Older Age and Other Protective Factors of Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

Abstract Research conducted early in the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., March 2020) suggested that older adults were less likely to experience negative pandemic-related mental health than younger people. We investigated whether this age-related advantage persisted during the July 2020 spike in COVID-19 cases and investigated links between coping strategies and mental health. We used data from the Understanding America Study (UAS) to conduct a secondary data analysis of participants (N = 5,753) aged 18-110 years (M=46.20, SD=12.88) who completed online self-report surveys twice—once immediately prior to the July spike in cases, and again during the spike. Surveys assessed engagement in protective behaviors (e.g., wearing a mask, washing hands), coping strategies (e.g., calling family/friends, getting extra exercise, meditating), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (using the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-4). Multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of anxiety and depression during the spike, controlling for previous anxiety and depression, race, ethnicity, income, education, and marital status. Older age and engaging in protective behaviors were associated with less anxiety, whereas coping by calling family/friends was associated with more symptoms, R2 = .71, F(16, 5736) = 885.90, p < .001. Coping by calling and getting extra exercise were associated with fewer depressive symptoms, whereas coping by using social media was associated with more symptoms, R2 = .72, F(16, 5736) = 906.65, p < .001. These findings highlight age as a protective factor for anxiety but not for depression and underscore the importance of social support as a protective factor for mental health.

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Determining Emotional Tone and Verbal Behavior in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2019_aja-18-0136 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 660-672

Author(s):

Suzanne H. Kimball ◽

Toby Hamilton ◽

Erin Benear ◽

Jonathan Baldwin

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Verbal Behavior ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Emotional Tone ◽

Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽

Quantitative Results

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional tone and verbal behavior of social media users who self-identified as having tinnitus and/or hyperacusis that caused self-described negative consequences on daily life or health. Research Design and Method An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. Two hundred “initial” and 200 “reply” Facebook posts were collected from members of a tinnitus group and a hyperacusis group. Data were analyzed via the LIWC 2015 software program and compared to typical bloggers. As this was an explanatory mixed-methods study, we used qualitative thematic analyses to explain, interpret, and illustrate the quantitative results. Results Overall, quantitative results indicated lower overall emotional tone for all categories (tinnitus and hyperacusis, initial and reply), which was mostly influenced by higher negative emotion. Higher levels of authenticity or truth were found in the hyperacusis sample but not in the tinnitus sample. Lower levels of clout (social standing) were indicated in all groups, and a lower level of analytical thinking style (concepts and complex categories rather than narratives) was found in the hyperacusis sample. Additional analysis of the language indicated higher levels of sadness and anxiety in all groups and lower levels of anger, particularly for initial replies. These data support prior findings indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression in this patient population based on the actual words in blog posts and not from self-report questionnaires. Qualitative results identified 3 major themes from both the tinnitus and hyperacusis texts: suffering, negative emotional tone, and coping strategies. Conclusions Results from this study suggest support for the predominant clinical view that patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The extent of the suffering described and patterns of coping strategies suggest clinical practice patterns and the need for research in implementing improved practice plans.

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Longitudinal Associations between Internalizing Symptoms, Dispositional Mindfulness, Rumination and Impulsivity in Adolescents

Journal of Youth and Adolescence ◽

10.1007/s10964-021-01476-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Estíbaliz Royuela-Colomer ◽

Liria Fernández-González ◽

Izaskun Orue

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Negative Association ◽

Dispositional Mindfulness ◽

Vulnerability Factors ◽

Time Points ◽

Longitudinal Associations ◽

One Year

AbstractMindfulness has been associated with fewer negative mental health symptoms during adolescence, but fewer studies have examined longitudinal associations between mindfulness and symptoms in conjunction with two vulnerability factors for psychopathology with mindfulness: rumination and impulsivity. This study examined longitudinal associations between internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress), mindfulness, rumination, and impulsivity over a one-year period among 352 Spanish adolescents (57.4% girls; M = 14.47, SD = 1.34). Participants completed self-reported measures of symptoms, mindfulness, rumination, and impulsivity at two time points. Mindfulness negatively predicted stress and depressive symptoms, and a bidirectional negative association was found between mindfulness and impulsivity. Impulsivity positively predicted stress, and anxiety positively predicted depressive symptoms, stress, and rumination. This study highlights the importance of mindfulness as a protective factor and impulsivity and anxiety as risk factors for internalizing symptoms throughout adolescence. These findings build on previous studies that examined longitudinal associations between mindfulness and symptoms by including rumination and impulsivity’s roles.

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Who should we ask about mental health symptoms in adolescents with CFS/ME? Parent-child agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104521994880 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 367-380

Author(s):

Teona Serafimova ◽

Maria Loades ◽

Daisy Gaunt ◽

Esther Crawley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Parent Report ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Child Report ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Children’S Anxiety ◽

Parent Child

Background: One in three adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have mental health problems. Multi-informant perspectives are key to psychological assessment. Understanding parent-child agreement is crucial to accurate diagnosis, particularly where severe fatigue limits self-report. Methods: Agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale (RCADs) was assessed between parents and children with CFS/ME ( n = 93) using Bland-Altman plots, cross tabulations and regression analyses. Results: Diagnostic thresholds were met more frequently based on child-report. Parent- and child-report had similar sensitivity and specificity on RCADS compared to gold-standard diagnostic interviews. Regression analysis found similar accuracy between both reports. For anxiety diagnoses, odds ratio (OR) for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.06–1.14), and 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.14) for parent-report. For depression, OR for child report was 1.26 (CI = 1.11–1.43), while for parent-report is was 1.25 (CI = 1.10–1.41). For total score, OR for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.13) while OR for parent-report was 1.09 (CI = 1.05–1.13). Conclusions: Reasonable agreement was observed between parent- and child-report of mental health symptoms in paediatric CFS/ME. While parent-report can facilitate psychological evaluation in CFS/ME, this is not a substitute for a child’s own report.

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Mental health and its association with coping strategies and intolerance of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population in Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03370-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmad N. AlHadi ◽

Mohammed A. Alarabi ◽

Khulood M. AlMansoor

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Symptoms

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s lives globally. The outbreak in Saudi Arabia worsened when the number of cases and deaths rose in March and April of 2020, leading to a national lockdown. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with mental health symptoms in a sample of people residing in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey distributed via social media, completed by 3032 respondents from all Saudi regions. We collected demographic data, illness history, and scores of validated self-report scales to assess mental health symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and coping strategies. Results In total, respondents indicated moderate to very severe symptoms during the pandemic as follows: 20.9% for depression, 17.5% for anxiety, and 12.6% for stress. Younger age, female gender, and history of mental illness were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Intolerance of uncertainty and certain coping strategies (such as denial or self-blame) were associated with more severe symptoms. Conclusions Mental health is a key concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the identified vulnerable groups. Agencies concerned with mental health during crises may use the studied associated factors of mental health symptoms to generate targeted policies or interventions.

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ReCAP: Would Women With Breast Cancer Prefer to Receive an Antidepressant for Anxiety or Depression From Their Oncologist?

Journal of Oncology Practice ◽

10.1200/jop.2015.006833 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 172-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniel C. McFarland ◽

Megan Johnson Shen ◽

Kirk Harris ◽

John Mandeli ◽

Amy Tiersten ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Mental Health ◽

Health Professional ◽

Mental Health Professional ◽

Antidepressant Medication ◽

Self Report ◽

Mental Health Provider ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Pharmacologic Treatment ◽

Mental Health Referral

QUESTIONS ASKED: Preferences of patients with breast cancer for provider-specific pharmacologic management of anxiety and depression are unknown. Use of patient-guided treatment preferences for the treatment of depression and anxiety are known to improve adherence and treatment outcomes in primary care settings, but these preferences are not known in women with breast cancer. This may be especially true shortly after the patient receives a diagnosis of cancer and is most psychologically symptomatic, yet committed to following through with her oncologic care. Do breast cancer patients have preferences regarding having their anxiety and depression assessed and treated by their oncologists versus being cared for by a psychiatrist or mental health provider? SUMMARY ANSWER: The majority of patients accepted antidepressant prescribing by their oncologist; only a minority preferred treatment by a mental health professional. These findings are consistent with previous data from medically ill patients that demonstrated a preference for medical providers to address and treat their depression or anxiety. Twenty percent of participants would not want any treatment. Patients who met depression criteria were less likely to prefer a mental health referral. Patients who were already taking an antidepressant or demonstrated higher levels of chronic stress were more likely to prefer a mental health referral. METHODS: Patients with breast cancer (stages 0-IV) were asked two questions: (1) “Would you be willing to have your oncologist treat your depression or anxiety with an antidepressant medication if you were to become depressed or anxious at any point during your treatment?” and (2) “Would you prefer to be treated by a psychiatrist or mental health professional for problems with either anxiety or depression?” In addition, the Distress Thermometer and Problem List, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Risky Families Questionnaire, and demographic information were assessed. BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTORS, DRAWBACKS: This was a survey of only women who were asked to self-report hypothetical preferences. Although minimal differences were noted for the 16.8% of participants who were already taking an antidepressant medication, it is not clear how they might have interpreted the questions in a more realistic setting. REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest a benefit for promoting education of oncologists to assess psychological symptoms and manage anxiety and depression as a routine part of an outpatient visit. It highlights a fertile opportunity for oncologists to integrate mental health treatment for their patients by beginning pharmacologic treatment, discussing their anxiety or depressive symptoms, and initiating or comanaging pharmacologic treatment of anxiety or depression. Early recognition and management of distress, anxiety, and depression would limit the delay in obtaining appropriate treatment, especially during the first year after a cancer diagnosis when patients are most symptomatic and have many difficult treatment decisions to make. The oncologist’s use of antidepressant medications to treat anxiety and depression may benefit patients most by following guidelines. A collaborative care model offers one potential solution that could establish ownership, expand resources, disseminate knowledge, and provide a system of integration for mental health and oncology providers. [Table: see text]

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The influence of workplace stress and coping on depressive symptoms among registered nurses in Bangladesh

Belitung Nursing Journal ◽

10.33546/bnj.1959 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Reva Mondal ◽

Yajai Sitthimongkol ◽

Nopporn Vongsirimas ◽

Natkamol Chansatitporn ◽

Kathy Hegadoren

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Registered Nurses ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Workplace Stress ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Workplace Stressors ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Relationship

Background: Nurses report high levels of workplace stress, which has been linked to an increased risk for experiencing depressive symptoms.Nurses’ workplace stress is also linked to increased absenteeism and decreased job satisfaction. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) the incidence of depressive symptoms among hospital-based registered nurses in Bangladesh; (2) common sources of workplace stress and their relationships to individual characteristics and depressive symptom scores; and (3) the potential mediating roles of coping strategies in the relationship between workplace stress and depressive symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study design involved three hundred and fifty-two registered nurses. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and three standardized tools measuring sources of nurses’ workplace stress, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Results: More than half of the participants scored ≥ 16 on the CES-D, which was associated with a major depression episode. Total NSS scores had a small but significant influence on scores on the depression scale. Coping strategies had no mediated effect on the relationship between workplace stress and scores on the depression scale. Low-reliability coefficients for subscales of two of the standardized tools highlight the challenge for researchers in developing countries to address contextual differences that may influence the meanings attached to individual items. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the mental health of registered nurses in Bangladesh requires immediate attention in part by attending to workplace stressors. Further research should focus on a deeper understanding of Bangladeshi registered nurses’ work experiences and the unique contribution that workplace stressors have on their physical and mental health.

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Cultivating the compassionate self against depression: An exploration of processes of change

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.344 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S356-S356 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Matos ◽

J. Duarte ◽

C. Duarte ◽

J. Pinto-Gouveia ◽

P. Gilbert

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Self Report ◽

Processes Of Change ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Mediation Analyses ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Compassion Focused Therapy ◽

The Impact

IntroductionCompassion and self-compassion can be protective factors against mental health difficulties, in particular depression. The cultivation of the compassionate self, associated with a range of practices such as slow and deeper breathing, compassionate voice tones and facial expressions, and compassionate focusing, is central to compassion focused therapy (Gilbert, 2010). However, no study has examined the processes of change that mediate the impact of compassionate self-cultivation practices on depressive symptoms.AimsThe aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a brief compassionate self training (CST) intervention on depressive symptoms, and explore the psychological processes that mediate the change at post intervention.MethodsUsing a longitudinal design, participants (general population and college students) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Compassionate self training (n = 56) and wait-list control (n = 37). Participants in the CST condition were instructed to practice CST exercises for 15 minutes everyday or in moments of stress during two weeks. Self-report measures of depression, self-criticism, shame and compassion, were completed at pre and post in both conditions.ResultsResults showed that, at post-intervention, participants in the CST condition decreased depression, self-criticism and shame, and increased self-compassion and openness to receive compassion from others. Mediation analyses revealed that changes in depression from pre to post intervention were mediated by decreases in self-criticism and shame, and increases in self-compassion and openness to the compassion from others.ConclusionsThese findings support the efficacy of compassionate self training components on lessening depressive symptoms and promoting mental health.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Depressive Risk among Italian Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Children and Adolescents during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-451360/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Serra ◽

Anna Presicci ◽

Luigi Quaranta ◽

Maria Rosaria Erminia Urbano ◽

Lucia Marzulli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Low Income ◽

Online Survey ◽

Self Report ◽

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Disadvantaged Children ◽

Parent Version

Abstract Background Children and adolescents and low-income individuals are considered particularly vulnerable for mental health implications during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Depression is one of the most frequent negative emotional responses during an epidemic outbreak, mainly due to the imposed restriction of social contacts. We aimed to assess depressive symptomatology in a sample of Italian low-income minors and to determine if pandemic-related stressors and pre-existing neuropsychiatric diagnoses would behave as risk factors for depressive symptoms. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study during July 2020, at the end of the Italian first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. We recruited 109 Italian socioeconomically disadvantaged children and adolescents, from 7 to 17 years. We used an online survey to collect socio-demographic and clinical data and information about pandemic-related stressors, and to assess depressive symptoms with the Children’s Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2), Parent Version (Emotional Problems subscale) and Self-Report Short Form. We performed logistic regression analysis to assess the association between depressive symptoms and potential risk factors for mental health. Results 22% and 14% of participants showed depressive symptoms at the CDI 2 Parent Version and Self-Report, respectively. Participants coming from families experiencing a lack of basic supplies during the pandemic (34.9%) were more expected to show depressive symptoms at CDI 2 Parent Version. Participants with a pre-existing neuropsychiatric diagnosis (26.6%) were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms measured by CDI 2 Parent Version. Conclusions The results of our study may be representative of a particular group of frail subjects, the socioeconomically disadvantaged children and adolescents, who were more vulnerable to depressive symptoms if they suffered from a paucity of essential supplies during the pandemic or had pre-existing neurodevelopmental disorders. The promotion of educational and child-care programs and activities could be crucial in sustaining the prevention of mental distress in those frail subjects who particularly need support outside the family.

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The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Disability on Mental Health Trajectories in Mid- to Late-Life

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/08982643211066184 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089826432110661

Author(s):

Jessica S. West ◽

Christina Kamis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Life Course ◽

Data File ◽

Self Report ◽

Childhood Disability ◽

Aggregated Data ◽

Growth Curve Models ◽

Disability Status

Objectives We draw from the life course and stress process frameworks to examine how experiencing disability in early life influences mental health in adulthood. Methods Data come from the Health and Retirement Study Cross-Wave Childhood Health and Family Aggregated Data file (2008-2018, n = 15,289). Childhood disability status is a retrospective self-report of whether respondents were disabled for six months or more because of a health problem before the age of 16 ( n = 581). We used age-based growth curve models to construct trajectories of depressive symptoms by childhood disability status. Results Respondents who experienced childhood disability exhibit more depressive symptoms at age 50 compared to those who did not experience this stressor. However, there is no difference in the growth of depressive symptoms with age between these groups, suggesting maintained inequality over the late adulthood life course. Discussion Findings suggest that childhood disability has long-term implications for life course mental health.

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Rates of Comorbid Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases ◽

10.1177/2474126419849199 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 211-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniel Olson ◽

Xinxin Zhang ◽

Michael F. Ward ◽

Patrick Le ◽

Omar M. Ismail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Patient Data ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Comorbid Anxiety ◽

Age Related ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Icd 10

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to investigate how age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with anxiety and depression. Methods: An online repository of deidentified patient data was queried to identify and retrospectively analyze patients with AMD, depression, or anxiety via ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Odds ratios were calculated between AMD and anxiety and depression, respectively. Results: Of the 51 019 patients analyzed in this study, 11 681 (22.9%) had depression, 8727 (17.1%) had anxiety, and 2752 (5.4%) had AMD. The prevalence of anxiety among AMD patients was 18.2%, and the prevalence of depression among AMD patients was 25.0%. The odds of a patient with AMD carrying a diagnosis of anxiety are 1.3 (95% CI 1.2, 1.5) times higher than a patient without AMD, and the odds of carrying a diagnosis of depression are also 1.3 (95% CI 1.1, 1.4) times more likely. Conclusions: Patients with AMD have increased odds of suffering from comorbid anxiety and depression. Ophthalmologists should consider mental health screens and appropriate referrals as new diagnoses of AMD are made or as the disease progresses.

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