Risk Factors Associated With Bullying at School and Electronic Bullying in U.S. Adolescent Females With Asthma

2020 ◽  
pp. 105984052095163
Author(s):  
Ellen M. McCabe ◽  
Shiela M. Strauss

Although adolescent females with asthma are at increased risk for bullying, relationships between bullying at school and electronic bullying and demographics, mental health issues, and substance use have not specifically been studied in these young women. The purpose of this research was to examine such relationships among adolescent females with asthma. Complex sampling software was used to extrapolate frequencies and χ2 analyses to adolescent females with asthma. In this U.S. sample of adolescent females with asthma ( n = 1,634), younger age, mental health issues, and substance use were significantly related to bullying at school and electronic bullying, while race/ethnicity and grade in school were significantly related only to bullying at school. In general, findings are consistent with previous research regarding relationships between bullying and risk factors among all U.S. adolescent females. Guidance by school nurses is needed to create effective supports for victimization reduction in this vulnerable group.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler S. Jones ◽  
Deborah Rupert

Medical student wellbeing is a topic of growing concern. Medical students experience high levels of stress and burnout and are at increased risk for depression and suicidal ideation compared to the general population. Even more concerning, medical students are disproportionately less likely to seek help for their mental health issues. Identifying and preventing these problems early can have lasting positive consequences over the course of a physician’s lifetime. We implemented a wellness program at our medical school in the spring of 2016 with the goals of decreasing burnout and depression, heightening awareness of mental health issues, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. To analyze the impact of our program, we have implemented a quality assurance survey. Here we report lifestyle factors associated with positive screens for depression from that data and propose institutional initiatives that can be spearheaded by medical students for medical students to impact positive change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Thibaut ◽  
Patricia J. M. van Wijngaarden-Cremers

Even if the fatality rate has been twice higher for men than for women, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected women more than men, both as frontline workers and at home. The aim of our article was to analyze the differences observed in mental health and violence between men and women in the COVID outbreak. For this purpose, we have used all papers available in PubMed between January and July 2020 as well as data from non-governmental associations. We have thus successively analyzed the situation of pregnancy during the pandemic; the specific psychological and psychiatric risks faced by women both as patients and as workers in the health sector, the increased risk of violence against women at home and at workplace and, finally the risk run by children within their families. In conclusion, research on the subject of mental health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic is still scarce, especially in women. We hope that this pandemic will help to recognize the major role of women at home and at the workplace.


Author(s):  
Lynne Magor-Blatch ◽  
Navjot Bhullar ◽  
Bronwyn Thomson ◽  
Einar Thorsteinsson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to systematically review quantitative research since 2000 on the effectiveness of residential therapeutic communities (TCs) for the treatment of substance-use disorders with reference to substance-use, crime, mental health and social engagement outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic search with broad inclusion criteria resulted in the review of 11 studies. The studies investigated community-based TCs, as well as TCs modified for prisoners, prisoners transitioning to community living and TCs for individuals with co-occurring substance-use and mental health issues. Findings – Results were analysed by comparing the findings of the studies under investigation, of which three studies investigated within-subjects outcomes, four compared TC treatment with a no-treatment control condition and four compared TC treatment with another treatment condition. Conclusion: consistent with previous systematic reviews of TCs, outcomes varied across studies but indicated TCs are generally effective as a treatment intervention, with reductions in substance-use and criminal activity, and increased improvement in mental health and social engagement evident in a number of studies reviewed. Research limitations/implications – Variability in outcomes suggests further TC research and research syntheses focusing on a second key research question in the evaluation of complex interventions – how the intervention works – could play an important role in understanding TC effectiveness, and for whom it is effective and in what contexts. Practical implications – Although there is some variability in treatment populations included in this review, evidence reported in other studies suggests individuals with severe substance-use disorders, mental health issues, forensic involvement and trauma histories, will benefit from TC treatment. This is supported by the literature which has found a general relationship between severity of substance use and treatment intensity (Darke et al., 2012; De Leon et al., 2008) with outcomes further enhanced by self-selection into treatment and appropriate client-treatment matching (see De Leon, 2010; De Leon et al., 2000, 2008). The weight of evidence gleaned from multiple sources of research, including randomised control trials and field outcome studies (De Leon, 2010) suggests TCs are an important and effective treatment for clients in improving at least some aspects of their quality of life, specifically mental health and social engagement, and in reducing harmful behaviours, including substance-use and crime. Variability in treatment setting and populations reflect the real-world setting in which TC treatment is delivered, providing a multifaceted treatment modality to a complex population in variable circumstances. Originality/value – The strength of the current study is that it provided a broad evaluation of TC effectiveness across a range of outcomes (substance-use, criminal activity, mental health and social engagement), and is therefore valuable in updating the current literature and providing context for future research in this area. It aimed to address a key question in evaluating complex interventions: whether they are effective as they are delivered. Findings suggest that TC treatment is generally effective for the populations of concern in reducing substance use and criminal activity and contributing to some improvement in mental health and social engagement outcomes.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4108-4108
Author(s):  
Lindsay F Schwartz ◽  
Marcia M Tan ◽  
Julie S McCrae ◽  
Tiffany Burkhardt ◽  
Kirsten K. Ness ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims: Childhood and adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancer survivors are at increased risk for emotional distress, chronic health conditions, and premature mortality compared to peers with no cancer history. Some, but not all, of this increased risk is explained by cancer- and treatment-related exposures. Because cancer treatment remains necessary to achieve cure, it is critical to identify and target other factors to reduce sub-optimal outcomes. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events occurring during childhood, such as experiencing violence and/or neglect, which are associated with poor mental health, chronic health conditions, and premature mortality in the adult general population. Little is known on how ACEs impact health in children and AYAs with cancer. Research indicates that otherwise healthy individuals exposed to ACEs experience fewer adverse health outcomes if they possess resilience, which can be learned. This provides a potential target for intervention. This pilot study aimed to identify demographic characteristics associated with ACEs and resilience as well as associations between ACEs, resilience, and the presence of chronic medical conditions, mental health issues, and substance abuse in children and AYAs with cancer. Methods: Childhood and AYA leukemia and lymphoma patients undergoing cancer treatment at the University of Chicago were included for analysis (N=38, 55.26% female, 50% non-Hispanic white, mean age at assessment 14.74±6.97 years). Participants ≤17 years old completed the study with one parent/caregiver. ACEs were measured using age-specific instruments adapted from the original ACEs study by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Resilience was analyzed using age-specific instruments provided by the Resilience Research Centre, and resilience scores were categorized as low (≤62), moderate (63-70), high (71-76), and exceptional (≥77). For participants 0-11 years old, a parent/guardian completed the study on their behalf. 12-17 year old participants and their parent/guardian both completed the study, and participants over 18 completed the study alone. Descriptive statistics characterized demographic, biologic, treatment, and health behavior variables. The association between total scores for ACEs and resilience were measured using Pearson's correlation. Regression analysis assessed ACEs (logistic model) and resilience scores (linear model) adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and insurance type. Participants were then stratified, and two sample t-tests compared potential outcomes based on ACE exposures. Results: 23 participants (60.53%) reported prior ACEs (mean total number of ACEs 1.45±1.77; range 1-7), and the mean resilience score for participants was 73.76±9.61 (range 49-85) indicating high resilience overall. Regression analyses showed the odds of reporting ACEs increased with age (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.37), while resilience scores decreased with age (β=0.76; t(32)=-2.74, p=0.01) holding other variables constant. Sex, race/ethnicity, household income, and insurance type were not associated with ACEs or resilience scores. There was a strong negative correlation between the total number of ACEs and resilience, r(36)=-0.57, p<0.01; the total number of ACEs explained 32% of the variation in resilience scores. Compared to participants who did not report prior ACEs, those with ACEs were more likely to report chronic medical conditions, t(31.41)=-2.47, p=0.02, prior psychiatric diagnoses or mental health issues, t(34.16)=-2.13, p=0.04, as well as substance abuse t(31.41)=-2.47, p=0.02. Conclusions: ACEs were associated with endorsement of chronic medical conditions, mental health issues, and substance abuse in our sample of childhood and AYA patients currently receiving cancer treatment. As the total number of ACEs increased, resilience scores decreased for participants. The results of this study provide the groundwork for further investigations of ACEs and resilience in large cohorts of childhood and AYA cancer patients and survivors. This future work could provide valuable information for creating and implementing interventions designed for childhood and AYA cancer patients and survivors who have experienced ACEs, thus potentially reducing additional morbidity and premature mortality for these high-risk patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pancani ◽  
Marco Marinucci ◽  
Nicolas Aureli ◽  
Paolo Riva

Most countries have been struggling with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic imposing social isolation on their citizens. However, this measure carried risks for people's mental health. This study evaluated the psychological repercussions of objective isolation in 1,006 Italians during the first, especially strict, lockdown in spring 2020. Although varying for the regional spread-rate of the contagion, results showed that the longer the isolation and the less adequate the physical space where people were isolated, the worse the mental health (e.g., depression). Offline social contacts buffered the association between social isolation and mental health. However, when offline contacts were limited, online contacts seemed crucial in protecting mental health. The findings inform about the potential downsides of the massive social isolation imposed by COVID-19 spread, highlighting possible risk factors and resources to account for implementing such isolation measures. Specifically, besides some known factors such as physical space availability, the local contagion rate is critical in moderating the link between social isolation and mental health issues, supporting national policies implementing regional tiers of restriction severity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Muhammad Soomar

UNSTRUCTURED Health is the state of overall well-being which includes physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Good health is a resource for living everyday life. It is central for functioning properly, handling stress, living a longer and more active life. Physical well-being includes a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease. Mental health is equally important as physical health, it is integral and important component of health, it provides strength and enhance a person’s ability to complete regular tasks . Differences in socioeconomic and other living conditions can lead to health inequities which can impact on a person’s health especially mental health though this is not the case in every situation, however the risk to an individual’s mental health determine how the person is going to suffer with mental health issues as these risk factors are not only bounded to poor socio-economic class . Violence, rapid social change, stressful work conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, physically ill health, sexual abuse, and persistent socio-economic pressures are recognized as risk factors for poor mental health. Moreover, there are some personality factors and genetic factors that also make people vulnerable to mental health disorders . Mental health issues alone add a lot in the global burden of disease however it is associated with other diseases and conditions as well. Mental health disorders in different forms and intensities a large number of people in their lifetime which not only impact on their health but it causes economic burden on the person and family as well . Despite a greater population is affected from mental health illness, the estimates produced through research regarding are still underestimated the reasons may be overlapping between psychiatric and neurological disorder and keeping suicide behaviors associated with self-harm a separate category other than mental illness . The major reason of underestimation can be less no reporting for these illness due to stigma associated with it. Stigma is the negative attitude towards the illness which creates discrimination and is the main obstacle in seeking help and care .


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Proctor ◽  
Albert M. Kopak

Purpose This paper aims to extend previous findings by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders. Design/methodology/approach Survey of Youth in Residential Placement interview data from 6,920 juvenile offenders (76% male) detained in 290 US facilities were analyzed to determine bivariate relationships between two indicators of substance use (acute and chronic) and seven mental health domains (depression/isolation, anxiety, anger, trauma, inattention, hallucinations and suicidality). Findings Prevalence rates of above average indications for all seven mental health domains were significantly higher among offenders under the influence of a substance at the time they committed their instant offense compared to those not under the influence. Offenders with above average indications in the seven studied mental health areas reported a higher level of chronic effects of substance use relative to those with average or below mental health indications. Practical implications The results have important implications for the assessment and treatment of co-occurring mental health issues among juvenile offenders with substance use issues. Juveniles with above average mental health indications may be more prone to experiencing a number of substance-related problems. Observed results may guide the implementation of routine assessment procedures at the juvenile detention level. Intake specialists should screen and administer comprehensive mental health assessments for juveniles who report substance intoxication at the time of their instant offense. Juvenile offenders who report clinical levels of mental health symptoms should receive a comprehensive assessment of substance use and related problems. Originality/value Although the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health issues among juvenile justice involved populations is well documented, previous research studies in this area have included a number of limitations. Relatively small offender sample populations, often from a single facility, warrant further work with a large, nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders. Inconsistency in measures of substance use and the failure to distinguish between acute and chronic measures of substance use in prior studies also require further investigation. This study contributes to the extant co-occurring substance use and mental health knowledge base by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Baggio ◽  
Joseph Studer ◽  
Meichun Mohler-Kuo ◽  
Jean-Bernard Daeppen ◽  
Gerhard Gmel

Abstract Non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) is increasing among the general population, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Although prescription drugs are considered safer than illicit street drugs, NMUPD can lead to detrimental consequences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between drug use (NMUPD on the one side, illicit street drugs on the other side) with mental health issues and then compare these associations. A representative sample of 5719 young Swiss men aged around 20 years filled in a questionnaire as part of the ongoing baseline Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). Drug use (16 illicit street drugs and 5 NMUPDs, including sleeping pills, sedatives, pain killers, antidepressants, stimulants) and mental health issues (depression, SF12) were assessed. Simple and multiple linear regressions were employed. In simple regressions, all illicit and prescription drugs were associated with poorer mental health. In multiple regressions, most of the NMUPDs, except for stimulants, were significantly associated with poorer mental health and with depression. On the contrary, the only associations that remained significant between illicit street drugs and mental health involved cannabis. NMUPD is of growing concern not only because of its increasing occurrence, but also because of its association with depression and mental health problems, which is stronger than the association observed between these problems and illicit street drug use, excepted for cannabis. Therefore, NMUPD must be considered in screening for substance use prevention purposes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 030573562092778
Author(s):  
Jolan Kegelaers ◽  
Michiel Schuijer ◽  
Raôul RD Oudejans

Due to considerable occupational challenges and stressors, classical musicians might face increased risk for mental health issues, compared to the general population. As such, scholars have highlighted the importance of developing psychological resilience in musicians. Nevertheless, this important psychological characteristic has remained understudied within music psychology. The present study therefore examined the relationship between mental health issues and resilience. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 64 musicians (including both music students and professionals) participated in this study. Results highlight that symptoms of depression/anxiety were relatively high within the current population. Moreover, music students experienced significantly more symptoms compared to professional musicians. Both resilience and general physical health were found to be negatively associated with mental health issues. The results highlight the need for further research into mental health issues in music students and provide preliminary evidence for the importance of psychological resilience in classical musicians.


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