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Mental health and well-being in later life
- Authors:
- CATTAN Mima, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Open University Press
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 177p.
- Place of publication:
- Maidenhead
The contributors to this book ask what mental health and mental well-being is and discuss theoretical perspectives on ageing and health promotion; policy and practice in the promotion of mental health and well-being in later life; work, retirement and money; relationships; keeping active; and coping, choice and control: pathways to positive psychological functioning and independence in later life, ending with a conclusion.
Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action
- Authors:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department for Work and Pensions, GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 103p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The framework, which focuses on the role of employment in improving mental health and well-being, is the result of joint working between government departments in England, Scotland and Wales, and advice from specialists. It is designed to improve well-being at work for everyone, and to deliver better employment results for people with mental health conditions, supporting them into work, helping them to stay in work, and assisting them to return to work after sickness absences. It identifies 6 key areas for action: changing attitudes to mental health, improving health and well-being at work for the whole population, swift intervention when things go wrong, coordinated help tailored to individuals' needs both in and out of work, building resilience from early years and throughout working lives, and coordinated action across government. The report sets out the government's programme for action on employment and mental health.
Neuroplasticity, psychosocial genomics, and the biopsychosocial paradigm in the 21st century
- Authors:
- GARLAND Eric L., HOWARD Matthew Owen
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 34(3), August 2009, pp.191-199.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article reviews recent research in neuroplasticity (how neurons within the brain proliferate and grow new connections across the lifespan) and psychosocial genomics (the processes by which psychological and social experiences activate or deactivate genes, driving the development of new neural pathways), and the implications for social work. The authors assert that neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomic research indicate that socioenvironmental factors have the potency to alter human well-being through their effects on neurobiology, that these new sciences may provide new empirical bases for social work interventions, and that they provide external validation for the biopsychosocial perspective and offer insights into the means by which socioenvironmental experiences influence neurobiological structure and function across the life course.
The moderating role of personal mastery on the relationship between caregiving status and multiple dimensions of fatigue
- Authors:
- ROEPKE Susan K., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(12), December 2009, pp.1453-1462.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A substantial proportion of chronically-stressed spousal dementia caregivers report fatigue. This study tests the hypothesis that the relationship between caregiver status and fatigue is moderated by personal mastery. Seventy-three elderly Alzheimer’s caregivers and 41 elderly non-caregivers completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form and questionnaires assessing mastery. The results confirmed that fatigue was significantly higher for caregivers. However, personal mastery moderated the relation between caregiving status and both emotional and physical fatigue, so that the association between caregiver status and fatigue was significantly greater when mastery was low. Caregivers with high mastery had significant reduction in both emotional and physical fatigue compared to those with low mastery. Considering the large proportion of caregivers who experience fatigue and the impact that this can have on physical and mental health, these findings provide information on a possible target for intervention aimed at alleviating fatigue in caregivers.
Persistence in goal striving and positive reappraisal as psychosocial resources for ageing well: a dyadic analysis
- Author:
- WINDSOR Tim D.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 13(6), November 2009, pp.874-884.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study looks at the association of individuals and their spouses tendencies towards goal striving and positive reappraisal with the individuals’ characteristics of successful aging. The indices of successful aging used were: physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and social networks and engagement. It was hypothesised that goal persistence and positive reappraisal would be positively associated with aging well. One hundred and twenty married couples with an age range of 52 to 90 completed a questionnaire concerned with psychosocial correlates of mental health and well-being. The results showed that individuals’ tendencies towards positive reappraisal were positively related to physical and mental health and life satisfaction, and were also related to more extensive social networks. Individuals’ persistence in goal striving was associated with better mental health but not to any of the other indices of aging well. Spouses’ goal persistence and reappraisal tendencies were not related to individuals’ aging well. The author concludes that the results highlight the value of positive reappraisal as a copying strategy to loss of primary control later in life.
Recovering mind and body: a framework for the role of physiotherapy in mental health and well-being
- Author:
- POPE Catherine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 8(2), June 2009, pp.36-39.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article summarises the recently published mental health physiotherapy strategy, 'Recovering Mind and Body: a framework for physiotherapy in mental health and wellbeing' by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and its companion document 'Commissioning Mental Health Services: the contribution of physiotherapy to integrated services for health and wellbeing' and discusses how the documents can be used to ensure that more mental health service users and carers can benefit from the skills of physiotherapists.
Addressing the determinants of positive mental health: concepts, evidence and practice
- Author:
- BARRY Margaret M.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11(3), August 2009, pp.4-17.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Positive mental health is recognised as a key resource for population well-being and the social and economic prosperity of society. This paper provides an overview of current concepts of positive mental health and its contribution to the health and well-being of society. Frameworks for promoting mental health are presented, together with an overview of key concepts and principles underpinning this multi-disciplinary area of practice. Drawing on empirical studies, the article reviews the determinants of positive mental health across the lifespan. Enhancing factors for promoting mental health at the structural, community and individual levels are identified. The growing evidence base on the effectiveness of mental health promotion interventions is discussed, and the implications of addressing the psychosocial determinants of mental health for policy and practice are considered.
The effect of animals on human health and well-being
- Author:
- WELLS Deborah L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Issues, 65(3), 2009, pp.523-543.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper explores the evidence that pets can contribute to human health and well-being. The article initially concentrates on the value of animals for short- and long-term physical health, before exploring the relationship between animals and psychological health, focusing on the ability of dogs, cats, and other species to aid the disabled and serve as a "therapist" to those in institutional settings. The paper also discusses the evidence for the ability of dogs to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of specific chronic diseases, notably cancer, epilepsy, and diabetes. Mechanisms underlying the ability of animals to promote human health are discussed within a theoretical framework. Whereas the evidence for a direct causal association between human well-being and companion animals is not conclusive, the literature reviewed is largely supportive of the widely held, and long-standing, belief that "pets are good for us."
Measuring mental distress of young people since 1987
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 12.11.09, 2009, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The findings of a study which looked at changes in young people's mental well-being over 19 years from 1987 to 2006 in Scotland are examined. Using the General Health Questionnaire, it compared Scottish 15-year-olds' psychological distress in 1987, 1999 and 2006. The findings showed worrying changes in the mental well-being of teenagers and backs reports on widespread unhappiness.
Contribution of self-compassion to competence and mental health in social work students
- Author:
- YING Yu-Wen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Education, 45(2), Summer 2009, pp.309-323.
- Publisher:
- Council on Social Work Education
There is evidence to suggest that serving underprivileged members of society in the context of shrinking resources may place social workers at the risk of professional burnout. This study examined the potential contribution of self-compassion to perceived competence and mental health in 65 master's social work students from the US. It was hypothesised that the components of self-compassion would impact perceived competence, which in turn would mediate mental health (depression symptom level). Results showed that over identification directly and indirectly (as mediated by decreased coherence) affected depressive symptom level. Implications for social work education are discussed.