scholarly journals Biomarkers of autonomic regulation for predicting psychological distress and functional recovery following road traffic injuries: protocol for a prospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e024391
Author(s):  
Ilaria Pozzato ◽  
Ashley Craig ◽  
Bamini Gopinath ◽  
Yvonne Tran ◽  
Michael Dinh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Autonomic Regulation ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

IntroductionPsychological distress is a prevalent condition often overlooked following a motor vehicle crash (MVC), particularly when injuries are not severe. The aim of this study is to examine whether biomarkers of autonomic regulation alone or in combination with other factors assessed shortly after MVC could predict risk of elevated psychological distress and poor functional recovery in the long term, and clarify links between mental and physical health consequences of traffic injury.Methods and analysisThis is a controlled longitudinal cohort study, with follow-up occurring at 3, 6 and 12 months. Participants include up to 120 mild to moderately injured MVC survivors who consecutively present to the emergency departments of two hospitals in Sydney and who agree to participate, and a group of up to 120 non-MVC controls, recruited with matched demographic characteristics, for comparison. WHO International Classification of Functioning is used as the framework for study assessment. The primary outcomes are the development of psychological distress (depressive mood and anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, driving phobia, adjustment disorder) and biomarkers of autonomic regulation. Secondary outcomes include indicators of physical health (presence of pain/fatigue, physical functioning) and functional recovery (quality of life, return to function, participation) as well as measures of emotional and cognitive functioning. For each outcome, risk will be described by the frequency of occurrence over the 12 months, and pathways determined via latent class mixture growth modelling. Regression models will be used to identify best predictors/biomarkers and to study associations between mental and physical health.Ethics and disseminationEthical approvals were obtained from the Sydney Local Health District and the research sites Ethics Committees. Study findings will be disseminated to health professionals, related policy makers and the community through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and health forums.Trial registration numberACTRN12616001445460.

scholarly journals The impact of work loss on mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a prospective cohort study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Griffiths ◽  
Luke Sheehan ◽  
Caryn Van Vreden ◽  
Dennis Petrie ◽  
Genevieve Grant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Work Loss ◽  
High Psychological Distress ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objective: To determine if losing work during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with mental and physical health. To determine if social interactions and financial resources moderate the relationship between work loss and health. Design: Baseline data from a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Australia, 27th March to 12th June 2020. Participants: Australians aged 18+ years, employed in a paid job prior to the COVID-19 pandemic who responded to an online or telephone survey. Main Outcome Measures: Kessler-6 score > 18 indicating high psychological distress. Short Form 12 (SF-12) mental health or physical health component score <= 45 indicating poor mental or physical health. Results: 2,603 respondents including groups who had lost their job (N=541), were not working but remained employed (N=613), were working less (N=789) and whose work was unaffected (N=789). Three groups experiencing work loss had greater odds of high psychological distress (AOR=2.22-3.66), poor mental (AOR=1.78-2.27) and physical health (AOR=2.10-2.12) than the unaffected work group. Poor mental health was more common than poor physical health. The odds of high psychological distress (AOR=5.43-8.36), poor mental (AOR=1.92-4.53) and physical health (AOR=1.93-3.90) were increased in those reporting fewer social interactions or less financial resources. Conclusion: Losing work during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with mental and physical health problems, and this relationship is moderated by social interactions and financial resources. Responses that increase financial security and enhance social connections may partially alleviate the health impacts of work loss.

Expressive Writing and Stress-Related Disorders

2018 ◽  
pp. 704-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Wilhelm ◽  
Joanna Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Benefit Finding ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Health Domains ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Emotional Events ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Expressive writing (EW) was developed in the 1980s by Pennebaker and colleagues, who defined it as “writing focusing on traumatic, stressful or emotional events, and the feelings inspired by these.” There have been developments in terms of process, covering a range of instructions, target groups, and writing conditions and, more recently, benefit-finding writing (BFW) about benefits derived from stress or traumatic situations. EW has now been trialed across a broad range of situations, involving mental and physical health domains. Results from meta-analyses find small but significant improvements more related to physical health than mental health parameters. It is thought to be best suited to people with mild-to-moderate psychological distress who are addressing stress-related conditions and situations. The chapter describes common forms of EW and explores the place of BFW. Some mechanisms for expressive writing are discussed, but these are still speculative.

Perceived ethnic and language-based discrimination and Latina immigrant women’s health

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Ling Halim ◽  
Keith H Moy ◽  
Hirokazu Yoshikawa
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Ethnic Discrimination ◽  
Language Discrimination ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Immigrant Women's Health ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Latina Immigrant Women

Perceiving ethnic discrimination can have aversive consequences for health. However, little is known about whether perceiving language-based (how one speaks a second language) discrimination poses the same risks. This study examined whether perceptions of language-based and ethnic discrimination are associated with mental and physical health. Among 132 Mexican and Dominican immigrant women, perceiving ethnic and language-based discrimination each predicted psychological distress and poorer physical health. When examined together, only ethnic discrimination remained a significant predictor. These results emphasize the importance of understanding how perceived ethnic and language-based discrimination play an integral role in the health of Latina immigrant women.

scholarly journals Association between socioeconomic status and the development of mental and physical health conditions in adulthood: a multi-cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. e140-e149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Kivimäki ◽  
G David Batty ◽  
Jaana Pentti ◽  
Martin J Shipley ◽  
Pyry N Sipilä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Spousal Breadwinning Across 30 Years of Marriage and Husbands’ Health: A Gendered Life Course Stress Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen W. Springer ◽  
Chioun Lee ◽  
Deborah Carr
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Expectations ◽  
Income Data ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Retirement Study

Objective: Wives increasingly outearn their husbands, and gender relations theory suggests this arrangement may undermine men’s well-being. We explore how long-term histories of spousal breadwinning may be associated with older men’s self-rated mental and physical health, and risk of nine health diagnoses. Method: Using 30 years of couple-level income data from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 1,095 couples), we use latent class analyses to identify six classes that differ with respect to the timing and level of wife breadwinning. We link these classes to older husbands’ later-life health. Results: Classes that transitioned from husband breadwinning to wife breadwinning in early or later adulthood were associated with husbands’ poorer overall physical health and risk of cardiometabolic and stress-related diseases. Patterns persist net of sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, health behaviors, and adolescent health. Discussion: Violating cultural expectations, such as the masculinity ideal of male breadwinning, is associated with older men’s poorer health.

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