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Suicide by middle-aged men
- Author:
- NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRY INTO SUICIDE AND SAFETY IN MENTAL HEALTH
- Publisher:
- University of Manchester
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- London
This study examines factors associated with suicide in middle-aged men. More specifically, it examines the characteristics of middle-aged men who died by suicide; determines how frequently suicide was preceded by specific events and clinical factors; examines the role of support services; makes recommendations to strengthen suicide prevention for middle-aged men. Key messages emerging from this study include: middle-aged men are the group at highest risk of dying by suicide – the reasons for this are complex, include a combination of longstanding and recent risks and we should avoid attributing these suicide deaths to single causes, as this will make prevention less effective; rates of contact with services among middle-aged men were higher than expected; there is a vital role in prevention particularly for primary care, A&E, the justice system, and mental health services; economic adversity, alcohol and drug misuse, and relationship stresses are common antecedents of suicide in men in mid-life; more than half of the middle-aged men who died had a physical health condition; middle-aged men who seek help for their mental health sometimes remain untreated – in particular, psychological therapies suited to their needs should be offered; around half of the men who died were known to have self-harmed; many of the men in our study appear to have been affected by bereavement; we found information on suicide methods was often obtained via the internet – online safety should be part of any prevention plan for men at risk of suicide; there is also a small group of suicidal men who appear to be out of contact with any supports. There are several examples of local and national third sector initiatives aiming to reach this group and these should be supported and adopted more widely. (Edited publisher abstract)
A latent profile analysis of adverse childhood experiences and adult health in a community sample
- Authors:
- DOBSON Keith S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 114, 2021, p.104927.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: Childhood adversity is generally associated with adult mental health problems, but most studies have an insufficient sample size to examine relationships among various aspects of childhood adversity and adult mental health outcomes. Further, past research has predominantly been restricted to a single or limited types of adverse events, which ignores the inherent interdependence among childhood adversity indicators. Objective: The current study explored various configurations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and then examined the relationships among these configurations and various mental health constructs with a person-centered analytic framework. Participants and setting: A sample of 3, 932 adult outpatients was recruited in primary care settings, during regular physician visits. Methods: Participants provided informed consent, demographic information, and then completed validated measure of ACEs (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, family dysfunction), and a series of validated mental health measures. Results: Latent profile analyses revealed four configurations (or profiles) of ACEs, which were analysed for their relationships with mental health outcomes. The profile with a dominance of physical neglect was associated with the highest levels of anxiety and depression. The profiles with high levels of sexual abuse, either alone or combined with general adversity, had more emotional problems than the profile with low levels of adversity. The profiles characterizing mistreatment did not consistently differ from each other on the mental health outcomes. Conclusions: It is critical to consider ACEs in their complex relationship with each other. Different patterns of ACEs are associated with differential health outcomes in adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
A population-based study of childhood sexual contact in China: prevalence and long-term consequences
- Authors:
- LUO Ye, PARISH William L., LAUMANN Edward O.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(7), July 2008, pp.721-731.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study provides national estimates of the prevalence of childhood sexual contact and its association with sexual well-being and psychological distress among adults in China. A national stratified probability sample of 1,519 women and 1,475 men aged 20–64 years in urban China completed a computer-administered survey in 1999–2000. The data from this survey on both adult-to-child and peer-to-peer sexual contact before age 14 were subjected to descriptive and multivariate analyses that were adjusted for both sampling weights and sampling design. The overall prevalence of reported childhood sexual contact was 4.2%, with prevalence higher among men (5.1%) than among women (3.3%) and higher among those aged 20–29 years (8.3%). Childhood sexual contact was associated with multiplex consequences, including hyper-sexuality (high levels of masturbation, thoughts about sex, varieties of sexual practices, partner turnover), adult sexual victimization (unwanted sex, unwanted sexual acts, sexual harassment), sexual difficulties (genitor-urinary symptoms, sexually transmitted infections, sexual dysfunctions), and psychological distress. Psychological distress was largely mediated by adult sexual victimization, sexual difficulties, and hyper-sexuality. Despite the relatively modest prevalence of childhood sexual contact among Chinese adults, the association with multiplex adult outcomes suggests that much as in the West early sexual contact is a significant issue.
Prevalence of mental health disorders in adult minority ethnic populations in England: a systematic review
- Authors:
- REES Rebecca, et al
- Publisher:
- University College London. Institute of Education. EPPI-Centre
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- x, 101
- Place of publication:
- London
A systematic review of the survey literature that has estimated the prevalence of mental health disorders among adults from minority ethnic groups in England. Findings are intended to be used to inform the design of a sampling strategy aimed at boosting the sample of people from minority ethnic groups in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. The review has identified a small number of recent surveys able to provide reliable prevalence estimates of various MHDs among certain ethnic groups in England and in the UK more generally. It has found published analyses of these surveys that, taken together, enable the identification of indicative patterns of prevalence between one or more ethnic groups for several MHDs. The report suggests that secondary analyses of the data sets could produce additional prevalence estimates for people in specific ethnic groups. For people in some less common or more recently established minority ethnic groups, existing data sets are likely to be insufficient for identifying the prevalence of mental health disorder with any precision or certainty, and further survey work that boosts sampling for these groups is likely to be required. (Edited publisher abstract)
Predictors of challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- KORITSAS Stella, IACONO Teresa
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 9(6), 2015, pp.312-326.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which mental health, physical health, communication, learned function of the behaviour(s), severity of disability, living arrangement, age, and gender, alone or in combination, predicted challenging behaviours in adults with intellectual disability. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 74 adults with intellectual disability and their paid carers were recruited into the study from adult disability services in Victoria, Australia. Paid carers provided information about participants with intellectual disability on a range of measures targeting each variable of interest. Findings: Based on principle components analyses of three challenging behaviour measures, two topographies of challenging behaviour emerged: contact and non-contact behaviours. Multiple regression analysis revealed that contact behaviours were predicted by anxiety scores and severity of disability. In addition to severity of disability and anxiety scores, non-contact behaviours were also predicted by sensory scores. Practical implications: The results of the current study indicate that contact and non-contact behaviours were determined by multiple factors. Clinicians and others who work with people who display challenging behaviour may, therefore, find it helpful to utilise the biopsychosocial model in their formulations of possible reasons that motivate a person to engage in challenging behaviour. Originality/value: These results contribute to the evidence base available to clinicians and researchers to guide future assessment for challenging behaviour. Expansion of functional assessment methods to explore factors not traditionally included, such as mental health and severity of intellectual disability, as causes of challenging behaviour, may prove helpful. (Publisher abstract)
DALLAS: delivering assisted living lifestyles at scale: SBRI competition for development contracts
- Author:
- TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY BOARD
- Publisher:
- Technology Strategy Board
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- Swindon
A total investment of up to £23 million is being made in the UK-wide DALLAS programme (Delivering Assisted Living Lifestyles at Scale). This comprises an £18m investment by the Technology Strategy Board and the National Institute for Health Research, with a further £5m contribution from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. DALLAS will establish three to five communities of 10,000 people each or more across the UK, of which one will be in Scotland. These will show how assisted living technologies and services can be used to promote wellbeing, and provide top quality health and care, enabling people to live independently – including a preventative approach. This is an open competition commencing on 7 June 2011, with successful projects attracting 100% of public funding and lasting up to 36 months. This document details the funding allocation, the application process, and key dates in the competition.
The ratio between positive and negative affect and flourishing mental health across adulthood
- Authors:
- DIEHL Manfred, HAY Elizabeth L., BERG Kathleen M.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(7), September 2011, pp.882-893.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Previous research has suggested that the balance of positive to negative affect is critically relevant to well-being and adjustment, and that, to maintain an optimal level of positive mental health, individuals need to experience approximately 3 times more positive than negative affect. The aim of this study was to address the association between the positivity ratio, age, and mental health status, and particularly to see if the proposed critical positivity ratio of 2.9 discriminated equally well between individuals with different mental health status across the adult lifespan. The participants were 239 adults from north central Florida, separated into 3 age groups: 81 young; 81 middle-aged; and 77 older. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire, followed by 30 consecutive days of daily assessments. The findings showed that the ratio of positive to negative affect differed across adulthood such that age was associated with an increasing preponderance of positive to negative affect. The positivity ratio was also associated with mental health status with higher positivity ratios being associated with better mental health. Although the data supported the notion of a positivity ratio of 2.9 as a ‘critical value’ in young adulthood, this value did not equally well discriminate the mental health status of middle-aged and older adults.
Men who were sexually abused in childhood: coping strategies and comparisons in psychological functioning
- Author:
- O'LEARY Patrick J.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 33(7), July 2009, pp.471-479.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
In order to examine coping strategies of men who were sexually abused in childhood a primary sample of 147 Australian men was recruited from agencies and self-help groups who support adults who were sexually abused in childhood. For comparative purposes a secondary data set that consisted of 1,231 men recruited randomly in an Australian community survey was utilized. Both samples were administered the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28). The primary sample was administered the 60-item coping style inventory instrument (COPE). Coping strategies influenced the possibility of being classified as clinical or nonclinical. The most important strategies associated with better functioning were positive reinterpretation and growth and seeking instrumental social support. Whereas strategies that were more associated with a clinical outcome were themed around internalization, acceptance and disengagement. The sample of men who were sexually abused in childhood was up to 10 times more likely to be classified as “clinical” then the sample of community men. Time elapsed since the abuse occurred did not have a moderating effect on men's psychological functioning. It is concluded that men who have been sexually abused in childhood are more likely to have clinical diagnoses but coping strategies may play an important part in this outcome. Seeking active assistance appears to be important coping strategy in reframing the experience, however, the timing of this help seeking is not critical.
Generational structure and social resources in mid-life: influences on health and well-being
- Authors:
- McILVANE Jessica M., AJROUCH Kristine J., ANOTONUCCI Toni C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Issues, 63(4), 2007, pp.759-773.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The influence of generational structure on well-being in mid-life is examined in a regional representative sample of 807 adults aged 30–64 in the United States. Results indicate that those who lack the personal and social resources of education and marriage, and have parents but no children, report higher levels of well-being than those with only child(ren) or both parent(s) and child(ren). Findings suggest that elders may serve as a key resource to adult children who lack personal and social resources in mid-life. Adults increasingly follow less traditional paths in life (e.g., those without children and/or never married), and hence, these findings have implications for current and future policies directed toward aging and family well-being.
Chronic avoidance helps explain the relationship between severity of childhood sexual abuse and psychological distress in adulthood
- Authors:
- ROSENTHAL M. Zachary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 14(4), 2005, pp.25-41.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Recent studies have found that chronic avoidance of unpleasant internal experiences (e.g., thoughts, emotions, memories) is a maladaptive means of affect regulation often adopted by women with a history of sexual victimization in childhood. The primary aim of this study was to replicate and extend previous findings suggesting that higher levels of experiential avoidance may account for the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and psychological distress in adulthood. It was hypothesized that, in a sample of 151 undergraduate females, the relationship between severity of CSA (e.g., frequency, nature of victimization) and trauma-related psychological distress would be mediated by avoidance. Results supported this hypothesis. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).