Differences In Psychological Health Research Articles

Correlation research between psychological health status and pressure perception and sleep quality of community residents

Objective To explore the correlation between psychological health status and pressure perception, sleep quality of community residents. Methods By multistage sampling method, 1 471 community residents of Lixia District in Ji′nan were surveyed by pressure perception scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Kessler psychological scale. Results The score of psychological health acquired (19.29±6.62), and 66.2% community residents existed different level psychological health issues, community residents with different educational background, occupation, family monthly income had statistical significance of differences in psychological health (t=5.345, 2.765, 8.245, -2.808; P<0.05). The total score of community residents pressure perception was (17.06±5.47)and the total score of sleep quality index was (4.73±3.09); the pressure perception had positive correlation with psychological health and sleep quality (r=0.627, 0.332; P<0.01); the total score of sleep quality had positive correlation with psychological health (r=0.441, P<0.01). The hierarchical regression analysis showed the sleep quality played a part of mediation between pressure perception and psychological health, which mediation effect was 0.15, and the relative intermediary effect was 24.2%. Conclusions The pressure perception can impact psychological health directly, and also can indirectly affect psychological by sleep quality. Sleep quality can release pressure perception caused negative effects of psychological health and protect community residents′ psychological health. Key words: Psychological health; Sleep quality; Pressure perception; Community resident

Gender Differences Among Military Combatants: Does Social Support, Ostracism, and Pain Perception Influence Psychological Health?

The literature on gender differences related to psychological health among in-theater service members who are deployed in a combatant role is limited. Much focuses on retrospective reports of service members who have returned from deployment. Potential key factors that contribute to gender differences in psychological health among combatants are found in literature across several topic areas, but integration of findings across disciplines is lacking. A growing body of literature on gender differences related to psychological health of postdeployment military populations suggests males and females respond differently to perceived levels of social support pre-and postdeployment. One study on service members who were deployed suggested no significant gender differences related to reported psychological health symptoms, but did appear to find significant gender differences related to reported perception of unit morale. In another related area, research explores how ostracism impacts physical and psychological health of individuals and organizations, and can result in perceptions of physical pain, although research on gender differences related to the impact of ostracism is scarce. Research has also begun to focus on sex differences in pain responses, and has identified multiple biopsychosocial, genetic, and hormonal factors that may contribute as potential underlying mechanisms. In this brief review, we focus on and begin to integrate relevant findings related to the psychological health of females in combat roles, gender differences in the impact of perception of social support on psychological health, the psychological and physical impact of ostracism on individuals and organizations, and the current literature on sex differences in pain perception. We conclude with a synthesis and discussion of research gaps identified through this review, implications for clinical practice, and potential future research directions. In conclusion, there appear to be gender differences related to the presence or absence of social support, the impact of ostracism, and the perception of pain. These differences may play a critical role in the psychological health of female combatants. More research on this topic is needed.

Quality of Life of Medical Students in China: A Study Using the WHOQOL-BREF

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of medical students during their medical education and explore the influencing factors of the QOL of students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2011. The study population was composed of 1686 medical students in years 1 to 5 at China Medical University. The Chinese version of WHOQOL-BREF instrument was used to assess the QOL of medical students. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed by Cronbach’s α coefficient and factor analysis respectively. The relationships between QOL and the factors including gender, academic year level, and specialty were examined using t-test or one-way ANOVA followed by Student-Newman–Keuls test. Statistic analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0.ResultsThe overall Cronbach’s α coefficient of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was 0.731. The confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable fit to a four-factor model in the medical student sample. The scores of different academic years were significantly different in the psychological health and social relations domains (p<0.05). Third year students had the lowest scores in psychological health and social relations domains. The scores of different specialties had significant differences in psychological health and social relations domains (p<0.05). Students from clinical medicine had the highest scores. Gender, interest in the area of study, confidence in career development, hometown location, and physical exercise were significantly associated with the quality of life of students in some domains (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe WHOQOL-BREF was reliable and valid in the assessment of the QOL of Chinese medical students. In order to cope with the influencing factors of the QOL, medical schools should carry out curriculum innovation and give the necessary support for medical students, especially for 3rd year students.

Adaptación Psicológica en Personas Cuidadoras de Familiares Dependientes

Caring for a dependent relative is a stressful situation that can put the psychological health of the caregiver at risk, and which requires a level of psychological adaptation. We aimed to investigate whether adaptation to the caregiving situation can imply the existence of differential personality styles, independently of the specific characteristics of the care situation; and, secondly, if the differences in psychological health among caregivers are related to specific profiles of personality. This study involved 105 caregivers (average of age = 56.06, SD = 15.97) of dependent relatives, mainly elderly people, who completed Millon´s Inventory of Personality Styles and the GHQ-12. Altogether, the results show the existence of preferred psychological styles in this group of caregivers (Other-Nurturing, Realistic/Sensing, Feeling-Guided, Submissive/Yielding and Cooperative/Agreeing). The caregivers with worse mental health scored lower in the Pleasure-Enhancing, Externally Focused, Gregarious-Outgoing, Confident-Asserting and Dominant-Controlling scales, and higher in Pain-Avoiding, Internally Focused, Asocial-Withdrawing and Anxious-Hesitating

Socioeconomic status, labour market connection, and self-rated psychological health: The role of social capital and economic stress

To investigate the association between socioeconomic status, unemployment and self-rated psychological health, taking economic stress and horizontal trust into account. The 2008 public health survey in Skåne is a cross-sectional postal questionnaire study with a 55% participation rate. A random sample was invited and 28,198 persons aged 18-80 participated. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between socioeconomic status by occupation (SES), labour market connection and self-rated psychological health (GHQ12). The multiple regression analyses included age, country of birth, education, economic stress and generalized (horizontal) trust. 13.8% of the men and 18.2% of the women had poor psychological health. Poor psychological health was more common among the young, among those born abroad, among those with lower education, with economic stress, and low horizontal trust. There were no significant differences between the employed and self-employed groups. However, the people who had retired early, the unemployed and those on long-term sick leave had significantly higher odds ratios of poor psychological health than higher non-manual employees throughout the analyses. There were no differences in psychological health between non-manual employees in higher positions and other employed and self-employed SES groups among men or women. In contrast, the early retired, the unemployed and the category on long-term sick leave had significantly higher odds ratios of poor psychological health among both men and women throughout the multiple analyses. Both economic stress and trust affected this association (i.e., lowered the odds ratios of poor psychological health), but affected by economic stress to a somewhat higher extent.

Predictors of psychological health in spouses of persons affected by stroke

To identify predictors of psychological health and examine if these predictors change over time in spouses of stroke patients during the first year after stroke. A second aim was to identify gender differences in psychological health among the spouses. The impact of burden in long-term caregivers may result in psychological consequences for the spouse. The rehabilitation process for the patient can be negatively affected by a stressed caregiver and result in long-term hospitalization. To identify spouses at risk for physical and psychological distress is, therefore, essential to support those in need. Longitudinal, comparative study. One hundred spouses of stroke patients were assessed at baseline, as well as after six and 12 months, regarding psychological health, well-being, own illness, need of assistance from general practitioner and/or district nurse, social network and knowledge about stroke. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted for baseline, six- and 12-month assessments, respectively, with psychological health as the dependent variable. General well-being and presence of illness in spouse were the most prominent predictors of psychological health, throughout the first year. Enhancing psychological health and preventing medical problems in the caregiver are essential considerations to enable patients with stroke-related disabilities to continue to live at home. Evaluating the situation for spouses of stroke patients is an important component when planning for the future care of the patient.

Differences in psychological health and family dysfunction by sexual victimization type in a clinical sample of African American

We examined levels of sexual victimization among a sample of 249 14‐ to 19‐year‐old African American adolescent women. Victimization was common: 32.1% reported having been raped, 33.7% had experienced sexual coercion, and 10.8% reported an attempted rape. Only 23.4% had never been victimized. We investigated whether levels of psychological health and family dysfunction varied as a function of the type of sexual victimization. Girls who had been raped had lower levels of self‐esteem and mastery and higher levels of depression compared to girls who reported no sexual victimization. Significantly higher levels of family cohesion and significantly lower levels of family support were reported by girls who had been raped versus girls who reported no sexual victimization. These findings are a starting point for future studies by providing evidence that levels of mental health and family dysfunction vary by the type of sexual victimization experienced.

Commentary: Difficulties in disentangling causes of social class inequities in musculoskeletal health

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Psychische Symptome bei Studentinnen in Ost- und Westdeutschland: Eine Replikation nach 10 Jahren

Psychological Symptoms in Female University Students in East and West Germany: A Replication after 10 Years Background: After the German unification, several studies have focused on differences in the psychological health of people in East and West Germany. The current study is a replication of the Basten et al. study [Psychological wellbeing and health in a unified Germany: An East-West-comparison of two student samples. Verhaltenstherapie 1994;4:90–95] 10 years after the original research of 1991/1992. It investigated differences in depression, anxiety and bodily symptoms as well as problematic eating behaviour in female university students in Dresden (East Germany) and Marburg (West Germany). Subjects and Methods: From October 2001 to April 2002, we investigated psychological symptoms and eating behaviour in students of the universities of Dresden and Marburg. The current report includes data of 221 female students. We used the same standardized measures as had been used in the original research. Results: In contrast to the original study, students from West Germany did no longer exhibit higher depression scores. Instead, students from East Germany showed significantly increased anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, there was a trend towards a higher drive for thinness in East German students. In all, students from Dresden showed higher mean values in all measures than 10 years before. Discussion: This study corroborates results that there are only minor differences in psychological health between people in East and West Germany. However, our findings point out that during the past decade subtle changes might have occurred which have not been detected through lack of longitudinal investigations. The higher level of anxiety in East German students could be a result of socialisation.

Sex Differences in Psychological Well-Being During a Facility Closure

While there have been numerous studies concerning the effect of layoffs and unemployment on psychological well-being, no research has usedfemale respondents. The present study examined possible gender differences in psychological health during a facility closure. While gender had a main effect on several variables including psychological well-being, the magnitude was fairly small. Cognitive appraisals, administrative support and attachment, however, were highly correlated with well-being, and there were some gender differences for these variables. Gender did not appear to moderate the relationship between psychological health and its determinants.