Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Do mental health and behavioural problems of early menarche persist into late adolescence? A three year follow-up study among adolescent girls in Oslo, Norway
- Authors:
- LIEN Lars, HAAVET Ole Rikard, DALGARD Florence
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 71(3), August 2010, pp.529-533.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Noting that early pubertal timing in girls has been identified as an important risk factor for various mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders and anxiety, and substance abuse, delinquent behaviour and increased sexual risk-taking, this study aimed to explore whether the differences in mental health problems between girls with early and late menarche persist into late adolescence. Data was gathered through self-reported responses from a large school-based survey of 15-year-old girls in Oslo, with 1,860 participating girls in the 2001 survey and 1,377 in the 3 year follow-up study in 2004. The results showed that although at 15 years of age there was strong statistically significant association between age of menarche and mental distress, this cross-sectional association was no longer statistically significant 3 years later among the same girls, and the relation between age of menarche and mental distress disappeared from 15 to 18 years of age. The researchers concluded that the study showed that the effects of age of menarche on mental health problems are transitory, suggesting a possible "wait and see" approach for girls facing mental health problems during puberty.
Physical activity and common mental disorders
- Authors:
- HARVEY Samuel B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(5), November 2010, pp.357-364.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Levels of physical activity have decreased in high income countries. This is known to reduce physical health, but may also negatively affect mental health. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and common mental disorders. It also established the importance of context, type and intensity of activity undertaken. In a clinical examination of 40,401 Norwegian residents, participants answered questions relating to the frequency and intensity of both leisure-time and workplace activity. Depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results revealed an inverse relationship between the amount of leisure-time physical activity and case-level symptoms of depression. This association was only present with leisure-time activity and was not dependent on the intensity of activities undertaken. Higher levels of social engagement were important in explaining the relationship between leisure activity and depression. The authors concluded that individuals who regularly engage in physical activity are less likely to exhibit symptoms of depression.
Long-term mental health of Vietnamese refugees in the aftermath of trauma
- Authors:
- VAAGE Aina Basilier, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 196(2), February 2010, pp.122-125.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Long-term prospective data (more than 10 years) about the mental health of refugees is limited. This paper reports the long-term course and predictors of psychological distress as revealed in the third interview phase of a longitudinal, community cohort study of Vietnamese refugees settled in Norway. Eighty people, 57% of the original cohort interviewed in 1982 (T1) and 1985 (T2), completed a self-report questionnaire prior to a semi-structured interview. Mental health was measured using the Symptom Checklist–90–Revised (SCL–90–R). There were 12 women and 68 men, with a mean age of 47.5 years at T3. A Norwegian normative sample was included for comparison. The SCL–90–R mean Global Severity Index (GSI) decreased significantly from T1 to T3 (2005–6), but there was no significant change in the percentage reaching threshold scores (GSI =1.00). No gender differences were seen. Trauma-related mental disorder on arrival and the trajectory of symptoms over the first 3 years of resettlement predicted mental health after 23 years. Although self-reported psychological distress decreased significantly over time, a substantially higher proportion of the refugee group still reached threshold scores after 23 years of resettlement compared with the Norwegian population. It is suggested that refugees reaching threshold scores on measures such as the SCL–90–R soon after arrival warrant comprehensive clinical assessment.
Caring for children of parents with mental health problems - a venture into historical and cultural processes in Europe
- Authors:
- SOLANTAUS Tytti, PURAS Dainius
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 12(4), November 2010, pp.27-36.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article discusses the European initiative Work Package 5 (WP5), a part of the CAMHEE programme, which was designed to bring children and families with parental mental illness onto the European agenda. Parental mental health problems are a major risk for children’s adverse development. Intergenerational mental health issues often leads to social marginalisation and exclusion, which constitutes a serious social problem. WP5 participants included Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Romania. The WP5 emphasised that it is important for every country to learn what the legal, human rights, and service and life situation is for these children and families and to take preventive and promotion action. The paper suggests that, to avoid further stigmatisation, awareness campaigns and training of professionals should capitalise on resilience and support for children and parenting rather than on risks. Psychiatric services for adults should respond to the needs for care and support of the patients' children. Finally, changes in society are needed, including redirecting legislation from restrictive measures towards promotion and prevention.
The social capital and mental health of long-term social assistance recipients in Norway
- Author:
- MALMBERG-HEIMONEN Ira
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 13(1), March 2010, pp.91-107.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This cross-sectional survey analysed the mental health benefits of individual-level bonding and individual-level bridging social capital for 551 Norwegian longer-term social assistance recipients. Data were collected during 2005 and participants were recruited form 14 rural and urban municipalities nationwide. Subjects had been recipients of social assistance for at least six continuous months during the past year. The analyses showed that recipients generally had high levels of bonding social capital, whereas they had less bridging social capital. The findings demonstrated that bonding social capital i.e. contacts with friends and access to social resources are positively associated with mental health. Of the variables in the study that related to bridging social capital, social trust and trust towards the social worker particularly showed significant associations for mental health. The author concludes that it is important that the mental health benefits of various forms of bonding and bridging social capital are acknowledged within social work practices and that social work practitioners actively aim to increase social trust in longer-term social assistance recipients.