scholarly journals Citizen Consultation on Problematic Usage of the Internet: Ethical Considerations and Empirical Insights From Six Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biljana Gjoneska ◽  
Julia Jones ◽  
Anna Maria Vella ◽  
Philip Bonanno ◽  
Katerina Flora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Citizen Involvement ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Mental Health Concern ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
International Strategies

Citizens and scientists can work together to improve the collective well-being, if citizens are inspired to help the advancement of science, and researchers motivated to listen to the voices of citizens. The benefits of such collaboration are increasingly recognized by both citizens and scientists, as reflected in the growing number of related publications and initiatives. This is especially relevant for emerging areas of research, where early involvement of citizens could help to envision, prioritize, and plan prospective studies. The Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) is one such area, which is fast becoming a public mental health concern. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the practical guidelines and ethical requirements for citizen involvement at the earliest stages of PUI. In our paper, we propose a conceptual framework and a template for initial involvement of citizens in PUI. They are derived from our community case studies, conducted in six European countries (Georgia, Greece, Malta, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Spain) and consisting of consultation with diverse groups of interested citizens (students, parents, teachers, and health professionals). Informed by our consultation exercises, we also highlight four ethical aspects for citizen involvement in the research on PUI or novel disciplines in general. They follow simple guiding principles to ensure that scientists will: enable a long-term commitment and inclusive opportunities for citizens, challenge established power hierarchies, and support collaboration, co-production and co-authorship with citizens. We believe that the proposed practical guidelines and ethical considerations, provide a valuable foundation on which to advance our understanding and generate international strategies for citizen involvement in PUI.

An Assessment of Existential Worldview Function among Young Women at Risk for Depression and Anxiety—A Multi-Method Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-203
Author(s):  
Christina Sophia Lloyd ◽  
Britt af Klinteberg ◽  
Valerie DeMarinis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Ontological Security ◽  
Outpatient Psychotherapy ◽  
Mental Health Concern ◽  
Risk For Depression

Increasing rates of psychiatric problems like depression and anxiety among Swedish youth, predominantly among females, are considered a serious public mental health concern. Multiple studies confirm that psychological as well as existential vulnerability manifest in different ways for youths in Sweden. This multi-method study aimed at assessing existential worldview function by three factors: 1) existential worldview, 2) ontological security, and 3) self-concept, attempting to identify possible protective and risk factors for mental ill-health among female youths at risk for depression and anxiety. The sample comprised ten females on the waiting list at an outpatient psychotherapy clinic for teens and young adults. Results indicated that both functional and dysfunctional factors related to mental health were present, where the quality and availability of significant interpersonal relations seemed to have an important influence. Examples of both an impaired worldview function and a lack of an operating existential worldview were found. Psychotherapeutic implications are discussed.

scholarly journals COVID ageism as a public mental health concern

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. e12
Author(s):  
Eva-Marie Kessler ◽  
Catherine E Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mental Health Concern

scholarly journals Health Effects of Late-Career Unemployment

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 106-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maren Wright Voss ◽  
Lori L. Wadsworth ◽  
Wendy Birmingham ◽  
M. Beth Merryman ◽  
Lisa Crabtree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Concern ◽  
Involuntary Retirement ◽  
Retirement Timing ◽  
Method Analysis

Objective: Job loss has a demonstrated negative impact on physical and mental health. Involuntary retirement has also been linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes. This study examined whether late-career unemployment is related to involuntary retirement and health declines postretirement. Method: Analysis was conducted using the 2000-2012 U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) survey data with unemployment months regressed with demographic and baseline health measures on physical and mental health. Results: Individuals with late-career unemployment reported more involuntary retirement timing (47.0%) compared with those reporting no unemployment (27.9%). Late-career unemployment had no significant effect on self-reported physical health (β = .003, p = .84), but was significantly associated with lower levels of mental health (β = .039; p < .01). Conclusion: Self-reports of late-career unemployment are not associated with physical health in retirement, but unemployment is associated with involuntary retirement timing and mental health declines in retirement. Unemployment late in the working career should be addressed as a public mental health concern.

scholarly journals Gendered Manifestations of Depression and Help Seeking Among Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrod B. Call ◽  
Kevin Shafer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Mental Health Concern ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Using Data

Men who do not seek help for mental health problems may experience unnecessary suffering which ultimately affects the well-being of themselves and others. Gendered manifestations of depressive symptoms may play an important role in why some men do not seek help for mental health issues. Using data from 2,382 male respondents in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, the authors examined the relationship that both traditional and male-typical symptoms of depression had on the help-seeking behaviors of men. Traditional symptoms increased the odds of seeking help for depression for all men. Male-typical symptoms, however, did not increase the odds of seeking help for depression or another mental health concern. Both traditional and male-typical symptoms increased the odds of initially seeking help from a medical provider, and men with male-typical symptoms had an overall higher likelihood of seeking help from a medical provider. Consequently, it is important that medical professionals assess for depression even when it is not a presenting concern.

scholarly journals Psychopathological Symptoms and Loneliness in Adult Internet Users: A Contemporary Public Health Concern

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 856
Author(s):  
Ângela Leite ◽  
Ana Ramires ◽  
Susana Amorim ◽  
Hélder Fernando Pedrosa e Sousa ◽  
Diogo Guedes Vidal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Psychopathological Symptoms ◽  
Internet Users

There are different concepts that translate abusive Internet use. Almost all these concepts converge on excessive time spent online, which can trigger the emergence of problematic situations. Most of the studies reported in the literature, both nationally and internationally, focused on a young population and found negative consequences of this Internet misuse. The objective of this study consists of associating the time spent using the Internet—in years, times per week, and hours per day—with psychopathological symptoms, as well as assessing the perception of loneliness, in an adult Portuguese population. A quantitative approach, based on a survey application, was conducted in a convenience sample composed by 418 participants (64.4% female), with a mean age of 29.9 years old (SD = 9.26), ranging from 18 to 73 years. The results suggest that maladaptive patterns of Internet use found in young people seem to be replicated in the adult population. A relationship between time spent on the Internet and psychopathological symptoms, and an association between loneliness and the number of hours spent on the Internet, were also identified. In an individualized and disconnected offline world, Internet impact in individuals’ well-being results must be highlighted, since it should be understood as a public health issue. The novelty of this study lies in the target population: Portuguese Internet users over 18 years of age, for which there is no specific study on the subject, thus emphasizing the transverse nature of the problem.

Review of Constipation Treatment Methods with Emphasis on Laxative Foods

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Shamsi Abbasalizadeh ◽  
Behzad Ebrahimi ◽  
Aslan Azizi ◽  
Rogaye Dargahi ◽  
Maryam Tayebali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Flax Seed ◽  
Lifestyle Modifications ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Daily Exercise

Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life affecting the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, and flax-seed in constipation treatment. We searched Scopus, Pub Med, and Science Direct by using the keywords, “laxative foods” and “constipation”, for searching studies assessing laxative food ingredients and their beneficial effects on constipation treatment and/or control. Lifestyle modifications such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and daily exercise are the proposed first line treatments for constipation. Optimizing ‘diet’ as an efficient lifestyle factor may contribute to the well-being of patients. The use of laxative food ingredients including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flax-seed, probiotics, and prebiotics is a convenient alternative to cope with constipation. According to previous findings, laxative food ingredients could be considered as effective treatments for subjects suffering from constipation. Many studies have assessed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological roles of these ingredients in treating constipation, however, their importance has not been thoroughly investigated.

Revolutionizing Mental Health with Social Media

2019 ◽  
pp. 259-284
Author(s):  
Munmun De Choudhury
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Linguistic Expression ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
Tailored Interventions ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms have emerged as rich repositories of information relating to people’s activities, emotions, and linguistic expression. This chapter highlights how these data may be harnessed to reason about human mental and psychological well-being. It also discusses the emergent role of social media in providing a platform of self-disclosure and support to distressed and vulnerable communities. It reflects on how this new line of research bears potential for informing the design of timely and tailored interventions, provisions for improved personal and societal well-being assessment, privacy and ethical considerations, and the challenges and opportunities of the increasing ubiquity of social media.

scholarly journals Genome-wide gene expression changes in postpartum depression point towards an altered immune landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya Mehta ◽  
Karen Grewen ◽  
Brenda Pearson ◽  
Shivangi Wani ◽  
Leanne Wallace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Genome Wide Gene Expression

AbstractMaternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern due to the severe negative impact on maternal and child health and well-being. In this study, we aimed to identify genes associated with PPD. To do this, we investigated genome-wide gene expression profiles of pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy and tested the association of gene expression with perinatal depressive symptoms. A total of 137 women from a cohort from the University of North Carolina, USA were assessed. The main phenotypes analysed were Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores at 2 months postpartum and PPD (binary yes/no) based on an EPDS cutoff of 10. Illumina NextSeq500/550 transcriptomic sequencing from whole blood was analysed using the edgeR package. We identified 71 genes significantly associated with postpartum depression scores at 2 months, after correction for multiple testing at 5% FDR. These included several interesting candidates including TNFRSF17, previously reported to be significantly upregulated in women with PPD and MMP8, a matrix metalloproteinase gene, associated with depression in a genome-wide association study. Functional annotation of differentially expressed genes revealed an enrichment of immune response-related biological processes. Additional analysis of genes associated with changes in depressive symptoms from recruitment to 2 months postpartum identified 66 genes significant at an FDR of 5%. Of these genes, 33 genes were also associated with depressive symptoms at 2 months postpartum. Comparing the results with previous studies, we observed that 15.4% of genes associated with PPD in this study overlapped with 700 core maternal genes that showed significant gene expression changes across multiple brain regions (P = 7.9e-05) and 29–53% of the genes were also associated with estradiol changes in a pharmacological model of depression (P values range = 1.2e-4–2.1e-14). In conclusion, we identified novel genes and validated genes previously associated with oestrogen sensitivity in PPD. These results point towards the role of an altered immune transcriptomic landscape as a vulnerability factor for PPD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document