Examining Mental and Physical Health Status Among Sandwich Generation Caregivers

Abstract With a sample of 54,076 caregivers, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS, 2015-2017) provides an opportunity to assess the impact of caregiving on U.S. adults varying in age, gender, and race. We focused on sandwich generation (SG) caregivers, aged 30-59, with childcare and eldercare responsibilities (n=8,805). In multivariate regression models of mental and physical health, we evaluated the association of age, gender, race and caregiving factors controlling for marital status, education, housing status, income, employment status, and self-rated health status. SG caregivers were predominantly female (65.6%), white (69.6%), black (13%) and were caring for a parent/parent-in-law (50%) or another relative (26.4%). Age, gender, and race were associated with mental health outcomes such that SG caregivers who were younger (aged 30-39), female, and white reported poorer mental health during the past month (p<.05). Older (aged 50-59), female, and white SG caregivers reported poorer physical health during the past month (p<.05). Caregiving factors were not associated with mental health, but SG caregivers who had been providing care for a longer period of time were more likely to report poor physical health in the past month. Finally, education, income, employment, housing status, and self-rated health status were statistically significant covariates in both models (p<.05). These findings demonstrate that young caregivers are at risk for poor mental health; older caregivers for poor physical health. Being female, white, with lower socioeconomic status is associated with poor mental and physical health. Future research should address the unique needs of SG caregivers with dual caregiving responsibilities.

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Holistic Health: Does It Really Include Mental Health?

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2006.339 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 2092-2099 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kimberly K. McClanahan ◽

Marlene B. Huff ◽

Hatim A. Omar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Physical Health ◽

The United States ◽

Holistic Health ◽

Public Perceptions ◽

The Past ◽

Mind And Body ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

The U.S

Holistic health, incorporating mind and body as equally important and unified components of health, is a concept utilized in some health care arenas in the United States (U.S.) over the past 30 years. However, in the U.S., mental health is not seen as conceptually integral to physical health and, thus, holistic health cannot be realized until the historical concept of mind-body dualism, continuing stigma regarding mental illness, lack of mental health parity in insurance, and inaccurate public perceptions regarding mental illness are adequately addressed and resolved. Until then, mental and physical health will continue to be viewed as disparate entities rather than parts of a unified whole. We conclude that the U.S. currently does not generally incorporate the tenets of holistic health in its view of the mental and physical health of its citizens, and provide some suggestions for changing that viewpoint.

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Mental health of looked after children

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment ◽

10.1192/apt.9.4.249 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 249-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Joanna Richardson ◽

Paul Lelliott

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Education Research ◽

Young People ◽

Physical Health ◽

Policy Documents ◽

Policy Initiatives ◽

The Past ◽

Looked After Children ◽

The Government ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Looked after children are disadvantaged with regard to their mental and physical health and education. Research is limited on this population, but dramatic findings prompted the Government to produce a number of guidance and policy documents over the past 5 years. This paper discusses the available research and highlights the problems that looked after children face. The new policy initiatives are listed, along with a number of obstacles to be overcome if the care of these young people is to be improved.

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How writing and using Insight Poetry helped me to overcome my illness

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.27.2.71 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 71-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anonymous

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

The Past ◽

Mental And Physical Health

In 1986 I suffered a severe mental breakdown. I have had serious mental health problems for 15 years. Over the past 15 months, my mental and physical health have improved considerably. During this time, I have been writing and using Insight Poetry to help overcome my illness.

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Loneliness and Mental Health: Recommendations for Primary Care Intakes

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211027104 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110271

Author(s):

Marissa Godfrey ◽

Pi-Ju Liu ◽

Aining Wang ◽

Stacey Wood

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Integration ◽

Health Survey ◽

Household Income ◽

Regression Models ◽

Physical Health Status ◽

Health Measures ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Introduction/Objectives The healthcare intake process plays a significant role in informing medical personnel about patients’ demographic information, subjective health status, and health complaints. Intake forms can help providers personalize care to assist patients in getting proper referrals and treatment. Previous studies examined factors that could be included in intake forms independently, but this study analyzed loneliness, religiousness, household income, and social integration together to see how the combined effect influences mental and physical health status. This study aims to determine which of those 4 variables better inform patients’ mental versus physical health status. Methods One hundred and seventy-nine participants completed surveys, including the SF-12® Health Survey, measuring perceived physical and mental health, UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale, and a demographics questionnaire with questions about household income and time spent dedicated to religious practice, if applicable. Additionally, individuals answered social integration questions about how often they contact close family and friends or volunteer in the community. Using loneliness, household income, religiousness, social integration as independent variables, and controlling for demographic variables such as age, gender, and race, 2 regression models were built with Mental and Physical Health Composite Scores from the the SF-12® Health Survey as dependent variables. Results Loneliness was associated with mental health measures ( b = −2.190, P < .001), while household income was associated with physical health measures ( b = 0.604, P = .019) above and beyond other variables in the regression models. Conclusions Integrating the 3 loneliness questions into intake forms can help approximate an individual’s mental health status. This would allow the provider to be able to assess mental health problems more effectively and provide needed resources.

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Health behaviours and mental and physical health status in older adults with a history of homelessness: a cross-sectional population-based study in England

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e028003

Author(s):

Lee Smith ◽

Nicola Veronese ◽

Guillermo Felipe López-Sánchez ◽

Eloise Moller ◽

James Johnstone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Health Status ◽

Physical Health ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Physical Health Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Mental And Physical Health

ObjectivesThis study compared (1) levels of engagement in lifestyle risk behaviours and (2) mental and physical health status in individuals who have previously been homeless to those of individuals who have not.DesignCross-sectional.ParticipantsData were from participants (n=6931) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.MeasuresParticipants reported whether they had ever been homeless. We used regression models to analyse associations between homelessness and (1) cigarette smoking, daily alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates (age, sex, ethnicity, highest level of education, marital status and household non-pension wealth) and (2) self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, quality of life and loneliness, adjusting for sociodemographics and health behaviours.Results104 participants (1.5%) reported having been homeless. Individuals who had been homeless were significantly more likely to be physically inactive (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.52), report fair/bad/very bad self-rated health (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.86), have a limiting long-standing illness (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.65 to 4.30) and be depressed (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.85 to 5.05) and scored lower on measures of life satisfaction (17.34 vs 19.96, p<0.001) and quality of life (39.02 vs 41.21, p=0.013). Rates of smoking (20.2% vs 15.4%, p=0.436), daily drinking (27.6% vs 22.8%, p=0.385) and loneliness (27.1% vs 21.0%, p=0.080) were also elevated.ConclusionsThose who were once homeless have poorer mental and physical health outcomes and are more likely to be physically inactive. Interventions to improve their health and quality of life are required.

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The Impact of the Covid–19 Pandemic on the Health Behavior of Hungarian Social Worker Students from TransylvaniaTransylvania

Erdélyi Társadalom ◽

10.17177/77171.242 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 75-92

Author(s):

Enikő Albert-Lőrincz ◽

Csanád Albert-Lőrincz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Worker ◽

Allocation Of Resources ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The Covid-19 pandemic has made it necessary to focus on health care. In our study, we discuss how the curfew has affected the mental health, health status and health behavior of a group of Hungarian social worker students from Transylvania. We are looking at what they have done to protect their health, what protective factors have allowed them to remain resilient, and maintain their good mental and physical health. We point out the values and ways that enabled them to handle the situation. Our goal was to draw attention to the fact that crisis situations can be dealt with awareness, conscious use of techniques and purposeful allocation of resources. Keywords: pandemic, crisis, resilience, protective factors, health behavior

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91 Health care needs and missed care among youth in care in British Columbia: A population study

Paediatrics & Child Health ◽

10.1093/pch/pxab061.073 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. e66-e66

Author(s):

James Wang ◽

Sheila K Marshall ◽

Colleen S Poon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Physical Health ◽

Health Care Needs ◽

Care Needs ◽

The Past ◽

Youth In Care ◽

Missed Care ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Primary Subject area Adolescent Medicine Background Youth in care (YIC), including those living in foster care, kinship care, group homes, and youth agreements, are a vulnerable population with many risk factors leading to a high prevalence of mental and physical health needs. YIC are recommended to have more frequent health care encounters than the general adolescent population, though it is unknown how Canadian YIC perceive whether their health care needs are sufficiently met. Objectives To assess YIC's perception of their health care needs and frequency of missed care, defined as not having received needed health care. Design/Methods A representative sample of 38,015 students in Grades 7 to 12 across British Columbia was surveyed in the 2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey (McCreary Centre Society). Questionnaire items on demographics, mental and physical health, and health care access in the past year were examined. Frequencies and cross-tabulations were performed using IBM SPSS® Complex Samples module software. Results In the past year, 1.9% of respondents reported living in government care. YIC had a mean age of 14.76 years and were 50.9% female. YIC reported worse mental health (46.5% vs. 27.6% poor/fair rating, p < 0.01) and physical health (36.4% vs. 19.1% poor/fair rating, p < 0.01) compared to non-YIC, with female and non-binary YIC most severely impacted. YIC were less likely to report not needing health care (15.6% vs. 21.3%, p < 0.01) and more likely to report missed care (11.2% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.01) compared to non-YIC. Although the rate of any health care usage was not significantly different between the groups, nearly one-quarter (23.7%) of YIC accessed health care at 3 or more locations, compared to only 16.4% of non-YIC (p < 0.01), with YIC accessing counsellors/psychologists and youth clinics more frequently. YIC reported more missed mental health care (32.9% vs. 18.4%, p < 0.01) and physical health care (21.6% vs. 7.8%, p < 0.01) than non-YIC, with female YIC reporting more missed care than male YIC. Non-binary YIC also reported more missed mental health care than male YIC. YIC were more likely than non-YIC to have missed mental health care due to reasons such as prior negative experiences and lack of transportation. Conclusion YIC reported worse mental and physical health and greater frequencies of missed care compared to non-YIC, especially female and non-binary YIC. Further attention is needed in addressing systemic and individual barriers to health care in this vulnerable population.

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Depressed Older Patients with Death Wishes: Experimental Evidence for Psychotherapists’ Age and Health Bias

10.31219/osf.io/3np42 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

eva-marie kessler

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Physical Health ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Care Provision ◽

Older Patient ◽

Age Bias ◽

Psychotherapeutic Treatment ◽

Poor Physical Health ◽

Death Wishes

Objectives: When psychotherapists encounter an older patient with depression and death wishes, especially when burdened by physical illness, they may be subject to judgmental biases. This study investigates how this group of patients with highest suicide risk may experience discrimination both on age and health status. Methods: Using a 2x2 [chronological age x physical health status] vignette design, psychotherapists (N=147) were randomly presented one of four variants of a case describing a patient with depression and death wishes (i.e., 78 years old + poor physical health; 78 years old + normal physical health; 48 years old + poor physical health; 48 years old + normal physical health). Afterwards, participants’ attitudes towards the case were assessed. Results: In case of the hypothetical patient’s old age and poor health status, participants did not underestimate the pathological significance of his death wishes, but nevertheless showed less optimistic treatment attitudes and less confidence in psychotherapeutic treatment. Conclusions: Psychotherapists’ age bias and health bias may serve as two potentially fatal factors influencing the provision of mental health services. Clinical Implications: Psychotherapists may contribute to better mental health care provision of older adults with depression and the prevention of late-life suicide by increasing awareness of their age and health bias.

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How writing and using Insight Poetry helped me to overcome my illness

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/s0955603600001458 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 27 (02) ◽

pp. 71-72

Author(s):

Anonymous

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

The Past ◽

Mental And Physical Health

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The impact of economic crisis on mental and physical health in Italy

Die Psychiatrie ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1669560 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (02) ◽

pp. 103-110

Author(s):

S. Tomassi ◽

M. Ruggeri

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Great Recession ◽

Economic Recession ◽

Behavioural Disorders ◽

Economic Activities ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

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