Levels Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Parent-Child Separation, Communication and the Developmental Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents.

Parent‒child separation as a result of parental migration is often associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, little is known about how parent‒child separation affects changes in the development of depressive symptoms, particularly the protective factors (e.g., parent‒child communication) that influence this process. This 5-wave longitudinal study explored the effects of parent‒child separation, communication and their interactions on the trajectory of depressive symptoms in adolescents. The participants were 2725 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.47 years; SD = 0.50; 43.3% girls), of whom 696 were separated from both parents, 684 were separated from their fathers, and 1345 were not separated from their parents. Depressive symptoms were measured approximately every 6 months in grades 7 through 9, and other variables were measured at the first time point. The results revealed that adolescents' depressive symptoms increased and the rate of increase gradually slowed throughout junior high school. Separation from both parents was associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms but did not influence changes in adolescents' depressive symptoms over time, and separation from father did not influence the trajectory of adolescents' depressive symptoms. Parent-child communication was negatively associated with the levels of depressive symptoms. Separation from both parents was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among girls with a lower level of father‒child communication but not among girls with a higher level of father‒child communication. Separation from father was associated with a faster increase in depressive symptoms among boys with lower levels of father‒child and mother‒child communication but not among boys with higher levels of father‒child and mother‒child communication. These findings indicate that parent‒child communication can alleviate the negative effects of parent‒child separation on the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents, and the effects vary across separation status and gender.

The potential harm of loss and grief narratives among families of transgender and nonbinary youth.

Grief and loss perspectives are frequently used in clinical and nonclinical (e.g., parent-facilitated support groups) settings to support families who are navigating awareness or disclosure of a child's diverse gender identity (i.e., as transgender or nonbinary [TNB]). Little to no research has examined the mental health consequences of TNB youth of having parents and caregivers conceptualize their child's gender transition or journey through the lens of loss and grief. Framed by minority stress theory, this study examines associations between 319 TNB youths' (ages 13-22) awareness of familial grief related to their TNB identity and their own mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, and suicide thoughts and behaviors). Results indicate that TNB youth who experience familial grief or loss due to their TNB identity reported higher levels of anxious and depressive symptoms and were more likely to have attempted suicide. We discuss how clinicians and providers in community settings can better support TNB youth by reducing the use of a grief and loss lens in interventions with families. Clinicians and other providers are encouraged to help families integrate a child's developing gender identity and expression within the family context and to interrogate the meaning of loss of cisgender privilege for the youth and their parent and family systems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Family Functioning and Parenting Styles in Adolescents Diagnosed with Trichotillomania.

This study aimed to compare the family functioning and parenting styles in adolescents with trichotillomania (TTM) and healthy controls and to assess the relationships between the family functioning, parenting styles, and clinical features of TTM, including the severity of TTM, duration of illness, and concomitant psychiatric symptoms. The study sample consisted of 100 adolescents aged 12-18 years, 50 patients with TTM, and 50 healthy controls. All participants completed a sociodemographic and clinical data form, the Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale (MGH-HPS), the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child Version (RCADS-CV), the Family Assessment Device (FAD), and the Perceived Parental Attitude Scale (PPAS). Results show that adolescents with TTM reported higher levels of comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms than healthy controls, and 64% of adolescents with TTM had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder. Parents of adolescents with TTM also reported more significant impairment in the affective responsiveness, problem-solving, and general family functioning subscales of the FAD. Adolescents with TTM endorsed significantly more authoritarian perceptions of both parents on the PPAS. While the severity of hairpulling symptoms showed only a positive and significant relationship with the RCADS-CV total internalizing score, the duration of illness was positively and moderately correlated with the impairment in affective responsiveness, problem-solving, and general family functioning subscales of FAD. Finally, the RCADS-CV total internalizing score and the general functioning subscale of FAD were the most important predictors of TTM. The implications of family functioning and parenting styles, future targets for family-focused approaches in TTM, and study limitations are discussed.

Sleep patterns and smartphone use among left-behind children: a latent class analysis and its association with depressive symptoms

BackgroundLeft-behind children in China face challenges in sleep patterns, technology use, and mental health. This study uses an individual-centered approach to derive behavioral profiles associated with depressive symptoms.MethodsData from 131,586 left-behind children aged 8 to 18 years from the Chinese Psychological Health Guard for Children and Adolescents Project were analyzed. Participants were recruited from 569 centers across schools, community institutes, orphanages, and children’s hospitals throughout China. Latent class analysis was conducted using weekday and weekend sleep duration and smartphone use as indicators. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).ResultsFour distinct classes emerged: Sufficient Sleep Low Users (23.6%), Moderate Sleep Medium Users (25.2%), Limited Sleep High Users (22.1%), and Healthy Sleep Low Users (29.2%). Significant differences in CES-D scores were found between classes (F(3, 131579) = 4929, p <.001, η² = 0.101). The Limited Sleep High Users class reported the highest levels of depressive symptoms (M = 11.60, SE = 0.0658), while the Sufficient Sleep Low Users class reported the lowest (M = 3.67, SE = 0.0346). A linear relationship between sleep duration and depressive symptoms was observed. Significant weekday-weekend differences in smartphone use were noted in the unhealthy categories.ConclusionsThis study reveals complex associations between sleep patterns, smartphone use, and depressive symptoms among left-behind children. The identified behavioral profiles provide insights into population heterogeneity and inform targeted intervention strategies. Findings emphasize the importance of addressing both sleep and technology use in mental health initiatives for this vulnerable population.

Correlates and influences of Chinese parental communication about the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of parental burnout.

Despite evidence that parental communication about COVID-19 can have short-term benefits such as adolescents' increased health behaviors, less is known about the potential long-term associations between such communication and adolescent adjustment, as well as the family characteristics that facilitate such communication. Moreover, it is important to examine such processes beyond Western societies and broaden the understanding of parental communication in non-Western societies. To fill these gaps in the literature, a two-wave longitudinal study on Chinese families spanning 1 year during the pandemic (July 2020-July 2021) was conducted. Analyses revealed that the relation between parent-adolescent closeness and parental communication about COVID-19 was moderated by parental burnout. Higher parent-adolescent closeness was linked with more communication about COVID-19 only when parents experienced low, but not high, parental burnout. Moreover, the longitudinal associations between parental communication about COVID-19 and adolescent adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and resilience) 1 year later were also moderated by parental burnout. More parental communication about COVID-19 was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and higher levels of resilience 1 year later only when parents experienced low, but not high, parental burnout. Findings suggest future interventions to target family communication to promote adolescent well-being during challenging times, especially for families who experience higher levels of parental burnout. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of mental disorder related to colposcopy procedure during the COVID period: A cross-sectional study.

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on healthcare organizations, leading to a reduction in screening. The pandemic period has caused important psychological repercussions in the most fragile patients. This study aimed to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, peri-traumatic stress, and physical symptoms in patients undergoing colposcopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare these data with the post-pandemic period. This longitudinal study included 96 individuals undergoing colposcopy, aged between 22 and 64, who were examined between March 2020 and December 2023. Participants were assessed at four distinct time points, referred to as T0, T1, T2, and T3. T0 encompassed the pandemic period, ranging from March 2020 to August 2020, while T1 occurred 1 year later, T2 and T3 correspond to data collected in 2022 and 2023. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various psychological variables. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions, were calculated for each psychological variable within each time period. Our findings revealed a significant reduction in peri-traumatic stress and pain levels in the post-pandemic (from 2021 to 2023) period compared to the pandemic period. Conversely, anxiety and depression levels exhibited a statistically significant increase in the post-pandemic period and then gradually decrease in the subsequent follow-up. This study provides valuable insights into the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress experienced during the pandemic period itself, as well as its enduring effects on anxiety and depression in the subsequent period.

Abstract TP150: Association of Stroke Severity with Post-Stroke Depression and Household Size

Introduction: Stroke is a significant global health challenge, impacting physical and mental well-being, with many neuropsychiatric symptoms contributing to worse functional outcomes. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke, affecting approximately one third of stroke survivors. PSD is associated with worse functional outcomes, higher mortality rates, and reduced quality of life. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that patients with higher stroke severity scores on admission will have higher levels of immediate depressive symptoms and have a smaller household population. Methods: This study examines the predictive power of immediate post-stroke depressive symptoms and functional outcomes at 3- and 12- months post hospitalization. 130 patients with Ischemic stroke were enrolled and completed a standard battery of questionnaires during their hospitalization. Post-stroke depression was measured via PHQ-9 scores, with scores above 5 denoting moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Acute stroke severity was measured using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), with increasing scores indicating more severe strokes. Results: Analyzing stroke severity and PSD development among patients with ischemic stroke, our statistical analyses revealed that larger household size significantly protects against PSD. For acute stroke injury, we found that patients living with fewer people at baseline are more likely to have a higher NIHSS score (p<0.05). Furthermore, after controlling for injury severity, increased household size at baseline was associated with significantly lower occurrence of PSD immediately after, and 3- months after stroke (p<0.05). When controlling for household size, female stroke patients are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms at 3- months, in comparison to their male counterparts (p<0.005). Conclusion: PSD emerged as a statistically significant factor for impaired functional outcomes, highlighting the importance of early intervention and management of depression in stroke care. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating early identification and treatment of depressive symptoms in stroke patients, particularly those with smaller household size and female patients. Future research aimed at exploring mechanisms behind the protective effects of larger households and sex differences in PSD is necessary to inform targeted therapeutic strategies.

The Impact of Inter-Generational Relationships on Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Parents in Rural Jammu, India

Background: Given the paucity of literature in the Jammu region on intergenerational relationships that contribute to a connected society promoting empathy and family support, this study was undertaken to evaluate its effect on depressive symptoms in older parents. The aim of this study was to examine patterns of intergenerational relationships between aging parents and their adult children. Setting and design: A cross-sectional study conducted in Darsopur village in R S Pura block, Jammu district. Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 male and female adults living in Darsopur village in RS Pura block of Jammu district. Study participants were selected using two-stage simple random sampling. Results were determined by ANOVA and binary logistic regression using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0. Results: The mean score with standard deviation for the Geriatric Depression Score was 3.97 ± 3.78, indicating a lower level of depressive symptoms. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that consensual normative solidarity was inversely associated with depression. Conclusions: The present research results showed a higher mean score of solidarity between parents and their children, which can be attributed to the fact that the study was conducted in rural India.

The effects of childhood maltreatment and social support on the trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood.

Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults. Childhood maltreatment is a particularly potent risk factor for the subsequent development of depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, social support has been identified as a robust protective factor against depressive symptoms. However, limited research has investigated the effects of childhood maltreatment and social support on the trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood. The present study aimed to explore trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood as well as identify childhood maltreatment as a potential risk factor and social support as a protective factor to depressive symptoms over time. We conducted growth curve modeling using public-use data from Add Health. Main variables (childhood maltreatment, social support, depressive symptoms from Wave I to Wave IV) and control variables (e.g., gender, race, poverty) were included in the analysis. Depressive symptoms demonstrated a quadratic pattern, with a decline from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and a slight increase in young adulthood. Childhood maltreatment was only significantly associated with the initial level of depressive symptoms but not the trajectories of depressive symptoms. Social support was not only associated with the initial level of depressive symptoms, but also the changes of depressive symptoms over time. The present study provides an avenue towards untangling potential factors contributing to the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms. Identifying risk and protective factors with varying trajectories of depressive symptoms will potentially improve related treatments and interventions.

Diminished salivary cortisol response to mental stress predict all-cause mortality in general population.

To characterize individuals with a diminished salivary cortisol response to mental stress, assess its association with all-cause mortality, and quantify the mediating effects of the most relevant and modifiable factors to identify potential target for prevention. Data from MIDUS II study with a 16-year follow-up, were used to categorize 1129 participants as responders or non-responders based on the existence of increase in salivary cortisol under mental stress. LASSO-logistics analysis identified the most relevant factors. Cox regression models and restricted cubic splines evaluated the prognostic impact. Further analyses examined the mediating effects of identified factors on prognosis. After employing Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting to adjust for demographic differences between groups, individuals with diminished cortisol responses were found to have higher levels of depressive symptoms (p=0.050), increased inflammation (IL-6, 2.30 [1.41, 3.79] vs. 1.96[1.33, 3.31], p=0.011), and were less likely to regularly exercise (74.3% vs. 79.9%, p=0.030). IL-6 (OR: 1.25 [1.04, 1.52]，p=0.021) and regularly exercising (OR 0.71 [0.51, 0.97], p=0.032) emerged as significant modifiable factors in multivariate analysis. A notable prognostic association of diminished cortisol response with all-cause mortality (HR=1.33 [1.01-1.76], p=0.046) was observed, consistent across various subgroups and supported by non-linear model analysis. Approximately 13% of the mortality risk associated with diminished cortisol response was mediated by increased IL-6 levels (p=0.043). Diminished salivary cortisol response is linked to an increased risk of all-cause mortality, significantly mediated by elevated IL-6. This study offers a new perspective on prognostic prediction while highlighting potential avenues for intervention.

Cognitive Emotion-Regulation and Depressive Symptoms in a Group of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Person-Based Approach.

This study aimed to identify profiles of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and to examine the association between emotion regulation profiles and depressive symptoms using a sample of healthcare workers under the impact of COVID-19. A total of 3477 Chinese healthcare workers participated in the online survey. Latent profile analysis was used to identify cognitive regulation patterns using nine strategies. Depressive symptoms were compared among cognitive regulation patterns. The results yielded three cognitive emotion regulation patterns: regulators with low controllability of emotions and events (RLCEE, 65.5%), regulators with high controllability of emotions and events (RHCEE, 33.0%) and high regulators (HR, 5.4%). The HRs reported the highest level of depression symptoms, followed by the RHCEEs and RLCEEs. The results illustrated a significant association between depressive symptoms and emotion regulation profiles in healthcare workers under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Depression Severity Among People With Schizophrenia: The Role of Perceived Public Stigma Toward Mental Illness.

Studies have found that trait mindfulness is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms among people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Still, the role of the perceived public stigma in this association has yet to be established. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms experienced by people diagnosed with schizophrenia, controlling for the impact of their demographics and their perceived public stigma against mental illness. A quantitative descriptive correlational design was used. The sample included 184 Jordanian outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia who completed self-administered measures of mindfulness, depressive symptoms, public stigma against mental illness, and demographic information. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the unique variance in perceived depression explained by participants' demographic and clinical variables, public stigma, and mindfulness. Participants had moderate perceived discrimination and moderate to severe depression. Age, gender, perceived physical pain, perceived public stigma, and mindfulness were significantly correlated with depression among the study participants. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables, public stigma was significantly associated with depression and accounted for 14% additional variance above and beyond the 37% accounted for by demographic and clinical variables. Mindfulness accounted for a 15% additional variance above and beyond the variance accounted for by all other predictors. Anti-stigma programs could be combined with mindfulness-based interventions to reduce depression in people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Subjective sleep quality, but not objective sleep measures, mediates the relationship between pre-sleep worrying and affective wellbeing.

Pre-sleep worrying is associated with sleep disturbance, which in turn is associated with impaired affective wellbeing. However, studies examining the fine-grained temporal order of these variables are still lacking. In particular, within-person mediation of the association between pre-sleep worrying and the following day's affective wellbeing by subjective and objective indicators of sleep has not been tested yet. This study investigates the extent to which pre-sleep worrying predicts positive/negative affect the following day, and whether subjective/objective sleep disturbances are possible mediators for this relationship. Data from two experience sampling studies were pooled for the analyses, resulting in a total sample of 220 participants aged between 18 and 30 years (M = 23.2 years, SD = 2.8). The hypotheses were tested at both the between- and within-subject level using causal mediation analysis. The within-subject analyses revealed partial mediation of the relationship between pre-sleep worrying and positive as well as negative affect the next day by subjective sleep quality. By contrast, sleep as measured by actigraphy appears not to be relevant for the link between pre-sleep worrying and affective wellbeing the following day. Baseline levels of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances did not moderate the associations between pre-sleep worrying, sleep indices and affective states the following day. Improving perceived sleep quality by addressing pre-sleep worrying could be a potential avenue to enhance affective wellbeing and promote better mental health in young adults.

Dispositional mindfulness profiles and psychological symptoms: a latent profile analysis

ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to (1) examine profiles of mindfulness using the short form of the FFMQ (FFMQ-SF), (2) identify the demographic predictor (i.e., sex) of mindfulness profile membership, and (3) examine associations of mindfulness profiles with psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 604 individuals recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform (MTurk). We performed latent profile analyses (LPA) to explore the individual profiles based on scores on dispositional mindfulness facets. Dispositional mindfulness was measured using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF). Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7).ResultsWe identified three mindfulness profiles including, Judgmentally Describing, Low Mindfulness, and Non-Judgmentally Describing. Participants in the Low Mindfulness group were more likely to be women compared to the other two profiles (Judgmentally Describing and Non-Judgmentally Describing groups). Participants in the Low Mindfulness group had the highest levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas individuals in the Non-Judgementally Describing group had the lowest levels of depression and anxiety.ConclusionIn the present study, we demonstrated three profiles of the FFMQ-SF, which had differential relationships with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Consideration of such profiles may help clinicians to develop more fine-tuned mindfulness-based psychological interventions.

Social determinants of student mental health before and after the Beirut port explosion: two cross-sectional studies

BackgroundStudents in Lebanon are facing the devastating impact of multiple national crises, including an unprecedented economic collapse and the Beirut port explosion that killed hundreds, injured thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The aim of this study was to identify key social determinants of common mental health symptoms before and after the Beirut port explosion for students at the American University of Beirut, a university based around 4 km from the port.MethodsTwo cross-sectional studies were conducted using a representative sample of undergraduate and graduate students at the American University of Beirut. The study was conducted just before (Study 1) and repeated after the Beirut port explosion (Study 2).ResultsA total of 217 students participated (n = 143 in Study 1 and n = 74 in Study 2). In Study 1 before the explosion, poorer family functioning and social support were correlated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, but not with anxiety or trauma symptoms. Financial stress was correlated with depressive and trauma symptoms. In the partially adjusted regression model (adjusting for demographics), only financial stress was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. In the fully adjusted model (adjusting for adversity), financial stress was associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. In Study 2 after the explosion, poorer family functioning and poorer social support were correlated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, while only poorer social support was correlated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms—trauma symptoms were not correlated with either. Financial stress was correlated with all symptoms. In the partially adjusted regression model, only financial stress was significantly associated with all symptom clusters. In the fully adjusted model, no variables were significant.ConclusionFindings indicate a detrimental impact of financial stress on the mental health of students in Lebanon, beyond the otherwise protective effects of family and social support, in the context of an unprecedented economic crisis and extremely high levels of distress after the explosion. Findings indicate that mental health interventions for college students in Lebanon should include addressing financial stress, and that further research is needed to identify protective factors during acute emergencies.

Engagement With an Internet-Administered, Guided, Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Parents of Children Treated for Cancer: Analysis of Log-Data From the ENGAGE Feasibility Trial.

Parents of children treated for cancer may experience psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Digital interventions, such as internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy, offer an accessible and flexible means to support parents. However, engagement with and adherence to digital interventions remain a significant challenge, potentially limiting efficacy. Understanding factors influencing user engagement and adherence is crucial for enhancing the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of these interventions. We developed an internet-administered, guided, low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy (LICBT)-based self-help intervention for parents of children treated for cancer, (EJDeR [internetbaserad självhjälp för föräldrar till barn som avslutat en behandling mot cancer or internet-based self-help for parents of children who have completed cancer treatment]). EJDeR included 2 LICBT techniques-behavioral activation and worry management. Subsequently, we conducted the ENGAGE feasibility trial and EJDeR was found to be acceptable and feasible. However, intervention adherence rates were marginally under progression criteria. This study aimed to (1) describe user engagement with the EJDeR intervention and examine whether (2) sociodemographic characteristics differed between adherers and nonadherers, (3) depression and anxiety scores differed between adherers and nonadherers at baseline, (4) user engagement differed between adherers and nonadherers, and (5) user engagement differed between fathers and mothers. We performed a secondary analysis of ENGAGE data, including 71 participants. User engagement data were collected through log-data tracking, for example, communication with e-therapists, homework submissions, log-ins, minutes working with EJDeR, and modules completed. Chi-square tests examined differences between adherers and nonadherers and fathers and mothers concerning categorical data. Independent-samples t tests examined differences regarding continuous variables. Module completion rates were higher among those who worked with behavioral activation as their first LICBT module versus worry management. Of the 20 nonadherers who opened the first LICBT module allocated, 30% (n=6) opened behavioral activation and 70% (n=14) opened worry management. No significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics were found. Nonadherers who opened behavioral activation as the first LICBT module allocated had a significantly higher level of depression symptoms at baseline than adherers. No other differences in depression and anxiety scores between adherers and nonadherers were found. Minutes working with EJDeR, number of log-ins, days using EJDeR, number of written messages sent to e-therapists, number of written messages sent to participants, and total number of homework exercises submitted were significantly higher among adherers than among nonadherers. There were no significant differences between fathers and mothers regarding user engagement variables. Straightforward techniques, such as behavioral activation, may be well-suited for digital delivery, and more complex techniques, such as worry management, may require modifications to improve user engagement. User engagement was measured behaviorally, for example, through log-data tracking, and future research should measure emotional and cognitive components of engagement. ISRCTN Registry 57233429; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN57233429.

Anxiety and Depression Affect Sleep Quality: A Preliminary Investigation in Crowdsourced Samples of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults.

We aimed to compare sleep problems in autistic and non-autistic adults with co-occurring depression and anxiety. The primary research question was whether autism status influences sleep quality, after accounting for the effects of depression and anxiety. We hypothesized that autistic adults would report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to non-autistic adults, after controlling for these covariates. We recruited 208 adults (109 non-autistic, 99 autistic) through a crowdsourcing platform, Prolific. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests to compare group scores and a generalized linear model to assess the effect of autism status on sleep problems while controlling for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Autistic adults reported significantly higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to non-autistic adults. However, after controlling for depression and anxiety, autism status alone did not have a statistically significant effect on overall sleep quality. The findings suggest that while autistic adults experience more severe sleep problems, these issues are closely related to higher levels of depression and anxiety rather than autism status itself. This study contributes to the understanding of sleep difficulties in autistic individuals, highlighting the importance of addressing co-occurring mental health conditions. Further research should explore the specific factors that exacerbate sleep problems in this population.

Physiological, Psychological, and Functional Health Determinants of Depressive Symptoms Among the Elderly in India: Evaluation of Classification Performance of XGBoost Models.

Depression among the elderly is a growing public health concern, especially in India. This study aimed to investigate the predictive validity of physiological, psychological, and functional health factors in classifying the level of depressive symptoms among the elderly using the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) technique. Additionally, we compared the performance of models trained on original and resampled data. This study is entirely based on secondary data analysis of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India wave 1 data. We classified the observations into "high depressive symptom" and "low/no depressive symptom" groups based on the predictors, including physiological, psychological, and functional health factors, along with socio-demographic factors. We developed three models (Models 1, 2, and 3) trained on original, over-sampled, and under-sampled data, respectively. Model performance was evaluated using the metrics of balanced accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). The study included 26,065 individuals aged 60 and above. Model 3, trained on under-sampled data, demonstrated the best overall performance. It achieved a balanced accuracy of 64%, with a sensitivity of 62.8% and specificity of 65.2%. The AUC for Model 3 was 0.692. Feature importance analysis revealed that life satisfaction, instrumental activities of daily living, mobility, caste, and monthly per capita expenditure quintiles were among the most influential factors in predicting the level of depressive symptoms. The XGBoost models demonstrate promise in predicting depressive symptoms among the elderly. These findings suggest that machine learning models can be envisaged for early detection and management of depression, especially in primary care.

Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and predictors of cognitive functioning at six months after COVID-19 in patients treated in the ICU, regular hospital ward, or isolated at home

Cognitive impairment in patients with COVID-19 has been reported, but findings are inconsistent. This study assessed cognitive functioning 6 months post-infection across three COVID-19 severity groups compared to non-COVID controls. Seventy-two ICU-treated, 49 ward-treated, and 44 home-isolated patients with COVID-19, along with 48 controls, underwent neuropsychological evaluation and assessment of subjective cognitive symptoms, depressive symptoms, and fatigue. Cognitive test scores were compared using ANCOVA. Associations between cognitive functioning and variables including demographics, illness severity, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and ICU-related factors were examined with hierarchical linear regression models. Results showed no significant differences in cognitive test performance of impairment frequencies between COVID-19 groups and controls. However, patients with COVID-19 reported higher levels of subjective cognitive symptoms, depressive symptoms, and fatigue compared to controls. Predictors of cognitive functioning included age, education, and, to a lesser extent, comorbidities. COVID-19 severity, depression, fatigue, or ICU-related variables did not significantly impact performance. These findings suggest that while individual cognitive impairments may exist, overall cognitive functioning in patients with COVID-19 was comparable to controls.

Infertility stigma and openness with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life in men and women diagnosed with infertility

BackgroundStigma is the experience of feeling different from socially accepted norms which can lead to personal devaluation or fear of disapproval from others. For men and women experiencing infertility, stigma has been associated with psychological distress, feelings of otherness in relation to people with children, and selective disclosure with others about their infertility challenges. However, there are few studies which examine how infertility stigma and being open with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life for men and women diagnosed with infertility.MethodsParticipants experiencing infertility were recruited for this cross-sectional study during November 2023-January 2024 via announcements on infertility discussion listservs and social media accounts. Four-hundred fifty-eight women and 89 men completed an online survey. Participants were primarily from the United States (81%), followed by Europe, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. Participants completed validated and reliable measures of infertility stigma, openness with others, depressive symptoms and meaning in life.ResultsHierarchical regression models explained substantial variance (adjusted R-squared) for depressive symptoms (41% men; 27% women), search for meaning in life (12% men; 14% women), and presence of meaning in life (19% men; 25% women). For both men and women, higher personal infertility stigma was significantly related with higher depressive symptoms and search for meaning. For both men and women, higher openness with others about infertility was significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater presence of meaning.ConclusionsThe current findings support prior research indicating a significant association between infertility stigma and depressive symptoms and adds to the infertility literature by offering new insights into the relationships between stigma, openness with others, and meaning in life. Health care providers can use these findings to assist individuals and couples in reducing infertility stigma through collaborative conversations that reduce feelings of personal failure. Providers can also help those with infertility challenges to reduce psychological distress and increase meaning in life through accessing existing social networks and expanding social connections with others in ways that facilitate support.