Early Psychological Consequences of the March 11, 2004, Terrorist Attacks in Madrid, Spain

2005 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 907-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Muñoz ◽  
María Crespo ◽  
Eloísa Pérez-Santos ◽  
José Juan Vázquez

On March 11, 2004, Al-Qaeda set off 10 bombs on several train routes in Madrid. 192 people were killed and 2,000 wounded. In this study, 1,179 questionnaires were administered Week 2 after the attacks to residents 18 years and over from the affected geographical areas. The questionnaire included items about sociodemographic variables and exposure to the attacks. Psychological effects were assessed as presence of acute stress and depressive symptomatology and functional impairment. 46.7% of the sample presented symptomatology of acute stress and 49.6% depressive symptoms. Among the symptoms of acute stress, the most frequent were re-experiencing (72.5%) and dissociative symptoms (71.8%). The chief predicting variables in symptomatology were being female, over 65 yr. old, and a habitual train user. The large number of affected people was refined with an item analysis and the consideration of severity of interference in psychosocial functioning.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S671-S671
Author(s):  
Richard E Chunga ◽  
Haowei Wang ◽  
Deborah Carr

Abstract Health-related declines that affect physical functioning are a common stressor among older adults. Functional impairment can take a toll on older adults’ psychological well-being as it limits one’s capacities to independently carry out meaningful daily activities. The extent to which impairment affects mental health may vary based on the levels of support and strain in one’s personal relationships. Stress buffering perspectives suggest that support mitigates the detrimental psychological consequences of impairment, whereas stress amplification perspectives predict that strain will amplify these consequences. We use data from 2012 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N=3800) to explore: (a) the direct effects of functional limitation on depressive symptoms (CES-D); (b) the extent to which these associations are moderated by spouse, child, other relative, and friend support/strain; and (c) gender and marital status differences therein. Using lagged endogenous regression models, we find that impairment significantly increases depressive symptoms among men and women, and these effects are intensified by marital strain for both married men and women. However, buffering effects are found for women only, such that marital support mitigates against depressive symptoms in the face of current impairment. These results may reflect the gendered nature of marriage, where men with impairment uniformly benefit from marriage although women may experience protective effects of only in highly supportive unions. Results for other strain and support moderators also reveal gender differences, reflecting the distinctive ways that men and women interact with kin and friends over the life course.


2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1701-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heejeong Choi ◽  
Nadine F. Marks

Guided by a life course perspective, this study investigated whether the psychological consequences of transitioning into a caregiver role for a biological parent, parent-in-law, spouse, other kin, or nonkin among married adults might be moderated by marital role quality. Using longitudinal data from a national sample of 1,842 married adults aged 35 years and older, this study estimated regression models examining whether marital disagreement prior to the transition to caregiving predicted differences in change in global happiness and depressive symptoms because of a transition into caregiving. Results indicated that, compared to noncaregivers, new caregivers for a biological parent or spouse experienced both a greater decline in happiness and a greater increase in depressive symptoms when they reported a higher level of marital disagreement. These findings suggest that the psychological effects of becoming a caregiver for a biological parent or spouse among married adults are contingent on marital role quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-216
Author(s):  
Edison Vitório de Souza Júnior ◽  
Sterline Therrier ◽  
Cristiane dos Santos Silva ◽  
Bianca de Moura Peloso-Carvalho ◽  
Lais Reis Siqueira ◽  
...  

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre sexualidad y variables biosociodemográficas y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores. Método: Se trata de un estudio seccional diseñado con 292 personas mayores. La recolección de datos se realizó entre agosto y octubre de 2020. Se utilizó la Escala de Experiencias Sexuales y Afectivas de Ancianos y la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica. Se utilizaron pruebas de Mann-Whitney, correlación de Spearman y pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis, adoptando un intervalo de confianza del 95% para todos los análisis estadísticos.Resultados: Predominaron los varones (52,1%) y entre 60 y 64 años (46,6%). La prevalencia de síntomas depresivos fue del 30,1% para los casos leves y del 8,6% para los graves. Los ancianos con síntomas depresivos experimentaron peor el acto sexual, las relaciones afectivas y las adversidades físicas y sociales relacionadas con la sexualidad. La única dimensión de la sexualidad que se asoció con las variables biosociodemográficas fue el acto sexual, mostrando que es mejor vivido por los ancianos en unión estable (p = 0.023) y entre quienes conviven con la pareja por un período ≤ 5 años, en comparación con los mayores de 20 años (p = 0,001). Además, solo la dimensión acto sexual se correlacionó negativamente y con magnitud moderada entre los síntomas depresivos graves (ρ = -0,442; p = 0,027), lo que indica que estas dos variables exhiben comportamientos inversamente proporcionales. Conclusión: La sexualidad se asocia con algunas variables biosociodemográficas y se correlaciona con síntomas depresivos severos en ancianos. Objective: To analyze the association of sexuality with the bio-sociodemographic variables and depressive symptomatology in the elderly. Method: This is a sectional study designed with 292 elderly people. Data were collected between August and October 2020. The Elderly Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, adopting a 95% confidence interval for all statistical analyses.Results: The participants were predominantly male (52.1%) and aged between 60 and 64 years (46.6%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.1% for mild cases and 8.6% for severe cases. The elderly with depressive symptomatology experienced worse the sexual act, affective relationships, and physical and social adversities related to sexuality. The only dimension of sexuality that was associated with the bio-sociodemographic variables was the "sexual act," proving to be better experienced by the elderly in stable unions (p = 0.023) and among those who live with their partner for a period ≤ 5 years, when compared to those with living together for more than 20 years (p = 0.001). In addition, only the Sexual act dimension correlated negatively and with moderate magnitude with severe depressive symptoms (ρ = -0.442; p = 0.027), indicating that these two variables present inversely proportional behaviors.Conclusion: Sexuality is associated with some bio-sociodemographic variables and correlated with severe depressive symptoms among the elderly. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a sexualidade com as variáveis biosociodemográficas e sintomatologia depressiva em idosos. Método: Trata-se de um estudo seccional delineado com 292 idosos. Realizou-se a coleta de dados entre agosto e outubro de 2020. Foi utilizada a Escala de Vivências Afetivas e Sexuais do Idoso e a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica. Utilizou-se os testes de Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman e Kruskal-Wallis, adotando intervalo de confiança de 95% para todas as análises estatísticas.Resultados: Predominaram-se os participantes do sexo masculino (52,1%) e com idade entre 60 e 64 anos (46,6%). A prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva foi de 30,1% para os casos leves e 8,6% para os severos. Os idosos com sintomatologias depressivas pior vivenciaram o ato sexual, as relações afetivas e as adversidades física e social relacionadas à sexualidade. A única dimensão da sexualidade que se associou com as variáveis biosociodemográficas foi o ato sexual, demonstrando ser melhor vivenciada pelos idosos em união estável (p=0,023) e entre aqueles que convivem com o parceiro por um período ≤ 5 anos, quando comparados a aqueles com convivência superior a 20 anos (p=0,001). Além disso, somente a dimensão ato sexual se correlacionou de maneira negativa e com moderada magnitude entre os sintomas depressivos severos (ρ= -0,442; p=0,027), indicando que essas duas variáveis apresentam comportamentos inversamente proporcionais.Conclusão: A sexualidade está associada à algumas variáveis biosociodemográficas e correlacionada às sintomatologias depressivas severas entre os idosos.


GeroPsych ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
Sandra Verhülsdonk ◽  
Sabine Engel

Depression in dementia is very common and has significant effects on the functional impairment of nursing-home residents. This study assesses depression, depression diagnosis, cognitive status, status of medication and functional status in 138 residents. Results: (1) 34.1% of the demented residents had a depressive symptomatology. (2) No diagnosis of “depression” was documented for a high percentage of depressed residents. (3) No correlation between depressive symptoms and treatment with antidepressants was present. (4) There was no correlation between the stage of dementia and the rate of depression. (5) There were significant differences in the everyday competence between depressive and nondepressive residents with dementia. The data suggest the need for an adequate diagnosis and treatment of depressive residents with dementia and underlines the need for improvement in care and treatment in primary care and nursing homes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Dunn ◽  
J. R. Vittengl ◽  
L. A. Clark ◽  
T. Carmody ◽  
M. E. Thase ◽  
...  

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent, is recurrent, and impairs people's work, relationships and leisure. Acute-phase treatments improve psychosocial impairment associated with MDD, but how these improvements occur is unclear. In this study, we tested the hypotheses that reductions in depressive symptoms exceed, precede and predict improvements in psychosocial functioning.MethodPatients with recurrent MDD (n=523; 68% women, 81% Caucasian, mean age 42 years) received acute-phase cognitive therapy (CT). We measured functioning and symptom severity with the Social Adjustment Scale – Self-Report (SAS-SR), Range of Impaired Functioning Tool (RIFT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology – Self-Report (IDS-SR). We tested cross-lagged correlations between functioning and symptoms measured at baseline and the beginning, middle and end of acute-phase CT.ResultsPre- to post-treatment improvement in psychosocial functioning and depressive symptoms was large and intercorrelated. Depressive symptoms improved more and sooner than did psychosocial functioning. However, among four assessments across the course of treatment, improvements in functioning more strongly predicted later improvement in symptoms than vice versa.ConclusionsImprovements in psychosocial functioning and depressive symptoms correlate substantially during acute-phase CT, and improvements in functioning may play a role in subsequent symptom reduction during acute-phase CT.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Adele H. Wang ◽  
CMA Haworth ◽  
Qiang Ren

BackgroundIn recent decades, China has experienced dramatic changes to its social and economic environment, which has affected the distribution of wellbeing across its citizens. While several studies have investigated individual level predictors of wellbeing in the Chinese population, less research has been done looking at contextual effects. This cross-sectional study looks at the individual and contextual effects of (regional) education, unemployment and marriage (rate) on individual happiness, life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology. MethodsData were collected from over 29,000 individuals (aged 18 to 110, 51.91% female) in the China Family Panel Studies, and merged with county level census data obtained from the 2010 China Population Census and Statistical Yearbook. To explore contextual effects, we used multilevel models accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data. ResultsWe found that a one-year increase in education was associated with a 0.17% increase in happiness and a 0.16% decrease in depressive symptoms. Unemployed men were 1% less happy, 1% less satisfied with life and reported 0.84% more depressive symptoms than employed men while minimal effects were seen for women. Single, divorced and widowed individuals had worse outcomes than married individuals (ranging from 2.96% to 21% differences). We found interaction effects for education and employment. Less educated individuals had greater happiness and less depressive symptoms in counties with higher average education compared to counterparts in less educated counties. In contrast, more educated individuals were less satisfied with life in more educated counties, an effect that is possibly due to social comparison. Employed individuals had lower life satisfaction in areas of high unemployment, while levels were constant for the unemployed. A 1% increase in county marriage rate was associated with 0.33% and 0.24% increases in happiness and life satisfaction respectively, with no interactions. We speculate that this effect could be due to greater social cohesion in the neighbourhood.ConclusionsOur results show that policies designed to improve employment and marriage rates will be beneficial for all, while interventions to encourage positive social comparison strategies may help to offset the negative effects of increasing neighbourhood average education on the highly educated.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Rodrigo Guzman Cortez ◽  
Matias Marzocchi ◽  
Neus Freixa Fontanals ◽  
Mercedes Balcells-Olivero

BACKGROUND Computerized mental health interventions have shown evidence of their potential benefit for mental health outcomes in young users. All of the studied interventions available in the review and scientific literature can be classified as "serious games". Serious games are computerized interventions designed from the start with the objective of improving specific desired health outcomes. Moreover, there are reports of users experiencing subjective benefits in mental health after playing specific commercial games. These were games not intentionally made with a therapeutic objective in the design process. An example is the videogame "Journey", first released for the Playstation 3 console in 2012 which won "Game of the Year" in the 2013 D.I.C.E awards. The creator of the game describes the game as a short, 2-3-hour narrative experience in which the player goes through the "Hero's Journey" following a classic 3-part structure. There were more than 100 testimonials from players describing how the game helped them cope with psychological or personal issues. Some of them explicitly described recovering from depressive episodes through playing the game. OBJECTIVE To conduct a pilot test of the efficacy of the videogame Journey in reducing depressive symptoms in an acute impatient setting METHODS Depressive symptomatology was measured before and after the intervention using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) The intervention was conducted in an isolated room using a Playstation 3 console with the videogame "Journey" developed by Thatgamecompany. No internet access was allowed. The game was played over the course of 4 30-45 min sessions in a two week period. RESULTS The initial score in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was 30, indicating a very severe depression. After the intervention the HRSD score was 10, showing a mild depression. CONCLUSIONS The Videogame Journey, a commercial game first available for the Playstation 3 console in 2012, was not created as a serious game with potential health benefits. Our pilot test is the first case report of a commercial game showing a potential effect in reducing depressive symptoms, which is consistent with the previous informal reports of users online.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2520-2540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Saenz ◽  
Sunshine Rote

AbstractAn extensive body of research documents marital status differences in health among older adults. However, few studies have investigated the heterogeneity in depressive symptomatology among older married adults living in developing countries. Our study investigates the interplay of gender and marital power dynamics for mental health among older Mexican adults. Our sample includes older married couples in the 2015 Wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (N = 3,621 dyads). We use seemingly unrelated regression to model the association between self-reported distributions of decision-making power within marriages and depressive symptoms for husbands and wives. For approximately 41 per cent of couples, the husband and wife both reported an equal distribution of power in the marriage. Compared to those who reported an equal power distribution, husbands and wives who reported an imbalance of power (having more power or less power than their spouse) reported more depressive symptoms. Levels of depressive symptoms were higher in marriages characterised by power inequality. The relationship between equality in power and depressive symptoms is not explained by health-care needs or living arrangements. Marital quality is an important factor for understanding depressive symptoms among older Mexican adults.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1972
Author(s):  
Ezgi Dogan-Sander ◽  
Roland Mergl ◽  
Anja Willenberg ◽  
Ronny Baber ◽  
Kerstin Wirkner ◽  
...  

Depression and vitamin D deficiency are major public health problems. The existing literature indicates the complex relationship between depression and vitamin D. The purpose of this study was to examine whether this relationship is moderated or mediated by inflammation. A community sample (n = 7162) from the LIFE-Adult-Study was investigated, for whom depressive symptoms were assessed via the German version of CES-D scale and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and inflammatory markers (IL-6 and CRP levels, WBC count) were quantified. Mediation analyses were performed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro and regression analyses were conducted to test moderation effects. There was a significant negative correlation between CES-D and 25(OH)D, and positive associations between inflammatory markers and CES-D scores. Only WBC partially mediated the association between 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms both in a simple mediation model (ab: −0.0042) and a model including covariates (ab: −0.0011). None of the inflammatory markers showed a moderation effect on the association between 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms. This present work highlighted the complex relationship between vitamin D, depressive symptoms and inflammation. Future studies are needed to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammation and depressive symptomatology for causality assessment.


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