scholarly journals Do Depressive Symptoms Shape Blacks’ Perceptions of Stress Over Time?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
DeAnnah R Byrd ◽  
Roland J Thorpe ◽  
Keith E Whitfield

Abstract Background and Objectives Previous studies have linked stress to multiple negative mental health outcomes, including depression. This established stress–depression association is typically examined in one direction and cross-sectionally. This study examined the bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and changes in perceived stress over time in Blacks. Research Design and Methods The present study uses a community-dwelling sample of 450 Black adults, aged 51–96 years old, who participated in the Baltimore Study of Black Aging—Patterns of Cognitive Aging. Perceived stress—measured by the Perceived Stress Scale—and depressive symptoms—measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale—were both assessed at baseline and follow-up 33 months later. Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine 2 bidirectional longitudinal relationships between (1) stress–depression and (2) depression–stress, and whether these associations are modified by age. Results Initial analyses testing the typical stress–depression relationship showed an effect in the expected direction, that is stress leading to more depressive symptoms over time, adjusting for model covariates, but the effect was not statistically significant (b = 0.014, p = .642). After accounting for baseline perceived stress level, age, sex, education, and chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms were positively associated with follow-up stress (b = 0.210, p < .000). The depression–stress association further varied by age group such that the impact of baseline depression on changes in perceived stress was greatest in Blacks in their 60s versus those in their 50s (b = 0.267, p = .001), controlling for model covariates. Discussion and Implications Contrary to previous work, the results suggest that an individual’s mental health shapes his/her perception of stressful events and this relationship varies by age group. While the typical finding (stress impacting depression) was not significant, the findings reported here highlight the importance of considering the possible bidirectional nature of the relationships between psychosocial measures of stress and mental health in later life among Blacks.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 573-573
Author(s):  
DeAnnah Byrd ◽  
Roland Thorpe ◽  
Keith Whitfield

Abstract The established association between stress and depression is typically examined only in one direction and cross-sectionally. Data from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging-Patterns of Cognitive Aging was used to longitudinally examine the bi-directional relationships between (1) stress-depression and (2) depression-stress, and age as a modifier. The sample consisted of 602 community-dwelling Blacks, aged 48-92 years at baseline and 450 at follow-up 33 months later. While the stress-depression relationship was non-significant; the depression-stress was (b= 0.236, p< 0.000) and this association varied by age with the impact of baseline depression on changes in stress greatest among Blacks in their 60’s versus those in their 50’s (b= 0.257, p= 0.002), controlling for model covariates. Findings highlight the importance of depression in shaping Blacks’ perception of stress over time. Future work should continue to identify stress and mental health risk factors that contribute to poor health and health disparities in older Blacks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S2-S3
Author(s):  
Callie Abouzeid ◽  
Audrey E Wolfe ◽  
Gretchen J Carrougher ◽  
Nicole S Gibran ◽  
Radha K Holavanahalli ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Burn survivors often face many long-term physical and psychological symptoms associated with their injury. To date, however, few studies have examined the impact of burn injuries on quality of life beyond 2 years post-injury. The purpose of this study is to examine the physical and mental well-being of burn survivors up to 20 years after injury. Methods Data from the Burn Model System National Database (1997–2020) were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures were collected at discharge with a recall of preinjury status, and then at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after injury. Outcomes examined were the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the Short Form-12. Trajectories were developed using linear mixed methods model with repeated measures of PCS and MCS scores over time and controlling for demographic and clinical variables. The model fitted score trajectory was generated with 95% confidence intervals to demonstrate score changes over time and associations with covariates. Results The study population included 420 adult burn survivors with a mean age of 42.4 years. The population was mainly male (66%) and white (76.4%) with a mean burn size of 21.5% and length of hospital stay of 31.3 days. Higher PCS scores were associated with follow-up time points closer to injury, shorter hospital stay, and younger age. Similarly, higher MCS scores were associated with earlier follow-up time points, shorter hospital stay, female gender, and non-perineal burns. MCS trajectories are demonstrated in the Figure. Conclusions Burn survivors’ physical and mental health worsened over time. Such a trend is different from previous reported results for mental health in the general population. Demographic and clinical predictors of recovery over time are identified.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S215-S215
Author(s):  
Maria Monserud

Abstract Studies in developed countries indicate that social activities can make a difference in mental health in later life. Yet, research on potential benefits of social activities for older adults in developing countries, including Mexico, has been scarce. This study uses the two most recent waves (2012, 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study to investigate the impact of social activities on depressive symptoms among older men (n = 4, 749) and women (n = 6,527), aged 50+, in Mexico. The results of Ordinary Least Squares regressions indicate that it is important to differentiate among specific social activities in later life. Particularly, not only group-based but also solitary social activities were predictive of better mental health. Moreover, the findings demonstrate several gender differences and similarities. Participation in clubs, communication with relatives and friends, physical exercise, and watching television were beneficial for mental health among men, whereas volunteering, playing games, and making crafts were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women. At the same time, reading as well as doing household chores were related to better mental health among older Mexicans, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this study shows that self-reported health, functional limitations, chronic conditions, and frequent pain might shape the implications of social activities for depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico. The insights from this study can be helpful for intervention programs that are being developed to promote benefits of group-based and solitary social activities for mental health among older men and women with different levels of physical health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Stokes ◽  
Jeffrey Wilkinson ◽  
Prakash Ganesh ◽  
William Nundwe ◽  
Rachel Pope

Aims: To measure depression using the PHQ-9 over time and to identify characteristics associated with persistent depression. Methods: A database of women undergoing obstetric fistula repair was used to examine association of depression with variables such as general demographics, type of obstetric fistula, surgical outcome, and continence status at the time of discharge. Results: 797 patients completed the PHQ-9 upon initial pre-operative assessment. 365 (45.8%) had a PHQ-9 score of 5 or higher, indicating symptoms of depression. Pre-operatively, depression was associated with the 18-34 year old age group and women with no children. Post-operatively, worse incontinence was associated with depression, however, over time depression was rarely found among women returning for follow-up. Conclusions: The decrease of depression seen over time is either due to selection bias or due to improved adjustment to one’s circumstances. Either way, this study underscores the need for ongoing follow-up, perhaps especially for those not presenting. Further studies are needed to assess the mental health of women who do not present for follow-up visits.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247036
Author(s):  
Jannike Kaasbøll ◽  
Johannes Foss Sigurdson ◽  
Norbert Skokauskas ◽  
Anne Mari Sund

The aim of this article is to provide a detailed description of the Youth and Mental Health Study (YAMHS),a population-based, representative (cluster sampling), prospective cohort study that was conducted to investigate risk and resilience factors for mental health conditions, specifically depressive symptoms and disorders, from adolescence to adulthood. The baseline data were collected in 1998 (T1) in two counties in central Norway from 2464 adolescents (response rate 88.3%, mean age 13.7 years). The first follow-up was conducted in 1999 (T2) (n = 2432, response rate of 87.1%, mean age 14.9 years). A subgroup of individuals was assessed at T2 (n = 345) with clinical interviews, and this subgroup was reassessed in 2005 (T3) (n = 265, 70.1%, 20 years). The last follow-up (of participants assessed at T1 and T2) was conducted in 2012 (T4) (n = 1266, 51.9%, 27.2 years). Demographics, depressive symptoms, general psychopathology, suicidal ideation and attempts and psychological and somatic factors were recorded. Among adolescents of both sexes, psychosocial variables were correlated with and predicted depressive symptom severity. The strongest predictors were sex (female), the levels of depressive symptoms the preceding year, and the total number of stressful events. The association between stressful life events and depressive symptoms was moderated by physical activity, while the relationship between stressful events and coping style was mediated by depressive symptoms. The rate of use of specialised mental health services among the depressed was low. The lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders was 23% at 15 years, and the most common disorder was minor depression. Adolescents who attempted suicide were more often victims of violence and less resilient than were non-suicide attempters. The existing longitudinal data from the cohort will be further analysed. Follow-up data will be obtained from existing national registries by links created with individual identification numbers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 314-314
Author(s):  
Karen Lyons ◽  
Amy Rauer

Abstract This session includes four papers that explore and expand upon emerging concepts in dyadic research in health, illness, and end-of-life. First, Dr. Karen Lyons and colleagues examine the concept of dyadic mental health in mid-late life couples living with lung cancer. The paper examines the impact of having optimal versus poor dyadic mental health at diagnosis on the physical health of the couple over time, but also explores the ways we examine the concept of dyadic health in research and potential implications of these methods. Second, Dr. Lyndsey Miller and colleagues take a dyadic approach to understanding the roles of social activity and connectedness on depressive symptoms in a sample of community-dwelling older couples. The paper not only highlights important gender differences, but also the salient role of incongruent dyadic physical health. Third, Dr. Ranak Trivedi and colleagues describe the findings of a novel pilot intervention targeted at improving dyadic self-management in care dyads where one member is a Veteran with chronic conditions. The paper draws upon concepts of collaboration and dyadic coping to conceptualize self-management as a dyadic phenomenon. Finally, Dr. Buck and colleagues explore the novel concept of dyadic dissolution in a sample of family caregivers after the death of their care partner. The paper explores the concept as a cognitive and affective process with implications for how the surviving partner adapts over time. Speakers and Discussant, Dr. Amy Rauer, will focus on implications of these concepts for advancing dyadic science of health and illness across the lifespan.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S260-S260
Author(s):  
Aaron M Ogletree ◽  
Rosemary Blieszner ◽  
Rachel Pruchno ◽  
Jyoti Savla ◽  
Laura P Sands

Abstract More than 62% of adults aged 65+ have more than one chronic condition; this number increases to more than 82% for those 85+. Older adults simultaneously experience changes in their relationships due to negative relational life events, including illness, injury, or death of a loved one. Stressors occurring in tandem can overload psychological resources and increase risk for poor mental health. Informed by the stress process model, we assessed the influence of relational life events on depressive symptoms over time and evaluated the moderating effects of chronic condition onset. Self-reports of four stressful life events, five chronic conditions, and depressive symptoms as measured by the CES-D came from 2,948 older adults participating in the ORANJ BOWL panel. Using longitudinal multilevel mixed effect modeling, we examined trajectories of depressive symptoms across three waves. While depressive symptoms increased over time, they were greater for people who experienced more relational life events and the onset of more chronic conditions. Participants who reported experiencing all four relational life events but no chronic conditions had an average CES-D score of 5.28 (p<.0001); average CES-D score increased to 12.72 (p<.0001) for those who reported four life events and the onset of four or more new chronic conditions during the study period. In summary, chronic condition onset moderated the relationship between life events and depressive symptoms. Findings highlight the need for practitioner awareness of increased mental health risks for people experiencing stressors in multiple domains of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver W.A. Wilson ◽  
Kelsey E. Holland ◽  
Lucas D. Elliott ◽  
Michele Duffey ◽  
Melissa Bopp

Background: Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both physical activity (PA) and mental health is important to demonstrate the need for interventions. This study examined the apparent impact of the pandemic on college students’ PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Methods: From 2015 through 2020, data were collected at the beginning and end of the spring semester at a large Northeastern US university via an online survey assessing student demographics, PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Mixed ANOVA examined differences in PA and mental health changes over the spring semester between “normal” and COVID-19 circumstances. Two-way ANOVA examined the interaction between circumstance and changes in PA in relation to changes in mental health. Results: Participants (n = 1019) were predominately women and non-Hispanic white. There was a significant decline in PA and an increase in perceived stress under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances and a significant increase in depressive symptoms under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances among women. Conclusions: A significant decline in PA and mental health among college students occurred under COVID-19 circumstances, and PA did not appear to protect against deterioration in mental health. Proactive and innovative policies, programs, and practices to promote student health and well-being must be explored immediately.


2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110297
Author(s):  
Holly Boyne ◽  
Chloe A. Hamza

Many emerging adults report experiencing mental health challenges (e.g., depressive symptoms and perceived stress) during the transition to university. These mental health challenges often coincide with increased engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; e.g., self-cutting or burning without lethal intent), but longitudinal research exploring the nature of the associations among depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and NSSI are lacking. In the present study, it was examined whether depressive symptoms and perceived stress predicted increased risk for NSSI over time (or the reverse), and whether these effects were mediated or moderated by self-compassion. The sample consisted of 1,125 university students ( Mage = 17.96 years, 74% female), who completed an online survey three times in first year university. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that higher depressive symptoms, perceived stress, NSSI, and lower self-compassion often co-occurred, but only NSSI predicted increased perceived stress over time. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 354-355
Author(s):  
Xinyi Zhao ◽  
Huiying Liu ◽  
Quan Zhang

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transitioning into spousal caregiving, changes in social participation, and their interactions on depressive symptoms among community dwelling old adults over time. Methods: The samples included old adults who were non-caregivers at 2011 baseline of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and joined the follow-up surveys in 2013 and 2015. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) was used to analyze the effects of caregiving transitions (transitioning into low-intensity or high-intensity caregivers versus the non-caregivers) and changes in social engagement on the depressive symptoms over time. Results: The results showed that old adults who transitioned into spousal caregiving over a 4-year period reported more depressive symptoms than those remained non-caregivers. Old adults who continued or increased social participation reported fewer depressive symptoms than those without social participation. Individuals who continued social participation during the transitions into high-intensity caregiving showed less severe elevated depressive symptoms than their counterparts who did not engage in social participation. Conclusion: The results highlighted that continuous social participation might be a protective factor for old adults against negative psychological outcomes during the transition to high-intensive caregiving.


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