Mental Disorders, Gun Ownership, and Gun Carrying Among Soldiers After Leaving the Army, 2016–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (10) ◽  
pp. 1855-1864
Author(s):  
Robert M. Bossarte ◽  
Hannah N. Ziobrowski ◽  
David M. Benedek ◽  
Catherine L. Dempsey ◽  
Andrew J. King ◽  
...  

Objectives. To examine associations of current mental and substance use disorders with self-reported gun ownership and carrying among recently separated US Army soldiers. Veterans have high rates of both gun ownership and mental disorders, the conjunction of which might contribute to the high suicide rate in this group. Methods. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2018–2019 from 5682 recently separated personnel who took part in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers. Validated measures assessed recent mood, anxiety, substance use, and externalizing disorders. Logistic regression models examined associations of sociodemographic characteristics, service characteristics, and mental disorders with gun ownership and carrying. Results. Of the participants, 50% reported gun ownership. About half of owners reported carrying some or most of the time. Mental disorders were not associated significantly with gun ownership. However, among gun owners, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder were associated with significantly elevated odds of carrying at least some of the time. Conclusions. Mental disorders are not associated with gun ownership among recently separated Army personnel, but some mental disorders are associated with carrying among gun owners. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(10):1855–1864. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306420 )

Author(s):  
Ta-Chuan Yeh ◽  
Ya-Mei Bai ◽  
Shih-Jen Tsai ◽  
Tzeng-Ji Chen ◽  
Chih-Sung Liang ◽  
...  

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder that is highly comorbid with mental disorders. However, few studies have examined the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia in the offspring of parents with IBS. We used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data to analyze cross-generational transmission patterns of both IBS and major mental disorders. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated by using logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounding factors. Offspring of parents with IBS were more likely to develop IBS themselves (OR = 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.09–2.78), ADHD (OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.08–1.62), and MDD (OR = 1.32, 95% CI, 1.04–1.68) than the controls. Data stratification by parental sex revealed that paternal IBS increased risk of ADHD (OR = 1.34, 95% CI, 1.01–1.77) in the offspring, while maternal IBS increased the risk of MDD (OR = 1.51, 95% CI, 1.11–2.06). This is the first study to reveal parental IBS is associated with IBS, ADHD, and MDD among offspring, suggesting the necessity for early implementation of prevention strategies for at-risk children.


Author(s):  
Eric Kabisa ◽  
Emmanuel Biracyaza ◽  
Jean d’Amour Habagusenga ◽  
Aline Umubyeyi

Abstract Background Relapse to substance use after successful detoxication and rehabilitation is a public health concern worldwide. Forty to sixty percent of persons in general relapsed after completing detoxication and rehabilitation treatments. Although substance use remains a burden in Rwanda, very little is known about relapse among people with substance use disorder (SUD). Hence, this study aimed to examine prevalence and the factors associated with relapse to substance use at Icyizere Psychotherapeutic Centre (IPC), Rwanda. Methods Retrospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 391 patients with SUD at IPC. Multiple logistic regression models using STATA version 13 were used to determine the factors associated with relapse among the patients with SUD. Results Majority (84.1 %) of the participants were males. More than half (54.1 %) of them were aged between 18 and 30 years with the age average of 33 years (SD = 11.9 years). The results showed a higher prevalence of relapse among patients with SUD (59.9 %). The multivariate analyses indicated that people with SUD living only with their mothers had a greater risk of relapse compared to those with both biological parents [OR = 1.9, 95 % CI (1.02–3.6), p = 0.04]. Patients that were hospitalized between one to three months were more likely (11.2 times) to relapse after treatments compared to those who spent more than three months in hospitalization [OR = 9.2, 95 % CI (1.1–77.6), p = 0.02]. Furthermore, people that used more than two substances had 1.5 greater risk to relapse than those who consumed one substance. Participants were more likely to relapse if they lived with their peers [OR = 2.4, 95 % CI: (1.2–7.8), p = 0.01] or if they lived in a family with conflicts [OR = 2.1, 95 % CI (1.05–9.7), p = 0.02]. Conclusions This study is conducted at one institution caring for patients with SUD. The prevalence was 59.9 %. Future studies are recommended to investigate the effectiveness of the existing relapse prevention programs in order to adjust prevention strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Hongfu Ren ◽  
Na Wang ◽  
Yaqing Xiong ◽  
Fei Xu

Abstract Background To examine associations of socioeconomic position (SEP), separately indicated by education, monthly family average income (FAI) and occupation, with health literacy (HL) among adults in regional China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among urban and rural adults (aged 25–69 years) who were randomly selected, using the probability proportionate to size sampling approach, from Nanjing municipality of China during October and December of 2016. HL, the outcome variable, was assessed using the Chinese Resident Health Literacy Scale. SEP, our independent variable, was separately measured with educational attainment, monthly family average income and occupation. Logistic regression models were introduced to examine SEP-HL association with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Totally, 8698 participants completed the survey. The proportion of participants with unweighted and weighted adequate HL was 18.0% (95%CI = 17.2, 18.8%) and 19.9% (95%CI = 16.6, 23.6%), respectively, in this study. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, each SEP indicator was in significantly positive relation to both unweighted and weight HL level. Participants who obtained 13+ and 10–12 years educational attainment, respectively, had 2.41 (95%CI = 1.60, 3.64) and 1.68 (95%CI = 1.23, 2.29) times odds to record weighted adequate HL compared to their counterparts who were with 0–9 years education. Subjects within upper (OR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.24, 2.98) and middle FAI tertile (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.19, 2.13), respectively, were more likely to report weighted adequate HL relative to those who were within lower FAI tertile. White collars were more likely to have weighted adequate HL (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.09, 1.61) than blue collars. Conclusions Each of education, FAI and occupation was positively associated with health literacy among urban and rural adults in China. The findings have important implications that different SEP indicators can be used to identify vulnerable residents in population-based health literacy promotion campaigns.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rana A. Qadeer ◽  
Lilly Shanahan ◽  
Mark A. Ferro

AbstractBackground and aimsThere has been a growth in the proportion of emerging adults vulnerable to pain-related sequelae of chronic health conditions (CHCs). Given the paucity of research during this important developmental period, this study investigated the association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain among emerging adults and the extent to which psychiatric disorders moderate this association.MethodsData come from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health (CCHS-MH). This cross-sectional survey included 5987 participants that were 15-30 years of age and self-reported their CHCs (n = 2460,41%) and the extent to which pain impacted daily functioning using items from the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI 3). Group comparisons between respondents with CHCs and healthy controls were made using chi-square tests. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed from ordinal logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Product-term interactions between CHCs and psychiatric disorders were included in the models to explore moderating effects. All analyses were weighted to maintain representativeness of the study sample to the Canadian population.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 23.5 (SE 0.1) years and 48% were female. Compared to healthy controls, a greater proportion of participants with CHCs reported having chronic pain (20.3% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.001). Among those with chronic pain, respondents with CHCs reported a greater number of activities prevented because of chronic disruptive pain (χ2 = 222.28, p< 0.001). Similarly, in logistic regression models, participants with CHCs had greater odds of reporting chronic disruptive pain (OR = 4.94, 95% CI = 4.08-5.99). Alcohol (β = –0.66; p = 0.025) and drug abuse/dependence disorders (β = –1.24; p = 0.012) were found to moderate the association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain. Specifically, the probability of chronic disruptive pain was higher for emerging adults without CHCs and with alcohol or drug disorders; however, among participants with CHCs, probability was higher for those without these disorders.ConclusionsThere is a robust association between CHCs and chronic disruptive pain. The moderating effects suggest that alcohol or drug disorders are especially harmful for emerging adults without CHCs and contribute to higher levels of chronic disruptive pain; however, among those with CHCs, alcohol and illicit drugs may be used as a numbing agent to blunt chronic disruptive pain.ImplicationsFindings from this study have implications for the integration and coordination of services to design strategies aimed at managing chronic disruptive pain and preventing pain-related disabilities later in life. Within the health system, healthcare providers should engage in dialogues about mental health and substance use regularly with emerging adults, be proactive in screening for psychiatric disorders, and continue to monitor the impact of pain on daily functioning. Given the age range of emerging adults, there is tremendous opportunity for clinicians to work cooperatively with colleagues in the education system to support emerging adults with and without CHCs. Overall, clinicians, researchers, educators, and those in social services should continue to be mindful of the complex interrelationships between physical and mental health and chronic disruptive pain and work cooperatively to optimize health outcomes and prevent pain-related disabilities among emerging adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam John Munyogwa ◽  
Kaloli Sayi Ntalima ◽  
Secilia Ng’weshemi Kapalata

Abstract Background Obesity at the workplace has been associated with symptoms of lower self-esteem, increased individual and employer healthcare costs, increased absenteeism and presenteeism and reduced productivity. Therefore, this study was designed to study the prevalence and correlates of central obesity among formal sector employees in Dodoma City. Methods Study design was a cross-sectional survey conducted from March to June, 2019. Participants were employees from formal sector employment defined as those paid regular monthly wage and with either a secured permanent or temporary contract. Simple random sampling was used to select four out of fifteen large buildings hosting various establishments. Respondents were obtained conveniently and interviewed face to face. Central obesity was defined as a waist circumference greater than 102 cm for males and greater than 88 cm for females. Chi-square test was conducted to assess the differences among the groups. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were fitted to identify the correlates of central obesity. Results A total of 392 respondents (98% response rate) agreed and participated in the study. The overall prevalence of central obesity was found to be 41.8% (164/392). The prevalence of central obesity was significantly higher among females (67.4% p < 0.001), respondents aged ≥51 years (60%, p = < 0.001), administrators (55.1% p = < 0.05), respondents with salary of > 1,000,000 Tanzanian Shilling (TSh.) per month (54.4%, p = < 0.05), respondents who eat homemade meals at the workplace (64.2%, p = < 0.05) and respondents with hypertension (62.5%, p = < 0.05). Correlates of central obesity were found to be female sex (AOR = 9.53; 95% CI: 5.49, 16.78), increased age, eating homemade meals at the workplace (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.04, 4.19) and hypertension (AOR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.41, 6.91). Conclusions The present study revealed high prevalence of central obesity among formal sector employees in Dodoma City. Scholars and stakeholders are urged to generate more evidences and design appropriate interventions to curb the situation.


Author(s):  
Danielle LoRe ◽  
Christopher Mattson ◽  
Dalia M. Feltman ◽  
Jessica T. Fry ◽  
Kathleen G. Brennan ◽  
...  

Objective The study aimed to explore physician views on whether extremely early newborns will have an acceptable quality of life (QOL), and if these views are associated with physician resuscitation preferences. Study Design We performed a cross-sectional survey of neonatologists and maternal fetal medicine (MFM) attendings, fellows, and residents at four U.S. medical centers exploring physician views on future QOL of extremely early newborns and physician resuscitation preferences. Mixed-effects logistic regression models examined association of perceived QOL and resuscitation preferences when adjusting for specialty, level of training, gender, and experience with ex-premature infants. Results A total of 254 of 544 (47%) physicians were responded. A minority of physicians had interacted with surviving extremely early newborns when they were ≥3 years old (23% of physicians in pediatrics/neonatology and 6% in obstetrics/MFM). The majority of physicians did not believe an extremely early newborn would have an acceptable QOL at the earliest gestational ages (11% at 22 and 23% at 23 weeks). The majority of physicians (73%) believed that having an extremely preterm infant would have negative effects on the family's QOL. Mixed-effects logistic regression models (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]) revealed that physicians who believed infants would have an acceptable QOL were less likely to offer comfort care only at 22 (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.65, p < 0.01) and 23 weeks (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.78, p < 0.02). They were also more likely to offer active treatment only at 24 weeks (OR: 9.66, 95% CI: 2.56–38.87, p < 0.01) and 25 weeks (OR: 19.51, 95% CI: 3.33–126.72, p < 0.01). Conclusion Physician views of extremely early newborns' future QOL correlated with self-reported resuscitation preferences. Residents and obstetric physicians reported more pessimistic views on QOL. Key Points


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Fatma W. Nazer ◽  
Wael Sabbah

<p class="Pa7"><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess whether there are ethnic differences in tooth loss among adult Americans aged &lt;40 years and whether socioeconomic position attenuates these differences if they exist.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a health-related telephone cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of US adults. Tooth loss (one tooth or more) was used as the outcome variable. Ethnicity was the main explanatory variable. Family income, education and health insurance were also used in the analysis. Logistic regression models for tooth loss were constructed adjusting for demographic (age, sex, and ethnicity), socioeconomic indica­tors (income and education), health insur­ance, dental visits, smoking and diabetes.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 76,273 participants were included in the analysis. The prevalence of tooth loss was highest among Blacks (33.7%). Hispanics and other ethnic groups had a higher prevalence of tooth loss than Whites, 29.1% (95%CI: 27.7-30.6), 22.0% (95%CI: 20.3-23.8), and 20.8% (95%CI: 20.2-21.4), respectively. Blacks had odds ra­tios (OR) 1.98 (95%CI: 1.81-2.16) for tooth loss compared with Whites. After adjusting for socioeconomic positions (SEP), the rela­tionship attenuated but remained significant with OR 1.71 (95%CI: 1.55-1.90).</p><p class="Default"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite recent changes in the health care system in the United States, ethnic inequalities in tooth loss still exist. Income and education partially explained ethnic differences in tooth loss among Americans aged &lt;40 years.</p><p class="Default"><em>Ethn Dis. </em>2018;28(3):201-206; doi:10.18865/ ed.28.3.201</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 00155-2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hansen ◽  
Reiner Hanewinkel ◽  
Matthis Morgenstern

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) advertisements and use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes and hookahs.A cross-sectional survey of 6902 German students (mean age 13.1 years, 51.3% male) recruited in six German states was performed. Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements was measured with self-rated contact frequency to three advertising images. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to assess associations between exposure to e-cigarette advertisement and use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes and hookahs (ever and past 30 days).Overall, 38.8% of the students were exposed to e-cigarette advertisements; ever-use of e-cigarettes was 21.7%, of combustible cigarettes was 21.8% and of hookahs was 23.2%, and poly-use of all three products was 12.4%. Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements was positively related to ever and past 30-day use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, hookahs and combined use.We concluded that a considerable number of German teenagers are exposed to e-cigarette advertisement. There was a clear exposure–behaviour link, indicating that advertising contact was associated with different kinds of “vaping” and also smoking behaviour. Although causal interpretation is not possible due to the cross-sectional design, findings raise concerns about the current tobacco control policies.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Curtis ◽  
Brandon Bergman ◽  
Austin Brown ◽  
Jessica McDaniel ◽  
Kristen Harper ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Research suggests that digital recovery support services (D-RSSs) may help support individual recovery and augment the availability of in-person supports. Previous studies highlight the use of D-RSSs in supporting individuals in recovery from substance use but have yet to examine the use of D-RSSs in supporting a combination of behavioral health disorders, including substance use, mental health, and trauma. Similarly, few studies on D-RSSs have evaluated gender-specific supports or integrated communities, which may be helpful to women and individuals recovering from behavioral health disorders. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the SHE RECOVERS (SR) recovery community, with the following 3 aims: (1) to characterize the women who engage in SR (including demographics and recovery-related characteristics), (2) describe the ways and frequency in which participants engage with SR, and (3) examine the perception of benefit derived from engagement with SR. METHODS This study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the characteristics of SR participants. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests, as well as univariate logistic regressions, were used to explore each aim. RESULTS Participants (N=729, mean age 46.83 years; 685/729, 94% Caucasian) reported being in recovery from a variety of conditions, although the most frequent nonexclusive disorder was substance use (86.40%, n=630). Participants had an average length in recovery (LIR) of 6.14 years (SD 7.87), with most having between 1 and 5 years (n=300). The most frequently reported recovery pathway was abstinence-based 12-step mutual aid (38.40%). Participants reported positive perceptions of benefit from SR participation, which did not vary by LIR or recovery pathway. Participants also had high rates of agreement, with SR having a positive impact on their lives, although this too did vary by recovery length and recovery pathway. Participants with 1 to 5 years of recovery used SR to connect with other women in recovery at higher rates, whereas those with less than 1 year used SR to ask for resources at higher rates, and those with 5 or more years used SR to provide support at higher rates. Lifetime engagement with specific supports of SR was also associated with LIR and recovery pathway. CONCLUSIONS Gender-specific and integrated D-RSSs are feasible and beneficial from the perspective of participants. D-RSSs also appear to provide support to a range of recovery typologies and pathways in an effective manner and may be a vital tool for expanding recovery supports for those lacking in access and availability because of geography, social determinants, or other barriers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haonan Shi ◽  
Jing Fu ◽  
Xiaojing Liu ◽  
Yingxia Wang ◽  
Xianting Yong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: To evaluate the prevalence of myopia in school students in Urumqi, China, and explore the influence of the interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits on myopia to identify the at-risk population and provide evidence to help school students avoid developing myopia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 6,883 school students aged 7–20 years in Urumqi in December 2019. The Standard Eye Chart and mydriatic optometry were used to determine whether students had myopia. Falconer’s method was used to calculate the heritability of parental myopia. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for myopia and the additive and multiplicative interaction of parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits.Results After standardizing the age of the 6,883 students, the overall prevalence rate of myopia was 47.50%. The heritability of parental myopia was 66.57% for boys, 67.82% for girls, 65.02% for the Han group, and 52.71% for other ethnicities. There were additive interactions between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits; among them, parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (1) (the distance between the eyes and book is less than 30 cm when reading and writing, fingers block the sight of one eye while holding the pen, and leaning one’s body when reading and writing) increased the risk of myopia by 10.99 times (odds ratio [OR]=10.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]=8.33–14.68), parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (2) (reading while lying down, walking, or in the car) increased the risk of myopia by 5.92 times (OR=5.92, 95% CI=4.84–7.27). There was no multiplicative interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (1) or (2) (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.44–1.08; OR=0.89, 95% CI=0.66–1.21, respectively).Conclusion The prevalence of myopia among students in Urumqi, Xinjiang is relatively high. The risk of developing myopia is affected by parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits. In addition, parental myopia amplifies the harm caused by poor reading and writing habits, thereby increasing the risk of myopia. Students with parents who have myopia should be targeted during myopia prevention efforts.


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