Social capital and students’ health: results of the splash study

Abstract Background Universities around the world are challenged with rising rates of mental health problems among their students. Cumulative evidence demonstrated that aspects of the social environment, including social capital, play an important role in mental health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students from across the globe and to investigate whether social capital was associated with depressive symptoms in university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Malaysia Oman, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA in 2018/2019. Data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms. The BDI-S was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. Multilevel analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between social capital and depressive, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g. perceived stress and health behaviours) and country-level characteristics (e.g. democracy type). Results A total 3894 students participated. Out of all participants almost 47% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was highest among students identifying as other than male or female (48.7%), among students with low socioeconomic status (59.5%) and among students with low levels of cognitive (65.3%) and behavioural social capital (57.0%). Even after adjustment in multilevel logistic regression analyses, depressive symptoms remained significantly associated with low levels of cognitive social capital (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.10) and low level of behavioural social capital (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.71). Conclusions Social capital may play an important role in mental health problems in the university setting. The study identified significant opportunities for future research and health promotion strategies among students. Key messages Key factors associated with depressive symptoms among university students were low levels of behavioural and cognitive social capital. Health promotion programs targeting young persons with depressive symptoms should include effective components of social epidemiology such as social capital.

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Definitions and Operationalization of Mental Health Problems, Wellbeing and Participation Constructs in Children with NDD: Distinctions and Clarifications

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041656 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1656 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mats Granlund ◽

Christine Imms ◽

Gillian King ◽

Anna Karin Andersson ◽

Lilly Augustine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Future Research ◽

Conceptual Clarity ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Difference ◽

The Relationship

Children with impairments are known to experience more restricted participation than other children. It also appears that low levels of participation are related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The purpose of this conceptual paper is to describe and define the constructs mental health problems, mental health, and participation to ensure that future research investigating participation as a means to mental health in children and adolescents with NDD is founded on conceptual clarity. We first discuss the difference between two aspects of mental health problems, namely mental disorder and mental illness. This discussion serves to highlight three areas of conceptual difficulty and their consequences for understanding the mental health of children with NDD that we then consider in the article: (1) how to define mental health problems, (2) how to define and assess mental health problems and mental health, i.e., wellbeing as separate constructs, and (3) how to describe the relationship between participation and wellbeing. We then discuss the implications of our propositions for measurement and the use of participation interventions as a means to enhance mental health (defined as wellbeing). Conclusions: Mental disorders include both diagnoses related to impairments in the developmental period, i.e., NDD and diagnoses related to mental illness. These two types of mental disorders must be separated. Children with NDD, just like other people, may exhibit aspects of both mental health problems and wellbeing simultaneously. Measures of wellbeing defined as a continuum from flourishing to languishing for children with NDD need to be designed and evaluated. Wellbeing can lead to further participation and act to protect from mental health problems.

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Physical and Psychological Benefits of Written Emotional Expression

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000231 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 242-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Éva Kállay

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Expressive Writing ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Health Problems ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Benefits ◽

Cost Effective Treatment ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.

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From Stress to Psychopathology: Relationship with Self-Reassurance and Self-Criticism in Czech University Students

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction ◽

10.1007/s11469-021-00516-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yasuhiro Kotera ◽

Jaroslava Dosedlova ◽

Denise Andrzejewski ◽

Greta Kaluzeviciute ◽

Makoto Sakai

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Problems ◽

Transactional Model ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Path Analyses ◽

As Stress

AbstractPsychological stress has become a major concern, potentially leading to diverse health problems including psychopathology such as depression and anxiety. Transactional Model of Stress and Coping is an established model, conceptualizing stressful experiences via person–environment relationship. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the pathway from stress to depression/anxiety, with a focus on self-criticism (inadequate-self and hated-self) and self-reassurance (reassured-self) in Czech students who suffered from high prevalence of mental health problems. Convenience sample of 119 undergraduates completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and the Forms of the Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used to aid an accurate and complete report of the study. Depression, anxiety, and stress were positively associated with inadequate-self and hated-self while negatively associated with reassured-self. Both inadequate-self and hated-self partially mediated the stress–depression and stress–anxiety relationships, whereas reassured-self only partially mediated the stress–depression relationship. Inadequate-self had greater impact on the stress–depression/anxiety pathways than hated-self and reassured-self. Findings indicate that clinical treatment may benefit from targeting the feelings of inadequacy to prevent stress progressing to psychopathology. This is particularly relevant as stress levels are rising globally. Our findings offer developments to the Transactional Model, and help practitioners and educators identify solutions to protect mental health of Czech university students.

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Depressive Symptoms in Swiss University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Correlates

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041458 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1458 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thomas Volken ◽

Annina Zysset ◽

Simone Amendola ◽

Anthony Klein Swormink ◽

Marion Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

National Population ◽

Student Cohorts ◽

Containment Measures

Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students (n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population (n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.

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Physical exercise, mental health problems, and suicide attempts in university students

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-020-02583-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michael Grasdalsmoen ◽

Hege Randi Eriksen ◽

Kari Jussie Lønning ◽

Børge Sivertsen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

University Students ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems

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Preconception prediction of expectant fathers' mental health: 20-year cohort study from adolescence

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2017.10 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 58-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Elizabeth Spry ◽

Rebecca Giallo ◽

Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽

Jacqui Macdonald ◽

Denise Becker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Common Mental Disorder ◽

Health Problems ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Future Research ◽

Expectant Fathers

We examined prospective associations between men's common mental disorders in the decades prior to offspring conception and subsequent paternal antenatal mental health problems. Data came from a prospective intergenerational cohort study which assessed common mental disorder nine times from age 14 to 29 years, and in the third trimester of subsequent pregnancies to age 35 years (N = 295 pregnancies to 214 men). Men with histories of adolescent and young adult common mental disorders were over four times more likely to experience antenatal mental health problems. Future research identifying modifiable perinatal factors that counteract preconception risk would provide further targets for intervention.Declaration of interestNone.

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Does Mother–Child Interaction Mediate the Relation Between Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Children’s Mental Health Problems?

Journal of Child and Family Studies ◽

10.1007/s10826-015-0309-1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 1257-1268 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Marleen M. E. M. van Doorn ◽

Rowella C. W. M. Kuijpers ◽

Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff ◽

Denise Bodden ◽

Mélou Jansen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Children’S Mental Health ◽

Children's Mental Health ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Child Interaction ◽

Mother Child Interaction

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Teacher Mental Health Literacy: Results from a State-wide Survey in Schools

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.275 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

U Bauer ◽

O Okan ◽

F Faulbaum

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

School Mental Health ◽

Health Problems ◽

Mental Health Promotion ◽

Parental Mental Health ◽

Whole School

Abstract Background Teachers have an important role to play in context of mental health literacy (MHL) promotion of school-aged children. Their MHL is seen as the counterpart of student`s health literacy. Especially vulnerable schoolchildren such as those affected by adverse life events (e.g. parental mental health problems) can benefit from programs. In addition, the whole school environment has impact on school mental health promotion. Yet, only little evidence is available on teachers MHL in Europe. The aim is to provide evidence from a state-wide survey on the state of MHL of teachers in Germany. Methods Based on semi-structured interviews with school teachers from all school types in one federal state, including primary and secondary schools, a MHL online questionnaire was developed. The survey was conducted in in 2017 in N = 2500 teachers in Germany. Descriptive and regression analyse have been performed. Results Teachers feel considerable uncertainties when working with children affected by adversities related to parental mental health problems. Dealing with the social family background seems hard. Teachers state that they don`t feel comfortable when aiming at mental health promotion of affected children or children in general. Data also show that they may tend to make misjudgements, and that they are not sufficiently trained to address mental health issues in the classrooms. Regression models show that the degree and quality of teaching mental health is affected by differences across school forms, satisfaction with and engagement of school principals in mental health action, learned strategies to respond to parents, and experienced stress, burden and exposure during their work. Conclusions Increasing teacher MHL and the environmental capacities and responsiveness towards school mental health promotion should be an important capacity building strategy. Policy support for school mental health promotion is a critical means to sustain effective whole-school approaches.

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