Childhood maltreatment and its mental health consequences among Indian adolescents with a history of child work

Objectives: Although the prevalence and mental health consequences of childhood maltreatment among adolescents have been studied widely, there are few data addressing these issues in Asian lower middle–income countries. Here, we assessed the prevalence and types of childhood maltreatment and, for the first time, examined their association with current mental health problems in Indian adolescents with a history of child work. Methods: One hundred and thirty-two adolescents (12–18 years; 114 males, 18 females) with a history of child work were interviewed using the Child Maltreatment, Conventional Crime, and Witnessing and Indirect Victimisation modules of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Potential psychiatric diagnoses and current emotional and behavioural problems were assessed using the culturally adapted Hindi versions of the Youth’s Inventory–4R and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, respectively. Results: A large proportion of the sample reported childhood abuse or neglect (83.36%), direct or indirect victimisation (100%) and experienced symptoms of one or more psychiatric disorders (83.33%). Of the most common maltreatment types, physical abuse was present for 72.73% (extra-familial 56.25%, intra-familial 42.71%), emotional abuse for 47.7% (extra-familial 74.6%, intra-familial 12.9%), general neglect for 17.4% and unsafe home for 45.5% of the adolescents. All these maltreatment types were associated with poor mental health, with emotional abuse showing the strongest and wide-ranging impact. Conclusions: Indian adolescents with a history of child work are at an extremely high risk of extra-familial physical and emotional abuse as well as victimisation. They also experience a range of psychiatric symptoms, especially if they suffered emotional abuse. There is an urgent need for routine mental health screening and to consider emotional abuse in all current and future top-down and bottom-up approaches to address childhood maltreatment, as well as in potential interventions to ameliorate its adverse effects on mental health and well-being, of child and adolescent workers.

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Flourishing Despite Migraines: A Nationally Representative Portrait of Resilience and Mental Health among Canadians

10.30756/ahmj.2021.05.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Esme Fuller-Thomson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Care Providers ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

History Of ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Relationship

Objective 1) To examine the relationship between migraine status and complete mental health (CMH) among a nationally representative sample of Canadians; 2) To identify significant correlates of CMH among those with migraine. Methods Secondary analysis of the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS-MH) (N=21,108). Bivariate analyses and a series of logistic regression models were performed to identify the association between migraine status and CMH. Significant correlates of CMH were identified in the sample of those with migraine (N=2,186). Results Individuals without a history of migraine had 72% higher odds of being in CMH (OR=1.72; 95% CI=1.57, 1.89) when compared with those with a history of migraine. After accounting for physical health and mental health problems, the relationship between migraine status and CMH was reduced to non-significance, with both groups having an approximately equal likelihood of achieving CMH (OR=1.03; 05% CI=(0.92, 1.15). Among those with migraine, factors that were strongly associated with CMH were a lack of a history of depression, having a confidant, and having an income of $80,000 or more. Conclusion Clinicians and health care providers should also address co-occurring physical and mental health issues to support the overall well-being of migraineurs.

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Childhood Domestic Violence as an Ancestor for Adulthood Mental Health Problems: Experiences of Jordanian Women

The Family Journal ◽

10.1177/1066480720909845 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 390-395

Author(s):

Hanan Al-Modallal ◽

Hasan Al-Omari ◽

Shaher Hamaideh ◽

Tariq Shehab

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Women's History ◽

Health Problems ◽

Abused Women ◽

Childhood Neglect ◽

Wilks Lambda ◽

History Of

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between women’s history of experiencing different types of abuse during childhood and development of mental health problems in adulthood. A convenience sample of 409 women recruited from health care centers in Jordan provided data for the study. One-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance was implemented. Results indicated absence of statistically significant differences in mental health problems between physically abused and sexually abused women compared to their counterparts. Further, a statistically significant difference in mental health was found between women who experienced emotional abuse and childhood neglect compared to their counterparts (Wilks’ lambda for emotional abuse = .914, p < .0001; Wilks’ lambda for childhood neglect = .83, p < .0001). Between-groups comparisons using Bonferroni adjustment indicated that all dependent variables (depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem) differed significantly between emotionally and nonemotionally abused women and between neglected and nonneglected women. It was concluded that not all childhood abuse experiences lead to long-term impacts on women’s mental health. However, mental health consequences of childhood abuse may alter women’s obligations toward family, children, and home. Therefore, efforts directed toward assessing women’s history of childhood abuse are very important especially for those who are starting a marital relationship.

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Child Maltreatment: Brief Communication

Amadeus International Multidisciplinary Journal ◽

10.14295/aimj.v4i7.83 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (7) ◽

pp. 105-110

Author(s):

Amanda Plácido da Silva Macêdo ◽

Monnic Maria Lóssio Rocha Maia ◽

Izadora De Sousa Pereira ◽

Thânia Maria Rodrigues Figueiredo ◽

Modesto Leite Rolim Neto

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Increased Risk

Child maltreatment has serious consequences, including increasing an individual's risk of physical and mental health problems across their life course. Objective: Here we show that there is an important public health message to focus, not only on approaches that prevent or detect childhood maltreatment, but also to explore methods of prevention and detection of mental ill health. Results: The study Childhood maltreatment and adult suicidality: a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis (2019) showed that all different types of childhood maltreatment including sexual abuse [odds ratio (OR) 3.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.76–3.64], physical abuse (OR 2.52, 95% CI 2.09–3.04) and emotional abuse (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.64–3.77) were associated with two- to three-fold increased risk for suicide attempts. Conclusion: It is important to highlight emotional violence may actually be more powerful than physical and sexual abuse in its impact on adolescent suicide behaviors in low- and middle-income countries. Keywords: Child Maltreatment; Mental Health; Prevention.

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Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health consequences

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.2020.154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 217 (5) ◽

pp. 597-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Veena Kumari

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Correlational Research ◽

Abuse And Neglect

SummaryEmotional abuse and emotional neglect are among the most prevalent of childhood maltreatment types and associated with a range of poor mental health outcomes. We need to move beyond correlational research and shift our focus to sophisticated multimodal studies to fully understand the psychobiological mechanisms underlying these associations and to intervention studies.

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History of abuse and neglect and their associations with mental health in rescued child labourers in Nepal

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867419853882 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 (12) ◽

pp. 1199-1207 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sandesh Dhakal ◽

Shanta Niraula ◽

Narayan Prasad Sharma ◽

Sabitri Sthapit ◽

Eleanor Bennett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Low Income ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Child Labour ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Juvenile Sample

Objectives: Little is known about rates of childhood maltreatment in low-income countries, particularly among marginalised sectors of society. Economic hardships mean that in such countries, many children and young people are exploited in the labour force and/or are trafficked, placing them at greater risk for being exposed to other forms of maltreatment. Cultural norms endorsing the use of physical and emotional acts to discipline children further exacerbate this risk. Here, we assessed the rates of childhood victimisation experiences and associated mental health problems in Nepalese youth rescued from illegal child labour including trafficking. Methods: One hundred and three young people aged 12–18 years living in out-of-home care institutions and rescued from child labour/trafficking completed translated versions of selected modules from the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire, the Youth Inventory and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Care-home employees responsible for looking after the young people completed the Adolescent Symptom Inventory and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Analysis described maltreatment frequencies and compared individuals who had and had not experienced any form of maltreatment on the presence/absence of psychiatric diagnoses. Results: Seventy-two percent of participants experienced some form of maltreatment in their lifetime. Rates for each maltreatment type were 46.6% for physical abuse, 40.77% for emotional abuse, 27.2% for sexual abuse and 33% for neglect. Symptoms indicative of anxiety disorders and trauma were commonly reported especially in victims of childhood maltreatment. Conclusions: Our estimates of physical abuse in this at-risk juvenile sample were commensurate to those reported in general-population youth samples in Nepal, but sexual and emotional abuse rates were somewhat lower. The potential presence of anxiety and trauma in this sample that may result from maltreatment requires replication, but underscores an urgent need for routine mental health screening in rescued child labourers during rehabilitation efforts.

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Psychological Consultation Services at a Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

International Journal of MS Care ◽

10.7224/1537-2073-11.4.180 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 180-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lara M. Stepleman ◽

Rebecca Jump ◽

Sarah F. Shelton ◽

Mary D. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Organizational Factors ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Medical College ◽

Psychological Consultation

Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental health problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), such problems often go untreated or undertreated because of a variety of patient, provider, and organizational factors. As untreated psychological difficulties can interfere with MS treatment adherence, a collaborative partnership between medical and mental health providers is crucial. In the fall of 2003, the Medical College of Georgia's Augusta MS Center implemented an MS psychological consultation service. The goal of this service is to remove barriers to the emotional well-being of individuals with MS through convenient, collaborative, and coordinated psychological services provided during routine MS medical appointments. To better understand patient use of this new program and the types of problems addressed, we conducted a retrospective review of documentation from 197 consultations held from July 2004 through June 2006. Summary data on demographics, presenting problems, and resultant treatment plans reflect a broad array of concerns for which psychological consultation was sought, including psychiatric symptoms, difficulties with adjustment to illness, and cognitive problems. Given the barriers to mental health care for MS patients and the unique skills psychologists bring to the multidisciplinary MS team, on-site psychological consultation may be an effective method of providing mental health services to the MS population.

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Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Portuguese and Swiss Higher-Education Students: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28757 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ana Querido ◽

Djamel Aissaoui ◽

Maria Dos Anjos Dixe ◽

Françoise Schwander-Maire ◽

Tanya Cara-Nova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Higher Education ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Education Students

BACKGROUND Higher-education students are particularly vulnerable to both everyday stressors and mental health problems. Public health emergencies may generate a range of unforeseen potential stressors for vulnerable individuals and communities. The current pandemic has apparently led to an increase in psychiatric symptoms among these students. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study is to characterize the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Portuguese and Swiss higher-education students. METHODS This project will use a mixed methods sequential explanatory design in Portugal and Switzerland, with two consecutive phases. During Phase I, a quantitative study will assess the psychological responses of higher-education students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sampling method will be used for collecting information from students. The association between variables will be determined with univariable and multivariable analyses. During Phase II, qualitative data will be collected in order to understand the determinants of psychological stress and the strategies adopted by students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to identify their opinions and feelings about the teaching-learning process during quarantine. In this phase, participants will be selected using a maximum-variation sampling method. Data from focus group discussions will be coded and inductively analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Finally, quantitative and qualitative results will be merged during interpretation to provide complementary perspectives. RESULTS This paper describes and discusses the protocol for this mixed methods study, which will be completed in December 2021. This study was formally approved by the local ethics committee (CE/IPLEIRIA/22/2020) in Portugal and authorized by the Swiss Association of Research Ethics Committees, swissethics (CER-VD-2020-02889). CONCLUSIONS This research can contribute to the development of teaching tools and methods that reinforce positive mental health strategies, hope, and adaptive coping among students, and to the development of a class on mental health interventions in the context of catastrophic and traumatic events. This project will also help government stakeholders as well as health and education professionals safeguard the psychological well-being of students facing an expanding COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/28757

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Met and unmet needs among adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability with and without mental health problems

10.31234/osf.io/ztrjg ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Matthias Schützwohl

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Unmet Needs ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Health Problems ◽

Service Planning ◽

Support Needs ◽

Behaviour Problem ◽

Prevalence Rates

Background: People with an intellectual disability (ID) show a great number and complex constellation of support needs. With respect to the planning of services, it is important to assess needs at the population level. ID services need to know to what extent support needs of clients with mental health problems differ from support needs of clients without any mental health problem.Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence rates of needs in relevant study groups. Methods: Data was generated from the MEMENTA-Study (“Mental health care for adults with intellectual disability and a mental disorder”). The Camberwell Assessment of Need for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CANDID) was used to assess met und unmet support needs. Data was available for n=248 adults with mild to moderate ID.Results: Mean total number of needs and unmet needs was associated with mental health status. However, in most particular areas under study, individuals without significant psychiatric symptoms or any behaviour problem needed as much as often help as individuals with such mental health problems. A higher rate of need for care among study participants with significant psychiatric symptoms or any behaviour problem was mainly found with regard to these specific areas (“minor mental health problems”, “major mental health problems”, “inappropriate behaviour”) or with regard to closely related areas (“safety of others”).Conclusions: Differences in prevalence rates mainly occurred in such areas of need that rather fall under the responsibility of mental health services than under the responsibility of ID services. This has implications for service planning.

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Supporting the emotional needs of young people in care: a qualitative study of foster carer perspectives

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033317 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. e033317

Author(s):

Rachel M Hiller ◽

Sarah L Halligan ◽

Richard Meiser-Stedman ◽

Elizabeth Elliott ◽

Emily Rutter-Eley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Needs ◽

Depth Information ◽

Emotional Needs ◽

Mental Health Systems ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Qualitative Focus Groups

ObjectivesYoung people who have been removed from their family home and placed in care have often experienced maltreatment and there is well-developed evidence of poor psychological outcomes. Once in care, foster carers often become the adult who provides day-to-day support, yet we know little about how they provide this support or the challenges to and facilitators of promoting better quality carer–child relationships. The aim of this study was to understand how carers support the emotional needs of the young people in their care and their views on barriers and opportunities for support.Design and participantsParticipants were 21 UK foster carers, recruited from a local authority in England. They were predominantly female (86%), aged 42–65 years old and ranged from those who were relatively new to the profession (<12 months’ experience) to those with over 30 years of experience as a carer. We ran three qualitative focus groups to gather in-depth information about their views on supporting their foster children’s emotional well-being. Participants also completed short questionnaires about their training experiences and sense of competence.ResultsOnly half of the sample strongly endorsed feeling competent in managing the emotional needs of their foster children. While all had completed extensive training, especially on attachment, diagnosis-specific training for mental health problems (eg, trauma-related distress, depression) was less common. Thematic analysis showed consistent themes around the significant barriers carers faced navigating social care and mental health systems, and mixed views around the best way to support young people, particularly those with complex mental health needs and in relation to reminders of their early experiences.ConclusionsFindings have important implications for practice and policy around carer training and support, as well as for how services support the mental health needs of young people in care.

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Comparing the social networks of service users with long term mental health needs living in community with those in a general adult in-patient unit

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211017590 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110175

Author(s):

Roberto Rusca ◽

Ike-Foster Onwuchekwa ◽

Catherine Kinane ◽

Douglas MacInnes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Patient Group ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Practical Support ◽

The Social

Background: Relationships are vital to recovery however, there is uncertainty whether users have different types of social networks in different mental health settings and how these networks may impact on users’ wellbeing. Aims: To compare the social networks of people with long-term mental illness in the community with those of people in a general adult in-patient unit. Method: A sample of general adult in-patients with enduring mental health problems, aged between 18 and 65, was compared with a similar sample attending a general adult psychiatric clinic. A cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and information about participants’ social networks. Participants also completed the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale to examine well-being and the Significant Others Scale to explore their social network support. Results: The study recruited 53 participants (25 living in the community and 28 current in-patients) with 339 named as important members of their social networks. Both groups recorded low numbers in their social networks though the community sample had a significantly greater number of social contacts (7.4 vs. 5.4), more monthly contacts with members of their network and significantly higher levels of social media use. The in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Conclusions: People with serious and enduring mental health problems living in the community had a significantly greater number of people in their social network than those who were in-patients while the in-patient group reported greater levels of emotional and practical support from their network. Recommendations for future work have been made.

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