Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Associations between types of involvement in bullying, friendships and mental health status
- Authors:
- SKRZYPIEC Grace, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 17(3-4), 2012, pp.259-272.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Being involved in bullying (either as a victim, bully or bully–victim) is associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of association between students’ type of involvement in bullying, their friendships and their mental health status. Specifically, the research aimed to establish: whether the mental health status of victims, bullies and bully-victims would fall disproportionately into the abnormal range of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); to examine the associations between gender and mental health status according to involvement in bullying; and to investigate the association between the type of students' involvement in bullying, friendship status and mental health status. A sample of 1313 adolescents, aged 12-15 years, drawn from 3 South Australian secondary schools in Adelaide, completed the SDQ and the Peer Relations Questionnaire (PRQ). The findings showed that adolescents involved in bullying, particularly bully–victims, were more likely to be screened as ‘abnormal’ on the SDQ. The findings also suggest that having friends may act as a protective factor against these mental health difficulties, particularly for victims. The different types of mental health difficulties experienced by males and females involved in bullying warrant targeted interventions relevant to the characteristics of subgroups of students.
New grandparents’ mental health: the protective role of optimism, self-mastery, and social support
- Authors:
- SHLOMO Shirley Ben, TAUBMAN-BEN-ARI Orit
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 15(4), July 2012, pp.254-271.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
First-time grandparents report conflicting feelings in the wake of the transition to their new role. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of optimism, self-mastery, perceived social support, and background variables (age, physical health, economic status) to mental health following the transition to grandparenthood. The sample consisted of 257 first-time Israeli grandparents (156 grandmothers and 101 grandfathers), of whom 151 were maternal grandparents and 106 were paternal grandparents. The participants were asked to complete a series of self-report questionnaires. Analysis was conducted to examine: differences between grandparents by gender and lineage; associations between mental health and the independent variables; and the unique and combined contribution of the independent variables to the mental health of new grandparents. The results indicate the importance of internal and external resources, as well as of health and economic status, for the mental health of new grandparents. The value of designing relevant preventive interventions by family social workers to assist grandparents in coping with their new role is discussed.
Childhood maltreatment and the structure of common psychiatric disorders
- Authors:
- KEYES Katherine M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(2), February 2012, pp.107-115.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Exposure to childhood maltreatment has been shown to increase risk for many psychiatric disorders. This non-specific pattern of risk may mean that childhood maltreatment increases vulnerability to numerous specific psychiatric disorders through diverse, specific mechanisms or that childhood maltreatment engenders a generalised liability to dimensions of psychopathology. The aim of this study was to estimate the associations of childhood maltreatment with underlying dimensions of internalising and externalising psychopathology and with specific disorders. Data were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a nationally representative survey of 34,653 US adults. Analysis revealed that the association between childhood maltreatment and psychiatric disorders operates through latent liabilities to experience internalising and externalising psychopathology. Important gender differences emerged with physical abuse associated only with externalising liability in men, and only with internalising liability in women. Neglect was not significantly associated with latent liability levels. The findings indicate that the prevention of maltreatment may have a wide range of benefits in reducing the prevalence of many common mental disorders.
People with intellectual disabilities going missing
- Author:
- RICKFORD Richard
- Publisher:
- Missing People
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 20p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This research aimed to explore the relationship between intellectual disabilities and going missing, with a view to offering better support to people who may be considered at risk of going missing. It draws data from the internal case management database of Missing People, a charity which provides confidential support, including the opportunity to reconnect, for missing people and their families. The findings showed that in 2009-10, 4.7% of the cases dealt with by Missing People involved a person with intellectual disabilities; considerably higher than the 2% of the UK population estimated to have intellectual disabilities. Various characteristics of the missing people with intellectual disabilities were calculated using different samples, including gender, age, accommodation, mental health, and addiction. In nearly one-third of the cases where an intellectual disability was indicated, there was also a concern for the missing person’s mental wellbeing. In 15% of cases, there was evidence that the missing person had a fascination with public transport or that their journey had been disrupted. In another 22% there was evidence that the missing person had arranged to meet a stranger; a number of which had been contacted via the internet. Recommendations are made for policy and further research.
Polytraumatization and trauma symptoms in adolescent boys and girls: interpersonal and noninterpersonal events and moderating effects of adverse family circumstances
- Authors:
- NILSSON Doris Kristina, GUSTAFSSON Per E., SVEDIN Carl Göran
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(13), September 2012, pp.2645-2664.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Previous research has highlighted that polyvictimisation or polytraumatisation among adolescents are important predictors of reported trauma-related symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the cumulative effect of interpersonal and noninterpersonal traumatic life events (IPEs and nIPEs, respectively) on the mental health of adolescents and to determine if the adverse impacts of this trauma were moderated by adverse family circumstances (AFC). A total of 462 adolescents from 13 different schools and 27 classes completed the questionnaire, the Linköping Youth Life Experience Scale (LYLES), together with Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). The findings showed that the lifetime accumulation of interpersonal, noninterpersonal, and AFC was independently related to trauma-related symptoms in both boys and girls. The number of AFCs moderated the mental health impact of both IPEs and nIPEs in boys, but not in girls. The article concludes that cumulative exposure to both interpersonal and noninterpersonal traumatic events is important for the mental health of adolescents, and, at least for boys, family circumstances seem to be relevant for the impact of trauma. The implications for practice are discussed.
Neighborhood environment and internalizing problems in African American children
- Authors:
- MILAM Adam J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 48(1), February 2012, pp.39-44.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Gender differences in the association between environment and internalizing problems were examined in a sample of predominately African American schoolchildren. Internalizing problems was assessed using the Youth Self Report. Violence and alcohol and other drug (AOD) exposure subscales were created using observational assessments of neighbourhood blocks. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between neighbourhood environment and internalizing problems. For each AOD item present on the block the odds of internalizing problems among girls increased by 17%. The relationship was not significant among boys. Violence exposure did not predict internalizing problems in boys or girls. These preliminary findings suggest that primary school-aged girls’ emotional well-being is more negatively impacted by deleterious environments. Future investigations will examine the relationship between deleterious neighbourhood environments and internalizing problems as the children age into adolescence.
Latent class analysis: a method for capturing heterogeneity
- Authors:
- ROSATO Nancy Scotto, BAER Judith C.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Research, 36(1), March 2012, pp.61-69.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Attention to the variability of human experience is fundamental to social work research and practice. Traditionally, much social work research has been based on variable-oriented methods, such as regression and factor analysis, which do not capture important aspects of relationships that are often imbedded in the heterogeneity of samples. Latent class analysis (LCA) is one of several person-centred approaches that can capture heterogeneity within and between groups. This study illustrates the utility and applicability of LCA. LCA was used to explicate differences in internalising and externalising symptomatology in a nonclinical, national representative sample of youths. Data was drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health for a sample of 14,738 youths. The data were analysed using externalising and internalising behavioural constructs and then validated against a number of sociodemographic characteristics and behaviour outcomes typically associated with type and severity of symptomatology. The findings revealed important differences within the externalising symptomatology construct and class differences across racial and ethnic groups, gender, age categories, and several behaviour outcomes. Research and clinical implications on the importance of modelling heterogeneity using a person-centred approach are discussed.
Severe mental illness in 33 588 prisoners worldwide: systematic review and meta-regression analysis
- Authors:
- FAZEL Seena, SEEWALD Katherine
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(5), May 2012, pp.364-373.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
High levels of psychiatric morbidity in prisoners are well documented but it is not known whether these are increasing or whether prevalence differs between low, middle, and high income countries. This systematic review evaluated prevalence studies for psychotic illness and major depression in prisoners. Inclusion criteria were, publication 1966- 2012, unselected prison samples and use of clinical examination or semi-structured instruments to make DSM or ICD diagnoses. A total of 109 samples were identified, including 33 588 prisoners in 24 countries. Data were meta-analysed using random-effects models. The pooled prevalence of psychosis was 3.6% in male prisoners and 3.9% in females. There were high levels of heterogeneity, some of which was explained by studies in low–middle-income countries reporting higher prevalences of psychosis (5.5%). The pooled prevalence of major depression was 10.2% in male prisoners and 14.1% in females. Apart from depression in the USA, the prevalence of these disorders did not appear to be increasing over time. High levels of psychiatric morbidity have been consistently reported in prisoners from many countries over the four decades. However, further research is needed to confirm whether higher rates of mental illness are found in low- and middle-income nations, and to examine trends over time within nations with large prison populations.
Longitudinal evaluation of the psychosocial well-being of recent orphans compared with non-orphans in a school-attending cohort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Authors:
- BACHMAN DeSILVA M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 14(3), 2012, pp.162-182.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
To assess differences in psychosocial well-being between recent orphans and non-orphans, we followed a cohort of 157 school-going orphans and 480 non-orphans ages 9–15 in a context of high HIV/AIDS mortality in South Africa from 2004 to 2007. Several findings were contrary to the published evidence to date, as we found no difference between orphans and non-orphans in anxiety/depression symptoms, oppositional behavior, self-esteem, or resilience. Female gender, self-reported poor health, and food insecurity were the most important predictors of children's psychosocial well-being. Notably, girls had greater odds of reporting anxiety/depression symptoms than boys, and scored lower on self-esteem and resilience scales. Food insecurity predicted greater anxiety/depression symptoms and lower resilience. Perceived social support was a protective factor, as it was associated with lower odds of anxiety/depression symptoms, lower oppositional scores, and greater self-esteem and resilience. Our findings suggest a need to identify and strengthen psychosocial supports for girls, and for all children in contexts of AIDS-affected and economic adversity. (Publisher abstract)
Overweight and obesity among maltreated young adolescents
- Authors:
- SCHNEIDERMAN Janet U., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 36(4), 2012, pp.370-378.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Previous research has found that adult obesity is linked to self-reported childhood maltreatment. The aim of this study was to understand more about the weight problems of a sample of mainly minority urban youth identified by child welfare as maltreated. Specifically the study aimed to: identify and compare rates of overweight and obesity in maltreated versus comparison young adolescents; determine whether demographic/psychological characteristics are related to high body mass index (BMI); and to determine whether type of maltreatment is related to high BMI. A sample of 303 maltreated young adolescents aged 9-12 years was compared to a comparison sample of 151 adolescents from the same neighbourhood. The total sample comprised 77% Black or Hispanic and 23% White or biracial with 53% males and 47% females. The findings showed that the maltreated young adolescents were similar to comparison adolescents in obesity prevalence (27.1% and 34.4%, respectively), although comparison young adolescents were 1.7 times more likely to have overweight/obesity than the maltreated young adolescents. No demographic variables predicted high BMI. For the comparison young adolescents, depression slightly increased the odds of overweight/obesity. Being neglected reduced the odds of being in the overweight/obesity and obesity group when combining genders. For females, but not males, sexual and physical abuse slightly reduced the odds of obesity.