Theories explaining the relationship between neighbourhood stressors and depressive symptoms

This study synthesizes the current theoretical knowledge to explain the relationship between neighbourhood stressors and depressive symptoms. The two most relevant sociological theories, social disorganization theory and stress process theory, are identified. The current study carefully reviewed the two theories regarding their historical development and key conceptual aspects, beginning with the theoretical evolution of research on neighbourhood stressors and mental health. This study also provides detailed critiques on each theory and suggests how researchers can apply both theories to their empirical testing. For example, social disorganization theory points out the application of both objective and subjective aspects of neighbourhood stressors. Also, the stress process theory emphasizes the mediating or moderating role of psychosocial resources. In conclusion, this study suggests a conceptual model of neighbourhood stressors, psychosocial resources, and depressive symptoms.

Pathways to loneliness: a mediation analysis investigating the social gradient of loneliness in persons with disabilities in Switzerland

Background The experience of loneliness can have drastic consequences for health and quality of life. Given that loneliness is highly prevalent in persons with physical disabilities and that loneliness more profoundly affects persons of low socioeconomic status, more evidence is required in order to understand the mechanisms determining loneliness in this population. The objective of this study is therefore to investigate the potential pathways through which socioeconomic status influences loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury. Methods Mediation analysis utilising structural equation models and bias corrected and accelerated confidence intervals were used in order to test the mediation effects of health status, functioning, participation, social support and self-efficacy on the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury. A latent construct was created for socioeconomic status with the indicators education, household income, financial hardship, subjective social status and engagement in paid work. Results This study found evidence to support the mediating role of psychosocial resources and of secondary health conditions in the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness. The study demonstrated robust associations between socioeconomic status and all potential mediators, whereby higher socioeconomic status was associated with better health, participation and psychosocial resources, however, not all potential mediators were associated with loneliness. The serial mediation model explained the interplay between socioeconomic status, mediators on different levels, and loneliness. For example, emotional support and self-efficacy were both positively associated with fewer restrictions to participation (0.08 (CI: 0.05, 0.12); 0.29 (CI: 0.24, 0.36) respectively), and fewer restrictions to participation were found to be a result of improved functional independence and fewer secondary health conditions (0.23 (CI: 0.15, 0.39); − 0.29 (CI: − 0.36, − 0.20) respectively). Conclusions Our findings highlight the vulnerability of persons with low socioeconomic status to loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury and identified potential mediating factors, such as health, functioning, participation and psychosocial resources, in the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness. This population-based evidence suggests potential targets of interventions on the pathway to loneliness, through which socioeconomic status influences loneliness. The complexity of the model shows the need for comprehensive interprofessional rehabilitation to identify and support people with lower socioeconomic status and concomitant risk factors for loneliness.

Characteristics of Workplace Psychosocial Resources and Risk of Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective <p>To examine whether characteristics of <a></a><a>workplace psychosocial resources are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes</a> among employees. </p> <h3>Research Design and Methods</h3> <p>Participants were 49,835 employees (77% women, aged 40-65 and diabetes-free at baseline) from the Finnish Public Sector cohort study. Characteristics of horizontal (culture of collaboration and support from colleagues) and vertical (leadership quality and organizational procedural justice) psychosocial resources were self-reported. Incident type 2 diabetes (n=2148) was ascertained via linkage to electronic health records from national registers. We used latent-class modeling to assess the clustering of resource characteristics. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between the identified clusters and risk of type 2 diabetes during 10.9 years of follow-up, adjusting for age, sex, marital status, educational level, type of employment contract, comorbidity and diagnosed mental disorders.</p> <h3>Results</h3> <p>We identified four patterns of workplace psychosocial resources: <a>‘unfavorable’; ‘favorable vertical’; ‘favorable</a><a></a><a> horizontal’</a>; and ‘favorable vertical and horizontal.’ <a>Compared with the ‘unfavorable’, ‘favorable vertical’ (HR=0.87 95%CI 0.78;0.97), ‘favorable horizontal’ (HR=0.77 95%CI 0.67;0.88), and ‘favorable vertical and horizontal’ (HR=0.77 95%CI 0.68;0.86) resources were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes</a>, with the strongest associations seen in employees at age 55 or older (P_interaction=0.03). These associations were robust to multivariable adjustments and were not explained by reverse causation.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3> <p>Employees working in a favorable level of culture of collaboration, support from colleagues, leadership quality, and organizational procedural justice have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those without such favorable workplace psychosocial resources.</p>

Pathways to Loneliness: A Mediation Analysis Investigating the Social Gradient of Loneliness in Persons With Disabilities in Switzerland

BackgroundThe experience of loneliness can have drastic consequences for health and quality of life. Given that loneliness is highly prevalent in persons with physical disabilities and that loneliness more profoundly affects persons of low socioeconomic status, more evidence is required in order to understand the mechanisms determining loneliness in this population. The objective of this study is therefore to investigate the potential pathways through which socioeconomic status influences loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury.MethodsParallel and serial mediation analysis utilising structural equation models and bias corrected and accelerated confidence intervals were used in order to test the mediation effects of health status, functioning, participation, social support and self-efficacy on the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury. A latent construct was created for socioeconomic status with the indicators education, household income, financial hardship, subjective social status and engagement in paid work. ResultsThis study found evidence to support the mediating role of psychosocial resources and of secondary health conditions in the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness. The study demonstrated robust associations between socioeconomic status and all mediators, whereby higher socioeconomic status was associated with better health, participation and psychosocial resources. Results also suggested that the serial mediation model explained the interplay between socioeconomic status, mediators on different levels, and loneliness. For example, emotional support and self-efficacy were both positively associated with fewer restrictions to participation (0.12 (CI: 0.05, 0.17); 0.29 (CI: 0.23, 0.35) respectively), and frequency of participation increased as a result of improved functional independence and fewer secondary health conditions (0.31 (CI: 0.23, 0.36); -0.18 (CI: -0.24, -0.10) respectively). ConclusionsThis study has emphasized the social gradient of loneliness in persons with spinal cord injury and has identified several potential mediating factors, such as health status and psychosocial resources, in the association between socioeconomic status and loneliness. This population-based evidence suggests potential targets of interventions on the pathway to loneliness, and has identified potential underlying mechanisms, through which socioeconomic status influences loneliness.