Does Mind-Wandering Relate to Mood and Stress in Young Adults? A Narrative Review

Spectrum ◽

10.29173/spectrum103 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gladys Sina ◽

Vickie Plourde

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Mind Wandering ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Current Review ◽

Independent Screening ◽

The Subject ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Mind-wandering (MW) is ubiquitous and has been extensively studied in young adults. Studies have shown that MW, daydreaming, and sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms (SCT; e.g., staring, mental fogginess, confusion, hypoactivity, sluggishness, lethargy, and drowsiness) are interrelated constructs and all relate to mood and stress-related symptoms. The aims of the current review are to a) document the associations between MW (and related constructs: daydreaming, and SCT) and mood/stress-related symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression symptoms) in young adults and b) identify potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We conducted a narrative review of the literature on the subject. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid) and PsycINFO® (Ovid) databases and performed duplicate and independent screening. A total of 559 unique records were identified, and 22 records (published between 1978 and 2017) were included. We confirmed existing evidence of the associations between MW, daydreaming, SCT and mood/stress-related symptoms in young adults (aged 18 - 30 years). Although these associations are reported, our understanding of its directionality and underlying mechanisms remains incomplete. These findings highlight the need for further research combining experimental and correlational designs and including possible mechanisms of these associations in this population.

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Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Symptoms, But Not ADHD or Internalizing Symptoms, Are Uniquely Related to Self-Reported Mind-Wandering in Adolescents With ADHD

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054720923091 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 108705472092309

Author(s):

Joseph W. Fredrick ◽

Stephen P. Becker

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Mind Wandering ◽

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Cognitive Tempo

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the relation between sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms and self-reported mind-wandering in a sample of adolescents with ADHD. Method: Adolescents ( N = 79; aged 13–17 years; 70% male) diagnosed with ADHD completed measures of SCT, ADHD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, in addition to mind-wandering. Parents also provided ratings of adolescents’ ADHD symptoms. Results: All adolescent-reported psychopathology dimensions, including ADHD, internalizing, and SCT, were significantly bivariately correlated with greater mind-wandering. However, in regression analysis that considered psychopathologies simultaneously, SCT was the only dimension uniquely associated with greater mind-wandering. This finding was unchanged when parent-reported ADHD symptoms were included in the model. Conclusion: These findings are the first to show that SCT symptoms are uniquely related with self-reported mind-wandering in adolescents with ADHD and underscore the importance of considering co-occurring SCT symptoms when testing the interrelations between ADHD and mind-wandering. Replication is needed in larger samples and with other measures of mind-wandering.

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The Association of Malnutrition, illness duration, and pre-morbid weight status with anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults with restrictive eating disorders: a cross-sectional study

Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1186/s40337-021-00415-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jessica A. Lin ◽

Grace Jhe ◽

Julia A. Vitagliano ◽

Carly E. Milliren ◽

Rebecca Spigel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Young Adults ◽

Weight Status ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Psychiatric Medication ◽

Illness Duration ◽

Restrictive Eating

Abstract Background Restrictive eating disorders (EDs) are often comorbid with anxiety and depression symptoms, placing patients at risk for more severe disease, worse treatment outcomes, and higher rates of mortality. To identify risks for developing such co-morbidities, we assessed the association of malnutrition, ED illness duration, and pre-morbid weight status with symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents/young adults (AYAs) with EDs. Methods 145 participants with restrictive EDs (anorexia nervosa [AN], other specified feeding and eating disorders [OSFED], avoidant restrictive food intake disorder [ARFID]) were included from the RECOVERY study, a longitudinal web-based registry of AYAs with EDs. We measured malnutrition as percent of expected body mass index (%eBMI), based on participants’ pre-morbid growth trajectory. Outcomes were anxiety and depression scores from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scales. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association of malnutrition, ED duration, and pre-morbid weight status with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results Mean (SD) age was 16.4(3.0) years; 87% were female; 89% white; 85% had AN, 6% OSFED, 10% ARFID. Of these, 2/3 had ED symptoms ≥1 year, 1/3 had previous higher level of ED care (HLOC), and half were taking psychiatric medications. Mean %eBMI was 90% (range 57–112%). Mean GAD-7 was 9.4(5.9) and CES-D was 24(13.8), indicating most participants had clinically significant anxiety and/or depression. Degree of malnutrition was not significantly associated with anxiety or depression adjusting for age, sex, sexual orientation, ED diagnosis, and use of psychiatric medication. Those with longer duration of ED symptoms had higher depression scores after adjusting for malnutrition, HLOC, length of ED symptoms, and time in our care (p = 0.038). Patients with pre-morbid BMIs ≥75th percentile had lower depression scores than those with pre-morbid BMIs <75th percentile (p = 0.014). Conclusions We find high degree of clinically relevant anxiety and depression symptoms in a population of AYAs with EDs. Our findings suggest that factors beyond malnutrition play a role in the co-morbid mood and anxiety disorders in this population. Overall, rapid ED diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for patients with EDs across the weight spectrum—and especially those with psychiatric co-morbidities—will likely aid in recovery.

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Executive Dysfunction and Functional Impairment Associated With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Emerging Adulthood

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054714560822 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 691-700 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Whitney L. M. Wood ◽

Lawrence J. Lewandowski ◽

Benjamin J. Lovett ◽

Kevin M. Antshel

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Functional Impairment ◽

Executive Dysfunction ◽

The Other ◽

Self Report ◽

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Objective Research ◽

Cognitive Tempo

Objective: Research has identified a relationship between sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms and symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression; however, no study has controlled for symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression when examining impairment related to SCT symptoms. This study aimed to examine (a) the extent to which functional impairment and executive function (EF) problems were accounted for by SCT symptoms when controlling for ADHD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and (b) which type of symptoms were associated with the greatest amount of impairment. Method: College students ( N = 458) completed self-report scales of ADHD, SCT, anxiety, and depression symptoms, as well as functional impairment and EF problems. Results: Thirteen percent of the sample was found to have high levels of SCT symptoms. SCT symptoms showed a moderate to strong correlation with the other symptom sets; however, high levels of SCT symptoms often occurred separate from high levels of ADHD, anxiety, or depression symptoms. SCT symptoms accounted for the most unique variance for both EF problems and functional impairment. Students with high levels of SCT symptoms, with or without high levels of ADHD symptoms, exhibited more impairment and EF problems than the controls. Conclusion: SCT is a clinical construct worthy of additional study, particularly among college students.

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Interpersonal Difficulties as an Underlying Mechanism in the Anxiety-Depression Association

Behaviour Change ◽

10.1017/bec.2013.26 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 273-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andres G. Viana ◽

Erin N. Stevens

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Late Adolescents ◽

Interpersonal Difficulties ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

High Level ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Relationship

Objectives: Interpersonal difficulties have been implicated in both anxiety and depression. However, much less is known about whether interpersonal difficulties may account for, in part, the high level of comorbidity between mood and anxiety symptoms. This study examined whether various interpersonal difficulties, assessed with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, Short Circumplex (IIP-SC), were underlying mechanisms in the relationship between anxiety and depression symptoms in a high-risk sample of late adolescents with clinical levels of anxiety. Methods: 144 late adolescents with clinical levels of anxiety (mean age = 18.63 years; SD = 0.92) reported on their trait anxiety, worry, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and interpersonal problems. Results: Consistent with hypotheses, the IIP-SC overly nurturant subscale partially accounted for the relationship between anxiety and depression. The IIP-SC non-assertive and social avoidant subscales did not significantly account for the anxiety-depression relationship. Conclusions: Findings suggest that interpersonal behaviours characterised by excessive attempts to please and accommodate others may ultimately contribute to our understanding of the anxiety-depression association. We discuss the implications of our findings and how they may be applied to evidence-based assessment and treatment of anxiety problems.

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Anxiety and Depression in Youth During COVID-19: A Narrative Review

10.47363/jpsrr/2021(3)125 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Tiffany Field ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Patient Health ◽

Report Data ◽

Lack Of Exercise ◽

Self Report Data

This narrative review on anxiety and depression in non-infected youth during COVID-19 is a summary of research on prevalence and risk factors derived from surveys on the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Anxiety and depression symptoms have been noted in youth (on average in 38% and 36% respectively) across several countries, although most of the studies have been from China and the U.S. The prevalence rates for both anxiety and depression have been significantly greater for females and lower for children versus high school and in turn, university students. Comorbidities have included stress, insomnia, social anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and suicidality, and the most frequent risk factors have been worries about COVID infection and academics as well as inactivity (lack of exercise) and excessive time on social media. The studies are limited by being cross-sectional samples that lack generalizability and by being self-report data.

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Anxiety and Depression in Youth During COVID-19: A Narrative Review

10.47363/jpsrr/2021(3)126 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Tiffany Field ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Patient Health ◽

Report Data ◽

Lack Of Exercise ◽

Self Report Data

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Self- and group-focused internalized racism, anxiety, and depression symptoms among African American adults: A core self-evaluation mediated pathway

Group Processes & Intergroup Relations ◽

10.1177/1368430220942849 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 136843022094284

Author(s):

Drexler James

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Internalized Racism ◽

Self Evaluation ◽

African American Adults ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Core Self ◽

Racial Ethnic

Internalized racism (IR) is a form of racism that leads people to internalize stereotypes about their racial/ethnic group (i.e., group-focused IR) and/or about themselves because of their racial/ethnic group membership (i.e., self-focused IR). However, although IR is associated with poor mental health, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these associations. To address this limitation, this research investigates the core self-evaluation (CSE; a person’s fundamental evaluations about themselves, their own abilities, and their own control) mediated pathway as one potential pathway. CSE consists of four traits: self-esteem (SE), locus of control (LoC), emotional stability (ES), and generalized self-efficacy (GSE). With a sample of 780 Black/African American adults ( Mage = 37.68 years, % Female = 57.6), this study investigated the independent direct and indirect effects of group- and self-focused IR on depression and anxiety symptoms via CSE using structural equation modeling. Confirming predictions, self- and group-focused IR predicted greater anxiety and depression symptoms and lower SE and ES. However, against predictions, both forms of IR were associated with increased internal LoC and were not associated with GSE. Last, results show partial support for the CSE mediated pathway, such that SE and ES (but not LoC or GSE) mediated the relationship between both self- and group-focused IR and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results suggest that IR is indirectly related to mental health via the more affective (SE, ES) relative to motivational (LoC, GSE) components of CSE, which has implications for understanding underlying mechanisms associating IR with poor mental health among racial/ethnic minorities.

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The Association of Malnutrition, Illness Duration, and Pre-morbid Weight Status with Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Adolescents and Young Adults with Restrictive Eating Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-154103/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica Ann Lin ◽

Grace Jhe ◽

Julia A Vitagliano ◽

Carly E Milliren ◽

Rebecca Spigel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Young Adults ◽

Weight Status ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Psychiatric Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Illness Duration

Abstract BackgroundRestrictive eating disorders (EDs) are often comorbid with anxiety and depression, placing patients at risk for more severe disease, worse treatment outcomes, and higher rates of mortality. To identify risks for developing such co-morbidities, we assessed the association of malnutrition, ED illness duration, and pre-morbid weight status with symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents/young adults (AYAs) with EDs. Methods145 participants with restrictive EDs (anorexia nervosa [AN], otherwise specified eating or feeding disorder [OSFED], avoidant restrictive food intake disorder [ARFID]) were included from the RECOVERY study, a longitudinal web-based registry of AYAs with EDs. We measured malnutrition as percent of expected body mass index (%eBMI), based on participants’ pre-morbid growth trajectory. Outcomes were anxiety and depression scores from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scales. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association of malnutrition, ED duration, and pre-morbid weight status with symptoms of anxiety and depression. ResultsMean(SD) age was 16.4(3.0) years; 87% were female; 89% white; 85% had AN, 6% OSFED, 10% ARFID. Of these, 2/3 had ED symptoms ≥1 year, 1/3 had previous higher level of ED care (HLOC), and half were taking psychiatric medications. Mean %eBMI was 90% (range 57-112%). Mean GAD-7 was 9.4(5.9) and CES-D was 24(13.8), indicating most participants had clinically significant anxiety and/or depression. Degree of malnutrition was not significantly associated with anxiety or depression adjusting for age, sex, sexual orientation, ED diagnosis, and use of psychiatric medication. Those with longer duration of ED symptoms had higher depression (p=0.038) scores after adjusting for malnutrition, HLOC, length of ED symptoms, and time in our care. Patients with pre-morbid BMIs ≥75th percentile had lower depression scores than those with pre-morbid BMIs <75th percentile (p=0.014).ConclusionsWe find high degree of clinically relevant anxiety and depression in a population of AYAs with EDs. Our findings suggest that factors beyond malnutrition play a role in the co-morbid mood and anxiety disorders in this population. Overall, rapid ED diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for patients with EDs across the weight spectrum—and especially those with psychiatric co-morbidities—will likely aid in recovery.

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Childhood Material Hardship and Adolescent Mental Health

Youth & Society ◽

10.1177/0044118x211001896 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0044118X2110018

Author(s):

Chrisse Edmunds ◽

Melissa Alcaraz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Adolescent Mental Health ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Fragile Families ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Material Hardship ◽

Critical Age ◽

The Relationship

Adolescent mental health has implications for current and future wellbeing. While a link exists between poverty and mental health, little is known about how experiencing material hardship, such as insecurity of food, housing, utilities, and medical care, throughout early childhood affects adolescent mental health. We examine the relationship between material hardship in childhood and adolescent mental health. We use Poisson regression to examine the effect of material hardship experienced at different stages of childhood on adolescent depression and anxiety outcomes at age 15. We use longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study ( N = 3,222). We find that recently experiencing material hardship during childhood is positively and significantly associated with anxiety and depression symptoms at age 15, even when controlling for material hardship at age 15. Additionally, we find that insecurity during mid-childhood and the stress of lacking basic needs during a critical age may influence mental health in adolescence.

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