scholarly journals Improving the Elderly’s Mental Health by Using Public Open Spaces in Disadvantaged Urban Neighborhoods: Tehran, Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azadeh Lak ◽  
Parichehr Rashidghalam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Urban Neighborhoods ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Disadvantaged Neighborhoods ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Public Open Spaces

Abstract Background: Today, the beneficial impact of public open spaces(POS) on the mental and physical health of the elderly is considered worldwide. However, the knowledge about these effects on the mental health of older adults in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, especially in developing countries, is still insufficient.Methods: This study investigates the relationship between POS use and the mental health status of elderly residents in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The data on the frequency of use of public open spaces and the health status include ten items collected from 420 older adults of disadvantaged neighborhoods in District 10 of Tehran. We used exploratory factor analysis to explore the main factors of the elderly mental health in the disadvantaged neighborhood. Finally, the multivariate multiple regression model was used to determine the relationship between the frequency of POS use and mental health status among older seniors.Results: These ten items identified two fundamental characteristics of mental health status, including “feeling worthless” and “social interaction,” using exploratory factor analysis. “Feeling of worthlessness” was negatively significantly associated with the level of gender, marital, occupation, and education, as well as frequently attending in POS. “Social interaction” was influenced by gender, occupation, and marital status, as well as frequent use of POS. The results showed that the frequency of public open space use has a negative correlation with the feeling of worthlessness and a positive correlation with the older residents’ social interactions and contacts.Conclusion: According to the findings, increasing the more senior residents’ access to public open spaces through planning can improve their mental health as well as their social interactions, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Mental Health: Predicted Mental Health Status is Associated with Clinical Symptoms and Pandemic-Related Psychological and Behavioral Responses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Y Chung ◽  
Alison Gibbons ◽  
Lauren Atlas ◽  
Elizabeth Ballard ◽  
Monique Ernst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: The COVID 19 pandemic led to dramatic threats to health and social life. Study objectives are to develop a prediction model leveraging subsample of known Patient/Controls and evaluate the relationship of predicted mental health status to clinical outcome measures and pandemic-related psychological and behavioral responses during lockdown (spring/summer 2020). Methods: Online cohort study conducted by National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program. Convenience sample of English speaking adults (enrolled 4/4 to 5/16/20; n=1,992). Enrollment measures: demographics, clinical history, functional status, psychiatric and family history, alcohol/drug use. Outcome measures (enrollment and q2 weeks/6 months): distress, loneliness, mental health symptoms, and COVID 19 survey. NIMH IRP Patient/Controls survey responses informed assignment of Patient Probability Scores (PPS) for all participants. Regression models analyzed the relationship between PPS and outcome measures. Outcomes: Mean age 46.0, female (82.4%), white (88.9 %). PPS correlated with distress, loneliness, depression, and mental health factors. PPS associated with negative psychological responses to COVID 19. Worry about mental health (OR 1.46) exceeded worry about physical health (OR 1.13). PPS not associated with adherence to social distancing guidelines but was with stress related to social distancing and worries about infection of self/others. Interpretation: Mental health status (PPS) was associated with concurrent clinical ratings and COVID 19 specific negative responses. A focus on mental health during the pandemic is warranted, especially among those with mental health vulnerabilities. We will include PPS when conducting longitudinal analyses of mental health trajectories and risk and resilience factors that may account for differing clinical outcomes. Funding: NIMH (ZIAMH002922); NCCIH (ZIAAT000030)

scholarly journals Mediation effect of depressive symptoms in the relationship between perceived control and wellbeing in patients with heart failure and their partners

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Liljeroos ◽  
Anna Strömberg ◽  
Kristofer Årestedt ◽  
Misook L Chung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure ◽  
The Relationship

Background: As treatment has improved, patients with heart failure live longer, and the care mostly takes place at home with partners providing the main assistance. Perceived control over heart failure is important in managing self-care activities to maintain health in patients and their family. Depressive symptoms are associated with impaired health status in patients with heart failure and their family. However, there is limited knowledge about how depressive symptoms affect the relationship between health status and perceived control over heart failure in patients with heart failure and their cohabiting partners. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between perceived control and health status (i.e. mental and physical) was mediated by depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure and their partners. Methods: In this secondary data analysis, we included 132 heart failure patients and 132 partners who completed measures of depressive symptoms (the Beck depression inventory II), perceived control (the control attitude scale), and physical and mental health status (the short form-36) instruments. The mediation effect of depression was examined using a series of multiple regression in patients and their family caregivers separately. Results: We found a mediator effect of depressive symptoms in the relationship between perceived control and mental health status in both patients and partners. The relationship between perceived control and physical health status was mediated by depressive symptoms in the patients, not in the partners. Conclusion: Efforts to improve self-care management and maintenance by targeting perceived control may be more effective if depressive symptoms are also effectively managed.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Family Meals and Mental Health Problems in Japanese Elementary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9281
Author(s):  
Noriko Kameyama ◽  
Yukina Morimoto ◽  
Ayako Hashimoto ◽  
Hiroko Inoue ◽  
Ikuko Nagaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Eating Breakfast ◽  
The Relationship

The relative burden of mental health problems in children is increasing worldwide. Family meals have attracted attention as an effective modifiable factor for preventing children’s mental health problems. We examined the relationship between family meals and mental health problems in Japanese elementary schoolchildren. A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with guardians of children aged 7 to 12 years in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Frequency of family meals and with whom the child eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner were assessed separately for weekdays and weekends/holidays. Mental health was assessed using the Japanese version of the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for borderline/abnormal mental health status were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Of the 678 children, 24.9% had borderline/abnormal mental health status. Children eating breakfast with their family less than once a week (adjusted OR, 4.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.51–15.25) and those eating weekend breakfast alone (adjusted OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.42–9.23) had a higher prevalence of borderline/abnormal mental health status compared to those eating breakfast seven times a week and weekend breakfast with their family, respectively. These results suggest that family meals, especially breakfast, might be positively associated with better mental health in children.

scholarly journals Mental health and related influencing factors among rural elderly in 14 poverty state counties of Chongqing, Southwest China: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Yang ◽  
Hui Deng ◽  
Qingqing Yang ◽  
Xianbin Ding ◽  
Deqiang Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Health Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Rural Elderly ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health

Abstract Background China has the largest elderly population in the world; little attention has been paid to the mental health of elderly in areas of extreme poverty. This is the first study to investigate the mental health of the rural elderly in poverty state counties in Chongqing and was part of the Chongqing 2018 health literacy promotion project. Methods In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the mental health status of the rural elderly in fourteen poverty state counties of Chongqing, in which a total of 1400 elderly aged ≥ 65 years were interviewed, where mental health status was measured by the ten-item Kessler10 (K10) scale. Ordered multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the influencing factors related to mental health of the elderly in these areas. Results The average score of K10 in 14 poverty state counties was 17.40 ± 6.31, 47.6% was labeled as good, 30.2% was moderate, 17.0% was poor, and lastly 5.1% was bad, and the mental health status of the elderly in the northeastern wing of Chongqing was better than the one in the southeastern wing of Chongqing. A worse self-rated health was the risk factor for mental health both in the northeastern and southeastern wings of Chongqing (all P < 0.001). Lower education level (OR (95% CI) = 1.45 (1.12–1.87), P = 0.004) was a risk factor in the northeastern wing, whereas older age (OR (95% CI) = 1.33 (1.13–1.56), P = 0.001) was a risk factors in the southeastern wing. Conclusions The results showed that mental health of the elderly in poverty state counties was poor, especially in the southeastern wing of Chongqing. Particular attention needs to be paid to the males who were less educated, older, and single; female with lower annual per capital income; and especially the elderly with poor self-rated health.

scholarly journals Health Status and Social Networks as Predictors of Resilience in Older Adults Residing in Rural and Remote Environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine McKibbin ◽  
Aaron Lee ◽  
Bernard A. Steinman ◽  
Catherine Carrico ◽  
Katelynn Bourassa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
Registered Voters ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose. Health status and social networks are associated with resilience among older adults. Each of these factors may be important to the ability of adults to remain in rural and remote communities as they age. We examined the association of health status and social networks and resilience among older adults dwelling in a rural and remote county in the Western United States.Methods. We selected a random sample of 198 registered voters aged 65 years or older from a frontier Wyoming county. Hierarchical linear regression was used to examine the association of health status as well as social networks and resilience. We also examined health status as a moderator of the relationship between social networks and resilience.Results. Family networks (p=0.024) and mental health status (p<0.001) significantly predicted resilience. Mental health status moderated the relationship of family (p=0.004) and friend (p=0.021) networks with resilience. Smaller family and friend networks were associated with greater resilience when mental health status was low, but not when it was high.Conclusion. Efforts to increase mental health status may improve resilience among older adults in rural environments, particularly for those with smaller family and friends networks.

scholarly journals The relationship between low-intensity exercise and psychological distress among college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-739
Author(s):  
Ergang Zhu ◽  
Jun Sun ◽  
Tianhua Du
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Low Intensity Exercise ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to confirm the relationship between low-intensity exercise and physical and mental health status among college students in China. METHODS This was a school-based cross-sectional study. The physical and mental health status was measured using a 12-item general health questionnaire(GHQ12) and low-intensity exercise was recorded by a self-reporting questionnaire. RESULTS The results revealed that the score of the GHQ12 was inversely associated with a higher frequency of low-intensity exercise (r=-0.38,p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that low-intensity exercise may be a proper mean for improving the physical and mental health status of college students. School departments should take measures to push students to take part in physical activity.

scholarly journals Mental Health Status of the Elderly Chinese Population During COVID-19: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Zhou ◽  
Hao Chen ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Boyan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Elderly Chinese

Background: COVID-19 not only threatened the public's physical health but also brought unbearable psychological pressure, especially for those vulnerable groups like the elderly. However, studies on the psychological status of older adults during this public health emergency remained scant. This study aims to investigate the mental health status among the elderly Chinese population during COVID-19 pandemic and determine the influencing factors of psychological symptoms.Methods: From February 19 to March 19, 2020, an online survey was administered to Chinese older adults using a convenience sampling method. Information on demographic data, health status and other epidemic related factors were collected. Specifically, the study defined the psychological status as five primary disorder–depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety, and hypochondria–which were assessed by the Psychological Questionnaire for Emergent Event of Public Health (PQEEPH). Standard descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data.Results: Of 1,501 participants recruited from 31 provinces in China, 1,278 were valid for further analysis. Participants' scores on each sub-scale were described in median and interquartile [M(Q)]: depression [0.00 (0.33)], neurasthenia [0.00 (0.40)], fear [1.00 (0.83)], anxiety [0.00 (0.17)], hypochondria [0.00 (0.50)]. Chronic diseases (depression p = 0.001; neurasthenia p &lt; 0.001; fear p = 0.023; anxiety p &lt; 0.001; hypochondria p = 0.001) and the BMI index (depression p = 0.015; neurasthenia p = 0.046; fear p = 0.016; anxiety p = 0.015; hypochondria p = 0.013) had significant impacts on all of the five sub-scales. Specifically, the rural dwellers had a higher level of neurasthenia, fear, and hypochondria. Besides, education level (p = 0.035) and outbreak risk level (p = 0.004) had significant impacts on the depression. Higher household monthly income per capita (p = 0.031), and the community-level entry/exit control (p = 0.011) are factors against anxiety.Conclusions: Most elderly residents reported mild negative emotions during COVID-19 and more attention should be paid to the recognition and alleviation of fear. Our findings also identified factors associated with the mental health status of the elderly, which is of practical significance in the design and implementation of psychological interventions for this vulnerable population during COVID-19 and future emerging diseases.

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