Stress and Comorbidity of Physical and Mental Health

Author(s):  
Kelsey D. Vig ◽  
Renée El-Gabalawy ◽  
Gordon J. G. Asmundson

This chapter discusses the complex relationship between stress and physical health, with a focus on comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical health conditions. There is a great deal of evidence that stress and mental health conditions, such as PTSD, often co-occur with physical health conditions. This chapter reviews this evidence, describes potential mechanisms underlying the comorbidity, and outlines theoretical frameworks for understanding the relationship between stress and physical health. It considers the ways in which stress leads to poor physical health, how physical health conditions can lead to stress, and how other factors may both increase stress and worsen physical health. Clinical implications of comorbid mental and physical health conditions and suggestions for future research in the area are also discussed.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Taylor ◽  
◽  
Heather Wardle ◽  
Ben Stoker ◽  
Bea Taylor

This report examines the relationship between mental and physical health and gambling. The report focuses on adults aged 16 years and older in England and Scotland. The report also examined links between smoking and alcohol use and gambling. Samples were gathered from the 2012, 2015, and 2016 Gambling in England and Scotland Combined Data from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey datasets. The report found that people with mental health conditions were more likely to experience problem gambling if they gambled. As well, smoking was linked to risks of problem gambling.


Author(s):  
Mariya Geneshka ◽  
Peter Coventry ◽  
Joana Cruz ◽  
Simon Gilbody

There is growing interest in the ways natural environments influence the development and progression of long-term health conditions. Vegetation and water bodies, also known as green and blue spaces, have the potential to affect health and behaviour through the provision of aesthetic spaces for relaxation, socialisation and physical activity. While research has previously assessed how green and blue spaces affect mental and physical wellbeing, little is known about the relationship between these exposures and health outcomes over time. This systematic review summarised the published evidence from longitudinal observational studies on the relationship between exposure to green and blue space with mental and physical health in adults. Included health outcomes were common mental health conditions, severe mental health conditions and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). An online bibliographic search of six databases was completed in July 2020. After title, abstract and full-text screening, 44 eligible studies were included in the analysis. Depression, diabetes and obesity were the health conditions most frequently studied in longitudinal relationships. The majority of exposures included indicators of green space availability and urban green space accessibility. Few studies addressed the relationship between blue space and health. The narrative synthesis pointed towards mixed evidence of a protective relationship between exposure to green space and health. There was high heterogeneity in exposure measures and adjustment for confounding between studies. Future policy and research should seek a standardised approach towards measuring green and blue space exposures and employ theoretical grounds for confounder adjustment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Dyg Sperling ◽  
Nina Dalkner ◽  
Christina Berndt ◽  
Eva Fleischmann ◽  
Michaela Ratzenhofer ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased psychological strain on public mental health and may impact behavioral, mental, and physical health, presumably with effects on patients with severe mental disorders. This study examines pandemic-related physical and mental health and (compensatory) behavioral changes, in patients with BD as compared to healthy control individuals.Method: Physical and mental health and self-reported changes in daily structure and behavior due to the pandemic were assessed using a self-constructed questionnaire and the brief symptom inventory (BSI) in Germany, Austria, and Denmark in individuals with BD and a healthy control group.Results: The present study included 118 individuals with BD and 215 healthy controls. Individuals with BD reported statistically significant higher physical risk burden, increased weight gain, more physical comorbidities, and a decrease in physical activity and they further reported higher rates of COVID-19 testing, had more worries concerning health, and experienced more anxiety but less social distancing.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a greater impact on physical health in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. Individuals with BD appear to be having more difficulties compensating their behavior due to the pandemic which could amplify the effect of risk factors associated with poorer physical health. This highlights the necessity for optimizing and targeting the overall treatment of both mental and physical health in patients with BD during periods with far-reaching changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Limitations: Sampling issues and self-report forms, selectivity (missing elderly, and those lacking access or knowledge of technology).


Author(s):  
Adam G Gavarkovs

The link between physical inactivity and poor health outcomes is well established. Older adults are especially at risk for many health conditions, and are one of the most inactive populations in Canada. Increasing levels of neighbourhood greenness has shown a positive relationship with walking and exercise behaviours, which in turn affects both mental and physical health. Currently in Ontario, the provincial Planning Act outlines the process of parkland dedication that individual municipalities are responsible for carrying out. This policy brief will discuss the inadequacies of the current system in effectively creating greenspace for older adults, and will propose several recommendations to resolve these issues.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Margaret Weigel ◽  
Rodrigo X. Armijos ◽  
Marcia Racines ◽  
William Cevallos ◽  
Nancy P. Castro

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for a rising proportion of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas region. Household food insecurity (HFI) has been linked to chronic disease in US and Canadian women but it is uncertain if the same is true for low- and middle-income Latin American countries in epidemiologic transition. We conducted a survey to investigate the association of HFI with the physical and mental health of 794 women with children living in low-income Quito, Ecuador, neighborhoods. Data were collected on HFI and health indicators including self-reported health (SF-1), mental health (MHI-5), blood pressure, and self-reported mental and physical health complaints. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured in a subsample. The multivariate analyses revealed that HFI was associated with poorer self-rated health, low MHI-5 scores, and mental health complaints including stress, depression, and ethnospecific illnesses. It was also associated with chest tightness/discomfort/pain, dental disease, and gastrointestinal illness but not other conditions. The findings suggest that improving food security in low-income households may help reduce the burden of mental distress in women with children. The hypothesized link with diabetes and hypertension may become more apparent as Ecuador moves further along in the epidemiologic transition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 3900-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassidy Bradley ◽  
Gabriela Ilie ◽  
Cody MacDonald ◽  
Lia Massoeurs ◽  
Jasmine Dang Cam-Tu ◽  
...  

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients and survivors are at high risk of mental health illness. Here, we examined the contribution of treatment regret, mental and physical health indicators to the social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being of PCa survivors. The study assessed 367 men with a history of PCa residing in the Maritimes Canada who were surveyed between 2017 and 2021. The outcomes were social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being (FACT-P,FACIT-Sp). Predictor variables included urinary, bowel and sexual function (UCLA-PCI), physical and mental health (SF-12), and treatment regret. Logistic regression analyses were controlled for age, income, and survivorship time. Poor social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being was identified among 54.4%, 26.5%, 49.9% and 63.8% of the men in the sample. Men who reported treatment regret had 3.62, 5.58, or 4.63 higher odds of poor social/family, emotional, and functional well-being, respectively. Men with low household income had 3.77 times higher odds for poor social/ well-being. Good mental health was a protective factor for poor social/family, emotional, functional, or spiritual well-being. Better physical and sexual health were protective factors for poor functional well-being. Seeking to promote PCa patients’ autonomy in treatment decisions and recognizing this process’ vulnerability in health care contexts is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Ro ◽  
Victoria E. Rodriguez ◽  
Laura E. Enriquez

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may have disproportionately affected the mental and physical health of undocumented students and students with undocumented parents. Methods We analyzed primary data from 2111 California college students collected March–June 2020. We estimated the odds of mental or physical health being affected “a great deal” by COVID by immigration group and then examined whether this was moderated by campus belonging or resource use. Results Students with undocumented parents were least likely to report COVID-related mental and physical health effects. Undocumented students and students whose parents have lawful immigration status did not differ in their COVID-related physical and mental health. For all students, more campus resource use and higher campus belonging were associated with negative mental and physical health effects. Discussion Negative COVID-related mental and physical health was widespread. Separation from campus-based resources was detrimental during the early stages of the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Cheval ◽  
Hamsini Sivaramakrishnan ◽  
Silvio Maltagliati ◽  
Layan Fessler ◽  
Cyril Forestier ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, but physical activity can help people to cope with stress, thereby mitigating its potential negative health consequences. In our study, we investigated whether changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours are associated with changes in mental and physical health during the COVID-19 lockdown.


Author(s):  
Sung S Park

Abstract Objectives This study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year). Methods Data from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized. Results Adults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions. Discussion Efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S144-S144
Author(s):  
Abigail M Nehrkorn-Bailey ◽  
Julie Hicks Patrick ◽  
Madeline M Marello

Abstract As some health components may change across adulthood (CDC, 2019), social support for aging adults may be one way to optimize physical and mental health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). When social encounters are negative, however, physical and mental health may be negatively affected (Chen & Feeley, 2013; Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010). Negative social exchanges (NSE) have been linked to an increase in negative affect and a decrease in positive affect (Newsom et al., 2003), along with an increase in physical symptoms (Edwards et al., 2001). In order to examine the relations between age, NSE, and two components of health (chronic health conditions and mental health) two moderated regression analyses were conducted using data from 848 adults (Mage = 32.5 years). Studying chronic health conditions, the overall model was significant, [F(3, 838) = 40.31, p < .001; R2 = .36]. Significant main effects emerged for NSE and age, along with a significant interaction between age and NSE (b = 0.010, p < 0.05). As NSE increased, the number of chronic health conditions increased, especially for older adults. For mental health, the overall model was significant [F(3, 845) = 52.96, p < .001; R2 = 0.16]. A significant main effect emerged for NSE, but neither the main effect for age nor the interaction were significant. Thus, although NSE can have deleterious effects on both mental and physical health, special attention needs to focus on the physical health of older adults who experience a higher number of NSE.


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