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Mental health, employment and gender: cross-sectional evidence in a sample of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina living in two Swedish regions
- Authors:
- BLIGHT Karin Johansson, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 62(7), April 2006, pp.1697-1709.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Large regional differences regarding access to employment have been observed amongst persons from Bosnia-Herzegovina coming to Sweden in 1993–1994. This has led to questions about the role of mental health. To explore this further, postal survey questionnaires were distributed to a community sample (N=650) that was stratified and, within strata, randomly selected from a sampling frame of persons coming to Sweden from Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1993–1994. Four hundred and thirteen persons returned the questionnaire providing a response rate of 63.5%. The aim was to increase knowledge about the relationship between mental health and employment in the chosen population. The main mental health outcome measure was the Göteborg Quality of Life instrument from which 360 respondents were grouped according to low or high symptom levels. Data were cross tabulated against background variables such as age, gender and occupational status, and then tested using binary logistic regression. Binary logistic regression revealed unemployed men but not women, and women who had been working for longer periods during 1993–1999, to be associated with high levels of symptoms of poor mental health. Women living in the urban region were also overrepresented in the high symptom group. These findings indicate that, job occupancy is important to the health of men in the study. However, for the women, further understanding is needed, as job occupancy at some level as well as living in the urban region appear to be associated with poor mental health.
Interests among older people in relation to gender, function and health-related quality of life
- Authors:
- KÄLLDALEN Anette, MARCUSSON Jan, WRESSLE Ewa
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 2013, pp.87-93.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The WHO has stated that older people should have opportunities to be active participants in an age-integrated society because of the positive impact this can have on active ageing. However it is important that the activity should be meaningful and that the individual is doing what they choose, for example pursing interests. This study explores the interests pursued by 85-year-old people living in ordinary housing in Sweden in relation to gender, cognition, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A sample of 240 participants completed a postal questionnaire, including the EuroQoL HRQoL measurement. Additional instruments used during a subsequent home visit were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Mini Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale. Women experienced poorer health than men, lived alone to a greater extent and used more mobility devices. Compared with men, women had a larger number of interests related to household management, but there were no gender differences in the leisure area. A lower number of interests in active recreation was associated with lower cognitive function, poorer HRQoL and a higher risk of depressive symptoms. The authors highlight the importance for older people of being active in meaningful occupations, Their ability to pursue interests should be taken into account by occupational therapists.
Mental health, quality of life, and nutritional status of adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh: comparison between an urban slum and a non-slum area
- Authors:
- IZUTSU Takashi, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 63(6), September 2006, pp.1477-1488.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study aims to clarify the quality of life (QOL), mental health, and nutritional status of adolescents in Dhaka city, Bangladesh by comparing non-slum areas and slums, and to find the factors associated with their mental health problems. A sample of 187 boys and 137 girls from non-slum areas, and 157 boys and 121 girls from slums, between 11–18 years old were interviewed with a questionnaire consisting of a Bangla translation of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ), Youth Self-Report (YSR) and other questions. The height and weight of the respondents were measured. All significant differences in demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, and WHOQOL-BREF were found to reflect worse conditions in slum than in non-slum areas. Contrarily, all differences in SRQ and YSR were worse in non-slum areas for both genders, except that the “conduct problems” score for YSR was worse for slum boys. Mental states were mainly associated with school enrolment and working status. Worse physical environment and QOL were found in slums, along with gender and area specific mental health difficulties. The results suggest gender specific needs and a requirement for area sensitive countermeasures.
Changes and predictors of change in objective and subjective quality of life: multiwave follow-up study in community psychiatric practice
- Authors:
- RUGGERI Mirella, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 187(2), August 2005, pp.121-130.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This Italian study aims to describe changes at 2 and 6 years in objective and subjective quality of life in 261 individuals attending a community mental health service and to identify predictors of change in each life domain. The research used a prospective study of demographic, diagnostic and service utilisation characteristics, psychopathology, functioning, disability, self-esteem, affect balance and service satisfaction. Female gender, unmarried status, older age, less education and greater disability predicted a worsening of objective quality of life over time, but explain a small amount of variance. The variance in subjective quality of life was higher (greater than 40%). Greater clinician-rated anxiety and depressive symptoms had a negative effect on satisfaction with health and general well-being. Psychological status, self-esteem and satisfaction with service were the most important predictors in almost all subjective domains; these variables should be important targets for treatment.
Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) for people with dementia: who benefits most?
- Author:
- AGUIRRE E.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(3), 2013, pp.284-290.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
National guidelines in the UK recommend that cognitive stimulation programmes should be available for people with mild to moderate dementia. However it is not clear what factors might impact on the effectiveness of this intervention. A total of 272 people with dementia (mean age 82.6 years, 61% female) took part in a 7-week CST intervention; 14 sessions lasting 45 minutes. The average attendance was 10 sessions. Half the participants were community dwelling the remainder were recruited from care homes in the south of England. Assessments were carried out pre-treatment and post-treatment (n=236) and the results compared with those of a previous comparable randomised control trial. CST improved cognition and quality of life; the benefits were independent of whether or not people were taking acetylcholinesteraseinhibitor (AChEI) medication. Increasing age was associated with cognitive benefits, as was female gender. Care home residents improved more than community residents in terms of quality of life, but the community sample seemed to benefit more in relation to behaviour problems. The authors conclude that CST improves cognition and quality of life for people with dementia, particularly older female participants. They suggested that consideration should be given to discovering aspects of CST may enhance the benefits for younger men with dementia.
The Cambridge handbook of age and ageing
- Editors:
- JOHNSON Malcolm L., (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 744p.
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge
This is a guide to the current body of knowledge, theory, policy and practice relevant to age researchers and gerontologists around the world. It contains almost 80 original chapters, commissioned and written by the world's leading gerontologists from 16 countries and 5 continents. The broad focus of the book is on the behavioural and social sciences but it also includes important contributions from the biological and medical sciences. It provides comprehensive, accessible and authoritative accounts of all the key topics in the field ranging from theories of ageing, to demography, physical aspects of ageing, mental processes and ageing, nursing and health care for older people, the social context of ageing, cross cultural perspectives, relationships, quality of life, gender, and financial and policy provision.
Gender effects on components of burden and depression among dementia caregivers
- Authors:
- PILLEMER Sarah, DAVIS Jennifer, TREMONT Geoffrey
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(9), 2018, pp.1156-1161.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: Previous literature has examined burden and depression predominately as unitary constructs in relation to dementia caregiving. No studies thus far have examined gender differences in the specific components of burden and depression in dementia caregivers. The current study examined whether empirically validated dimensions of caregiver burden differed by gender for dementia caregivers. Methods: The sample consisted of 211 dementia caregivers enrolled in a longitudinal intervention study. Only baseline functioning was evaluated in this study. Levels of burden were assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and levels of depression were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Factor analysis revealed three facets of burden: impact of caregiving on the caregivers’ lives, guilt, and frustration/embarrassment, and four facets of depression: depressed affect, somatic activity, positive affect, and interpersonal feelings. Overall burden (p < .001) and impact of caregiving on the caregivers’ life (p < .001) were significantly higher in females. Overall levels of depression (p = .018), somatic and retarded activity (p = .018), depressed affect (p = .005), and positive affect (p = .012) were significantly higher in females. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed male and female dementia caregivers experience caregiving differently. Results from this study could be used to identify gender-specific interventions related to subtypes of burden and depression to optimize quality of life for caregivers. (Publisher abstract)
Fairness and health
- Author:
- GODSON Ros
- Journal article citation:
- Community Practitioner, 83(6), June 2010, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association
This short article highlights the conclusions drawn from the Marmot Review – a study on the development of a health inequalities strategy in England. The main conclusion of the review was that people with a higher socioeconomic position have better health, suggesting inequalities in society lead to inequalities in health. It identified eight determinants that related to this inequality: housing conditions; employment; education; income; environment; gender and ethnicity; mental health problems and domestic violence; and disability. The review identified six evidence based policy recommendations to improve health and general well-being: give every child the best start in life; enable all people to have maximum control over their lives; fair employment for all; ensure a healthier stand of living; create and develop sustainable communities; and strengthen the role of ill-health prevention.
The nexus of cardiovascular disease and depression revisited: the complete mental health perspective and the moderating role of age and gender
- Author:
- KEYES C. L. M.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(3), May 2004, pp.266-274.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study employs a measure of mental health as a complete state that combines information about an individual's mental illness (i.e., major depressive episode in the past 12 months) and subjective well-being (i.e., mental health) status to investigate its linkage with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Data are from a representative sample of USA adults between the ages of 25 and 74 collected in 1995 (n = 3,032). About 12% of adults reported any CVD. Independent of mental health status, risk for any CVD increased with age and as education decreased, and the risk of any CVD was higher among males, married adults, and unemployed adults. The prevalence of any CVD was lowest in adults who were mentally healthy and higher among adults with major depressive episode, with minor depression, with languishing, and with moderate mental health. The relationship of CVD and mental health was moderated by age and sex; mental health status was associated with significant risk for any CVD primarily among females between the ages of 45 and 74. Findings contribute to a growing literature on the protective effects of high, and risk effects of low, levels of subjective well-being, and the role of age and sex in specifying specific physical and mental health comorbidities.
Evaluation of Lehman's Brief Quality of Life Interviewin assessing outcome in psychiatric rehabilitation in people with severe and persistent mental disorder
- Authors:
- ANDERSON Amy L., McNEIL Diane C., REDDON John R.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 1(2), 2002, pp.43-60.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Lehman's Brief Quality of Life Interview (QOLI) was administered to psychiatric rehabilitation programme clients 6 times at 6-month intervals. Participants were individuals with predominantly psychotic-type diagnoses. Results showed nochange over time and few gender differences. No change over time indicates no improvement but also no deterioration in this chronic population. Correlations between test times indicated that the subjective scales were relatively stable in comparison to the objective scales. Results indicate that the QOLI has poor sensitivity, and therefore limited utility, for assessing change in psychiatric rehabilitation of individuals with severe and persistent mental disorders. However, the QOLI does have an important use: It provides a good indication of the clients' perspectives on the quality of their lives and services received.