Genetic and environmental influences on depressive symptoms by age and gender in African American twins

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith E. Whitfield ◽  
Christopher L. Edwards ◽  
Dwayne Brandon ◽  
Camela McDougald
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay ◽  
Alexandra Rebeca Mihoc

"The changes occurring in modern society can significantly influence individuals’ well-being, mental health and even personality traits such as narcissism and perfectionism. Since studies investigating age and gender differences in narcissism and perfectionism have produced mixed results, and the number of studies conducted in Romanian population is scarce, the main aims of this study were to investigate possible age and gender differences in narcissism, perfectionism and several mental-health indicators in a sample of healthy participants, as well as specific association patterns between these variables within each group of participants. Our sample included 465 millennials and 149 participants over 35 years of age. The results indicate that millennials reported significantly lower levels of narcissism and self-oriented perfectionism than the older generations, higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Female millennials reported lower levels of narcissistic traits and higher levels of socially-prescribed perfectionism, depressive symptoms, personal growth, and positive relations with others than male participants. Older females indicated significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness than male participants. Regarding association patterns, in the group of millennial women narcissism was positively correlated with self-oriented, socially-prescribed perfectionism and subjective well-being, and negatively with loneliness, environmental mastery and purpose in life. In millennial males, we found significant positive correlations only between narcissism and subjective well-being and environmental mastery. Our findings may have important implications for the literature regarding millennials and can contribute to the interventions and prevention programs designed to improve their well-being. Keywords: millennials, narcissism, perfectionism, mental health indicators, age and gender differences "


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Liao ◽  
Zhicheng Luo ◽  
Yitan Hou ◽  
Ningning Cui ◽  
Xiaotian Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This is a cross-sectional study to explore the age and gender specific association between obesity and depression in Chinese rural adults. Methods A total of 29,900 eligible participants from the Henan Rural Cohort Study were included. Standard anthropometric measurements were undertaken to obtain data on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) was utilized to discover depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was performed to explore the association between obesity (independent variable) and depressive symptoms (dependent variable). Results There were 1777 subjects with depressive symptoms, accounting for 5.94%. After multivariable adjustment, compared with normal weight group, the odds ratios (ORs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for depressive symptoms in underweight, overweight and general obese groups were 1.41 (1.08–1.84), 0.87 (0.78–0.97) and 0.86 (0.74–0.99), respectively. Similarly, the OR (95% CI) of abdominal obesity group was 0.84 (0.76–0.93). Besides, there was linear decreasing trend of WC with depressive symptoms, but not BMI. Moreover, the inverse association between obesity and depressive symptoms was stronger in men and the elderly than that in women and the young. Conclusion Underweight was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, which indicated that health care should pay attention to underweight as well as obesity, especially for women and the young. Clinical trial registration The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 2015-07-06.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Tim D Klepp ◽  
Primavera Spagnolo ◽  
Pei-Hong Shen ◽  
Nancy Diazgranados ◽  
Colin Hodgkinson ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The preliminary analysis sought to retrospectively characterize the role of hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2) in the development and prognosis of AD along with associated behavioral measures including smoking, self-reported drinking history, and neuroticism. Given the results in this study along with the paucity of information regarding the functional significance of rs2653349, we intend to comprehensively characterize HCRTR2 using haplotype analyses. We will then identify relationships between our haplotype analysis and IV alcohol self-administration using the Computer-Assisted Infusion System, and phenotypes identified in a sleep study. Furthermore, we aim at identifying functional loci in the hypocretin/orexin system by investigating differential allele expression in the orexin receptors in hippocampus tissue obtained from postmortem human brains. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study examined 1569 European American and African American individuals between 18 and 65 years old, 922 of whom with a current diagnosis of AD. Participants were genotyped for HCRTR2 rs2653349 and ancestry was determined via a genome-wide panel of ancestry informative markers. AD was diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) for psychiatric disorders and recent alcohol use was assessed by 90-day Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) interviews. Smoking was assessed using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and neuroticism was measured using the NEO Personality Inventory. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In European Americans, a significant difference was found in current AD diagnosis between AX carriers and GG carriers (z=−2.390, p=0.017). This relationship remained significant in a logistic regression model controlled for age and gender (R2=0.269, p=0.015). TLFB drinking measures were compared based on the median values to correct for the ceiling effect resulting from the assessment covering the past 90 days. Total drinks (U=8.280, p=0.004), number of drinking days (U=6.983, p=0.008), and average drinks per days (U=7.221, p=0.007) were all noted to significantly differ between the two allele groups among Caucasians. The associations between rs2653349 and total drinks (R2=0.115, p=0.023) and heavy drinking days (R2=0.190, p=0.015) remained significant in linear regressions controlled for age and gender. Furthermore, Caucasian AX carriers had a higher median number of drinking days relative to GG homozygotes among current AD positive subjects (U=6.937, p=0.012) and a lower median number of drinking days among current AD negative subjects (U=4.430, p=0.035). Among Caucasian AD negative subjects, there was a significantly greater frequency of smokers (χ2=3.550, p=0.046). In African American participants, there were no significant differences in AD diagnosis and in measures of AD severity by genotype. African American males diagnosed with current AD had higher rates of smoking in the AX group (χ2=4.969, p=0.017). No significant associations were found between rs2653349 and neuroticism in any of the cohorts analyzed in this sample. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The results suggest that, among Caucasians, AX carriers have an increased risk to develop AD independently of their age and gender. In addition, among individuals with a diagnosis of AD, AX carriers reported a greater number of drinking days, as measured by the TLFB, suggesting that this polymorphism also exerts an effect on the severity of the disease. This effect on increased alcohol consumption was absent in Caucasian AX carriers without current AD diagnosis. In future analysis, we will explore how different genetic profiles in HCRTR2, and also HCRTR1, may alter the orexin signaling pathway and how such alterations may predispose patients to develop AD and exacerbate AD once it develops.


2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saint-Clair Bahls

OBJECTIVES: To assess, using the self-report questionnaire Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the rate of depressive symptoms and its distribution by age and gender, in a sample of students. METHODS: Application of the CDI in 463 students, aged 10 to 17. RESULTS: The total mean score was 13.0 with a standard deviation of 7.0 (median = 12.0), for females the score was 14.4 with a standard deviation of 7.2 (median = 13.0) and for males it was 11.1 with a standard deviation of 6.2 (median = 10.0). Using the cut-off score of 19, 20.3% of the students had important indications of depressive symptoms. The age factor had no significance; however, there was a non-significant trend of increasing rates of depressive symptoms in the ages of 10 to 15 and a decreasing trend in the ages of 16 to 17. There was a statistically significant predominance of females above the cut-off score compared to males (72.3% versus 27.7%), with a ratio of 2.6 females for each male. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adolescent students have a high level of depressive symptoms, with a clear predominance of females over males, and a probable period of onset concentrated between the ages of 12 and 15 years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 985-985
Author(s):  
Betul Urganci

Abstract A growing body of research suggests that greater perceived partner responsiveness- the extent to which individuals feel cared for, understood, and validated by their romantic partner- leads to longer, healthier, and happier life in adulthood, yet little is known about possible moderating factors between responsiveness and well-being. Using a longitudinal design, the current study tested the moderating roles of age and gender in association between perceived partner responsiveness and depression symptoms. The data for the present study came from the National Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS I and II) which is a longitudinal study on health and aging. A life span sample of 2856 married or cohabiting individuals (1402 Female, Mage= 47.16) completed measures of perceived partner responsiveness, depression, age, and gender in two waves (T1 and T2). The results showed that greater perceived partner responsiveness at T1 predicted lower depressive symptoms at T2 controlling for depressive symptoms at T1. This finding remained when controlling for potential confounders including demographics and health covariates. The moderation analysis demonstrated that participants’ age was not a significant moderator in the association between perceived partner responsiveness and depression. Yet, gender significantly was a significant moderator such that the association of perceived partner responsiveness and depression was significant for female but not for male participants. These findings can have implications for mental health and relational well-being.


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