The Association Between Employment Status and Mental Health in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea

Background: It has been recognized that body fatness and mental disorders have association, however very limited evidence have proved that physical fitness and mental health have association. Relationship between physical fitness and mental health in young adults has not been fully proved. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between physical fitness, body fatness, and mental health in young adults.Methods: A total of 149 (97 males and 52 females) college students were included. Physical fitness (sit-ups, push-ups, 1 mile run/walk), and body mass index (BMI) was measured, and psychological questionnaires including life satisfaction, self-efficacy, the beck depression inventory (BDI), and adult self report (ASR) were administered. The levels of physical fitness and BMI were classified into tertile groups and were analyzed.Results: Female participants with the highest tertile of BMI had highest ASR score (p<0.05). Participants with highest level of physical fitness showed higher level of self-efficacy in both males and females (p<0.05). In both male and female, physical fitness was a significant predictor for self-efficacy (Male: β=0.35, p<0.05, Female: β =0.31, p<0.05).Conclusions: In conclusion, physical fitness and body fatness were associated with mental health. Especially, physical fitness, independent of BMI, was proved as significant indicator for mental health in young adults.

Single-parent families have been experiencing a significant increase on a global scale in recent times, understanding the potential effects on the psychological development of young adults has become increasingly important. This study compares and analyses the impact of single parenting on the mental health and well-being of young adults, contrasting it with the outcomes observed in two-parent households. Drawing on a comprehensive review of empirical studies and scholarly literature, this analysis underscores the psychological dimensions that highly influences the mental health of young adults raised in single-parent households. Factors such as parental involvement, economic stability, family structure, and social support networks are examined in relation to their influence on the outcomes of single-parent families. The findings suggest that young adults raised in single-parent households may experience unique challenges that can impact their mental health. The absence of one parent in their daily lives may lead to feelings of abandonment, identity confusion, and emotional stress. Comparatively, young adults from two-parent households generally exhibit higher levels of psychological well-being due to the presence of two parental figures, potentially providing increased emotional support and guidance. However, it is essential to note that the effects of single parenting on young adults’ mental health are not uniformly negative. Factors such as the quality of the parent and child relationship, support from extended family members, and community resources can serve as protective factors and mitigate some of the challenges that are faced by single-parent led families. This analysis underscores the need for appropriate interventions and support systems to address the specific mental health needs of young adults raised in single-parent households. By recognizing the unique circumstances and challenges faced by these individuals, policy makers, educators, and mental health professionals can develop strategies to foster resilience and well-being among this population.

BACKGROUND:Weight-related body image concerns significantly impact mental health and weight management in young adults (YAs) and are shaped by cultural, societal, and digital factors. Despite the prevalence of these issues, few studies have explored them in this demographic. This study utilizes a validated tool to examine key aspects of weight-related body image concerns in YAs.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional analytical survey was conducted using a pre-validated tool, in the outpatient settings of a tertiary healthcare in India. Snowball and purposive sampling techniques were employed, and data were analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.2.RESULTS:A total of 1071 YAs (mean age: 22.3 ± 3.5 years) were selected, mostly from middle-income groups (61.9%) and students (63.6%), with a slight female predominance (57.1%). The prevalence of obesity was 25.2%, underweight was 11.5%, and moderate to severe body concerns were present in half of the obese (49.6%) and underweight participants (47.1%), with severe issues highest in obese YAs. Regression analysis showed increased odds of body image issues in the underweight (OR: 1.89 [1.29–2.76], P < 0.001) and obese categories (OR: 2.89 [2.18–3.83], P < 0.001). Subdomain analysis revealed that self-consciousness (P < 0.001) and lack of confidence (P < 0.001) were highest in obese YAs, while anxiety (P < 0.001), loneliness (P < 0.01), and embarrassment (P < 0.001) were highest in the underweight group.CONCLUSION:The study highlights the high prevalence of weight-related body image concerns in YAs, with underweight, overweight, and obese individuals experiencing significant distress. The findings emphasize the need for culturally tailored interventions to improve mental health in YAs with obesity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of attending worship services on the mental health of young adults in mainstream churches in Imenti North, Meru County, Kenya. The study adopted a correlational research design. The target population was 3,745 young adults and 106 pastors/Rev/fathers from 13 mainstream churches in Imenti North Sub County. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The questionnaire results revealed that the majority of respondents (96 or 27%, and 107 or 31%) strongly agreed or agreed, with a mean of 4.24, that attending worship services helped them become more optimistic in life. Additionally, 121 (35%) strongly agreed, and 89 (26%) agreed, with a mean of 4.04, that their self-esteem developed through opportunities to express their talents in the church. However, 112 (32%) strongly disagreed, and 100 (28%) disagreed, with a mean of 2.37, about attending counseling sessions or listening to sermons that had positively affected their emotional stability. The correlation coefficient was found to be r = 0.680 at α &lt; 0.022, with a significance level of 99%. Since the correlation coefficient was less than 1 and the p-value was less than 0.05, the null hypothesis was rejected. Interview results indicated that attending worship services facilitated positive changes in young adults' lives, including spiritual growth and expanded thinking. Moreover, attending worship services helped young adults cope with mental health issues related to childhood trauma, providing exposure to counseling and God's love. The frequency of attending worship services was a significant factor in the mental health and well-being of young adults, promoting optimism and personal growth. However, there were challenges in engaging young adults with certain programs, such as sermons, which may not have been relevant or appealing to them. The recommendation for attending worship services is that churches should engage young adults more in worship services, offering tailored programs or concurrent services that specifically address their spiritual and mental health needs.

To examine whether retrospectively assessed sports participation (SP) and competitive sports (CS) at the age of 12 years is associated with mental health and health behavior in young adulthood among males. A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. Conducted prior to compulsory military refresher training course in Finland allowing geographically representative sample of Finnish young men. Six hundred eighty males aged between 20 and 35 years. Mental well-being was measured with the short version of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and mental distress with 5 items of The Short Form Helalth Survey (SF-36) scale. Binary logistic regression models. Sports participation at the age of 12 was associated with better mental health in young adulthood, with both mental well-being (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.11) and mental distress (OR = 0.61, 0.41-0.90). Age, years of education, and current physical activity were controlled. Higher level of intensity of SP and the level of CS in childhood were associated with lower level of mental distress in adulthood. No association was found between the level of CS in childhood and mental well-being in adulthood. Further, youth SP seemed to be a risk factor for increased alcohol consumption and use of snuff in adulthood. Despite negative outcomes related to health behavior, the findings provide support for the association between youth SP and positive mental health outcomes in adulthood among males.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The disease spreads very fast and it is highly contagious as it is an airborne infection. Infected patients were showing mild to critical symptoms affecting their respiratory system. The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on everyone, forcing people to isolate, shield and minimize contact with friends and family. As current restrictions gradually lifted, we consider not only the physical impact, but the effect coronavirus has had on mental health and wellbeing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the impact of COVID-19 on mental and psychosocial wellbeing will be significant and enduring. The pandemic primarily affects physical health yet has made a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing. Method: in this study, both male and female ranging from the age group 18 to 35 were taken. Total 303 data had participated in this study with convenient sampling method. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to analyse the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on mental health in young adults. Data were analysed by using SPSS statistics. Result: From the data analysis, only 29.04% participants show no significant impact on mental health, where as19.80% have reported mild mental disorder: 20.46% Participants have reported Moderate Mental health disorder and 30% Participants have reported to have Severe Mental health disorder. This shows significant affection of the pandemic on mental health in young adults. Conclusion: In this study, findings are suggesting, mental health affection ranging from mild to severe impact on young adults in COVID 19 pandemic due to many physical, financial and mental reasons.

Bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence is widely acknowledged for its detrimental effects on mental health and loneliness in young adulthood. However, the influence of onset time when bullying happens (in primary and/or secondary school) and of distinct forms of bullying remain underexplored. The study aims to explore the associations between seven forms of victimization (being teased or called nasty names; rumor spreading; physical harm; threat; property damage; robbery; social exclusion) during university students' primary and secondary school years and their current mental health and loneliness in China. A total of 684 university students (mean age = 19.05, SD = 1.56) completed Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Retrospective Bullying Questionnaire, which involves recollection of bullying victimization during primary and secondary school years. Stable victim (those who experienced bullying victimization during both primary and secondary school years) was most strongly associated with current higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Different forms of bullying victimization in primary and secondary school years were independently associated with mental health and loneliness. Specifically, rumor spreading in secondary school strongly predicted depression, anxiety, and stress, while social exclusion in primary school was closely linked to depression, anxiety, and loneliness. These findings underscore the long-term psychological impact of various forms of bullying victimization experienced in primary and secondary school years and highlight the importance of targeted interventions that address specific types of bullying in primary and secondary school years to mitigate their enduring effects on mental health in young adulthood.

This study explored the mediating effect of career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and immigration backgrounds (native- or foreign-born young adults) on the relationship between perceived marginalization and the mental health of young adults with migration backgrounds (having mixed parentage of one Korean and one non-Korean immigrant parent) in South Korea. We collected data from 300 adults aged 25–34 with migration backgrounds (204 born in Korea and 96 born abroad) through the Gallup Research Institute of Korea and conducted a moderated-moderated mediation analysis using Model 21 of PROCESS Macro in SPSS. The analysis showed that career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and migration backgrounds mediated the relationship between perceived marginalization and mental health. However, the results were only significant for participants who were born abroad and immigrated to Korea, and not for those who were born in Korea. These findings suggest that while greater perceived marginalization leads to lower career maturity and negatively impacts the mental health of foreign-born young adults, higher levels of intimacy with parents can buffer these negative effects.

Upon close examination by nutritional professionals, concern has arisen regarding the typical contents of a young adult diet. In terms of the rate at which young adults choose to consume nutritionally-dense food items, the rate at which nutrition-deficient junk food items are chosen over the former is significantly higher. Among further examinations of this issue by researchers, it has become evident that the nutritional decisions made by young adults are increasingly associated with several social, commercial, mental, educational, and economic influences. As a consequence of these factors, research has uncovered a connection between the consumption of a poor diet and negative effects on the physical and mental health of young adults. The goal of this research is to review the literature composed on the connection between nutrition and young adult health, examine the solutions postulated for the improvement of young adult nutrition, and propose the positive mental and physical health outcomes for young adults that may result if the aforementioned solutions are used.

This study investigated the association between job satisfaction, the quality of adult sibling interpersonal relationships and mental health in young adults. The second aim of the study was to determine a moderating role of the quality of adult sibling interpersonal relationships in the correlation between job satisfaction and mental health in young adults as well as a moderating role of job satisfaction in the correlation between mental health and adult sibling relationships. The study included 84 young persons (M=25.5; SD=3.44). The research tools: Work Description Sheet, General Health Questionnaire–28 and Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire. The obtained results show that it was found out that a low general job satisfaction as well as its factors were linked with poorer mental health of the examined persons. The positive correlations but week were observed between perceiving conflict and rivalry in relationships with adult siblings and mental health dimensions. It was found out that both a relationship with adult siblings is a moderator of the correlation between job satisfaction and mental health and that job satisfaction is a moderator of the correlation between adult sibling relationships and mental health. It was found out that the quality of interactions between the relationships in the subsystem of adult siblings and job satisfaction reveals the links with the condition of mental health. That opens up an opportunity not only to learn more about the psychological aspects of young adults’ functioning on the labour market but also to protect their mental health.

Discrimination and the Role of the Clinician.

The relationship between the employment status and mental health is well established, yet the behavioural mechanisms underlying this association across age groups remain unclear. This study investigates whether artistic leisure moderates the association between employment status and mental health, measured with the 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12), using nationally representative survey data from Taiwanese adults aged 18 and above. Participants were categorised into three groups. Descriptive statistics summarised mental health prevalence, and χ2 tests assessed associations across age groups. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, religious affiliation, financial sufficiency, and physical health, was employed to examine the relationship. The prevalence of good mental health was highest among older adults (84.83%), followed by young (79.25%) and middle-aged adults (78.76%). Artistic leisure significantly moderated the association between employment and mental health in young adults, with those in employment who engaged in artistic activities reporting better outcomes (AOR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.98-8.96). No significant moderating association was found in the older age groups. These findings suggest that employment plays a critical role in the mental well-being of young adults, highlighting the importance of understanding the contexts and motivations behind their engagement in artistic leisure.

Aims: Little is known about long-term mental health in young adults who participate in ongoing grief counseling programs after early parental death in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine mental health in young adults according to early parental death and participation in grief counseling. Methods: In a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study, we included three samples of young adults age 18-41 years. One sample who had lost a parent between age 0 and 30 years and who had participated in grief counseling identified through four Danish grief-counseling organizations, and two registry-based samples of young adults included parentally bereaved and non-bereaved young adults. Multivariate-adjusted regression analyses were performed to characterize risk of depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life (HQoL) according to early parental death and participation in grief counseling. Results: A total of 2467 (45%) young adults participated. Bereaved young adults reported significantly more depressive symptoms (p<0.0001) and lower mental HQoL (p<0.0001) than non-bereaved young adults and than general population levels for both depressive symptoms (p<0.0001) and HQoL (p<0.0001). Bereaved young adults who had participated in grief counseling reported significantly more depressive symptoms (p<0.0001) and lower mental HQoL (p<0.0001) than bereaved persons who did not participate in grief counseling. Conclusions: Bereaved young adults report more mental health problems than non-bereaved young adults, and also after participation in grief counseling the death of a parent may be accompanied by subsequent mental health problems.

Aim of the Study: Emotional regulation is a key element in regulating relationship and mental health. However, emotional abuse is a by product of having emotional dysfunctional and low mental health in dating young adults. This study examined associations between emotional abuse, emotion regulation, and mental health in young adults in dating relationships in Pakistan. Methodology: A quantitative correlational study design was used. A sample of 146 university students (73 females, 73 males) aged 18-25 currently in relationships recruited through purposive sampling technique. They completed the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse (MMEA), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Findings: The statistical analysis including independent t-tests revealed significant gender differences, with females reporting higher emotional abuse, cognitive reappraisal, and mental health symptoms. Correlational analyses indicated significant positive relationships between emotional abuse, maladaptive emotion regulation, and depression, anxiety, and stress. Hierarchical regression analyses showed hostile withdrawal and denigration emotional abuse behaviors strongly predicting mental health difficulties and significant variance with age and socioeconomic status in relation to emotional abuse, especially in females. Conclusion: The findings suggest young women in dating relationships in Pakistan face heightened emotional abuse associated with poor mental health, despite using emotional regulation strategies. This highlights the need for greater support and interventions to promote healthy relationships and resilience in this population.

BackgroundEvidence has identified the detrimental effects that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have on outcomes across the life course. We assess associations between prospective and retrospective ACEs and mental health in young adulthood and the influence of recent stressors.MethodsSecondary analysis of a sample of 1592 young adults from the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort, from 1990 to 2013, were assessed throughout their first 18 years for prospective ACEs. Retrospective ACEs and an assessment of mental health were collected at the 22–23-year data point.FindingsProspective physical and sexual abuse are associated with an increased risk of depression (OR 1·7 [95% CI 1·37–1·93, p = 0·034], and OR 1·8 [95% CI 1·27–2·07, p = 0·018], respectively). Retrospective emotional abuse/neglect is associated with increased anxiety (OR 1·8 [95% CI 1·32–2·36, p = 0·000]), depression (OR 1·6 [95% CI 1·08–2·25, p = 0·018]) and overall psychological distress (OR 1·6 [95% CI 1·18–2·17, p = 0·002]). Prospectively reporting four or more ACEs is associated with a twofold increase in risk for overall psychological distress (OR 2·2 [95% CI 1·58–3.12, p = 0·008]). Retrospectively reporting four or more ACEs is associated with increased likelihood of somatization (p = 0·004), anxiety (p = 0·002), depression (p = 0·021), and overall psychological distress (p = 0·005).InterpretationBoth individual and combined retrospective and prospective ACEs are related to mental health in young adulthood. Recent stressors reinforce this relationship; the likelihood of those who report more ACEs experiencing psychological distress increases when adjusting for recent stressors.FundingWellcome Trust (UK), South African Medical Research Council, Human Sciences Research Council, University of the Witwatersrand and supported by the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development.