scholarly journals SOCIAL TIES AND SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS REFERRED FOR A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EVALUATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S268-S268
Author(s):  
Shahrzad Mavandadi ◽  
Erin Ingram ◽  
Johanna Klaus ◽  
David Oslin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Suicide Screening

Abstract The association between the quality and nature of social relationships and suicidal outcomes across the lifespan is well established. However, social ties are rarely assessed in primary care and other clinical settings where older adults at high risk for suicide-related outcomes are seen. This study examined the unique associations between three indices of social ties (i.e., perceived social support, frequency of negative social exchanges, and degree of social integration) and death/suicidal ideation among 3,261 older veterans (aged 65+) who completed a clinical mental health/substance use (MH/SU) assessment upon referral to a Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program. Data on sociodemographics, MH/SU conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, and substance use), perceived health, the three indices of social ties, and death/suicidal ideation were extracted from clinical interviews. Veterans were on average 70.8 years old (+6.5 years) and primarily male. Approximately half were married and 60.3% were non-Hispanic white. Forty percent reported death ideation or suicidal ideation, as measured by the Paykel Suicide Scale. Logistic regression analyses revealed that, adjusting for covariates, while perceived social support was associated with a greater risk of reporting death ideation relative to no ideation, both social support and frequency of negative exchanges were uniquely associated with greater risk of reporting suicidal ideation relative to no ideation. Social integration was unrelated to odds of death or suicidal ideation. Findings underscore the value of integrating assessments of multiple aspects of social ties into routine PCMHI practice, as doing so has the potential to enhance suicide screening and intervention efforts.

scholarly journals Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation Among Unpaid Caregivers in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relationships to Age, Race/Ethnicity, Employment, and Caregiver Intensity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark É Czeisler ◽  
Alexandra Drane ◽  
Sarah S Winnay ◽  
Emily R Capodilupo ◽  
Charles A Czeisler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Hispanic White

AbstractObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of unpaid caregiving during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to identify factors associated with adverse mental health symptoms, substance use, and suicidal ideation in this population, which provides critical support in health care systems by providing care to older adults and those with chronic conditions.MethodsIn June 2020, Internet-based surveys with questions about demographics, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health were administered to US adults aged ≥18 years. Demographic quota sampling and survey weighting to improve cross-sectional sample representativeness of age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Prevalence ratios for adverse mental health symptoms were estimated using multivariable Poisson regressions.ResultsOf 9,896 eligible invited adults, 5,412 (54.7%) completed surveys; 5,011 (92.6%) respondents met screening criteria and were analysed, including 1,362 (27.2%) caregivers. Caregivers had higher prevalences of adverse mental health symptoms than non-caregivers, including anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms (57.6% vs 21.5%, respectively, p<0.0001) having recently seriously considered suicide (33.4% vs 3.7%, p<0.0001). Symptoms were more common among caregivers who were young vs older adults (e.g., aged 18–24 vs ≥65 years, aPR 2.75, 95% CI 1.95–3.88, p<0.0001), Hispanic or Latino vs non-Hispanic White (1.14, 1.04–1.25, p=0.0044), living with vs without disabilities (1.18, 1.10–1.26, p<0.0001), and with moderate and high vs low Caregiver Intensity Index scores (2.31, 1.65–3.23; 2.81, 2.00–3.94; both p<0.0001). Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among non-Hispanic Black vs non-Hispanic White caregivers (1.48, 1.15–1.90, p=0.0022).ConclusionsCaregivers, who accounted for one in four US adult respondents in this nationally representative sample, more commonly reported adverse mental health symptoms than non-caregivers. Increased visibility of and access to mental health care resources are urgently needed to address mental health challenges of caregiving.

Social Media Communication and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Social Support and Social Contact

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunyu Zhang ◽  
Kyungmin Kim ◽  
Nina M Silverstein ◽  
Qian Song ◽  
Jeffrey A Burr
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Social Media Communication

Abstract Background and Objectives Social media communication offers a medium for helping older people stay socially and emotionally connected with others. This study investigated the association between social media communication with close social ties and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. The study also examined the mediating roles of social support and social contact. Research Design and Methods Four waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010/2012 and 2014/2016) were used to address the research questions (N = 7,524). A path model was estimated to examine the association between social media communication and older adults’ loneliness. We also examined whether the association between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support from close social ties (children, other family members, and friends) and frequency of contact with social network members (phone, in-person contact, and writing letters/email). Results The results showed that frequent social media communication was associated with lower levels of loneliness, adjusting for previous levels of loneliness. The relationship between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support and social contact. Thus, social media communication was associated with higher levels of perceived social support and social contact, which were related to lower levels of loneliness among older adults. Discussion and Implications These findings suggested that social media communication may be considered an intervention to reduce loneliness among older people by increasing levels of social support and social contact.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Approaches to Suicide in Older Adults—Collaborative Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 625-625
Author(s):  
Michael Schoenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Collaborative Care ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Care Model ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Collaborative Care Model

Abstract This individual symposium abstract will focus another evidence-based approach to mental health treatment and in older adults, the collaborative care model. Collaborative care is a consultation-based approach in primary care that has been described with multiple clinical trials, with significant benefit for access and treatment. The Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial (PROSPECT) using the collaborative care model found that those older adults receiving the intervention had a higher utilization of mental health treatment (psychotherapy and/or antidepressant treatment) and had a 2.2 times greater decline in suicidal ideation over 24 months. The authors will describe the utility of using the collaborative care model on the identification of suicidal ideation and subsequent mental health treatment for older adults. The authors will also share about challenges and successes related to collaborative care implementation in healthcare settings for older adults, and relevant policy and financing components for the model.

scholarly journals Association Between Perceived Social Support and Mental Health Status Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Shima Nazari ◽  
◽  
Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar ◽  
Leila Sadegh Moghdada ◽  
Alireza Namazi Shabestari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Community Dwelling

Introduction: The elderly need social support to reduce their physical and mental disabilities. Perceived social support is one of the effective factors in the lifestyle of older adults. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between perceived social support and mental health status among older adults. Materials and Methods: This research is a cross-sectional analytical study. The study data were collected using a perceived social support (PSS) scale and general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). A total of 302 eligible older adults were selected through a random sampling method from primary health centers in the north, south, east, west, and center of Tehran. The inclusion criteria were those community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years and with normal cognitive abilities. The collected data were analyzed using t test, ANOVA, the Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean ±SD age of older adults was 70.01 ±6.29 years. Their mean ±SD scores of the PSS and GHQ-12 were 130.95 ±16.05 and 7.29 ±5.55, respectively. The results showed no significant relationship between demographic variables and PSS. There was a significant inverse correlation between the PSS score and the GHQ-12 score (P= 0.01, r= -0.878). The PSS explained 0.66 of the total variances of “positively phrased items” of GHQ-12 (adjusted R2= 0.66) and 0.76 of the total variances of “negatively phrased items” of GHQ-12 (adjusted R2= 0.76). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the PSS and mental health are at a desirable level in this study, and the PSS is not affected by demographic variables. The PSS is a promoting factor for mental health status among older adults.

scholarly journals Depression, perceived stress, social support, substance use and related sociodemographic risk factors in medical school residents in Nairobi, Kenya

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S50-S50
Author(s):  
Sayed Shah Nur Hussein Shah ◽  
Ahmed Laving ◽  
Violet Okech-Helu ◽  
Manasi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Support ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Medical Residents

AimsLittle is known about mental health risk factors in medical residents and doctors in Sub-Saharan Africa. Residents are at a greater risk of developing depression, stress and substance abuse than the general public owing to the stressful nature of their medical training. Poor mental health in residents leads to decreased clinical efficiency and training satisfaction; it can also lead to substance dependence, self-harm and suicide.Our primary aim was to ascertain depression prevalence among medical residents in Kenya's largest national teaching and referral hospital. Secondary aims were to analyze how depression was associated with perceived stress, perceived social support, substance use, and educational environment.MethodSelf report questionnaires were administered in this cross-sectional survey to 338 residents covering eight specialties (Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Anaesthesia, General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Ear Nose Throat Surgery). In addition to key sociodemographics, the Centres for Epidemiology Depression Scale - Revised, Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, and Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure were used.ResultThe mean participant age was 31.8 years and 53.4% were males. Most residents (70.4%) reported mild/no depressive symptoms 12.7% had moderate, and 16.9% had severe symptoms.High social support (71.8%) and moderate stress (61.6%) were reported by most residents. Almost half (46.3%) rated their educational environment as being more positive than negative. Out of 238 respondents 11.3% were at moderate risk of health and other problems due to cocaine use, while 13.3% (out of 240 respondents) were at risk due to alcohol. On bivariate analyses, we found significant correlations between depression, perceived stress, substance use, perceived social support, and educational environment. Multivariate analysis revealed that depression was strongly associated with: fewer hours of sleep (β = -0.683, p = 0.002), high perceived stress (β = 0.709, p < 0.001) and low perceived social support (β = -2.19, p < 0.001).ConclusionHigh perceived social support, low perceived stress, and less sleep were significantly associated with lower depression scores. A large proportion of residents were at risk of developing depression (29.6%). There were high levels of perceived social support (71.8%). A concerning proportion of residents used substances like alcohol and cocaine. This work is one of few that describe the mental health of an important and understudied population group in an LMIC. Priority must be given to protect and promote the mental health of such a vulnerable group.Data collection and analysis were funded by Kenyatta National Hospital.

scholarly journals Mental Health Outcomes among Chinese College Students over a Decade

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12742
Author(s):  
Sibo Zhao ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Lisu Peng ◽  
Wenhui Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
College Students ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

Background: Economic growth in China has brought about significant social and psychological changes in society. Objective: This study aims to explore how the mental and psychological health of college students has changed over the past decade. Methods: We observed several cohort samples in a Chinese university over a decade and looked at five mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, depression, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support, throughout each year of testing. Results: Our study highlights the declining rates of suicidal ideation and depression, combined with relative stability and even small increases in optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support across a range of demographic variables. Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that in the context of economic growth, stabilizing and improving positive mental health states can help prevent and reduce the risk of depression and suicidal ideation among college students. The study also highlighted the need for more public health campaigns and interventions in universities to help students cope with mental health problems.

scholarly journals Generativity and Social Well-Being in Older Women: Expectations Regarding Aging Matter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Moieni ◽  
Teresa E Seeman ◽  
Theodore F Robles ◽  
Matthew D Lieberman ◽  
Stephanie Okimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Domain ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Objectives Beliefs about aging can contribute to health and well-being in older adults. Feeling generative, or that one is caring for and contributing to the well-being of others, can also impact health and well-being. In this study, we hypothesized that those with more positive expectations regarding aging (ERA) in the mental health domain would report greater levels of perceived social support (PSS) and lower levels of loneliness in response to a generativity intervention (vs control condition). Method Participants in this study (n = 73, 100% female) were randomly assigned to a 6-week generativity condition, which involved writing about life experiences and sharing advice with others, or to a control condition, which involved writing about neutral topics. Pre- and postintervention, PSS, and feelings of loneliness were measured. Results Those in the generativity condition with more positive ERA in the mental health domain reported greater PSS and lower loneliness postintervention. Discussion These results highlight the importance of psychological factors, such as ERA, in moderating the efficacy of interventions to promote social well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals Determinants of Satisfaction With Health Services by Dimensions of Care: An Age-Stratified Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 171-172
Author(s):  
Helen-Maria Vasiliadis ◽  
Isabelle Pitrou ◽  
Djamal Berbiche
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Age Category

Abstract Studies that examined satisfaction with care in older adults are scarce. The aim of this research was to analyse satisfaction among older adults considering mental health, socio-clinical and health system factors and by age category. Data come from the Étude sur la Santé des Aînés Services study including 1,624 adults aged ≥65 years recruited between 2011-2013 in primary care in Quebec. Patient satisfaction was assessed during interviews with questions adapted from the Primary Care Assessment Survey. Mental health (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, psychological distress, cognition), social support, quality of life, the presence of pain and chronic conditions were self-reported. Health service use was extracted from administrative registries. Logistic regressions stratified by age were used to examine the associations of low satisfaction in three dimensions of care. For continuity of care, the determinants of low satisfaction were pain and attraction index for psychiatric services in adults 65 to 75 years versus anxiety, cognition and hospitalizations in adults 75 years and older. For patient-provider interactions, the determinants were psychological distress, attraction index for psychiatric services in adults 65 to 75 years versus quality of life and cognition in adults 75 years and older. For adequacy of care, anxiety, psychological distress, social support, pain, quality of life and attraction index for psychiatric services were significant in adults 65 to 75 years versus quality of life and cognition in adults 75 years and older. Results highlight different patterns of satisfaction by age category that should be used to improve care delivered in primary care.

scholarly journals Social Media Use and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Social Contact and Perceived Social Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 321-321
Author(s):  
Kunyu Zhang ◽  
Jeffrey Burr ◽  
Kyungmin Kim ◽  
Nina Silverstein ◽  
Qian Song
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Social Media Communication

Abstract Loneliness is a risk factor for poor quality of life among older adults. Social media use provides a new dimension of communication for older adults to connect with people and to maintain social relationships. However, research has been inconclusive about whether social media use reduces loneliness among older adults, which is due in part to a lack of appropriate measures for capturing different types of social media use. Furthermore, little is known about the underlying mechanisms through which social media use is associated with loneliness. This study investigates the association between social media communication with close social ties and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults (65+), and further examines the mediating role of social contact and social support in the association. Data from the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are analyzed to address our research questions (N = 4,184). Path analyses are employed to examine the relationships among social media communication with close social ties (i.e., children, family, and friends), frequency of contact with social ties (i.e., phone, in-person contact, write/email), perceived social support from social ties, and loneliness (R-UCLA loneliness scale). The results show that a higher level of social media communication is associated with lower levels of loneliness through social contact and perceived social support. Moreover, the relationship between social media communication and perceived social support is partially mediated by social contact. These findings suggest that social media communication may be considered an intervention that may reduce loneliness among older people.

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