Longitudinal Effects of Gendered Harassment Perpetration and Victimization on Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescence

Gendered harassment, including sexual harassment and homophobic name-calling, is prevalent in adolescents and is linked to negative outcomes including depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance abuse, and personal distress. However, much of the extant literature is cross-sectional and rarely are perpetrators of these behaviors included in studies of outcomes. Therefore, the current study examined the effects of longitudinal changes in gendered harassment perpetration and victimization on changes in mental health outcomes among a large sample of early adolescents. Given that these behaviors commonly occur in the context of a patriarchal society (males hold power), we also investigated the impact of gender on gendered harassment. Participants included 3,549 students from four Midwestern middle schools (50.4% female, 49% African American, 34% White) at two time points (13 and 17 years old). Results indicated that increases from age 13 to 17 years in sexual harassment perpetration and victimization and homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization predicted increases in depression symptoms and substance use. Gender did not moderate these pathways. These findings highlight that negative outcomes are associated with changes in gendered harassment among adolescents and emphasize the importance of prevention efforts. Implications for school interventions are discussed.

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The impact of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes among hospital fever clinic attendants across Nepal: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0248684

Author(s):

Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽

Tula Ram Sijali ◽

Ramji Bogati ◽

Meraj Ahmad ◽

Karuna Laxmi Shakya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Programs ◽

The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been creating a panic and distressing situations among the entire population globally including Nepal. No study has been conducted assessing the psychological impact of this pandemic on the general public in Nepal. The objective of this study is to assess the mental health status during COVID-19 outbreak and explore the potential influencing factors among the population attending the hospital fever clinics with COVID–19 symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May—June, 2020 with a sample of 645 participants aged 18 and above in 26 hospitals across Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire along with a validated psychometric tool, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) scale. The metrics and scores of symptoms and their severity were created and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of potential covariates with outcome variables. Results The prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress were 14%, 7% and 5% respectively. In reference to Karnali, participants from Bagmati province reported higher level of anxiety (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.31–9.06), while stress (OR 4.27, 95% CI 1.09–18.32) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.05–9.23) observed higher among the participants in Province 1. Women were more at risk of anxiety (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.83–6.36) than men. Similarly, people currently living in rented houses reported more stress (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.05–8.43) and those living far from family reported higher rates of depressive symptoms (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.03–11.46). Conclusion The study identified increased prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms during the initial stage of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. Considering the findings, there is urgent need to develop and implement appropriate community-based mental health programs targeting individuals who have had COVID-19 symptoms and who are prone to develop adverse mental health outcomes.

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Loneliness in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional results from The COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study

10.31234/osf.io/j2pce ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jenny Groarke ◽

Emma Berry ◽

Lisa Graham-Wisener ◽

Phoebe McKenna-Plumley ◽

Emily McGlinchey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological Wellbeing ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Loneliness is a significant public health issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lockdown measures limiting social contact. The UK public are worried about the impact of these measures on mental health outcomes. Understanding the prevalence and predictors of loneliness at this time is a priority issue for research. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional online survey design. Method: Baseline data collected between March 23rd and April 24th 2020 from UK adults in the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study were analysed (N = 1963, 18-87 years, M = 37.11, SD = 12.86, 70% female). Logistic regression analysis was used to look at the influence of sociodemographic, social, health and COVID-19 specific factors on loneliness. Results: The prevalence of loneliness was 27% (530/1963). Risk factors for loneliness were younger age group (OR: 4.67 – 5.31), being separated or divorced (OR: 2.29), meeting clinical criteria for major depression (OR: 1.74), greater emotion regulation difficulties (OR: 1.04), and poor quality sleep due to the COVID-19 crisis (OR: 1.30). Higher levels of social support (OR: 0.92), being married/co-habiting (OR: 0.35) and living with a great number of adults (OR: 0.87) were protective factors. Conclusions: Rates of loneliness during the initial phase of lockdown were high. Risk factors were not specific to the COVID-19 crisis. Findings suggest that supportive interventions to reduce loneliness should prioritise younger people and those with mental health symptoms. Improving emotion regulation and sleep quality may be optimal initial targets to reduce the impact of COVID-19 regulations on mental health outcomes.

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Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182212257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (22) ◽

pp. 12257

Author(s):

Zubair Ahmed Ratan ◽

Anne-Maree Parrish ◽

Sojib Bin Zaman ◽

Mohammad Saud Alotaibi ◽

Hassan Hosseinzadeh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Smartphone Addiction ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

Background: Smartphones play a critical role in increasing human–machine interactions, with many advantages. However, the growing popularity of smartphone use has led to smartphone overuse and addiction. This review aims to systematically investigate the impact of smartphone addiction on health outcomes. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to carry out the systematic review. Five electronic databases including Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus were searched to identify eligible studies. Eligible studies were screened against predetermined inclusion criteria and data were extracted according to the review questions. This review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181404). The quality of the articles was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: A total of 27 of 2550 articles met the inclusion criteria. All of the studies were cross-sectional and focused on physical, mental, and neurological health outcomes. The majority of the studies focused on mental health outcomes and consistent associations were observed between smartphone addiction and several mental health outcomes. Anxiety and depression were commonly found to mediate mental health problems. A wide range of physical health sequelae was also associated with smartphone addiction. Furthermore, there was an association between smartphone addiction and neurological disorders. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are consistent associations between smartphone addiction and physical and mental health, especially mental health. Social awareness campaigns about smartphone addiction and its impact on physical and mental health are needed. Further studies, especially randomized controlled trials, are warranted to validate the impacts of smartphone addiction.

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Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in Germany: longitudinal observation of different mental health trajectories and protective factors

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-021-01508-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

K. F. Ahrens ◽

R. J. Neumann ◽

B. Kollmann ◽

J. Brokelmann ◽

N. M. von Werthern ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Daily Hassles ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological State ◽

Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and resulting measures can be regarded as a global stressor. Cross-sectional studies showed rather negative impacts on people’s mental health, while longitudinal studies considering pre-lockdown data are still scarce. The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 related lockdown measures in a longitudinal German sample, assessed since 2017. During lockdown, 523 participants completed additional weekly online questionnaires on e.g., mental health, COVID-19-related and general stressor exposure. Predictors for and distinct trajectories of mental health outcomes were determined, using multilevel models and latent growth mixture models, respectively. Positive pandemic appraisal, social support, and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation were positively, whereas perceived stress, daily hassles, and feeling lonely negatively related to mental health outcomes in the entire sample. Three subgroups (“recovered,” 9.0%; “resilient,” 82.6%; “delayed dysfunction,” 8.4%) with different mental health responses to initial lockdown measures were identified. Subgroups differed in perceived stress and COVID-19-specific positive appraisal. Although most participants remained mentally healthy, as observed in the resilient group, we also observed inter-individual differences. Participants’ psychological state deteriorated over time in the delayed dysfunction group, putting them at risk for mental disorder development. Consequently, health services should especially identify and allocate resources to vulnerable individuals.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health outcomes among hospital fever clinic attendants across Nepal: A community-based cross-sectional study

10.1101/2020.07.28.20163295 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽

Tula Ram Sijali ◽

Ramji Bogati ◽

Meraj Ahmad ◽

Karuna Laxmi Shakya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Community Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic has been creating a panic and distressing situations among the entire population globally including Nepal. No study has been conducted assessing the psychological impact of this pandemic on the general public in Nepal. The objective of this study is to assess the mental health status during COVID 19 outbreak and explore the potential influencing factors among the population attending the hospital fever clinics with COVID 19 symptoms. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted between May to June, 2020 with a sample of 645 participants aged 18 and above in 26 hospitals across Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire along with a validated psychometric tool, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS21) scale. The metrics and scores of symptoms and their severity were created and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of potential covariates with outcome variables. Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress were 14%, 7% and 5% respectively. Participants from Bagmati province reported higher level of anxiety (OR 3.87, 95% CI 1.42 10.59), while stress (OR 4.78, 95% CI 1.09 21.29) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.10 10.35) observed higher among the participants in Province 1. Women were more at risk of anxiety (OR 4.26, 95% CI 2.21 8.20) and depression (2.75, 95% CI 1.16 6.51) than men. Similarly, people with primary level education found more prone to all factors, stress (OR 20.35, 95% CI 2.06 201.19), anxiety (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.24 7.91), and depression (OR 4.41, 95% CI 1.29 15.07). More farmers than labors showed higher odds (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.01 5.01) for anxiety, while individuals surveyed who reported their health status as poor-had higher odds (OR 5.95, 95% CI 1.08 32.68) for depression. Also, people currently living in rented houses reported more stress (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.07 9.05) and those living far from family reported higher rates of depressive symptoms (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.01 12.58). Conclusion: The study identified increased prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms during the initial stage of COVID 19 pandemic in Nepal. Considering the findings, there is urgent need to develop and implement appropriate community-based mental health programs targeting individuals who have had COVID 19 symptoms and who are prone to develop adverse mental health outcomes. Key words: COVID 19, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Pandemic, Public Health, Nepal

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DRIVING CESSATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH POORER MENTAL HEALTH

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1243 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S343-S343

Author(s):

Arne Stinchcombe ◽

Carlina Marchese ◽

Shauna Fossum ◽

Sylvain Gagnon ◽

Gary Naglie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Health Study ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Driving Cessation ◽

Using Data ◽

The Impact

Abstract The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a longitudinal health study that will follow individuals aged 45 to 85 for 20 years. At baseline, participants completed measures related to driving status and mental health outcomes (e.g., Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; CES-D). In this study we examined the associations between driving status and mental health outcomes. In the baseline sample, 1,415 participants reported being former drivers and 44,694 reported being current drivers. A greater proportion of former drivers were female, older, and urban-dwelling. Compared to current drivers, former drivers had lower levels of social support, poorer self-rated physical health, and less community participation. After controlling for these covariates as well as age and sex, former drivers had greater odds than current drivers of being classified as depressed (OR=2.48, 95% CI=2.21-2.79), and of reporting psychological distress (OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.87-2.62). Using data from former drivers only, we also examined associations between variables that contributed to driving cessation and depression symptoms. Former drivers had greater odds of being depressed if they reported feeling nervous or intimidated behind the wheel (OR=1.77, 95% CI= 1.11 - 2.80), or if they experienced difficulties with the licensing process (OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.07 - 2.54), before they stopped driving. As a next step we will search for factors that may modify the relationship between driving status and mental health. The identification of factors that modify the impact of driving cessation on mental health is critical to the development of interventions that will support smoother transitions to non-driving.

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Well-Being and Perceived Stress of Adolescent Young Carers: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Journal of Child and Family Studies ◽

10.1007/s10826-021-02097-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Wepf ◽

Agnes Leu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Young Carers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

AbstractAdolescent young carers have been described as a hidden group at risk of mental health problems. However, research has not yet clarified the effect of caring when considering the related family situation. We aimed to examine the impact of a caring role on adolescents’ mental health and to gain knowledge about adolescent young carers’ specific needs. We collected cross-sectional data from adolescents (15–21 years, N = 2525) recruited through educational institutions in German-speaking Switzerland. Based on self-reported answers regarding the presence or absence of a family member with health problems and youth’s caring activities, the participants were grouped into three subsamples. We compared mental health outcomes (well-being and perceived stress) in current carers and their peers, and we conducted multiple regression analyses for predicting these outcomes among all adolescents and the subsample of carers. Adolescent young carers had lower levels of well-being and higher levels of perceived stress than their peers. However, when controlling for background variables, well-being levels were lower only when carers were compared to adolescents from a healthy family background. Indicators of family instability predicted mental health outcomes independently of being a carer. More recognition for the caring role predicted better well-being and perceived stress outcomes, and more support in caring predicted better well-being but not perceived stress outcomes. The findings suggest that a caring role is not necessarily related to decreased well-being in adolescents, but it is associated with higher levels of perceived stress. The way professionals and services respond to young carers’ specific needs should be improved.

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Association between parental divorce and mental health outcomes among Lebanese adolescents: results of a national study

BMC Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s12887-021-02926-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sahar Obeid ◽

Gloria Al Karaki ◽

Chadia Haddad ◽

Hala Sacre ◽

Michel Soufia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

National Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Fear ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background In Lebanon, divorce rates have jumped from nearly 7000 in recent years to 8580 in 2017, an increase of 22.5%, with North Lebanon recording the highest number, followed by Beirut, likely resulting in increased behavioral problems in the offspring of divorced parents. Furthermore, one out of two Lebanese adolescents whose biological parents were divorced, separated, or deceased has a psychiatric disorder. More information regarding the impact of divorce on the mental health of Lebanese adolescents is still missing. The objective of this study was to explore the association between divorce and mental health outcomes, particularly depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Lebanese adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted between January and May 2019 enrolled 1810 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years, using a simple randomization method to choose schools. A proportionate number of schools was selected from each of the five Lebanese Mohafazat (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North, South, and Beqaa), based on the list of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. A total of 18 private schools were approached; two declined, and 16 accepted to participate. Results The mean age of participants was 15.42 ± 1.14 years, with 53.3% females. After adjustment for the covariates (age, sex, and house crowding index), the results showed that adolescents whose parents are separated compared to living together had more social fear (Standardized Beta (SB = 0.270) and avoidance (SB = 0.188), higher depression (SB = 0.045), and higher suicidal ideation (SB = 0.370). Conclusion Our findings reveal that teens with divorced parents had higher social fear and avoidance, depression, and suicidal ideation, highlighting the need for adequate prevention programs to support both children and parents during this emotionally difficult period.

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Effects of Reallocating Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, and Sleep on Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Canadian Adolescents in the COMPASS Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33268/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jenna Gilchrist ◽

Kate Battista ◽

Karen A. Patte ◽

Guy Faulkner ◽

Valerie Carson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Screen Time ◽

Critical Role ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep are associated with mental health in adolescents. Mental health may depend not only on the amount of time spent in a specific activity, but also on the activity it displaces. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of reallocating 15 minutes of time spent in one health behavior with 15 minutes in another on adolescent mental health. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the students participating in the COMPASS Study (2018-2019) were analyzed (N = 46,413). Participants self-reported the amount of time they spent engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), doing homework and using screens, and their sleep duration on average each day. Participants also self-reported depressive symptoms, anxiety, and flourishing. Data were analyzed using isotemporal substitution modeling. Results: Non-linear associations were evident between sleep and the mental health outcomes, so analyses were stratified by sleep duration based on whether students reported meeting current guidelines or not. Among adolescents getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, replacing any behaviour with sleep was generally associated with better mental health outcomes. Conversely, among adolescents getting adequate sleep, the findings did not support replacing other behaviors with sleep with the exception of screen time. Replacing homework and MVPA with sleep was associated with less flourishing regardless of sleep duration. Of the two sedentary behaviors assessed, replacing screen time with homework was associated with less depression and greater flourishing. However, replacing any behavior with homework was associated with greater anxiety regardless of whether participants reported adequate sleep or not.Conclusions: Replacing screen time with any behaviour may be better for mental health outcomes. Results provide further support for the critical role of sleep in promoting healthy development during adolescence, though more sleep than is recommended may confer little benefit for mental health. Youth getting adequate sleep may benefit from replacing screen time with homework or MVPA. The findings demonstrate that mental health benefits may be obtainable at intervals as short as 15 minutes.

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Nurses’ Workplace Conditions Impacting Their Mental Health during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9010084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Farinaz Havaei ◽

Andy Ma ◽

Sabina Staempfli ◽

Maura MacPhee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Organizational Support ◽

Health Workers ◽

Work Conditions ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Workplace Conditions ◽

The Impact

Among health workers, nurses are at the greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure and mortality due to their workplace conditions, including shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), insufficient staffing, and inadequate safety precautions. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 workplace conditions on nurses’ mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. An electronic survey was emailed to nurses in one Canadian province between June and July of 2020. A total of 3676 responses were included in this study. We found concerning prevalence rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (47%), anxiety (38%), depression (41%), and high emotional exhaustion (60%). Negative ratings of workplace relations, organizational support, organizational preparedness, workplace safety, and access to supplies and resources were associated with higher scores on all of the adverse mental health outcomes included in this study. Better workplace policies and practices are urgently required to prevent and mitigate nurses’ suboptimal work conditions, given their concerning mental health self-reports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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