scholarly journals Mental health of students living with food insecurity during the transition to university

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Howard ◽  
Erin Barker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Transition To University ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Health Deficit

The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university. We drew on existing data from four samples of traditionally-aged, first-year undergraduates enrolled at large universities in three provinces (Alberta N = 199; Québec N = 299; Ontario N = 461 and N = 510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, including food security. Poorer mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, low satisfaction with life) was consistently associated with food insecurity across samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity. Students with food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.

scholarly journals Mental Health of Students Reporting Food Insecurity during the Transition to University

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Howard ◽  
Erin T. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Transition To University ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Screening Questions ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose: The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university. Methods: We drew on existing data from 4 samples of first-year undergraduates enrolled at 3 large universities in 3 provinces (Alberta n = 199, Québec n = 299, and Ontario n = 461 and n = 510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, and students were classified as food secure or insecure based on their responses to screening questions. Results: Mental health (depression, anxiety, low satisfaction with life) was consistently poorer in students classified as food insecure across all samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity. Conclusions: Students experiencing food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.

scholarly journals Mental Health, Quality of Life and Violence Exposure in Low-Socioeconomic Status Children and Adolescents of Guatemala

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7620
Author(s):  
Rosalba Company-Córdoba ◽  
Diego Gómez-Baya ◽  
Francisca López-Gaviño ◽  
Joaquín A. Ibáñez-Alfonso
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Exposure To Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Growing up in vulnerable conditions has an impact on children and adolescents’ mental health and well-being outcomes. However, this evidence has rarely been obtained in middle and low-income countries like Guatemala, where food insecurity and exposure to violence frequently threaten childhood development. The aim of this study was to analyse the relations that sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors have with psychological adjustment of low-socioeconomic status (SES) Guatemalan children and adolescents, and how these relations were mediated by food insecurity and exposure to violence. A total of 185 participants (50.8% girls; aged between 6 to 17, M = 11.82, SD = 3.7) from three vulnerable schools located in rural and urban areas of Guatemala were assessed. The results indicated that exposure to violence significantly moderates the effect of sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables in measures of depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life. Adolescents more exposed to violence reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as lower levels of health-related quality of life. In contrast, food insecurity did not seem to influence psychological adjustment outcomes in this low-SES sample. These findings highlight the relevance of exposure to violence for mental health and well-being, and is a factor that should be considered when designing public health policies to promote children and adolescents’ welfare.

scholarly journals Invisible Identity in the Workplace: Intersectional Madness and Processes of Disclosure at Work

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merrick Daniel Pilling
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Multiple Identities ◽  
Work Lives ◽  
Subject Positions ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Invisible Disabilities ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health And Well Being

<p>In this article I draw on recent work regarding disabilities that are not readily apparent to analyze the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and/or trans (LGBQT) mad people in the workplace. Based on interviews with LGBQT people about madness and everyday life, I use an intersectional approach to examine participants&rsquo; work lives. I argue that decisions about disclosure of mental health related information are particularly pressing and high risk at work, given the economic stakes and the effects on health and well-being. As is the case for others with invisible disabilities, notions of authenticity shape processes of disclosure and access to accommodations for LGBQT mad people in the workplace. An intersectional analysis shows how madness cannot be considered the only salient aspect of my participants&rsquo; subject positions and how multiple identities operate together to shape their experiences.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Keywords:&nbsp;madness, invisible disability, LGBQT, intersectionality,&nbsp;workplace, race, sexuality, gender identity&nbsp;</p>

scholarly journals Aligned but not integrated: UK academic library support to mental health and well-being during COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Cox ◽  
Liz Brewster
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Well Being

PurposeTo discover how UK academic libraries sought to support student mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe data was from a 24-question survey of UK universities distributed in May 2021 which received 56 responses from 47 different Higher Education Institution libraries. Descriptive statistics are combined with thematic analysis of open text comments.FindingsLibraries were undertaking a wide range of activities, targeted chiefly at students and broadcast via Twitter, other social media and library web sites. The problem being addressed was the stresses of studying in the context of the pivot online and isolation caused by social distancing. Digital well-being seemed also to be an increased concern. COVID-19 had proved the value of digital support but created a number of challenges such as loss of physical space, communication barriers and lack of extra resource. The role had a somewhat informal place in the organisation. Overall library activities were aligned but not strongly integrated into institutional efforts.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a study in one specific national context with a relatively limited number of total responses. There could be a non-response bias where respondents were doing more than was typical in the sector.Originality/valueThe paper is one of the first papers to gather sector wide data and move beyond case studies of what individual libraries due to support to mental health and well-being. It also offers a case study of the impacts of COVID-19 on management pointing to its catalysing the digital shift, creating constraints on resources and communication and prompting the emergence of staff well-being as a consideration in management decision making.

scholarly journals A Comparison of the Mental Health and Well-Being of Sexual Minority and Heterosexual First-Year Medical Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 652-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia M. Przedworski ◽  
John F. Dovidio ◽  
Rachel R. Hardeman ◽  
Sean M. Phelan ◽  
Sara E. Burke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Medical Students ◽  
Health And Well Being

scholarly journals Killing two birds with one stone: how intervening when witnessing bullying at the workplace may help both target and the acting observer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Birkeland Nielsen ◽  
Michael Rosander ◽  
Stefan Blomberg ◽  
Ståle Valvatne Einarsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Objective This study examines under which conditions being an observer of bullying can be detrimental to health and well-being. It was hypothesized that health-related problems following observations of bullying are determined by (1) whether the observer has been exposed to bullying her/himself and (2) whether the observer have tried to intervene in the bullying situation that they witnessed. Methods The study was based on a longitudinal probability survey of the Swedish workforce, with an 18-month time lag between assessment points (N = 1096). Results Witnessing bullying at work were associated with an increase in subsequent levels of mental distress among the observers, although this association became insignificant when adjusting for the observers’ own exposure to bullying. Intervening against bullying moderated the relationship between observations of bullying and mental health problems. Observers who did not try to intervene reported a significant increase in mental health problems at follow-up, whereas there were no significant changes in levels of mental health problems among those who did intervene. Conclusions the findings suggest that observer interventions against bullying may be highly beneficial for both the targets and observers of bullying. Organizations should therefore invest in ways to increase constructive bystander behavior in negative social situations at the workplace.

scholarly journals Time spent in retirement, health and well-being

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S339-S340 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R. Lucas ◽  
F. Daniel ◽  
S. Guadalupe ◽  
I. Massano-Cardoso ◽  
H. Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Well Being

IntroductionFrom a life-span developmental perspective, retirement can be considered a life event that entails a complex psychological challenge, including leaving one's professional life and organizing/enjoying the newly available free time. The literature about retirement identifies different stages and patterns of transition/adaption associated with time spent in retirement.ObjectivesTo analyze the association between time spent in retirement and subjective measures of mental health, depressive symptomatology, loneliness and satisfaction with life.MethodsQuantitative cross-sectional study with 641 participants (M = 74,86). The instruments included: sociodemographic questionnaire; mental health inventory (MHI-5); geriatric depression scale (GDS); UCLA loneliness scale; satisfaction with life scale (SWLS).ResultsStatistically significant differences in all the health and well-being variables addressed were found between subgroups of time spent in retirement (MHI-5: P = 0.001; GDS: P < 0.001; UCLA: P = 0.038; SWLS: P = 0.022). Mental health and satisfaction with life increases in the first year after retirement, but during the second year, they decrease to the levels found in pre-retirement. Loneliness and depressive symptomatology follow an inverted pattern. With the passing of years, loneliness and depression tend to increase; mental health and satisfaction with life tend to decrease.ConclusionsThe results provide support to the hypotheses of honeymoon and disenchantment phases in the recently retired and to the existence of different patterns of transition/adaptation associated with time spent in retirement. They also highlight the relevance of devising intervention strategies that enable individuals to maintain the satisfaction levels with life and mental health achieved during the first phase of retirement.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Measuring mental wellness among adolescents living with a physical chronic condition: a systematic review of the mental health and mental well-being instruments

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Orth ◽  
Brian van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Chronic Condition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Globally, promoting mental health and well-being among adolescents has become a public health priority, especially for adolescents living with a physical chronic condition (CC), as research suggests they may be more at risk of developing mental health co-morbidities. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to measure and better understand mental health and mental well-being among adolescents living with a CC. To this end, we reviewed studies reporting on mental health and well-being instruments used in adolescent populations living with a chronic physical condition/disease globally. Methods We used a systematic review method guided by PRISMA to identify assess mental health and mental well-being instruments used in adolescents living with a CC. In this instance, mental health instruments were defined as those representing negative domains of mental health (i.e. depression and anxiety) while mental well-being instruments included positive aspects of mental health (i.e. self-concept and resilience). Results We identified 22 articles, which included 31 instruments that were used to measure either mental health (n = 8) or mental well-being (n = 15) or both (n = 8) in adolescents living with a CC. Of these, thirteen studies used a Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scale to measure mental health and/or mental well-being. The KIDSCREEN questionnaires and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were identified as being frequently used across the 22 studies. Additionally, 7 out of the 31 instruments were disease specific, with 3 focusing on adolescents with diabetes. All the instruments were developed in high income countries and adapted for use in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (n = 7) and HIV (n = 4) were researched in 11 out of 22 studies. Only eight studies were conducted in LMIC, of which four were in Africa. Conclusions HRQoL instruments are useful in measuring mental health and well-being in adolescents living with a CC. However, relatively few valid measures of mental health and mental well-being for adolescents living with a CC exist, which accentuates the paucity of research on mental health and mental well-being of adolescents who are living with a CC. Specific measures need to be developed in and for LMICs where cultural contexts affect mental well-being in unique ways. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020186707.

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