Investigating the structure of trait rumination in autistic adults: A network analysis

Rumination, a form of passive, repetitive negative thinking, predicts the development of depressive disorders in non-autistic individuals, and recent work suggests higher levels of rumination may contribute to elevated rates of depression in the autistic population. Using psychological network analysis, this study sought to investigate the structure of rumination in autistic individuals and the relationships between rumination and individual depressive symptoms. Non-regularized partial correlation networks were estimated using cross-sectional data from 608 autistic adults who completed the Ruminative Responses Scale and Beck Depression Inventory–II. Node centrality indices were calculated to determine which specific symptoms may have a disproportionate influence on the network of repetitive negative thoughts. Nodes were also grouped into communities, and specific “bridge” nodes were identified that most strongly connected these different communities. Results demonstrated strong positive relationships between all facets of ruminative thinking, similar to a prior study in non-autistic adults. Self-directed negative cognitions appeared to be particularly central in this network. The depression symptoms most strongly related to rumination in autistic adults were sadness and guilt. Although these findings are preliminary, they highlight specific facets of rumination that warrant future study as depression risk factors and potential intervention targets in the autistic population. Lay abstract Autistic adults are substantially more likely to develop depression than individuals in the general population, and recent research has indicated that certain differences in thinking styles associated with autism may play a role in this association. Rumination, the act of thinking about the same thing over and over without a functional outcome, is a significant risk factor for depression in both autistic and non-autistic adults. However, little is known about how different kinds of rumination relate to each other and to depressive symptoms in the autistic population specifically. To fill this gap in knowledge, we recruited a large online sample of autistic adults, who completed questionnaire measures of both the tendency to ruminate and symptoms of depression. By examining the interacting network of rumination and depression symptoms, this study was able to identify particular aspects of rumination—such as thinking repetitively about one’s guilty feelings or criticizing oneself—that may be particularly important in maintaining these harmful thought patterns in autistic adults. Although further study is needed, it is possible that the symptoms identified as most “influential” in the network may be particularly good targets for future interventions for mood and anxiety disorders in the autistic population.

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Feelings of Worthlessness Links Depressive Symptoms and Parental Stress: A Network Analysis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/w2eg3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nora Skjerdingstad ◽

Miriam S. Johnson ◽

Sverre Urnes Johnson ◽

Asle Hoffart ◽

Omid V. Ebrahimi

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Parental Stress ◽

Network Models ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Health State ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological States ◽

Influential Node

The prevalent co-occurrence between parental stress and depression has been previously established prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. However, no studies to date have identified the connections through which these symptom domains interact with each other to emerge into a complex and detrimental mental health state, along with the plausible mechanistic variables that may play key roles in maintaining parental stress and depression. The aim of this research is to uncover these interactions in a period where parents experience heighted demands and stress as a consequence of the strict social distancing protocols. Network analysis is utilized to examine parental stress and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large cross-sectional study (N = 2868) of parents. Two graphical Gaussian graphical network models were estimated, one in which only parental stress and depression symptoms were included, and another in which several mechanistic variables were added. Expected influence and bridge expected influence revealed that feeling worthless was the most influential node in the symptoms network and bridged the two psychological states. Among the mechanistic variables, worry and rumination was specifically relevant in the depressive cluster of symptoms, and self-criticism was connected to both constructs. The study display that the co-occurrence of parental stress and depression have specific pathways, were manifested through feelings of worthlessness, and have specific patterns of connection to important mechanisms of psychopathology. The results are of utility when aiming to avoid the constellation of co-occurring parental stress and depressive symptoms during the pandemic.

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Mental Health among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Comparison

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2686

Author(s):

Kele Ding ◽

Jingzhen Yang ◽

Ming-Kai Chin ◽

Lindsay Sullivan ◽

Giyasettin Demirhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Anxiety ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Study Data ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Country Level

Despite the global impact of COVID-19, studies comparing the effects of COVID-19 on population mental health across countries are sparse. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults from 11 countries and to examine their associations with country-level COVID-19 factors and personal COVID-19 exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Mental health (anxiety, depression, resilient coping, hope) and other study data were collected between June–August 2020. Of the 13,263 participants, 62.8% were female and 51.7% were 18–34 years old. Participants living in Brazil had the highest anxiety and depression symptoms while participants living in Singapore had the lowest. Greater personal COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms, but country-level COVID-19 factors were not. Higher levels of hope were associated with reduced anxiety and depression; higher levels of resilient coping were associated with reduced anxiety but not depression. Substantial variations exist in anxiety and depression symptoms across countries during the COVID-19 lockdown, with personal COVID-19 exposure being a significant risk factor. Strategies that mitigate COVID-19 exposure and enhance hope and resilience may reduce anxiety and depression during global emergencies.

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Acculturative stress and coping among Korean immigrant elders residing in non-Korean ethnic enclaves

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/0020872817741183 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 622-639 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stephanie L Rhee

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Acculturative Stress ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Research ◽

Ethnic Enclaves ◽

Korean Immigrant ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

And Coping

Few studies that have been conducted on Korean immigrant elders have been carried out in areas without Korean ethnic enclaves due to their small numbers and proportion. This nonprobability cross-sectional study utilized a structured survey to examine the relationships of acculturative stress, coping, and depressive symptoms among 108 non-institutionalized Korean immigrant elders residing in areas without Korean ethnic enclaves. Multivariate analysis results indicated that acculturative stress might be the most significant risk factor for depressive symptoms, which could decrease coping efficacy of social support and increase somatic symptoms of Korean immigrant elders residing in non-Korean ethnic enclaves. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed.

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Frequency and network analysis of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer compared to the general population

10.31234/osf.io/8r569 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tim Julian Hartung ◽

Eiko I Fried ◽

Anja Mehnert ◽

Andreas Hinz ◽

Sigrun Vehling

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Network Analysis ◽

General Population ◽

Graphical Models ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Future Research ◽

Edge Weight ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Patients With Cancer

Background: The use of sum scores of depressive symptoms has been increasingly criticized and may be particularly problematic in oncological settings. Frameworks analyzing individual symptoms and their interrelationships such as network analysis represent an emerging alternative. Methods: We aimed to assess frequencies and interrelationships of 9 DSM-5 symptom criteria of major depression reported in the PHQ-9 questionnaire by 4,020 patients with cancer and 4,020 controls from the general population. We estimated unregularized Gaussian graphical models for both samples and compared network structures as well as predictability and centrality of individual symptoms.Results: Depressive symptoms were more frequent, but less strongly intercorrelated in patients with cancer than in the general population. The overall network structure differed significantly between samples (correlation of adjacency matrices: rho=0.73, largest between-group difference in any edge weight: 0.20, p < 0.0001). Post-hoc tests showed significant differences in interrelationships for four symptom pairs. The mean variance of symptoms explained by all other symptoms in the same network was lower among cancer patients than in the general population (29% vs. 43%).Limitations: Cross-sectional data do not allow for temporal or causal inferences about the directions of associations and results from population-based samples may not apply to clinical psychiatric populations.Conclusions: In patients with cancer, both somatic and cognitive/affective depression symptoms are less likely to be explained by other depressive symptoms than in the general population. Rather than assuming a consistent depression construct, future research should study individual depressive symptom patterns and their potential causes in patients with cancer.

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Age-Related Differences of Rumination on the Loneliness-Depression Relationship: Evidence from a Population-Representative Cohort

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab034 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Horace Tong ◽

Wai Kai Hou ◽

Li Liang ◽

Tsz Wai Li ◽

Huinan Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Age Groups ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Affective Symptoms ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Background and Objective This study examined the association of loneliness with depressive symptoms across various age groups. Loneliness is a significant risk factor for precipitating depressive symptoms. Rumination, a mechanism that underpins depression, can become intense when a person feels lonely. In addition, age is a major factor associated with changes in mental and physical health. Thus, the importance of rumination and age in moderating the loneliness–depression link were investigated. Research Design and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong (February 27 to March 17, 2020). A population-representative sample of 2,018 people (1,126 females; 15–92 years of age) was recruited and interviewed via telephone through random digit dialling. This sample included 394 younger adults (18–30 years), 1,106 middle-aged adults (31–64 years), and 472 older adults (65 years or above). Respondents reported depressive symptoms, subjective loneliness, state rumination, and sociodemographic factors. Results Loneliness and rumination were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and they significantly interacted in predicting cognitive-affective symptoms. Further analysis of age showed that the interaction was only significant only in middle-aged adults and older adults. Both rumination and age interacted with loneliness respectively in predicting cognitive-affective symptoms. Discussion and Implications These findings indicate that the strength of the association between loneliness and the cognitive-affective symptoms of depression depends on rumination levels and age. An intervention to regulate rumination offers a feasible direction for health care and social care aimed at improving older adults’ mental health.

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Network analysis of the relationship between negative life events and depressive symptoms in the left-behind children

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03445-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kuiliang Li ◽

Yu Guang ◽

Lei Ren ◽

Xiaoqing Zhan ◽

Xuejiao Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Academic Stress ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Left Behind ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background There are 68.77 million left-behind children in China, who are at a great risk of depression associated with negative life events. Our study aims to investigate the most central symptoms of depression in left-behind children and the relationship between depressive symptoms and negative life events using network analysis. Method A cross-sectional data set (N = 7255) was used, which included children and adolescents aged 7 to 17. Network analysis was used to evaluate: 1) the most central symptoms among the items included in Child Depression Inventory (CDI) of the left-behind children; 2) bridge symptoms between depressive disorder and Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC) of the left-behind children; 3) differences in networks of depressive disorders between left-behind and non-left-behind children, and 4) differences in the network of depression and negative life events between left-behind and non-left-behind children. The stability and centrality indices of the network were also evaluated in the study. Results The most central symptoms in the CDI among the left-behind children included self-hatred, crying, fatigue, and sadness. The items with the highest bridge strength centrality in the CDI-ASLEC network included academic stress, discrimination, and school performance decrement. Higher bridge strength values indicate a greater risk of contagion to other communities. The connections in the CDI-ASLEC network are denser in the left-behind children than in non-left-behind children. Limitations The study which was conducted based on cross-sectional data shows that network analysis can only make undirected estimation, but not causal inferences. Conclusions We identified the core symptoms of depression and the bridge symptoms between negative life events and depression in the left-behind children. These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to self-hatred, sadness, and fatigue in the treatment of depression in left-behind children. Intervention for academic stress and discrimination of the left-behind children may help to reduce the contagion of negative life events to depression symptoms.

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Bereavement or Breakup: A Network Approach to Modeling Differential Pathways into Depression

10.31234/osf.io/38r4j ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Julian Burger ◽

Margaret S. Stroebe ◽

Pasqualina Perrig-Chiello ◽

Henk A.W. Schut ◽

Stefanie Spahni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Graphical Models ◽

Contextual Factors ◽

Marital Disruption ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Depression Symptom ◽

Multiple Time ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Within Subjects

Background: Prior network analyses demonstrated that the death of a loved one potentially precedes specific depression symptoms, primarily loneliness, which in turn links to other depressive symptoms. In this study, we extend prior research by comparing depression symptom network structures following two types of marital disruption: bereavement versus separation. Methods: We fitted two Gaussian Graphical Models to cross-sectional data from a Swiss survey of older persons (145 bereaved, 217 separated, and 362 married controls), and compared symptom levels across bereaved and separated individuals. Results: Separated compared to widowed individuals were more likely to perceive an unfriendly environment and oneself as a failure. Both types of marital disruption were linked primarily to loneliness, from where different relations emerged to other depressive symptoms. Amongst others, loneliness had a stronger connection to perceiving oneself as a failure in separated compared to widowed individuals. Conversely, loneliness had a stronger connection to getting going in widowed individuals. Limitations: Analyses are based on cross-sectional between-subjects data, and conclusions regarding dynamic processes on the within-subjects level remain putative. Further, some of the estimated parameters in the network exhibited overlapping confidence intervals and their order needs to be interpreted with care. Replications should thus aim for studies with multiple time points and larger samples. Conclusions: The findings of this study add to a growing body of literature indicating that depressive symptom patterns depend on contextual factors. If replicated on the within-subjects level, such findings have implications for setting up patient-tailored treatment approaches in dependence of contextual factors.

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A Clinicopathologic and Epidemiologic Study of Chronic White Lesions in the Oral Mucosa

Ear Nose & Throat Journal ◽

10.1177/014556131709600804 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 96 (8) ◽

pp. E13-E17

Author(s):

Sampurna Ghosh ◽

Sudipta Pal ◽

Soumya Ghatak ◽

Somnath Saha ◽

Surajit Biswas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Mucosa ◽

Epidemiologic Study ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Premalignant Lesions ◽

Excision Biopsy ◽

Severe Dysplasia ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Malignant Lesions ◽

Tobacco Chewing

Invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma is often preceded by the presence of clinically identifiable premalignant changes of the oral mucosa, including white lesions. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study to assess the clinicopathologic and epidemiologic aspects of chronic oral mucosal white lesions to determine the necessity of early biopsy in these cases. Our study population was made up of 77 patients—50 males and 27 females, aged 15 to 70 years (mean: 42.9)—who presented with white lesions persisting for at least 4 weeks. All but 3 patients underwent a biopsy; the 3 exceptions were diagnosed with smear-proven candidiasis. Patients with moderate or severe dysplasia underwent an excision biopsy. The buccal mucosa was the single most common site of white lesions, occurring in 15 patients (19.5%), although 21 patients (27.3%) exhibited a diffuse involvement of the oral mucosa. Of the 77 patients, 59 (76.6%) had concerning findings: premalignant lesions in 45 patients (58.4%) and malignant lesions in 14 (18.2%). Also, dysplasia was seen in 8 patients (10.4%), all of whom had premalignant lesions. Tobacco chewing (p = 0.008) and betel quid chewing (p = 0.029) were significantly associated with the development of premalignant and malignant lesions; a longer duration of tobacco chewing (≥10 yr) was significantly associated with a higher risk of malignant but not premalignant lesions (p = 0.031). Finally, illiteracy was a significant risk factor for premalignant and malignant lesions (p = 0.03). Our findings support the necessity of biopsy in every case. Early detection of oral carcinoma by biopsy of all oral white lesions would not only prevent patients from undergoing disfiguring surgery and chemoradiation, but it also would increase the 5-year survival rate.

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Effects of social support, hope and resilience on depressive symptoms within 18 months after diagnosis of prostate cancer

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes ◽

10.1186/s12955-020-01660-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xinxin Zhao ◽

Ming Sun ◽

Ye Yang

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Modifiable Factors

Abstract Background The prevalence of depression symptoms and related modifiable factors in prostate cancer (PCa) are not well evaluated. We aimed to assess the effects of perceived social support, hope and resilience on depressive symptoms within 18 months after diagnosis of PCa, and to evaluate the role of hope and resilience as mediators of that relationship. Method A cross-sectional study was analyzed in consecutive inpatients with PCa during the months of January 2018 and August 2019. A total of 667 patients eligible for this study completed questionnaires on demographic and clinic variables, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Adult Hope Scale, and Resilience Scale (14 items). All registered patients were all volunteers and anonymous. Depressive symptoms, perceived social support, hope and resilience were measured anonymously. Out of 667 patients, a total of 564 effective respondents (< 30% missing data) became our subjects. Hierarchical linear regression was used to identify the factors associated with depressive symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to conduct the mediating effects of hope and resilience. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 65.9% in PCa patients. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that perceived social support, hope, and resilience together accounted for 27.5% variance of depressive symptoms. Support from family, hope, and resilience significantly associated with depressive symptoms, respectively. Hope (a*b = − 0.0783, BCa95% CI: − 0.134 to − 0.0319, p < 0.05), and resilience (a*b = − 0.1315, BCa95% CI: − 0.1894 to − 0.0783, p < 0.05) significantly mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms. Conclusions The high prevalence of depressive symptoms among PCa patients should receive more attention. Perceived social support, hope and resilience could be positive resources for combating depressive symptoms, and hope and resilience mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms. Enhancing social support, particularly the support form family, and improving patients’ outlook and resilience may be potential targets for future psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms.

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Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Female Students in Fukushima Four Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112411 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2411 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shinya Ito ◽

Mie Sasaki ◽

Satoko Okabe ◽

Nobuhiro Konno ◽

Aya Goto

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Radiation Risk ◽

Well Being ◽

Female Students ◽

World Health ◽

Nuclear Radiation ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

Young women in their late teens and early 20s are at the highest risk for depression onset. The present study aimed to assess depressive symptoms among female college students in Fukushima. More specifically, it aimed to clarify factors predicting possible symptom profiles, with an emphasis on determining how nuclear radiation risks affect the reporting of depression symptoms. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 310 female students at a college in the Fukushima prefecture, Japan, in December 2015, and 288 participants submitted valid questionnaires. In total, 222 (77.1%) participants lived in Fukushima at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The measures included the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, the Fukushima Future Parents Attitude Measure, and risk perception of radiation health effects. A total of 46.5% of participants reported depressive symptoms. Path analysis revealed that higher radiation risk perceptions and reduced efficacy with reproduction related to a decline in self-esteem and self-efficacy, which was subsequently associated with increased depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of radiation education among children and young adults, both after a nuclear accident and during disaster preparation, particularly in the context of reproductive and mental health.

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