scholarly journals Self-compassion as a mediator of the association between autistic traits and depressive/anxious symptomatology

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136236132096685
Author(s):  
John Galvin ◽  
Abby Howes ◽  
Bethany McCarthy ◽  
Gareth Richards
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
The Relationship

Self-compassion refers to the extension of kindness to oneself when faced with inadequacies, shortcomings or failures. This study examined the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between autistic traits and depressive/anxious symptomatology in the general population. Participants included 164 university students (69 males and 95 females) ranging in age from 18 to 51 years (mean = 23.16, standard deviation = 7.81). Participants completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A series of multiple mediation analyses was conducted using the bootstrapping method, and it was found that Total Self-Compassion and the two subscales of Compassionate Self-Responding and Uncompassionate Self-Responding partially mediated the relationship between autistic traits and anxious/depressive symptoms. The indirect effect of self-compassion accounted for 41.9% of the variance in the relationship between autistic traits and depressive symptoms and 50% of the variance in the relationship between autistic traits and anxiety symptoms. It was also further found that the correlation between autistic traits and self-compassion was significantly stronger in males than females. Although preliminary, the current findings suggest that self-compassion could potentially serve as a target for clinical intervention in individuals with elevated autistic traits who experience anxiety and/or depression. Lay Abstract In this study, we asked 164 undergraduate students to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire measured the students’ levels of autistic traits, self-compassion, and experience of anxiety and depression. We were interested in knowing if self-compassion (defined as the extension of kindness to oneself when faced with challenges) had any influence on the relationship between autistic traits and experiences of anxiety and depression. The results of the study indicated that self-compassion may be an important factor influencing the relationship between autistic traits and mental health, with higher levels of self-compassion being related to more positive mental health outcomes. Although the findings should be considered preliminary in nature, they do suggest that self-compassion could potentially be a target for clinical intervention in people with elevated autistic traits and experience anxiety and/or depression.

The influence of workplace stress and coping on depressive symptoms among registered nurses in Bangladesh

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reva Mondal ◽  
Yajai Sitthimongkol ◽  
Nopporn Vongsirimas ◽  
Natkamol Chansatitporn ◽  
Kathy Hegadoren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Workplace Stressors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Nurses report high levels of workplace stress, which has been linked to an increased risk for experiencing depressive symptoms.Nurses’ workplace stress is also linked to increased absenteeism and decreased job satisfaction. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) the incidence of depressive symptoms among hospital-based registered nurses in Bangladesh; (2) common sources of workplace stress and their relationships to individual characteristics and depressive symptom scores; and (3) the potential mediating roles of coping strategies in the relationship between workplace stress and depressive symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study design involved three hundred and fifty-two registered nurses. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and three standardized tools measuring sources of nurses’ workplace stress, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Results: More than half of the participants scored ≥ 16 on the CES-D, which was associated with a major depression episode. Total NSS scores had a small but significant influence on scores on the depression scale. Coping strategies had no mediated effect on the relationship between workplace stress and scores on the depression scale. Low-reliability coefficients for subscales of two of the standardized tools highlight the challenge for researchers in developing countries to address contextual differences that may influence the meanings attached to individual items.  Conclusion: Findings suggest that the mental health of registered nurses in Bangladesh requires immediate attention in part by attending to workplace stressors. Further research should focus on a deeper understanding of Bangladeshi registered nurses’ work experiences and the unique contribution that workplace stressors have on their physical and mental health.

scholarly journals Patterns of Contagious Yawning and Itching Differ Amongst Adults With Autistic Traits vs. Psychopathic Traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly S. Helt ◽  
Taylor M. Sorensen ◽  
Rachel J. Scheub ◽  
Mira B. Nakhle ◽  
Anna C. Luddy
Keyword(s):  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Psychopathic Traits ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Contagious Yawning ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Underlying Processes

Both individuals with diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and individuals high in psychopathic traits show reduced susceptibility to contagious yawning; that is, yawning after seeing or hearing another person yawn. Yet it is unclear whether the same underlying processes (e.g., reduced eye gaze) are responsible for the relationship between reduced contagion and these very different types of clinical traits. College Students (n = 97) watched videos of individuals yawning or scratching (a form of contagion not reliant on eye gaze for transmission) while their eye movements were tracked. They completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Psychopathy Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R), and the Adolescent and Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist. Both psychopathic traits and autistic traits showed an inverse relationship to contagious yawning, consistent with previous research. However, the relationship between autistic (but not psychopathic) traits and contagious yawning was moderated by eye gaze. Furthermore, participants high in autistic traits showed typical levels of contagious itching whereas adults high in psychopathic traits showed diminished itch contagion. Finally, only psychopathic traits were associated with lower overall levels of empathy. The findings imply that the underlying processes contributing to the disruptions in contagious yawning amongst individuals high in autistic vs. psychopathic traits are distinct. In contrast to adults high in psychopathic traits, diminished contagion may appear amongst people with high levels of autistic traits secondary to diminished attention to the faces of others, and in the absence of a background deficit in emotional empathy.

A-121 Functional Outcomes in Bilingual Persons with Traumatic Brain: The Role of Mood

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1171-1171
Author(s):  
Winter Olmos ◽  
Daniel W Lopez-Hernandez ◽  
Isabel Munoz ◽  
Laura Schierholz ◽  
Rachel A Rugh-Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pearson Correlations

Abstract Introduction We examined the relationship between depression and anxiety, language, and functional outcomes in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods The sample consisted of 48 acute TBI (ATBI: 23 Spanish-English Bilinguals; 25 English monolinguals), 30 chronic TBI (CTBI: 17 Spanish English Bilinguals; 12 English monolinguals), and 47 healthy comparison (HC: 29 Spanish-English Bilinguals; 18 English monolinguals) participants. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A). The Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 (MPAI-4) was used to measure functional outcomes (ability, adjustment, participation). Results An ANCOVA, controlling for age, revealed the ATBI group reported lower anxiety levels compared to the CTBI group, p = 0.034 np2 = 0.06. HC participants demonstrated significantly higher functional ability compared to both TBI groups, p < 0.05, np2 = 0.08–0.19. The ATBI group demonstrated worse participation scores compared to the CTBI and HC groups, p = 0.001, np2 = 0.11. Pearson correlations revealed mood was related to functional status in ATBI monolinguals (HADS-A: r = 0.29–0.64; HADS-D, r = 0.49–0.62). Monolingual participants with ATBI demonstrated correlations between depressive symptoms and functional adjustment (r = 0.57, p = 0.005) and ability (r = 0.44, p = 0.034). For monolinguals with CTBI, HADS-A correlated with functional outcomes, r = 0.60–0.66, p < 0.05. For bilinguals with CTBI, functional outcomes correlated with HADS-A, r = 0.53–0.66, p < 0.05, and HADS-D, r = 0.54–0.66, p < 0.05. For HC monolinguals, functional outcomes correlated with HADS-A, r = 0.53–0.70, p < 0.05, and HADS-D, r = 0.50–0.72, p < 0.05. Finally, for HC bilinguals, functional outcomes correlated with HADS-A, r = 0.59–0.68, p < 0.05. Conclusion Our results suggest that a relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms is related more to functional outcomes in monolingual TBI survivors compared to bilingual TBI survivors.

Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder Characteristics and Humor Appreciation in Typically Developing Individuals

2018 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 2282-2297
Author(s):  
Kai Nagase
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Humor Appreciation ◽  
The Relationship

Extant research regarding humor appreciation in individuals with autism spectrum disorder has been equivocal. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the severity of autism spectrum disorder characteristics and humor appreciation in typically developing individuals. We hypothesized that the severity of autistic traits would have a U-shaped linear relationship with humor appreciation. Eighty typically developing undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 22 years ( Mage = 20.20; SDage = 1.08) were recruited for this study. They were asked to answer 24 statements, devised to measure humor appreciation, in response to a joke stimulus comprising 12 typically funny daily life occurrences (two statements per episode). The participants also responded to the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. A significant U-shaped relationship was observed between the severity of autistic traits and appreciation of humor. A similar significant U-shaped relationship was seen between humor appreciation and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient subscales of attention switching, communication, and imagination. Humor appreciation showed no significant U-shaped relationship with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient subscales of social skills and local details. This study identified ways that autistic traits may influence how people appreciate humor. These findings are discussed in relation to cognitive processes underlying humor appreciation.

scholarly journals Anxiety Sensitivity Domains are Differently Affected by Social and Non-social Autistic Traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Baiano ◽  
Gennaro Raimo ◽  
Isa Zappullo ◽  
Roberta Cecere ◽  
Barbara Rauso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Social Traits ◽  
Depression Scales ◽  
Multiple Domains

AbstractAnxiety sensitivity (AS) is implicated in the development and maintenance of several psychopathological conditions. Non-clinical individuals with high autistic traits may develop anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. Here, we investigated the relationships of autistic traits with AS dimensions and depression, considering sex. We referred to the two-factor model of the autism spectrum quotient to distinguish social and non-social autistic traits and assessed 345 university students on AS and depression scales. Results showed that only social autistic traits predicted general AS and anxiety-related concerns regarding social and cognitive domains. The present results emphasize the need of assessing multiple domains of anxiety in individuals on the autistic spectrum, differentiating social and non-social traits.

scholarly journals Lower help-seeking intentions and subsequent depressive symptoms among adolescents with high autistic traits: A population-based cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Hosozawa ◽  
Syudo Yamasaki ◽  
Shuntaro Ando ◽  
Kaori Endo ◽  
Yuko Morimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Multivariable Regression

AbstractBackgroundAdolescents with high autistic traits in the general population are at increased risk of depression. Despite the importance of help-seeking for early intervention, evidence on help-seeking intentions among this population is scarce.AimsTo examine the help-seeking intentions and preferences for depression by the level of autistic traits in adolescents, and test how help-seeking intentions mediate the association between autistic traits and depressive symptoms.MethodParticipants were from the Tokyo Teen Cohort, a population-based cohort in Japan. They were classified into two groups according to parent-rated autistic traits measured by the short-version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (≥6 as AQhigh). Help-seeking intentions and preferences were assessed at age 12 using a depression vignette. Depressive symptoms were self-rated at age 14 using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Data were analysed using multivariable regression analysis and structural equation modelling.ResultsOf the 2,505 adolescents in the study, 200 (8%) were classified as AQhigh. In the AQhigh-group, 40% of the adolescents reported not having help-seeking intentions, although 93% recognised the need and 97% had someone to rely on. Parents of the AQhigh-group also reported fewer help-seeking intentions. The AQhigh-group was associated with an increased risk of not having help-seeking intentions (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.35–2.49), which explained 19% of the above association.ConclusionsLower help-seeking intentions among adolescents with high autistic traits partially explained their increased risk for subsequent depressive symptoms. Interventions to promote help-seeking intentions among this population should involve both adolescents and their parents and ideally be provided before adolescence.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Related Knowledge and Mental Health: Case of Croatia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Galić ◽  
Luka Mustapić ◽  
Ana Šimunić ◽  
Leon Sić ◽  
Sabrina Cipolletta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Biological Features ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mediation Models

Background and Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to radical and unexpected changes in everyday life, and it is plausible that people’s psychophysical health has been affected. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19 related knowledge and mental health in a Croatian sample of participants.MethodsAn online survey was conducted from March 18 until March 23, 2020, and a total of 1244 participant responses were collected (85.5% were women and 58.4% completed secondary education). Measures included eight questions regarding biological features of the virus, symptoms, and prevention, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Optimism-Pessimism Scale. According to the answers given on the questions on COVID-19 related knowledge, participants were divided in two groups: (1) informed and (2) uninformed on each question. They were then compared in the expressed levels of anxiety, depression, pessimism, and optimism. Full vs. partial mediation models with optimism/pessimism as a mediator in the relationship between anxiety/depression and the accuracy of responses for questions about handwashing and ways of transmission were estimated.ResultsParticipants who responded correctly on the question about handwashing had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and pessimism than those participants whose answer was incorrect, while participants who answered correctly on the question about the percentage of patients who develop serious breathing problems had higher levels of depression than those who answered incorrectly. Lower levels of anxiety and pessimism were observed in the participants who answered correctly about ways of transmission. Higher levels of pessimism were found in participants who scored incorrectly on questions about the efficiency of antibiotics, most common symptoms, and the possibility of being infected by asymptomatic carriers. Higher levels of knowledge about handwashing were predicted by higher levels of anxiety and pessimism. Higher levels of knowledge about ways of transmission were predicted by lower levels of anxiety and lower levels of pessimism. The examined relationships between anxiety/depression and knowledge were mediated by pessimism.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that knowledge about COVID-19 may be useful to reduce anxiety and depression, but it must be directed to the promotion of health behaviors and to the recognition of fake news.

scholarly journals Protocol for the Implementation and Assessment of “MoodUP”: A Stepped Care Model Assisted by a Digital Platform to Accelerate Access to Mental Health Care for Cancer Patients Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4629
Author(s):  
Diana Frasquilho ◽  
Ricardo Matias ◽  
Jaime Grácio ◽  
Berta Sousa ◽  
Fernando Luís-Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Care System

The COVID-19 pandemic has important consequences for the mental health of populations. Patients with cancer, already at risk for poor mental health outcomes, are not expected to be spared from these consequences, prompting the need for health services to improve responsiveness. This article presents the research protocol for an implementation study designed to describe the uptake of a well-studied and recognized system for the treatment of depression and anxiety (Stepped-care) during the specific context of a Pandemic in an oncological site. The system set-up will be assisted by a digital platform (MoodUP), where patients undergoing cancer treatment will be screened for anxiety and depressive symptoms, triaged by severity level and algorithm-matched to recommended interventions. Patients undergoing cancer treatment at a cancer clinic in Portugal will be invited to subscribe to the MoodUP platform where they will complete a self-reported questionnaire (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) to screen their anxiety and depressive symptoms. Data will be instantly collected, and an algorithm will activate severity-matched intervention suggestions, through a case manager that will coordinate care. The specific objectives of this study will be to describe the implementation and acceptability of the care system by patients and staff, the barriers to and facilitators of implementation, the proportion of patients accessing the system and their pathways through the various stepped-care interventions, and patient perceptions regarding the feasibility and appropriateness of the eHealth platform. Moreover, exploratory analyses will be conducted to describe patterns of anxiety and depression symptoms variation across all patients, as well as within sociodemographically, clinically and contextually characterized subgroups, to characterize their care needs and access, as well as to explore for whom the MoodUP care system may be more appropriate. This study is expected to improve processes for collaborative mental healthcare in oncology and accelerate the digitalization of services, towards the improvement of mental healthcare access, and management of high-risk patients, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Development and evaluation of the Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS): assessment of parental concordance with guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depression

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Hua Sim ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Katherine A. Lawrence ◽  
Marie B.H. Yap
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Child Anxiety ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Background Involving parents in the prevention of mental health problems in children is prudent given their fundamental role in supporting their child’s development. However, few measures encapsulate the range of risk and protective factors for child anxiety and depression that parents can potentially modify. The Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS) was developed as a criterion-referenced measure to assess parenting against a set of evidence-based parenting guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods In Study 1, 355 parents of children 8–11 years old across Australia completed the PaRCADS and measures of parenting, general family functioning, child anxiety and depressive symptoms, and parent and child health-related quality of life. Their children completed measures of parenting, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life. In Study 2, six subject-experts independently evaluated the PaRCADS items for item-objective congruence and item-relevance. Item analysis was conducted by examining item-total point-biserial correlation, difficulty index, B-index, and expert-rated content validity indices. Reliability (or dependability) was assessed by agreement coefficients for single administration. Construct validity was examined by correlational analyses with other measures. Results Four items were removed to yield a 79-item, 10-subscale PaRCADS. Reliability estimates for the subscale and total score range from .74 to .94. Convergent validity was indicated by moderate to strong correlations with other parenting and family functioning measures, and discriminant validity was supported by small to moderate correlations with a measure of parents’ health-related quality of life. Higher scores on the PaRCADS were associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms and better health-related quality of life in the child. PaRCADS total score was associated with parental age, parent reported child’s history of mental health diagnosis and child’s current mental health problem. Discussion Results showed that the PaRCADS demonstrates adequate psychometric properties that provide initial support for its use as a measure of parenting risk and protective factors for child anxiety and depression. The scale may be used for intervention and evaluative purposes in preventive programs and research.

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