scholarly journals Exposure to family stressful life events in autistic children: Longitudinal associations with mental health and the moderating role of cognitive flexibility

Autism ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 136236132110619
Author(s):  
Virginia Carter Leno ◽  
Nicola Wright ◽  
Andrew Pickles ◽  
Rachael Bedford ◽  
Anat Zaidman-Zait ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Family Level

Mental health problems are prevalent in autistic youth, but the underpinning mechanisms are not well explored. In neurotypical youth, stressful life events are an established risk factor for mental health problems. This study tested longitudinal bidirectional associations between family-level stressful life events and mental health problems and whether these were moderated by cognitive flexibility, in a cohort of autistic children ( N = 247). Family-stressful life events, assessed using the parent-reported Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes, and mental health problems, assessed using the teacher-reported Child Behavior Checklist Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms subscales, were measured at multiple points between 7 and 11 years. Analyses showed no significant pathways from internalizing or externalizing symptoms to family-stressful life events or from family-stressful life events to internalizing or externalizing symptoms. There was some evidence of moderation by cognitive flexibility; the family-stressful life events to internalizing symptoms pathway was non-significant in the group with typical shifting ability but significant in the group with clinically significant shifting problems. Information about family-level stressful life event exposure and cognitive flexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic youth who may be at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Established risk factors for mental health problems in neurotypical populations are relevant for understanding mental health in autistic youth. Lay abstract Experiencing stressful life events, such as a parent having had serious illness, parental divorce, bullying and victimization, is known to increase risk for mental health difficulties in neurotypical children. However, few studies have looked at whether stressful life events have a similar impact in autistic youth and if any individual characteristics may moderate the impact of said life events. In this study, we tested whether in autistic children aged 7–11 years, exposure to family-level stressful life events predicted later mental health symptoms (and vice versa). We also tested whether associations between stressful life events and mental health symptoms differed depending on the child’s level of cognitive flexibility. We found stressful life events only predicted internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) in children with clinically significant difficulties in cognitive flexibility (as rated by their parents). Mental health symptoms did not predict future exposure to stressful life events. Results suggest that information about exposure to stressful life events and cognitive inflexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic children who may be at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms.

Risk factors and life processes associated with the onset of suicidal behaviour during adolescence and early adulthood

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. FERGUSSON ◽  
L. J. WOODWARD ◽  
L. J. HORWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Time Dynamics

Background. This study examined associations between childhood circumstances, adolescent mental health and life events, and the development of suicidal behaviour in young people aged between 15 and 21 years.Method. Data were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children born in New Zealand. The measures collected included: (1) patterns of suicidal behaviour (ideation, attempt) (15–21 years); (2) social background, family functioning, parental and individual adjustment during childhood (0–16 years); and (3) time dynamics of mental health and stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood (15–21 years).Results. By the age of 21 years, 28·8% of the sample reported having thought about killing themselves and 7·5% reported having made a suicide attempt. The childhood profile of those at greatest risk of suicidal behaviour was that of a young person reared in a family environment characterized by socio-economic adversity, marital disruption, poor parent–child attachment and exposure to sexual abuse, and who as a young adolescent showed high rates of neuroticism and novelty seeking. With the exception of the socio-economic and personality measures, the effects of childhood factors were largely mediated by mental health problems and exposure to stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood. Mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, and to some extent conduct disorder, in addition to exposure to adverse life events, were significantly associated with the onset of suicidal behaviours.Conclusions. Findings support a life course model of the aetiology of suicidal behaviour in which risk of developing suicidal behaviour depends on accumulative exposure to a series of social, family, personality and mental health factors.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Effects of Stressful Life Events on Problematic Smartphone Use and the Mediating Roles of Mental Health Problems in Chinese Undergraduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengjia Zhao ◽  
Nani Ding ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
Huihui Xu ◽  
Xinyi Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Smartphone Use

Background and Aims: This three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of stressful life events on problematic smartphone use and the mediating roles of mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) in Chinese undergraduate students.Methods: A total of 197 undergraduate students completed the three-wave surveys. Their severity of stressful life events, mental health problems, and problematic smartphone use were assessed.Results: Regression analyses revealed that stressful life events at T1 was significantly associated with problematic smartphone use at T3. Mediation analyses showed that mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) at T2 fully mediated the association between stressful life events at T1 and problematic smartphone use at T3 (B = 0.042, 0.034, and 0.022, respectively).Conclusions: The present study revealed that stressful life events and mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) are predictors of problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students.

PP21  Perceptions and experiences of employee mental health support: a cross-sectional survey of UK ambulance service staff

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. e10.2-e10
Author(s):  
Sasha Johnston ◽  
Jennifer Wild ◽  
Kristy Sanderson ◽  
Bridie Kent
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Service Staff

BackgroundMental ill health among ambulance staff is widespread. Evidence suggests that, with the right support, staff experiencing mental ill health can continue to work, symptom severity can be reduced and suicide prevented. To identify whether organisational support meets staff needs, this research explored the perceptions and experiences of staff working in a large ambulance trust covering the south west of England.MethodsBetween September and October 2018, ambulance staff were invited to complete an online questionnaire, which assessed demographics, work-related stressful life events, related psychological impact assessed by the avoidant subscale of Weiss and Marmar’s Impact of Event Scale-Revised, mental ill health sickness absence during the previous 12 months, perceptions and experiences of organisational support and acceptability of a proposed wellbeing intervention offering mandatory time-to-talk at work.ResultsOver 11% (N=540) of the workforce responded. The majority reported experiencing work-related stressful life events (n=444; 82%), that were associated with subsequent avoidant symptoms. Avoidant symptom severity peaked between six-months to five-years after an event (F (5,438) = 2.4, p=0.03), was associated with repeated exposure (F (4,439) = 2.9, p=0.01) and to sickness absence. A fifth of participants reported mental ill health sickness absence (21.6%), a third of which was not disclosed as related to mental health. Content analysis identified stigma, fear, as well as embarrassment, as barriers to disclosure and help-seeking. Perceptions and experiences of organisational support were significantly correlated (r (195) =0.46, p<0.001) and positive.ConclusionsSymptoms associated with work-related stressful life events can persist for years among ambulance staff. Given the association between organisational support and mental wellbeing, it is possible that an intervention, such as mandatory time-to-talk, supported at an organisation level could improve wellbeing among ambulance staff. Such an intervention needs to be evaluated in future research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document