Mental Health Consequences Research Articles

Loneliness trajectories and psychological distress in youth: Longitudinal evidence from a population-based sample.

This pre-registered secondary analysis aimed to examine distinct longitudinal loneliness trajectories in youth and whether these trajectories were associated with psychological distress at final follow-up in the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Participants (N = 827, 55.1% female, Time 1: M ± SD = 16.50 ± 0.50 years) provided data during Waves 9, 10 and 11. K-means longitudinal clustering analysis was used to identify clusters of participants with distinct loneliness trajectories across measurement waves. We identified four clusters demonstrating distinct trajectories of loneliness: stable low (40.7%), stable high (20.6%), moderate decreasing (19.6%) and low increasing (19.1%). Compared to 'stable low loneliness', 'stable high' and 'low increasing' loneliness clusters were significantly associated with psychological distress at Wave 11 following adjustment for sex, ethnicity, parent's highest educational achievement and Wave 9 psychological distress. The current study offers an important contribution to the literature on patterns of youth loneliness and mental health consequences.

VIOLÊNCIA INSTITUCIONAL: DESIGUALDADES RACIAIS NO ATENDIMENTO HOSPITALAR A MULHERES NEGRAS: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA.

ABSTRACT: Institutional violence in the healthcare sector is manifested through racial inequalities that disproportionately affect Black women in hospital care. This study aims to review the existing literature on the barriers faced by these women, such as limited access to services, lower quality of care, and resulting psychological impacts. The research seeks to analyze how institutional racism affects hospital care for Black women, identifying the main factors that perpetuate these inequalities and their consequences for physical and mental health. The methodology includes a bibliographic review of studies published between 2016 and 2023, obtained from databases such as SciELO, PubMed, and LILACS, with an emphasis on the impact of institutional racism on the health of the Black population, with a primary focus on Black women.

Assessing the post-pandemic socioeconomic and health impacts on daily wage and private sector workers in India: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health and socioeconomic crisis, has severely impacted various demographics, with daily wage and private sector workers in India among the hardest hit. Lockdown measures, aimed at curbing the virus's spread, resulted in widespread job losses, financial instability, educational challenges, and mental health issues, leading to a critical examination of the post-pandemic effects on these vulnerable populations. This study aims to assess the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on daily wage and private sector workers. Specifically, it examines employment and income loss, access to basic needs, educational disruptions, lifestyle changes, and mental health effects post-lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 participants selected through simple random sampling. Data collection spanned from October to December 2023, utilizing a structured questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and psychological information. The depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 items (DASS-21) scale was employed to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels among respondents. Results: Results show that 42% of participants experienced job losses, predominantly among daily wage workers, with many respondents also reporting decreased financial stability. Educational impacts were notable, with limited access to digital learning tools exacerbating the digital divide. Significant lifestyle changes included shifts towards healthier habits and increased compulsive behaviours, such as handwashing. Mental health assessments indicated that 30% of participants had mild depression, while moderate levels of stress and anxiety were common. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pandemic's lasting socioeconomic and mental health toll on daily wage and private sector workers in India. Immediate policy interventions are needed to strengthen social support systems, ensure access to mental health care, and facilitate economic recovery for these communities.

Within-person, longitudinal associations between neighborhood cohesion and adult mental health: A test of bidirectional relations.

There is theory and evidence supporting a relationship between neighborhood cohesion and mental health among adult people. However, most studies have used a cross-sectional design, and longitudinal studies have provided mixed support for this hypothesis. Moreover, while neighborhood cohesion is assumed to be a consistent predictor of mental health, the possibility of a reciprocal relation has been overlooked. The aim of the current study was to investigate the within-person reciprocal associations between neighborhood cohesion and adult mental health. This study used data from Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study including waves 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 (n = 81,895). A short version of Buckner's Neighborhood Cohesion Instrument was used, along with two well-established measures of mental health: the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and the mental component summary score of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Hierarchical Bayesian continuous time dynamic modeling revealed significant reciprocal within-person cross-effects (i.e. deterministic effects) between neighborhood cohesion and adult mental health, a larger standardized effect of mental health on neighborhood cohesion than than vice versa. Moreover, peak standardized cross-lagged effects were found for a time interval of approximately 1 year. Finally, the combined stochastic and deterministic interpretation revealed effects of neighborhood cohesion on mental health that were opposite to what was expected, suggesting a faster dissipation of some initially correlated change. Although neighborhood cohesion has traditionally been conceptualized in terms of its contribution to mental health, there is greater support for the view that mental health precedes neighborhood cohesion rather than the reverse.

Should the current radiation protection paradigm and its recommendations be modified to make them more fit to protect the public in future nuclear emergencies?

The present radiation protection paradigm and its associated recommendations as developed by bodies such as the ICRP have performed very well over past decades both for those occupationally exposed to radiation and for the public in planned exposures. There is, however, growing evidence that the role played by this paradigm in the decision-making process to protect the public in nuclear emergencies in the past may have, unwittingly and unintentionally, caused more harm than good to some sections of the public. This seems to have been the case in the use of population evacuation as the principal protection response to the Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) accidents. There is thus a need to develop improved guidelines or tools on how to apply radiation protection recommendations for the public compatible with the Principle of Justification in the event of any future major radiation emergencies. It can also be argued that the present radiation protection paradigm, with its emphasis primarily on the physical health detriments from radiation, should be more inclusive and needs to shift to a more holistic or total health approach than heretofore to include mental health effects associated with nuclear emergencies. For severe mental health effects, some of the consequences, such as suicide, can even be as or more severe than most physical detriments likely to be suffered by those affected.

The impact of cyberbullying on mental health outcomes amongst university students: A systematic review

Cyberbullying is increasingly prevalent globally, particularly among young individuals. Cybervictims may be at an increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes. This systematic review aims to summarize the mental health effects of cyberbullying among college and university students. A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed to identify studies reporting mental health effects of cybervictimization among college/university students until April 15, 2023. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the National Institute of Health (NIH) tool. The review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023429187). Thirty-two studies involving 29,593 students were included. Depression showed a significant association with cyber-victimization in 16/20 studies (prevalence: 15–73%). Anxiety was significant in 12/15 studies (27–84.1%), stress in 3/3 studies (32–75.2%), and suicidal behavior in 4/9 studies (2–29.9%). Cybervictimization weakly but significantly correlated with lower self-esteem in 4 out of 6 studies (r = -0.152 to -0.399). Fear of perpetrators was reported in 2 out of 2 studies (12.8–16%), while decreased academic concentration/productivity was found in two studies (9–18%). Cybervictims were more likely to engage in substance abuse (adjusted odds ratio: 2.37 [95% confidence interval: 1.02–5.49]; p = 0.044). The majority of articles were of good quality (22/32). This review demonstrates a high prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes among cybervictims, including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal behavior. Based on these findings, we recommend that institutions of higher education worldwide introduce zero tolerance policies against cyberbullying, implement screening processes to identify affected students, and provide psychological therapy within their institutions.

Evidence pointing toward invalidity of the SF-8 physical and mental scales: a fusion validity assessment.

The SF-8™ Short Form Health Survey creates physical and mental health scale scores from responses to eight survey questions. These widely used scales demonstrate reasonable reliablity, and some forms of validity but have not been assessed for fusion validity. We assess the fusion validity of the SF-8 physical and mental health scales, and provide comments assisting fusion validity assessment of other scales. Checking the fusion validity of a scale requires including the scale and its constituent indicators in a structural equation model that has at least one variable causally downstream from the scale. We assessed fusion validity of the SF-8 physical and mental health scales in the context of work-related variables for care aides working in Canadian long-term care homes. Variables causally downstream from physical and mental health, such as work burnout, permit checking whether the SF-8 indicator items fuse to form cogent physical and mental scales, irrespective of whether those indicators share common-factor foundations. We found that the SF-8 physical and mental health scales did not function appropriately. The scales inappropriately claimed effects for several items that had no effects and provided biased estimates of other effects. These deficiencies seem grounded in the scales' developmental history, which implicitly bolstered selection of some causally ambiguous items and paid insufficient attention to component factor model testing. Our observations of causal incongruities question whether the SF-8 can provide valid assessments of physical and mental health. However, it would be imprudent to discontinue SF-8 use on the basis of a single study suggesting invalidity. This uncomfortable conclusion can be rechecked by re-analyzing data from any project that employed the SF-8 and recorded even one causal consequence of physical or mental health. The power of fusion validity assessment comes from connecting the recorded consequences simultaneously to both the scale and the items from which that scale is calculated.

Immigration Policy and Latinx/é Children from Mixed-Status Families: Mental Health Consequences and Recommendations for Mental Health Providers

The impact of immigration policies on Latinx/é mixed-status families and their children is undeniable. Changes in immigration policy, focused on increased deportation enforcement, within the last three decades have led to an increased fear of deportation and unique circumstances mixed-status families must navigate. These circumstances, combined with fear of deportation, have had deleterious effects on the psychological well-being of the family, in general, and the children, in particular. This paper reviews the impact of immigration policies on Latinx/é mixed-status families, the unique circumstances of mixed-status families, and the mental health implications these have on the children specifically. Articles and books were selected from various sources that addressed Latinx/é mental health, mixed-status families, and immigration. After a review of the literature, these circumstances emerged: familial separation, citizen children second-class citizenry, developmental implications, psychological implications, and coping mechanisms and strategies of mixed-status families. Recommendations for mental health providers who work with children from mixed-status families are provided.

The Social Representations of Pornography Consumers Among Individuals in Romantic Relationships: Exploring the Roles of Gender, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction in a Romanian Sample.

Understanding the psychological conflicts associated with pornography consumption can help professionals tailor their interventions to address the mental health risks faced by individuals struggling with issues related to their pornography use. The main objective of this research was to investigate how pornography consumers are perceived from a social representation theoretical perspective and to examine variations in these perceptions-or social representations-according to gender, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. All participants (N = 875 Romanians) were in a romantic relationship at the time of participation. Our results indicated that the social representation of pornography consumers varied significantly depending on gender, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Also, our findings showed a potential psychological conflict in the long run, which can put individuals at risk for self-stigma, guilt, and subsequent mental health consequences. We discuss conclusions from both a theoretical and practical perspective, with a focus on the utility of our conclusions in the clinical practice context of psychologists, psychotherapists, and mental health workers when dealing with issues related to pornography use.

Reframing prolonged negative mental health effects of COVID-19: cognitive restructuring promotes posttraumatic growth

Objective The study aimed to investigate the level of peritraumatic distress in relation to possible traumatic outcomes in university personnel and students across three pandemic waves. Methods Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted to investigate university students and staff (n = 1426). An online survey including the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Ways of Coping, Impact of Events Scale (IES), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were administered across three waves. Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of CPDI were assessed and associations between peri/posttraumatic stress and coping were explored. Cluster analysis based on posttraumatic stress and growth was used to identify subgroups. Results An increasing trend of peritraumatic stress over the waves was found. Regression analyses revealed that two coping styles, cognitive restructuring and problem analysis were negatively and positively associated, respectively, with both peritraumatic and posttraumatic stress. Two-step cluster analysis conducted on PTGI and IES scores yielded three clusters of posttraumatic changes: IES-low/PTGI-low, IES-high/PTGI-low and IES moderate/PTGI-high. Multinomial regression showed that cognitive restructuring and peritraumatic stress were significant predictors of cluster membership. Conclusion Our findings point out that cognitive restructuring may be effective for dealing with longer-term psychological results of traumatic life events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, even in highly exposed groups of the society.

Post-COVID Syndrome as a Defect of a Transaction Through the Example of a Mortgage Agreement

Introduction: currently, society is faced with a very important and urgent task: formatting the established foundations of civil circulation with the participation of individuals in connection with the manifestation of the negative consequences of a new coronavirus infection. Representatives from the medical community have stated that the emergence of a new disease can have negative consequences for a person’s mental health. The concern of law enforcement officers is caused by the fact that over the past 3–5 years, the cases of court proceedings for invalidation of a transaction on the grounds of Article 177 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation have become more frequent, as committed at the time of ignorance and misunderstanding of the consequences of the transaction not related to the indicators of the individual’s legal capacity as a whole. Undermining the stability of civil circulation, especially in terms of concluding and executing transactions, increases when one of the parties is a capable citizen who, due to a previous coronavirus infection, has deviations from a normal mental state (post-COVID syndrome). The potential for nullifying such transactions and, subsequently, disrupting the dynamics of civil circulation highlights the necessity for the development and implementation of a set of methods and mechanisms that are not primarily legislative in nature but rather focus on flexible enforcement. These methods and mechanisms should be designed to address the negative manifestations, including those caused by the deterioration of an individual’s mental health following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the context of significant structural changes in social, environmental, and economic activities. In light of the above, one of the challenges for civilists is the humane and fair application of the provisions on invalidation of the transaction due to the inability of a person to realize and bear responsibility for decisions made due to deviations from the norm of mental health as a result of a coronavirus infection. Of particular importance in the light of the issue under study is the analysis of judicial practice, which allows studying the specifics of law enforcement on this issue and identifying blocks of perspectives in the judicial review of such disputes, taking into account the opinions of representatives of medicine focused on identifying negative consequences in human mental health. Thus, to a greater extent in the practice of civil law than in science, there is a need to formulate the problems of the legal regulation of invalidation of a transaction on the grounds of Article 177 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and propose fair, wise, and objective ways to resolve judicial conflicts, which is the purpose of the study. Methods: the methodological framework for the study is a set of methods of scientific cognition, among which the main ones are analysis, synthesis, generalization, and comparative jurisprudence. Results: the author has studied the judicial practice of modern times on the issue of invalidation of transactions through the example of a mortgage agreement. The analysis has made it possible to recognize that the consequences of a coronavirus infection can affect the psychiatric and mental state of a legally capable person in such a way that the person is unable to realize and understand the consequences of the actions performed. The main result is the conclusion that within the framework of resolving the issue of invalidation of the transaction due to the inability of a person to realize the consequences of his actions, it is necessary to consider in detail the arguments of the person who has applied for judicial protection, including taking into account those medical indicators that normally do not affect the legal capacity of an individual but have a negative effect on mental health.

Is racism like other trauma exposures? Examining the unique mental health effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Although scholars have increasingly drawn attention to the potentially traumatic nature of racial/ethnic discrimination, diagnostic systems continue to omit these exposures from trauma definitions. This study contributes to this discussion by examining the co-occurrence of conventional forms of potentially traumatic experiences (PTEs) with in-person and online forms of racism-based potentially traumatic experiences (rPTEs) like racial/ethnic discrimination. Additionally, we investigated the unique association of rPTEs with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), accounting for demographics and other PTEs. Participants were (N = 570) 12-to-17-year-old (Mage = 14.53; 51.93% female) ethnoracially minoritized adolescents (54.21% Black; 45.79% Latiné). Youth completed online surveys of PTEs, in-person and online rPTEs, and mental health. Bivariate analyses indicated that youth who reported in-person and online rPTEs were more likely to experience all conventional PTEs. Accounting for demographics and conventional PTEs, in-person and online rPTEs were significantly associated with PTSD (in-person: aOR = 2.60, 95% CI [1.39, 4.86]; online: aOR = 2.74, 95% CI [1.41, 5.34]) and GAD (in-person: aOR = 2.94, 95% CI [1.64, 5.29]; online: aOR = 2.25, 95% CI [1.24, 4.04]) and demonstrated the strongest effect sizes of all trauma exposures. In-person, but not online, rPTEs were linked with an increased risk for MDD (aOR = 4.47, 95% CI [1.77, 11.32]). Overall, rPTEs demonstrated stronger associations with PTSD, MDD, and GAD compared to conventional PTEs. Findings align with racial trauma frameworks proposing that racial/ethnic discrimination is a unique traumatic stressor with distinct mental health impacts on ethnoracially minoritized youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental health disorders before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide study.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns prompted a major concern for mental health effects. Comprehensive nationwide studies are lacking on the indirect effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population's mental health. We aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns affected mental health service usage, suicide attempts, and suicides. This comprehensive nationwide register-linked study followed all individuals in Denmark from 1990. The main outcomes were rates of psychiatric admissions, use of psychotropic medication, suicide attempts, suicides, patients in community-based private psychiatry or psychology practices, and referrals to psychiatric hospitals. The impact of the pandemic (March 11, 2020-June 30, 2023) and lockdowns was assessed with log-normal models adjusted for pre-pandemic trends (January 1, 2017-March 10, 2020). We reported Rate Ratios (RR) of the observed and counterfactual rates. We identified the 5 807 714 (50.3% females) individuals living in Denmark on March 1, 2020. The rates of psychiatric admissions (RR: 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.91 to 0.99, p-value: 0.017) and suicide attempts (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.95, p-value: 0.007) were lower during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic trend. The rates of suicides (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.75-1.05, p-value: 0.173), patients in private practices (RR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.96-1.04, p-value: 0.986), and referrals (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.95-1.18, p-value: 0.307) were not significantly different during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic trend. During the first lockdown, rates were lower for psychiatric admissions (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.90, p-value <0.001), suicide attempts (RR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.94, p-value: 0.007), suicides (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52 to 0.86, p-value: 0.002), patients in private practices (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82 to 0.93, p-value <0.001), and referrals (RR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.81, p-value < 0.001) compared to the pre-pandemic trend. However, during the pandemic, the rate of psychotropic medication users increased by 6% compared to the pre-pandemic trend (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.06, p-value < 0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns did not severely influence pre-pandemic trends of the mental health burden in Denmark's population on a nationwide level.

President Biden's Proclamation on Securing the Border and DHS-DOJ Interim Final Rule- A Potential Threat to the Health of Migrants.

Immigration policy, particularly regarding migrants crossing the US-Mexico border, has been a highly debated topic for years. There is a continued debate on how to maintain national security while protecting the health and dignity of migrants. In this commentary, we argue that the Biden Administration's "Proclamation on Securing the Border" issued on June 4, 2024, alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice's (DOJ) Interim Final Rule, poses a significant threat to the health of migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border by forcing more migrants to wait in encampments in border towns. Specifically, migrants are more likely to face increased exposure to disease, mental health effects, and violence as a result of this proclamation. We call for structural policy reform and propose several alternative policies that can be enacted at the regional and national levels to help maintain the health and dignity of migrants while still prioritizing border security.

Long Working Hours, Work-life Imbalance, and Poor Mental Health: A Cross-sectional Mediation Analysis Based on the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey, 2020-2021.

There has been growing concern about the negative mental health impact of long working hours and overwork. Our study examined how work-life imbalance (WLI) could be a mediator between working hours and poor mental well-being. We included 34,968 individuals from a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Korea. Self-reported working hours per week were collected, and mental health was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO)-5 Well-Being Index. Counterfactual-based mediation models were employed to disentangle the total effects into a direct effect (work hour - poor mental health) and an indirect effect (work hour - WLI - poor mental health). Out of 34,968 participants, 52.6% worked 35-40 hours/week, 20.0% worked 41-48 hours/week, 11.7% worked 49-54 hours/week, and 15.6% worked ≥55 hours/week. The odds ratios (ORs) of the total impact of working hours on poor mental health were 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.16) for 41-48 hours/week, 1.28 (95% CI, 1.17-1.39) for 49-54 hours/week, and 1.60 (95% CI, 1.48-1.74) for ≥55 hours/week in comparison to 35-40 hours/week. The ORs of the indirect effects were 1.04 (95% CI, 1.03-1.05) for 41-48 hours/week, 1.08 (95% CI, 1.07-1.09) for 49-54 hours/week, and 1.14 (95% CI, 1.12-1.16) for ≥55 hours/week, accounting for 51%, 31%, and 28% of the total effects, respectively. Our findings suggest that WLI can partially mediate the association of long working hours with mental health deterioration. Policy efforts are required to mitigate the adverse mental health effects of overwork.

The role of self-compassion in the effects of living alone and quarantine on mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Objectives: Previous research has shown that living alone and being quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with poorer mental health and well-being. The aim of this study was to examine whether self-compassion buffered these adverse effects. Methods: 435 German adults were surveyed in three waves over six weeks. In all three waves, participants were asked whether they lived alone and whether they were quarantined. Self-compassion, mental health, and well-being were also assessed in all three waves. Results: In linear structural equation models adjusted for age, gender, and the respective outcome measure at T1, higher self-compassion at T2 was associated with better mental health and well-being at T3. However, there was no evidence that living alone and quarantine at T1 were associated with mental health and well-being at T3, or that self-compassion moderated these effects. Conclusions: Our study spanned six weeks, and one possible explanation for our nonsignificant findings is that the mental health effects of living alone, quarantine, and self-compassion are rather short-lived. In addition, individuals living alone and individuals in quarantine may not necessarily have been socially isolated or felt lonely, which may explain why no associations with mental health were found.

Intra- and intergenerational food insecurity: An analysis of Black and White women and children from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study

BackgroundFood insecurity (FI) continues to be a significant public health concern and is associated with myriad physical and mental health consequences. Increased understanding of conditions around its occurrence throughout the life course are needed. However, research has been limited due to inadequate measurement tools and study length. ObjectiveThis study examined the intra- and intergenerational dynamics of FI over time by assessing the transmission of FI from childhood to adulthood, and from mother to offspring using population-specific FI measures, and the influence of sociodemographic factors. MethodsWomen in early midlife (n=624) and their children (n=331) participated in a prospective cohort study between 1987-2019 in Richmond, California. Three validated FI measures were assessed, representing 1) past childhood FI and 2) current adult household FI, reported by the women, and 3) current child FI, reported by the women’s children. Associations between measures were examined using adjusted modified Poisson regression models. Mediation by current adult household FI between past childhood FI and their offspring’s current child FI was assessed. Moderation by sociodemographic factors, including poverty level, parental education, marital status, and race was also assessed. ResultsAmong women, 32.4% reported FI in childhood and 34.5% reported current adult household FI. Among their offspring, 53.2% reported current child FI. Past childhood FI increased the likelihood of current adult FI (RR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.64, 2.90) and current adult FI increased the likelihood of current child FI (RR:1.49, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.07). Current adult FI partially mediated past childhood FI and their offspring’s current child FI (Natural indirect effect: 1.42, 95%CI: 1.03, 2.24). There was no evidence of moderation by sociodemographic factors. ConclusionsFI measures reported by adults and children capture differing experiences, highlighting the need to use FI measures that are appropriate for their target population. FI may be perpetuated intra- and intergenerationally.

The Effects of Wildfires on the Mental and Physical Health of School-Age Children in North America: A Scoping Review.

Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. A total of 16 studies were selected. Common mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thinking, and post-traumatic stress disorder have been identified. The findings of this review are in line with recent studies showing a connection between adult wildfire exposure and respiratory conditions; however, no cardiovascular health effects in children were identified. The available studies in our review demonstrate that wildfires do increase the impacts on both mental and physical health postexposure in school-age children. Future research should specifically include larger samples, more qualitative and longitudinal studies that can more effectively analyze the effects of wildfire events on psychological factors over time, conceptual frameworks, and exposure metrics specific for PM2.5 from wildfire smoke.

The effects of the paramedics’ field work on their mental status in Jeddah

ABSTRACT Background: Paramedics are continuously exposed to stressful events, making them liable to mental disorders. This study assesses the health of paramedics in Jeddah, focusing on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Methods: This cross-sectional study included fieldwork paramedics in Jeddah through an online survey distributed on social media. With a response rate of 86.09%, 192 complete responses were analyzed. Outcomes included mental health, mood and somatic effect, self-esteem, and sleep. Results: Most participants were males (83.85%), married (50%), non-heavy smokers (51.04%), and non-alcohol drinkers (51.04%). A significant number reported health-related work or daily life difficulties, with 62.5%–67.18% attributing these to physical and emotional issues, respectively. Over half rated their mental health as poor or somewhat poor, impacting their relationships significantly. Additionally, 70.31% frequently felt anger, and many faced limitations in physical activities. About 14.58% had a prior mental illness diagnosis, with nearly a quarter on medication, and 61.98% had recently sought psychiatric help. Sleep deprivation affected 61.98%, with 38.53% reporting poor sleep quality. Conclusions: The findings highlight the negative impact on paramedics’ mental health, showing a substantial diagnosis rate of mental disorders, activity limitations, negative mood, and relationship issues. Despite significant sleep problems, a positive aspect is their proactive psychiatric help-seeking behavior.

Improving psychological and social support needs after traumatic birth: A qualitative study

IntroductionEmergency deliveries increase maternal risk for postpartum depression (PPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One in three women describe their birth experience as traumatic, but patient-centered support needs are unclear. We conducted a qualitative study of women with traumatic birth to identify patient-centered priorities to optimize mental health support. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with women who experienced an emergency during birth, and who self-identified as experiencing traumatic birth. The Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire and PTSD Checklist were completed. Interviews included open-ended questions about birth events that improved or worsened their delivery experience, perceptions of mental, physical, and emotional support provided by staff, and patient perspectives about psychological and social support referrals after emergent deliveries. ResultsA majority of participants met positive screening criteria for PTSD at the time of interviews. Birth experiences were affected by prenatal expectations, as well as the style and quality of clinical staff communication during and after delivery. There were four key themes central to their experiences and perceptions: (1) Emotional Impact and Intensity, (2) Factors Influencing Birth Experience, (3) Perceived Lack of Emotional Support, and (4) Desire for Post-Birth Follow-Up and Support. Participants almost unanimously desired to be offered psychosocial services after birth trauma. ConclusionThere are significant gaps in emotional support and communication for patients experiencing traumatic births. Offering structured, in-hospital mental health referrals may address immediate psychological needs, aid in trauma recovery, and potentially mitigate long-term mental health consequences. These findings advocate for a more holistic approach to postpartum care that prioritizes both physical and emotional well-being.