scholarly journals A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental and General Health Status of Informal Carers in Australia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itismita Mohanty ◽  
Theo Niyonsenga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
General Health ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Social Drinking ◽  
Drinking Status ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background: The study investigated the self-assessed mental and general health status of informal carers in Australia. It evaluated the influence of carer’s health behaviours, namely: physical activity, smoking and drinking status; along with their social connectedness and workforce engagement on their health status. Methods: The study used a retrospective longitudinal design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, waves 5-15 (2005-2015). It included individuals aged 15 years and older from Australian households surveyed over a period of 11 years. The sample consisted of 23,251 individuals. The outcome measures included: Mental health, general health and physical functioning, domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire , a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life. Using fixed effects regression and following individuals over time, the analysis took care of the issue of individuals self-selecting themselves as carers due to some predisposing factors such as age, poor health, socioeconomic status and sedentary behaviour. Results: There were statistically significant carer-noncarer status differences in mental (Beta = -0.587, p=0.003) and general health (Beta = -0.670, p=0.001) outcomes. Aging had a modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health outcomes. Older carers coped better with their caregiving responsibilities than younger ones. Moreover, while physical activities had a positive influence on both mental and general health for non-carers, with more activities generating better health outcomes, it only had a modifying impact on carers’ mental health. Furthermore, the study found that moderate levels of social drinking had beneficial modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health. Conclusion: This study added value to the literature on informal carers’ mental and general health in Australia by identifying some of the protective and risk factors. The study found the modifying effects of carers’ age, health behaviours such as physical activity, smoking and drinking status on their health. Finally, the study identified an apparent beneficial link between moderate levels of social drinking and carer health that needs to be further explored with more targeted future research.

scholarly journals A longitudinal analysis of mental and general health status of informal carers in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Itismita Mohanty ◽  
Theo Niyonsenga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
General Health ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Social Drinking ◽  
Drinking Status ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background The study investigated the self-assessed mental and general health status of informal carers in Australia. It evaluated the influence of carer’s health behaviours, namely physical activity, smoking and drinking status, along with their social connectedness and workforce engagement on their health status. Methods The study used a retrospective longitudinal design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, waves 5–15 (2005–2015). It included individuals aged 15 years and older from Australian households surveyed over a period of 11 years. The sample consisted of 23,251 individuals. The outcome measures included: mental health, general health and physical functioning domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire, a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life. Using fixed effects regression and following individuals over time, the analysis took care of the issue of individuals self-selecting themselves as carers due to some predisposing factors such as age, poor health, socioeconomic status and sedentary behaviour. Results There were statistically significant carer-noncarer status differences in mental (Beta = − 0.587, p = 0.003) and general health (Beta = − 0.670, p = 0.001) outcomes. Aging had a modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health outcomes. Older carers coped better with their caregiving responsibilities than younger ones. Moreover, while physical activities had a positive influence on both mental and general health for non-carers, with more activities generating better health outcomes, it only had a modifying impact on carers’ mental health. Furthermore, the study found that moderate levels of social drinking had beneficial modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health. Conclusion This study added value to the literature on informal carers’ mental and general health in Australia by identifying some of the protective and risk factors. The study found the modifying effects of carers’ age, health behaviours such as physical activity, smoking and drinking status on their health. Finally, the study identified an apparent beneficial link between moderate levels of social drinking and carer health that needs to be further explored with more targeted future research.

scholarly journals A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental and General Health Status of Informal Carers in Australia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itismita Mohanty ◽  
Theo Niyonsenga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
General Health ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Social Drinking ◽  
Drinking Status ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background: The study investigated the self-assessed mental and general health status of informal carers in Australia. It evaluated the influence of carer’s health behaviours, namely: physical activity, smoking and drinking status; along with their social connectedness and workforce engagement on their health status. Methods: The study used a retrospective longitudinal design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, waves 5-15 (2005-2015). It included individuals aged 15 years and older from Australian households surveyed over a period of 11 years. The sample consisted of 23,251 individuals. The outcome measures included: Mental health, general health and physical functioning, domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire, a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life. Using fixed effects regression and following individuals over time, the analysis took care of the issue of individuals self-selecting themselves as carers due to some predisposing factors such as age, poor health, socioeconomic status and sedentary behaviour. Results: There were statistically significant carer-noncarer status differences in mental (Beta = -0.587, p=0.003) and general health (Beta = -0.670, p=0.001) outcomes. Aging had a modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health outcomes. Older carers coped better with their caregiving responsibilities than younger ones. Moreover, while physical activities had a positive influence on both mental and general health for non-carers, with more activities generating better health outcomes, it only had a modifying impact on carers’ mental health. Furthermore, the study found that moderate levels of social drinking had beneficial modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health. Conclusion: This study added value to the literature on informal carers’ mental and general health in Australia by identifying some of the protective and risk factors. The study found the modifying effects of carers’ age, health behaviours such as physical activity, smoking and drinking status on their health. Finally, the study identified an apparent beneficial link between moderate levels of social drinking and carer health that needs to be further explored with more targeted future research.

scholarly journals A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental and General Health Status of Informal Carers in Australia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itismita Mohanty ◽  
Theo Niyonsenga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
General Health ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Social Drinking ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background The study investigates the self-assessed mental and general health status of informal carers in Australia. It evaluates the influence of carer’s health behaviours, namely: physical activity, smoking and drinking status; along with their social connectedness and workforce engagement on their health status. Methods The study uses a retrospective longitudinal design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, waves 5-15 (2005-2015). It includes individuals aged 15 years and older from Australian households surveyed over a period of 11 years. The sample consists of 23,251 individuals. The outcome measures include: Mental health, general health and physical functioning, domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire, a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life. Using fixed effects regression, the analysis takes care of the issue of individuals self-selecting themselves as carers due to some predisposing factors such as age, poor health, socioeconomic status and sedentary behaviour. Results Informal carers suffer from poor mental (Beta = -0.587, p=0.003) and general health (Beta = -0.670, p=0.001) outcomes compared to non-carers in Australia. Increasing age has a modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health outcomes. The older carers are coping better with their caregiving status than the younger ones. Moreover, physical activities have a positive influence on both mental and general health for non-cares, with more activities generating better health outcomes. Also, physical activities have a modifying impact on carers’ mental health compared to non-carers. Furthermore, the study finds that moderate levels of social drinking have beneficial modifying impact on carers’ mental and general health. Conclusion Findings suggest that some targeted support programs for young carers and, in general, carer focused community physical activities programs, could help to improve the poor health profiles of carers. Moreover, improved informal carer’s health would help to reduce the institutional demand for carers and could bridge the gap in carers’ demand and supply. Finally, the study identified a link between moderate levels of social drinking and carer health that needs to be further explored with more targeted future research.

Sleep, Physical Activity, and General Health Status: US Pediatricians and the General US Adult Population

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-277
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Gottschlich ◽  
Kandyce Larson ◽  
Blake Sisk ◽  
Mary Pat Frintner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
General Health Status

scholarly journals A Multilevel Mixed Effects Analysis of Informal Carers Health in Australia: The role of Community Participation, Social Support and Trust at Small Area level.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itismita Mohanty ◽  
Theo Niyonsenga ◽  
Tom Cochrane ◽  
Debra Rickwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
General Health ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Level Variation ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background: Informal carers suffer from worse health outcomes than non-carers due to their caregiving role. Yet, in a society carers health is as important as that of their care recipients. This study investigated the self-assessed mental and general health outcomes of informal carers in Australia. It evaluated the influence of carers’ personal social capital- a logically linked sequence of their social behaviour such as community participation, social support and trust in others- on their health outcomes. The study estimated the magnitude of small local area (SA1) level variation along with individual level variation in carers’ health outcomes.Methods: The study used a multilevel mixed effects cross-sectional design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, wave 14. It included Australians aged 15 years and older that were surveyed in the year 2014. The sample consisted of 12,767 individuals and 5004 SA1s. The outcome measures included- mental health, general health and physical functioning, domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire, a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life.Results: Informal carers suffered from poor mental (Beta = -0.587, p=0.003) and general health (Beta = -0.670, p=0.001) outcomes compared to non-carers in Australia. These health outcomes exhibited significant variation across small areas (SA1s) in Australia, with 12-13% variation in general and mental health. However, within small local areas, differences at the individual level, accounted for most of the variation in outcomes. Moreover, levels of community participation, personal social connection and trust, as perceived by individuals in the communities, had a positive influence on both mental and general health of carers and non-carers, and were more beneficial for carers compared to non-carers. Conclusion: It seems that the positive influence of social capital for carers helps them in coping with the negative impact of their caregiving duty on health outcomes. Findings suggested that some targeted community support programs for carers to build on their personal social cohesion and trust in their community could help in improving their poor health profiles. Moreover, improved informal carers’ health may help the health system in better managing their resources.

scholarly journals Green spaces and General Health: Roles of mental health status, social support, and physical activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Payam Dadvand ◽  
Xavier Bartoll ◽  
Xavier Basagaña ◽  
Albert Dalmau-Bueno ◽  
David Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Green Spaces

Effects of Panax Ginseng on Quality of Life

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M Ellis ◽  
Prabashni Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Panax Ginseng ◽  
General Health ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Health Status Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To assess the time-dependent effects of Panax ginseng on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by use of a general health status questionnaire. METHODS: Subjects were randomized in a double-blind manner to P. ginseng 200 mg/d (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) for 8 weeks. The Short Form-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), a validated general health status questionnaire, was used to assess HRQOL at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. HRQOL between the groups was compared by use of repeated-measures analysis of covariance. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline demographics and SF-36v2 scores between the groups. After 4 weeks of therapy, higher scores in social functioning ( P. ginseng 54.9 ± 4.6 vs. placebo 49.2 ± 6.5; p = 0.014), mental health ( P. ginseng 52.2 ± 7.7 vs. placebo 47.2 ± 7.3; p = 0.075), and the mental component summary ( P. ginseng 51.3 ± 7.4 vs. placebo 44.3 ± 8.3; p = 0.019) scales were observed in patients randomized to P. ginseng; these differences did not persist to the 8-week time point. The incidence of adverse effects was 33% in the P. ginseng group compared with 17% in the placebo group (p = 0.40). Subjects given P. ginseng (58%) were more likely to state that they received active therapy than subjects given placebo (17%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: P. ginseng improves aspects of mental health and social functioning after 4 weeks of therapy, although these differences attenuate with continued use.

scholarly journals The Impact of Fatigue on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Fisk ◽  
Amanda Pontefract ◽  
Paul G. Ritvo ◽  
Catherine J. Archibald ◽  
T.J. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Neurologic Impairment ◽  
Impact Scale ◽  
Fatigue Impact Scale ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT:Although fatigue is recognized as a symptom of MS, there have been insufficient methods for evaluating this symptom. We administered the Fatigue Impact Scale to 85 MS patients and 20 hypertensive patients. Neurologic impairment, mental health, and general health status were also assessed. MS patients reported significantly higher fatigue impact than hypertensive patients. Most MS patients reported fatigue as either their worst (14%), or one of their worst (55%) symptoms. Disease classification and neurologic impairment had little bearing on Fatigue Impact Scale scores in the MS sample. The best predictive models for mental health and general health status in the MS sample both included the Fatigue Impact Scale as a significant factor. This study demonstrates that: 1) fatigue is a very prevalent and severe problem in MS, 2) fatigue impact cannot be predicted by clinical measures of neurologic impairment, 3) fatigue has a significant effect on the mental health and general health status of MS patients.

Physical activity, body composition and general health status of physically active students of the University of the Third Age (U3A)

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Zając-Gawlak ◽  
Dariusz Pośpiech ◽  
Aleksandra Kroemeke ◽  
Małgorzata Mossakowska ◽  
Aleš Gába ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Third Age ◽  
The Third ◽  
The University
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document