Child Abuse and Neglect, 37(2/3), 2013, pp.181-199.
Publisher:
Elsevier
This cross-sectional study used a random sample of 5,149 middle school students with a mean age of 14.5 years from four EU-countries (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain) to examine violence and depression resilience of adolescents exposed to family violence. The definition of resilience was expanded to include the absence of both physical aggression and depression symptoms in adolescents who have been exposed to violence in their families. Three levels of resilience were used: “resilient”, “near-resilient” and “non-resilient”. Data were collected via self-administered surveys consisting of a number of subscales that investigate depression symptoms and physical aggression. The study was analysed with a three-stage strategy using logistic regression procedures, in which regression analyses were conducted separately for girls and boys using seven steps for modeling the three resilience levels. More than 30% of our respondents reported experiencing family violence. Data showed that structural characteristics like country, gender, socio-economic status and migration status were minimally predictive of violence and depression resilience at any level. For both sexes resilience is strongly
(Edited publisher abstract)
This cross-sectional study used a random sample of 5,149 middle school students with a mean age of 14.5 years from four EU-countries (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain) to examine violence and depression resilience of adolescents exposed to family violence. The definition of resilience was expanded to include the absence of both physical aggression and depression symptoms in adolescents who have been exposed to violence in their families. Three levels of resilience were used: “resilient”, “near-resilient” and “non-resilient”. Data were collected via self-administered surveys consisting of a number of subscales that investigate depression symptoms and physical aggression. The study was analysed with a three-stage strategy using logistic regression procedures, in which regression analyses were conducted separately for girls and boys using seven steps for modeling the three resilience levels. More than 30% of our respondents reported experiencing family violence. Data showed that structural characteristics like country, gender, socio-economic status and migration status were minimally predictive of violence and depression resilience at any level. For both sexes resilience is strongly linked to personal and relational characteristics and the absence of experiences that involved exposure to and direct experiences with violence. Resilience supportive factors confirmed by this study are: higher emotional self-control, talking with parents or friends about violence, seeking help to avoid violence, and not endorsing aggression supportive beliefs. Also key to resilience are irrespective of country, gender, and SES are lower levels of experience with: victimization by boys, engagement in physical altercation with boys, parental abuse, witnessing of physical spousal abuse, exposure to an authoritarian (harsh) parenting style and verbal aggression from teachers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
aggression, depression, resilience, gender, domestic violence, young people, adolescence;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(8), August 2010, pp.843-849.
Publisher:
Wiley
Studies have shown that the highest suicide rates are found among the elderly, with suicidal ideation prevalent in long-term care facilities. Despite these facts most residents show no signs of suicidal ideation. However, there is a lack of information on which factors protect against suicidal thoughts among the elderly. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation with risk and protective factors among older residential care home residents in Vienna. Participants included 129 residents, aged 60 and older, from 15 Viennese residential care homes, who completed a self-report questionnaire containing socio-demographic factors, physical health, mental health, and protective factors like self-efficacy, and internal locus of control as well as satisfaction with life. They were also asked about active and passive suicidal thoughts. Results indicated active suicidal ideation during the last month in 7% of the elderly, 11% reported active suicidal ideation during the past year. Depressive symptoms and current psychotherapeutic treatment were important predictors. In conclusion, the authors suggest that research and prevention strategies could not only target risk, but also include protective factors.
Studies have shown that the highest suicide rates are found among the elderly, with suicidal ideation prevalent in long-term care facilities. Despite these facts most residents show no signs of suicidal ideation. However, there is a lack of information on which factors protect against suicidal thoughts among the elderly. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation with risk and protective factors among older residential care home residents in Vienna. Participants included 129 residents, aged 60 and older, from 15 Viennese residential care homes, who completed a self-report questionnaire containing socio-demographic factors, physical health, mental health, and protective factors like self-efficacy, and internal locus of control as well as satisfaction with life. They were also asked about active and passive suicidal thoughts. Results indicated active suicidal ideation during the last month in 7% of the elderly, 11% reported active suicidal ideation during the past year. Depressive symptoms and current psychotherapeutic treatment were important predictors. In conclusion, the authors suggest that research and prevention strategies could not only target risk, but also include protective factors.
Subject terms:
long term care, older people, prevention, risk, suicide, care homes, depression;
Child and Youth Care Forum, 46(5), 2017, pp.721-743.
Publisher:
Springer
Background: Adolescent depression has been recognised as a complex problem that presents a global public health challenge. Left undetected and untreated, depression can significantly reduce quality of life.
Objective: The main purpose of this paper is to re-visit risk and protective factors for depression in adolescents with a specific focus on exploring the individual, familial, and social contexts of depression (especially high and very high depression levels) in a multi-country sample of youth in order to see if these factors are mitigated by cultural location.
Methods: Questionnaire data from a cross-sectional study of a randomly selected sample of 5149 middle-school students from four EU-countries (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain) was used. Applying variance analysis, the prediction strength for the observed risk and protective factors were examined.
Results: In all participating countries the authors show that in for both male and female adolescents, depression is linked to a broad range of interactive individual, and social protective and risk factors, such that even if the contribution of a single factor is low but still significant and this factor’s prediction strength is low or moderate, taken together, the cumulative prediction strength of these factors yields a remarkably similar coefficient of determination of 42–49% in all samples.
Conclusions: The authors have established a significant and relevant combination of the individual and social multifactorial risk and protective factors that characterise depression in adolescents of both genders, no matter
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: Adolescent depression has been recognised as a complex problem that presents a global public health challenge. Left undetected and untreated, depression can significantly reduce quality of life.
Objective: The main purpose of this paper is to re-visit risk and protective factors for depression in adolescents with a specific focus on exploring the individual, familial, and social contexts of depression (especially high and very high depression levels) in a multi-country sample of youth in order to see if these factors are mitigated by cultural location.
Methods: Questionnaire data from a cross-sectional study of a randomly selected sample of 5149 middle-school students from four EU-countries (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain) was used. Applying variance analysis, the prediction strength for the observed risk and protective factors were examined.
Results: In all participating countries the authors show that in for both male and female adolescents, depression is linked to a broad range of interactive individual, and social protective and risk factors, such that even if the contribution of a single factor is low but still significant and this factor’s prediction strength is low or moderate, taken together, the cumulative prediction strength of these factors yields a remarkably similar coefficient of determination of 42–49% in all samples.
Conclusions: The authors have established a significant and relevant combination of the individual and social multifactorial risk and protective factors that characterise depression in adolescents of both genders, no matter their country of location and with that, the authors call for a multifaceted and comprehensive approach to mental health assessment, prevention and intervention.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
depression, young people, risk, prevention, school children, mental health problems, psychosocial approach, intervention, assessment;
Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 21(5), October 2010, pp.637-648.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The killing of one’s child is an engendered crime, and offending mothers and fathers have been found to differ in both situational characteristics and in mental health issues. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in filicide offenders' psychiatric diagnoses, history, and other mental health-related variables. The study covered all 124 filicide offenders in Austria and Finland in 1995-2005. All registered-based data was gathered for these cases. There were 79 female and 45 male offenders. The findings showed that both genders had an equally challenged childhood. The filicidal fathers were older than the mothers, with mean ages 37.5 and 31.6 years, respectively. Filicidal fathers committed suicide at the crime scene more often than the mothers (38% vs. 15%). Of the examined parents, fathers were diagnosed more often with substance abuse/dependence (39% vs. 2%) and mothers with a psychotic disorder (35% vs. 13%). During the year preceding the crime, 25 (32%) of the mothers and 13 (29%) of the fathers had sought help for mental health-related problems. The article concludes that service providers need specific strategies to support parents in distress, especially when depressive symptoms are present.
The killing of one’s child is an engendered crime, and offending mothers and fathers have been found to differ in both situational characteristics and in mental health issues. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in filicide offenders' psychiatric diagnoses, history, and other mental health-related variables. The study covered all 124 filicide offenders in Austria and Finland in 1995-2005. All registered-based data was gathered for these cases. There were 79 female and 45 male offenders. The findings showed that both genders had an equally challenged childhood. The filicidal fathers were older than the mothers, with mean ages 37.5 and 31.6 years, respectively. Filicidal fathers committed suicide at the crime scene more often than the mothers (38% vs. 15%). Of the examined parents, fathers were diagnosed more often with substance abuse/dependence (39% vs. 2%) and mothers with a psychotic disorder (35% vs. 13%). During the year preceding the crime, 25 (32%) of the mothers and 13 (29%) of the fathers had sought help for mental health-related problems. The article concludes that service providers need specific strategies to support parents in distress, especially when depressive symptoms are present.
British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(6), December 2010, pp.463-467.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
This study tested the effectiveness of home treatment for elderly people with depression living independently in Austria. Sixty out-patients aged 65 and over with major depression were either allocated to a home treatment model over a 1-year period or to conventional psychiatric out-patient care. Home treatment was delivered by a multidisciplinary team consisting of one psychiatrist, two symptoms after 3 and 12 months. The secondary outcomes were global functioning, subjective quality of life, admissions to nursing homes, duration of psychiatric hospital treatments and the cost of care. Findings revealed that the individuals receiving home treatment had significantly fewer symptoms of depression, better global functioning and a higher quality of life at 3 months and at 12 months. In the 1 year period there were fewer admissions to nursing homes, they spent less time in psychiatric in-patient care and the overall cost of care was lower. The study concluded that home treatment appeared to be an effective and cost-effective service model for elderly people with depression.
This study tested the effectiveness of home treatment for elderly people with depression living independently in Austria. Sixty out-patients aged 65 and over with major depression were either allocated to a home treatment model over a 1-year period or to conventional psychiatric out-patient care. Home treatment was delivered by a multidisciplinary team consisting of one psychiatrist, two psychologists and one social worker who was also qualified as a psychiatric nurse. Treatment included talks about self-esteem, coping resources and medication adherence; encouragement to establish and maintain social networks, increase social and leisure activities and cope with tasks of daily living; support of carers; and crisis interventions when required. The primary outcome was the level of depressive symptoms after 3 and 12 months. The secondary outcomes were global functioning, subjective quality of life, admissions to nursing homes, duration of psychiatric hospital treatments and the cost of care. Findings revealed that the individuals receiving home treatment had significantly fewer symptoms of depression, better global functioning and a higher quality of life at 3 months and at 12 months. In the 1 year period there were fewer admissions to nursing homes, they spent less time in psychiatric in-patient care and the overall cost of care was lower. The study concluded that home treatment appeared to be an effective and cost-effective service model for elderly people with depression.
Subject terms:
home care, mental health services, older people, outcomes, psychotherapy, randomised controlled trials, treatment, therapy and treatment, cost effectiveness, depression;