Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Psychological distress as a key component of psychosocial functioning in community-dwelling older people
- Authors:
- SCHNITTGER Rebecca I. B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.199-207.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Psychological distress is a critical issue affecting the quality of life in older adults with implications for both mental and physical health. The aim of this study was to explore the key components of psychosocial functioning in older adults with a focus on identifying the constituents of psychological distress. Another aim was to examine the relationship between these components and health outcomes such as frailty. The study was conducted at the Technology Research for Independent Living Clinic, a comprehensive geriatric assessment facility in Dublin. As part of a structured clinical assessment, 579 participants completed 9 primary psychosocial measures as well as a broad range of health and demographic secondary assessments. Principal factor analysis identified 3 core dimensions of the construct of psychosocial functioning. The first is related to a core internal component of psychological distress. The 2 other components are related to external and physiological functioning, specifically social support networks and sleep. These components, particularly psychological distress, were found to be associated with health outcomes associated with frailty.
Self-reported life events, social support and psychological problems in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HULBERT-WILLIAMS Lee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(5), September 2011, pp.427-436.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between life events and psychological problems in people with intellectual disabilities. However, these studies have typically relied on proxy informants, usually professional carers or family members. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between life events and psychological problems in people with intellectual disabilities using self-report data. In addition, the study aimed to examine the direct effect of social support on psychological problems, and its moderating influence on the relationship between life events and psychological problems. The participants, 38 adults with intellectual disabilities, completed 3 psychological measures in a semi-structured interview setting: the Bangor Life Events Schedule for Intellectual Disabilities Self-Report; the Brief Symptom Inventory; and the Social Network Map. The findings showed that exposure to life events, such as death of a close friend or relative or a permanent change in staffing, were positively associated with measures of psychological problems. Social support was generally not found to be associated with psychological problems, although more psychological problems were reported by participants who also reported more criticism of them by others.
Impact of social support on cognitive symptom burden in HIV/AIDS
- Authors:
- ATKINS Jana H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 22(7), July 2010, pp.793-802.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
As many as 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS report cognitive difficulties, which can be associated with objective neuropsychological impairments and depression. A number of studies have demonstrated an association between higher social support and lower rates of depression. This study examined the role social support may play in attenuating the effects of both neuropsychological status and depression on cognitive difficulties. A cross-sectional survey of 357 adult men with HIV in Toronto, Canada completed a battery of neuropsychological tests, questionnaires about cognitive difficulties and depression, and an interview that included an assessment of perceived level of social support. A multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that higher levels of cognitive symptom burden were significantly associated with depression while lower levels of cognitive symptom burden were significantly associated with greater social support and higher level of education. There was a significant interaction between neuropsychological status and depression; the presence of neuropsychological impairment with depression was associated with higher levels of cognitive symptom burden. There was also a significant interaction between social support and depression. Interestingly, social support was also associated with a lower cognitive symptom burden for non-depressed individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The article concludes by discussing the clinical implications of these findings for promoting psychological well-being in persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The relationship between spiritual experiences, transpersonal trust, social support, and sense of coherence and mental distress - a comparison of spiritually practising and non-practising samples
- Authors:
- KOHLS Niko, WALACH Harald, WIRTZ Markus
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 12(1), January 2009, pp.1-23.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The pathways from exceptional experiences (measured with the Exceptional Experiences Questionnaire, EEQ), transpersonal trust (TPV), social support (F-SoZu) and sense of coherence (SOC) scales towards mental distress within a spiritually practising (SP) and a non-practising sample (NSP) were compared, using structural equation modelling. A high amount of variance explained for SOC, a moderate amount for F-SoZU and for TPV a very small amount only in the SP sample were found. In contrast, for the EEQ, which grasps positive and negative spiritual, psychopathological, and visionary dream experiences, a strong relationship was found for the NSP sample but only a moderate relationship for the SP sample. Further analysis revealed that the path coefficients from positive, negative spiritual, and psychopathological experiences to distress were significantly lower in the SP sample. Thus, as regular spiritual practice seems to alter the pathways to distress derived from positive and negative spiritual and psychopathological experiences, unidimensional questionnaires only grasping positive spiritual experiences seem to be inappropriate for explaining the intrapersonal mechanisms associated with regular spiritual practice.
The role of social capital in reducing non-specific psychological distress: the importance of controlling for omitted variable bias
- Authors:
- SCHEFFLER Richard M., BROWN Timothy T., RICE Jennifer K.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(4), August 2007, pp.842-854.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper examines the relationship between area-level social capital and non-specific psychological distress. It demonstrates that not controlling for non-time-varying omitted variables can seriously bias research findings. The authors use data from three cross-sections of the US National Health Interview Survey (1999, 2000, and 2001): 37,172 observations nested within 58 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Data was also added from the Area Resource File and County Business Patterns. A validated measure of social capital, the Petris Social Capital Index (PSCI), which measures structural social capital was used. The authors estimate a two-level multilevel linear model with a random intercept. Non-specific psychological distress is measured using a valid and reliable indicator, the K6. Individual-level variables include sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, family income, smoking status, exercise status, and number of visits to a health professional. Area-level covariates include the PSCI, the unemployment rate, psychiatrists per 1000 population, non-psychiatric physicians per 1000 population, and area-level indicators to account for non-time-varying area-level omitted variable bias. Time dummies are also included. It was found that lagged area-level social capital is negatively related to non-specific psychological distress among individuals whose family income is less than the median. These associations are much larger when we control for non-time-varying area-level omitted variables.
Perception of mattering and suicide ideation in the Australian working population: evidence from a cross-sectional survey
- Authors:
- MILNER A., PAGE K.M., LAMONTAGNE A.D.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 52(5), 2016, pp.615-621.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Thoughts about suicide are a risk factor for suicide deaths and attempts and are associated with a range of mental health outcomes. While there is considerable knowledge about risk factors for suicide ideation, there is little known about protective factors. The current study sought to understand the role of perceived mattering to others as a protective factor for suicide in a working sample of Australians using a cross-sectional research design. Logistic regression analysis indicated that people with a higher perception that they mattered had lower odds of suicide ideation than those with lower reported mattering, after controlling for psychological distress, demographic and relationship variables. These results indicate the importance of further research and intervention studies on mattering as a lever for reducing suicidality. Understanding more about protective factors for suicide ideation is important as this may prevent future adverse mental health and behavioural outcomes. (Publisher abstract)
Experiences of depression, the role of social support and its impact on health outcomes
- Authors:
- SMITH Lorriane, HILL Nicholas, KOKANOVIC Renata
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 24(6), 2015, pp.342-346.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Little research has been conducted into the value of support from the perspective of the person experiencing depression, or the types of support that are valued. Aim: This article aims to identify the beneficial sources of social support, what form these took, and when and how these sources of support helped. Methods: Narrative interviews with a maximum variation sample of 42 Australians who had experienced depression. Interviews were audio and/or video recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a coding framework and thematic analysis. Results: Themes included 'early warning system,' 'staying the course' and 'striving for normality.' Practical support made a difference to participants’ health outcomes such as hospitalisation and access to therapy. Seemingly invisible sources of support were recognised and acknowledged by participants particularly when they were seeking to maintain wellness. Conclusions: Support varied according to the trajectory of the depression experience. Some forms of support can make a real difference to health outcomes. The authors propose an alternative interpretation to current understandings about the role of social support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress in victims of sexual abuse: the role of perceived social support and abuse characteristics
- Authors:
- STEINE Iris M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(9), June 2012, pp.1827-1843.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Victims of sexual abuse often display a wide range of psychological and somatic symptoms and disorders, including sleep disturbances such as insomnia and nightmares. The availability and quality of social support have been identified as important moderators of symptom severity. The aim of this study was to examine the role of social support and abuse characteristics in insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress in a sample of sexual abuse victims. A total of 460 Norwegian victims of sexual abuse completed a questionnaire assessing perceived social support, abuse characteristics, insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. The results show that higher levels of perceived social support were related to lower scores on all symptom outcome measures. Abuse involving oral, genital, or anal penetration was related to more insomnia symptoms. Longer duration of abuse and threatening conducted by the perpetrator were related to higher nightmare frequency, while threats and abuse involving penetration were related to higher degrees of distress associated with nightmares.
Effects of home on the mental health of British forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Authors:
- MULLIGAN Kathleen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 201(3), September 2012, pp.193-198.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Most studies of the mental health of UK armed forces are retrospective. However, the Operational Mental Health Needs Evaluation (OMHNE) surveys of personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan took place during deployment. This study analyses the data collected to examine the influence of factors related to home and family life on the mental health of UK armed forces. A total of 2042 British forces personnel were included in the study. Prevalence of common mental disorders was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and post-traumatic stress disorder with the PTSD Checklist – Civilian version (PCL-C). The prevalence of common mental disorders was 17.8% and of probable PTSD was 2.8%. Perceived home difficulties significantly influenced the mental health of deployed personnel in proportion to the degree of difficulty. This finding was independent of combat exposure and only partially mitigated by being well led and reporting subjectively good unit cohesion; however, the effect of the totality of home-front events was not improved by the latter. Poor perceived military support for the family had a detrimental impact on deployment mental health. The armed forces offer many support services to the families of deployed personnel and, it is suggested, ensuring that the efforts being made on their behalf are well communicated might improve the mental health of deployed personnel.
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.