scholarly journals Bullying, social support and adolescents’ mental health: Results from a follow-up study

2020 ◽  
pp. 140349482092166
Author(s):  
Regine Ringdal ◽  
Hanne Nissen Bjørnsen ◽  
Geir Arild Espnes ◽  
Mary-Elizabeth Bradley Eilertsen ◽  
Unni Karin Moksnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Fixed Effects Model ◽  
Being Bullied ◽  
Mental Well Being

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the predictive roles of being bullied and perceived social support in association with adolescents’ mental health. Methods: At two time points, September 2016 and April–June 2017, questionnaires were distributed to students between 15 and 21 years of age in four upper-secondary schools in Norway, with a total sample size of 351. Random- and fixed-effects regression models were used to estimate the effects of being bullied and social support on adolescents’ mental health. Results: In the random-effects models, being bullied was associated with lower scores on mental well-being and higher scores on anxiety and depression symptoms. Social support from family and friends was associated with higher scores on mental well-being, as well as fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. However, the results from the fixed-effects model, with more realistic assumptions, indicated that being bullied was only associated with more anxiety and depression symptoms, while support from friends was associated with higher scores on mental well-being and fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Conclusions: Based on the fixed-effects models, being bullied was associated with more anxiety and depression symptoms. However, being bullied was not significantly associated with mental well-being. Social support from family was not significantly associated with either aspects of mental health. Moreover, social support from friends was associated with higher scores on mental well-being and fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. The two sources of social support did not buffer the negative effects of being bullied on either aspect of mental health.

scholarly journals Relationship of Perceived Social Support with Mental Health in Older Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Muñoz-Bermejo ◽  
José Carmelo Adsuar ◽  
Salvador Postigo-Mota ◽  
Inés Casado-Verdejo ◽  
Claudia Mara de Melo-Tavares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health State ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Caregivers ◽  
Elderly Caregivers ◽  
Mental Well Being

Background: Elderly caregivers present increased physical and mental health problems. These factors can lead to a lack of autonomy and a need for social support. This study aims to analyse the relationships between perceived social support and mental health status in elderly caregivers aged 65 and older. Methods: a cross-sectional study based on data from the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE-17) carried out on 7023 people. The study population was restricted to 431 caregivers aged ≥65 years. A study of the correlation between the mental health state and the perceived social support was carried out. Both variables were related to the sex of the caregiver. Results: Perceived social support by older caregivers is significantly related to mental health (p = 0.001), and stress (p < 0.001). Also, there is a significant relationship between perceived social support and mental well-being (p = 0.001), self-esteem (p = 0.005) and stress (p = 0.001) in older women caregivers. Conclusions: Older caregivers have adequate mental well-being and perceive high social support. Perceived social support can contribute to improving the mental well-being of older caregivers.

Does precarious employment ruin youth health and marriage? Evidence from Egypt using longitudinal data

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406
Author(s):  
Mesbah Fathy Sharaf ◽  
Ahmed Shoukry Rashad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Fixed Effects Model ◽  
Precarious Employment ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to analyze whether precarious employment is associated with youth mental health, self-rated health and happiness in marriage and whether this association differs by sex. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses longitudinal data from the Survey of Young People in Egypt conducted in 2009 and 2014 and estimates a fixed-effects model to control for time-invariant unobserved individual heterogeneity. The analysis is segregated by sex. Findings The results indicate that precarious employment is significantly associated with poor mental health and less happiness in marriage for males and is positively associated with poor self-reported health for females. The adverse impact of precarious work is likely to be mediated through poor working conditions such as low salary, maltreatment at work, job insecurity and harassment from colleagues. Social implications Governmental policies that tackle job precariousness are expected to improve population health and marital welfare. Originality/value Egypt has witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of precarious employment, particularly among youth, in recent decades, yet the evidence on its effect on the health and well-being of youth workers is sparse. This paper adds to the extant literature by providing new evidence on the social and health repercussions of job precariousness from an understudied region.

Research watch: Coronavirus (COVID-19), mental health and social inclusion in the UK and Ireland

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mental Well Being

Purpose This paper aims to examine recent papers on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including implications for some of the groups of people already less included in society. Design/methodology/approach A search was carried out for recent papers on mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings Two papers describe surveys of adults in the UK and Irish Republic in the first days of lockdown. Low income and loss of income were associated with anxiety and depression. These surveys could not examine distress in Black and minority ethnicities, who have higher death rates from COVID-19. Two surveys of children and young people report distress and what can help. One paper summarises a host of ways in which the pandemic may affect mental well-being in different groups, and what might help. Another calls for research to understand how to protect mental well-being in various groups. Originality/value These five papers give a sense of the early days of the pandemic, especially in the UK. They also highlight the needs of some specific groups of people, or the need to find out more about how these groups experience the pandemic. They suggest some ways of trying to ensure that everyone has the best chance to thrive in the aftermath of the pandemic.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Well-Being of Pregnant Women in Japan: Need for Economic and Social Policy Interventions

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Midori Matsushima ◽  
Hanna Horiguchi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Economic Wealth ◽  
Mental Well Being

ABSTRACT Objective: This study explores the mental well-being of pregnant women in Japan during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: We collected 1777 responses from pregnant women through an online survey. Using the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), we calculated the percentage of pregnant women above the cutoff (≥ 13), and the factor scores of anhedonia, anxiety, and depression. Regression analyses were performed to identify factors and socioeconomic characteristics correlated with depressive symptoms. Results: The point prevalence of pregnant women with an EPDS score of ≥ 13 was 17%. The mean scores were 0.73, 3.68, and 1.82 for anhedonia, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The probability of becoming above the cutoff score positively correlated with the cancellation of planned informal support, higher perceived risk for infection of COVID-19, difficulties in household finances, and lack of social support. Moreover, being younger, less wealthy, unemployed, and without a partner showed a significantly higher possibility of having a score above the cutoff. Conclusions: The present study found a high percentage of pregnant women with depressive symptoms. Notably, COVID-19-related variables, including perceived risk for the infection, fear of decreasing economic wealth, and social support, were significantly associated with depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Sextech Use as a Potential Mental Health Reprieve: The Role of Anxiety, Depression, and Loneliness in Seeking Sex Online

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 8924
Author(s):  
Alexandra S. Marcotte ◽  
Ellen M. Kaufman ◽  
Jessica T. Campbell ◽  
Tania A. Reynolds ◽  
Justin R. Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Important Pathway ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Mental Well Being

Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have long been recognized as global mental health concerns. To temporarily relieve psychological distress, self-soothing behavior is common, including engagement in sexual behaviors that are linked to positive mental well-being. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated many mental health ailments alongside physical distancing regulations, we specifically examined online sexual behavior via the use of emergent digital sexual technologies, or sextech. In a 2019 study of 8004 American adults, we assessed whether people experiencing higher anxiety, depression, and/or loneliness were more likely to engage in sextech use. Furthermore, we examined whether anxiety or depression mediated the association between loneliness and sextech use, as loneliness is one contributor to anxiety and depression. People with higher anxiety and depression were more likely to engage in sextech. However, those who were more lonely were less likely to engage with sextech, suggesting the aforementioned patterns were not due to lack of social connection. Our findings suggest people with mental health struggles may be drawn to interactive, digital forms of sexual behavior as a means of alleviating symptoms through distraction or self-soothing. This insight offers an important pathway for expanding the scope of mental health interventions, particularly as technology becomes increasingly prevalent and accessible in everyday life.

scholarly journals Outcomes of a Blended Care Coaching Program for Clients Presenting With Moderate Levels of Anxiety and Depression: Pragmatic Retrospective Study

10.2196/32100 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e32100
Author(s):  
Monica S Wu ◽  
Shih-Yin Chen ◽  
Robert E Wickham ◽  
Shane O’Neil-Hart ◽  
Connie Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Blended Care

Background Depression and anxiety are leading causes of disability worldwide, but access to quality mental health care is limited by myriad factors. Cognitive-behavioral coaching is rooted in evidence-based principles and has the potential to address some of these unmet care needs. Harnessing technology to facilitate broader dissemination within a blended care model shows additional promise for overcoming barriers to care. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of a blended care coaching (BCC) program for clients presenting with moderate levels of anxiety and depression in real-world settings. Methods This study examined retrospective data from US-based individuals (N=1496) who presented with moderate levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and who received blended care coaching services. Using a short-term framework, clients met with coaches via a secure video conference platform and also received digital video lessons and exercises. To evaluate the effectiveness of the BCC program, mixed effects modeling was used to examine growth trajectories of anxiety and depression scores over the course of care. Results Out of the total sample of 1496 clients, 75.9% (n=1136) demonstrated reliable improvement, and 88.6% (n=1326) recovered based on either the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (anxiety) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression). On average, clients exhibited a significant decline in anxiety and depression symptoms during the initial weeks of coaching, with a continued decline over subsequent weeks at a lower rate. Engaging in a coaching session was associated with lower anxiety (b=–1.04) and depression (b=–0.79) symptoms in the same week, as well as lower anxiety (b=–0.74) and depression (b=–0.91) symptoms the following week (P<.001). Conclusions The BCC program demonstrated strong outcomes in decreasing symptomology for clients presenting with moderate levels of anxiety and depression. When clients received coaching sessions, significant decreases in symptoms were observed, reflecting the importance of session attendance. Additionally, the steepest declines in symptoms tended to occur during the initial weeks of coaching, emphasizing the importance of client buy-in and early engagement. Collectively, these findings have implications for addressing unmet mental health care needs in a more accessible, cost-effective manner.

scholarly journals Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningyuan Guo ◽  
Tzu Tsun Luk ◽  
Sai Yin Ho ◽  
Jung Jae Lee ◽  
Chen Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Mental Well Being

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been associated with anxiety and depression, but few explored its mental well-being correlates that could co-occur with or be independent of mental symptoms. We studied the associations of PSU with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being in Hong Kong Chinese adults in a probability-based survey (N = 4054; 55.0% females; mean age ± SD 48.3 ± 18.3 years). PSU was measured using Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using General Anxiety Disorder screener-2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Mental well-being was measured using Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). Multivariable regression analyzed associations adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Associations of PSU with mental well-being were stratified by symptom severity of anxiety (GAD-2 cutoff of 3) and depression (PHQ-2 cutoff of 3). We found that PSU was associated with higher odds of anxiety and depression symptom severity and lower scores of SHS and SWEMWBS. Associations of PSU with lower SHS and SWEMWBS scores remained in respondents who screened negative for anxiety or depression symptoms. To conclude, PSU was associated with anxiety, depression, and impaired mental well-being. Associations of PSU with impaired mental well-being could be independent of anxiety or depression symptoms.

The Impact on Mental Health of Losing an Only Child and the Influence of Social Support and Resilience

2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 666-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiancai Cao ◽  
Chongming Yang ◽  
Dahua Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Only Child ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Close Family

The number of parents who have lost their only child (PLOCs) has increased annually with the implementation of the birth control policy in mainland China. This study aimed to investigate the mental health status of PLOCs and the influence of social support and resilience. Study 1 recruited 100 PLOCs and 88 nonbereaved parents, and compared differences in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Study 2 investigated the influence of social support and resilience on the mental health of PLOCs via a mediating model. Results indicate that PLOCs reported more anxiety and depression symptoms than nonbereaved counterparts. Perceived close family support, objective support, and resilience negatively predicted anxiety and depression. In addition, perceived close family support was found to influence mental health via resilience. The current findings reveal that losing an only child has long-term negative impacts on the mental health of PLOCs. However, perceived close family support and objective support can protect their mental health either directly or indirectly via resilience.

Perceived Mental Health and Disablement of Primary Care and End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
George R. Parkerson ◽  
Robert A. Gutman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
End Stage Renal Disease ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Esrd Patients

Objective: To compare perceived current mental health and disablement between primary care and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and to study social support and stress and severity of illness as possible determinants of mental health and disablement. Method: Observational cross-sectional analysis of 414 primary care patients in a rural community health center and 125 ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis in two community dialysis units. The Duke Health Profile (DUKE) anxiety-depression scale was used to assess mental health; the DUKE disability scale, to indicate disablement; the Duke Social Support and Stress Scale, to measure support and stress; and the Duke Severity of Illness Scale, to rate severity of illness. Results: Perceived current mental health in terms of anxiety and depression symptoms was worse for primary care than for ESRD patients, and perceived current disablement was no different for the two groups. Patients' perception of their health status and of stress from family members were more closely associated with their level of anxiety and depression symptoms than were their diagnostic profiles or overall severity of illness. In turn, their level of anxiety and depression symptoms was the principal correlate of their disablement. Conclusions: The demonstration of strong relationships among anxiety and depression symptoms, disablement, and family stress in these two very different patient populations should stimulate further research and motivate clinicians to evaluate all three parameters as part of routine patient care.

scholarly journals Sense of coherence, social support and religiosity as resources for medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic: A web-based survey among 4324 health care workers within the German Network University Medicine

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0255211
Author(s):  
Jonas Schmuck ◽  
Nina Hiebel ◽  
Milena Rabe ◽  
Juliane Schneider ◽  
Yesim Erim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Subjective Burden ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Mental Symptoms ◽  
Health Promoting

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in severe detrimental effects on the mental well-being of health care workers (HCW). Consequently, there has been a need to identify health-promoting resources in order to mitigate the psychological impact of the pandemic on HCW. Objective Our objective was to investigate the association of sense of coherence (SOC), social support and religiosity with self-reported mental symptoms and increase of subjective burden during the COVID-19 pandemic in HCW. Methods Our sample comprised 4324 HCW of four professions (physicians, nurses, medical technical assistants (MTA) and pastoral workers) who completed an online survey from 20 April to 5 July 2020. Health-promoting resources were assessed using the Sense of Coherence Scale Short Form (SOC-3), the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory (ESSI) and one item on religiosity derived from the Scale of Transpersonal Trust (TPV). Anxiety and depression symptoms were measured with the PHQ-2 and GAD-2. The increase of subjective burden due to the pandemic was assessed as the retrospective difference between burden during the pandemic and before the pandemic. Results In multiple regressions, higher SOC was strongly associated with fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Higher social support was also related to less severe mental symptoms, but with a smaller effect size, while religiosity showed minimal to no correlation with anxiety or depression. In professional group analysis, SOC was negatively associated with mental symptoms in all groups, while social support only correlated significantly with mental health outcomes in physicians and MTA. In the total sample and among subgroups, an increase of subjective burden was meaningfully associated only with a weaker SOC. Conclusion Perceived social support and especially higher SOC appeared to be beneficial for mental health of HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the different importance of the resources in the respective occupations requires further research to identify possible reasons.

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