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Social exclusion and mental health: review of literature and existing surveys
- Author:
- PAYNE Sarah
- Publisher:
- Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK: the 2011 survey
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 12p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) project aims to advance the theory and practice of poverty and social exclusion measurement. This research has three main objectives: to improve the measurement of poverty, deprivation, social exclusion and standard of living; to assess changes in poverty and social exclusion in the UK; and to conduct policy-relevant analyses of poverty and social exclusion. This report presents the rationale for the inclusion in the PSE survey of questions relating to the relationship between social exclusion and mental health problems. Poverty and social exclusion are likely to lead to an increased risk of mental health difficulties, as a result of stress or managing on a low income, living circumstances, local environment, discrimination and decreased opportunities for positive self-esteem. The mental health domain in the PSE covers questions which aim to establish the presence of mental health problems. In this survey the primary approach will be to use a well-validated instrument, the General Health Questionnaire 12 to indicate presence or absence of symptoms of common mental health problems.
Is work beneficial to good health?
- Authors:
- GAGIN Roni, SHINAN-ALTMAN Shiri
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 51(4), April 2012, pp.296-311.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It is widely acknowledged that unemployment or job insecurity is a common source of stress and may lead to individual physical and psychological health problems. This study investigated the connection between personal, functional, and professional variables and reports of how the health of hospital patients is impacted by financial status in Israel. Participants included 143 hospitalised patients, who completed demographic, health-functional, and financial status questionnaires. Findings revealed that 33% reported a correlation between financial status and health. Significant connections were found between family status, lack of work, a change in partner's employment status, job insecurity, and financial commitments and reports of a correlation between financial status and health. The authors concluded that special preparation among health care professionals, in the community and in hospitals, were necessary to identify and treat people suffering from financial stress. Implications for practice are discussed.
Factors associated with psychological distress in the Canadian population: a comparison of low-income and non low-income sub-groups
- Authors:
- CARON Jean, LIU Aihua
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 47(3), June 2011, pp.318-330.
- Publisher:
- Springer
The level of psychological distress was compared between low-income and non low-income populations in Canada. Factors associated with distress identified for each population and differences found with the models used in predicting distress are also described. Data were collected through the Canadian Community Health Survey, including 36,984 individuals aged 15 or over. Of this sample, 17.9% was identified as being within the low-income population. In the low-income population the percentage of high psychological distress was as high as 28%, compared to 19% in the non low-income population. Variables related to social support, stress and coping abilities were the stronger sets of variables related to distress in both populations. The results provided evidence that although economically disadvantaged and more affluent populations share many variables associated with psychological distress, they have a different profile on the correlates of psychological distress.
The COVID-19 pandemic, financial inequality and mental health
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing looks at the links between financial inequality, employment and mental health; and reviews what official figures say about the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on evidence from the “Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic” research, a UK-wide, long-term study of how the pandemic is affecting people’s mental health, highlighting people’s emotional responses to the pandemic, the key social drivers of distress, coping mechanisms and suicidal thoughts. The research is led by the Mental Health Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast. The study shows that the burden of mental distress is borne disproportionately by those with less economic security. The report concludes with recommendations to UK central and national governments to protect vulnerable people’s economic security and support them in dealing with the resulting stress. (Edited publisher abstract)
The childhood roots of adult psychological distress: Interdisciplinary perspectives toward a better understanding of exposure to cumulative childhood adversity
- Authors:
- HEIDINGER Loanna S., WILLSON Andrea E.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 97, 2019, p.104136.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: Although most children experience at least one adversity, it is the experience of multiple adversities that produces a context of disadvantage that increases the risk of various negative outcomes in adulthood. Previous measures of cumulative childhood adversity consider a limited number of adversities, overlook potential differences across experiences of adversity, and fail to measure the effects of multiple co-occurring childhood adversities. These limitations have led to inconsistent and incomplete conclusions regarding the impact of multiple adverse childhood experiences on adult mental health. Objective: This study assesses how the operationalization and modeling of exposure to cumulative childhood adversity (CCA) influences estimates of the association between CCA and adult psychological distress and develops an improved measure of CCA. Methods: This study uses data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative sample of households in the United States, and its supplement, the Childhood Retrospective Circumstances Study (N = 4219). This study compares four measures of CCA that consider various distinct aspects of adverse experiences (additive, severity, type, and patterns of experience using latent class analysis). Results: All measures of CCA were associated with increases in adult psychological distress, but effects depend on the measurement of CCA. Results suggest the sum score overestimates the overall impact of CCA. Latent class analysis captures the co-occurrence of adversities across severity and type, providing an improved measure of CCA. Conclusions: The heterogeneity across adversities impacts estimates of adult psychological distress. Measuring CCA as patterns of co-occurring adverse experiences is a promising approach. (Edited publisher abstract)
A meta-analysis of culturally sensitive interventions designed to reduce high-risk behaviors among African American youth
- Authors:
- JACKSON Kelly F., HODGE David R., VAUGHN Michael G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Service Research, 36(3), May 2010, pp.163-173.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
African American youths are vulnerable to chronic stressors associated with poverty and disenfranchisement, which can lead to numerous health and mental health related problems. These youths are specifically susceptible to HIV infection, obesity, incarceration, and abuse and neglect leading to foster care placement. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions in reducing this high-risk behaviour with African American youths. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions across 7 previous studies. Findings indicate that youths who participated in culturally sensitive interventions were less likely to engage in these high-risk behaviours than those who did not participate, although the effect size was moderate. The authors suggest that, although the findings should be considered tentative, the results provide an initial quantitative assessment of culturally sensitive intervention effectiveness.
Psychological distress among adolescents, and its relationship to individual, family and area characteristics in East London
- Authors:
- FAGG James, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 63(3), August 2006, pp.636-648.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper identifies factors associated with variation in psychosocial distress among adolescents in a relatively deprived and ethnically diverse inner city setting in London, UK. The research draws on literature which discusses whether neighbourhood socio-economic conditions are associated with mental health, as well as attributes of individual adolescents and their families. We report an analysis of data from the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS). The survey collected data on mental health measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and on various aspects of individual and family circumstances. These data were linked with information about social and economic conditions in ‘middle layer standard output areas’ (MSOA) used for the population Census 2001, having a mean total population of 6767 in the study area. Census statistics including the Indices of Deprivation for 2004 proposed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, were used to describe the socio-economic conditions within these areas. Although the socio-economic disparities among small areas were not typical of those across the whole of the country, there were differences in levels of deprivation and crime, social fragmentation, and ethnic composition. A Bayesian regression analysis using Gibbs sampling in the programme WinBugs investigated whether there was variability in SDQ at both individual and area (MSOA) level, and whether the predictor variables at both levels were significantly associated with SDQ. Individuals from Asian or Black ethnic groups, and those in families with harmonious relationships and no financial stress had significantly lower SDQ scores, i.e. better health. Those who had special educational needs or long standing illness, or were from reconstituted families had significantly worse SDQ scores. About 6% of the variation in SDQ was associated with area differences. However, this area variation was not related to differences in area indicators of socio-economic deprivation, crime or social fragmentation. There was a complex association between SDQ and ethnic composition of neighbourhoods.
Childhood in the 21st century
- Author:
- POINTON Clare
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, 15(1), February 2004, pp.9-12.
- Publisher:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
An increasing numbers of young people are suffering from a mental disorder. Provides an overview of the problems facing young people. Looks specifically at the contributing factors of poverty, academic pressure and parenting styles. Highlights the need for early intervention.
Role of family stressors on rural low-income children's behaviors
- Authors:
- GREDER Kimberly A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Care Forum, 46(5), 2017, pp.703-720.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Background: Exposure to multiple stressors and lack of access to resources place rural children at high risk for adverse consequences. Family Stress Model guided this study to examine relations between two stressors- food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms, and behaviour problems among younger and older rural children. Objective: To test associations between food insecurity, maternal depressive symptoms, and behaviour problems among younger and older rural low-income children. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 370 low-income rural families across 13 states was analysed using structural equation modelling and multiple group analyses. Mothers’ education level, household income, marital/partner status, and participation in SNAP served as covariates. Results: Among younger children, maternal depressive symptoms partially mediated the relation between food insecurity and child externalising behaviours, while among older children, maternal depressive symptoms completely mediated the relation between food insecurity and child internalising and externalising behaviours. Conclusions: Stress manifested directly from, or indirectly through, maternal depressive symptoms and from food insecurity was related to behaviour problems among younger and older rural children; however, the relations varied by age of children. Programmes and policies that prevent or lessen both food insecurity and maternal depression may help to lessen problem behaviours among on rural children. Longitudinal studies are needed to rigorously examine causation and directionality among food insecurity, maternal depression and rural child behaviour problems, while accounting for influences of child, caregiver and family characteristics. (Edited publisher abstract)
A testament to pain
- Author:
- GAZE Harriet
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 5.3.98, 1998, p.12.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on how a new book, Wednesday's Child by Bifulco and Moran, which draws on 20 years of research involving 800 London women. The research reveals the links between widespread abuse of women in childhood and clinical depression in later life.