scholarly journals Association of Excessive WeChat Use with Mental Disorders: A Representative Nationwide Study in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002-1015
Author(s):  
Weifang Zhang ◽  
Xiaozhao Y. Yang ◽  
Tingzhong Yang ◽  
Joan L. Bottorff ◽  
Sihui Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Time Use ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Long Time ◽  
University Level

Objectives: We examined associations between excessive WeChat use and mental disorders at the individual and contextual level. Methods: We conducted a representative nationwide survey sampling process of 11,283 medical students from 30 universities in China. Mental health status was measured by the Chinese Health Questionnaire. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were considered in the analyses. Results: High frequency and long-time use prevalence was 19.1% and 31.2% respectively among WeChat users. The multilevel logistic regression model found that individual-level high frequency (OR = 1.26) and long-time use (OR = 1.24) were significantly associated with mental health disorders. University-level excessive WeChat use also was associated with the mental disorders (OR = 1.33 [high frequency use]; OR = 1.17 [long-time use]). Structural equation analysis showed that individual- and university-level high frequency and individual-level and university-level long-time WeChat use have a direct influence on poor mental health. The above variables, except individual-level long-time use, have an indirect influence on poor mental health through mental stress. Conclusions: This study provides new evidence that excessive WeChat use is associated with mental disorders. These findings underscore the importance of alerting people to the possible health risks of excessive social media use.

scholarly journals No food for thought: Food insecurity is related to poor mental health and lower academic performance among students in California’s public university system

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1930-1939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna M Martinez ◽  
Edward A Frongillo ◽  
Cindy Leung ◽  
Lorrene Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Grade Point Average ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Public University ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
University System ◽  
Grade Point

This study examined the relationships between food insecurity, mental health, and academic performance among college students in a California public university system ( N = 8705). Structural equation modeling was performed to examine a direct path from food insecurity to student grade point average and an indirect path through mental health, controlling for demographic characteristics. Food insecurity was related to lower student grade point average directly and indirectly through poor mental health. These findings support the need for future interventions and policy on the importance of providing students with the basic needs to succeed both academically and in the future.

scholarly journals Mental health consequences of urban air pollution: prospective population-based longitudinal survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Bakolis ◽  
Ryan Hammoud ◽  
Robert Stewart ◽  
Sean Beevers ◽  
David Dajnak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract Purpose The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently ranked air pollution as the major environmental cause of premature death. However, the significant potential health and societal costs of poor mental health in relation to air quality are not represented in the WHO report due to limited evidence. We aimed to test the hypothesis that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with poor mental health. Methods A prospective longitudinal population-based mental health survey was conducted of 1698 adults living in 1075 households in South East London, from 2008 to 2013. High-resolution quarterly average air pollution concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) and < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) were linked to the home addresses of the study participants. Associations with mental health were analysed with the use of multilevel generalised linear models, after adjusting for large number of confounders, including the individuals’ socioeconomic position and exposure to road-traffic noise. Results We found robust evidence for interquartile range increases in PM2.5, NOx and NO2 to be associated with 18–39% increased odds of common mental disorders, 19–30% increased odds of poor physical symptoms and 33% of psychotic experiences only for PM10. These longitudinal associations were more pronounced in the subset of non-movers for NO2 and NOx. Conclusions The findings suggest that traffic-related air pollution is adversely affecting mental health. Whilst causation cannot be proved, this work suggests substantial morbidity from mental disorders could be avoided with improved air quality.

scholarly journals “Language Breathes Life”—Barngarla Community Perspectives on the Wellbeing Impacts of Reclaiming a Dormant Australian Aboriginal Language

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 3918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leda Sivak ◽  
Seth Westhead ◽  
Emmalene Richards ◽  
Stephen Atkinson ◽  
Jenna Richards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Social And Emotional Wellbeing

Traditional languages are a key element of Indigenous peoples’ identity, cultural expression, autonomy, spiritual and intellectual sovereignty, and wellbeing. While the links between Indigenous language loss and poor mental health have been demonstrated in several settings, little research has sought to identify the potential psychological benefits that may derive from language reclamation. The revival of the Barngarla language on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, offers a unique opportunity to examine whether improvements in mental health and social and emotional wellbeing can occur during and following the language reclamation process. This paper presents findings from 16 semi-structured interviews conducted with Barngarla community members describing their own experienced or observed mental health and wellbeing impacts of language reclamation activities. Aligning with a social and emotional wellbeing framework from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, key themes included connection to spirituality and ancestors; connection to Country; connection to culture; connection to community; connection to family and kinship; connection to mind and emotions; and impacts upon identity and cultural pride at an individual level. These themes will form the foundation of assessment of the impacts of language reclamation in future stages of the project.

scholarly journals Partner alcohol use, violence and women's mental health: population-based survey in India

2010 ◽  
Vol 196 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhabika B. Nayak ◽  
Vikram Patel ◽  
Jason C. Bond ◽  
Thomas K. Greenfield
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundThe relationship between partner alcohol use and violence as risk factors for poor mental health in women is unclear.AimsTo describe partner-related and other psychosocial risk factors for common mental disorders in women and examine interrelationships between these factors.MethodData are reported on 821 women aged 18–49 years from a larger population study in north Goa, India. Logistic regression models evaluated the risks for women's common mental disorders and tested for mediation effects in the relationship between partner alcohol use and these disorders.ResultsExcessive partner alcohol use increased the risk for common mental disorders two- to threefold. Partner violence and alcohol-related problems each partially mediated the association between partner excessive alcohol use and these mental disorders. Women's own violence-related attitudes were also independently associated with them.ConclusionsPartner alcohol use, partner violence and women's violence-related attitudes must be addressed to prevent and treat common mental disorders in women.

scholarly journals A longitudinal study of the bi-directional relationship between tobacco smoking and psychological distress in a community sample of young Australian women

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1273-1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leung ◽  
C. Gartner ◽  
W. Hall ◽  
J. Lucke ◽  
A. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Tobacco Smoking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Smoking History

BackgroundTobacco smoking and poor mental health are both prevalent and detrimental health problems in young women. The temporal relationship between the two variables is unclear. We investigated the prospective bi-directional relationship between smoking and mental health over 13 years.MethodParticipants were a randomly selected community sample of 10 012 young women with no experience of pregnancy, aged 18–23 years at baseline (1996) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Follow-up surveys over 13 years were completed in 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009, allowing for five waves of data. Measures included self-reported smoking and mental health measured by the Mental Health Index from the 36-item short-form health questionnaire and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Sociodemographic control variables included marital status, education level and employment status.ResultsA strong cross-sectional dose–response relationship between smoking and poor mental health was found at each wave [odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.17–1.70 to OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.82–2.81]. Longitudinal results showed that women who smoked had 1.21 (95% CI 1.06–1.39) to 1.62 (95% CI 1.24–2.11) times higher odds of having poor mental health at subsequent waves. Women with poor mental health had 1.12 (95% CI 1.17–1.20) to 2.11 (95% CI 1.68–2.65) times higher odds of smoking at subsequent waves. These results held after adjusting for mental health history and smoking history and sociodemographic factors. Correlation analysis and structural equation modelling results were consistent in showing that both directions of the relationship were statistically significant.ConclusionsThe association between poor mental health and smoking in young women appeared to be bi-directional.

scholarly journals Neighbourhood characteristics and mental disorders in three Chinese cities: multilevel models from the World Mental Health Surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e017679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Dias Porto Chiavegatto Filho ◽  
Laura Sampson ◽  
Silvia S Martins ◽  
Shui Yu ◽  
Yueqin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Chinese Cities ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
World Mental Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Neighbourhood Level

ObjectivesThe rapid growth of urban areas in China in the past few decades has introduced profound changes in family structure and income distribution that could plausibly affect mental health. Although multilevel studies of the influence of area-level socioeconomic factors on mental health have become more common in other parts of the world, a study of this sort has not been carried out in Chinese cities. Our objectives were to examine the associations of two key neighbourhood-level variables—median income and percentage of married individuals living in the neighbourhood—with mental disorders net of individual-level income and marital status in three Chinese cities.SettingHousehold interviews in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, PRC, as part of the cross-sectional World Mental Health Surveys.Participants4072 men and women aged 18–88 years.Primary and secondary outcome measuresLifetime and past-year internalising and externalising mental disorders.ResultsEach one-point increase in neighbourhood-level percentage of married residents was associated with a 1% lower odds of lifetime (p=0.024) and 2% lower odds of past-year (p=0.008) individual-level externalising disorder, net of individual-level marital status. When split into tertiles, individuals living in neighbourhoods in the top tertile of percentage of married residents had 54% lower odds of a past-year externalising disorder (OR=0.46, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.87) compared with those in the bottom tertile. Neighbourhood-level marital status was not statistically associated with either lifetime or past-year internalising disorders. Neighbourhood-level income was not statistically associated with odds of either internalising or externalising disorders.ConclusionsThe proportion of married residents in respondents’ neighbourhoods was significantly inversely associated with having externalising mental disorders in this sample of Chinese cities. Possible mechanisms for this finding are discussed and related to social causation, social selection and social control theories. Future work should examine these relationships longitudinally.

scholarly journals Onset and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for three years after the triple disaster in Northeast Japan: comparisons with the general population

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norito Kawakami ◽  
Maiko Fukasawa ◽  
Kiyomi Sakata ◽  
Ruriko Suzuki ◽  
Hiroaki Tomita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temporary Housing ◽  
Community Residents ◽  
Post Disaster

Abstract Background: People living in temporary housing for long periods after a disaster are at risk of poor mental health. This study investigated the post-disaster incidence and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for the three years following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.Methods: Three years after the disaster, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,089 adult residents living in temporary housing in the disaster area, i.e., the shelter group, and a random sample of 852 community residents from non-disaster areas of East Japan. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders. Information on demographic variables and disaster experiences was also collected. Results: Response rates were 49% and 46% for the shelter group and the community residents, respectively. The incidence of mood/anxiety disorder in the shelter group was elevated only in the first year post-disaster compared to that of the general population. The rate of remission for mood and anxiety disorders was significantly lower in the shelter group than in the community residents. The proportion seeking medical treatment was higher in the shelter group.Conclusions: The onset of common mental disorders increased in the first year, but then levelled off in the following years among residents in temporary housing after the disaster. Remission from incident post-disaster mental disorders was slower in the shelter group than in the general population. Post-disaster mental health service could consider the greater incidence in the first year and prolonged remission of mental disorders among survivors with a long-term stay in temporary housing after a disaster.

scholarly journals Onset and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for three years after the triple disaster in Northeast Japan: comparisons with the general population

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norito Kawakami ◽  
Maiko Fukasawa ◽  
Kiyomi Sakata ◽  
Ruriko Suzuki ◽  
Hiroaki Tomita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temporary Housing ◽  
Community Residents ◽  
Post Disaster

Abstract Background: People living in temporary housing for long periods after a disaster are at risk of (developing) poor mental health. This study investigated the post-disaster incidence and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for the three years following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.Methods: Three years after the disaster, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,089 adult residents living in temporary housing in the disaster area, i.e., the shelter group, and a random sample of 852 community residents of East Japan. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders. Information on demographic variables and disaster experiences was also collected. Results: Response rates were 49% and 46%, for the shelter group and the community residents, respectively. The incidence of mood/anxiety disorder in the shelter group was elevated only in the first year post-disaster compared to that of the general population. The rate of remission for mood and anxiety disorders was significantly lower in the shelter group than in the community residents. The proportion seeking medical treatment was higher in the shelter group.Conclusions: The onset of common mental disorders increased in the first year, but then levelled off in the following years among residents in temporary housing after the disaster. Remission from incident post-disaster mental disorders was slower in the shelter group than in the general population. Post-disaster mental health service could consider the greater incidence in the first year and prolonged remission of mental disorders among survivors with a long-term stay in temporary housing after a disaster.

scholarly journals Setting Mental Health Priorities in Ghana: A 15-Year Contextual Analysis of the Presidential State of the Nation Address

Challenges ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Quarshie ◽  
Priscilla Davies ◽  
Pearl Otoo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Years Lived With Disability

Globally, mental health issues have been neglected and allowed to be suppressed by stigma and discrimination for a very long time, although mental disorders are responsible for about 30% of the global non-fatal disease burden. Thus, the global call for solution to this challenge admonishes governments, donors, and mental health service users to prioritise mental health. Towards this end, speeches by key political actors can be used to garner public support and set out strong arguments for the prioritisation of mental health. Guided by the agenda-setting theory, this study sought to contribute to the evidence on the mental health priorities in Ghana by conducting a summative qualitative content analysis of the state of the nation addresses (SONAs) presented by presidents of Ghana from 2007 to 2021. Findings show that no mental health condition was highlighted in any of the SONAs, and mental health priorities in terms of policy and investment were superficial, inadequate, and woefully incomparable to those of physical health. It is suggested that government should heighten mental health priorities, given that mental disorders are leading the top 10 causes of the years lived with disability burden in the country.

scholarly journals Positive Mental Health of Finnish People Living Alone: The Role of Circumstantial Factors and Leisure-Time Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6735
Author(s):  
Tytti P. Pasanen ◽  
Nina Tamminen ◽  
Tuija Martelin ◽  
Pia Solin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Positive Mental Health ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Leisure Participation

Living alone has become more common across Europe. Past research has consistently identified living alone as a risk factor for poor mental health while evidence on the positive dimension(s) of mental health has been scarce. Positive mental health has been associated with rather stable circumstantial factors, such as socio-economic characteristics and social relationships, and day-to-day activities in the form of leisure participation, in general populations. In this study, our objective was to assess these relationships among people living alone. We specified a structural equation model in a random sample of Finnish people living alone (n = 884), with the circumstantial factors as (exogenous) explanatory variables, participation in various leisure activities as mediators, and positive mental health as the outcome. In the model, more frequent engagement in several leisure-time activities, including being in contact with family/friends and physical activity in nature, were positively associated with positive mental health. The circumstantial factors that most strongly explained both leisure participation and positive mental health were the number of friends, being in a relationship, and having no limiting illnesses. In conclusion, among Finnish people living alone, social and functional factors appear to be more strongly associated with leisure participation and positive mental health than socio-economic factors.

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