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Psychological well-being in visually impaired and unimpaired individuals: a meta-analysis
- Authors:
- PINQUART Martin, PIEFFER Jens P.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 29(1), January 2011, pp.27-45.
- Publisher:
- Sage
It is generally believed that limited vision is negatively associated with psychological well-being (PWB). This meta-analysis integrates the results of 198 studies that compared the PWB of visually impaired individuals with unimpaired control groups or population norms. The authors define PWB in terms of individual internal states, such as being free of mental illness, having high levels of positive emotions, self acceptance, and being satisfied with life. The mean age of the visually impaired respondents was 71.37 years; normally sighted controls were just a little younger. About 62% of the respondents were women. Overall, visually impaired people showed a strong decline of vision-specific psychological well-being. However, declines in vision-unspecific measures were small compared to normally sighted peers. Sampling methods influenced study results. Declines of PWB were greater in studies with convenience samples (compared to probability samples) and in studies that used population norms rather than a control group. PWB was lower in; individuals with greater vision loss and in those with age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, as compared to glaucoma; in adults as compared to children; and, to some extent, in older studies. The authors discuss their findings in terms of developing and implementing interventions aimed at protecting the PWB of visually impaired individuals.
Complete mental health recovery: bridging mental illness with positive mental health
- Authors:
- PROVENCHER Helene L., KEYES Corey L. M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 10(1), 2011, pp.57-69.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In this paper, the authors argue that the study and promotion of recovery can be augmented by adopting the model of mental health as a complete state. The article describes a model of positive mental health incorporating 13 dimensions which relate to emotional well-being (positive emotions such as happiness and life satisfaction) and positive functioning (a sense of engagement and fulfilment reflecting psychological well-being and social well-being). It discusses the relevance of positive mental health to recovery, asserting that from the perspective of complete mental health, recovery is seen as restoration from mental illness and optimisation of positive mental health, and illustrates pathways to complete mental health over the recovery process. The authors note that both the alleviation of mental illness and the promotion of positive mental health, distinct but complementary processes, are viewed as necessary to move towards recovery.
Mental well-being and mental illness: findings from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey for England 2007
- Authors:
- WEICH Scott, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(1), July 2011, pp.23-28.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey included adults aged 16 and over living in private households in England. This study, involving secondary analysis of the survey data of 7,293 adults, aimed to identify a set of mental well-being indicators, to describe mental well-being in a general population sample and to determine the extent to which mental well-being and mental illness are independent of one another. 9 survey questions were identified as possible indicators of mental well-being and information was also gathered about common mental disorders. The article describes the analysis undertaken. The findings demonstrated that well-being and mental disorder are correlated but independent dimensions, and indicated a two-factor structure for well-being (hedonic and eudaemonic elements). The authors discuss their findings and conclude that mental well-being, including feelings of happiness and a sense of purpose and belonging, can remain even in the presence of mental suffering.
The aging intellect
- Author:
- POWELL Douglas H.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 319p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Compared to habits that are linked to better physical health in older adults, much less is understood about behaviours that contribute to the optimally aging mind. This book has three main purposes. First it makes the case for including intellectual functioning in the broad definition of “health” for older people. Secondly it describes the characteristics of three levels of intellectual functioning seen in the aging population: optimal cognitive aging, normal cognitive aging, and high risk for cognitive impairment. It is estimated that only about 25% of elders meet the standards for optimal cognitive aging. The author provides professionals with evidence-based recommendations that can help their aging patients and clients minimise the effects of predictable cognitive changes and more fully use their mental abilities. He also offers support to people of all ages interested in maximising their cognitive vigour and identifies intellectual qualities that strengthen with age. Clinical examples and case studies are introduced throughout the text.
Epilepsy and emotional wellbeing
- Author:
- WARREN TONY
- Journal article citation:
- Therapy Today, 22(9), November 2011, pp.25-27.
- Publisher:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Based on the case of his stepdaughter, who died aged 37, the author looks at the extreme emotional, social and employment difficulties that can be experienced by those with epilepsy. Although able to present herself well for short periods of time and therefore starting around 50 jobs in 20 years, she did not feel comfortable disclosing that she had epilepsy. It became very difficult for her to hold down a job and stress, caused by inability to focus on a task, fear of asking for help and imagined critical looks or comments from colleagues often cause her to be dismissed or to leave. Her personal relationships were similarly difficult. She refused to accept mental health support. The author considers what might have been the cause of his step daughter’s poor quality of life: the epilepsy, effects of the medication, undiagnosed learning difficulties, or mental health issues. Commenting on the literature he notes that the focus is often on seizure control to the exclusion of psychiatric comorbidity; commonly, depression, anxiety or psychosis. The author hopes that by outlining this case he can draw the attention of counsellors and medical practitioners to the emotional difficulties suffered by some people with epilepsy.
Battling in the trenches: case managers’ ability to combat the effects of mental illness stigma on consumers’ perceived quality of life
- Authors:
- KONDRAT David C., EARLY Theresa J.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 47(4), August 2011, pp.390-398.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Self-stigma is a reality for many consumers that negatively impacts their lives. Case managers, themselves, are a potential source of autocorrelation and likely provide services differently. This study explores the relationship between self-stigma and quality of life for service users receiving services from different case managers. Cross-sectional data were collected from 160 service users of an urban case management agency. Self-stigma was negatively associated with quality of life. Case managers did not account for a significant amount of variance in quality of life scores. However, the interaction between case manager and self-stigma was significant. Some case managers were able to mitigate the negative effects of self-stigma on quality of life. Future effectiveness research in community mental health case management needs to account for the effects of self-stigma, case managers, and the interaction between the two in the research design.
Do attachment patterns of parents with a mental illness have an impact upon how they view the quality of life of their children?
- Authors:
- JESKE Jana, BULLINGER Monika, WIEGAND-GREFE Silke
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 6(1), March 2011, pp.39-50.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Children of parents with a mental health problem are themselves at greater risk of developing a mental health issues in adulthood. This research investigated the relationship between the attachment patterns of 61 parents with a mental illness and their perception of their children's health-related quality of life (QOL). Parental attachment patterns were assessed using the Bielefeld Partnership Expectations Questionnaire, and health-related QOL of children was measured with the parent version of KINDL-R. Findings revealed that when compared to the general population, parents showed different attachment patterns and rated their children's QOL significantly lower overall as well as in the dimensions of emotional well-being, friends and family. QOL ratings were associated with specific parental attachment styles. Parents with secure patterns also differed from those with other patterns in their ratings of their children's QOL. The authors concluded that the results highlight the role of parental attachment in the perception of child well-being and functioning.
Employment status is associated with both physical and mental health quality of life in people living with HIV
- Authors:
- RUEDA Sergio, et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 23(4), April 2011, pp.435-443.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study evaluated the relationship between employment status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in 361 Canadian people living with HIV/AIDS. Participants provided baseline data in the context of an ongoing cohort study examining the natural history of neurobehavioral functioning and its effects on HRQOL. Information collected included; demographic status, HIV disease markers, psychosocial symptom burden, neurocognitive function and HRQOL (MOS-HIV). Regression analyses were used to evaluate the contribution of employment status to the physical and mental health components of quality of life (QOL). Employment status was strongly related to better physical and mental health QOL after controlling for potential confounders. However employment status had a greater impact on physical health than mental health QOL. The effect of employment on physical health QOL was stronger than that observed for ethnicity, social support, or having an AIDS diagnosis and was comparable to that observed with having many HIV-related symptoms. The authors conclude there may be physical and mental health benefits associated with obtaining or keeping employment or, more likely, that there is an interactional and reinforcing process.
Role occupancy, quality, and psychological distress among Caucasian and African American women
- Authors:
- DAVIS Cindy, SLOAN Melissa, TANG Catherine
- Journal article citation:
- Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 26(1), February 2011, pp.72-82.
- Publisher:
- Sage
As more women enter the workforce, there are concerns about the impact of multiple roles on their well-being. Some studies have argued that it is the quality of the experience in specific roles, especially the mother role, rather than the quantity of roles that predicts psychological distress in women. This article presents a study that examined the relationship between involvement in multiple roles and psychological distress among Caucasian and African American women, focusing on the women’s roles as paid workers, wives, and mothers. The study used a quantitative survey research design with a convenience sample of 380 women aged 18-60 (46% Caucasian and 50% African American). The women completed a self-administered questionnaire which comprised the 96-item Role Quality scale (Baruch & Barnett, 1986), the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979), and demographic questions. The results found that the quality of the mother role was significantly associated with psychological distress, while role occupancy and role quantity were not. Furthermore, the African American and white women appeared to be affected similarly by the quality of their experience in the mother role.
Brighter futures: supporting mental health in later life: project overview, learning and recommendations
- Authors:
- GOLDIE Isabella, GRANT Sandra
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 31p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Scotland has an ageing population where the proportion of older people is increasing due to low birth rates and increased longevity. This will have a major impact on society not only in terms of family structure and roles but also on economic issues related to wealth production and the costs of care. The Brighter Futures project worked with older volunteers to deliver a peer mentoring service for isolated older people aimed at improving their wellbeing and quality of life through enhancing their social networks and enabling meaningful community engagement. This report reveals how having a peer every step of the way was one of the most valuable aspects of the project. Many participants were able to move on from the project within a short timescale. Some participants considered becoming volunteers themselves and the mentor role was highly valued by volunteers. Participant and volunteer case studies and experiences are included. The report recommends that services should be developed that focus on the needs of those most isolated within our communities, and service models should be developed that provide support built on peer relationships. Volunteering opportunities should be developed that take account of the importance of having a socially valued role and should aim to enable older people to create new positive identities for themselves following retirement.