scholarly journals Is Ejaculation Frequency in Men Related to General and Mental Health? Looking Back and Looking Forward

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mascherek ◽  
Mirjam Christina Reidick ◽  
Jürgen Gallinat ◽  
Simone Kühn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ejaculation Frequency ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Time Frames

Despite its relevance for human sexuality, literature on potential effects of ejaculation frequency and masturbation on general and mental health outcomes is sparse. Reasons for this knowledge gap include a general lack of interest, but also methodological challenges and still existing superstition. This paper reconciles literature from various fields to extract relevant information on how ejaculation frequency effects general and mental health outcomes. Culture-bound syndromes have been reported in countries still strictly tabooing or condemning masturbation. Masturbatory guilt describes a phenomenon in individuals experiencing a discrepancy between moral standards and own behavior with respect to masturbation. Abstinence is one aspect under study in the area of fertility treatment. Specific time frames and their respective implications on quality of sperm remain inconclusive. Limited temporal resolution capacities hamper the precise study of brain structures directly activated during ejaculation. The relation between ejaculation frequency and hormonal influences remains poorly understood. Future research that specifically addresses ejaculation frequency and potential mental and general health outcomes is needed. In contrast to extracting knowledge as a byproduct from other studies with a different focus, this enables sound study designs and could provide evidence-based results which could then be further discussed and interpreted.

scholarly journals Correlates of grief-related disorders and mental health outcomes among adult refugees exposed to trauma and bereavement: A systematic review and future research directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 267 ◽  
pp. 171-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrille Kossigan Kokou-Kpolou ◽  
Charlemagne Simplice Moukouta ◽  
Joanic Masson ◽  
Amal Bernoussi ◽  
Jude Mary Cénat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Future Research Directions

scholarly journals Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 958-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Tillmann ◽  
Danielle Tobin ◽  
William Avison ◽  
Jason Gilliland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Attention Deficit Disorder ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Study Designs

BackgroundIt is commonly believed that nature has positive impacts on children’s health, including physical, mental and social dimensions. This review focuses on how accessibility to, exposure to and engagement with nature affects the mental health of children and teenagers.MethodsTen academic databases were used to systematically search and identify primary research papers in English or French from 1990 to 1 March 2017. Papers were included for review based on their incorporation of nature, children and teenagers (0–18 years), quantitative results and focus on mental health.ResultsOf the 35 papers included in the review, the majority focused on emotional well-being and attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder. Other outcome measures included overall mental health, self-esteem, stress, resilience, depression and health-related quality of life. About half of all reported findings revealed statistically significant positive relationships between nature and mental health outcomes and almost half reported no statistical significance.ConclusionsFindings support the contention that nature positively influences mental health; however, in most cases, additional research with more rigorous study designs and objective measures of both nature and mental health outcomes are needed to confirm statistically significant relationships. Existing evidence is limited by the cross-sectional nature of most papers.

scholarly journals The Spiritual Self: Toward a Conceptualization of Spiritual Identity Development

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin B. Poll ◽  
Timothy B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
William James ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Spiritual Identity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Tentative Model ◽  
Spiritual Self

Both researchers and practitioners have demonstrated considerable interest in identity development, and positive personal identities have been associated with numerous positive mental health outcomes. However, major theories of identity development have neglected the salience of spiritual identity, even though the early work of William James placed this as a central component of personality. This article reviews four major theories of identity development (cognitive, psychodynamic, systems, and narrative) and suggests spiritual identity parallels to these theories. A tentative model of spiritual identity development is presented. Implications for therapy and future research concerning spiritual identity development are discussed.

How Does Spiritual Intelligence Relate to Mental Health in a Western Sample?

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek A. Giannone ◽  
Daniel Kaplin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Spiritual Intelligence ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cast Doubt

This study investigates a recently developed model of spiritual intelligence in relation to the common mental health concerns of depression, anxiety, and substance use. Three-hundred and fifty-three undergraduate psychology students responded to the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale–Revised, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Drug, Alcohol, and Nicotine scale. We hypothesized spiritual intelligence would be negatively associated with the study’s mental health outcomes. A secondary aim was to examine the contributions of spiritual intelligence model components to mental health. Overall spiritual intelligence was not associated with anxiety, depression, or substance use. Examination of the relationships between spiritual intelligence components and mental health suggested this model lacks cohesiveness in relation to mental health. While the capacity to critically examine existential issues was associated with increased depression and anxiety, the ability to draw meaning and purpose from experience was associated with improvements in all mental health outcomes. These findings cast doubt on the construct of spiritual intelligence and suggest that existential thinking and the production of meaning may be closely related to mental health. Future research should explore differences in spiritual intelligence components and their associations with mental health among varying religious affiliations.

scholarly journals Breastfeeding during COVID-19: A Narrative Review of the Psychological Impact on Mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Francisca Pacheco ◽  
Mónica Sobral ◽  
Raquel Guiomar ◽  
Alejandro de la Torre-Luque ◽  
Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Breastfeeding Practices ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the normal course of life, with measures to reduce the virus spread impacting motherhood expectations and, in particular, breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to review evidence regarding the impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding plans and how these relate to women’s psychological outcomes. Searches were conducted on PubMed and Web of Science for studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese between January 2020 and January 2021. All study designs and pre-prints were considered. Twelve studies were included. Reports suggest that COVID-19 impacts differently on breastfeeding plans, which in turn leads to distinctive mental health outcomes. Positive breastfeeding experiences have been observed when mothers perceive that they have more time for motherhood, which may be associated with better mental health outcomes. Negative breastfeeding experiences have been observed when mothers are separated from their newborns, when mothers struggle with breastfeeding, or when mothers perceive decreased family and professional support, which seems to be associated with worse mental health outcomes. These preliminary results highlight the need for further research into the association between COVID-19, breastfeeding expectations, and maternal mental health. Filling this gap will foster the development of guidelines and interventions to better support mothers experiencing the obstacles of COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Mental Health Outcomes in Barcelona: The Interplay between Gentrification and Greenspace

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9314
Author(s):  
Montserrat Zayas-Costa ◽  
Helen V. S. Cole ◽  
Isabelle Anguelovski ◽  
James Connolly ◽  
Xavier Bartoll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Effect Modifier ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Health Association ◽  
Mental Health Association

Greenspace is widely related to mental health benefits, but this relationship may vary by social group. Gentrification, as linked to processes of unequal urban development and conflict, potentially impacts health outcomes. This study explores the relationships between greenspace and mental health and between gentrification and mental health associations. It also further examines gentrification as an effect modifier in the greenspace–mental health association and SES as an effect modifier in the gentrification-mental health association. We used cross-sectional Barcelona (Spain) data from 2006, which included perceived mental health status and self-reported depression/anxiety from the Barcelona Health Survey. Greenspace exposure was measured as residential access to (1) all greenspace, (2) greenways and (3) parks in 2006. Census-tract level gentrification was measured using an index including changes in sociodemographic indicators between 1991 and 2006. Logistic regression models revealed that only greenways were associated with better mental health outcomes, with no significant relationship between mental health and parks or all greenspace. Living in gentrifying neighborhoods was protective for depression/anxiety compared to living in non-gentrifying neighborhoods. However, only residents of gentrifiable census tracts benefited from the exposure to greenways. SES was not found to be an effect modifier in the association between gentrification and mental health. Future research should tackle this study’s limitations by incorporating a direct measure of displacement in the gentrification status indicator, accounting for qualitative aspects of greenspace and user’s perceptions. Gentrification may undermine the health benefits provided by greenspace interventions.

A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials Evaluating Interventions Following Non-Marital Relationship Separation

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Kazan ◽  
Alison L. Calear ◽  
Philip J. Batterham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Marital Relationship ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

The effect of a relationship separation on wellbeing is substantial. However, without divorce parameters, individuals in dating or cohabiting relationships may struggle to access support mechanisms. A systematic review was conducted to identify controlled trials of interventions targeting individuals who have experienced a non-marital relationship separation, to supplement the divorce literature. The aim of the review was to assess the impact of these interventions on mental health. Five articles were identified through PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Medline databases. Overall, two of the trials reported a significant improvement in specific mental health outcomes at post-test and/or follow-up. Of the two trials demonstrating efficacy in mental health outcomes, one used a weekly, forgiveness-based group intervention and the other was a writing-based, self-initiated intervention. A lack of trials testing theory-driven interventions for relationship separation is of particular concern. Limitations of the existing literature and corresponding directions for future research are discussed.

Gendered working environments as a determinant of mental health inequalities: a systematic review of 27 studies

2020 ◽  
pp. oemed-2019-106281
Author(s):  
Allison Milner ◽  
Anna Joy Scovelle ◽  
Tania King ◽  
Claudia Marck ◽  
Ashley McAllister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Differential Selection ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background‘Gendered working environments’ describes the ways in which (1) differential selection into work, (2) variations in employment arrangements and working hours, (3) differences in psychosocial exposures and (4) differential selection out of work may produce varied mental health outcomes for men and women. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to understand gender differences in mental health outcomes in relation to the components of gendered working environments.MethodsThe review followed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search approach and focused on studies published in 2008–2018. The protocol for the review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019124066).FindingsAcross the 27 cohort studies included in the review, we found that (1) there was inconclusive evidence on the effect of occupational gender composition on the mental health of men and women, (2) women’s mental health was more likely to be affected by long working hours than men’s; however, precarious employment was more likely to be negatively associated with men’s mental health, (3) exposure to traditional constructs of psychosocial job stressors negatively affected the mental health of both women and men, and (4) unemployment and retirement are associated with poorer mental health in both genders.InterpretationThe findings from this review indicate that gendered working environments may affect the mental health of both men and women, but the association is dependent on the specific exposure examined. There is still much to be understood about gendered working environments, and future research into work and health should be considered with a gender lens.

scholarly journals Mental health outcomes of mothers who conceived using fertility treatment

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolett Raguz ◽  
Sheila W McDonald ◽  
Amy Metcalfe ◽  
Candace O’Quinn ◽  
Suzanne C Tough
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Fertility Treatment

scholarly journals The Impact of Long-Term Physical Activity Interventions for Overweight/Obese Postmenopausal Women on Adiposity Indicators, Physical Capacity, and Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Baker ◽  
Héloïse Sirois-Leclerc ◽  
Heather Tulloch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Physical Capacity ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Physical activity interventions have recently become a popular strategy to help postmenopausal women prevent and manage obesity. The current systematic review evaluates the efficacy of physical activity interventions among overweight and obese postmenopausal women and sheds light on the behavioral change techniques that were employed in order to direct future research.Method. Five electronic databases were searched to identify all prospective RCT studies that examine the impact of physical activity on adiposity indicators, physical capacity, and/or mental health outcomes among healthy, sedentary overweight, and obese postmenopausal women in North America. The behavior change technique taxonomy was used to identify the various strategies applied in the programs.Results. Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The findings showed that adiposity indicators and physical capacity outcomes significantly improved following long-term interventions; however, mental health outcomes showed nonsignificant changes. Furthermore, 17 behavior change techniques were identified with the taxonomy across all trials. The intrapersonal-level techniques were the most common.Conclusion. Physical activity interventions had a positive effect on adiposity measures and physical capacity. Future research should focus on testing the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on mental health and incorporate strategies at the individual and environmental level to maximize the health impact on the population.

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