Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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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.
Social support and sense of coherence: independent, shared and interaction relationships with life stress and mental health
- Authors:
- SORENSEN Tom, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 13(1), February 2011, pp.27-44.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Perceived social support and sense of coherence are both used extensively as variables to predict and explain the impact of external factors on individuals' mental health. This study investigated whether the current operational definitions of these two concepts measure the same or different dimensions of the intervening process and/or have a distinct interaction effect on mental health. A survey was carried out in Lofoten, a series of islands in Northern Norway. Self completion questionnaires were delivered to all households (people 18 years and above) in the selected communities; 67% responded (n = 1062). Factor analysis was used to subdivide the items for perceived social support and sense of coherence. The two concepts made both significant independent and shared contributions to explained variance on the mental health index. All second-order terms (any combination of two of the indexes, sense of coherence, perceived social support or negative life events) show modification effects with regard to mental health. The combination of sense of coherence, perceived social support and negative life events showed a third order effect modification with regard to mental health. The interaction between social support and sense of coherence increased with the number of experienced negative life events. Thus, it is concluded that all three factors need to be considered to maximise the efficiency of health promotion projects.
Relationships of perceived stress to coping attachment and social support among HIV-positive persons
- Authors:
- KOOPMAN C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 12(5), October 2000, pp.663-672.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Examines the relationships of coping , attachment style and perceived social support to perceived stress with a sample of American HIV-positive persons. The results of the study indicate that HIV-positive persons who experience the greatest stress in their daily lives are those with lower incomes, those who disengage behaviourally/emotionally in coping with their illness, and those who approach their interpersonal relationships in a less secure or more anxious style.
The contribution of financial well‐being, social support, and trait emotional intelligence on psychological distress
- Author:
- ESPINOSA Adriana
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(2), 2020, pp.224-240.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: While financial deprivation, social isolation, and low emotional intelligence (EI) have been separately identified as important predictors of mental illness, no research has assessed the contribution of these factors together in understanding early markers of severe psychological distress. This information can have key implications for the development of comprehensive interventions and psychological treatment programmes. This study investigated the shared and unique contribution of financial well‐being, social support, and trait EI on different types of psychological distress. Design: A total of 309 patients seeking psychological treatment at an outpatient mental health clinic in the United States provided consent to participate in this study. Patients responded to online questionnaires corresponding to symptomatology, demographic characteristics, and psychometric assessments. Methods: Hierarchical linear regressions identified the common and unique role of each set of variables in predicting nine different symptom clusters of psychological distress. Results: Financial well‐being, social support, and trait EI were negatively related to the majority of symptom clusters, together explaining between 20% and 53% of the variance. Whereas financial well‐being and social support uniquely captured a significant amount of the variance in all outcomes, trait EI, most notably the well‐being and self‐control dimensions, captured the most. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of all factors in understanding variations in mental health among help‐seeking urban individuals. Furthermore, the results identify well‐being and self‐control as emotional facets to consider in therapeutic programmes in as much as to mitigate the risk of severe psychological distress within this population. (Publisher abstract)
Are resilience and perceived stress related to social support and housing stability among homeless adults with mental illness?
- Authors:
- DURBIN Anna, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 2019, pp.1053-1062.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Perceived stress has been associated with adverse health outcomes. Although people experiencing homelessness often report multiple acute and chronic stressors, research on resilience and perceived stress on the general homeless population is limited. This longitudinal study examined homeless adults with mental illness who were part of a 24‐month trial of Housing First to explore: (a) changes in levels of resilience and perceived stress during the trial, and (b) the association between levels of resilience and perceived stress with measures of social support, social functioning and percentage of days stably housed over the study period. This longitudinal study (2009–2013) that used trial data included 575 participants in Toronto, Ontario. Of these individuals, 507 were included in this study. Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale and Perceived Stress Scales (PSS) measured the two outcomes, resilience and perceived stress. Time (baseline, 12 and 24 months), housing stability and three measures of social support and social functioning were the main predictors. A longitudinal analysis was done with repeated measures analysis of resilience and perceived stress using linear mixed models with random intercepts. Mean resilience scores increased and PSS scores decreased. In the multivariable analyses, increased resilience was associated with higher scores on the three social support and social functioning measures, but not percentage days stably housed. Lower PSS scores were associated with higher scores on all three social support and social functioning measures and higher percentages of days stably housed. Strong social support and social functioning may minimise the harmful effects of stressful life events on homeless individuals by increasing resilience and reducing stress. Interventions to help homeless people build appropriate support networks should be delivered in parallel to efforts that increase housing stability. (Edited publisher abstract)
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 effect of psychosocial stressors on the mental health status of African American caregivers of the elderly
- Authors:
- KINGSBERRY Sheridan Quarless, SAUNDERS Marlene A., RICHARDSON Agnes
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 91(4), October 2010, pp.408-414.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Previous studies focused on African American caregivers of the elderly indicated that they experience less caregiver burden, stress, and strain than caregivers of other ethnic groups. But newer studies point to the stress, strain, burden, and depression among contemporary African American caregivers. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the literature pertaining to the multiple stressors that affect the mental health of African American caregivers. Particular attention is paid to the psychosocial factors that affect their mental health status and well-being, such as limited economic resources, multiple caregiving roles, and dwindling social support networks. These stressors appear to affect the mental health status and well-being of African American caregivers in negative ways. This article discusses in detail the stressors, and provides recommendations that can help professionals in the aging community provide more culturally sensitive services to this at risk population.
The experience of loneliness: main and interactive effects of interpersonal stress, social support and positive affect
- Authors:
- AANES Mette M., MITTELMARK Maurice B., HETLAND Jorn
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11(4), November 2009, pp.25-33.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Loneliness is a mediating factor between the relationship of chronic interpersonal stress and psychological distress. Alleviating loneliness could reduce psychological distress even in the face of chronic interpersonal stress, and it is plausible that positive affect and social support may moderate chronic interpersonal stress-loneliness, as well as having a direct effect on loneliness. In a community based sample of 3733 Norwegian adults, direct and moderating effects of positive affect and social support were explored. Adding to a body of evidence suggesting a need for mental health promotion intervention research aimed at simultaneously reducing interpersonal stress and increasing social support, this study showed significant interrelations between interpersonal stress, loneliness, positive affect and social support, thus confirming stress, affect and social support are strong predictors of loneliness. The authors conclude that interventions to increase positive affect and social support may decrease loneliness due to direct affects, but cannot be expected to moderate the chronic interpersonal stress-loneliness relationship.
Social determinants of psychological distress in a nationally-representative sample of South African adults
- Authors:
- MYER Landon, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 66(8), April 2008, pp.1828-1840.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
There is substantial evidence from developed countries that lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with increased occurrence of mental illness, and growing interest in the role of social support and social capital in mental health. However, there are few data on social determinants of mental health from low- and middle-income nations. We examined the association between psychological distress and SES, social support and bonding social capital in a nationally-representative sample of South African adults. As part of a national survey of mental health, a probability sample of 4351 individuals was interviewed between 2002 and 2004. Non-specific psychological distress was measured using the Kessler K-10 scale. SES was assessed from an aggregate of household income, individual educational and employment status, and household material and financial resources. Social support, bonding social capital and traumatic life events were measured using multi-item scales. The mean age in the sample was 37 years and 76% of participants were black African. Measures of SES and social capital were inversely associated (p < 0.001). Both recent and traumatic life events were more common among individuals with low levels of SES and social support. After adjusting for participant demographic characteristics and life events, high levels of psychological distress were most common among individuals with lower levels of SES and social capital. There was no independent association between levels of social support and psychological distress. The occurrence of recent life events appeared to partially mediate the association between SES and psychological distress (p = 0.035) but not the association involving social capital (p = 0.40). These data demonstrate persistent associations between levels of SES, social capital and psychological distress in South Africa. The increased frequency of recent life events appears to only partially explain higher levels of psychological distress among individuals of lower SES. Additional research is required to understand the temporality of this association as well as mechanisms through which SES and social capital influence mental health in low- and middle-income settings where high levels of poverty and trauma may contribute to excess burden of mental illness.
Post-divorce adjustment and social relationships: a meta-analytic review
- Authors:
- KRUMREI Elizabeth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 47(3/4), 2007, pp.145-166.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A meta-analysis of the findings of 21 studies on the role of social relationships in post-divorce adjustment is reported. It shows that network relationships (such as being part of a circle of friends or a support group) are particularly associated with positive post-divorce adjustment, as reflected in measures of well-being. Conversely, one-to-one relationships (with, for example, a family member or close friend) are particularly important in protecting against maladjustment, as reflected by measures of psychological distress or physical ill-health. The limitations of the meta-analysis are such that the findings need to be interpreted with caution, but there are implications nonetheless for professionals working with divorcing or recently divorced clients.