First-year undergraduate students: depressed, distressed, and drained? Influence of depressive symptoms on markers of psychological well-being, sleep, and physical activity

Author(s):  
Erica L. Rauff ◽  
C. L. van der Meulen
BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e047393
Author(s):  
Kiera Louise Adams ◽  
Kate E Saunders ◽  
Charles Donald George Keown-Stoneman ◽  
Anne C Duffy

ObjectiveThis study examined the association between candidate psychosocial and lifestyle variables and the trajectories of clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms from entry to completion of first-year university.DesignA longitudinal cohort studyParticipantsFirst-year undergraduate studentsMethodsWe analysed the responses of 1686 first-year undergraduate students attending Queen’s University who completed electronic surveys at both the beginning and completion of their academic year. Predictors of change in positive anxiety and depressive symptom screens (based on exceeding validated symptom threshold scores) were identified using logistic regression.ResultsIncreased university connectedness reduced the odds of emergent significant depressive and anxiety symptoms in healthy students and increased the odds of recovery in students who screened positive at the start of university. Students who screened positive for depression or anxiety at university entry were less likely to recover if they had a lifetime history of internalising disorders. Healthy students who increased their drug use over their first year had higher odds of developing significant levels of both anxiety and depressive symptoms by completion of the academic year.ConclusionsModerate to severe levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms are common among students at entry to university and persist over the first year. University connectedness may mitigate the risk of persistent or emergent symptoms, whereas drug use appears to increase these risks. Findings have implications for university well-being initiatives.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 498-498
Author(s):  
Yooumi Lee ◽  
Janet Wilmoth

Abstract This study investigates whether intergenerational relationships and social support improve the psychological well-being of Korean older adults. We examine whether intergenerational relationships and social support directly influence psychological well-being and the extent to which they mediate the distressing consequences of life events such as declining health and recent widowhood. Using longitudinal data from the 2006 to 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we explore depression trajectories among individuals who are 60 or older with at least one living adult child at baseline. Specifically, we converted data from 5,383 older adults into a person-period file with 24,726 observations over a ten-year period. Then we estimated linear growth curve models of depression trajectories separately for men and women using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results from the hierarchical linear models indicate that declining health and recent widowhood are positively related to depressive symptoms. Satisfactory intergenerational relationships and social support in the form of personal interactions and proximate living arrangements with adult children decrease depressive symptoms of older parents, especially among women. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational relationships and social support are contingent upon the vulnerability of older adults and discuss the implications for public policy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1956.2-1956
Author(s):  
F. Ingegnoli ◽  
T. Schioppo ◽  
T. Ubiali ◽  
S. Ostuzzi ◽  
M. Buoli ◽  
...  

Background:The research approach on Rheumatic diseases (RDs) is challenging and patient involvement as partners in medical research is an emerging force to obtain relevant information and to add unique skills, values and experiences to research. Despite growing interest in non-pharmacologic aspects of clinical research in RDs, the patients’ perspective is currently poorly explored.Objectives:To identify and rank the priorities for clinical research according to patients’ perspective.Methods:A structured face-to-face meeting between physicians and a patient representative was convened to list the non-pharmacologic topics relevant to RD patients. A cross-sectional no-profit on-line anonymous survey was devised to evaluate opinions of RD patients. They were asked to rate the following topics: food/nutrition, air pollution, smoking, work activity, social participation, physical activity, emotional well-being/stress, alternative medicine, and patient-physician relationship. Moreover, patients were asked to explain for which reason a topic was considered important (disease prevention, halting disease progression, symptoms control and disease cure). The survey was disseminated by ALOMAR (Lombard Association for Rheumatic Diseases) between June and October 2019.Results:200 rheumatic patients completed the survey: 130 inflammatory arthritis, 50 connective tissue diseases/vasculitis, and 20 among osteoarthritis, gout, condrocalcinosis, polymyalgia and primary fibromyalgia. Respondents were 178 female with median age of 50 years and median disease duration of 7 years. Among the nine topics identified, the one most rated by patients was the doctor-patient relationship; 188 (94%) of respondents considered this topic very or extremely important (see table below). In descending order, patients rated very or extremely important: psychological well-being/stress 185 (92.5%), physical activity 155 (77.5%), nutrition, eating habits and alcohol 150 (75%), alternative therapies 144 (72%), work activity 144 (72%), environmental pollution 134 (67%), social life 121 (60.5%) and cigarette smoke 119 (59.5%). The topics considered relevant was perceived to be able to influence disease symptoms. Regarding RD prevention, environmental pollution and cigarette smoking were considered the most important topics, while fewer patients believed that research on other topics could help to stop disease progression or to achieve disease healing.RankingTopicNot or quite importantVery or extremely important1Doctor-patient relationship, n (%)12 (6.0)188 (94.0)2Psychological well-being/stress, n (%)15 (7.5)185 (92.5)3Physical activity, n (%)45 (22.5)155 (77.5)4Nutrition/eating habits/alcohol, n (%)50 (25.0)150 (75.0)5Alternative therapies, n (%)56 (28.0)144 (72.0)6Work activity, n (%)56 (28.0)144 (72.0)7Environmental pollution, n (%)66 (33.0)134 (67.0)8Social life, n (%)79 (39.5)121 (60.5)9Cigarette smoke, n (%)81 (40.5)119 (59.5)Conclusion:This survey highlights the relevance of several unmet needs. The holistic approach, in terms of medical consultation and psychological well-being, is considered the most important component able to influence disease perception. By capturing patient opinions on non-pharmacological topics for clinical research, this survey indicates that the active patient involvement is essential to design successful translational studies and improve clinical outcomes.Acknowledgments:We thank the Lombard Association of Rheumatic Diseases (ALOMAR) for its contribution to plan and disseminate the survey and the group that sustain systemic sclerosis (GILS).Disclosure of Interests:Francesca Ingegnoli: None declared, Tommaso Schioppo: None declared, Tania Ubiali: None declared, Silvia Ostuzzi: None declared, Massimiliano Buoli: None declared, Valentina Bollati: None declared, Roberto Caporali Consultant of: AbbVie; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Lilly; Merck Sharp & Dohme; Celgene; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Pfizer; UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Lilly; Gilead Sciences, Inc; MSD; Pfizer; Roche; UCB


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Boaz Kahana ◽  
Nirmala Lekhak

Abstract Existing scholarship in social gerontology has surprisingly paid little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later life psychological well-being. This study examined the influence of feeling love toward other persons and experiencing love from others on later life psychological well-being. We conducted a 3-wave longitudinal study of a representative sample of 340 ethnically heterogeneous community dwelling older residents of Miami, Florida. The increase in feeling of being loved (β=-1.53, p<0.001) and love for others (β=-1.43, p<0.001) led to decline in odds of reporting greater level of depressive symptoms over time. The odds of reporting higher level of positive affect were significantly greater for older adults who reported feeling loved by others (β=1.16, p<0.001) and expressed love for other people (β=1.18, p<0.01). Older adults who felt loved had 0.92-point lower ordered log odds of reporting higher negative affect than those who reported lower level of love. The impact of compassionate love on depressive symptoms and negative affect remained statistically significant even after adjustment for altruistic attitudes and emotional support. The influence of loving emotions on positive affect was, however, explained by altruistic attitudes and emotional support. Our findings underscore the powerful influence of both receiving and giving love for the maintenance of later life psychological well-being. We offer support for the expectation that love is a significant force in the lives of older adults that transcends intimate relationships.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 342-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mallory Lucier-Greer ◽  
Davina Quichocho ◽  
Ross W. May ◽  
Gregory S. Seibert ◽  
Frank D. Fincham

Experiencing a traumatic event is generally posited to increase vulnerability. Informed by a stress process framework, this study investigated the relation of posttraumatic stress to depressive symptoms, risky drinking, and school burnout in emerging adulthood, a developmental period during which common behavioral and psychological disorders reach their peak. Whether self-control acts as a mechanism linking posttraumatic stress to these outcomes was also examined. Using a short-term longitudinal design ( N = 373 undergraduate students), we found a direct, positive association between heightened levels of posttraumatic stress and heightened depressive symptoms, risky drinking, and school burnout. Posttraumatic stress was also indirectly linked to depressive symptoms, risky drinking, and school burnout via self-control. Experiences of posttraumatic stress are thought to erode self-control capacity, and depleted self-control is thought to be adversely associated with mental health, decision-making, and school success. Implications for intervention across multiple lines of defense are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Wunsch ◽  
Claudio R. Nigg ◽  
Susanne Weyland ◽  
Darko Jekauc ◽  
Claudia Niessner ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) has beneficial effects on health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which is a protective factor of illness and mortality. The purpose of this examination was to investigate if self-reported and device-based measures of PA were related to HRQoL in adolescents. Methods Participants (N = 1565; 54.3% female; Mage = 14.37 years, SDage = 1.99) were recruited from 167 sample points across Germany. Adolescents self-reported their PA, supplemented by a 1-week examination of device-based PA using accelerometry. Additionally, they completed the multidimensional KIDSCREEN-27 to assess HRQoL. Results Results showed that self-reported PA was correlated with overall HRQoL, Physical Well-Being, Psychological Well-Being, Social Support & Peers, and School Environment, whereas device-based PA was only correlated with Physical as well as Psychological Well-Being. Further, self-reported PA significantly predicted all facets of HRQoL except for Autonomy and Parent Relations, whereas device-based PA solely heightened the amount of explained variance in the Physical Well-Being subscale. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the importance of self-reported PA as it is related to almost all facets of HRQoL. Both measures of PA are not congruent in their relationship with HRQoL and thus implications have to be carefully considered. Future studies should investigate the direct effect of PA on HRQoL and health in a longitudinal approach to account for the causality of effects.


1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
William McTeer ◽  
James E. Curtis

This study examines the relationship between physical activity in sport and feelings of well-being, testing alternative interpretations of the relationship between these two variables. It was expected that there would be positive relationships between physical activity on the one hand and physical fitness, feelings of well-being, social interaction in the sport and exercise environment, and socioeconomic status on the other hand. It was also expected that physical fitness, social interaction, and socioeconomic status would be positively related to psychological well-being. Further, it was expected that any positive zero-order relationship of physical activity and well-being would be at least in part a result of the conjoint effects of the other variables. The analyses were conducted separately for the male and female subsamples of a large survey study of Canadian adults. The results, after controls, show a modest positive relationship of physical activity and well-being for males but no such relationship for females. The predicted independent effects of the control factors obtained for both males and females. Interpretations of the results are discussed.


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