scholarly journals The responsibility of communicating difficult truths about climate influenced societal disruption and collapse

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-97
Author(s):  
Jasmine Kieft
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Psychology Research ◽  
At Home

This paper presents a review of psychology research that can help people begin to assess the different ways they can responsibly support each other to talk about their thoughts and feelings on their perceptions of societal disruption and collapse, at home and abroad, due to environmental and climate change. It includes a summary of a review of published studies in psychology on matters of anticipating difficult futures, including vulnerability, disruption, disaster, suffering and mortality. The claims by both specialists and non- specialists that collapse anticipation is necessarily harmful to mental health and social engagement is shown to be theoretically and empirically weak. Instead, the research suggests we engage each other on this upsetting topic to promote coping. It highlights the potential for that engagement to support people with processing difficult emotions and thus finding more pro-social and pro-environmental ways of responding to societal disturbances.

scholarly journals Psychosocial health of school-aged children during the initial COVID-19 safer-at-home school mandates in Florida: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. McKune ◽  
Daniel Acosta ◽  
Nick Diaz ◽  
Kaitlin Brittain ◽  
Diana Joyce- Beaulieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Home School ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
K 12 ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Given the emerging literature regarding the impacts of lockdown measures on mental health, this study aims to describe the psychosocial health of school-aged children and adolescents during the COVID-19 Safer-at-Home School mandates. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 (n = 280) among K-12 students at a research school in North Central Florida. Bivariate analysis and logistic and multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine socio-demographic and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) predictors of indicators of anxiety-related, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)-related symptoms. Outcomes (anxiety, OCD, and depressive related symptoms) were measured by indices generated based on reported symptoms associated with each psychosocial outcome. Results Loss of household income was associated with increased risk for all three index-based outcomes: depressive symptoms [aOR = 3.130, 95% CI = (1.41–6.97)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 2.531, 95%CI = (1.154–5.551)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 2.90, 95%CI = (1.32–6.36)]. Being female was associated with being at higher risk for depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = (1.02–2.93)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 1.75, 95% CI = (1.04–2.97)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 1.764, 95%CI = (1.027–3.028)]. Parental practices protective against COVID-19 were associated with children being at higher risk of depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = (1.04–2.31)]. Lower school level was associated with children being at higher risk of anxiety-related and OCD-related symptoms. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, schools should prioritize mental health interventions that target younger, female students, and children of families with income loss. Limiting the spread of COVID-19 through school closure may exacerbate negative psychosocial health outcomes in children, thus school administrators should move quickly to target those at greatest risk.

scholarly journals Global Sensory Impairment Independently Predicts Decreased Social Function Over Time

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 414-414
Author(s):  
Anna Huang ◽  
Kristen Wroblewski ◽  
Ashwin Kotwal ◽  
Linda Waite ◽  
Martha McClintock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Function ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Sensory Impairment ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The classical senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) play a key role in social function by allowing interaction and communication. We assessed whether sensory impairment across all 5 modalities (global sensory impairment [GSI]) was associated with social function in older adults. Sensory function was measured in 3,005 home-dwelling older U.S. adults at baseline in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and GSI, a validated measure, was calculated. Social network size and kin composition, number of close friends, and social engagement were assessed at baseline and 5- and 10-year follow-up. Ordinal logistic regression and mixed effects ordinal logistic regression analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships respectively, controlling for demographics, physical/mental health, disability, and cognitive function (at baseline). Adults with worse GSI had smaller networks (β=-0.159, p=0.021), fewer close friends (β=-0.262, p=0.003) and lower engagement (β=-0.252, p=0.006) at baseline, relationships that persisted at 5 and 10 year follow-up. Men, older people, African-Americans, and those with less education, fewer assets, poor mental health, worse cognitive function, and more disability had worse GSI. Men and those with fewer assets, worse cognitive function, and less education had smaller networks and lower engagement. African-American and Hispanic individuals had smaller networks and fewer close friends, but more engagement. Older respondents also had more engagement. In summary, GSI independently predicts smaller social networks, fewer close friends, and lower social engagement over time, suggesting that sensory decline results in decreased social function. Thus, rehabilitating multisensory impairment may be a strategy to enhance social function as people age.

Cognitive determinants of community functioning and quality of life in homeless adults with mental illness: 6-year follow-up from the At Home/Chez Soi Study Toronto site

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
K. M. Gicas ◽  
C. Mejia-Lancheros ◽  
R. Nisenbaum ◽  
R. Wang ◽  
S. W. Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Subjective Quality ◽  
Subjective Quality Of Life ◽  
Homeless Adults ◽  
Community Functioning ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background High rates of physical and mental health comorbidities are associated with functional impairment among persons who are homeless. Cognitive dysfunction is common, but how it contributes to various functional outcomes in this population has not been well investigated. This study examines how cognition covaries with community functioning and subjective quality of life over a 6-year period while accounting for the effects of risk and protective factors. Methods Participants were 349 homeless adults (mean age = 39.8) recruited from the Toronto site of the At Home/Chez Soi study, a large Canadian randomized control trial of Housing First. Participants completed up to four clinical evaluations over 6 years. Factor scores were created to index verbal learning and memory (vLM) and processing speed-cognitive flexibility (PSCF). The primary outcomes were community functioning and subjective quality of life. Risk factors included lifetime homelessness, mental health diagnoses, medical comorbidity, and childhood adversity. Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to examine cognition-functional outcome associations over time, with resilience as a moderator. Results Better vLM (b = 0.787, p = 0.010) and PSCF (b = 1.66, p < 0.001) were associated with better community functioning, but not with quality of life. Resilience conferred a protective effect on subjective quality of life (b = 1.45, p = 0.011) but did not moderate outcomes. Conclusions Our findings suggest a need to consider the unique determinants of community functioning and quality of life among homeless adults. Cognition should be prioritized as a key intervention target within existing service delivery models to optimize long-term functional outcomes.

scholarly journals A Risk Exchange: Health and Mobility in the Context of Climate and Environmental Change in Bangladesh—A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2629
Author(s):  
Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle ◽  
Kate Baernighausen ◽  
Sayeda Karim ◽  
Tauheed Syed Raihan ◽  
Samiya Selim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Healthcare Environment

Background: Climate change influences patterns of human mobility and health outcomes. While much of the climate change and migration discourse is invested in quantitative predictions and debates about whether migration is adaptive or maladaptive, less attention has been paid to the voices of the people moving in the context of climate change with a focus on their health and wellbeing. This qualitative research aims to amplify the voices of migrants themselves to add nuance to dominant migration narratives and to shed light on the real-life challenges migrants face in meeting their health needs in the context of climate change. Methods: We conducted 58 semi-structured in-depth interviews with migrants purposefully selected for having moved from rural Bhola, southern Bangladesh to an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis under the philosophical underpinnings of phenomenology. Coding was conducted using NVivo Pro 12. Findings: We identified two overarching themes in the thematic analysis: Firstly, we identified the theme “A risk exchange: Exchanging climate change and health risks at origin and destination”. Rather than describing a “net positive” or “net negative” outcome in terms of migration in the context of climate change, migrants described an exchange of hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities at origin with those at destination, which challenged their capacity to adapt. This theme included several sub-themes—income and employment factors, changing food environment, shelter and water sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) conditions, and social capital. The second overarching theme was “A changing health and healthcare environment”. This theme also included several sub-themes—changing physical and mental health status and a changing healthcare environment encompassing quality of care and barriers to accessing healthcare. Migrants described physical and mental health concerns and connected these experiences with their new environment. These two overarching themes were prevalent across the dataset, although each participant experienced and expressed them uniquely. Conclusion: Migrants who move in the context of climate change face a range of diverse health risks at the origin, en route, and at the destination. Migrating individuals, households, and communities undertake a risk exchange when they decide to move, which has diverse positive and negative consequences for their health and wellbeing. Along with changing health determinants is a changing healthcare environment where migrants face different choices, barriers, and quality of care. A more migrant-centric perspective as described in this paper could strengthen migration, climate, and health governance. Policymakers, urban planners, city corporations, and health practitioners should integrate the risk exchange into practice and policies.

A Long-Term Study of What Best Predicts Graduating From University Versus Leaving Prior to Graduation

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512098799
Author(s):  
Teena Willoughby ◽  
Victoria W. Dykstra ◽  
Taylor Heffer ◽  
Joelle Braccio ◽  
Hamnah Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Enrollment Status ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
University Degree ◽  
The University

Despite the importance of obtaining a university degree, retention rates remain a concern for many universities. This longitudinal study provides a multi-domain examination of first-year student characteristics and behaviors that best predict which students graduate. Graduation status was assessed seven years after students entered university. Participants (N = 1017; 71% female; mean age in Year 1 was 19 years) enrolled in a Canadian mid-sized university completed a survey, provided their enrollment status over the next 6 years (regardless of whether they left university), and consented to have their grades and status provided by the Registrar. Overall, 79% of students graduated by Year 7 (44% in 4 years). The strongest predictor of graduation was first-year grades. Social engagement in the university also predicted graduation. Surprisingly, mental health was not a significant predictor of graduation. Only a minority of students may experience mental health difficulties to such an extent that it affects their ability to succeed at university.

scholarly journals Fireside Chats: A Novel Wellness Initiative for Medical Students in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110030
Author(s):  
Sean J Lee ◽  
Abdul Kader Natour ◽  
Sunil K Geevarghese
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Learning Communities ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Present Survey ◽  
Group Activities ◽  
Large Group ◽  
Depression Era

To supplement preexisting wellness programming for the surgery clerkship, a faculty surgeon at Vanderbilt initiated Fireside Chats (FC) in 2015. Inspired by Franklin Roosevelt’s Depression-era radio broadcasts, FC features small group sizes, off-campus excursions, and a reimagining of the mentor–mentee relationship that eschews hierarchy in favor of deep, mutualistic connections in both personal and professional domains. Here we describe the rationale and implementation of FC and present survey data that demonstrate the warm reception of FC and its efficacy in stewarding the mental health of medical students. Moreover, unlike large group activities such as “learning communities,” FC continues to meet in-person during COVID-19 and preserves social engagement opportunities that may alleviate pandemic-induced isolation and distress.

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