Discrimination, Mental Health, and Suicidal Ideation among Sexual Minority Adults in Latin America: Considering the Roles of Social Support and Religiosity

Despite the high rates of discrimination and mental health issues experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults at an international level, very little research has focused on this population in Latin America. As a result, the purpose of this study was to explore relationships among discrimination experiences, mental health (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms), suicidal ideation, religiosity, and social support in LGBT adults in Latin America. A sample of 99 participants from the region completed an online survey assessing these constructs. Results suggested that 51.5% of the sample reported lifetime suicidal ideation. Experiences with harassment/rejection-type discrimination predicted suicidal ideation, while work/school-type discrimination predicted mental health problems (anxiety and depression). Depressive symptoms predicted suicidal ideation, while anxiety symptoms alone did not. Further, depressive symptoms mediated relationships between work/school discrimination and suicidal ideation, as well as between harassment/rejection discrimination and suicidal ideation. Moderated mediation analyses suggested that high, but not low or moderate levels of social support and religiosity buffered LGBT adults in Latin America against discrimination, specifically by weakening links among discrimination, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Clinical intervention research with LGBT adults in Latin America should focus on increasing social support networks for this population and on helping LGBT adults reconcile conflicts between religious identities and sexual or gender minority identities, as healthy religiosity may serve as a protective factor against mental health problems generally, and suicidal ideation specifically.

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Mental health problems and correlates among 746 217 college students during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s2045796020000931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

Author(s):

Z. Ma ◽

J. Zhao ◽

Y. Li ◽

D. Chen ◽

T. Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Health Problems ◽

Senior Year ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major public health concern all over the world. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population. This study aimed to assess the mental health problems and associated factors among a large sample of college students during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods This cross-sectional and nation-wide survey of college students was conducted in China from 3 to 10 February 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess psychosocial factors, COVID-19 epidemic related factors and mental health problems. Acute stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured by the Chinese versions of the impact of event scale-6, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. Univariate and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors associated with mental health problems. Results Among 821 218 students who participated in the survey, 746 217 (90.9%) were included for the analysis. In total, 414 604 (55.6%) of the students were female. About 45% of the participants had mental health problems. The prevalence rates of probable acute stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms were 34.9%, 21.1% and 11.0%, respectively. COVID-19 epidemic factors that were associated with increased risk of mental health problems were having relatives or friends being infected (adjusted odds ratio = 1.72–2.33). Students with exposure to media coverage of the COVID-19 ≥3 h/day were 2.13 times more likely than students with media exposure <1 h/day to have acute stress symptoms. Individuals with low perceived social support were 4.84–5.98 times more likely than individuals with high perceived social support to have anxiety and depressive symptoms. In addition, senior year and prior mental health problems were also significantly associated with anxiety or/and depressive symptoms. Conclusions In this large-scale survey of college students in China, acute stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple epidemic and psychosocial factors, such as family members being infected, massive media exposure, low social support, senior year and prior mental health problems were associated with increased risk of mental health problems. Psychosocial support and mental health services should be provided to those students at risk.

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Risk and Protective Factors for Poorer Overall Health, Increased Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Ideation Due to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the General Japanese Population

10.21926/obm.icm.2101008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kanto Araki ◽

Keita Kiuchi ◽

Katsumasa Kishi ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Japanese Population ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

General Japanese Population ◽

The Future

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is expected to have harmed the mental health of numerous people worldwide. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on the overall health of the general Japanese population, with a particular focus on identifying the factors associated with a requirement for mental health treatment. Japanese residents aged 18 years and above were surveyed online, and among the 1,500 obtained responses included for analysis, 14% reported severe psychological distress, and 8.9% indicated high suicidal ideation. A multiple regression analysis of the collected data revealed that “insufficient exercise” could significantly predict physical health (β = -0.23, SE = 0.03), while the life event stressors that could significantly predict mental health were the personality trait “neuroticism” (β = -0.16, SE = 0.03), and the life stressors of “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = -0.22, SE = 0.03) and “uncertainty regarding the future” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.03). The personality traits of “agreeableness” (β = -0.08, SE = 0.02) and “neuroticism” (β = 0.22, SE = 0.02), and the factors “social support” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.02), “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = 0.21, SE = 0.02), “uncertainty regarding the future” (β = 0.14, SE = 0.02), and “declining duration and quality of sleep” (β = 0.10, SE = 0.02) could predict psychological distress. Suicidal ideation was predicted by “neuroticism” (β = 0.11, SE = 0.03), “social support” (β = -0.27, SE = 0.03), and “having a psychiatric disorder” (β = 0.18, SE = 0.03). The results of the present study suggest that due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, much of the Japanese population could be in requirement of psychiatric care. In particular, the individuals who rated high for the risk factors and low for the protective factors might require proactive support.

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Emerging Adults’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Longitudinal Study on the Importance of Social Support

Emerging Adulthood ◽

10.1177/21676968211039979 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 216769682110399

Author(s):

Yvonne H. M. van den Berg ◽

William J. Burk ◽

Antonius H. N. Cillessen ◽

Karin Roelofs

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Best Friends ◽

General Psychological Distress

The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate emerging adults’ mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether social support from mothers, fathers, and best friends moderated the change in mental health. Participants were 98 emerging adults (46% men) who were assessed prior to COVID-19 ( Mage = 20.60 years) and during the first lockdown ( Mage = 22.67 years). Results indicated that the pandemic did not uniformly lead to elevated levels of mental health problems, but instead depended on level of mental health problems prior to COVID-19 and the source of support. For emerging adults who already experienced more problems prior to COVID-19, more maternal support was related to decreases in general psychological distress and depressive symptoms, whereas more paternal support was related to increases in general psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Support from best friends were not associated with (changes in) mental health.

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Preventing postnatal depression: a causal mediation analysis of a 20-year preconception cohort

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2020.0028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 376 (1827) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Spry ◽

Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽

Melissa Middleton ◽

Louise M. Howard ◽

Stephanie J. Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mediation Analysis ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Health Problems ◽

Antenatal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Causal Mediation Analysis

Postnatal depression (PND) is common and predicts a range of adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. PND rates are highest among women with persistent mental health problems before pregnancy, and antenatal healthcare provides ideal opportunity to intervene. We examined antenatal perceived social support as a potential intervention target in preventing PND symptoms among women with prior mental health problems. A total of 398 Australian women (600 pregnancies) were assessed repeatedly for mental health problems before pregnancy (ages 14–29 years, 1992–2006), and again during pregnancy, two months postpartum and one year postpartum (2006–2014). Causal mediation analysis found that intervention on perceived antenatal social support has the potential to reduce rates of PND symptoms by up to 3% (from 15 to 12%) in women with persistent preconception symptoms. Supplementary analyses found that the role of low antenatal social support was independent of concurrent antenatal depressive symptoms. Combined, these two factors mediated up to more than half of the association between preconception mental health problems and PND symptoms. Trialling dual interventions on antenatal depressive symptoms and perceived social support represents one promising strategy to prevent PND in women with persistent preconception symptoms. Interventions promoting mental health before pregnancy may yield an even greater reduction in PND symptoms by disrupting a developmental cascade of risks via these and other pathways. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Multidisciplinary perspectives on social support and maternal–child health’.

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Risk and Protective Factors Related to Poorer Overall Health, Increased Psychological Distress and Suicidal Ideation in the General Japanese Population Due to SARS-CoV-2

10.31226/osf.io/xf2ez ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kanto Araki ◽

Keita Kiuchi ◽

Katsumasa Kishi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

The Future ◽

Japanese Residents

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks will likely threaten mental health globally. This study aimed to explore outbreaks’ effects on the general Japanese population’s overall health, focusing on identifying factors related to needing mental health treatment. Japanese residents aged 18 and older were surveyed online. Of the 1,500 responses included for analysis, 14% reported severe psychological distress and 8.9% rated high for suicidal ideation. A multiple regression analysis showed that “insufficient exercise” significantly predicted physical health (β = -0.23, SE = 0.03). The “neuroticism” personality trait (β = -0.16, SE = 0.03), the “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = -0.22, SE = 0.03), and “uncertainty about the future” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.03) life event stressors significantly predicted mental health. The personality traits of “agreeableness” (β = -0.08, SE = 0.02), “neuroticism” (β = 0.22, SE = 0.02), “social support” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.02), “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = 0.21, SE = 0.02), “uncertainty about the future” (β = 0.14, SE = 0.02) and “declining duration and quality of sleep” (β = 0.10, SE = 0.02) predicted psychological distress. “Neuroticism” (β = 0.11, SE = 0.03), “social support” (β = -0.27, SE = 0.03), and “having a psychiatric disorder” (β = 0.18, SE = 0.03) predicted suicidal ideation. Results suggested that due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, much of the Japanese public could need psychiatric care. People rating high for these risk factors but low for the protective factors might specifically need proactive support.

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Spry_Preventing postpartum depression_Preprint

10.31234/osf.io/2cjd3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Spry ◽

Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽

Louise Howard ◽

Stephanie Brown ◽

Christopher Greenwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Health Problems ◽

Antenatal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Two Factors ◽

Causal Mediation Analysis

Postnatal depression (PND) is common and predicts a range of adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. PND rates are highest amongst women with persistent mental health problems before pregnancy, and antenatal healthcare provides ideal opportunity to intervene. We examined antenatal perceived social support as a potential intervention target in preventing PND symptoms among women with prior mental health problems. A total of 398 Australian women (600 pregnancies) were assessed repeatedly for mental health problems before pregnancy (ages 14-29 years, 1992-2006), and again during pregnancy, 2 months postpartum, and 1 year postpartum (2006-2014). Causal mediation analysis found that intervention on perceived antenatal social support has the potential to reduce rates of PND symptoms by up to 3% (from 15% to 12%) in women with persistent preconception symptoms. Supplementary analyses found that the role of low antenatal social support was independent of concurrent antenatal depressive symptoms. Combined, these two factors mediated up to more than half of the association between preconception mental health problems and PND symptoms. Trialing dual interventions on antenatal depressive symptoms and perceived social support represents one promising strategy to prevent PND in women with persistent preconception symptoms. Interventions promoting mental health before parenthood may yield greater reduction in PND symptoms by disrupting a developmental cascade of risks via these and other pathways.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Suicidal ideation, mental health problems, and social impairment are increased in adolescents with acne: a population-based study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.8237959.8397054 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriella Fabbrocini

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Problems ◽

Social Impairment ◽

Population Based Study

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Embitterment as a Specific Mental Health Reaction during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Psychopathology ◽

10.1159/000517447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Beate Muschalla ◽

Clio Vollborn ◽

Anke Sondhof

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Affective State ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Social Consequences ◽

High Rate ◽

Perceived Injustice

Introduction: Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. Methods: We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. Results: Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. Conclusion: Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.

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Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?

Molecular Autism ◽

10.1186/s13229-021-00421-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Hull ◽

Lily Levy ◽

Meng-Chuan Lai ◽

K. V. Petrides ◽

Simon Baron-Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Health Problems ◽

Autistic People ◽

Autistic Adults ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between ‘camouflaging’ (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health. Methods This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey. Results Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No interaction between camouflaging and gender was found. Limitations These results cannot be generalised to autistic people with intellectual disability, or autistic children and young people. The sample did not include sufficient numbers of non-binary people to run separate analyses; therefore, it is possible that camouflaging impacts mental health differently in this population. Conclusions The findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels.

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