scholarly journals Longitudinal Effects of Stressful Life Events on Problematic Smartphone Use and the Mediating Roles of Mental Health Problems in Chinese Undergraduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengjia Zhao ◽  
Nani Ding ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
Huihui Xu ◽  
Xinyi Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Smartphone Use

Background and Aims: This three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of stressful life events on problematic smartphone use and the mediating roles of mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) in Chinese undergraduate students.Methods: A total of 197 undergraduate students completed the three-wave surveys. Their severity of stressful life events, mental health problems, and problematic smartphone use were assessed.Results: Regression analyses revealed that stressful life events at T1 was significantly associated with problematic smartphone use at T3. Mediation analyses showed that mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) at T2 fully mediated the association between stressful life events at T1 and problematic smartphone use at T3 (B = 0.042, 0.034, and 0.022, respectively).Conclusions: The present study revealed that stressful life events and mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) are predictors of problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students.

scholarly journals Exposure to family stressful life events in autistic children: Longitudinal associations with mental health and the moderating role of cognitive flexibility

Autism ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 136236132110619
Author(s):  
Virginia Carter Leno ◽  
Nicola Wright ◽  
Andrew Pickles ◽  
Rachael Bedford ◽  
Anat Zaidman-Zait ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Family Level

Mental health problems are prevalent in autistic youth, but the underpinning mechanisms are not well explored. In neurotypical youth, stressful life events are an established risk factor for mental health problems. This study tested longitudinal bidirectional associations between family-level stressful life events and mental health problems and whether these were moderated by cognitive flexibility, in a cohort of autistic children ( N = 247). Family-stressful life events, assessed using the parent-reported Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes, and mental health problems, assessed using the teacher-reported Child Behavior Checklist Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms subscales, were measured at multiple points between 7 and 11 years. Analyses showed no significant pathways from internalizing or externalizing symptoms to family-stressful life events or from family-stressful life events to internalizing or externalizing symptoms. There was some evidence of moderation by cognitive flexibility; the family-stressful life events to internalizing symptoms pathway was non-significant in the group with typical shifting ability but significant in the group with clinically significant shifting problems. Information about family-level stressful life event exposure and cognitive flexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic youth who may be at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Established risk factors for mental health problems in neurotypical populations are relevant for understanding mental health in autistic youth. Lay abstract Experiencing stressful life events, such as a parent having had serious illness, parental divorce, bullying and victimization, is known to increase risk for mental health difficulties in neurotypical children. However, few studies have looked at whether stressful life events have a similar impact in autistic youth and if any individual characteristics may moderate the impact of said life events. In this study, we tested whether in autistic children aged 7–11 years, exposure to family-level stressful life events predicted later mental health symptoms (and vice versa). We also tested whether associations between stressful life events and mental health symptoms differed depending on the child’s level of cognitive flexibility. We found stressful life events only predicted internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) in children with clinically significant difficulties in cognitive flexibility (as rated by their parents). Mental health symptoms did not predict future exposure to stressful life events. Results suggest that information about exposure to stressful life events and cognitive inflexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic children who may be at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms.

Risk factors and life processes associated with the onset of suicidal behaviour during adolescence and early adulthood

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. FERGUSSON ◽  
L. J. WOODWARD ◽  
L. J. HORWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Time Dynamics

Background. This study examined associations between childhood circumstances, adolescent mental health and life events, and the development of suicidal behaviour in young people aged between 15 and 21 years.Method. Data were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children born in New Zealand. The measures collected included: (1) patterns of suicidal behaviour (ideation, attempt) (15–21 years); (2) social background, family functioning, parental and individual adjustment during childhood (0–16 years); and (3) time dynamics of mental health and stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood (15–21 years).Results. By the age of 21 years, 28·8% of the sample reported having thought about killing themselves and 7·5% reported having made a suicide attempt. The childhood profile of those at greatest risk of suicidal behaviour was that of a young person reared in a family environment characterized by socio-economic adversity, marital disruption, poor parent–child attachment and exposure to sexual abuse, and who as a young adolescent showed high rates of neuroticism and novelty seeking. With the exception of the socio-economic and personality measures, the effects of childhood factors were largely mediated by mental health problems and exposure to stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood. Mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, and to some extent conduct disorder, in addition to exposure to adverse life events, were significantly associated with the onset of suicidal behaviours.Conclusions. Findings support a life course model of the aetiology of suicidal behaviour in which risk of developing suicidal behaviour depends on accumulative exposure to a series of social, family, personality and mental health factors.

scholarly journals Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Swedish University Students Before and During Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Johansson ◽  
Pierre Côté ◽  
Sheilah Hogg-Johnson ◽  
Ann Rudman ◽  
Lena W. Holm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has a profound effect on societies and citizens worldwide, raising concerns about potential mental health impacts. We aimed to describe trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before, and determine if trajectories were modified by pre-pandemic loneliness, poor sleep quality and mental health problems. We conducted a cohort study with 1836 Swedish university students entering before the onset of the pandemic, March 13, 2020, with follow-ups within three (FU1) and six months (FU2) of the outbreak. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to estimate mean differences in symptom levels over time-periods, and to estimate potential effect modifications. We found small differences in mean levels of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) over time. Compared to before the pandemic, depression increased by 0.25 points of 21 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.45) at FU1 and decreased by -0.75/21 (95% CI: -0.97 to -0.53) at FU2. Anxiety decreased from baseline to FU1 by -0.09/21 (95% CI: -0.24 to 0.07) and by -0.77/21 (95% CI: -0.93 to -0.61) to FU2. Stress decreased from baseline to FU1 by -0.30/21 (95% CI: -0.52 to -0.09) and by -1.32/21 (95% CI: -1.55 to -1.09) to FU2. Students with pre-pandemic loneliness, poor sleep quality and pre-pandemic mental health problems did not show worse trajectories of mean mental health symptoms. In conclusion, symptom levels were relatively stable during the first three months of the pandemic, while there was a slight decrease during the summer months, probably due to seasonality effects.

scholarly journals Depression, Anxiety and Stress Symptomatology among Swedish University Students Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Johansson ◽  
Pierre Côté ◽  
Sheilah Hogg-Johnson ◽  
Ann Rudman ◽  
Lena W. Holm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Different Populations

Abstract Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on societies, economies, and daily life of citizens worldwide. This has raised important concerns about the mental health of different populations. We aimed to determine if symptom levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were different during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before, with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale as main outcome. We also aimed to determine whether pre-pandemic loneliness, poor sleep quality and mental health problems were associated with worse trajectories of mental health. Methods. We conducted a cohort study with 1658 Swedish university students answering questionnaires before the pandemic and a 81 % response-rate to follow-ups during the pandemic. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to estimate mean levels of symptoms before and during the pandemic, and to estimate effect modification by levels of loneliness, sleep quality and pre-existing mental health problems. Results. We found small differences in symptoms. Mean depression increased by 0.23/21 (95% CI:0.03 to 0.43), mean anxiety decreased by -0.06/21 (95% CI: -0.21 to 0.09) and mean stress decreased by - 0.34/21 (95% CI: -0.56 to -0.12). Loneliness, poor sleep quality and pre-existing mental health problems minimally influenced trajectories. Conclusions. Contrary to widely held concerns, we found minimal changes in mental health among Swedish university students during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association between problematic smartphone use and symptoms of anxiety and depression—a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Augner ◽  
Thomas Vlasak ◽  
Wolfgang Aichhorn ◽  
Alfred Barth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Coping Behavior ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Smartphone Use

Abstract Background Recent research links problematic smartphone use (PSU) and mental health problems. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the relationship between PSU and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Methods We searched for research literature published recently in PubMed and Google Scholar via a systematic literature search. Twenty-seven studies published since 2014 with 120 895 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Results PSU was moderately but robustly associated with both anxiety, r = 0.29 (95% CI: 0.23–0.35), and depression, r = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.22–0.34), P < 0.001 for both. Homogeneity tests showed significant P-values for anxiety and depression, but without affecting the results. Neither the age of the participants, publication year nor the study quality could explain the heterogeneity. Furthermore, we found no evidence for publication bias, since Egger’s regression test showed no significance for depression (P = 0.21) and anxiety (P = 0.35). Conclusions Our study shows that PSU can be viewed as an indicator of symptoms of anxiety and depression and a possible manifestation of these mental health problems in modern society. Furthermore, PSU as a maladaptive coping behavior may contribute by worsening these symptoms. PSU screening should thus become part of standard clinical psychological diagnostic procedures.

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