scholarly journals A High Polyphenol Diet Improves Psychological Well-Being: The Polyphenol Intervention Trial (PPhIT)

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meropi D. Kontogianni ◽  
Aswathy Vijayakumar ◽  
Ciara Rooney ◽  
Rebecca L. Noad ◽  
Katherine M. Appleton ◽  
...  

Mental ill health is currently one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide. A growing body of data has emerged supporting the role of diet, especially polyphenols, which have anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of a high polyphenol diet (HPD) compared to a low polyphenol diet (LPD) on aspects of psychological well-being in the Polyphenol Intervention Trial (PPhIT). Ninety-nine mildly hypertensive participants aged 40–65 years were enrolled in a four-week LPD washout period and then randomised to either an LPD or an HPD for eight weeks. Both at baseline and the end of intervention, participants’ lifestyle and psychological well-being were assessed. The participants in the HPD group reported a decrease in depressive symptoms, as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and an improvement in physical component and mental health component scores as assessed with 36-Item Short Form Survey. No differences in anxiety, stress, self-esteem or body image perception were observed. In summary, the study findings suggest that the adoption of a polyphenol-rich diet could potentially lead to beneficial effects including a reduction in depressive symptoms and improvements in general mental health status and physical health in hypertensive participants.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 251-251
Author(s):  
Kheng Siang Ted Ng ◽  
Shu Cheng Wong ◽  
Glenn Wong ◽  
Ee Heok Kua ◽  
Anis Larbi ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite increasing emphasis on assessing the mental health of older adults, there has been inconclusive evidence on whether depression and psychological well-being (PWB) are fundamentally distinct constructs or representations of the opposite ends of the mental health spectrum. To instantiate either hypothesis, investigation of the associations between mental health scales and biomarkers have been proposed. First, we assessed depressive symptoms and PWB in community-dwelling older adults (N=59, mean age=67) using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Ryff’s Scale of PWB (comprising six sub-scales). We measured a wide range of immune markers employing ELISA and flow cytometry. Subsequently, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to aggregate and derived biomarker factor scores. Lastly, multiple linear regressions were performed to examine the associations between the scales and the derived biomarker factor scores, controlling for covariates. PCA extracted six biomarker factors. Biomarker factor score 1 was significantly associated with PWB (β=-0.029, p=0.035) and the PWB sub-scale, self-acceptance (β=-0.089, p=0.047), while biomarker factor score 4 was significantly associated with the PWB sub-scale, purpose in life (β=-0.087, p=0.025). On the other hand, biomarker factor 6 was significantly associated with SDS (β=-0.070, p=0.008). There were mutually- exclusive associations between the scales with biomarker factor scores, supporting the hypothesis of distinct constructs. Our findings expanded the biomarkers of depression and PWB, deepening understanding of the biological underpinnings of depressive symptoms and PWB. These findings have implications in field work, since researchers could not infer one construct from the other, the examination of both constructs are essential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S944-S945
Author(s):  
Eunbea Kim ◽  
Danielle K Nadorff ◽  
Rachel Scott ◽  
Ian T McKay

Abstract Increased life expectancy and the diversity of family structure have resulted in a substantial rise in the number of families with grandparents as the main caregivers (e.g. custodial grandparents). The structures of these families affect the well-being of all family members. After middle age, psychological well-being is associated with marital relationship quality, and raising one’s grandchildren is a known source of strain to relationships. The current study examined adults aged 40 and older (M age = 57.6 yr, 53% female) using a nationwide sample from MIDUS to assess the extent to which custodial grandparenting status influences marital affectual solidarity, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and perceived stress. Measures included the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Index, Spousal Affectual Solidarity, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Marital affectual solidarity was significantly related to custodial status and psychological well-being, and there were significant differences in marital relationship quality and psychological well-being between custodial grandparents and non-custodial grandparents. However, custodial status failed to moderate the relation between marital affectual solidarity and mental health. Although other factors surrounding custodial grandparents likely affect their marital relationship and mental health, these results suggest that grandparents raising grandchildren are under particular strain in their marriages and are in need of targeted interventions to ameliorate stress and depressive symptoms. These findings will inform the need for more research and supportive educational programs on family relationships and the psychological health of custodial grandparents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágnes Zana ◽  
Adrienne Kegye ◽  
Edit Czeglédi ◽  
Katalin Hegedűs

Abstract Background Voluntary work plays a significant role in hospice care, but international research has mainly been conducted on the mental health and fear of death of paid hospice staff. The aim of the present study was to compare the Hungarian hospice volunteers with paid employees with regard to attitudes and fear of death, as well as mental health in order to see their role in hospice work and their psychological well-being more clearly. Methods The target population of the cross-sectional questionnaire study was hospice care providers in Hungary (N = 1255). The response rate was 15.5% (N = 195); 91.8% (N = 179) of them were women. The mean age of female hospice workers was 45.8 years (SD = 10.46 years, range: 23–73 years). One-quarter (27.9%, N = 50) of the female respondents were volunteers. The instruments were: the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and a shortened versions of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire. Results Volunteers scored significantly lower on 5 dimensions of fear of death than paid employees, and showed significantly lower levels of vital exhaustion and significantly higher levels of psychological well-being than paid employees. Fear of the dying process was associated with an increased perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and vital exhaustion in both groups. Psychological well-being showed a significant negative, moderate correlation with four aspects of fear of death among paid staff; this pattern did not appear in the volunteer group. In addition, the association between fear of premature death and perceived stress, vital exhaustion, and depressive symptoms was more pronounced is case of paid workers. Conclusion Higher levels of psychological well-being and lower levels of fear of death among hospice volunteers suggest that they are less exhausted than paid employees. Increasing the recruitment of volunteers in hospices may help reduce the overload and exhaustion of paid employees.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 1801-1808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Hendriks ◽  
Marjolein A. Veerbeek ◽  
Daniëlle Volker ◽  
Lindsay Veenendaal ◽  
Bernadette M. Willemse

ABSTRACTObjective:General practices play an important role in the detection and treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults. An adapted version of the indicated preventive life review therapy group intervention called Looking for Meaning (LFM) was developed for general practice and a pilot evaluation was conducted.Design:A pretest-posttest design was used. One week before and one week after the intervention participants filled out questionnaires.Setting:In six general practices in the Netherlands the adapted intervention was given.Participants:Inclusion criteria were > 60 years and a score of 5 or higher on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).Intervention:The length and number of LFM sessions were shortened and the intervention was given by one mental health care nurse practitioner (MHCNP).Measurements:The impact on mental health was analyzed by depressive symptoms (CES-D) as the primary outcome and anxiety symptoms (HADS-A), psychological well-being (PGCMS) and mastery (PMS) as secondary outcomes. An evaluative questionnaire was included to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability.Results:Most participants were satisfied with the adaptations of the number (72%) and length (72%) of sessions. The overall sample showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms after the intervention. No impact was found on psychological well-being, anxiety symptoms and mastery.Conclusions:The intervention is feasible and acceptable for older adults with depressive symptoms and has an impact on their depressive symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-439
Author(s):  
Thais Bento Lima da Silva ◽  
Gabriela dos Santos ◽  
Ana Paula Bagli Moreira ◽  
Graciela Akina Ishibashi ◽  
Cássia Elisa Rossetto Verga ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Few recently published studies investigating the benefits of educational and cognitive interventions on quality of life (QoL), psychological well-being, and depressive symptoms are available. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational and cognitive interventions on psychological well-being, QoL, and mood in mature and older adults without dementia and/or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The systematic review took place from September to October 2020 and the following databases were used to select the studies: SciELO, LILACS, PubMed, and Medline. The search terms used were idos* AND “treino cognitivo” AND “bem-estar psicológico” AND “qualidade de vida” and their corresponding translations in English and Spanish. Results: Of the 241 articles retrieved, 26 primary studies were included in the review. Of these, 18 showed improvement in QoL, psychological well-being, or cognition. Conclusions: The studies reported beneficial effects of educational and cognitive interventions for QoL, psychological well-being, and depressive symptoms of mature and older adults without dementia or depression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000711
Author(s):  
Adam Robert Nicholls ◽  
Daniel J Madigan ◽  
Lucas R W Fairs ◽  
Richard Bailey

ObjectiveThis study aimed to measure depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and psychological well-being among a sample of Super League players, the highest tier of professional rugby league in the northern hemisphere.MethodsBetween November 2018 and July 2019, a sample of 233 Super League players completed questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and psychological well-being.ResultsPlayers exhibited normal (85.8%), mild (11.6%) or moderate/severe (2.6%) depressive symptoms. Additionally, players reported normal (67.4%), mild (18.9%) or moderate/severe (13.7%) anxiety symptoms. The mean psychological well-being score across the sample was 25.07 (SD=4.34). 35.2% of players scored below average for this construct.ConclusionThe prevalence of mild depressive symptoms, moderate/severe depressive symptoms and mild anxiety symptoms among Super League players preliminary appear higher than in the general population from the UK. Much more research is needed to understand mental health among elite athletes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Orpana ◽  
Julie Vachon ◽  
Jennifer Dykxhoorn ◽  
Gayatri Jayaraman

Introduction Positive mental health is increasingly recognized as an important focus for public health policies and programs. In Canada, the Mental Health Continuum—Short Form (MHC-SF) was identified as a promising measure to include on population surveys to measure positive mental health. It proposes to measure a three-factor model of positive mental health including emotional, social and psychological well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the MHC-SF is an adequate measure of positive mental health for Canadian adults. Methods We conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)—Mental Health Component (CCHS-MH), and cross-validated the model using data from the CCHS 2011–2012 annual cycle. We examined criterion-related validity through correlations of MHC-SF subscale scores with positively and negatively associated concepts (e.g. life satisfaction and psychological distress, respectively). Results We confirmed the validity of the three-factor model of emotional, social and psychological well-being through CFA on two independent samples, once four correlated errors between items on the social well-being scale were added. We observed significant correlations in the anticipated direction between emotional, psychological and social well-being scores and related concepts. Cronbach’s alpha for both emotional and psychological well-being subscales was 0.82; for social well-being it was 0.77. Conclusion Our study suggests that the MHC-SF measures a three-factor model of positive mental health in the Canadian population. However, caution is warranted when using the social well-being scale, which did not function as well as the other factors, as evidenced by the need to add several correlated error terms to obtain adequate model fit, a higher level of missing data on these questions and weaker correlations with related constructs. Social well-being is important in a comprehensive measure of positive mental health, and further research is recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S302-S302
Author(s):  
Jessica A Noblitt ◽  
Anne Barrett

Abstract Death of a partner – one of the most stressful events many people will ever experience – has profound effects on psychological well-being. However, research on widowhood focuses almost exclusively on heterosexual couples, with little known about these studies’ applicability to the LGBT population. Further, the few studies of partner loss among LGBT individuals are qualitative and many focus on gay men. As a result, little is known about the effects of partner loss in this population as a whole or among other sexual minorities, including lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. Addressing this issue, our study examines the association between partner loss and psychological well-being using data from the 2010 Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS) (n=2,322), the largest nationally representative sample of LGBT middle-aged and older adults. We use OLS regression to examine the association between partner loss and psychological well-being, measured as depressive symptoms, loneliness, and subjective mental health. Results reveal a significant association between partner loss and psychological well-being across all three measures. However, the association is significantly weaker in models controlling for current partner status. In models predicting depressive symptoms and loneliness, partner loss no longer reaches significance, though it remains significant in the model predicting subjective mental health. Results suggest that current partner status more strongly impacts psychological well-being than does partner loss, though further research is needed to identify how, for whom, and under what circumstances the negative effects of partner loss may linger.


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