Loss of Trust May Never Heal. Institutional Trust in Disaster Victims in a Long-Term Perspective: Associations With Social Support and Mental Health

Abstract Background Long term displacement and exposure to challenging living conditions can influence family dynamics; gender roles; violence at home and in the community and mental well-being. This qualitative study explores these issues as perceived by Syrian refugees who have been living in Shatila, a Palestinian camp in South Beirut, Lebanon, for at least 2 years. Methods Twenty eight in-depth interviews with men and women were conducted between February and June 2018. Women were recipients of mental health services, and men were recruited from the local community. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, translated, transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Our results show patterns of harsh living conditions similar to those described earlier in the course of the Syrian refugee crisis. Lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, cramped rooms and violence were all reported. Participants also described a lack of social support, discrimination and harassment within the host community, as well as limited social support networks within their own Syrian refugee community. Family dynamics were affected by the increased responsibilities on men, women and children; with additional economic and employment demands on men, women assuming the roles of ‘mother and father’ and children having to work and contribute to the household. Participants discussed several types of violence, including parental violence against children and violence in the community. Violence against women was also reported. Reported mental health issues included depression, anxiety, sadness, frustration, hopelessness, self-neglect and a loss of sense of self and self-worth. Some participants expressed a wish to die. Conclusions This study describes experiences of changing gender roles, family dynamics, violence and mental health after long-term displacement in in Shatila camp, South Beirut as perceived by Syrian refugees. A lack of safety and security coupled with economic hardship rendered refugees even more susceptible to exploitation and harassment. Parental violence was the most commonly reported type of domestic violence.

Download Full-text

The Acute Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Mental Health in Southwestern Ontario

10.31234/osf.io/5cwb4 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alexandra Mactavish ◽

Carli Mastronardi ◽

Rosanne Menna ◽

Kimberley A. Babb ◽

Marco Battaglia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Children’S Mental Health ◽

Children's Mental Health ◽

Children And Parents ◽

The Impact

Objective: COVID-19 is an unprecedented global crisis. Research is critically needed to identify the acute and long-term impacts of the pandemic to children’s mental health including psychosocial factors that predict resilience, recovery, and persistent long-term distress. The present study collected data in June-July 2020 to enumerate the acute impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health, including the magnitude and nature of psychiatric and psychological distress in children, and to evaluate social support as a putative psychosocial correlate of children’s distress.Method: 190 families of children aged 8 to 13 from the Windsor-Essex region of Southwestern Ontario reported on the impact of the pandemic on children’s well-being (e.g., worry, happiness); irritability; social support; and symptoms of anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress disorder at baseline assessment of an ongoing longitudinal study of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Children and parents reported worsened well-being and psychological distress during the pandemic compared to retrospective report of pre-pandemic well-being. Children and parents also reported higher depressive and anxiety symptoms, but fewer PTSD symptoms, compared to epidemiological samples that used the same measures prior to the pandemic. Finally, child-perceived social support from family and friends was associated with lower symptom severity.Conclusions: Study findings indicate broad psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are consistent with prior research that indicates a protective role of social support to mitigate the negative psychological impact of the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Aspects of social support and disclosure in the context of institutional abuse – long-term impact on mental health

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-015-0077-0 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Brigitte Lueger-Schuster ◽

Asisa Butollo ◽

Yvonne Moy ◽

Reinhold Jagsch ◽

Tobias Glück ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Institutional Abuse ◽

Long Term Impact

Download Full-text

Quality of Life and Mental Health in Mothers and Fathers Caring for Children and Adolescents with Rare Diseases Requiring Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238975 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8975

Author(s):

Johannes Boettcher ◽

Jonas Denecke ◽

Claus Barkmann ◽

Silke Wiegand-Grefe

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Rare Diseases ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Mothers And Fathers

(1) Parents caring for children and adolescents with rare diseases fear the long-term progression of the child’s disease and the loss of their parental role. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life, mental health and associated protective factors of mothers and fathers caring for children with rare diseases requiring mechanical long-term ventilation. (2) In a cross-sectional design, data on quality of life, mental health, coping mechanisms, social support and family functioning from n = 75 affected families were collected using standardized psychometric questionnaires. (3) Mothers compared to fathers were significantly more impaired in their quality of life and mental health. Protective factors significantly associated with the respective outcomes for mothers were coping mechanisms, social support and family functioning, whereas for fathers solely the latter was found to be significant. Multiple regression analyses showed that family functioning may be the most important predictor of quality of life and mental health. (4) The results support the need for family-oriented care in parents of children with rare diseases. To reach optimal efficiency, health care providers should not only screen parents for psychosocial impairment but also provide interventions that consider gender-specific differences in psychological health.

Download Full-text

Long-term mental health and social support in victims of disaster: comparison with a general population sample – ERRATUM

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2019.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Siri Thoresen ◽

Marianne Skogbrott Birkeland ◽

Filip K. Arnberg ◽

Tore Wentzel-Larsen ◽

Ines Blix

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

General Population ◽

Population Sample ◽

General Population Sample

Download Full-text

Exploring Family Multi-type Maltreatment, Social Support, and Externalizing and Internalizing Problems Among Asian and Asian American College Students

Asian Journal of Social Science Studies ◽

10.20849/ajsss.v5i3.780 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Yoko Baba ◽

James D. Lee ◽

Michael E. Vallerga

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

United States ◽

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

Asian American ◽

Internalizing Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Externalizing And Internalizing Problems ◽

Asian American College Students

Exposure to family violence as a child has a detrimental long-term impact on one’s life. This relationship is under-researched in Asian populations in the United States or in Asian countries. This study examined long-term effects of maltreatment, including interparental violence and child maltreatment on externalizing and internalizing problems experienced by Asian and Asian American college students. We also explored protective effects of social support against the negative consequences of family maltreatment. Surveying 542 college students in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, we measured effects of family maltreatment on problem outcomes and examined the role of social support. Exposure to dual harm of family maltreatment (i.e., intraparental violence and child maltreatment) increased students’ externalizing problems compared to exposure to one type of family maltreatment, but no differences in internalizing behaviors were found. Effects of social support from parents and peers on externalizing and internalizing problems were neither moderating nor mediating, but direct. Those who received parental support had fewer externalizing behaviors, but effects of peer support were not significant. In contrast, those who obtained parental and peer support showed lower levels of internalizing mental health concerns. Surprisingly, men exhibited more mental health issues than women. Exposure to dual harm increases behavioral problems, but family support can help repair damage among Asian and Asian American college students. The relationship between abuse and problem outcomes was similar across countries, indicating common psychological processes.

Download Full-text

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of people living with a long-term physical health condition: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11751-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Fisher ◽

A. Roberts ◽

A. R. McKinlay ◽

D. Fancourt ◽

A. Burton

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Physical Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Being There ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions caused major global disruption. Individuals with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at higher risk of severe illness and often subject to the strictest pandemic guidance, so may be disproportionally affected. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how living with a LTC during the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s mental health and wellbeing. Methods Participants were people living with LTCs who participated in telephone/video call interviews based on a semi-structured topic guide. Key themes and subthemes were determined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Results The sample included 32 participants with LTCs (most commonly cancer, respiratory conditions or cardiovascular diseases), mean age 57 (SD 13) years, 66% female and 72% white British. There were four overarching themes specific to living with a LTC. These were 1) high levels of fear and anxiety related to perceived consequences of catching COVID-19, 2) impact of shielding/isolation on mental health and wellbeing, 3) experience of healthcare during the pandemic and 4) anxiety created by uncertainty about the future. Fourteen subthemes were identified, including concerns about accessing essential supplies and the importance of social support. Individuals who lived alone and were advised to shield could be profoundly negatively affected. Conclusions This study found that there were a number of aspects of living with a LTC during the pandemic that had a significant impact on mental health and well-being. There should be focus on how best to provide practical and social support to people with LTCs during a pandemic, particularly if they have to shield or isolate.

Download Full-text

Long-term mental health and social support in victims of disaster: comparison with a general population sample

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2018.74 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Siri Thoresen ◽

Marianne Skogbrott Birkeland ◽

Filip K. Arnberg ◽

Tore Wentzel-Larsen ◽

Ines Blix

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

General Population ◽

Effect Size ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Population Sample ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

General Population Sample ◽

Anxiety Depression

BackgroundTrauma and traumatic bereavement have well-known consequences for mental health, but little is known about long-term adjustment, particularly with respect to health-protective factors.AimsTo assess the levels of anxiety/depression and perceived social support among the survivors and the bereaved 26 years after the Scandinavian Star ferry disaster compared with expected levels from the general population.MethodAnxiety/depression and social support were assessed in face-to-face interviews with the survivors and the bereaved (N = 165, response rate 58%). Expected scores were calculated for each participant based on the means and proportions for each age and gender combination from a general population sample. We computed the ratio between expected and observed scores, standardised mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and standardised effect sizes.ResultsWe found an elevated level of anxiety/depression symptoms in the victims (Mdiff = 0.28, 95% CI 0.18, 0.38; effect size 0.43, 95% CI 0.31, 0.55) and a significant excess of individuals with a clinically significant level of symptoms. The observed level of perceived social support was significantly lower than that expected (Mdiff = −0.57, 95% CI −0.70, −0.44; effect size −0.73, 95% CI −0.89, −0.57). This was the case for both survivors and those who were bereaved and for both men and women.ConclusionsThis study reveals that disaster survivors and the bereaved reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression symptoms 26 years after the event. They also reported a markedly reduced level of social support. Traumas and post-traumatic responses may thus cause lasting harm to interpersonal relationships.Declaration of interestNone.

Download Full-text

Mental Health Before and After Retirement—Assessing the Relevance of Psychosocial Working Conditions: The Whitehall II Prospective Study of British Civil Servants

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbz042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 403-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria Fleischmann ◽

Baowen Xue ◽

Jenny Head

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Job Demands ◽

Short Term ◽

Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽

Decision Authority ◽

Long Term Changes ◽

Work Social Support

Abstract Objectives Retirement could be a stressor or a relief. We stratify according to previous psychosocial working conditions to identify short-term and long-term changes in mental health. Method Using data from the Whitehall II study on British civil servants who retired during follow-up (n = 4,751), we observe mental health (General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] score) on average 8.2 times per participant, spanning up 37 years. We differentiate short-term (0–3 years) and long-term (4+ years) changes in mental health according to retirement and investigate whether trajectories differ by psychosocial job demands, work social support, decision authority, and skill discretion. Results Each year, mental health slightly improved before retirement (−0.070; 95% CI [−0.080, −0.059]; higher values on the GHQ score are indicative of worse mental health), and retirees experienced a steep short-term improvement in mental health after retirement (−0.253; 95% CI [−0.302, −0.205]), but no further significant long-term changes (0.017; 95% CI [−0.001, 0.035]). Changes in mental health were more explicit when retiring from poorer working conditions; this is higher psychosocial job demands, lower decision authority, or lower work social support. Discussion Retirement was generally beneficial for health. The association between retirement and mental health was dependent on the context individuals retire from.

Download Full-text

Coping Behaviour After Shipwreck

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.131.1.15 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 131 (1) ◽

pp. 15-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Scott Henderson ◽

Tudor Bostock

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychiatric Disorder ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Coping Behaviour ◽

Disaster Victims ◽

After Care

SummaryA description is given of the coping behaviour of seven men who survived a shipwreck and were not rescued until 13 days later. The principal behaviours shown by the men were attachment ideation, drive to survive, modelling, prayer and hope. Particular attention is paid to the first of these, and consideration given to its likely origins in behavioural evolution. It is proposed as a hitherto inadequately recognized coping behaviour. A follow-up examination 12 to 24 months later showed that five of the seven men available had developed substantial psychiatric disorder, while by contrast one was not only well but claimed to have been enriched by the experience. Exposure to extreme adversity or disaster may have long-term effects on mental health. Further longitudinal studies of disaster victims are necessary for the design of informed after-care.

Download Full-text