scholarly journals Mental Health Trajectories of Fathers Following Very Preterm Birth: Associations With Parenting

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 725-735
Author(s):  
Grace E McMahon ◽  
Peter J Anderson ◽  
Rebecca Giallo ◽  
Carmen C Pace ◽  
Jeanie L Cheong ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Mothers of infants born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk of mental health difficulties. However, less is known about the course of fathers’ depressive and anxiety symptoms over time, and the implications this may have for early parenting behaviors. Methods In total, 100 fathers of 125 infants born VPT (<30 weeks’ gestation) completed questionnaires assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms shortly after their infant’s birth, and when their infant reached term-equivalent age, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months’ corrected age. At 12 months’ corrected age, fathers’ parenting behaviors were assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales. Longitudinal latent class analysis was used to identify trajectories of fathers’ depressive and anxiety symptoms, and linear regression equations examined relationships between these trajectories and fathers’ parenting behaviors. Results For both depressive and anxiety symptoms, two distinct trajectories were identified. For depression, most fathers were assigned to the persistently low symptom trajectory (82%), while the remainder were assigned to the persistently high symptom trajectory (18%). For anxiety, 49% of fathers were assigned to the persistently low symptom trajectory, while 51% were assigned to the trajectory characterized by moderate symptoms over the first postnatal year. There were no significant differences in parenting behaviors between fathers assigned to the different depressive and anxiety symptom trajectories. Conclusions Fathers of infants born VPT are at risk of chronic depressive and anxiety symptoms over the first postnatal year, highlighting the need for screening and ongoing support.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby L. Levine ◽  
Nassim Tabri ◽  
Marina Milyavskaya

Little is known about how mental health symptoms develop during the transition to university. Most anxiety and depression research fail to consider how symptom development differs over time across different individuals, and how symptom co-occurrence influences the severity of mental heath problems. Students (N = 658) completed online surveys on mental health prior to starting university and every 2 months until April. To better understand mental health problems during this transitional period, latent class growth curve analyses were run to determine how anxiety and depressive symptoms co-develop over time, as well, if self-critical perfectionism was a transdiagnostic risk factor for more severe symptom trajectories in this transition. About 40% of students experienced depression and anxiety symptoms prior to entering/ during the transition to university. There is substantial variation between students in terms of how they experience depression and anxiety symptoms, and research needs to take this heterogeneity into account to properly identify which students might benefit most from resources. Self-critical perfectionism was a transdiagnostic risk factor, such that students higher in this trait experienced more severe anxiety and depressive symptom trajectories during this transition. This research further implicates the importance of understanding and studying individual differences in symptom development.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musammet Rasheda Begum ◽  
Shafiqul Islam Khan ◽  
Hasan Al Banna ◽  
Satyajit Kundu ◽  
Munnaf Hossen ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 coupled with inefficient testing capacities in Bangladesh has resulted in a number of deaths from COVID-19-like symptoms that have no official test results. Insufficient test sites and healthcare facilities catered to COVID-19 has led to feelings of fear and frustration in those who are sick. This study was the first study which explored the mental health of adults with the most common COVID-19-like symptoms in Bangladesh.MethodsThis retrospective case control study gathered data via an online survey to explore the mental health of Bangladeshi adults with symptoms akin to COVID-19. Level of stress, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms were measured with the DASS-21. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association of variables. ResultsThe prevalence rates of anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms of overall population were 26.9% and 52.0% respectively and 55.6% reported mild to extremely severe levels of stress. Multivariate logistic regression determined that respondents with COVID-19-like symptoms (case) reported higher odds for stress level (AOR: 2.043; CI: 1.51-2.76), anxiety symptoms (AOR: 2.770; CI: 2.04-3.77) and depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.482; CI: 1.12-1.96) than asymptomatic respondents (control). ConclusionPatients with symptoms like those of COVID-19 should be prioritized in the healthcare setting in order to reduce mental health difficulties throughout the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuwei Qi ◽  
Alexander Lepe ◽  
Josué Almansa ◽  
Patricia Ots ◽  
Marlou L.A. de Kroon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may impact mental health outcomes differentially based on an inidivdual’s capital, i.e. resources used to maintain and enhance health. This study examined changes in depression and anxiety symptoms before and during the pandemic, and assessed their association with different elements of capital. Methods Data from 65,854 individuals (Mage=50.4, SDage=12.0) from the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort were used. Baseline mental health symptoms were on average measured 4.7 (SD = 1.1) years before the first COVID-19 measurement wave (T1), and subsequent waves were (bi)weekly (March 30 — August 05, 2020). Mental health symptom trajectories were estimated using a two-part Latent Class Growth Analysis (cutoff=2 symptoms), and class membership was predicted by several elements of economic (education, income, and occupation) and person capital (neuroticism). Results Most individuals were unlikely to report □2 symptoms of depression (80.6%) and anxiety (75.9%), but small stable-high classes for both conditions were identified (1.6% and 6.7%, respectively). Compared to T0, T1 showed increases in the mean number of symptoms (Mdep_t0=4.1 vs Mdep_t1=4.7, Manx_t0=4.2 vs Manx_t1=4.3) and probability of reporting symptoms (Probdep_t0=0.65 vs Probdep_t1=0.96, Probanx_t0=0.70 vs Probanx_t1=0.92). Lower income (ORdep=1.10; 95%CI:1.05-1.16; ORanx=1.05; 95%CI:1.02-1.07) and higher neuroticism (ORdep=1.10; 95%CI:1.09-1.11; ORanx=1.08; 95%CI:1.08-1.09) increased the odds of being in both stable-high classes. Low education increased the odds of being in the stable-high depression class (ORdep=1.46; 95%CI:1.07-1.99), and higher occupation increased the odds of being in the stable-high anxiety class (ORanx=1.06; 95%CI:1.03-1.09). Conclusion Overall, a minority of individuals, who generally possessed less capital, reported an increase in symptoms of depression or anxiety. Key message Inidividuals with less capital, i.e. resources, generally experienced more symptoms of depression and anxiety, which stresses the importance of devoting more resources to improve their mental health. Keywords Longitudinal studies, Social epidemiology/determinants, Mental health


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 171-171
Author(s):  
Jinhee Shin ◽  
Eunhee Cho

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms and investigate predictive variables of latent class in Korean community-dwelling older adults. Methods Study participants comprised 2,016 community-dwelling Korean adults aged over 65 years, using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2006–2016. The KLoSA, a nationally representative panel survey, has been conducted biannually since 2006. We used latent class growth analysis to identify depressive symptom trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of each class of depressive symptoms. Results Five depressive symptom trajectory groups were identified: Class 1, no depressive symptom (13.8%); Class 2, low depressive symptom (32.8%); Class 3, decreasing depressive symptom (10.6%); Class 4, increasing depressive symptoms (24.0%); and Class 5, persistent depressive symptoms (18.8%). We found that older adults followed five distinct depressive symptom trajectories over 10 years. Mini-Mental State Examination scores, number of chronic diseases, educational level, gender, current employment, contact with children, and social activity were associated with a higher risk of these trajectories. Conclusions Depressive symptoms are associated with social networks as cognitive function scores increase and number of chronic diseases decrease. Interventions to strengthening existing social networks and developing relationships should be tailored to target specific needs for each trajectory, and chronic disease management, including cognitive function, may be beneficial in preventing depressive symptoms among older adults. KEYWORDS Older adults, Depressive symptom, Trajectory, Latent class growth analysis, Korean


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 1173-1181
Author(s):  
Kirupamani Viswasam ◽  
David Berle ◽  
Vladan Starcevic

Background: There is a growing realisation that anxiety symptoms and disorders during pregnancy are associated with various negative outcomes. The aims of this study were to identify latent classes of anxiety symptom trajectories during pregnancy, compare anxiety levels between pregnancy trimesters and ascertain the predictors of anxiety symptom trajectories. Methods: Two hundred pregnant women in their first trimester who attended obstetric clinics at the local hospital were recruited. Three self-report questionnaires assessing anxiety levels were administered at three time points during pregnancy. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify anxiety symptom trajectories, and logistic regression analysis was performed to ascertain the predictors of latent class membership. Results: Data for analyses were available for 188 women. Two anxiety symptom trajectories were identified: a ‘high-anxiety’ trajectory (13.3% of participating women) and ‘low-anxiety’ trajectory (86.7%). This finding was consistent across all the anxiety measures used in the study. Overall, anxiety levels gradually decreased during pregnancy, with a significant decrease between the first and second trimesters on some measures. Past mental disorders and significant stressors in the preceding 6 months predicted membership in the ‘high-anxiety’ trajectory group. Conclusions: These findings support an early assessment of anxiety in pregnant women. If untreated, a high level of anxiety in the first trimester is likely to persist throughout pregnancy, although it may decrease somewhat. An early recognition of pathological anxiety during pregnancy allows its timely treatment and prevention of unfavourable outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuang Liu ◽  
Rongxun Liu ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Ran Zhang ◽  
Lijuan Liang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health emergency that has caused worldwide concern. The mental health of medical students under the COVID-19 epidemic has attracted much attention. This study aims to identify subgroups of medical students based on depression and anxiety and explore the influencing factors during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Methods A total of 29,663 medical students were recruited during the epidemic of COVID-19 in China. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD7) respectively. Latent class analysis was performed based on depression and anxiety symptoms in medical students. The latent class subtypes were compared using the chi-square test. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between identified classes and related factors. Results In this study, three distinct subgroups were identified, namely, the poor mental health group, the mild mental health group and the low symptoms group. The number of medical students in each class is 4325, 9321 and 16,017 respectively. The multinomial logistic regression results showed that compared with the low symptoms group, the factors influencing depression and anxiety in the poor mental health group and mild mental health group were sex, educational level, drinking, individual psychiatric disorders, family psychiatric disorders, knowledge of COVID-19, fear of being infected, and participate in mental health education on COVID-19. Conclusions Our findings suggested that latent class analysis can be used to categorize different medical students according to their depression and anxiety symptoms during the outbreak of COVID-19. The main factors influencing the poor mental health group and the mild mental health group are basic demographic characteristics, disease history, COVID-19 related factors and behavioural lifestyle. School administrative departments can carry out targeted psychological counseling according to different subgroups to promote the physical and mental health of medical students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W Nelson ◽  
Nicholas Peiper ◽  
Kirstin Aschbacher ◽  
Valerie Forman-Hoffman

Objective: Multimorbidity or the co-occurrence of multiple health conditions is increasing globally and associated with significant psychological complications. It is unclear whether digital mental health (DMH) interventions for patients experiencing medical multimorbidity (MMB) are effective, particularly given that this patient population faces more treatment resistance. Therefore, there is a need for initial preliminary research to examine whether DMH interventions are associated with reductions on depressive and anxiety symptoms in the context of MMB.Methods: This preregistered retrospective cohort intent-to-treat study with 2,819 patients enrolled in a therapist-supported DMH (TS-DMH) intervention examined the associations between MMB and mental health. Results: Results indicated that more MMB was significantly associated with greater presenting mental health symptom severity. MMB did not have a deleterious influence on depressive symptom trajectories across treatment, although having one medical condition was associated with a steeper decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to patients with no medical conditions. Finally, MMB was not associated with time to dropout, but was associated with higher dropout and was differentially associated with fewer beneficial treatment outcomes, although this is likely attributable to higher presenting symptom severity, rather than lesser symptom reductions during treatment. Conclusions: The MHP showed preliminary effectiveness as an evidence-based treatment for patients experiencing depression and anxiety in the context of MMB. Future DMH treatments and research might investigate tailored barrier reduction and extended treatment lengths for patients experiencing MMB to allow for greater treatment dose to reduce symptoms below clinical outcome thresholds.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Meyer ◽  
G. Yu ◽  
S. Hermosilla ◽  
L. Stark

BackgroundLittle is known about violence against children in refugee camps and settlements, and the evidence-base concerning mental health outcomes of youth in refugee settings in low and middle-income countries is similarly small. Evidence is needed to understand patterns of violence against children in refugee camps, and associations with adverse mental health outcomes.MethodsSurveys were conducted with adolescent refugees (aged 13–17) in two refugee contexts – Kiziba Camp, Rwanda (n= 129) (refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo) and Adjumani and Kiryandongo refugee settlements, Uganda (n= 471) (refugees from South Sudan). Latent Class Analysis was utilized to identify classes of violence exposure (including exposure to witnessing household violence, verbal abuse, physical violence and sexual violence). Logistic regressions explored the association between latent class of violence exposure and symptoms of depression and anxiety.ResultsIn Rwanda, a two-class solution was identified, with Class 1 (n= 33) representing high levels of exposure to violence and Class 2 (n= 96) representing low levels of exposure. In Uganda, a three-class solution was identified: Class 1 (high violence;n= 53), Class 2 (low violence,n= 100) and Class 3 (no violence,n= 317). Logistic regression analyses indicated that latent violence class was associated with increased odds of high anxiety symptoms in Rwanda (AOR 3.56, 95% CI 1.16–0.95), and highv. no violence class was associated with depression (AOR 3.97, 95% CI 1.07–7.61) and anxiety symptoms (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.05–3.96) in Uganda.ConclusionsThe present results support the existing evidence-base concerning the association between violence and adverse mental health outcomes, while identifying differences in patterns and associations between refugee youth in two different contexts.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Shelby L. Levine ◽  
Nassim Tabri ◽  
Marina Milyavskaya

Abstract Little is known about how mental health symptoms develop during the transition to university. Most anxiety and depression research fails to consider how symptom development differs over time across different individuals, and how symptom co-occurrence influences the severity of mental health problems. Students (N = 658) completed online surveys on mental health prior to starting university and every 2 months until April. To better understand mental health problems during this transitional period, latent class growth curve analyses were run to determine how anxiety and depressive symptoms co-develop over time, as well, if self-critical perfectionism was a transdiagnostic risk factor for more severe symptom trajectories in this transition. About 40% of students experienced depression and anxiety symptoms prior to entering/during the transition to university. There is substantial variation between students in terms of how they experience depression and anxiety symptoms, and research needs to take this heterogeneity into account to properly identify which students might benefit most from resources. Self-critical perfectionism was a transdiagnostic risk factor, such that students higher in this trait experienced more severe anxiety and depressive symptom trajectories during this transition. This research further implicates the importance of understanding and studying individual differences in symptom development.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Aranka V. Ballering ◽  
Klaas J. Wardenaar ◽  
Tim C. olde Hartman ◽  
Judith G. M. Rosmalen

Abstract Background Multiple predictors have been associated with persistent somatic symptoms. However, previous studies problematically defined the persistence of symptoms, conflated participants' sex and gender, and focused on patient populations. Therefore, we studied associations between predictors, especially sex and gender, and longitudinal patterns of somatic symptoms in the general adult population. We also assessed whether predictors for persisting symptoms differ between sexes. Method To identify developmental trajectories of somatic symptoms, assessed by the SCL-90 SOM, we used latent class trajectory modeling in the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study [N = 150 494; 58.6% female; median time to follow-up: 46.0 (min–max: 22.0–123.0) months]. To identify predictors of trajectories, we applied multiple logistic regression analyses. Predictors were measured by surveys at baseline and a composite gender index was previously developed. Results A five-class linear LCGA model fitted the data best: 93.7% of the population had a stable symptom trajectory, whereas 1.5% and 4.8% of the population had a consistently increasing or decreasing symptom trajectory, respectively. Female sex predicted severe, stable symptom severity (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.36–2.22), but not increasing symptom severity (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.99–1.40). Femininity was protective hereof (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.82 and OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51–0.85, respectively). Merely a few predictors of symptom severity, for instance hours of paid employment and physical functioning, differed in strength between sexes. Yet, effect sizes were small. Conclusion Female sex and femininity predict symptom trajectories. No large sex differences in the strength of additional predictors were found, thus it may not be clinically useful to distinguish between predictors specific to male or female patients of persistent somatic symptoms.


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