Lifetime Major Discrimination Experiences Moderate the Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Chronic Conditions among Black Americans

To clarify the ways in which Black Americans’ experiences of structural racism may influence their mental and physical health in distinct ways, the present study evaluated whether major discrimination moderates the association between depressive symptoms and chronic physical health conditions among this population. T-tests and chi-squared tests of significance were used to determine significant differences between women and men. The association between major discrimination and depressive symptoms was examined by assessing mean depressive symptoms scores across levels of major discrimination. ANOVA tests indicated whether there were significant differences in symptom scores across each discrimination category. Additional t-tests determined significant gender differences within each level of discrimination. Gender-stratified negative binomial models were used, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the relationship between depressive symptoms, major discrimination, and chronic conditions. Our findings indicated that the association between depressive symptoms and chronic conditions depends on lifetime experiences of major discrimination among Black Americans and varies significantly between women and men. Considering that major discrimination conditioned the depressive symptom-chronic conditions association among our sample, this provides insight into potential pathways for intervention in efforts to offset the detrimental mental and physical consequences of experiencing racism.

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756 The Moderating Influence of Depression on Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation in a Military Sample

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.753 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A294-A295

Author(s):

Emma Palermo ◽

Jennifer Goldschmied ◽

Elaine Boland ◽

Elizabeth A Klingaman ◽

Philip Gehrman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Research University ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Risk And Resilience ◽

Depression Severity ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Military personnel are at an increased risk for suicide compared to the general population, making it important to develop a deeper understanding of which factors contribute to this elevated risk. Given that suicidal ideation (SI) is one of the strongest predictors of suicide attempts, understanding factors that underlie SI may improve prevention efforts. Insomnia and depression both serve as independent risk factors for SI, and therefore the aim of this study was to examine the extent to which depressive symptoms moderate the association between insomnia and SI. Methods Data were obtained from the All Army Study of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS). Soldiers (n=21,450) completed questions related to suicidal ideation (5 items), depressive symptoms (9 items), and insomnia (5 items) based on symptom presence in the past 30 days. Items in each domain were summed to create a total severity score. GEE models using a negative binomial linking function were conducted to examine the impact of depression, insomnia, and their interaction on SI. Results Both depression (χ2 =117.56, p<0.001) and insomnia (χ2=11.79, p=0.0006) were found to have significant main effects on SI, and there was a significant interaction effect (χ2=4.52, p=0.0335). Follow up simple effects revealed that insomnia was no longer significantly associated with SI when depression severity was low, but was associated with SI in the presence of greater depression severity (χ2=2.91, p=0.0882). Conclusion In a large sample of Army soldiers, depression significantly moderated the association between SI and insomnia, such that insomnia seems to amplify the effects of depression on SI. These findings highlight the importance of addressing insomnia severity as a mean of reducing SI in those with depression, potentially allowing for intervention prior to a suicide attempt. Support (if any) Perlis: K24AG055602 & R01AG041783. This publication is based on public use data from Army STARRS (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan- http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35197-v1), funded by U.S. NIMH-U01MH087981.

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The Impacts of Discrimination and Filial Caregivers’ Age on Aspects of Physical Health

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1159 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 360-360

Author(s):

Barbara Hodgdon ◽

Jen Wong

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

The United States ◽

Life Course Perspective ◽

Late Adulthood ◽

Study Results ◽

The Face ◽

The Impact

Abstract Filial caregivers (e.g., individuals caring for a parent or parent-in-law) are a part of the growing number of family caregivers in midlife and late adulthood. The responsibilities that filial caregivers navigate in midlife and late adulthood may expose them to multiple types of discrimination that may decrease their physical health, though this relationship has been understudied. As numbers of family caregivers grow, it is important to examine the potential vulnerability of younger and older filial caregivers’ physical health in the context of discrimination. Informed by the life course perspective, this study compares the physical health of younger (aged 34-64) and older (aged 64-74) filial caregivers who experience discrimination. Filial caregivers (N=270; Mage=53; SD=9.37) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS-II) Survey reported on demographics, family caregiving, daily discrimination, self-rated physical health, and chronic conditions via questionnaires and phone interviews. Regression analyses showed no differences between younger and older adults’ self-rated physical health or average chronic conditions. However, moderation analyses revealed that younger filial caregivers who experienced greater discrimination reported poorer self-rated physical health than their older counter parts as well as younger and older filial caregivers who experienced less discrimination. Additionally, younger caregivers with greater discrimination exposure exhibited more number of chronic conditions as compared to other caregivers. The study results highlight the impact of the intersection between filial caregivers’ age and discrimination on physical health. Findings have the potential to inform programs that could promote the health of filial caregivers in the face of discrimination.

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Assessing the Relationship Between Physical Health and Inmate Misconduct

Criminal Justice and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0093854818775467 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (10) ◽

pp. 1527-1546 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jessica M. Grosholz ◽

Daniel C. Semenza

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Physical Disability ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Correctional Facilities ◽

Program Participation ◽

Justice Statistics ◽

Inmate Misconduct ◽

General Strain ◽

Using Data ◽

The Relationship

Research reveals inmate misconduct results from various factors including age, gang membership, program participation, and mental illness. However, no research has examined the influence of physical illness on misconduct. Per general strain theory, we argue that poor physical health is a significant strain that may negatively affect behavior. Using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (SISCF), we investigate how acute illnesses, chronic conditions, and physical disabilities influence misconduct. Results suggest acute conditions increase the likelihood of general, serious, and nonserious misconduct in prison. Conversely, chronic ailments decrease the likelihood of all types of misconduct. We find moderate effects for physical disability. Experiencing acute health conditions while incarcerated significantly increases the likelihood of misconduct, suggesting that by appropriately addressing inmates’ acute ailments, it may be possible to concurrently improve inmate health and decrease misconduct to enhance the lives of those in prison.

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Shame Mediates the Relationship Between Pain Invalidation and Depression

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.743584 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Brandon L. Boring ◽

Kaitlyn T. Walsh ◽

Namrata Nanavaty ◽

Vani A. Mathur

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Withdrawal ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Internalized Shame ◽

Self Worth ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The experience of pain is subjective, yet many people have their pain invalidated or not believed. Pain invalidation is associated with poor mental health, including depression and lower well-being. Qualitative investigations of invalidating experiences identify themes of depression, but also social withdrawal, self-criticism, and lower self-worth, all of which are core components of shame. Despite this, no studies have quantitatively assessed the interrelationship between pain invalidation, shame, and depression. To explore this relationship, participants recounted the frequency of experienced pain invalidation from family, friends, and medical professionals, as well as their feelings of internalized shame and depressive symptoms. As shame has been shown to be a precursor for depression, we further explored the role of shame as a mediator between pain invalidation and depressive symptoms. All sources of pain invalidation were positively associated with shame and depressive symptoms, and shame fully mediated the relationship between each source of pain invalidation and depression. Relative to other sources, pain invalidation from family was most closely tied to shame and depression. Overall, findings indicate that one mechanism by which pain invalidation may facilitate depression is via the experience of shame. Future research may explore shame as a potential upstream precursor to depression in the context of pain. Findings provide more insight into the harmful influence of pain invalidation on mental health and highlight the impact of interpersonal treatment on the experiences of people in pain.

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Neighborhood Effects on the Health of Chinese Older Adults: Beyond the Rural and Urban Dichotomy

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa081 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yuekang Li ◽

Yi Wang ◽

Nancy Morrow-Howell

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Health ◽

Neighborhood Effects ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Moderating Effects ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Individual Level ◽

The Relationship ◽

Neighborhood Level

Abstract Background and Objectives The associations between physical frailty and depressive symptoms among older individuals were established in the existing literature. Taking the person–environment perspective, we argue that neighborhood environment could either buffer the stress derived from being physically vulnerable or worsen it by adding another layer of stressors in the environmental context when physical health declined. The objectives of this study were to explore to what extent the neighborhood-level characteristics moderate the relationship between physical frailty and depressive symptoms. Research Design and Methods Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 wave, 6,245 individuals aged 60 years and older were included for analyses. Multilevel mixed-effects models were fitted to examine the moderating effects of urbanicity and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) on the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms among older adults, controlling for individual-level characteristics. Results Results showed a stronger relationship between deterioration in physical health and depressive symptoms in rural neighborhoods and neighborhoods with lower SES, after controlling for individual-level SES. Also, the moderating effects of the neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors remained after controlling for urbanicity, indicating that neighborhood SES works beyond the rural–urban contexts. Discussion and Implications Findings from this study demonstrate the important roles of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics in reshaping, and the need to redefine, China’s rural–urban dichotomy. The findings also identified neighborhoods with low SES as potential targets for policy and practice to reduce the stress associated with health decline.

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Understanding the relationship between depression and diabetic foot ulcers

Journal of Social Health and Diabetes ◽

10.4103/2321-0656.164792 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 04 (01) ◽

pp. 017-024 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrew Steel ◽

John Reece ◽

Anne-Marie Daw

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Diabetic Foot ◽

Foot Ulcers ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Diabetic Foot Ulcers ◽

Biological Relationship ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact ◽

Concept Review ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThe prevalence of diabetes is increasing, as is the cost of managing its comorbidities. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and their complications place a considerable cost burden on the health system, and lead to a significant level of disability. The relationship between depression and diabetes is well-established. The relationship between depression and foot ulcers in diabetic patients is less well-established. The purpose of this article is to provide a current concept review of the literature from 1988 to 2013, linking DFUs and depressive symptoms, with an emphasis on the impact depressive symptoms have on healing rates of DFUs. Articles specifically focusing on the biological relationship, depression′s impact on self-care, screening for depressive symptoms, causes and cost of treating DFUs, and measuring depression were reviewed. A deeper understanding of this relationship is needed to identify causal relationships, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce healing times of DFUs.

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Modelling patterns of parasite aggregation in natural populations: trichostrongylid nematode–ruminant interactions as a case study

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000075867 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 111 (S1) ◽

pp. S135-S151 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

B. T. Grenfell ◽

K. Wilson ◽

V. S. Isham ◽

H. E. G. Boyd ◽

K. Dietz

Keyword(s):

Population Biology ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Host Immunity ◽

Moment Closure ◽

The Mean ◽

Parasite Aggregation ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

SUMMARYThe characteristically aggregated frequency distribution of macroparasites in their hosts is a key feature of host–parasite population biology. We begin with a brief review of the theoretical literature concerning parasite aggregation. Though this work has illustrated much about both the sources and impact of parasite aggregation, there is still no definitive analysis of both these aspects. We then go on to illustrate the use of one approach to this problem – the construction of Moment Closure Equations (MCEs), which can be used to represent both the mean and second moments (variances and covariances) of the distribution of different parasite stages and phenomenological measures of host immunity. We apply these models to one of the best documented interactions involving free-living animal hosts – the interaction between trichostrongylid nematodes and ruminants. The analysis compares patterns of variability in experimental infections of Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep with the equivalent wildlife situation – the epidemiology of T. circumcincta in a feral population of Soay sheep on St Kilda, Outer Hebrides. We focus on the relationship between mean parasite load and aggregation (inversely measured by the negative binomial parameter, k) for cohorts of hosts. The analysis and empirical data indicate that k tracks the increase and subsequent decline in the mean burden with host age. We discuss this result in terms of the degree of heterogeneity in the impact of host immunity or parasite-induced mortality required to shorten the tail of the parasite distribution (and therefore increase k) in older animals. The model is also used to analyse the relationship between estimated worm and egg counts (since only the latter are often available for wildlife hosts). Finally, we use these results to review directions for future work on the nature and impact of parasite aggregation.

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Examining the Impact of Body Satisfaction and Physical Activity Change on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2019-0340 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 141-148

Author(s):

Rebecca A. Schlaff ◽

Meghan Baruth ◽

Faith C. LaFramboise ◽

Samantha J. Deere

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Body Satisfaction ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Time Points ◽

Physical Activity Change ◽

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms ◽

Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Background: Relationships among moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), body satisfaction, and postpartum depressive symptoms are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to examine the (1) impact of postpartum body satisfaction and changes in MVPA on postpartum depressive symptoms and (2) moderating effect of changes in MVPA over time on the relationship between postpartum body satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Methods: Participants (N = 269) self-reported body satisfaction, MVPA (prepregnancy through postpartum), and postpartum depressive symptoms. Differences in MVPA at 3 time points (prepregnancy, third trimester, and postpartum) were calculated to create change scores. Main effects and interactions (body satisfaction × MVPA change) were examined using multiple regression. Results: A majority of the sample did not meet MVPA recommendations at all time points. All body satisfaction measures were inversely related to postpartum depressive symptoms (P = .01 to <.001). MVPA change did not predict postpartum depressive symptoms (P = .43–.90) or moderate the relationship between body satisfaction and postpartum depressive symptoms (P = .14–.94). Conclusions: Given the relationship between postpartum body satisfaction and depressive symptoms, intervention research should include strategies that promote positive postpartum body image; clinicians should consider screening for body dissatisfaction. Although not a predictor or moderator, pregnancy and postpartum MVPA promotion should continue, as it has numerous other benefits.

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SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN MEXICO: IMPLICATIONS OF GENDER AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.787 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S215-S215

Author(s):

Maria Monserud

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Physical Health ◽

Later Life ◽

Older Men ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Social Activities ◽

The Impact

Abstract Studies in developed countries indicate that social activities can make a difference in mental health in later life. Yet, research on potential benefits of social activities for older adults in developing countries, including Mexico, has been scarce. This study uses the two most recent waves (2012, 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study to investigate the impact of social activities on depressive symptoms among older men (n = 4, 749) and women (n = 6,527), aged 50+, in Mexico. The results of Ordinary Least Squares regressions indicate that it is important to differentiate among specific social activities in later life. Particularly, not only group-based but also solitary social activities were predictive of better mental health. Moreover, the findings demonstrate several gender differences and similarities. Participation in clubs, communication with relatives and friends, physical exercise, and watching television were beneficial for mental health among men, whereas volunteering, playing games, and making crafts were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women. At the same time, reading as well as doing household chores were related to better mental health among older Mexicans, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this study shows that self-reported health, functional limitations, chronic conditions, and frequent pain might shape the implications of social activities for depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico. The insights from this study can be helpful for intervention programs that are being developed to promote benefits of group-based and solitary social activities for mental health among older men and women with different levels of physical health.

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Setting-Specific and Symptom-Specific Association between Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Depressive Symptoms

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16071249 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. 1249

Author(s):

Xiaohua Ye ◽

Jingya Huang ◽

Liang Xia ◽

Xiaojun Xu ◽

Xiao Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Dose Response ◽

Secondhand Smoke ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Negative Binomial Regression ◽

Response Relationship ◽

Dose Response Relationship ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shs Exposure ◽

The Impact

Few studies have focused on the potential relationship between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to explore the potential association between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms and differentiate this association in setting-specific exposure and symptom-specific outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangdong province of China from September to December 2010 using a multistage sampling method to randomly sample adults aged 18 years and older. SHS exposure was defined as inhalation by non-smokers of the smoke exhaled from smokers for at least 1 day a week in the past 30 days. Depressive symptoms were measured using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The zero-inflate negative binomial regression models were used to explore the associations between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms. A total of 2771 non-smokers were included in this study, with mean age of 49.6 ± 14.0 years and 70.3% of females. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in participants with SHS exposure than in those without exposure (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–1.51), and there were similar positive associations for SHS exposure in medical facilities (IRR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.17–1.61) and in schools (IRR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.20–1.77). Notably, there was a monotonically increasing dose-response relationship between frequency of SHS exposure and depressive symptoms. When differentiating this relationship by the dimensions of depressive symptoms, there were similar dose-response relationships for cognitive-affective and somatic symptoms. When differentiating this relationship by sex, only females showed a significant dose-response relationship. Our findings suggest dose-response relationships between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms in sex-specific and symptom-specific manners. Future longitudinal studies are needed to establish the biological mechanisms of the impact of SHS exposure.

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