Occupational Balance and Meaning Mediate Higher Education Students' Mental Health During War: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

Measuring Trends in Mental Health Care Disparities, 2000 2004

This study sought to identify racial and ethnic differences in rates of alcohol-related advice given to veterans treated in Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the VA Survey of the Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP). Participants were 255,522 veterans treated in VA ambulatory clinics in fiscal year 2005. SHEP measures included alcohol consumption questions from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and an item inquiring whether a VA clinician had given advice about drinking. Logistic regression was used to examine relationships between race and ethnicity categories and receipt of alcohol-related advice. Covariate measures included demographic characteristics and physical and mental component summary scores from the Veterans RAND Health Survey (VR-12). Among veterans who consumed any alcohol, compared with veterans from the other racial or ethnic groups, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander veterans were less likely to be in the medium and highest alcohol consumption categories and non-Hispanic white veterans were less likely to be in the highest alcohol consumption category (p<.001). In a model adjusting for demographic characteristics, physical and mental health status, and alcohol consumption category, among veterans who consumed any alcohol, those who were non-Hispanic black (odds ratio [OR]=1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.47-1.84), Hispanic (OR=1.56, CI=1.35-1.80), or non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (OR=1.56, CI=1.06-2.29) were more likely to report receiving alcohol-related advice, compared with non-Hispanic white veterans. The results suggest that veterans from certain minority groups are more likely than white veterans to report receiving alcohol-related advice in the VA, after the model is adjusted for demographic characteristics, health status, and alcohol consumption. Further research is needed to understand the underlying reasons for observed differences in receipt of alcohol-related advice and the potential clinical implications.

BackgroundMental health concerns among university faculty are on the rise, with reports of anxiety, depression, and occupational stress, impacting the higher education community. In Qatar, an assessment of faculty mental health has not been previously realized. The objectives of the current study were twofold: Firstly, to evaluate the extent of perceived occupational stress, depression, anxiety, and stress, and secondly, to assess the association among these mental health parameters.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty using an online, self-administered, anonymous, voluntary survey. All faculty were included by sending the survey to their institutional emails. In addition to faculty demographics and general health status, the survey measured perceived stress due to academic job roles using the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) with its five distinct domains, and assessed faculty mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). Modified Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess how FSI influences levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.ResultsA total of 112 faculty responded to the survey. The highest faculty self-perceptions of mental health conditions were for anxiety (63% at least moderate), followed by depression (30% at least moderate), and least for stress (26% at least moderate). The overall mean FSI score was 48.8 ± 29.4; time constraint and rewards and recognition domains scored highest (18.5 ± 11.4 and 13.3 ± 9.3 respectively) while the departmental influence domain scored least (4.8 ± 4.4). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of self-perceived depression and stress were significantly associated with higher FSI score (p˂0.001). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of depression were less likely among faculty aged 50 years and above (p = 0.034), while increased risk of at least moderate levels of anxiety were more likely among faculty from humanities colleges (p = 0.027).ConclusionsThis is the first investigation of university faculty mental health in Qatar, indicating multifactorial perceived occupational stress, associated with higher perceived severity of mental health conditions. These baseline results establish links between specific occupational stressors for faculty and their mental well-being. As such, assessment of mental health conditions, controlling occupational stress, and developing tailored mental health interventions for faculty, are strategic to implement and foster well-being of academics. Further research into mental health of faculty and designing effective interventions that consider their specific stressors and associated factors are warranted.

Background Occupational balance (OB) is related to physical health as well as physical and psychological well-being (PWB). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the occupations of people probably affecting their OB and PWB. Aims The aim of the study was to determine OB of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and establish relationships between a. OB and changes in occupations in comparison with the pre-pandemic period as perceived by the study group, b. OB and PWB. Materials and methods An exploratory study was performed using a cross-sectional research design during the second wave of the pandemic in November 2020. 1,330 university students aged 18–30 took part in the study. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire and the Psychological General Well-Being Index were used. Three-Way ANOVA as well as Forward Stepwise Regression analyses were used, and ρ Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated. Results A greater OB was found in men, people studying in a small city and first year students. The respondents declared changes in the time spent on almost all occupations, especially an increase in the time spent on using the Internet and passive resting, but a decrease in the time of meetings friends. OB positively correlated with the increase in time spent on almost all occupations, except for the Internet and with PWB. Conclusions Polish university students observe that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their daily occupations. Some of these changes may adversely affect their OB and, consequently, PWB. Significance Occupational therapists should increase students’ awareness of the importance of OB, support them in pursuing their hobbies, meeting friends, and getting sufficient sleep and physical activity.

Standard information about the physical, mental, and social status of older people is needed to promote their health. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, mental and social health status of older people in Mazandaran, taking into account the specific climatic conditions and public culture, and to adapt it to the indicators of the "Aging and Health Program" of the World Health Organization (WHO) to localize and better use this index. In this cross-sectional study, 390 elderly aged ≥65 years in Mazandaran were selected by the quota method. Their physical, mental, and social health status and demographic information were collected using a questionnaire (a 36-itemshort-form health survey (SF-36)) and face-to-face interviews. Physical and mental health status was classified into five levels based on the score obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26. The average age of the elderly was 71.48 years. In terms of physical performance, 40.7% of the elderly were below and 30.8% above the average of international standards. In terms of mental health, 18.9 and 41.5% of the elderly were below and above the average, respectively, and 17 and 51.8% of the elderly had low and high social performance, respectively. The Pearson correlation test showed a significant relationship between physical health (0.176), mental health (0.16), and social health (0.178) and quality of life at the 0.01 level. The physical, mental and social health status of the elderly in Mazandaran is far from the indicators of health in old age established by WHO, and their condition is unfavorable (at least in terms of physical and mental health).

Objective: This paper sought to examine which pre- and post-migration factors might be associated with changes in refugees’ health status. Methods: Using linear regression, the associations between pre- and post-migration factors and changes in self-rated mental and physical health status were examined in 525 refugees from the 1998 Settlement Experiences of Refugees in Alberta study. Results: Having spent time in a refugee camp and having held professional/managerial jobs in one’s home country were associated with a greater decline in mental health status since arrival in Canada. Having completed a university degree in one’s home country was associated with a greater decline in physical health status. Being employed was associated with greater improvements in mental health status. Perceived economic hardship was associated with greater declines in physical health status. A higher number of settlement services received during the first year in Canada was associated with greater improvements in both mental and physical health status. Longer residence in Canada was associated with greater declines in physical health status but not in mental health status. Conclusion: While little can be done to alter refugees’ pre-migration experiences, public policies can affect many post-migration experiences in order to mitigate the negative health consequences associated with resettlement. Results of this study point to the need for continued provision of settlement services to assist refugees with job training, labour market access, and credential recognition, as well as counseling for refugees who experienced the trauma of living in a refugee camp. Key words: Refugees; mental health; physical health; Alberta

Studies have shown that mental health and oral health may be correlated, with associations demonstrated between mental health problems and tooth loss, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. The COVID-19 pandemic had alarming implications for individuals' and communities' mental and emotional health. This study examined the associations between mental health status, oral health status, and oral healthcare utilization and highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Additionally, this study examines specific sociodemographic factors that may amplify oral health disparities. A nationally representative survey was conducted to capture attitudes, experiences, and behaviors related to oral health, mental health, and unmet oral health needs. Eighteen percent of respondents were categorized as having poor mental health. Visiting the dentist in the last year was more common amongst individuals with good mental health. From the logistic regression model, mental health status, age group, race/ethnicity, education, and last dental visit were all significantly associated with of oral health status. Mental health status, age group, and income groups were all significantly associated with unmet oral health need. Future work should focus on the mental-oral health association, including determining ways to improve oral healthcare utilization and oral health status among people with poorer mental health.

A partial latent structural regression analysis was used to evaluate the role of coping resources, depression, diet and exercise on mental and physical health status. The sample consisted of 113 participants (59 females and 54 males) with a mean age of 59.38 years (SD = 10.52). Coping resources, depression and exercise explained 52 and 26% of the variance in mental and physical health status, respectively. Fewer coping resources predicted higher levels of depression and both predicted worse mental health. Only higher levels of depression predicted worse physical health status. There were also significant indirect effects of coping on mental and physical health status through depression. The development of cognitive, social and emotional coping strategies is important for managing depression and supporting positive mental health. These results highlight the important role of health psychologists in the care of individuals with chronic illness. Additionally, the management of depression is important in maintaining positive physical health.

COVID-19 has changed the daily lives of citizens around the world and exposed the vulnerability of life and the functioning of cities. The pandemic has forced citizens to adapt to new models of remote work during quarantine and access to smart technology-based services. The article aims to assess citizens' perceptions of the technological solutions provided by smart cities and, in particular, the municipality of Paphos before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to evaluate their impact on citizens' mental health. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the mental health benefits for citizens living in smart cities compared to people living in low-tech areas, revealing the potential positive effects of smart technologies, as well as the change in people's digital decision-making before and after the pandemic

Nurses encounter many stressors and challenges at work, which can negatively affect their mental and physical health. Modern theories of resilience suggest that resilience is a dynamic process of positive adaptation to adversity. This process involves personal growth through adversity, developing effective coping strategies and inculcating the ability to cope with stress. The resilience process involves individual characteristics, social support and environmental factors, including workplace culture. Strengthening nurses' resilience can help them cope with adversity, maintain their mental health and well-being and support their provision of care. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between workplace characteristics, resilience and mental health status among nurses with experiences of workplace violence. The study objectives were to analyse the relationships between workplace characteristics, resilience and mental health status among nurses with experiences of workplace violence and to investigate the effects of resilience on nurses' mental health outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, full-time nurses at a medical centre in Taiwan completed a questionnaire survey. Of 600 distributed questionnaires, 334 nurses were identified to have experienced workplace violence. The questionnaires included items on workplace violence, resilience, metal health status (burnout and mental distress), sleep quality, work characteristics (job control, psychological job demands and workplace justice) and demographic characteristics. Data were analysed through chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Nurses with low resilience tended to be younger, work more rotating/night shifts and perceive lower levels of job control and workplace justice. They also reported higher risks of burnout and mental distress and lower sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that psychological job demands, workplace justice and resilience significantly influenced nurses' mental health status. Nurses with high resilience exhibited a lower risk of mental distress and higher sleep quality. However, resilience was not associated with burnout. The findings revealed how workplace factors and resilience influence nurses' mental health. The findings help nurse managers and policymakers develop strategies to promote nurses' resilience and mental health and mitigate the adverse effects of negative workplace events.

This brief report describes some notable variations in how state Medicaid agencies administer and fund Medicaid mental health services. Hour-long telephone interviews were conducted with all state and District of Columbia Medicaid directors or their designees. Responses indicated that Medicaid and mental health agencies were located within the same umbrella agency in 28 states, potentially facilitating collaboration. The mental health agency provided funding for some Medicaid mental health services in 32 states, and counties provided such funding in 22 states. Medicaid agencies generally delegated more authority to state mental health agencies in states where some Medicaid funding came from mental health sources and also in states where both agencies were in the same umbrella agency. The increasing role of Medicaid in funding state mental health services, combined with new federal limits on Medicaid financing of these services, underscores the importance of interagency collaboration and better alignment of Medicaid and mental health responsibilities.

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are leading causes of disability worldwide, but access to quality mental health care is limited by myriad factors. Cognitive-behavioral coaching is rooted in evidence-based principles and has the potential to address some of these unmet care needs. Harnessing technology to facilitate broader dissemination within a blended care model shows additional promise for overcoming barriers to care.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of a blended care coaching (BCC) program for clients presenting with moderate levels of anxiety and depression in real-world settings.MethodsThis study examined retrospective data from US-based individuals (N=1496) who presented with moderate levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and who received blended care coaching services. Using a short-term framework, clients met with coaches via a secure video conference platform and also received digital video lessons and exercises. To evaluate the effectiveness of the BCC program, mixed effects modeling was used to examine growth trajectories of anxiety and depression scores over the course of care.ResultsOut of the total sample of 1496 clients, 75.9% (n=1136) demonstrated reliable improvement, and 88.6% (n=1326) recovered based on either the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (anxiety) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression). On average, clients exhibited a significant decline in anxiety and depression symptoms during the initial weeks of coaching, with a continued decline over subsequent weeks at a lower rate. Engaging in a coaching session was associated with lower anxiety (b=–1.04) and depression (b=–0.79) symptoms in the same week, as well as lower anxiety (b=–0.74) and depression (b=–0.91) symptoms the following week (P<.001).ConclusionsThe BCC program demonstrated strong outcomes in decreasing symptomology for clients presenting with moderate levels of anxiety and depression. When clients received coaching sessions, significant decreases in symptoms were observed, reflecting the importance of session attendance. Additionally, the steepest declines in symptoms tended to occur during the initial weeks of coaching, emphasizing the importance of client buy-in and early engagement. Collectively, these findings have implications for addressing unmet mental health care needs in a more accessible, cost-effective manner.

The purpose of this study was to examine the way that Socioeconomic status (SES), social support, and acculturation may influence physical and mental health status of Korean American older adults. It was premised that SES, social support and acculturation are directly and/or indirectly related to the mental and physical health status of Korean American older adults manifested by respective symptoms. The following two objectives were established: 1) Explore the characteristics of Korean American older adults including socioeconomic status, acculturation level, social support, and physical and mental health status. 2) Assess direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status, acculturation level, and social support on the mental and physical health status of Korean American older adults. Though the social support construct itself did not correlate to the degree of health status in this study, some of observed indicators such as number of network contact, the degree of perceived and actual social support showed significant correlation with the degree of respondent¡¯s perceived physical health status. There was also a significant relationship between the social support indicators and mental health construct. Those who had social support available were less vulnerable to experiencing depressive symptoms. In addition, it was shown that some of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of respondents were directly related to the mental health status of Korean American older adults. Mental and physical health and the aging process of Korean American older adults appeared to be complicated with many factors. First of all they were old immigrants who came to the United States relatively recently to unite with their adult children. The majority of them were living apart from their children. Their sense of self and satisfaction was greatly influenced by the quality of their relationship with their children. Secondly, Korean American older adults were living in a culturally and physically different environment with a number of barriers, such as language, transportation, isolation, and loneliness. And finally, they lacked appropriate socioeconomic resources and support systems.

Aim: The study aims to investigate the implication of employment status on individuals’ mental and physical health status in Bangladesh. Method: Administering a semi-structured interview schedule, data were collected from 320 participants applying the multi-stage random sampling technique from the metropolitan area of Khulna city. An unpaired t-test was executed to observe the comparative scenario of mental health and socio-demographic conditions of different health-bearing classes. Also, logistic regression and the OLS model were executed to assess the association between employment status and physical and mental health status. BMI and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) were applied to measure the physical and mental health status, respectively. Results: Results revealed that employed individuals were more exposed to physical and mental health disorders compared to unemployed individuals. The employed individuals were at higher risk of being unhealthy, and suffering from back pain and sickness than the unemployed individuals. Results suggested that the employed individuals were expected to get involved more in mental health risk behavior (0.766, p &lt;0.01); however, they possessed a lower extent of anxiety (-0.532, p &lt;0.05). Recommendations:Insurance coverage, motivational programs, change in lifestyle and workplace environment development can be initiated from both employer and government levels for better health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the social functioning and mental health status of the COVID-19 pandemic with 117 samples. The aim of the study was to determine the social functioning and mental health status of the Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) faculties and officers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was carried out with 117 University teachers and other officers who took part in the study over three months from June-2020 to August-2020. All participants who was fulfilled the inclusion criteria were invited in this study. Convenience sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. AOQ form (Borderline Personality Disorder Mental Health assessment form) is used to measure the mental health outcomes of the respondents. The Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ), an eight-item self-report scale (score range 0-24), was developed from the Social Functioning Schedule (SFS). RESULTS: The socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents were considered as sex, occupation, type of family, history of chronic diseases, living area, and work from home. The study revealed that more than half 53.8% (n = 63) of the respondents were male. It was found that 69.2 % (n = 81) of them belonged to nuclear families; among them, 84.6% (n = 99) were living in urban areas and 54.7% (n = 64) worked from home. It shows a statistically significant (p = 0.001) association between sex and money problem. Male has more significant money problems than females. There was a significant association between social functioning and mental health scores (r = .391, p = .001). The results showed a partial correlation between social functioning score and mental health score after adjusting for age and sex. Here, r = .276 and p = .003. This means that social functioning and mental health scores are significantly correlated even after controlling for age and sex. There was a significant association between mental health and social function status (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study found a significant association between mental health and social function status. This would be helpful for future mental health support for those individuals with prior vulnerable mental health status.