Preserving mental health and well-being

2017 ◽  
pp. 1289-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osvaldo P. Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Health And Well Being

Well-being is a state characterized by contentment with one’s emotional, physical, and social circumstances that is undermined by the presence of depression, dementia, and frailty. Numerous potentially modifiable risk factors have been associated with these common conditions of later life, and there is growing evidence that multidomain interventions that target them in a systematic fashion hold potential to reduce the incidence and prevalence of frailty, dementia, and depression in older age. Some of the potential targets for interventions include physical inactivity, suboptimal education or cognitive activity, smoking, harmful alcohol use, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high plasma homocysteine, low vitamin D, and testosterone. These interventions are still in their infancy, but preliminary data offer hope that an increasing number of people will be able to enjoy good health and well-being in their later years.

Reducing the Risk of Dementia

2018 ◽  
pp. 233-244
Author(s):  
Joanne Rodda
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
The Impact

This chapter looks at the impact of health and lifestyle factors on the risk of developing dementia in later life. It provides a brief overview of dementia and its most common causes, and an explanation of the degree to which genetics play a role. It reviews the available evidence regarding the extent to which potentially modifiable risk factors including smoking, obesity, physical activity, cognitive activity, diet, alcohol, depression, and diabetes may contribute to a likelihood of developing dementia in later life. Both general dietary patterns and the evidence related to vitamin B12, folate, antioxidants, and omega 3 fatty acids are reviewed. Possible approaches to the conversion of this knowledge into a reduction in the prevalence of dementia in the future are discussed. It is written for anyone with an interest in dementia and potential opportunities to mitigate the impact on individuals and society.

scholarly journals Exposure to psychosocial risk factors in the context of work: a systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Fernandes ◽  
Anabela Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Risk Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Risk ◽  
Sample Type ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Health And Well Being

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the scientific literature about the effects of exposure to psychosocial risk factors in work contexts. METHODS A systematic review was performed using the terms “psychosocial factors” AND “COPSOQ” in the databases PubMed, Medline, and Scopus. The period analyzed was from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2012. We have included articles that used the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) as a measuring instrument of the psychosocial factors and the presentation of quantitative or qualitative results. German articles, psychometric studies or studies that did not analyze individual or work factors were excluded. RESULTS We included 22 articles in the analysis. Individual factors, such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status, were analyzed along with work-related factors such as labor demands, work organization and content, social relationships and leadership, work-individual interface, workplace values, justice and respect, personality, health and well-being, and offensive behaviors. We analyzed the sample type and the applied experimental designs. Some population groups, such as young people and migrants, are more vulnerable. The deteriorated working psychosocial environment is associated with physical health indicators and weak mental health. This environment is also a risk factor for the development of moderate to severe clinical conditions, predicting absenteeism or intention of leaving the job. CONCLUSIONS The literature shows the contribution of exposure to psychosocial risk factors in work environments and their impact on mental health and well-being of workers. It allows the design of practical interventions in the work context to be based on scientific evidences. Investigations in specific populations, such as industry, and studies with more robust designs are lacking.

scholarly journals An overview of current mental health in the general population of Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the COLLATE project

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Rossell ◽  
Erica Neill ◽  
Andrea Phillipou ◽  
Eric Tan ◽  
Wei Lin Toh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses significant mental health challenges globally; however, to date, there is limited community level data. This study reports on the first wave of data from the COLLATE project (COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy), an ongoing study aimed at understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of Australians. This paper addresses prevailing primary concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, current levels of negative emotions and risk factors predicting these negative emotions. On April 1st to 4th 2020, 5158 adult members of the Australian general public completed an online survey. Participants ranked their top ten current primary concerns about COVID-19, and completed standardized measures to ascertain levels of negative emotions (specifically, depression, anxiety and stress). Socio-demographic information was also collected and used in the assessment of risk factors. The top three primary concerns were all related to the health and well-being of family and loved ones. As expected, levels of negative emotion were exceptionally high. Modelling of predictors of negative emotions established several risk factors related to demographic variables, personal vulnerabilities, financial stresses, and social distancing experiences; particularly being young, being female, or having a mental illness diagnosis. The data provides important characterization of the current mental health of Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critically, it appears that specific groups in the Australian community may need special attention to ensure their mental health is protected during these difficult times. The data further suggests the need for immediate action to combat high levels of psychological distress, along with the exacerbation of mental health conditions, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. These results may provide some direction for international researchers hoping to characterize similar issues in other countries.

scholarly journals Impact of extreme prematurity or extreme low birth weight on young adult health and well-being: the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) 1991–1992 Longitudinal Cohort study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e030345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanie L Y Cheong ◽  
John D Wark ◽  
Michael M Cheung ◽  
Louis Irving ◽  
Alice C Burnett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Socioemotional Functioning ◽  
Health And Well Being

IntroductionInfants born extremely preterm (EP, <28 weeks’ gestation) or with extremely low birth weight (ELBW,<1000 g) in the era when surfactant has been available clinically are at high risk of health and developmental problems in childhood and adolescence. However, how their health and well-being may be affected in adulthood is not well known. This study aims to compare between EP/ELBW and normal birthweight (NBW) controls: (1) physical health, mental health and socioemotional functioning at 25 years of age and (2) trajectories of these outcomes from childhood to adulthood. In addition, this study aims to identify risk factors in pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence for poor physical health and well-being in EP/ELBW young adults.Methods and analysisThe Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) is a prospective geographical cohort of all EP/ELBW survivors to 18 years of age born in the State of Victoria, Australia, from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1992 (n=297) and contemporaneous term-born/NBW controls (n=262). Participants were recruited at birth and followed up at 2, 5, 8 and 18 years. This 25-year follow-up includes assessments of physical health (cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal), mental health and socioemotional functioning. Outcomes will be compared between the birth groups using linear and logistic regression, fitted using generalised estimating equations (GEEs). Trajectories of health outcomes from early childhood will be compared between the birth groups using linear mixed-effects models. Risk factors for adult outcomes will be assessed using linear and logistic regression (fitted using GEEs).Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committees of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women, Monash Medical Centre and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Study outcomes will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, the internet and social media.

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