scholarly journals Increases in Stressors Prior to-Versus During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States Are Associated With Depression Among Middle-Aged Mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany K. Taylor ◽  
Michaela R. Frenzel ◽  
Hallie J. Johnson ◽  
Madelyn P. Willett ◽  
Stuart F. White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
Change Score ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Anxiety And Depression

Working parents in are struggling to balance the demands of their occupation with those of childcare and homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, studies show that women are shouldering more of the burden and reporting greater levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression relative to men. However, research has yet to show that increases in psychological symptoms are linked to changes in stress during the pandemic. Herein, we conduct a small-N study to explore the associations between stress and psychological symptoms during the pandemic among mothers using structural equation modeling, namely latent change score models. Thirty-three mothers completed questionnaires reporting current anxious and depressive symptoms (Beck Anxiety and Depression Index, respectively), as well as stressful life experiences prior to-versus during the pandemic (Social Readjustment Rating Scale). Women endorsed significantly more stressful events during the pandemic, relative to the pre-pandemic period. Additionally, 58% of mothers scored as moderate-to-high risk for developing a stress-related physical illness in the near future because of their pandemic-level stress. Depressive symptoms were associated with the degree of change in life stress, whereas anxiety symptoms were more related to pre-pandemic levels of stress. The present study preliminarily sheds light on the nuanced antecedents to mothers’ experiences of anxious and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although further work is needed in larger, more diverse samples of mothers, this study highlights the potential need for appropriate policies, and prevention and intervention programs to ameliorate the effects of pandemics on mothers’ mental health.

Correlated personality change across time and age

2021 ◽  
pp. 089020702110140
Author(s):  
Gabriel Olaru ◽  
Mathias Allemand
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Change Score ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan

The goal of this study was to examine differential and correlated change in personality across the adult lifespan. Studying differential and correlated change can help understand whether intraindividual trait change trajectories deviate from the norm and how these trajectories are coupled with each other. We used data from two large longitudinal panel studies from the United States that covered a total age range of 20 to 95 years on the first measurement occasion. We used correlated factor models and bivariate latent change score models to examine the rank-order stability and correlations between change across three measurement waves covering 18 years ( N = 3250) and four measurement waves covering 12 years ( N = 4145). We examined the moderation effects of continuous age on these model parameters using local structural equation modeling. The results suggest that the test–retest correlations decrease with increasing time between measurements but are unaffected by participants’ age. We found that change processes in Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were strongly related, particularly in late adulthood. Correlated change patterns were highly stable across time intervals and similar to the initial cross-sectional Big Five correlations. We discuss potential mechanisms and implications for personality development research.

scholarly journals Is Worse Attention a Risk Factor for or a Consequence of Depression, or Are Worse Attention and Depression Better Accounted for by Stress? A Prospective Test of Three Hypotheses

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoise Mac Giollabhui ◽  
Thomas M. Olino ◽  
Johanna Nielsen ◽  
Lyn Y. Abramson ◽  
Lauren B. Alloy
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Childhood Stress ◽  
Attentional Functioning ◽  
First Onset ◽  
Impaired Cognition ◽  
Switching Attention

It is unclear whether impaired cognition is a risk factor for depression or a consequence of depression, or whether both depression and impaired cognition are caused by a third underlying process (e.g., stress). These three hypotheses were tested in 523 adolescents assessed annually for depression, attentional functioning, and childhood/recent life stress. Baseline switching, sustained, and selective attention did not predict first onset of depression or depressive symptoms. Divided attention predicted depressive symptoms only. Piecewise growth modeling indicated that the trajectory of switching attention declined prior to first onset of depression; there was evidence of significant recovery in switching attention following first onset of depression. Structural equation modeling indicated that impaired switching attention prospectively predicted higher depressive symptoms and that higher depressive symptoms predicted worse selective and switching attention. Further, childhood stress prospectively predicted higher depressive symptoms via switching attention and worse switching attention via depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Determinants of Obesity: Results from a Longitudinal Study of Adolescents and Adults Living in an Urban Area

2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith S. Brook ◽  
Jung Yeon Lee ◽  
David W. Brook ◽  
Stephen J. Finch
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Adolescents And Adults

This study examined the relation of cigarette smoking, psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety), physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) separately by sex. The sample consisted of 815 African Americans and Puerto Ricans (324 males, 491 females). The participants were originally 14 years of age, and were followed to 32 years of age, and gave information on smoking, depressive symptoms, anxiety, physical activity, and BMI. Structural equation modeling showed that for males cigarette smoking in mid/late adolescence was related to cigarette smoking in emerging adulthood and early adulthood. Finally, cigarette smoking in early adulthood was negatively related to BMI in adulthood only for male participants. For female participants, cigarette smoking in adolescence was related to psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety) in emerging adulthood and early adulthood. Psychological symptoms in early adulthood predicted less physical activity in adulthood, which in turn, was related to BMI. With one exception, all of the standardized coefficients were statistically significant. Implications for preventive interventions are discussed.

Pathway to Expectations of Child Functioning Following Sexual Abuse: Caregiver Maltreatment History and Depressive Symptoms

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110435
Author(s):  
Akemi E. Mii ◽  
Kelsey McCoy ◽  
Hannah M. Coffey ◽  
Mary Fran Flood ◽  
and David J. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Predominately White ◽  
Biological Mothers ◽  
Outcomes For Children ◽  
Negative Expectations

Caregiver responses and behaviors often play a significant role in a child’s recovery following child sexual abuse (CSA). Caregiver expectations of their child’s postabuse functioning has been associated with child symptoms, such that negative expectations lead to worse outcomes for the child. Additionally, caregivers who experienced maltreatment in their own childhood may face difficulties providing support to their child after CSA. Caregivers’ own psychological symptoms may influence their expectations for their child’s future functioning following CSA. This study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the association between caregivers’ childhood maltreatment histories, their expectations for their child’s future functioning following CSA, and the indirect effect of caregiver depressive symptoms on this relationship. Participants were 354 nonoffending caregivers presenting to treatment with their child following CSA disclosure. Caregivers were 23-72 years old ( M = 38.38, SD = 8.02), predominately white, and predominately biological mothers to the youth who were abused. Results indicated that caregivers who experienced maltreatment in childhood were more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which then lead to more negative expectations of their child’s future functioning. As negative expectations are associated with poorer outcomes for children following CSA, increased attention to caregivers’ depressive symptoms in treatment may promote more positive expectations for their child’s postabuse functioning.

scholarly journals A longitudinal etiologic model for symptoms of anxiety and depression in women

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2035-2045 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
C. O. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Early Environment ◽  
Causal Pathways ◽  
Monitor Treatment Response ◽  
Best Fit

BackgroundDesigned as state measures to monitor treatment response, symptoms of anxiety and depression (SxAnxDep) also have trait-like characteristics. No comprehensive etiologic model for SxAnxDep has illuminated the inter-relationship between their state- and trait-like characteristics, while including key predictor variables.MethodIn a prospective three-wave study of 2395 female twins from the Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (VATSPSUD), we examined, using structural equation modeling, how genes, childhood and past-year environmental stressors, personality and episodes of major depression (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) influence SxAnxDep.ResultsThe best-fit model, which explained 68–74% of the variance in SxAnxDep, revealed two etiologic pathways. Stable levels of SxAnxDep resulted largely from neuroticism, which in turn was influenced by genetic and early environment risk factors. Occasion-specific influences resulted from stressful events mediated through episodes of MD or GAD. These two pathways, which had approximately equal influences on levels of SxAnxDep, were substantially correlated because the genetic, early environmental and personality factors that impacted on stable symptom levels also predisposed to event exposure and disorder onset. No significant interaction was seen between the two pathways.ConclusionsSxAnxDep in women in the general population arise from two inter-related causal pathways. The first, the ‘trait-like’ pathway, reflects genetic and early environmental risk factors, and is mediated largely through personality. The second pathway is mediated through episodes of MD and GAD, and is the result of both recent environmental adversities and trait-like factors that influence event exposure and the probability of disorder onset.

Military Background and Gender Identity in Psychological Assessment Among College Students: Factorial Invariance of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms–62 (CCAPS-62)

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112199876
Author(s):  
Arpita Ghosh ◽  
Christopher R. Niileksela ◽  
Rebecca Janis
Keyword(s):  
Gender Identity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
College Counseling ◽  
Counseling Center ◽  
Factorial Invariance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Military Background ◽  
And Gender

The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial invariance of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms–62 (CCAPS-62) across military background and gender identity. A sample of 2,208 military students and 2,208 nonmilitary students were chosen from a large database of university and college counseling centers. Using exploratory structural equation modeling, findings suggested the CCAPS-62 is mostly invariant across military background and gender identity. Only three item thresholds appeared to be noninvariant across groups. These results suggest comparisons of scores across military background and gender can be made. Latent mean differences across groups were also examined. After controlling for several background variables, there were some differences between males and females on subscales measuring depression, eating concerns, and generalized anxiety, but no differences between military and nonmilitary students. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Family Interaction and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Emerging Adults: A Mediation Model of Gratitude

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110006
Author(s):  
Kelly Ka Lai Lam ◽  
Wei-Wen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Family Interaction ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Healthy Family

In this study, we investigated the relations between family interaction, gratitude, and depressive symptoms among Chinese emerging adults. It also investigated gratitude as a mediator in the relation between family interaction and depression. Data were obtained from 321 college students who completed the online questionnaire about the Family Assessment Instrument, Gratitude Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, and demographic information. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses and bootstrapping with 5,000 resamplings (95% confidence interval) was used to confirm the mediation model. Results showed that gratitude partially mediated the relation between family interaction and depression. In other words, students with healthy family interaction, as indicated by perceived better family communication, mutuality, and harmony with family members, tended to report higher general gratitude, and subsequently diminished depressive symptoms. The practical implications were discussed.

Self-Objectification and Its Psychological Outcomes for College Women

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp ◽  
Renee N. Saris-Baglama
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Restrictive Eating ◽  
Bulimic Symptoms ◽  
Objectification Of Women ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
The Relationship

The objectification of women by our society can become internalized by women, resulting in negative psychological outcomes. Using Fredrickson and Roberts' (1997) objectification theory, we tested a model of the relationships between self-objectification and disordered eating and depressive symptoms in a sample of undergraduate women ( n = 384). One postulate of self-objectification theory is that self-objectification can lead to a lack of internal awareness, which may mediate the relationship between self-objectification and restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. Results of structural equation modeling suggest that self-objectification has a direct relationship to restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. The mediational role of internal awareness was relevant for depressive symptoms but not for restrictive eating or bulimic symptoms. Depressive symptoms did, however, mediate the relationship between self-objectification and bulimic symptoms. The relevance of our findings to the understanding of objectification theory are discussed and future areas of research recommended.

scholarly journals A cascade model connecting life stress to risk behavior among rural African American emerging adults

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene H. Brody ◽  
Yi-Fu Chen ◽  
Steven M. Kogan
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Cascade Model ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Deviant Peers ◽  
Increases In Risk

AbstractA three-wave cascade model linking life stress to increases in risk behavior was tested with 347 African American emerging adults living in the rural South. Data analyses using structural equation modeling and latent growth curve modeling demonstrated that life stress was linked to increases in risk behavior as African Americans transitioned out of secondary school. The cascade model indicated that life stress fostered increases in negative emotions. Negative emotions, in turn, were linked to increases in affiliations with deviant peers and romantic partners; this forecast increases in risk behavior. The findings supported a stress proliferation framework, in which primary stressors affect increases in secondary stressors that carry forward to influence changes in risk behaviors that can potentially compromise mental health.

Socio-Demographic, Clinical Profile, Life Stress Events and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients with First Attempt Suicide

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthik Selvaraj ◽  
◽  
Pranjali Bansal ◽  
Akshay Singh ◽  
Sushma Viswanathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Stress ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Clinical Profile ◽  
Family Type ◽  
P Value ◽  
Suicide Intent ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Severity Of Depression

Background: Contemporary literature focuses on various socio-demographic, clinical profile and psychiatric comorbitidies in patients with first attempt suicide. Aim: 1. To study the socio-demographic factors and the clinical profile of subjects with the first attempt suicide. 2. To assess the severity of depression and severity of stress due to various stressful events in patients with first attempt suicide. 3. To assess the severity of the suicide intent in patients with first attempt suicide. 4. To study the association between socio demographic profile of the patients with severity of depression, severity of suicide intent and severity of stress. Materials and Methods: Hundred fifteen patients were assessed using Hamilton rating scale for depression, becks suicide intent scale, Holmes-Rahe life stress inventory, MINI international neuropsychiatric interview. The data was analysed using the statistical software SPSS version 20. Results: The sample of 115 patients showed mean age to be 29 years, majority of them being males (58%). With most common mode of attempting suicide to be drug overdose and most of the patients had adjustment issues due to various domestic household issues and financial stressors. The severity of depression was mild and suicide intent were low (67%). In our study chi square finding association between various socio demographic variables and severity of depression found to be highly significant. It was strongest among gender at p value 0.009, occupation in which depression was found mostly among employed patients and housewives at p value 0.001. Results also found depression more common among participants with urban background at p value 0.03 and family type being nuclear at p value 0.05. Conclusion: Promoting healthy coping mechanism and reduction in stress is required to reduce self-harm. As is evident from the study, modifying the interpersonal relationship problems in the family might help in preventing many of suicide attempts/intentional self-harm and therefore important to address their various life events that might be stressful for them forcing them to take this step. In a country like India, where formal mental health resources are limited and are attached to a stigma, it is important to provide adequate information also among people hailing from lower economic status.

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