Clinical Social Work Journal, 49(3), 2021, pp.368-379.
Publisher:
Springer
Place of publication:
New York
... with depression and anxiety and utilize a case study to illuminate the relationship between young adult depression, anxiety, and social media use. The article provides clear recommendations for the assessment and treatment of social media use in depressed and anxious young adults.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Studies suggest that more 30% of college students are currently depressed. A small but growing body of literature suggests that young adults’ social media use correlates with their depressive and anxious symptomology. As many as 90% of young adults use social media currently, compared to just 12.5% in 2005. Further, more than a quarter of college students report spending at least six hours per week on social media, compared to only 18.9% in 2007. Smartphone use within young adult populations also is extremely high: estimates of undergraduate smartphone ownership appear to be as high as 97%. Collectively, these trends suggest that social media and smartphones play an integral role in the routines and culture of young adults. The authors present the existing research linking social media use with depression and anxiety and utilize a case study to illuminate the relationship between young adult depression, anxiety, and social media use. The article provides clear recommendations for the assessment and treatment of social media use in depressed and anxious young adults.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Aging and Mental Health, 24(12), 2020, pp.1977-1984.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Depression and anxiety are common in later life, particularly when people are frail. This leads to reduced quality of life, faster decline in physical health and increased health/social care use. Available treatments are commonly not tailored to people with frailty. We explored frail older peoples’ experiences of depression and/or anxiety and how services could be adapted
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: Depression and anxiety are common in later life, particularly when people are frail. This leads to reduced quality of life, faster decline in physical health and increased health/social care use. Available treatments are commonly not tailored to people with frailty. We explored frail older peoples’ experiences of depression and/or anxiety and how services could be adapted to their needs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 28 older people in the UK purposively sampled for practice location and severity of frailty and anxiety/depression. We asked about symptoms, interactions with physical health, help-seeking, treatments and what might help in future. We audio-recorded and transcribed interviews, using thematic analysis to inductively derive themes. Results: Frail older people had low expectations of their wellbeing at this point in life due to multiple physical health issues and so anxiety and mild depressive symptoms were normalised. There was a particular reluctance and uncertainty regarding help-seeking for anxiety. Treatments were considered appropriate where they aligned with coping skills developed over their lifetime, and facilitated independence and problem-solving skills. Most older people felt their knowledge of mental health was limited and relied upon information about and endorsement of therapies from an expert. This was usually their GP, but access was often problematic. Online methods of accessing information and therapies were not popular.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
depression, older people, anxiety, mental health problems;
Journal of Social Service Research, 39(5), 2013, pp.606-615.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... providing services to patients with lupus. Key findings include the following: Frequent flare-ups resulted in the highest need for assistance with feelings of depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic challenges. Hair loss had the most significant impact on depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic coping. Being hospitalized in the past year for lupus also significantly impacted depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic coping. And, finally, the participants reported that having friends to rely on reduced their reported depression and anxiety. Fatigue from lupus was seen as the highest correlate of anxiety.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article reports the findings from a cross-sectional quantitative study of 92 patients receiving treatment at a US clinic, to investigate how patients living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience the psychosocial impact of this chronic autoimmune disease. The authors review relevant literature, discuss findings, and provide evidence-based recommendations for social workers providing services to patients with lupus. Key findings include the following: Frequent flare-ups resulted in the highest need for assistance with feelings of depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic challenges. Hair loss had the most significant impact on depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic coping. Being hospitalized in the past year for lupus also significantly impacted depression, anxiety, and socioeconomic coping. And, finally, the participants reported that having friends to rely on reduced their reported depression and anxiety. Fatigue from lupus was seen as the highest correlate of anxiety.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
long term conditions, depression, coping behaviour, anxiety;
Social Care and Neurodisability, 3(4), 2012, pp.172-178.
Publisher:
Emerald
Depression and anxiety are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to investigate the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) as a useful tool for measuring anxiety and depression in people with MS who live in the community. Another aim was to provide normative data specific to MS to help in the assessment of anxiety and depression for clinicians and researchers. The study was part of a larger community postal survey investigating the relationship between mood and self-reported cognitive difficulties in MS. A total of 144 individuals with MS in this study completed the HADS. The findings showed that individuals with MS report significantly greater levels of anxiety and depression than a healthy population, with prevalence rates of moderate/severe anxiety of 32.4% and prevalence rates of moderate/severe depression of 12.5%. The HADS had good levels of internal reliability, providing evidence of the suitability of the HADS in this population. Raw scores and percentile equivalents for use with MS patients are reported.
Depression and anxiety are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to investigate the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) as a useful tool for measuring anxiety and depression in people with MS who live in the community. Another aim was to provide normative data specific to MS to help in the assessment of anxiety and depression for clinicians and researchers. The study was part of a larger community postal survey investigating the relationship between mood and self-reported cognitive difficulties in MS. A total of 144 individuals with MS in this study completed the HADS. The findings showed that individuals with MS report significantly greater levels of anxiety and depression than a healthy population, with prevalence rates of moderate/severe anxiety of 32.4% and prevalence rates of moderate/severe depression of 12.5%. The HADS had good levels of internal reliability, providing evidence of the suitability of the HADS in this population. Raw scores and percentile equivalents for use with MS patients are reported.
BERNARDES Dora, WRIGHT John, LIVINGSTONE Andrew G.
Journal article citation:
Diversity and Equality in Health and Care, 9(3), 2012, pp.201-208.
Publisher:
Insight Medical Publishing
This study investigated aspects of the mental health of asylum seekers who had recently arrived in the UK. It used the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Scale, the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, the PTSD Symptom Scale Interview, the Clinical Outcomes Routine Evaluation and in-depth interviews. A total of 29 asylum seekers, 26 of whom were male, representing 13 countries, agreed to take part. Findings revealed that the participants all experienced a feeling of fear and sadness about the uncertainty of their application for asylum, while fear of deportation affected their ability to carry out activities of daily life. Social support was deemed essential in helping them cope with these difficulties. The paper ends with some reflections on the challenges that arose during the investigation, and presents recommendations to help other researchers undertaking similar research.
This study investigated aspects of the mental health of asylum seekers who had recently arrived in the UK. It used the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Scale, the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, the PTSD Symptom Scale Interview, the Clinical Outcomes Routine Evaluation and in-depth interviews. A total of 29 asylum seekers, 26 of whom were male, representing 13 countries, agreed to take part. Findings revealed that the participants all experienced a feeling of fear and sadness about the uncertainty of their application for asylum, while fear of deportation affected their ability to carry out activities of daily life. Social support was deemed essential in helping them cope with these difficulties. The paper ends with some reflections on the challenges that arose during the investigation, and presents recommendations to help other researchers undertaking similar research.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, asylum seekers, anxiety, depression;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(7), July 2012, pp.727-733.
Publisher:
Wiley
... associated with fear of falling in a group of fallers transitioning to frailty compared with robust or non-frail fallers. A total of 301 fallers (mean age 75 years) underwent assessment. Fear of falling was measured using the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, and frailty using the Biological Syndrome Model. Psychological assessment included anxiety, depression, loneliness, personality factors and cognition. Frailer fallers had increased fear of falling compared to robust fallers. Age, female gender and lower cognitive scores were associated with greater fear of falling in the robust group. For frailer fallers, higher depression score was the only factor associated with fear of falling. The odds ratio of having case level depressive disorder if a frail faller was significantly higher than if robust.
It is suggested that fear of falling, one of the most common fears among community-dwelling older people, is as serious a health problem as the falls themselves. It often leads to activity avoidance. The authors believe that understanding fear of falling may help to identify strategies to reduce concern in the vulnerable old. This cross sectional study evaluated the psychological factors associated with fear of falling in a group of fallers transitioning to frailty compared with robust or non-frail fallers. A total of 301 fallers (mean age 75 years) underwent assessment. Fear of falling was measured using the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, and frailty using the Biological Syndrome Model. Psychological assessment included anxiety, depression, loneliness, personality factors and cognition. Frailer fallers had increased fear of falling compared to robust fallers. Age, female gender and lower cognitive scores were associated with greater fear of falling in the robust group. For frailer fallers, higher depression score was the only factor associated with fear of falling. The odds ratio of having case level depressive disorder if a frail faller was significantly higher than if robust. The authors conclude that fallers at a transitional level of frailty may be particularly vulnerable group psychologically and would benefit most from interventional strategies focussing on depressive symptoms.
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50(4), November 2011, pp.364-378.
Publisher:
Wiley
... in their associations with depression and anxiety. Additionally, reactive and self-regulatory aspects of temperament were considered as vulnerability factors for depression and anxiety and were also studied in relation to rumination and worry. The participants were 138 primary school children aged 9-13 years who completed self-report questionnaires measuring levels of rumination, worry, temperament, depression,
Worry and rumination are cognitive processes characterised by thinking about personal concerns in unproductive, repetitive ways. Rumination is thought to be an important vulnerability factor for depressive symptoms whereas worry is believed to be involved in anxiety. The aim of this study was to clarify the extent to which worry and rumination show symptom specificity or generality in their associations with depression and anxiety. Additionally, reactive and self-regulatory aspects of temperament were considered as vulnerability factors for depression and anxiety and were also studied in relation to rumination and worry. The participants were 138 primary school children aged 9-13 years who completed self-report questionnaires measuring levels of rumination, worry, temperament, depression, and anxiety. The findings showed that brooding and worry were significantly associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms and with the temperamental construct of negative affectivity. Only brooding significantly mediated the association between negative affectivity and depressive symptoms, whereas only worry was a mediator of the relation between negatively affectivity and anxiety symptoms. Among self-regulatory aspects of temperament, activation control and inhibitory control were uniquely associated with depressive symptoms, whereas attentional control was only associated with anxiety symptoms.
Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 20(3), April 2011, pp.280-303.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The impact of trauma on mental health can be extensive. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the best understood conditions resulting from a traumatic experience. PTSD affects as many as 7% of the United States population. Social support and coping behaviour are both related to PTSD symptoms, but the actual mechanisms underlying their relationships are under researched. This study investigated these relationships by examining the perceived frequency of supportive and counter-supportive interactions with a significant other in PTSD patients. Participants included 96 individuals with PTSD who were recruited in Montreal, Canada and completed questionnaires assessing social interactions, ways of coping, and PTSD symptoms. Findings revealed that the associations of social interactions and coping with symptoms were independent, and suggested a direct association between social interactions and PTSD. Counter-supportive interactions were more associated to symptoms than supportive interactions. The development of psychotherapies which integrate social support interventions are discussed.
The impact of trauma on mental health can be extensive. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the best understood conditions resulting from a traumatic experience. PTSD affects as many as 7% of the United States population. Social support and coping behaviour are both related to PTSD symptoms, but the actual mechanisms underlying their relationships are under researched. This study investigated these relationships by examining the perceived frequency of supportive and counter-supportive interactions with a significant other in PTSD patients. Participants included 96 individuals with PTSD who were recruited in Montreal, Canada and completed questionnaires assessing social interactions, ways of coping, and PTSD symptoms. Findings revealed that the associations of social interactions and coping with symptoms were independent, and suggested a direct association between social interactions and PTSD. Counter-supportive interactions were more associated to symptoms than supportive interactions. The development of psychotherapies which integrate social support interventions are discussed.
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, coping behaviour, depression;
Community Mental Health Journal, 45(4), August 2009, pp.272-284.
Publisher:
Springer
Current research indicates that Black men who have sex with men are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this group in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multi-racial including black, men who have sex with men residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behaviour, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes for each category were delineated.
Current research indicates that Black men who have sex with men are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this group in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multi-racial including black, men who have sex with men residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behaviour, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes for each category were delineated.
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 48(4), November 2009, pp.335-346.
Publisher:
Wiley
Using data from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 study, this analysis examined the relationship between the strain and burden of caregiving and depression and anxiety in a large community sample, with social support and sleep quality investigated as potential mediators. Individuals caring for someone other than their own child were identified and caregiving strain burden, social support, and sleep quality were assessed, with participants completing the hospital anxiety and depression scale at the same time and 5 years later. The data indicated that caregiver strain burden, in a community sample with a range of caregiving responsibilities, are associated with depression and anxiety symptoms and possible pathology, and that caregivers who reported greater strain and burden showed worsening
Using data from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 study, this analysis examined the relationship between the strain and burden of caregiving and depression and anxiety in a large community sample, with social support and sleep quality investigated as potential mediators. Individuals caring for someone other than their own child were identified and caregiving strain burden, social support, and sleep quality were assessed, with participants completing the hospital anxiety and depression scale at the same time and 5 years later. The data indicated that caregiver strain burden, in a community sample with a range of caregiving responsibilities, are associated with depression and anxiety symptoms and possible pathology, and that caregivers who reported greater strain and burden showed worsening of symptoms 5 years later. The authors conclude that with almost 7 million people identified as caregivers in the UK, practitioners and clinicians need to be aware of the psychological needs of caregivers.