scholarly journals Child, parent, and family mental health and functioning in Australia during COVID-19: Comparison to pre-pandemic data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Westrupp ◽  
Clair Bennett ◽  
Tomer S Berkowitz ◽  
George Joseph Youssef ◽  
John Toumbourou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Higher Alcohol ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Couple Conflict

The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to the mental health and wellbeing of families. This study aimed to examine: (1) patterns of parent and child (0–18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic data; and (2) associations between parent, child, and family outcomes during the pandemic and both pre-existing risk factors and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0–18 years (N=2,365). Parents completed an online self-report survey assessing mental health, substance use, couple conflict, parenting, and family functioning during ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent mental health symptoms (Cohen’s d=0.26-.81, all p<.001), higher parenting irritability (d=0.17-.46, all p<.001), lower family positive expressiveness (d=-0.18, p<.001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p<.001). In multivariable analyses, pre-existing financial deprivation and COVID-19 stressors were associated with greater severity in parent and child mental health symptoms, parent emotion dysregulation, parenting irritability, couple conflict and family positive/negative expressiveness. Parents and children with pre-existing mental health conditions had elevated difficulties during the pandemic across most domains. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing.

Camouflaging in non-autistic adults is associated with poorer mental health

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Somerville ◽  
Sarah E. MacPherson ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Relationship

Camouflaging is a frequently reported behaviour in autistic people, which entails the use of strategies to compensate for and mask autistic traits in social situations. Camouflaging is associated with poor mental health in autistic people. This study examined the manifestation of camouflaging in a non-autistic sample, examining the relationship between autistic traits, camouflaging, and mental health. In addition, the role of executive functions as a mechanism underpinning camouflaging was explored. Sixty-three non-autistic adults completed standardised self-report questionnaires which measured: autistic traits, mental health symptoms, and camouflaging behaviours. In addition, a subset (n=51) completed three tests of executive function measuring inhibition, working memory, and set-shifting. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyse data. Results indicated that autistic traits are not associated with mental health symptoms when controlling for camouflaging, and camouflaging predicted increased mental health symptoms. Camouflaging did not correlate with any measure of executive function. These findings have implications for understanding the relationship between autistic traits and mental health in non-autistic people and add to the growing development of theory and knowledge about the mechanism and effects of camouflaging.

scholarly journals Who should we ask about mental health symptoms in adolescents with CFS/ME? Parent-child agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-380
Author(s):  
Teona Serafimova ◽  
Maria Loades ◽  
Daisy Gaunt ◽  
Esther Crawley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Child Report ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Children’S Anxiety ◽  
Parent Child

Background: One in three adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have mental health problems. Multi-informant perspectives are key to psychological assessment. Understanding parent-child agreement is crucial to accurate diagnosis, particularly where severe fatigue limits self-report. Methods: Agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale (RCADs) was assessed between parents and children with CFS/ME ( n = 93) using Bland-Altman plots, cross tabulations and regression analyses. Results: Diagnostic thresholds were met more frequently based on child-report. Parent- and child-report had similar sensitivity and specificity on RCADS compared to gold-standard diagnostic interviews. Regression analysis found similar accuracy between both reports. For anxiety diagnoses, odds ratio (OR) for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.06–1.14), and 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.14) for parent-report. For depression, OR for child report was 1.26 (CI = 1.11–1.43), while for parent-report is was 1.25 (CI = 1.10–1.41). For total score, OR for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.13) while OR for parent-report was 1.09 (CI = 1.05–1.13). Conclusions: Reasonable agreement was observed between parent- and child-report of mental health symptoms in paediatric CFS/ME. While parent-report can facilitate psychological evaluation in CFS/ME, this is not a substitute for a child’s own report.

scholarly journals Mental health and its association with coping strategies and intolerance of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population in Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad N. AlHadi ◽  
Mohammed A. Alarabi ◽  
Khulood M. AlMansoor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Symptoms

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s lives globally. The outbreak in Saudi Arabia worsened when the number of cases and deaths rose in March and April of 2020, leading to a national lockdown. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with mental health symptoms in a sample of people residing in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey distributed via social media, completed by 3032 respondents from all Saudi regions. We collected demographic data, illness history, and scores of validated self-report scales to assess mental health symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and coping strategies. Results In total, respondents indicated moderate to very severe symptoms during the pandemic as follows: 20.9% for depression, 17.5% for anxiety, and 12.6% for stress. Younger age, female gender, and history of mental illness were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Intolerance of uncertainty and certain coping strategies (such as denial or self-blame) were associated with more severe symptoms. Conclusions Mental health is a key concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the identified vulnerable groups. Agencies concerned with mental health during crises may use the studied associated factors of mental health symptoms to generate targeted policies or interventions.

scholarly journals A learning algorithm for predicting mental health symptoms and substance use

2021 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Anthony T. Fojo ◽  
Catherine R. Lesko ◽  
Kelly S. Benke ◽  
Geetanjali Chander ◽  
Bryan Lau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

scholarly journals Prevalence and Risk Factors of COVID-19 Symptoms among U.S. Adults with Allergies

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2231
Author(s):  
Marlene Camacho-Rivera ◽  
Jessica Yasmine Islam ◽  
Denise Christina Vidot ◽  
Sunit Jariwala
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Physician Diagnosis

Background: This study sought to evaluate COVID-19 associated physical and mental health symptoms among adults with allergies compared to the general U.S. adult population. Methods: Data for these analyses were obtained from the publicly available COVID-19 Household Impact Survey, which provides national and regional statistics about physical health, mental health, economic security, and social dynamics among U.S. adults (ages 18 and older). Data from 20–26 April 2020; 4–10 May 2020; and 30 May–8 June 2020 were included. Our primary outcomes for this analysis were physical and mental health symptoms experienced in the last seven days. The primary predictor was participants’ self-report of a physician diagnosis of an allergy. Results/Discussion: This study included 10,760 participants, of whom 44% self-reported having allergies. Adults with allergies were more likely to report physical symptoms compared to adults without allergies including fever (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.44–1.99), cough (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.60–2.26), shortness of breath (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.71–2.43), and loss of taste or sense of smell (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.58–2.28). Adults with allergies were more likely to report feeling nervous (cOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13, 1.60), depressed (cOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.57), lonely (cOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.47), hopeless (cOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.21–1.72), or having physical reactions when thinking about COVID-19 pandemic (cOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.44–2.82), compared to those without allergies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adults with allergies are more likely to report physical and mental health symptoms compared to individuals without allergies. These findings have important implications for diagnostic and treatment challenges for allergy physicians.

scholarly journals Cognitive therapy as an early treatment for children with PTSD: the outcomes for parents’ own PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hammond ◽  
Richard Meiser-Stedman ◽  
Anna McKinnon ◽  
Tim Dalgleish ◽  
Patrick Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
General Mental Health ◽  
Post Traumatic

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by children can have a large impact on the wider family. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2018) recommend that parents are involved in their child’s PTSD treatment. Studies have found that parents themselves also report high levels of PTSD and other mental health symptoms but few have explored whether these symptoms reduce following their child receiving trauma-focused CBT. In this study, parents (N=29) whose children (ages 8-17 years) were randomly assigned to either 10 sessions of Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) or a wait-list control condition (WL) completed the Post Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; to measure depression), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28; to measure general mental health) for pre-post comparison. Parents whose children were allocated to CT-PTSD reported greater improvements on self-report PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health, relative to the WL condition. This trial provides preliminary support for the efficacy of CT-PTSD delivered to children for reducing parent PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health symptoms. Replication is needed as well as further exploration of parent factors and frequency of parental involvement required to predict improvements.

Does the Introduction of Shared Care Therapists in Primary Health Care Impact Clients' Mental Health Symptoms and Functioning?

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randolph B. Goossen ◽  
J. Douglas Staley ◽  
Michelle L. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Mental Health Therapists ◽  
Health Care Program

This study reports the results of two self-report measures (PHQ & SF-12v2) completed before and at the end of a therapeutic intervention in a shared mental health care program. A significant reduction in symptoms was noted for 5 diagnostic categories, including depression. Statistically significant improvement was found for items assessing general health, interference in activities and work due to emotional problems or pain, feelings of calm and peace, level of energy, depression, and interference with social activities. The results suggest that integration of mental health therapists within primary care practice settings may significantly improve participants' mental health symptoms and functioning.

scholarly journals Racial matching and adolescent self-disclosure of substance use and mental health symptoms

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-188
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Ureche ◽  
Douglas C. Smith ◽  
Jordan P. Davis ◽  
Karen M. Tabb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Racial Matching
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