scholarly journals Somatization and Coping in Ethnic Minority Recruits

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e680-e685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Nakkas ◽  
Hubert Annen ◽  
Serge Brand
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Introduction Military service can have beneficial social effects on minorities. However, minority groups are also often at greater risk of somatizing psychological distress and coping maladaptively. In military training this would result in lower mental health of minorities and contribute to higher drop-out rates. We thus examined if recruits with different ethnocultural backgrounds report different somatization levels and coping styles. Materials and Methods Seven hundred and forty male recruits of the Swiss Armed Forces aged 18–26 took part in a cross-sectional study during basic training. Participants filled out self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographics, somatization (SCL-90-R), coping styles (INCOPE-2), and social support (F-SozU). The recruits’ ethnic self-identification was used to compare three groups: native Swiss (89%); Turkish or Balkan minority (5%); heterogeneous ethnic minority (6%). Group differences in somatization scores were tested with a Kruskal–Wallis test; group differences in coping styles were tested with a multivariate ANCOVA, controlling for the level of social support experienced. Results Recruits from the heterogeneous ethnic minority group reported significantly greater levels of somatization than their native Swiss comrades. Coping styles did not differ between the three ethnic groups, but higher levels of social support were associated with better coping. Conclusion Military doctors ought to place importance on the differential diagnosis of medically unexplained physical symptoms in ethnic minority recruits. This would contribute to minimize the risk of misdiagnosis. Military mental health professionals who counsel recruits reporting somatic symptoms are advised to be sensitized to an ethnic minority status. Physical complaints could mask affective problems or be part of an adjustment disorder symptomatology.

The influencing factors and coping styles of mental health stress responses of stroke caregivers

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Zhe Liu ◽  
Malizia King
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Coping Style ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Positive Coping ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: For family caregivers, sudden stroke events and heavy caring works are stressful events. At present, controversies about the factors affecting caregivers’ stress response and their correlation with coping styles still exist. OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors and coping styles of mental health stress responses of stroke caregivers and promote caregivers to adopt positive coping styles for diseases and caring works. METHODS: The convenience sampling method is used to select stroke caregivers as the research objects. The general information questionnaires, Relative Stress Scale (RSS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) are utilized for investigation. RESULTS: 205 valid questionnaires are returned. Analysis suggests that the influential factors of mental health stress responses of stroke caregivers include the course of the disease, the impact of the disease on economic conditions, obligation to take care of other family members, understanding of stroke-associated diseases, and whether the patient is at risk. Social support and self-efficacy are negatively correlated with stress responses, while negative coping style is significantly positively correlated with stress responses. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing social support and self-efficacy, medical workers can guide stroke caregivers to take positive coping styles, thereby reducing their mental health stress responses.

The influence of family therapy on psychological stress and social adaptability of depressed patients

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Qinghua Chen ◽  
Wenqing Zhao ◽  
Qun Li ◽  
Harnof Sagi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
College Students ◽  
Family Therapy ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Adaptability ◽  
And Coping

BACKGROUND: with the increase of study and life pressure, the number of depressed college students showed an increasing trend year by year, and the drug treatment alone could not achieve a comprehensive recovery of depression patients, so it was more necessary to pay attention to the spiritual treatment. OBJECTIVE: this research aimed to better understand the relationship between college students’ depression and life events, social support, psychological pressure, and coping style, and the influence of systematic family therapy on depression degree, psychological stress, and social adaptability of college students with depression. METHODS: in this study, 105 college students with depression were selected as the research object, and healthy college students were taken as the control group. Through questionnaire, the differences in life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the groups were compared. The correlation between the degree of depression and various variables were analyzed, and the impact path of each variable on depression was analyzed using the path analysis model. Depression patients were then divided into a conventional group treating with conventional medications and an observation group treating with systematic family interventions. Differences in Hamilton Depression Scale-17, (HAMD-17), CPSS, and Social Adaptive Functioning Evaluation (SAFE) scores were compared and analyzed between the two groups before treatment (T1), during the treatment (T2), and after treatment(T3). RESULTS: there were significant differences in scores of life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the healthy control group and the depressed patients (P <  0.05). There was an obvious correlation between different depression degrees and life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles (P <  0.05). Life events, social support, and psychological stress had a direct and significant impact on depression (0.250, 0.218, and 0.392; P <  0.05), and they also had an indirect and significant impact on depression through coping styles (P <  0.05). The systematic family treatment model could significantly reduce HAMD-17 and CPSS scores (P <  0.05), and significantly improve SAFE scores (P <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: adverse life events, lack of social support, excessive psychological stress, and negative coping styles can aggravate college students’ depression. Systematic family therapy can improve the degree of depression, reduce the psychological stress, and enhance the social adaptability of college students with depression.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic and Psychosocial Outcomes across Age through the Stress and Coping Framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian Minahan ◽  
Francesca Falzarano ◽  
Neshat Yazdani ◽  
Karen L Siedlecki
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Coping Style ◽  
Psychosocial Outcomes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives The emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the measures implemented to curb its spread may have deleterious effects on mental health. Older adults may be at increased risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes since opportunities to remain socially connected have diminished. Research is needed to better understand the impact of pandemic-related stress on mental health. The purpose of this study is three-fold: 1) to examine the influences of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress on depression, anxiety, and loneliness, 2) to assess the mediating role of coping style and social support, and 3) to investigate whether these relationships vary across age. Research Design and Methods Participants (N = 1,318) aged 18-92 years completed an online survey assessing pandemic-related stress, mental health, social support, coping, and their experiences with social distancing, during the initial implementation of social distancing measures in the United States. Results Social support and coping style were found to relate to psychosocial outcomes. Avoidant coping was the strongest mediator of the relationship between pandemic-related stress and psychosocial outcomes, particularly depression. Avoidant coping more strongly mediated the relationship between stress and depression in younger adults compared to older adults. Discussion and Implications Results were consistent with the stress and coping framework and recent work highlighting older adults’ resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings highlight the associations between positive coping behaviors and psychosocial well-being and indicate that older adults may use unique adaptive mechanisms to preserve well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationship between mental health of nursing students and coping, self-esteem and social support

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Karaca ◽  
N. Yildirim ◽  
S. Cangur ◽  
F. Acikgoz ◽  
D. Akkus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
And Coping

Depression, Anxiety, and Acculturative Stress Among Resettled Bhutanese Refugees in Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 1269-1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Lumley ◽  
Mary Katsikitis ◽  
Dixie Statham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
English Language ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bhutanese Refugees ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Brief Cope

Despite awareness of the difficulties faced by refugees in flight, little is known about their mental health following resettlement. This article investigated rates, predictors, and moderators of anxiety, depression, and acculturative stress among members of the resettled Bhutanese refugee community in northern Queensland. A total of 148 participants (51% male), 18 to 83 years of age, participated in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was comprised of bilingual (English–Nepali) versions of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21; anxiety and depression), the Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Scale (MASS; acculturative stress), Brief-COPE (coping style), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; social support), and socio-demographics. Participants reported severe levels of anxiety and moderate levels of depression, and moderate to high levels of acculturative stress. Acculturative stress was a substantive contributor to both depression and anxiety scores. Additional risk factors included the use of maladaptive/avoidant coping styles, age, and education. English language proficiency was strongly protective, as was education to Year 12 and current employment. This research is the first of its kind with this refugee group in Australia, and highlights the longevity and severity of mental health issues that affect Bhutanese refugees resettled in Australia.

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