Associations between mental health problems and risky oral and sexual behaviour in adolescents in a sub-urban community in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract Background This study determined the association between mental health and risky oral health and sexual health behaviours. Methods A household cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria between December 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected from 10 to 19-year-old on the sociodemographic profile (age, sex at birth and socioeconomic status); mental health problems (psychological distress, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation); and mental (smoking habit, consumption of alcohol, use of psychoactive substances), sexual (history of vaginal or anal sexual intercourse; transactional sex, multiple sex partners, use of condom at last sexual intercourse) and oral (frequency of daily tooth brushing, daily frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrate in-between-meals, frequency of use of dental floss, history of dental service utilization in the last 12 months and dental anxiety) health risk factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between risky oral (neglecting to brush twice daily and frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals), and sexual (neglecting to use condoms during the last sex act and having multiple sex partners) health behaviours as outcome variables, and mental health status as the explanatory variables. An ordinal logistic regression model was also developed where the outcome variable was the number of risky health behaviours. The models were adjusted for the socio-demographic variables and history of dental service utilisation in the last 12 months of the survey. Results High psychological distress was significantly associated with lower odds of frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals (AOR = 0.32; 95%CI 0.23, 0.47), and having multiple sex partners (AOR = 0.10; 95%CI 0.02, 0.57); but higher odds of having a higher number of risky behaviours (AOR = 3.04; 95%CI 2.13, 4.33). Having depressive symptoms was significantly associated with higher odds of neglecting to use condom at the last sexual intercourse (AOR = 7.20; 95%CI 1.94, 26.76) and having multiple partners (AOR = 95.43; 95%CI 24.55, 370.90). Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with lower odds of neglecting to use condom at the last sexual intercourse (AOR = 0.00; 95%CI 0.00, 0.00) and having multiple sex partners (AOR = 0.00; 95%CI 0.00, 0.00). Conclusion The associations between psychological distress and oral and sexual health risk behaviours in adolescents seem complex and need to be studied further.

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Psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices in South Western Sydney: prevalence and associations

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py14145 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 354 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thi Nguyen ◽

Sarah Dennis ◽

Huy An ◽

Sanjyot Vagholkar ◽

Siaw Teng Liaw

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Past History ◽

Health Problems ◽

High Exposure ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of ◽

General Practices ◽

Exposure To Trauma

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among Vietnamese adults attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices and explore possible risk factors in this population. Methods A cross-sectional survey of Vietnamese adult patients was conducted at 25 general practices with Vietnamese-speaking general practitioners (GPs) in south-western Sydney between October 2012 and February 2013. Patients completed the Kessler (K10) scale and a demographic questionnaire, available in Vietnamese or English. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results Of the 350 patients invited to participate, 247 completed surveys (response rate 71%). One-quarter (25%) of participants had a very high K10 score for psychological distress, nearly twice that reported in the NSW Health Survey. Participants with high exposure to trauma were at increased risk of psychological distress (odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval 2.4–14.4; P < 0.0001) compared with those with mild or no trauma exposure. Similarly, risk was increased if there was a past history of mental health problems and a lack of personal and social support. Conclusion The high prevalence of mental health problems in adult Vietnamese people attending Vietnamese-speaking general practices is associated with exposure to trauma. This highlights the importance of personal, social and professional support in effective management. Vietnamese-speaking GPs who see Vietnamese or similar refugee groups should actively seek out a history of exposure to trauma, a past history of mental illness and the existence of support systems.

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Acute mental health responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

10.1101/2020.05.03.20089961 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jill M. Newby ◽

Kathleen O’Moore ◽

Samantha Tang ◽

Helen Christensen ◽

Kate Faasse

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Anxiety ◽

Self Report ◽

Prior History ◽

Mental Health Diagnosis ◽

History Of ◽

Health Diagnosis

AbstractThe acute and long-term mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. The current study examined the acute mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in 5070 adult participants in Australia, using an online survey administered during the peak of the outbreak in Australia (27th March to 7th April 2020). Self-report questionnaires examined COVID-19 fears and behavioural responses to COVID-19, as well as the severity of psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress), health anxiety, contamination fears, alcohol use, and physical activity. 78% of respondents reported that their mental health had worsened since the outbreak, one quarter (25.9%) were very or extremely worried about contracting COVID-19, and half (52.7%) were worried about family and friends contracting COVID-19. Uncertainty, loneliness and financial worries (50%) were common. Rates of elevated psychological distress were higher than expected, with 62%, 50%, and 64% of respondents reporting elevated depression, anxiety and stress levels respectively, and one in four reporting elevated health anxiety in the past week. Participants with self-reported history of a mental health diagnosis had significantly higher distress, health anxiety, and COVID-19 fears than those without a prior mental health diagnosis. Demographic (e.g., non-binary or different gender identity; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status), occupational (e.g., being a carer or stay at home parent), and psychological (e.g., perceived risk of contracting COVID-19) factors were associated with distress. Results revealed that precautionary behaviours (e.g., washing hands, using hand sanitiser, avoiding social events) were common, although in contrast to previous research, higher engagement in hygiene behaviours was associated with higher stress and anxiety levels. These results highlight the serious acute impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of respondents, and the need for proactive, accessible digital mental health services to address these mental health needs, particularly for those most vulnerable, including people with prior history of mental health problems. Longitudinal research is needed to explore long-term predictors of poor mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Pathways between depression, substance use and multiple sex partners among Northern and Indigenous young women in the Northwest Territories, Canada: results from a cross-sectional survey

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2017-053265 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 94 (8) ◽

pp. 604-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Carmen H Logie ◽

Candice Lys ◽

Moses Okumu ◽

Cristina Leone

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Young Women ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Multiple Sex Partners ◽

History Of

ObjectivesSexual and mental health disparities exist in the Northwest Territories (NWT) compared with other Canadian regions. STI rates are 10-fold higher, and youth suicide rates double the Canadian average. Scant research has examined associations between mental and sexual health among youth in the NWT. The study objective was to explore pathways from depression to multiple sex partners (MSP) among young women in the NWT, Canada.MethodsWe implemented a cross-sectional survey in 2015–2016 with a venue-based recruitment sample of young women aged 13–17 attending secondary schools in 17 NWT communities. We conducted path analysis to test a conceptual model examining associations between depression and a history of MSP, examining substance use and peer support as mediators.ResultsParticipants (n=199; mean age: 13.8, SD: 1.27) mostly identified were Indigenous (n=154; 77.4%) and one-fifth (n=39; 20.5%) were sexually diverse/non-heterosexual. Almost two-thirds (n=119; 63.3%) reported depression symptoms. One-quarter (n=53; 26.6%) were currently dating, and 16.1% (n=32) reported a lifetime history of >1 sex partner (classified as having MSP). There was no direct effect between depression and MSP (β=0.189, p=0.087, 95% CI 0.046 to 0.260). Depression had a direct effect on substance use (β=0.023, p<0.050, 95% CI 0.118 to 0.500), and an indirect effect on MSP through substance use (β=0.498, SE=0.10, p<0.001, 95% CI 0.141 to 0.280). Depression was associated with lower peer support (β=−0.168, p<0.010, 95% CI −0.126 to 0.280); peer support was not associated with MSP (β=−0.158, p=0.130, 95% CI −0.126 to 0.001).ConclusionThis research is among the first to identify mental health factors associated with STI vulnerability among young women in the NWT. Findings demonstrate the importance of addressing depression and substance use in sexual health interventions in Northern contexts.

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Maternal History of Child Sexual Abuse and Maladaptive Outcomes in Sexually Abused Children: The Role of Maternal Mental Health

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211013963 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110139

Author(s):

Rachel Langevin ◽

Martine Hébert ◽

Audrey Kern

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Sexually Abused ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Abused Children ◽

Maternal History ◽

History Of ◽

Sexually Abused Children

The effects of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been found to surpass generations as maternal history of CSA is associated with increased difficulties in sexually abused children. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. The present study aimed to test maternal mental health symptoms including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation as mediators of the relationship between maternal CSA and children’s internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms in a large sample of sexually abused children. A total of 997 sexually abused children aged 3-14 years old and their mothers were recruited at five specialized intervention centers offering services to sexually abused children and their families. The children were divided into two groups depending on their mothers’ self-reported history of CSA. Mothers completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health and children’s functioning. Maternal history of CSA was associated with increased maternal psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and dissociation following children’s disclosure of CSA. In turn, maternal psychological distress and maternal dissociation were associated with increased child internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with child internalizing symptoms. Maternal mental health difficulties mediated the association between maternal CSA and sexually abused children’s maladaptive outcomes. Clinicians should assess for possible history of CSA in mothers of sexually abused children and determine how best to support them to cope with the aftermaths of their child’s disclosure and with their own traumatic past.

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Roles of Psychological Distress and Social Support in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Perceived Needs for Mental Health Care

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211006368 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110063

Author(s):

Tingting Gao ◽

Songli Mei ◽

Muzi Li ◽

Carl D’ Arcy ◽

Xiangfei Meng

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Perceived Needs ◽

Perceived Need ◽

History Of ◽

The Relationship

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue worldwide. It increases a range of health-risk behaviors, psychological and physical problems, which are associated with an increased need for mental health services in adulthood. Identification of mediating factors in the relationship between maltreatment and seeking mental health care may help attenuate the negative consequences of childhood maltreatment and promote more appropriate treatment. This study aims to examine whether the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care is mediated by psychological distress and/or moderated by social support. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health 2012 are analyzed. A total of 8,993 participants, who had complete information on childhood maltreatment and diagnoses of mental disorders or psychological distress, are included in this study. Structural equation modeling and the PROCESS macro were used to identify relationships among childhood maltreatment, perceived needs for mental health care, and psychological distress. Hierarchical linear regression was then used to verify the moderated mediation model. We found that psychological distress partially mediated the effect of childhood maltreatment on perceived needs for mental health care in adulthood. Social support played an important role in terms of moderating the relationship between maltreatment and perceived needs for care. For those with a history of childhood maltreatment, those who perceived a low level of social support were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress and perceived need for mental health care. This is the first study to identify the separate and combined roles of psychological distress and social support in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care. Selective prevention strategies should focus on social support to improve mental health services among people with a history of childhood maltreatment.

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Effects of Pregnancy Loss on Subsequent Postpartum Mental Health: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042179 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2179

Author(s):

David C. Reardon ◽

Christopher Craver

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Live Birth ◽

Pregnancy Loss ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychiatric Treatment ◽

Reproductive Services ◽

History Of ◽

Mental Health Treatments ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

Pregnancy loss, natural or induced, is linked to higher rates of mental health problems, but little is known about its effects during the postpartum period. This study identifies the percentages of women receiving at least one postpartum psychiatric treatment (PPT), defined as any psychiatric treatment (ICD-9 290-316) within six months of their first live birth, relative to their history of pregnancy loss, history of prior mental health treatments, age, and race. The population consists of young women eligible for Medicaid in states that covered all reproductive services between 1999–2012. Of 1,939,078 Medicaid beneficiaries with a first live birth, 207,654 (10.7%) experienced at least one PPT, and 216,828 (11.2%) had at least one prior pregnancy loss. A history of prior mental health treatments (MHTs) was the strongest predictor of PPT, but a history of pregnancy loss is also another important risk factor. Overall, women with a prior pregnancy loss were 35% more likely to require a PPT. When the interactions of prior mental health and prior pregnancy loss are examined in greater detail, important effects of these combinations were revealed. About 58% of those whose first MHT was after a pregnancy loss required PPT. In addition, over 99% of women with a history of MHT one year prior to their first pregnancy loss required PPT after their first live births. These findings reveal that pregnancy loss (natural or induced) is a risk factor for PPT, and that the timing of events and the time span for considering prior mental health in research on pregnancy loss can significantly change observed effects. Clinicians should screen for a convergence of a history of MHT and prior pregnancy loss when evaluating pregnant women, in order to make appropriate referrals for counseling.

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Common Mental Disorders and Substance Use in School Children of Eastern Nepal

Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal ◽

10.3126/jpan.v8i1.26331 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 17-21

Author(s):

P Sharma ◽

N Thakur ◽

S Sharma ◽

M Pokharel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

School Mental Health ◽

Prevalence Studies ◽

Common Mental Health Problems ◽

Current Scenario ◽

History Of

Introduction: School mental health is one of the important areas where early detection can lead to appropriate early intervention and burden of disease can be minimized. There is dearth of prevalence studies of common mental disorders on school going adolescents in Nepal. Considering this we aimed to study the prevalence of common mental health problems and substance use in school going adolescents. Material And Method: We evaluated 240 students for common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) using translated version of PHQ-4 and substance use single validated question after taking consent from school authorities and assent from students. Results: It was seen that 68.8 % students had psychological distress. 22.9 % and 27.5% of students had anxiety and depression respectively on screener and 23.3% students had use of substance at least once within a year. When compared male had significantly higher number of substance use as compared to female but no difference in PHQ-4 scores were seen when compared between gender and history of substance use. Conclusion: The study shows the current scenario of school going adolescents in Nepal and highlights the need of prevalence data on more generalizable setting.

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Predictors of clinical deterioration in patients with suspected COVID-19 managed in a ‘virtual hospital’ setting: a cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045356 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e045356

Author(s):

Nick A Francis ◽

Beth Stuart ◽

Matthew Knight ◽

Rama Vancheeswaran ◽

Charles Oliver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Health Problems ◽

Clinical Deterioration ◽

Care Services ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Remote Assessment ◽

History Of

ObjectiveIdentify predictors of clinical deterioration in a virtual hospital (VH) setting for COVID-19.DesignReal-world prospective observational study.SettingVH remote assessment service in West Hertfordshire NHS Trust, UK.ParticipantsPatients with suspected COVID-19 illness enrolled directly from the community (postaccident and emergency (A&E) or medical intake assessment) or postinpatient admission.Main outcome measureDeath or (re-)admission to inpatient hospital care during VH follow-up and for 2 weeks post-VH discharge.Results900 patients with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 (455 referred from A&E or medical intake and 445 postinpatient) were included in the analysis. 76 (8.4%) of these experienced clinical deterioration (15 deaths in admitted patients, 3 deaths in patients not admitted and 58 additional inpatient admissions). Predictors of clinical deterioration were increase in age (OR 1.04 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.06) per year of age), history of cancer (OR 2.87 (95% CI 1.41 to 5.82)), history of mental health problems (OR 1.76 (95% CI 1.02 to 3.04)), severely impaired renal function (OR for eGFR <30=9.09 (95% CI 2.01 to 41.09)) and having a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result (OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.60)).ConclusionsThese predictors may help direct intensity of monitoring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are being remotely monitored by primary or secondary care services. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and identify the reasons for increased risk of clinical deterioration associated with cancer and mental health problems.

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Changes in psychological distress and psychosocial functioning in young people visiting headspace centres for mental health problems

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/mja14.01696 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 202 (10) ◽

pp. 537-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Debra J Rickwood ◽

Kelly R Mazzer ◽

Nic R Telford ◽

Alexandra G Parker ◽

Chris J Tanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Young People ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems

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Living in Uncertain Times: Pre-existing Mental Health Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perceived COVID-19 Threat as Predictors of Psychological Distress During the Pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/fs3ny ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kathryn M Bell ◽

Diane Holmberg

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽

Health Problems ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Distress Intolerance ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Threat Levels

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people are facing heightened uncertainty about the future and increasing rates of psychological distress. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and perceived COVID-19 threat may be contributing to mental health problems. This study investigated changes in mental health problems prior to and during the first two pandemic waves in the U.S., and the extent to which IU and perceived COVID-19 threat predicted these problems. MTurk participants (n=192; 50% women) were recruited from a pre-pandemic study in December 2019/January 2020 for a follow-up study on COVID-19 experiences, across five timepoints between April and August 2020. IU, perceived COVID-19 threat, and mental health problems (i.e., worry, COVID-19 fear, and trauma symptoms) were assessed. On average, mental health problems were not elevated, relative to pre-pandemic levels, and remained stable across time. Heightened IU and perceived COVID-19 threat were associated with more mental health problems. Surprisingly, objective measures of COVID-19 threat (e.g., state case rates) showed no associations with IU, and were slightly negatively correlated with psychological distress and perceived threat. Pre-existing mental health symptoms, IU and perceived COVID-19 threat may foster vulnerability to mental health problems during the pandemic, more so than objective threat levels.

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