scholarly journals The Role of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics on Mental Health after a Period of Economic Crisis in the Lisbon Region (Portugal): A Multilevel Analysis

Author(s):  
Loureiro ◽  
Santana ◽  
Nunes ◽  
Almendra

Mental health is an intrinsic dimension of health influenced by individual and contextual factors. This cross-sectional study analyzes the association between the individual, neighborhood characteristics, and one’s self-assessed mental health status in the Lisbon region after an economic crisis. Via the application of multilevel regression models, the study assesses the link between one’s neighborhood environment—deprivation, low self-assessed social capital, and low self-assessed satisfaction with the area of residence—and mental health regardless of one’s individual characteristics. Constraints related to the economic crisis play an important role in the explanation of poor mental health.

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Luis Ceballos-Laita ◽  
Teresa Mingo-Gómez ◽  
Sandra García-Lázaro ◽  
Sandra Jiménez-del Barrio

Resumen: Introducción: La información sobre la correcta ergonomía se ha incrementado para disminuir la prevalencia de síntomas lumbares y/o cervicales en la población. Sin embargo, el acondicionamiento y el mobiliario de las instituciones universitarias no se adecuan a las características individuales de los sujetos, lo cual dificulta el proceso. Objetivo: analizar los cambios en la postura, al incorporar un apoyo isquiático en sujetos jóvenes. Material: Estudio transversal comparativo sobre 76 sujetos universitarios voluntarios (24 varones y 52 mujeres, edad media de 20,7; DT ± 2,64). Se registró la postura mediante fotogrametría sagital con un software 2D, en posición de sedestación y en sedestación corregida mediante la colocación de un apoyo isquiático de 5 centímetros de altura. Posteriormente se analizaron los ángulos cráneo-vertebral (CV), cervical superior (CS), cervical inferior (CI), lumbar (AL). Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la posición sedente y la sedente corregida en todos los ángulos analizados (p<0,01). Consiguiendo la disminución de la flexión lumbar y de la posición de cabeza adelantada. Conclusión: La utilización de un apoyo isquiático de 5 centímetros de altura en la posición de sedestación, disminuye la flexión lumbar y la posición de cabeza adelantada en comparación con una sedestación sin apoyo en sujetos jóvenes.Palabras clave: postura, columna, comunicación, ingeniería humana, educación para la salud.Abstract: Introduction: Information about correct ergonomics is increasing in order to avoid cervical and lumbar symptoms. However, the furniture of the colleges does not fit the individual characteristics, which make difficult the process. Objective: Analyse the posture change, when an ischial support is incorporated in young population. Methods: Cross sectional study. 76 volunteers students were included (24 men and 53 women, average age 20,7 SD ± 2,64). Posture was registered with sagittal photogrammetry and analysed by 2D software, in sitting position and corrected sitting position by 5-centimeters-isquial-support. Then, Neck Slope angle (NS), Upper Cervical angle (UP) Lower cervical angle (LC) and lumbar spine angle (LS) were analysed. Results: Statistical differences were found between the sitting position and corrected sitting position in all analysed angles (p<0,01). This means less lumbar flexion and forward head position. Conclusion: A 5-centimeter-isquial-support decrease lumbar flexion and forward head position compared to sitting position without ischial support in young adults.Keywords: posture, spine, communication, human engineering, health education.


Author(s):  
Hari Krishnan R. ◽  
Hanitha Rajasekar ◽  
Suganthi S.

Background: The whole world became still, when a major pandemic COVID-19 started its toll across all developed and developing countries. It has caused both physical and emotional disturbances among all age groups. This study was done to evaluate the parental mental health in COVID-19 as this group is not given much importance. The major mental health problems associated with COVID-19 among parents are due to online classes which has caused depression, anxiety and stress.Methods: A cross-sectional study done among all parents, especially those of whose children are attending online class were included in the study. Convenient sampling was used to select 204 participants, GHQ 12 questionnaire was used for data collection on mental health status among parents.Results: Overall prevalence of parents with better mental health <19 was 108 (52.9%) and prevalence of parents with poor mental health >19 was 96 (47.1%).Conclusions: This study concluded that parental age of 31 to 40 years who are employed and have children studying in primary school to have a poor mental health status. The most important contributing factors for poor parental health were online classes for children and work place stress.


Author(s):  
Zhijun Zou ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Chen Huang ◽  
Chanjuan Sun ◽  
Jialing Zhang

Background: Associations of early antibiotics exposures with childhood asthma, allergies, and airway illnesses are debated. Objectives: We aimed to investigate associations of first-year antibiotics exposure with childhood asthma, allergies, and airway illnesses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among preschoolers in Shanghai, China during 2011–2012. A questionnaire regarding household environment and lifestyles and childhood health outcomes was reported by the child’s parents. Results: In total, 13,335 questionnaires (response rate: 85.3%) were analyzed and 3049 (24.1%) children had first-year antibiotics exposure. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, first-year antibiotics exposure had significant associations with the higher odds of lifetime-ever pneumonia (adjusted OR, 95% CI: 2.15, 1.95–2.37), croup (1.46, 1.24–1.73), wheeze (1.44, 1.30–1.60), asthma (1.38, 1.19–1.61), food allergy (1.29, 1.13–1.46), and allergic rhinitis (1.23, 1.07–1.41), and as well as current (one year before the survey) common cold (≥3 times) (1.38, 1.25–1.52), dry cough (1.27, 1.13–1.42), atopic dermatitis (1.25, 1.09–1.43), wheeze (1.23, 1.10–1.38), and rhinitis symptoms (1.15, 1.04–1.26). These associations were different in children with different individual characteristics (age, sex, family history of atopy, and district) and other early exposures (breastfeeding, home decoration, pet-keeping, and environmental tobacco smoke). Conclusions: Our results indicate that first-year antibiotics exposure could be a strong risk factor for childhood pneumonia, asthma, allergies, and their related symptoms. The individual characteristics and other early exposures may modify effects of early antibiotic exposure on childhood allergies and airway illnesses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Stella Scott ◽  
Catarina Canivet ◽  
Per-Olof Östergren

Abstract Background Social Networking Sites (SNS) are commonly used, especially by young adults. Their impact on mental health is unclear. Moreover, little is known about how social factors, e.g. Perceived Emotional Support (PES), may affect this association. Mental health issues are increasingly burdening the young generation and society as a whole. This study aims to investigate the association between frequency of SNS use and number of SNS contacts with the mental health of a young, Swedish population. Additionally, the potential effect modification of PES will be analysed in regard to these relationships. Method This cross-sectional study applied logistic regression analyses to data on 1341 participants (aged 18–34), retrieved from the Scania Public Health Survey (2016). Analyses were stratified by gender and the GHQ-12 scale assessed poor mental health. A 2-way interaction model was used to test for effect modification by PES regarding the association between SNS use and mental health. Results Increased risk for poor mental health was found in women only. Using SNS almost hourly vs. less often resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.16–2.38). The corresponding figures for having ≥600 contacts vs. ≤599 were (1.89; 1.21–2.97). Having low PES and using SNS almost hourly was associated with an OR of 3.12 (CI = 1.69–5.76; synergy index (SI) = 1.25). Low PES and ≥ 600 contacts resulted in an OR of 6.07 (CI = 1.73–21.33), whereby interaction was detected (SI = 2.88). Conclusion Women, but not men, with frequent SNS use and a high number of SNS contacts were more likely to have poor mental health, which was exacerbated in women with low PES. Facilitating PES could be an approach for improving mental health among young adults. Future studies on the use of SNS should focus more on gender analyses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miwako Nagasu ◽  
Kazutaka Kogi ◽  
Isamu Yamamoto

Abstract Background There is rising public concern over the widening health inequalities in many countries. The aim of this study was to clarify the associations of socioeconomic status (SES)-related variables, such as levels of household disposable income and employment status, and lifestyle factors with mental health conditions among Japanese adults aged 40 to 69. Methods A cross-sectional study of 3085 participants (1527 males and 1558 females) was undertaken by using a self-administered questionnaire that included the Japanese version of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and questions related to socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Results The prevalence of poor mental health conditions, represented by a GHQ-12 score of 4 or more, was 33.4% among males and 40.4% among females. Males whose annual household disposable income was less than 2 million yen had significantly higher GHQ-12 scores than those with an annual household disposable income above 2 million yen. As per binary logistic regression analyses, short sleep duration and the absence of physical exercise were significantly related to poor mental health conditions among both males and females. Among females, a household disposable income of less than 2 million yen could be a risk factor for poor mental health conditions. Age and habitual drinking were inversely associated with poor mental health conditions. Conclusions Low levels of household disposable income and unhealthy lifestyle factors were significantly associated with mental health conditions. These results suggest the importance of improving unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and developing effective health promotion programmes. In addition, there is a need for social security systems for people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233339281985038
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Schreiner ◽  
Keri T. Holmes-Maybank ◽  
Jingwen Zhang ◽  
Justin Marsden ◽  
Patrick D. Mauldin ◽  
...  

Introduction: Primary care referrals to specialty physicians once relied upon the medical skill of the specialist, the quality of past communication, and previous consultative experiences. As health systems vertically integrate, patterns of specialty physician referral designation are not known. Methods: This cross-sectional study from a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) evaluated the proportion of referrals with named specialists. All outpatient specialty referrals from the PCMH between July and December of 2014 were eligible for inclusion, and 410 patients were randomly selected for chart review. The outcome of interest was specialty physician designation. Other variables of interest included PCMH provider experience, the reason for referral, and time to specialty visit. Univariate analysis was performed with Fisher exact tests. Results: Of 410 specialty referrals, 43.7% were made to medical specialties, 41.7% to surgical specialties, and 14.6% to ancillary specialties. Resident physicians placed 224 referrals (54.6%), faculty physicians ordered 155 (37.8%), and advanced practice providers ordered 31 (7.6%). Only 11.2% of the specialty referral orders designated a specific physician. No differences appeared in the reason for referral, the referral destination, the proportion of visits scheduled and attended, or the time to schedule between those referrals with and without specialty physician designation. Faculty physicians identified a specific specialist in 21.4% of referrals compared to residents doing so in 4.9% ( P < .0001). Conclusion: Patient-centered medical home referrals named a specific specialty physician infrequently, suggesting a shift from the historical reliance on the individual characteristics of the specialist in the referral process.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Vives ◽  
Marcelo Amable ◽  
Montserrat Ferrer ◽  
Salvador Moncada ◽  
Clara Llorens ◽  
...  

Background.Evidence on the health-damaging effects of precarious employment is limited by the use of one-dimensional approaches focused on employment instability. This study assesses the association between precarious employment and poor mental health using the multidimensional Employment Precariousness Scale.Methods.Cross-sectional study of 5679 temporary and permanent workers from the population-based Psychosocial Factors Survey was carried out in 2004-2005 in Spain. Poor mental health was defined as SF-36 mental health scores below the 25th percentile of the Spanish reference for each respondent’s sex and age. Prevalence proportion ratios (PPRs) of poor mental health across quintiles of employment precariousness (reference: 1st quintile) were calculated with log-binomial regressions, separately for women and men.Results.Crude PPRs showed a gradient association with poor mental health and remained generally unchanged after adjustments for age, immigrant status, socioeconomic position, and previous unemployment. Fully adjusted PPRs for the 5th quintile were 2.54 (95% CI: 1.95–3.31) for women and 2.23 (95% CI: 1.86–2.68) for men.Conclusion.The study finds a gradient association between employment precariousness and poor mental health, which was somewhat stronger among women, suggesting an interaction with gender-related power asymmetries. Further research is needed to strengthen the epidemiological evidence base and to inform labour market policy-making.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (F) ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Agus Purnama ◽  
Susaldi Susaldi ◽  
Halma Zahro Mukhlida ◽  
Hilma Hasro Maulida ◽  
Nyimas Heny Purwati

Purpose: This study aims to examine the description of mental health characteristics of health students who conducted studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The design of this study is to use a systematic review approach by collecting several articles from a database that has been selected consisting of Springer. , ScienceDirect and ProQuest with articles published in 2020. Search for articles was carried out by entering the keyword "mental health AND student AND COVID-19". The search for this article was limited to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria in this study were health students who were still conducting studies during the COVID-19 pandemic and a cross-sectional study design, while the exclusion criteria were non-health students, only abstracts and books, and letters to the editor. Results: After a search on the selected database, the results are 677 Springer articles, 554 direct articles, and 1348 ProQuest articles. 11 were removed for duplicates, 444 full texts were reviewed and 6 articles matched inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of the 6 articles that were reviewed showed that the majority of health students reported mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, and another emotional status. Where moderate and severe levels of anxiety were experienced by some Health students who carried out education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on psychological conditions, especially on health students who are carrying out their education. Students report poor mental health conditions while carrying out home education by learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Divya Rayamajhi ◽  
Shreejana Wagle ◽  
Arun Karki

Introduction: Mental health and physical health are association with each other’s: poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical condition and it significantly impact on people’s quality of life. The social determinants of health impact on both chronic physical condition and mental health. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence sub-clinical depression and factors associated with depression among the hypertensive out patients’ department ofhospitals in Pokhara.  Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 215 hypertensive patient visiting OPD ward of selected hospitals of Pokhara Metropolitan City. Depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-Ia (BDI) scale. Demographics and risk factors were assessed. Systematic random sampling was conducted for selecting hospitals and proportionate random sampling technique was used to make the sample representative of hospitals. Results: Out of the total 215 hypertensive patients and around fifty-nine percentage were males and the mean age of respondents is 52 +12.04 years. Around one-third of the hypertensive patients had depression. The mean BDI-Ia score for depression status having respondent was 16.88±16.45. Conclusions: This study provides the evidence of depression is associate with hypertensive patient’s socio-demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, employment and income and behavioral factors. Hypertensive patients should be encouraged to increase their physical activities and family support.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Huang ◽  
Yuru Huang ◽  
Sahil Khanna ◽  
Pallavi Dwivedi ◽  
Natalie Slopen ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Social media platforms such as Twitter can serve as a potential data source for public health research to characterize the social neighborhood environment. Few studies have linked Twitter-derived characteristics to individual-level health outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the association between Twitter-derived social neighborhood characteristics, including happiness, food, and physical activity mentions, with individual cardiometabolic outcomes using a nationally representative sample. METHODS We collected a random 1% of the geotagged tweets from April 2015 to March 2016 using Twitter’s Streaming Application Interface (API). Twitter-derived zip code characteristics on happiness, food, and physical activity were merged to individual outcomes from restricted-use National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with residential zip codes. Separate regression analyses were performed for each of the neighborhood characteristics using NHANES 2011-2016 and 2007-2016. RESULTS Individuals living in the zip codes with the two highest tertiles of happy tweets reported BMI of 0.65 (95% CI –1.10 to –0.20) and 0.85 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (95% CI –1.48 to –0.21) lower than those living in zip codes with the lowest frequency of happy tweets. Happy tweets were also associated with a 6%-8% lower prevalence of hypertension. A higher prevalence of healthy food tweets was linked with an 11% (95% CI 2% to 21%) lower prevalence of obesity. Those living in areas with the highest and medium tertiles of physical activity tweets were associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension by 10% (95% CI 4% to 15%) and 8% (95% CI 2% to 14%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Twitter-derived social neighborhood characteristics were associated with individual-level obesity and hypertension in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Twitter data could be used for capturing neighborhood sociocultural influences on chronic conditions and may be used as a platform for chronic outcomes prevention.


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