Socioeconomic determinants of depression amid the anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong: the mediating role of daily routine disruptions

2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2019-213693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai ◽  
Brian J Hall ◽  
Li Liang ◽  
Sandro Galea ◽  
Wai Kai Hou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Socioeconomic Gradient ◽  
Population Mental Health

BackgroundPrevious research has suggested a socioeconomic gradient of mental health in the face of potentially traumatic events. Nevertheless, few studies examined the intermediary mechanisms of this gradient. This study tested a hypothesised mediating effect of disruptions to daily routines (eg, eating/sleeping habits) between socioeconomic status (SES) and depression among participants and non-participants of the anti-extradition bill protests in summer 2019 in Hong Kong.MethodsA territory-wide telephone survey was conducted during the movement in the first 3 weeks of July 2019 to collect self-report data from 1112 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong citizens. Stratified by participation in the anti-extradition bill protests, logistic regression was conducted to examine the inverse relationship between SES and depression. Subsequently, path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesised indirect effect through daily routine disruptions.ResultsIn total, 581 (52.2%) respondents participated in the anti-extradition bill protests. Logistic regression showed that higher educational attainment was protective of depression among both participants and non-participants, while the protective effect of household income level HK$40 000–HK$79 999 (compared with <HK$20 000) was only observed among participants. Path analysis showed that 50.3% of the socioeconomic gradient was explained by daily routine disruptions among participants, compared with 8.3% among non-participants.ConclusionsDaily routine disruptions partially explain the association between low SES and depression, especially among participants of the anti-extradition bill protests. To improve population mental health, such disruptions should be mitigated.

Disrupted daily routines mediate the socioeconomic gradient of depression amid public health crises: A repeated cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110512
Author(s):  
Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai ◽  
Vivien Kin Yi Chan ◽  
Tsz Wai Li ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Stevan E Hobfoll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Education Attainment ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Socioeconomic Gradient ◽  
Higher Education Attainment ◽  
Probable Depression

Objective: There is a socioeconomic gradient to depression risks, with more pronounced inequality amid macroenvironmental potential traumatic events. Between mid-2019 and mid-2020, the Hong Kong population experienced drastic societal changes, including the escalating civil unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the change of the socioeconomic gradient in depression and the potential intermediary role of daily routine disruptions. Method: We conducted repeated territory-wide telephone surveys in July 2019 and July 2020 with 1112 and 2034 population-representative Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong citizens above 15 years old, respectively. Stratified by year, we examined the association between socioeconomic indicators (education attainment, household income, employment status and marital status) and probable depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] ⩾ 10) using logistic regression. Differences in the socioeconomic gradient between 2019 and 2020 were tested. Finally, we performed a path analysis to test for the mediating role of daily routine disruptions. Results: Logistic regression showed that higher education attainment in 2019 and being married in 2020 were protective against probable depression. Interaction analysis showed that the inverse association of higher education attainment with probable depression attenuated in 2020 but that of being married increased. Path analysis showed that the mediated effects through daily routine disruptions accounted for 95.9% of the socioeconomic gradient of probable depression in 2020, compared with 13.1% in 2019. Conclusion: From July 2019 to July 2020, the mediating role of daily routine disruptions in the socioeconomic gradient of depression in Hong Kong increased. It is thus implied that infection control measures should consider the relevant potential mental health impacts accordingly.

scholarly journals Job Dissatisfaction Mediated the Associations Between Work Stress and Mental Health Problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Qiu ◽  
Ruiqi Li ◽  
Yilu Li ◽  
Jun He ◽  
Feiyun Ouyang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Work Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Job Dissatisfaction ◽  
Working Adults

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationships and the underlying mechanisms between work stress and mental health problems, and potential mediation effects through job dissatisfaction in a working population.Methods: A large population-based study among workers in China was conducted. The self-reported scales of assessing job dissatisfaction and work stress were included in the questionnaire. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 were used for assessment of mental health. Univariate logistic regression was conducted to test the associations between work stress and mental health. Path analysis was conducted to test the proposed mediation model.Results: Of the 6,190 included employees, 27.72% reported that they perceived work stress, 14.84% of them reported that they were not satisfied with their work, 5.01% of the employees reported depressive symptoms, and 3.75% of the employees reported anxiety symptoms. The results of univariate logistic regression showed that employees who perceived work stress were more likely to report anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.78; 95% CI: 2.03–3.79) or depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.22–2.12). The path analysis showed that work stress was positively associated with job dissatisfaction. Job dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between work stress and mental health problems among Chinese working adults.Conclusion: This study suggests the importance of psychosocial work environment for mental health among Chinese working adults. Work dissatisfaction is a stressor that may induce negative consequences on the mental health among Chinese workers. Interventions to help workers with stress management may be beneficial for their mental health.

Snapshot of a social movement: mental health and protest classes in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Wing Yee Li ◽  
Wai Ho CHAK ◽  
Kenneth S.L. Yuen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Tear Gas

Background: Popular protests have broken out in worldwide, particularly in the last few years. In 2019, numerous demonstrations against an extradition bill occurred in Hong Kong until pandemic restrictions were imposed. The policing response relied heavily on methods such as batons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Given the relevance for other geographical contexts, the current study investigated the mental health impacts on protest participants and spillover to community members.Methods: Surveys were disseminated on social media in August and October 2019 to collect demographics, political views, protest participation, exposure to (protest-related) potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and mental health symptoms. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted using demographic data and inter-class differences in PTEs and mental health symptoms were examined.Results: There were 37,541 (59.8% female) and 40,703 (50.0% female) responses in August and October. Respondents, even those with low participation, reported significant levels of depression, anxiety, and symptoms of traumatic stress (STS). The LCA suggested a 5-class solution (youth, allies, supporters, sympathizers, and frontliners). Mental health symptoms and PTEs varied with class membership, with 50.8% of frontliners reporting severe STS.Limitations: The non-random sampling and self-reported measures may over-estimate the prevalence of mental distress in the wider population.Conclusions: Large numbers of pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong reported high rates of depression, anxiety and STS during mass protests. Younger and more heavily involved respondents faced the highest mental health risks, however elevated rates were also observed for respondents with low participation.

scholarly journals Mental health in the UK Biobank: a roadmap to self-report measures and neuroimaging correlates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosie K Dutt ◽  
Kayla Hannon ◽  
Ty O Easley ◽  
Joseph Griffis ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
Population Mental Health ◽  
Timing Effects ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Biomarker Research ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

The UK Biobank (UKB) is a highly promising dataset for brain biomarker research into population mental health due to its unprecedented sample size and extensive phenotypic, imaging, and biological measurements. In this study, we aimed to provide a shared foundation for UKB neuroimaging research into mental health with a focus on anxiety and depression. We compared UKB self-report measures and revealed important timing effects between scan acquisition and separate online acquisition of some mental health measures. To overcome these timing effects, we introduced and validated the Recent Depressive Symptoms (RDS) score which we recommend for state-dependent and longitudinal research in the UKB. We furthermore tested univariate and multivariate associations between brain imaging derived phenotypes (IDPs) and mental health. Our results showed a significant multivariate relationship between IDPs and mental health, which was highly replicable. Conversely, effect sizes for individual IDPs were very small and contributions of individual IDPs to the multivariate result did not replicate. Test-retest reliability of IDPs was stronger for measures of brain structure than for measures of brain function. Taken together, these results provide benchmarks and guidelines for future UKB research into brain biomarkers of mental health.

scholarly journals Reduced Emotional Awareness and Distress Concealment: A Pathway to Loneliness for Young Men Seeking Mental Health Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kealy ◽  
Zac E. Seidler ◽  
Simon M. Rice ◽  
Daniel W. Cox ◽  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Emotional Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Outpatient Mental Health ◽  
Gender And Age

Background: Loneliness, the painful affective state that reflects perceived deficits in social relationships, is a significant health issue requiring further understanding. Individual differences in awareness and disclosure of emotional concerns may contribute to loneliness, and may do so diversely according to gender and age. The present study examined a hypothesized mediation pathway from emotional awareness abilities to loneliness through distress concealment, with moderation by gender and age, in a sample of adults attending outpatient mental health services.Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, 244 patients attending Canadian community mental health clinics completed study assessments at the commencement of care. Conditional process modeling examined interactions between gender and age and both emotional awareness and distress concealment in mediation models predicting loneliness.Results: A significant three-way interaction between gender, age, and distress concealment was observed, along with significant conditional moderated mediation. The indirect effect of emotional awareness on loneliness through the mediating effect of distress concealment was significant for young- and mid-adulthood men, but not for women or older men.Limitations: The study was limited by exclusive use of self-report assessment, and cross-sectional design precluding representation of causal sequencing over time.Conclusion: Findings suggest the pathway to loneliness from reduced emotional awareness through distress concealment to be particularly salient for younger men. Thus, intervention targeting restricted awareness and disclosure of emotional concerns should be considered in helping young men to address the pain of loneliness.

scholarly journals Mental Health Status, Life Satisfaction, and Mood State of Elite Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Study in the Phases of Home Confinement, Reopening, and Semi-Lockdown Condition

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Hossien Mehrsafar ◽  
Ali Moghadam Zadeh ◽  
Parisa Gazerani ◽  
Jose Carlos Jaenes Sanchez ◽  
Mehri Nejat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
The Impact

Scientific reports notified that the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised an unprecedented mental health emergency worldwide. Abrupt changes in daily routine, environmental constraints, adopted home confinement measures, and uncertainty about a date for returning to usual activities can potentially affect mental health and sports activities in athletes. Hence, we designed a cross-sectional study with a within-subjects design to investigate the impact of the pandemic on mental health, mood states, and life satisfaction of elite athletes. During the three phases of home confinement (April 14–24, n = 525), reopening (May 9–19, n = 464), and current semi-lockdown (July 20–31, n = 428), elite athletes voluntarily responded to an online survey. The self-report questionnaire was prepared to collect demographic and epidemiological variables of interest and the COVID-19-related information. All participants also completed the Profile of Mood State (POMS), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The main result is that the training rate, mental health, life satisfaction, and positive mood have decreased during the home confinement period as compared with the reopening and semi-lockdown phases. However, the need for psychosocial services has increased during the pandemic period. The present study provides the first preliminary evidence that home confinement conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic might have negatively influenced elite athlete’s mood state, mental health, and life satisfaction, as well as training rates. Monitoring the psychological parameters of elite athletes and developing strategies to improve their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic should be on the agenda. Next studies, therefore, seem reasonable to focus on active interventions for athletes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Mothers’ and Children’s Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Babore ◽  
Carmen Trumello ◽  
Lucia Lombardi ◽  
Carla Candelori ◽  
Antonio Chirumbolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Parenting Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Children’S Depression ◽  
Standardized Measure

AbstractThe present study, carried out during the first peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, aimed at investigating the mental health of mothers and children during the nationwide lockdown. More specifically, the study investigated children’s depression and mothers’ individual distress and parenting stress, in comparison with normative samples. The mediating effect of mothers’ parenting stress on the relationship between mothers’ individual distress and children’s depression was also explored. Finally, the study analyzed whether children’s biological sex and age moderated the structural paths of the proposed model. A sample of 206 Italian mothers and their children completed an online survey. Mothers were administered self-report questionnaires investigating individual distress and parenting stress; children completed a standardized measure of depression. Mothers’ individual distress and parenting stress and children’s depression were higher than those recorded for the normative samples. Mothers’ parenting stress was found to mediate the association between mothers’ individual distress and children’s depression. With respect to children, neither biological sex nor age emerged as significant moderators of this association, highlighting that the proposed model was robust and invariant. During the current and future pandemics, public health services should support parents—and particularly mothers—in reducing individual distress and parenting stress, as these are associated with children’s depression.

scholarly journals Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and perceived mental health discrimination in adults in the general population

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Stickley ◽  
Mall Leinsalu ◽  
Vladislav Ruchkin ◽  
Hans Oh ◽  
Zui Narita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder

AbstractBackground:The experience of discrimination is common in individuals with mental health problems and has been associated with a range of negative outcomes. As yet, however, there has been an absence of research on this phenomenon in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study examined the association between ADHD symptoms and mental health discrimination in the general adult population.Methods:The analytic sample comprised 7274 individuals aged 18 and above residing in private households in England that were drawn from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 2007. Information on ADHD was obtained with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. A single-item question was used to assess mental health discrimination experienced in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations.Results:The prevalence of discrimination increased as ADHD symptoms increased but was especially elevated in those with the most severe ADHD symptoms (ASRS score 18–24). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis that was adjusted for a variety of covariates including common mental disorders, ADHD symptoms (ASRS ≥ 14) were associated with almost 3 times higher odds for experiencing mental health discrimination (odds ratio: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.49–5.31).Conclusion:ADHD symptoms are associated with higher odds for experiencing mental health discrimination and this association is especially elevated in those with the most severe ADHD symptoms. Interventions to inform the general public about ADHD may be important for reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with this disorder in adults.

scholarly journals Housing affordability effects on physical and mental health: household survey in a population with the world’s greatest housing affordability stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Yat-Nork Chung ◽  
Gary Ka-Ki Chung ◽  
David Gordon ◽  
Jonathan Ka-Long Mak ◽  
Ling-Fei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Housing Affordability ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Reduce Health Inequality ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundWe examined the association of housing affordability with physical and mental health in Hong Kong, where there is a lack of related research despite having the worst housing affordability problem in the world, considering potential mediating effect of deprivation.MethodsA stratified random sample of 1978 Hong Kong adults were surveyed. Housing affordability was defined using the residual-income (after housing costs) approach. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2), from which the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) measures were derived. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to assess associations of housing affordability with PCS and MCS scores, adjusting for sociodemographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Mediation analyses were also conducted to assess the mediating role of deprivation on the effect of housing affordability on PCS or MCS.ResultsDose–response relationships were observed between housing affordability and mean PCS score (β (95% CI) compared with the highest affordable fourth quartile: −2.53 (−4.05 to −1.01), −2.23 (−3.54 to −0.92), −0.64 (−1.80 to 0.51) for the first, second and third quartiles, respectively) and mean MCS score (β (95% CI): −3.87 (−5.30 to –2.45), −2.35 (−3.59 to −1.11), −1.28 (−2.40 to –0.17) for the first, second and third quartiles, respectively). Deprivation mediated 34.3% of the impact of housing unaffordability on PCS and 15.8% of that on MCS.ConclusionsHousing affordability affects physical and mental health, partially through deprivation, suggesting that housing policies targeting deprived individuals may help reduce health inequality in addition to targeting the housing affordability problem.

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