Screening Broad Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents: Bifactor Modeling of the YIEPS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean N Weeks ◽  
Tyler L Renshaw ◽  
Allysia A. Rainey ◽  
Aubrey Taylor-Hiatt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Bifactor Model ◽  
General Factor ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Internalizing and externalizing problems are common targets for school mental health screening. The Youth Internalizing Problems Screener (YIPS) and the Youth Externalizing Problems Screener (YEPS) were developed separately yet intended as companion self-report screeners. Prior research supports the interpretation of total scores derived from both measures. We extended previous work by investigating the defensibility of a series of integrated measurement models that combined items from the YIPS and YEPS into a single, unified screener (YIEPS). Specifically, we evaluated the viability of (1) a unidimensional measurement model with one factor representing global mental health problems, (2) a correlated-factors model with two latent variables representing internalizing and externalizing problems, and (3) a bifactor model with two specific factors (i.e., internalizing and externalizing) and a general factor representing global mental health problems. Following, we tested the reliabilities of the several factors represented in these models as well as the informational value-added of these competing models. Results indicated that a bifactor YIEPS measurement model had the best data-model fit when integrating the two screeners. However, exploratory analyses suggested a revised alternative bifactor model with three specific factors—parsing attention problems from other externalizing and internalizing content—might be a better bifactor model than the original. Ultimately, we recommend the integrated YIEPS is best understood as measuring three specific factors and one general factor. Reliability findings further suggest the general factor (i.e., global Mental Health Problems) is the most defensible. Future directions for research and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Charting the trajectories of adopted children's emotional and behavioral problems: The impact of early adversity and postadoptive parental warmth

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Paine ◽  
Oliver Perra ◽  
Rebecca Anthony ◽  
Katherine H. Shelton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Parental Warmth ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Abstract Children who are adopted from care are more likely to experience enduring emotional and behavioral problems across development; however, adoptees’ trajectories of mental health problems and factors that impact their trajectories are poorly understood. Therefore, we used multilevel growth analyses to chart adoptees’ internalizing and externalizing problems across childhood, and examined the associations between preadoptive risk and postadoptive protective factors on their trajectories. This was investigated in a prospective longitudinal study of case file records (N = 374) and questionnaire-based follow-ups (N = 96) at approximately 5, 21, and 36 months postadoptive placement. Preadoptive adversity (indexed by age at placement, days in care, and number of adverse childhood experiences) was associated with higher internalizing and externalizing scores; the decrease in internalizing scores over childhood was accelerated for those exposed to lower levels of preadoptive risk. Warm adoptive parenting was associated with a marked reduction in children's internalizing and externalizing problems over time. Although potentially limited by shared methods variance and lack of variability in parental warmth scores, these findings demonstrate the deleterious impact of preadoptive risk and the positive role of exceptionally warm adoptive parenting on children's trajectories of mental health problems and have relevance for prevention and intervention strategies.

scholarly journals Cumulative Childhood Adversity and Its Associations With Mental Health in Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood in Rural China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wensong Shen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Capitalizing on a 15-year longitudinal dataset of 9–12 years old children in rural China, this study adopts a life course perspective and analyzes cumulative childhood adversity and its associations with mental health problems from childhood to adulthood. Four domains of childhood life are selected to construct cumulative childhood adversity: socioeconomic hardship, family disruption, physical issue, and academic setback. Overall, cumulative childhood adversity significantly associates with children’s internalizing and externalizing problems as well as adults’ depression and self-esteem. However, cumulative childhood adversity has no significant relationship with internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence. Furthermore, different domains of childhood adversity matter differently for mental health problems in different life stages. Physical issue and academic setback have the strongest association with internalizing and externalizing problems in childhood, while only socioeconomic hardship has a significant relationship with depression and self-esteem in adulthood. The relationship between cumulative childhood adversity and adult mental health problems is fully mediated by educational attainment. Finally, there is no gender difference in either the occurrence of cumulative childhood adversity or the association between cumulative childhood adversity and mental health problems.

scholarly journals The vulnerability paradox in global mental health and its applicability to suicide

2019 ◽  
Vol 215 (04) ◽  
pp. 588-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel L. A. Dückers ◽  
Lennart Reifels ◽  
Derek P. De Beurs ◽  
Chris R. Brewin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
World Health ◽  
Country Level

BackgroundPrevious research has identified a vulnerability paradox in global mental health: contrary to positive associations at the individual level, lower vulnerability at the country level is accompanied by a higher prevalence in a variety of mental health problems in national populations. However, the validity of the paradox has been challenged, specifically for bias from modest sample sizes and reliance on a survey methodology not designed for cross-national comparisons.AimsTo verify whether the paradox applies to suicide, using data from a sizable country sample and an entirely different data source.MethodWe combined data from the World Health Organization 2014 suicide report and the country vulnerability index from the 2016 World Risk Report. Suicide was predicted in different steps based on gender, vulnerability and their interaction, World Bank income categories, and suicide data quality.ResultsA negative association between country vulnerability and suicide prevalence in both women and men was found. Suicide rates were higher for men, regardless of country vulnerability. The model predicting suicide in 96 countries based on gender, vulnerability, income and data quality had the best goodness-of-fit compared with other models. The vulnerability paradox is not accounted for by income or data quality, and exists across and within income categories.ConclusionsThe study underscores the relevance of country-level factors in the study of mental health problems. The lower mental disorder prevalence in more vulnerable countries implies that living in such countries fosters protective factors that more than compensate for the limitations in professional healthcare capacity.Declaration of interestNone.

scholarly journals Revising the self-report strengths and difficulties questionnaire for cross-country comparisons of adolescent mental health problems: the SDQ-R

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Duinhof ◽  
K. M. Lek ◽  
M. E. de Looze ◽  
A. Cosma ◽  
J. Mazur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Cross Country

Abstract Aims The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been used in many epidemiological studies to assess adolescent mental health problems, but cross-country comparisons of the self-report SDQ are scarce and so far failed to find a good-fitting, common, invariant measurement model across countries. The present study aims to evaluate and establish a version of the self-report SDQ that allows for a valid cross-country comparison of adolescent self-reported mental health problems. Methods Using the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, the measurement model and measurement invariance of the 20 items of the self-report SDQ measuring adolescent mental health problems were evaluated. Nationally representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year old adolescents (n = 33 233) from seven countries of different regions in Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia) were used. Results In order to establish a good-fitting and common measurement model, the five reverse worded items of the self-report SDQ had to be removed. Using this revised version of the self-report SDQ, the SDQ-R, partial measurement invariance was established, indicating that latent factor means assessing conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationships problems and hyperactivity-inattention problems could be validly compared across the countries in this study. Results showed that adolescents in Greece scored relatively low on almost all problem subscales, whereas adolescents in Poland scored relatively high on almost all problem subscales. Adolescents in the Netherlands reported the most divergent profile of mental health problems with the lowest levels of conduct problems, low levels of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems, but the highest levels of hyperactivity-inattention problems. Conclusions With six factor loadings being non-invariant, partial measurement invariance was established, indicating that the 15-item SDQ-R could be used in our cross-country comparison of adolescent mental health problems. To move the field of internationally comparative research on adolescent mental health forward, studies should test the applicability of the SDQ-R in other countries in- and outside Europe, continue to develop the SDQ-R as a cross-country invariant measure of adolescent mental health, and examine explanations for the found country differences in adolescent mental health problems.

scholarly journals Cross-lagged model of bullying victimization and mental health problems in children with autism in middle to older childhood

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136236132094751
Author(s):  
Geovanna Rodriguez ◽  
Kim Drastal ◽  
Sigan L Hartley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Bullying Victimization ◽  
Autism Symptoms ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Being Bullied ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Youth with autism spectrum conditions have been shown to be at an increased risk for bullying victimization. The overall aim of this study was to identify factors associated with increased risk for bullying victimization in youth with autism during middle childhood to early adolescence (aged 5–12 years) and to explore the potential time-ordered associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems 12 months later. The average age of the youth with autism was 7.90 years ( SD = 2.33), 86% were male, 34.6% had an intellectual disability, and 84% were White, non-Hispanic. Youth with autism who experienced bullying victimization (vs no victimization) were older in age, had more severe autism symptoms, and higher levels of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems at study onset. Using two cross-lagged structural equation models, the associations between maternal report of youth bullying victimization and teacher report of youth mental health problems using two waves of data were tested. Internalizing and externalizing mental health problems at Time 1 did not relate to change in likelihood of being bullied 1 year later. In contrast, bullying victimization at Time 1 was associated with an increase in internalizing mental health problems ( β = 0.24, p < 0.05). Lay Abstract Youth with autism spectrum disorders are disproportionately at risk for bullying victimization compared to typically developing children and adolescents. While internalizing and externalizing mental health problems have been linked to victimization experiences, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects bullying victimization experiences may have on youth mental health outcomes. The present study investigated longitudinal associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems in a sample of children with autism in middle childhood to early adolescence (aged 5 to 12 years). Findings from our study suggest that youth with autism who experienced bullying victimization (versus no victimization) were older in age, had more severe autism symptoms, and higher levels of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems at study onset. Though externalizing mental health problems at study onset (Time 1) did not relate to change in the likelihood of being bullied one year later (Time 2), experiences of bullying victimization did relate to an increase in parent reports of internalizing mental health problems. This study expanded on previous cross-sectional studies by including two waves of data in a relatively large sample of youth with autism and highlights important information that may be helpful in adapting approaches to intervention at the individual level. Moreover, our findings support the need for bullying programs that may need to focus particular attention to subgroups of youth with autism who may be most at-risk for bullying victimization such as those with more autism symptoms and those with past experiences of victimization (given the chronic nature of bullying).

The Self and Mental Health: Self-Salience and the Emergence of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

2005 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Rosenfield ◽  
Mary Clare Lennon ◽  
Helene Raskin White
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
The Self ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

How do schemas about self-salience—the importance of the self versus the collective in social relations—affect mental health? We propose that self-salience shapes the likelihood of experiencing internalizing or externalizing problems. Schemas that privilege others over the self increase the risk of internalizing symptoms, including depressive symptoms and anxiety, whereas those that privilege the self over others predispose individuals to externalizing behaviors of antisocial behavior and substance abuse. Furthermore, we propose that these schemas contribute to the gender differences that exist in these problems. We test these predictions with data from adolescents, the stage at which these problems and the gender differences in them arise. Results show that self-salience underlies both internalizing and externalizing problems. In addition, schemas about self-salience help explain the gender differences found in mental health problems.

scholarly journals Assessment of Common Mental Health Problems among General Population

2021 ◽  
pp. 210-217
Author(s):  
Dharti Meshram ◽  
Pooja Kasturkar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Behavioral Problem ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems

Background: Around 7.3 per cent of the global disease burden was due to mental and behavioral problem. The majority of the load is correlated with unipolar depressive condition and certain conditions of mental health, including depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and substance use. Roughly 450 million persons are currently suffering from these disorders, and It is assessed that at some stage in their lifetime, one-four individuals in the world will be affected by mental health conditions. Mental health condition rank among the world's principal reasons of illness or impairment. Persons with most depressing condition or schizophrenia were 40 to 60 per cent more likely than the general population to die prematurely. Aim: To identify common mental health problems among general population. Objective: This study is planned with the objective. 1. To assess common mental health problems among general population. 2. To compare the common mental health problems among rural and urban general population. 3. To associate common mental problems, score among general population with their demographic variables. Methodology: lt is community based cross-sectional study. Sample will be general population i.e., Male and Female of Nalwadi, Arvi Naka wardha city will be involved in this study. Sample will be selected for study as per inclusion criteria and sampling technique will be N on-Probability y convenient sampling technique. Data will be collected by demographic variables of participants Global mental health assessment Marathi tool will be distributed for assessing mental health problem need 20 min for each participant. Conclusion: The conclusion will e drawn from the statistical analysis.

scholarly journals Validating Screening Questionnaires for Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders against Clinical Interviews in 8 to 17-Year-Old Syrian Refugee Children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona McEwen ◽  
Patricia Moghames ◽  
Tania Bosqui ◽  
Vanessa Kyrillos ◽  
Nicolas Chehade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Externalizing Disorders ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Screening Questionnaires ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Syrian children affected by the civil war are at increased risk of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and externalizing behaviour problems. Screening questionnaires are designed to identify individual children who require further assessment and treatment, and also estimate the need for mental health services in a population. However, few questionnaires have been rigorously tested in this population. This study examined the reliability and validity of questionnaires for depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, CES-DC, self-report, 10-item version), anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, SCARED, self-report, 18-item version), PTSD (Child PTSD Symptom Scale, CPSS, self-report), and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ, parent-report version) in a population sample of 8-17 year old Syrian children living in Informal Tented Settlements (ITS) in the Beqaa region of Lebanon. In addition, several ways of measuring functional impairment due to mental health problems were compared. These included self- and parent-report questionnaires (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, WHODAS-Child; SDQ Impact supplement, parent-report only) and an interviewer rating of severity (Clinical Global Impression–severity, CGI-s). Questionnaires were translated into Arabic and modified based on pilot testing with Syrian children. Responses from N=1006 children and caregivers were used for analysis, a subset of whom had additional clinical interview data (MINI KID + clinical judgement; N=119). The self-report questionnaires showed good internal consistency reliability with alpha&gt;.80, though the parent-report SDQ and WHODAS-Child fell below this level. In terms of validity, the SDQ externalizing scale performed well in differentiating children with conduct problems from those without and it was possible to achieve a fair balance between sensitivity (82%) and specificity (71%). The CES-DC, CPSS, SDQ total difficulties, and WHODAS-Child (selfreport) achieved an acceptable level of validity, though it was harder to achieve a good balance between sensitivity and specificity. In most cases, at least 50% of those screening positive were false positives, meaning that a more in-depth follow up assessment would be required if these tools were used as screeners in a clinical setting. Furthermore, correctionwould be needed if used to estimate prevalence rates for mental disorders in this population. There was moderate convergent validity between measures of functional impairment, with self-report WHODAS-Child showing greater agreement with interviewer ratings when compared to parent-report measures (WHODAS and SDQ Impact). Measuring functional impairment and distress due to mental health problems should help to differentiate children with clinically significant mental health problems from those with subthreshold problems; however, more work will be required to establish how helpful the tools used here are in achieving that aim.

scholarly journals Poverty, Neighbourhood Antisocial Behaviour, and Children’s Mental Health Problems: Findings from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. Boyle ◽  
Katholiki Georgiades ◽  
Laura Duncan ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Jinette Comeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Internalizing Problems ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Household Poverty ◽  
Poor Households

Objectives: To determine if levels of neighbourhood poverty and neighbourhood antisocial behaviour modify associations between household poverty and child and youth mental health problems. Methods: Data come from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study—a provincially representative survey of 6537 families with 10,802 four- to 17-year-olds. Multivariate multilevel modelling was used to test if neighbourhood poverty and antisocial behaviour interact with household poverty to modify associations with children’s externalizing and internalizing problems based on parent assessments of children (4- to 17-year-olds) and self-assessments of youth (12- to 17-year-olds). Results: Based on parent assessments, neighbourhood poverty, and antisocial behaviour modified associations between household poverty and children’s mental health problems. Among children living in households below the poverty line, levels of mental health problems were 1) lower when living in neighbourhoods with higher concentrations of poverty and 2) higher when living in neighbourhoods with more antisocial behaviour. These associations were stronger for externalizing versus internalizing problems when conditional on antisocial behaviour and generalized only to youth-assessed externalizing problems. Conclusion: The lower levels of externalizing problems reported among children living in poor households in low-income neighbourhoods identify potential challenges with integrating poorer households into more affluent neighbourhoods. More important, children living in poor households located in neighbourhoods exhibiting more antisocial behaviour are at dramatically higher risk for mental health problems. Reducing levels of neighbourhood antisocial behaviour could have large mental health benefits, particularly among poor children.

Implications of the global mental health and the HIV syndemic on HIV prevention and care

2018 ◽  
pp. 337-344
Author(s):  
Joseph T. F. Lau ◽  
Jinghua Li ◽  
Rui She ◽  
Yoo Na Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Risk Behaviours ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Living With Hiv

HIV is known as a ‘social disease’, as its transmission is attributable to risk behaviours which are influenced by cultural and psychosocial environments. It is important to consider the HIV syndemic, defined here as the co-occurrence of HIV and other illness/health conditions (e.g. mental health problems, substance use). Mental health problems are prevalent both among key populations for HIV prevention and people living with HIV (PLWH), and can influence HIV-related risk behaviours, interact synergistically, and compromise the effectiveness of HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Structural, interpersonal, and individual factors associated with mental health problems among PLWH, and the impact of such problems on HIV prevention, are discussed. Promising approaches, such as positive psychology interventions, are explored. Finally, gaps in current mental health interventions, services, and personnel are highlighted, to suggest areas for improvement. Mental health improvement in affected populations is a prerequisite of controlling the global HIV epidemic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document