Health Starting Points: Continuity and Change in Physical and Mental Health before and during the Pandemic

The pandemic has created multiple changes in the lives of Americans, with growing and widespread concerns about the implications for the nation’s health and well-being. Most empirical examinations of the physical and mental health implications of the pandemic have rested on aggregate comparisons of prepandemic and pandemic indicators of health. The authors contribute to this body of work by considering continuity and change in health and well-being over time. The authors draw on respondents in a population-based sample with repeated health measures of physical health, depressive symptoms, and anxiety collected prior to the pandemic and subsequently during the pandemic. Using Sankey figures, the authors illustrate their health pathways and as a result highlight the importance of a longitudinal lens on assessments of health. The authors find health starting points are critical to understanding distribution and levels of physical and emotional health issues during the pandemic.

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Health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people aged 50 years and over

Australian Health Review ◽

10.1071/ah16200 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 146 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mark Hughes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Sexual Diversity ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Health And Well Being

Objectives The aim of the present study was to examine the health and well being of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, the health issues that concern them, the services they use and challenges accessing services. Methods This study comprised a survey of the health and well being of 312 LGBTI people aged 50 years and over in New South Wales. The survey included the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) measure of health-related quality of life, the Kessler 10 (K10) measure of psychological distress, and the three-item Loneliness Scale. Results Higher levels of psychological distress, lower mental health and greater loneliness were found among this sample than is typically found in the general population. Mental health was lower among carers and those not in a relationship, while psychological distress was greater among those living alone and those experiencing higher rates of loneliness. The most commonly accessed health service was a general practitioner (GP), with most respondents reporting that they were open about their sexuality to their GP and that they had a regular GP. Some reported difficulties accessing health services because of their gender or sexual diversity. Conclusions Although many older LGBTI people are well, both physically and mentally, they do appear to face increased risk of certain health issues compared with the general population. What is known about the topic? Overseas research indicates that older LGBTI people may be at greater risk of certain physical and mental health conditions than the general population. What does this paper add? This paper provides Australian data, using well-validated instruments, on the health and well being of older LGBTI people. It provides evidence of the health issues that older LGBTI people are most concerned about and the barriers they face in accessing services. What are the implications for practitioners? It is important for health practitioners to be aware that older LGBTI people appear to be at increased risk of certain physical and mental health issues, such as loneliness and psychological distress. Providing opportunities for clients to identify their gender or sexual diversity may assist in monitoring risk factors and enable referral to promote healthy aging.

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New National Online Resource Provides Practical Advice and Hope for People Dealing With Emotional Health Issues Related to Financial Stress: Provides Essential Information on How Economic Conditions Can Affect Physical and Mental Health and Where People Can Turn for Help

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e592802009-001 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Financial Stress ◽

Economic Conditions ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Essential Information ◽

Practical Advice ◽

Online Resource

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Presence of a Secondary Caregiver Differentiates Primary Cancer Caregiver Well-being

10.21203/rs.3.rs-427046/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Thomson ◽

Maureen Wilson-Genderson ◽

Laura A Siminoff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Case Series ◽

Primary Caregivers ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Hematological Cancer ◽

Cancer Caregiver ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Informal caregivers play a fundamental role in the care of hematological cancer patients, but less is known about how secondary caregivers are involved. We assessed the presence or absence of a secondary caregiver, the types of caregiving activities performed by primary and secondary caregivers and examined whether the presence of a secondary caregiver was associated with primary caregiver characteristics and wellbeing over time. Methods A case series of hematological cancer patient-caregiver dyads (n = 171) were recruited from oncology clinics in Virginia and Pennsylvania and followed for 2 years. Multi-level models were developed to examine the associations between presence of a secondary caregiver and the primary caregivers’ well-being. Results Most (64.9%) primary caregivers reported having secondary caregivers. Multilevel models showed primary caregivers without help had higher baseline mental and physical health, but experienced deteriorating physical health overtime, compared to supported primary caregivers. Supported primary caregivers reported improvements in mental health over time that was associated with improvements in physical health. Conclusions Primary caregivers in good physical and mental health at the beginning of their caregiving journey but who have the least assistance from others may be at greatest risk for detrimental physical health effects long term. Attention to the arrangement of caregiving roles (i.e., who provides what care) overtime is needed to ensure that caregivers remain healthy and well supported.

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Life, lifestyle and location: examining the complexities of psychological distress in young adult Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease ◽

10.1017/s2040174417000162 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 541-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

B. Davison ◽

T. Nagel ◽

G. R. Singh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Indigenous Australians ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Self Harm

Mental health is fundamental to an individual’s health and well-being. Mental health disorders affect a substantial portion of the Australian population, with the most vulnerable time in adolescence and young adulthood. Indigenous Australians fare worse than other Australians on almost every measure of physical and mental health. Cross-sectional data from young adults (21–27 years) participating in the Life Course Program, Northern Territory, Australia, is presented. Rates of psychological distress were high in remote and urban residing Indigenous and urban non-Indigenous young adults. This rate was more pronounced in young women, particularly in Indigenous remote and urban residing women. Young adults with high psychological distress also had lower levels of positive well-being, higher perceived stress levels, experienced a higher number of major life events and were at an increased risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm. This study supports the need for a continued focus on early screening and treatment at this vulnerable age. The significant association seen between psychological distress and other markers of emotional well-being, particularly risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, highlights the need for a holistic approach to mental health assessment and treatment. A concerted focus on improving the environs of young adults by lowering levels of stress, improving access to adequate housing, educational and employment opportunity, will assist in improving the emotional health of young adults.

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The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610219000498 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 135-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael D. Barnett ◽

Ellen A. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Health ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Life Orientation Test ◽

Health And Well Being

ABSTRACTObjectives:Optimism and pessimism are distinct constructs that have demonstrated independent relationships with aspects of health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether optimism or pessimism is more closely linked with physical and mental health among older adults.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Participants:Community-dwelling older adults (N = 272) ages 59–95 in the southern United States.Measurements:The Life Orientation Test—Revised and the Short Form 8.Results:At the bivariate level, optimism was associated with higher physical health and mental health, while pessimism was associated with lower physical health and mental health. Multiple-regression analyses as well as comparison of correlation coefficients found that pessimism was more closely associated with physical health and mental health than optimism.Conclusions:These results add to the literature suggesting that, in terms of older adults’ health and well-being, avoiding pessimism may be more important than being optimistic.

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Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic: impact on journalists and media audiences

Media International Australia ◽

10.1177/1329878x20956415 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1329878X2095641

Author(s):

Alexandra Wake ◽

Elizabeth Paton ◽

Rebecca Pryor

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Issues ◽

Media Audiences ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Personal Stress ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Accurate Reporting

COVID-19 has brought with it an increase in predictions of mental ill-health and suicide impacts in Australia. For journalists, it has been a period not only of personal stress about their economic livelihoods and occupational safety, but also balancing providing up to date information about the pandemic with safe, sensitive and accurate reporting on associated suicide and mental health issues. Mindframe offers guidelines, resources and individualised support to help manage the complexities of reporting on suicide in this global pandemic, working with media to protect people in their audience who are vulnerable to suicide while also helping journalists protect their own mental health and well being.

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Compositional, Contextual, and Collective Community Factors in Mental Health and Well-Being in Australian Rural Communities

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732315625195 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 677-687 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jessica Collins ◽

Bernadette M. Ward ◽

Pamela Snow ◽

Sandra Kippen ◽

Fiona Judd

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Well Being ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Geographic Variations ◽

Community Factors ◽

Health And Well Being

There are disproportionately higher and inconsistently distributed rates of recorded suicides in rural areas. Patterns of rural suicide are well documented, but they remain poorly understood. Geographic variations in physical and mental health can be understood through the combination of compositional, contextual, and collective factors pertaining to particular places. The aim of this study was to explore the role of “place” contributing to suicide rates in rural communities. Seventeen mental health professionals participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Principles of grounded theory were used to guide the analysis. Compositional themes were demographics and perceived mental health issues; contextual themes were physical environment, employment, housing, and mental health services; and collective themes were town identity, community values, social cohesion, perceptions of safety, and attitudes to mental illness. It is proposed that connectedness may be the underlying mechanism by which compositional, contextual, and collective factors influence mental health and well-being in rural communities.

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How do Norwegian adolescents experience the role of social media in relation to mental health and well-being: a qualitative study

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-021-00582-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland ◽

Viktor Schønning ◽

Randi Træland Hella ◽

Marius Veseth ◽

Jens Christoffer Skogen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Well Being ◽

Practical Significance ◽

Health Issues ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Background During the last decade, social media has permeated most parts of society. Adolescents are particularly active users of social media, and their use has been suggested as a contributing factor to mental health issues in this group. Quantitative studies have found associations between the frequency and/or duration of social media use and more mental health issues. However, most studies are cross-sectional and the identified associations are weak and of questionable practical significance. The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents’ lived experiences of using social media, focusing on both negative and positive aspects, using a qualitative approach. Qualitative research enables in-depth explorations of the experiences of individuals, nuance quantitative findings, and offer the perspective of adolescents into policies regarding social media use. Methods Experiences and perspectives of 27 adolescents from two senior high schools in Norway were gathered using focus group interviews (mean age 16.8, range 15–18). The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results According to the participants, social media use catalyse changes to how people communicate and relate to each other (theme 1). Some changes were positive, in terms of facilitating social connectedness, while others were negative, such as people behaving worse than in face-to-face interactions. Further, social media use affected the participants at the individual level (theme 2); positively in terms of a sense of belonging and social support, and negatively in terms of perceived stress, body pressure, and displacing other activities such as sleep and homework. The motivations for using, or not using, social media were multifaceted (theme 3), reflecting the positive and negative aspects of social media in terms of interpersonal and personal consequences. Conclusion Social media was described as an important part of the participants’ everyday life, with both a positive and negative impact on their mental health and well-being. Considering the compelling nature of social media and adolescents’ relatively limited self-regulatory capacities, efforts to modify social media use should avoid relying on self-regulation, while also recognizing the importance of social media as an arena for peer interaction.

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