Changes In Psychosocial Factors Research Articles

A Meta-Regression of psychosocial factors associated with sleep outcomes in mindfulness-based intervention trials.

In this meta-regression, we aimed to explore associations between changes in psychosocial factors and changes in sleep disturbance during mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). We also investigated participant-specific and methodological factors associated with sleep disturbance during MBIs. We utilized data from a published meta-analysis of 40 randomized controlled trials of MBIs (published from inception to 2020) with a sleep disturbance outcome measure in healthy and clinical adult populations. We conducted meta-regressions to test associations between sleep improvements following MBIs and psychosocial factors, as well as demographic and methodological factors. MBIs were associated with significant reductions in sleep disturbance (SMD = -0.523; 95% CI = -0.678 to -0.368) and psychosocial factors (SMD = -0.213 - -0.894). Reductions in sleep disturbance were associated with reductions in stress (r = 0.74, p = .02) and depression (r = 0.90, p < .001). MBIs improve sleep disturbance across a wide range of healthy and clinical populations. Stress and depression may be important psychosocial factors associated with sleep disturbance. Future RCTs should include measures of additional factors and should investigate longitudinal associations between psychosocial, demographic, and methodological factors with changes in sleep disturbance to test mechanisms and to identify "active ingredients" of MBIs.

Reducing stigma and promoting HIV wellness/mental health of sexual and gender minorities: RCT results from a group-based programme in Nigeria.

High levels of HIV stigma as well as stigma directed towards sexual and/or gender minorities (SGMs) are well documented in the African setting. These intersecting stigmas impede psychosocial wellbeing and HIV prevention and care. Yet, there are few if any evidence-based interventions that focus on reducing internalized stigma and promoting mental health and HIV wellness for SGMs in Africa. We developed and evaluated a group-based intervention drawing on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) at risk for or living with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria. The intervention comprised four weekly in-person group sessions facilitated by community health workers. We conducted a delayed intervention group randomized controlled trial (April-September 2022), with pre-post surveys plus 3-month follow-up (immediate group only), as well as qualitative research with participants and programme staff. Outcomes included internalized stigma related to SGM and HIV status, depression, resiliency/coping and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/HIV treatment use. Mean age of the 240 participants was 26 years (range 18-42). Seventy-seven percent self-identified as MSM and 23% TGW; 27% were people with HIV. Most (88%) participants attended all four sessions, and 98% expressed high intervention satisfaction. There was significant pre-post improvement in each psychosocial outcome, in both the immediate and delayed arms. There were further positive changes for the immediate intervention group by 3-month follow-up (e.g. in intersectional internalized stigma, depression). While baseline levels of ever-PrEP use were the same, 75% of immediate-group participants reported currently using PrEP at 3 months post-intervention versus 53% of delayed-group participants right after the intervention (p<0.01). Participants post-intervention described (in qualitative interviews) less self-blame, and enhanced social support and resilience when facing stigma, as well as motivation to use PrEP, and indicated that positive pre-intervention changes in psychosocial factors found in the delayed group mainly reflected perceived support from the study interviewers. This study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a group-based CBT model for MSM and TGW in Nigeria. There were also some indications of positive shifts related to stigma, mental health and PrEP, despite issues with maintaining the randomized design in this challenging environment.

A 2-year longitudinal study examining the change in psychosocial factors under the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

To examine changes in individuals’ psychosocial variables (e.g., psychological distress, social isolation, and alcohol use) during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a two-year longitudinal survey was conducted at approximately one-year intervals between May 2020 and May 2022, after the first COVID-19-related state of emergency was announced in Japan. The online survey was conducted on May 11-12, 2020 (Phase 1), June 14–20, 2021 (Phase 2), and May 13–30, 2022 (Phase 3). The survey in Phase 1 was conducted during the first emergency declaration period, the survey in Phase 2 was conducted during the third emergency declaration period, and the survey in Phase 3 was conducted at a time when there was no state of emergency but many COVID-19 positive cases. Notably, 3,892 participants responded to all three surveys. In addition to psychosocial inventories often used worldwide, survey items included lifestyle and stress management indicators related to COVID-19 and various sociodemographic items including occupation (e.g., healthcare workers) or income, history of medical treatment for mental problems, severe physical illnesses, and COVID-19.

An industrialized diet as a determinant of methylation in the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene promoter.

Dietary composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases via epigenetic mechanisms. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS). We recruited 250 adult volunteers and evaluated their socioeconomic status, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometrics. Peripheral blood was collected and evaluated for cortisol levels, glycemia, lipid profile, and insulin resistance; methylation of CpGs 40-47 of the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene was also measured. Factors associated with degree of methylation were evaluated using generalized linear models (p < 0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were included as confounding factors. The findings of our cross-sectional study indicated an association between NR3C1 DNA methylation and intake of processed foods. We also observed relevant associations of average NR3C1 DNA across the segment analyzed, methylation in component 1 (40-43), and methylation in component 2 (44-47) with a pattern of consumption of industrialized products in relation to BMI, serum cortisol levels, and lipid profile. These results may indicate a relationship between methylation and metabolic changes related to the stress response. These findings suggest an association of methylation and metabolic alterations with stress response. In addition, the present study highlights the significant role of diet quality as a stress-inducing factor that influences NR3C1 methylation. This relationship is further linked to changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, and cardiometabolic variables, including glucose levels, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia.

How does lowering psychosocial risks influence sickness absence? A prospective cohort study analyzed as a quasi-experiment.

We examined how reducing work-related psychosocial stressors affected long-term sickness absence of younger and older employees. We used data from 43 843 public sector employees in Finland who participated in surveys in 2018 and 2020. We assessed psychosocial factors, such as job demands, job control, work effort, job rewards and worktime control. We obtained sickness absence data from registers for spells longer than 10 consecutive working days. We applied age-specific propensity score weighting and generalized linear models to estimate the effects of changes in psychosocial factors between 2018 and 2020 on sickness absence in 2020. Among employees under 50 years, increasing job rewards by 1 SD reduced the risk of sickness absence by 17% [risk ratio (RR) 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.96]. Among employees aged 50 years or older, decreasing job demands by 1 SD reduced the risk of sickness absence by 13% (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.98), and increasing job control by 1 SD reduced the risk by 12% (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.76-1.01). Changes in efforts and worktime control had no significant associations with sickness absence. Reducing psychosocial stressors can lower the occurrence of long-term sickness absence, but the associations differ by age group. Younger workers benefit more from enhancing job rewards, while older workers benefit more from lowering job demands and increasing job control. To establish the causal impact of psychosocial risk reduction on sickness absence across age groups, future research should employ randomized controlled trials as the methodological approach.

COVID-19-related changes at work and psychosocial work environment: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Stressful events and uncertain times are known to pose occupational risks. COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to work, work arrangements, and work environment. Prospective studies are needed to assess the potential effects of these changes on psychosocial work environment. Methods We followed a large cohort of Finnish public sector employees using biennial survey data from 2016 to 2022 (n = 22,688). Those who reported a change (over to remote work, other tasks, or team reorganization) in work due to the pandemic in 2020 were compared to those who did not report such a change. Sex-, age, and socioeconomic status -adjusted means for psychosocial factors were calculated in four timepoints separately for the groups of employees with and without changes. Multilevel modelling was applied to examine the change in psychosocial factors accounting for autocorrelation between observations. To examine the potential difference in trends between the groups, time x group interaction was tested. Results Transfer to working from home in 2020 (n = 10,587, 47%) was associated with increased work time control (b = 0.07; 95% CI 0.05, 0.08) and social capital (b = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01, 0.05) over time. A transfer to other work tasks in 2020 (n = 1660, 7%) was associated with suboptimal trend in work time control (b= -0.06; 95% CI -0.09, -0.03), and procedural justice (b= -0.05; 95% CI -0.10, 0.00), particularly in 2020 compared to those not exposed to such transfer. Team reorganization in 2020 ((n = 1067, 5%) was associated with suboptimal trend in work time control compared to those not exposed to team reorganization (b= -0.06; 95% CI -0.10, -0.02). Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic induced changes at work were associated with mixed changes in the perceived psychosocial work environment. Key messages • COVID-19 -induced changes at work may have had unequal impacts on different groups of employees in the public sector. • Promoting the resilience of the most vulnerable employee groups needs attention in the future.

Changes In Psychosocial Factors To A Holistic Coaching App In Division I Basketball Athletes

Changes In Psychosocial Factors To A Holistic Coaching App In Division I Basketball Athletes

Effects of Body Satisfaction and Emotional Eating on Obesity Treatment-Related Changes in Weight and Waist Circumference Over 2 Years: A Serial Multiple Mediation Analysis

Maintenance of lost weight beyond 6 months in adults with obesity remains problematic. To reliably impact obesity over the long term, an improved understanding of treatment-associated changes in psychosocial factors is required. Women are especially susceptible to body image concerns and emotional eating; however, associations among those variables within weight-management processes have been limited to either cross-sectional or short-term analyses. Women with obesity (Mage = 47.4 years, SD = 8.6) who participated in either a year-long YMCA-based cognitive-behavioral treatment emphasizing self-regulation of exercise and eating (n = 54), or a similar treatment that also included brief phone follow-ups of learned self-regulatory skills monthly during a second treatment year (n = 74), were assessed on weight and waist circumference changes over 6 and 24 months and changes in body satisfaction and emotional eating over 12 months. Improvements on all measures were significant with no time × group interaction. In aggregated analyses, there were significant direct relationships between changes in weight over 6 and 24 months, between changes in body satisfaction and emotional eating, and between those psychosocial changes and weight changes. Within serial multiple mediation models incorporating lagged variable analyses, only the path from changes in weight from baseline–Month 6→body satisfaction from baseline–Month 12→weight from baseline–Month 24 was significant. Results were similar when waist circumference was entered in place of weight. Findings suggest body satisfaction requires an increased focus within behavioral treatments for women with obesity to maximize their maintenance or extension of early reductions in weight and waist circumference.

Association of pain catastrophizing longitudinally with pain severity and interference in patients with chronic pain and cancer: A CHOIR study.

213 Background: Understanding how psychosocial factors change during cancer and affect chronic pain outcomes may help identify potential interventional targets. This longitudinal cohort study of cancer patients investigated the relationship between changes in psychosocial factors and worsened pain severity and interference over time using the Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry (CHOIR) dataset. Methods: Data from patients with cancer and chronic pain (n = 316) treated at a tertiary pain clinic were prospectively collected. At their initial visit (baseline; Time 1), patients provided demographic and clinical information, and completed validated psychosocial and pain assessments. Psychosocial and pain assessments were repeated at Time 2, on average 4.9 months later. Change scores (Time 2-Time 1) were computed for psychosocial and pain variables. Multivariable hierarchical linear regressions assessed the associations between changes in psychosocial factors with changes in pain outcomes over time. Results: Participants had an average age of 59, were 61% female, and 69% White. Overall, a decrease in pain severity ( p≤.001), but not pain interference, was observed among the group from T1 to T2. Increased pain catastrophizing was significantly associated with increased pain severity over time (b= 0.24, p≤.001). Similarly, increased pain catastrophizing (b= 0.21, p≤.001) and increased depression (b= 0.20, p≤.003) were significantly associated with increased pain interference over time. Demographic and clinical characteristics were not significantly related to changes in pain outcomes. Conclusions: Increased catastrophizing was uniquely associated with increased chronic pain severity and interference. Future interventional studies investigating the utility of nonpharmacological approaches that address psychological processes, like catastrophizing, for patients with cancer and chronic pain are needed.

Self-reported Illness Experiences and Psychosocial Outcomes for Reservation-Area American Indian Youth During COVID-19

Impacts of COVID-19 on reservation-area American Indian youth are unknown and may be substantial owing to the significant COVID-19 morbidity and mortality experienced by American Indian populations. To measure self-reported illness experiences and changes in psychosocial factors during the COVID-19 pandemic among reservation-area American Indian youth. This cross-sectional study included a random sample of US schools on or near US Indian reservations during Spring 2021, stratified by region, with students in grades 6 to 12 completing cross-sectional online surveys. All enrolled self-identifying American Indian students in grades 6 to 12 attending the 20 participating schools were eligible to be surveyed; participants represented 60.4% of eligible students in these schools. Data were analyzed from January 5 to July 15, 2022. Onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes of interest were COVID-19 self-reported illness outcomes for self and family and close friends; perceived changes in family and friend relationships, school engagement, social isolation, and other psychological factors since the COVID-19 pandemic began; and worry over COVID-19-related health outcomes. A total of 2559 American Indian students (1201 [46.9%] male; 1284 [50.2%] female; 70 [2.7%] another gender; mean [SD] 14.7 [8.9] years) were included in the analysis. Approximately 14% of the sample reported having had a test result positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (14.3% [95% CI, 11.4%-17.6%]), a higher rate than for all cases nationally at the time of the survey. Regarding prevalence of COVID-19 among family and close friends, 75.4% (95% CI, 68.8%-80.9%) of participants reported having at least 1 family member or friend who had contracted COVID-19, while 27.9% (95% CI, 18.8%-39.3%) of participants reported that at least 1 family member or close friend had died of COVID-19. Regarding psychosocial impacts, COVID-19 was associated with strained friend relationships (eg, 34.0% [95% CI, 28.4%-40.0%] of students reported worry over losing friends), lower school engagement, and less social connectedness (eg, 62.2% [95% CI, 56.7%-67.4%] of students reported feeling less socially connected to people), although more than 60% of students also reported feeling no change or a decrease in negative emotions. Males were less likely to report perceived negative impacts, especially for negative emotions such as sadness (29.2% [95% CI, 23.3%-35.9%] of males vs 46.1% [95% CI, 43.9%-48.3%] of females reported feeling more sad) and anxiety (21.8% [95% CI, 18.2%-25.8%] of males vs 39.2% [95% CI, 34.1%-44.6%] of females reported feeling more anxious). This cross-sectional study provides novel insight into the perceived experiences of reservation-area American Indian youth, a population at uniquely elevated risk of poor health status and health care access, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although mortality and morbidity rates from COVID-19 were high on American Indian reservations, student reports of psychosocial impacts were complex and suggest many students were resilient in the face of the pandemic. These findings could be used to understand and address the challenges facing American Indian youth due to the pandemic and to guide future research that examines the factors and processes associated with the reported outcomes.

Increased pain catastrophizing longitudinally predicts worsened pain severity and interference in patients with chronic pain and cancer: A collaborative health outcomes information registry study (CHOIR).

Little is known about how changes in psychosocial factors impact changes in pain outcomes among patients with cancer and chronic pain. This longitudinal cohort study of cancer patients investigated the relationships between changes in psychosocial factors and changes in pain severity and interference over time. Data from patients with cancer and chronic pain (n=316) treated at a tertiary pain clinic were prospectively collected. At their baseline visit (Time 1), patients provided demographic and clinical information, and completed validated psychosocial and pain assessments. Psychosocial and pain assessments were repeated at a follow-up visit (Time 2), on average 4.9months later. Change scores (Time 2-Time 1) were computed for psychosocial and pain variables. Multivariable hierarchical linear regressions assessed the associations between changes in psychosocial factors with changes in pain outcomes over time. Participants were an average age of 59years, were 61% female, and 69% White. Overall, a decrease in pain severity (p≤0.001), but not pain interference, was observed among the group over time. In multivariable analyses, increased pain catastrophizing was significantly associated with increased pain severity over time (β=0.24, p≤0.001). Similarly, increased pain catastrophizing (β=0.21, p≤0.001) and increased depression (β=0.20, p≤0.003) were significantly associated with increased pain interference over time. Demographic and clinical characteristics were not significantly related to changes in pain outcomes. Increased pain catastrophizing was uniquely associated with increased chronic pain severity and interference. Our findings indicate that cancer patients with chronic pain would likely benefit from the incorporation of nonpharmacological interventions, simultaneously addressing pain and psychological symptoms.

Oral community health worker-led interventions in households with average levels of psychosocial factors.

IntroductionHousehold-level psychosocial stress levels have been linked to child tooth brushing behaviors. Community health worker (CHW) interventions that target psychosocial factors in high-risk communities have been associated with changes in health behaviors.AimObserve changes in psychosocial factors over time and an association between psychosocial factors and CHW intervention dose amongst urban Chicago families.Patients and methodsParticipants (N = 420 families) were recruited from 10 community clinics and 10 Women, Infants, or Children (WIC) centers in Cook County, Illinois to participate in a clinical trial. Research staff collected participant-reported psychosocial factors (family functioning and caregiver reports of depression, anxiety, support, and social functioning) and characteristics of CHW-led oral health intervention visits (number, content, child engagement) at 0, 6, and 12 months. CHWs recorded field observations after home visits on household environment, social circumstances, stressors, and supports.ResultsParticipants across the cohort reported levels of psychosocial factors consistent with average levels for the general population for nearly all measures. Psychosocial factors did not vary over time. Social functioning was the only measure reported at low levels [32.0 (6.9); 32.1 (6.7); 32.7 (6.9); mean = 50 (standard deviation)] at 0, 6, and 12 months. We did not observe a meaningful difference in social functioning scores over time by exposure to CHW-led intervention visits (control arm, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 visits). Field observations made by CHWs described a range of psychosocial stress related to poverty, language barriers, and immigration status.ConclusionThe unexpectedly average and unchanging psychosocial factors over time, in the context of field observations of stress related to poverty, lack of support, immigration status, and language barriers, suggests that our study did not adequately capture the social determinants of health related to oral health behaviors or that measurement biases precluded accurate assessment. Future studies will assess psychosocial factors using a variety of instruments in an attempt to better measure psychosocial factors including social support, depression, anxiety, functioning, trauma and resilience within our urban population. We will also look at neighborhood-level factors of community distress and resilience to better apply the social ecologic model to child oral health behaviors.

Changes in psychosocial factors among community-dwelling older adults before and after Japan's declaration of a state of emergency over coronavirus disease 2019.

Social distancing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 may cause changes in psychosocial factors. This study aimed to clarify changes in psychosocial factors among older adults before and after Japan's declaration of a state of emergency over coronavirus disease 2019. This was a longitudinal cohort questionnaire study. A baseline survey was conducted in March 2020, and a follow-up survey was conducted in August 2020. The subjects were 1103 community-dwelling older adults not certified as having long-term care needs who responded to both the baseline and follow-up surveys. Changes in psychosocial factors before and after the state of emergency declaration were analysed by gender using the McNemar-Bowker test. Data for 397 men (mean age ± standard deviation: 80.6 ± 4.7 years) and 486 women (80.3 ± 4.3 years) were analysed in this study. The frequency of meeting friends increased over the study period for men (P=0.04). An increasing number of women lived alone (P=0.01). However, many people's financial status improved (P < 0.01), and the number of friends met in the previous month increased (P < 0.01). None of the examined psychosocial factors worsened, except for the increase in the number of women living alone. However, many of the study subjects refrained from engaging in certain activities. If the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic persists, changes in psychosocial factors may occur. Therefore, a long-term investigation of the secondary psychosocial effects of coronavirus disease 2019 is necessary.

Evaluation of the efficacy of treatment modalities in burning mouth syndrome-A systematic review.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a medical entity characterised by a spontaneous sensation of burning, numbness or pain of the oral mucosa in the absence of clinical symptoms. The goal of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of various current treatments for BMS. The literature search used the following inclusion criteria: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which compared one or more treatment strategies for patients with primary/idiopathic BMS with a placebo group describing all types of interventions. The primary and secondary outcome measures included: relief of pain/burning sensations, changes in psychosocial factors and feeling of sensation of dryness. A computer and manual search was performed in Pubmed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library up to 5 November 2019 and updated on 28 June 2020. The risk of bias was measured with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Thirty RCTs which included 727 study participants and 589 controls were identified. The following interventions were introduced: dietary supplements, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, analgesics, topical agents, electromagnetic radiation or induction, physical barriers and psychological therapies. The most successful therapeutic outcomes were observed for clonazepam tested in 3 RCTs, where significant pain reduction appeared after both topical and systemic application. Evident pain reduction was also reported for tongue protectors and capsaicin in 2 separate studies. Short follow-up periods, low numbers of participants, variability of the metrics used in the evaluation of the results and heterogeneous study design were the main limitations of the reviewed studies. Based on our analysis, clonazepam appears to be the most effective treatment option for BMS.

Do changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle factors and sitting posture influence the likelihood of musculoskeletal pain in high school computer users?

Adolescents regularly engage in screen-based activities. Complex factors influence adolescents' growth, and habitual sitting posture. The association between over-time changes in their sitting posture, and upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain (UQMP) is poorly understood. This study tested the association between change over 12 months in seated posture angles (neck flexion [NF]; craniocervical angle [CCA] into flexion and extension; and thoracic flexion [TF]), UQMP, and predictor variables (anxiety and depression; sport activity, music participation; computer use). A one-year prospective longitudinal study enrolled 211 asymptomatic 15-18-year students. 3D motion analysis captured postural angles while students worked on desktop computers, at baseline and 12 months later. Height, weight, computing time, sport and music participation, and depression and anxiety were measured at both time periods. UQMP in the previous month was captured at 12 months. The association between over-time change in sitting posture angles and predictor variables was determined using linear regression analysis (r2 ; p-values). The association between predictor variables with UQMP, and predictor variables on the association between postural angles and UQMP was assessed using logistic regression models (Odds Ratios [95%CI]). Significant confounding effects were determined when the addition of a predictor variable to the posture-UQMP model significantly changed the Likelihood Ratio chi square value. N = 153 students (72%) completed the study (48 with UQMP). Significant associations occurred between head flexion (HF) and body mass index (BMI) (r2= 4.20, p = .01); NF and computer use (r2= 2.87, p = .036) and CCA and music participation (r2= 9.99, p = .047). Music participants and non-participants in sport or music had increased risk of UQMP with CCA changes into flexion (OR 12.0) and TF changes into extension (OR 7.6) respectively. The association between over-time-change in sitting posture angles and UQMP is not influenced by anthropometrics, psychosocial factors or time spent computing. Music students, and students not participating in sport, require further postural analysis.

Persistent Barriers to Smoking Cessation Among Urban, Underserved Women: A Feasibility Study of Tailored Barriers Text Messages.

Despite health risks for themselves and their children, urban underserved women smoke at high rates postpartum. The postpartum period is a stressful transition time that presents unique barriers to sustained cessation. There is limited extant evidence of efficacious psychosocial programs to maintain postpartum smoking cessation. Guided by the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing model, we explored the feasibility of TxT2Commit, a text-messaging intervention designed to prevent postpartum smoking relapse. Participants (n = 43) received supportive cessation-focused text messages for one month postpartum. Using a convergent mixed method design, surveys and interviews assessed changes in psychosocial factors and smoking status through a three month follow-up. Participants reported satisfaction with TxT2Commit, rating text messages as helpful, understandable, supportive, and not bothersome. However, a majority of women (n = 28, 65.1%) relapsed by three months. Participants who stayed smoke free (i.e., non-relapsers) reported significantly less temptation to smoke at one and three months postpartum compared to relapsers (ps < .01). While relapsers had significantly less temptation at one month compared to baseline, temptation increased by three months (p < .01). Consistent with the quantitative results, qualitative interviews identified informational and coping needs, with continued temptation throughout the three months. Non-relapsers were able to manage temptation and reported greater support. TxT2Commit demonstrates preliminary feasibility and acceptability among urban, underserved postpartum women. However, most participants relapsed by three months postpartum. Additional research is needed to identify targeted messaging to best help women avoid temptation and bolster support to stay smoke free in this uniquely stressful period.

Postpartum Perceived Stress Explains the Association between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms.

Limited research has focused on longitudinal interrelations between perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms beyond the first postpartum months. This study tested an alternative primary hypothesis within the stress process model examining whether perceived stress mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms from 1 to 24months postpartum. Secondary purposes examined whether these factors 1) changed from 1 to 24months postpartum and 2) predicted depressive symptoms. Women (N=1,316) in a longitudinal cohort study completed validated measures of perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24months postpartum via telephone interviews. Analyses examined changes in psychosocial factors (repeated measures analysis of variance) and the extent to which perceived social support and perceived stress predicted depressive symptoms and supported mediation (linear regression). Perceived social support decreased, perceived stress increased, and depressive symptoms remained constant from 1 to 18months, then increased at 24months. Low perceived social support predicted 6-month depressive symptoms, whereas perceived stress predicted depressive symptoms at all time points. Perceived stress mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms across 24months such that low perceived social support predicted perceived stress, which in turn predicted depressive symptoms. Intervention scientists may want to focus on strengthening perceived social support as a means to manage perceived stress in an effort to prevent a long-term trajectory of depression.

Perceptions and Response to Conservative Treatment of Low Back Pain in Soldiers During Initial Entry Training: A Convergence Mixed Methods Study.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition suffered by military personnel. Psychosocial factors play a role in LBP prognosis and can be addressed with self-management tools. This study's purpose was to (1) describe clinical changes in psychosocial factors of LBP following a self-management intervention and (2) explore the LBP experience of military trainees. Ten participants in Initial Entry Training (IET) were included in this mixed methods study. A self-management intervention of exercises and psychosocial education was provided. Quantitative instruments assessing psychosocial factors were delivered at baseline and 6 weeks. Qualitative data were gathered after treatment and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Low levels of psychosocial risk factors were reported. Patient satisfaction (COPM-Satisfaction subscale) was the only outcome that achieved statistical significance at 6 weeks (p = 0.037). Three themes emerged from the qualitative results: the influence of the military culture on recovery from LBP, the LBP experience of a trainee, and promoting the self-management of LBP. While this cohort of IET soldiers exhibited low levels of psychosocial risk factors, qualitative reports indicate that LBP has a negative impact on participation in training, academics, and interpersonal relationships. The constraints of military training make seeking care and applying treatment strategies challenging.

Psychosocial factors associated with coping behaviour after inpatient treatment for substance use disorder: a systematic review study protocol

IntroductionMuch is known about factors associated with coping with abstinence from substance use. The planned systematic review aims to summarise available studies exploring the change in psychosocial factors associated with...

Psychosocial factors associated with treatment outcomes in women with obesity and major depressive disorder who received behavioral activation for depression.

Behavioral activation is an empirically supported treatment for depression, but much is unknown about factors associated with treatment response. The present study aimed to determine whether baseline levels and subsequent changes in psychosocial factors were associated with improvement in depression in women with comorbid obesity who received behavioral activation treatment for depression and a lifestyle intervention. Multilevel modeling was used to estimate the associations between psychosocial factors and change in depression scores during the first 10weeks of treatment and associations between changes in psychosocial factors from baseline to 6-month follow-up and change in depression over the same time period. No baseline psychosocial factors were associated with depression improvement during treatment (p = 0.110-0.613). However, greater improvement in hedonic capacity (p = 0.001), environmental reward (p = 0.004), and social impairment (p = 0.012) were associated with greater reductions in depression over 6months. Findings highlight the differential relationship specific psychosocial factors have with depression treatment outcomes.