.635 respectively) scale except Environment domain. Among the participants, 48.4% (ICD 10) had depression of varying degree along with 54.8% depression as per BDI cut off score. Anxiety disorder was seen in 22.6% as per ICD 10 but as per STAI it was 53.90(SD=15.821) which was statistically significant (p:0.01, r: -0.507). Depression when compared with no diagnosis persons has poor quality of life in WHOQOL-BREF physical domain (p:0.002) but with compared to Anxiety or both it was not statistically significant.Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that mothers of children having Intellectual disability have high level of Anxiety and Depression which indeed had impact in quality of life. J Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal Vol. 6, No. 2, 2017 Page: 28-35

Download Full-text

Predictors of quality of life, symptoms of anxiety, and depression in Latino patients with cervical cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.36.34_suppl.171 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (34_suppl) ◽

pp. 171-171

Author(s):

Oscar Galindo Vazquez ◽

Mayra CU Menes ◽

David Ortiz ◽

Abelardo Meneses-Garcia ◽

Jose Luis Aguilar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cervical Cancer ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Psychosocial Care ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Chi Square ◽

European Organization ◽

Exact Test

171 Background: Cervical cancer is considered one of the most frequent cancers among women and with the greatest causes of death in the world. In Mexico it is considered the second cause of death. Objective: The identify predictors of quality-of-life, symptomatology of anxiety and depression in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: 192 patients with cervical cancer aged between 44 and 60 years were included, through interview and consultation of the clinical file, information on sociodemographic and clinical variables were obtained. Instrument: European Organization Scale for Cancer Research and Treatment and Quality of Life (EORTC QLC-C30) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analysis: Chi square or Fisher´s exact test. The association of the variables was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results: 48% had poor quality of life, 24% with depression, and 29% with anxiety.The predictors of a low quality of life are: presenting one or more comorbidities, family history with cancer, presenting anxious, and depressive symptoms Conclusions: Psychological assumptions are predictors of variables such as quality of life, in a population with cervical cancer, in Mexico this group of patients have low educational and economic levels. Psychosocial care programs are required in this group of Latina women.

Download Full-text

Caregivers’ quality of life and psychological health in response to functional, cognitive, neuropsychiatric and social deficits of patients with brain tumour: protocol for a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016308 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e016308 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carole Ramirez ◽

Véronique Christophe ◽

Charlotte Dassonneville ◽

Delphine Grynberg

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Social Impact ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

IntroductionPatients with gliomas generally present cognitive, neuropsychiatric and functional deficits. Although previous research has shown that their caregivers present a poor quality of life and poor mental health, only a few studies have tested in a comprehensive way which deficits/preserved abilities of patients predominantly impact their caregivers. Furthermore, only a few studies have focused on the social impact of gliomas, which may also damage the caregivers’ quality of life. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to investigate which patients’ impairments are particularly deleterious for the caregivers and whether the histological characteristics of the gliomas also affect their quality of life.Methods and analysisIn order to examine these research questions, this study intends to include 180 patients (60 patients with grade II gliomas, 60 patients with grade III gliomas and 60 patients with grade IV gliomas), their caregivers and 60 healthy controls. While patients will complete a full battery of cognitive, neuropsychiatric, functional and social tests, caregivers will complete questionnaires about their quality of life, depression, anxiety and burden. Patients’ performances and caregivers’ reports of depression and anxiety will be compared with the scores of healthy controls. Eventually, our aim will be to provide specific care support both to reduce patients’ deficits and alleviate caregivers’ difficulties.Ethics and disseminationThe study has obtained the approval of the local faculty ethics committee (‘Comité d’éthique en sciences comportementales’; 2016–5 S41 and 2015–3 S37). On completion of the study, data will be kept by Lille University for 5 years before they are destroyed. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations with no reference to a specific individual.

Download Full-text

Anxiety and depression in inflammatory eye disease: exploring the potential impact of topical treatment frequency as a putative psychometric item

BMJ Open Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000649 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000649

Author(s):

Georgios Vakros ◽

Paolo Scollo ◽

James Hodson ◽

Philip I Murray ◽

Saaeha Rauz

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Eye Drops ◽

Inflammatory Eye Disease ◽

Anxiety Depression

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether topical therapy is linked to scores related to anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) in inflammatory eye disease (IED).Methods and analysisPatients with ocular surface disease (OSD, N=100) and Uveitis (N=100) completed self-administered validated questions on ocular symptoms and well-being, with supplemental questions on eye drop frequency.ResultsForty (20%) patients had scores consistent with depression and 33 (17%) anxiety. Anxiety, depression, QoL and OSD index (OSDI) scores did not differ significantly between OSD and Uveitis groups. In those with anxiety or depression, QoL was significantly reduced in all WHO Quality Of Life-BREF domains (all p<0.001). Multivariable analysis considering demographic and disease-related factors found daily topical drop frequency to be independently associated with anxiety (p=0.009) but not depression (p=0.300).ConclusionA high proportion of patients with IED demonstrated scores indicative of anxiety and depression. Preliminary evidence suggests that the frequency of topical eye drops potentially plays a significant role in the psychological health status of patients with IED .

Download Full-text