scholarly journals Online Depression Communities: Does Gender Matter?

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Galit Nimrod
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Clinical Condition ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Participation ◽  
Positive Change ◽  
General Sense ◽  
Psychological Measures

While women are at a greater risk for depression, men with depression are at a greater risk for mistimed and inadequate treatment. Online depression communities offer immediate support for both genders, and may reduce the risk for those depressed men who avoid the traditional mental healthcare system. This study aimed to explore gender differences among members of online depression communities. Based on an online survey of 793 members of 16 online depression communities, the study combined both behavioral and psychological measures. The results identified significant gender differences in members’ self-defined condition, participation patterns, interests and reported benefits. Additional differences were found in the associations between the main differentiating variables and the members’ level of depression. The findings indicated that women in online depression communities are more involved and report more benefits from participation than men. However, active participation may be even more beneficial for men than for women, as it may provide positive change not only in their general sense of well-being, but also in their clinical condition. Using strategies for promoting active participation among men may enhance the benefits they gain from the online communities.

scholarly journals Gender differences in barriers to mental healthcare for UK military veterans: a preliminary investigation

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001754
Author(s):  
Lauren Rose Godier-McBard ◽  
G Cable ◽  
A D Wood ◽  
M Fossey
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Free Text ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionLimited UK research focuses on female military veterans’ gender-related experiences and issues when accessing civilian mental healthcare support. This study sought to illuminate a preliminary understanding of any gender differences in barriers that may discourage them accessing mental healthcare support.MethodsA total of 100 participants completed an open online survey of UK triservice veterans who identified as having experienced postmilitary mental health problems. They completed a 30-item Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale and were asked to elaborate using free-text questions. Resulting quantitative data were analysed for gender-related differences, while the qualitative text was thematically explored.ResultsWhile stigma, previous poor experience of mental healthcare and a lack of trust in civilian providers were found to act as barriers to postmilitary support for both men and women, significantly more women reported that their gender had also impacted on their intention to seek help. Women also commented on the impact of gender-related discrimination during service on their help-seeking experiences.ConclusionsWhile efforts are being made by the UK Ministry of Defence to reduce barriers to mental healthcare for those still serving in the Armed Forces, it has been more difficult to provide a similar level of support to the veteran population. With little veteran research focusing on the specific experiences of women, this study suggests that female veterans encounter specific access barriers and issues related to their gender. Further research is therefore needed to ensure these findings are addressed.

Anxiety and depression in adults in their eighties: do gender differences remain?

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Pachana ◽  
Deirdre McLaughlin ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Gerard Byrne ◽  
Annette Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
General Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Psychological Measures ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Female Predominance ◽  
Patient Health

ABSTRACTBackground: Women report higher rates of depression and anxiety than men; however, it is uncertain whether this gender difference continues into advanced old age.Methods: 78 men and 111 women aged 82–87 years from the Men, Women and Ageing Project completed measures of anxiety (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ9), general psychological well-being (Mental Health subscale of SF-36), general health (general health item of SF-36) and cognitive status (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status; TICS).Results: Results revealed no significant gender differences on any of the psychological measures, after controlling for cognitive status, general health and education.Conclusion: These results support the proposition that the female predominance in psychological distress diminishes with increasing age. The congruence between men and women may reflect changes in identity associated with age or the effect of decreased emotional valence of some social roles.

scholarly journals Well-being during COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities and cis-heterosexual individuals

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252356
Author(s):  
Pichit Buspavanich ◽  
Sonia Lech ◽  
Eva Lermer ◽  
Mirjam Fischer ◽  
Maximilian Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Gender Identities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
And Gender

Background Preliminary empirical data indicates a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and mental health. Individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities are at a higher risk of experiencing such negative changes in their well-being. The objective of this study was to compare levels of well-being among cis-heterosexual individuals and individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using data obtained in a cross-sectional online survey between April 20 to July 20, 2020 (N = 2332), we compared levels of well-being (WHO-5) across subgroups (cis-individuals with minoritized sexual identities, individuals with minoritized gender identities and cis-heterosexual individuals) applying univariate (two-sample t-test) and multivariate analysis (multivariate linear regression). Results Results indicate overall lower levels of well-being as well as lower levels of well-being in minoritized sexual or gender identities compared to cis-heterosexual individuals. Further, multivariate analyses revealed that living in urban communities as well as being in a relationship were positively associated with higher levels of well-being. Furthermore, a moderation analysis showed that being in a relationship reduces the difference between groups in terms of well-being. Conclusion Access to mental healthcare for individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities as well as access to gender-affirming resources should be strengthened during COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare services with low barriers of access such as telehealth and online peer support groups should be made available, especially for vulnerable groups.

scholarly journals “Prison didn’t change me, I have changed”: Narratives of change, self, and prison time

2021 ◽  
pp. 174889582110313
Author(s):  
Katharina Maier ◽  
Rosemary Ricciardelli
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Change ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
General Sense ◽  
Former Prisoners ◽  
Positive Impacts

Drawing on interview data with over 50 male former prisoners in Ontario, Canada, we examine male ex-prisoners’ narratives of change within prison settings. Specifically, we focus on how ex-prisoners talk about change to self and their persona, as they reflect back on both their pre-prison selves and the ways they believe prison changed them. We find that these ex-prisoners described prison as a time where they developed a more general sense of positive change. Ex-prisoners described how prison living made them “calmer,” “stronger,” and more “patient” overall. These descriptions stand in tension with the overall hostility of prison environments where prisoners are forced to focus on survival and basic well-being as they navigate the risks and threats of prison living. Overall, in this article, we seek to contribute to emerging discussions on positivity within prison settings, acknowledging that studying the more positive impacts of prison is a delicate yet important endeavor necessary to help better understand the experiential complexities of punishment.

scholarly journals Protective elements of mental health status during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Portuguese population

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
PS Moreira ◽  
S Ferreira ◽  
B Couto ◽  
M Machado-Sousa ◽  
M Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Psychological Indicators ◽  
Anxiety Depression

AbstractThe outbreak of COVID-19 might produce dramatic psychological effects on the individuals’ life. In this study, we aimed to explore the elements that may reduce the negative effects on mental health of the quarantine period imposed by most governments during this worldwide crisis. We conducted an online survey to evaluate demographic, lifestyle and mental health variables in the Portuguese population. We observed that factors related with living conditions, maintaining the work either online or in the workplace, frequency of exercise and absence of a previous psychological or physic disorders are protective features of psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, stress and obsessive-compulsive symptoms). Finally, the individuals previously receiving psychotherapeutic support exhibited better psychological indicators if they did not interrupt the process as a consequence of the outbreak. Our results indicate that the practice of physical exercise, reduced consumption of COVID-19 information and the implementation of remote mental healthcare measures might prevent larger impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Patterns of Psychological Distress and Well-Being among Adults in Relation to Gender during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 257-262
Author(s):  
Ameya Arora ◽  
Pankhuri Sharma ◽  
Nitin Kumar Verma
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Development Stages ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
And Gender

AbstractCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the worsening of mental health of people in terms of increased psychological distress and decreased psychological well-being. The study was designed to understand the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress and well-being. Present study also explored the variances in psychological distress and well-being in relation to development stages (young adulthood and adulthood), gender (males and females), people who had been infected by coronavirus and those not infected, and respondents whose immediate family members/relatives/friends/classmates had been infected by coronavirus and those not infected. An online survey was conducted in the midst of the pandemic. Responses of 250 respondents were gathered and analysed using the General Well-being Questionnaire developed by Veit and Ware in 1983. The results indicated that COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in determining psychological distress and well-being. Gender differences in psychological distress and well-being are present with males being high on psychological distress and females being high on psychological well-being. Adults were found to be high on psychological distress than young adults. It was also revealed that as a person (respondent himself/immediate family/friends/relatives) becomes infected and recovers, their psychological distress declines, and well-being increases, probably because of reduced fear of being infected again. Along with other demographic variables, developmental stages and gender differences also played a crucial role in psychological distress and well-being of adults.

scholarly journals Mental health reform under policy mainstreaming: needed, but uncertain

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Reform ◽  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Reform ◽  
Reform Legislation ◽  
People With Mental Illness

October 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's message to the US Congress on the need to reform mental healthcare. Much has changed in that time. In 2006, Frank and Glied summarized these changes and the forces behind them, finding that the well-being of people with mental illness was ‘better but not well.’ They also conclude that most improvements have been due to ‘mainstreaming,’ the inclusion of those with mental illness in broad reforms such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. With the gradual assimilation of mental health concerns, leadership and resources into mainstream programmes and agencies, future improvements will require that these programmes are accessible and oriented to people with mental illness. The passage of broad health reform legislation in 2010 (the Affordable Care Act) reinforces this change; several of its provisions attempt to make healthcare more relevant to the population with mental illness. In this editorial, I discuss a set of challenges which remain for the population with mental illness in the healthcare system, and the prospects for change. These challenges include: (1) improving basic mental healthcare in primary care, (2) improving mental healthcare for children, (3) earlier detection and treatment of psychotic illness, (4) disability and unemployment and (5) the challenge of sustaining an adequate, speciality public mental healthcare system under conditions of mainstreaming. In general, I conclude that the prospects for successful reform are uncertain. Establishing mental healthcare specialization in mainstream systems has not been notably successful to date.

scholarly journals Psychological Well-being During the First Wave of COVID-2019 in Italy. The Influence of Personality Traits

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osmano Oasi ◽  
Chiara Rossi ◽  
Andrea Bonanomi
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: The Coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) had a strong psychological impact on the Italian population. Fear of infection, lock-down, social isolation, loneliness and uncertainty inevitably influenced people’s well-being. The current study represents one of the first Italian researches to provide data on the association between psychological health and personality traits during the COVID-19 outbreak.Methods: This explorative study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological health and to identify if psychological well-being could be influenced by personality traits. 2103 participants completed an online survey that included the PGWBI, the ITAPI-S and a general questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regressions were performed using SPSS software.Results: Vulnerability turns out to be a particularly relevant personality trait within the sample. In the regression analyses it influenced negatively PGWBI total score (β=-0.62), anxiety (β=-0.55), depression (β=-0.46), positivity and well-being (β=-0.51), vitality(β=-0.45), general health (β=-0.12) and self-control (β=-0.52). On the contrary, the dynamicity trait influenced positively vitality (β=0.12) and positivity and well-being (β=0.14).Conclusion: The results highlight that in order to prevent the risk of the onset of mental disorders, it is necessary to take care not only of who is already suffering from psychological disorders but also of the non-clinical population. Before the outbreak of the virus, people did not feel so helpless and vulnerable in the face of events thanks to the evolutions in every scientific field. COVID-19 awoke weakness aspects in terms of anxious and depressive states. The results may assist mental healthcare professionals in safeguarding the psychological well-being of the Italian community in the wake of the pandemic.

scholarly journals Protective Elements of Mental Health Status during the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Portuguese Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1910
Author(s):  
Pedro Silva Moreira ◽  
Sónia Ferreira ◽  
Beatriz Couto ◽  
Mafalda Machado-Sousa ◽  
Marcos Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Psychological Indicators ◽  
Anxiety Depression

The outbreak of COVID-19 might produce dramatic psychological effects on individuals’ lives. In this study, we aimed to explore the elements that may reduce the negative effects on mental health of the quarantine period imposed by most governments during this worldwide crisis. We conducted an online survey to evaluate demographic, lifestyle and mental health variables in a sample of 1280 Portuguese individuals (79.8% females) with an average age of 37 years. We observed that factors related to living conditions, maintaining work either online or in the workplace, frequency of exercise and absence of previous psychological or physic disorders are protective features of psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, stress and obsessive-compulsive symptoms). Finally, the individuals previously receiving psychotherapeutic support exhibited better psychological indicators if they did not interrupt the process as a consequence of the outbreak. Our results indicate that the practice of physical exercise, reduced consumption of COVID-19 information and the implementation of remote mental healthcare measures might prevent larger impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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