Higher Levels Of Psychological Symptoms Research Articles

Smoking in Pregnancy and Parenting Stress: Maternal Psychological Symptoms and Socioeconomic Status as Potential Mediating Variables

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of smoking in pregnancy on parenting stress. Maternal psychological symptoms and socioeconomic status (SES) were evaluated as potential mediating factors between prenatal cigarette use and later parenting stress. The sample included 218 mothers who were recruited at the hospital after birth and completed a 6-month visit with their infants at a university laboratory. Based on the mothers' responses to interviews at the hospital on tobacco use during pregnancy, the sample included 77 nonsmokers and 141 smokers. Information on sociodemographic variables, prenatal care, and other substance use during pregnancy was collected at the hospital interview. At the 6-month visit, the mothers completed measures of parenting stress and psychological symptoms. Cotinine levels were assessed at both timepoints. Regression analysis showed that maternal smoking during pregnancy predicted parenting stress in infancy. Maternal symptoms of psychological distress and SES were evaluated simultaneously to determine whether they functioned as mediating variables between smoking in pregnancy and parenting stress. A multiple mediation analysis (Preacher & Hayes, 2008a) showed that maternal psychological symptoms functioned as a mediating variable but that SES did not. Results suggest that mothers who smoke in pregnancy are likely to experience higher levels of psychological symptoms, which, in turn, predict higher levels of parenting stress. Smoking in pregnancy may be a marker for symptoms of psychological distress in mothers.

P01-21 - The level of psychological well being in subjects with affective disorders and in controls

ObjectivesThe present study was aimed at evaluating psychological well being (PWB) among subjects with affective disorders and healthy controls.Methods83 subjects with affective disorders were compared to 83 healthy controls. Measures of PWB, psychological symptom status, basic social skills underlying social and emotional competence, and health-related quality of life (QoL) were obtained from standardised, self-administered rating scales. Statistical analyses focused on between-groups differences and on correlations among the major variables under study.ResultsCases showed significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms, and lower PWB, social competence, and QoL than healthy controls. Between-groups differences in emotional competence did not attain statistical significance. When correlations were evaluated, cases showed negative correlations between PWB and psychological symptoms, and positive correlations between PWB and QoL. Only some PWB constructs correlated with the social competence, while no correlation was found between PWB and emotional control.In healthy controls, similar correlations between PWB and social competence as well as between PWB and QoL were found. On the other hand, no correlation was found between PWB and emotional competence, between psychological symptoms and the two PWB constructs named “purpose in life” and “personal growth”.ConclusionsSubjects with affective disorders seemed to link their PWB to psychological symptoms, QoL, and social skills with the exception of emotional control. Healthy subjects seemed, on the other hand, to link their PWB to QoL and social competence, only in part to psychological symptoms, and not at all to the emotional competence.

Coping effectiveness and coping diversity under traumatic stress.

The effectiveness of different strategies of coping and the impact of coping diversity were tested under traumatic stress conditions. Participants were 632 U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq (mean age = 27.7, 98% male). Results indicate that four of nine functional coping strategies (including some emotion-focused coping) as defined by the COPE scale were inversely related to psychological symptom, whereas five of six dysfunctional strategies were positively related. Overall, in comparison to the norm group, soldiers showed a depressed level of functional coping strategies. Hierarchical regression, used to control for demographics and coping strategy intercorrelations, indicated that positive reinterpretation, emotional social support, and humor were most strongly related to lower psychological symptoms, whereas venting emotions, denial, mental disengagement, behavioral disengagement, and alcohol and drug use were related to higher levels of psychological symptoms. Two indices of coping diversity were tested. The index more strongly related to higher psychological adjustment was the sum of deviations from the mean of specific coping strategies combined with the alignment of functional and dysfunctional strategy clusters. Implications for research and application were discussed.

The contribution of rumination and internal working models of attachment to psychological symptoms

This study examined the relations of ruminative tendency and internal working models of attachment (Self-Model and Other-Model) to psychological symptoms among the Turkish university students. The sample comprised of 610 university students with 288 female and 319 male participants (3 unknown). The results revealed that both rumination and internal working models (self-model and other-model) significantly correlated with the higher level of psychological symptoms. However, after controlled for the impact of rumination, the relationship of self-model and psychological symptoms was no longer significant. Therefore, ceasing the rumination is suggested as a coping strategy to deal with psychological symptoms.

Day-to-day co-variations of psychological and physical symptoms of the menstrual cycle: Insights to individual differences in steroid reactivity

The associations between physical and psychological symptoms of the menstrual cycle have not been carefully studied in past research, but may lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these symptoms. The present study examines the day-to-day co-variations among physical and psychological symptoms of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms were evaluated on a daily basis across one entire menstrual cycle, with a non-clinical sample of 92 university students. Results showed that headaches, gastrointestinal problems, lower abdominal bloating, skin changes, and breast changes, were all significantly associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms; whereas back and joint pain, lower abdominal cramps, cervical mucous, and menstrual flow, were not associated with psychological symptoms. However, significant differences in these associations were observed across individuals for back and joint pain, headaches, lower abdominal cramps, skin changes, and menstrual flow: Whereas some women demonstrated higher levels of psychological symptoms associated with these physical symptoms, other women demonstrated lower levels of psychological symptoms. Finally, correlations among the associations between physical and psychological symptoms (slopes) demonstrated clear differences across the different physical symptoms. These results indicate that, although higher levels of some physical symptoms are associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms, there are significant differences in the magnitude and direction of these relations across individuals. Further consideration of physical symptoms may provide useful information for understanding individual differences in symptom profiles and response to steroid fluctuations, and for improving differential diagnosis and treatment planning and evaluation.

Understanding Emotional Health and Psychological Adjustment in Students With or Without a Specific Hearing Deficiency

This study investigated the level of psychological adjustment and emotional health by identifying a level of psychological symptoms and their clinical relevance among samples of students with or without hearing deficiency. A group of thirty six students with hearing loss and the control group of thirty six typically developing controls completed self-report measure of The Trauma Symptom Checklist and the Non-verbal Scale of Suffering. The same level of emotional distress was observed among both groups of students; no statistically relevant differences between expressed symptoms of the two groups were found. Anxiety was positively linked to depressive feelings, feelings of sadness and sexual concerns, although it had no relation to emotional suffering. Age, sex, and socioeconomic status were not a significant predictor for expressed level of symptoms. The findings suggest that deaf students did not demonstrate poorer levels of psychological adjustment which can be associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms.

The psychological impact of bereavement on insecurely attached adults in a primary care setting

AbstractAims: this study investigated the psychological effects of bereavement from an attachment perspective within a primary care setting. It hoped to examine associations between bereavement, insecure patterns of attachment and psychological symptoms. Method: bereaved adults (n=36) recruited from 2 general practices participated in the Modified Adult Attachment Interview in order to assess their state of mind with regard to attachment according to a discourse analytic method. Levels of depression and anxiety recorded in participants’ medical records were compared in the year before and after bereavement. The medical records of a group of non‐bereaved adults (n=20) were also compared over 2 years. Results: interview transcripts were assigned to the insecure category and the participant group had significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms after bereavement when compared with the control group. It was not possible to establish a link between insecure attachment and raised levels of psychological symptoms after bereavement due to the absence of securely attached individuals from the research sample. Conclusions: this study supports evidence of the adverse effects of bereavement on mental health. It provides insights into the psychological characteristics and needs of a group of bereaved adults in a primary care setting, which could be used to inform the practice of counsellors and other health care professionals.

Marital satisfaction, conflict communication, attachment style and psychological distress in couples with a hospitalized depressed patient.

There has been fairly consistent empirical support for the association between major depressive disorder and marital dissatisfaction. However, this evidence is limited mostly to out-patient and population-based samples. Further, the role of possible mediating factors such as attachment style and conflict communication are less well investigated in major depression. The present study aims to investigate whether couples with a depressed partner and nonclinical couples differ in marital satisfaction, attachment style, psychological distress and conflict communication. Gender differences are also investigated. Seventy-seven couples, who participated in a family intervention trial, were compared with 77 age- and gender-matched nonclinical couples. The depressed patients reported more psychological distress and attachment difficulties and less marital satisfaction than their partners and the nonclinical couples. Partners perceived their relationship as more satisfying than the nonclinical couples. The clinical couples reported less mutual constructive and more mutual avoidant communication in their relationship compared with the nonclinical couples. Finally, female depressed patients reported higher levels of psychological symptoms and were more avoidant attached than male patients. This study shows important differences in several individual and relational characteristics between couples with a depressed partner and nonclinical couples. Further research will be necessary to clarify whether the investigated psychosocial variables play a causal and/or a maintaining role in depression.

Psychological Symptomatology among Palestinian Male and Female Adolescents Living under Political Violence 2004–2005

The aim of the study was to investigate gender differences in relation to exposure to domestic violence, political violence, family relations and psychological symptomatology in Palestinian adolescents. The sample consisted of 1766 adolescents, males (54.1%) and females (45.9%), residents of West Bank cities subjected to violent political conflict. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of the following measures: demographic variables, domestic violence, political violence events, the McMaster Family Assessment Device, and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) psychological symptomatology. Results indicated that whereas there was no significant difference in the level of exposure to political violence between boys and girls, female adolescents exhibited higher levels of psychological symptoms compared to their male counterparts. Girls also reported higher levels of exposure to domestic violence and lower levels of family function than boys.

Mothers' and Fathers' Psychological Symptoms and Marital Functioning: Examination of Direct and Interactive Links with Child Adjustment

A community sample of 51 mother-father dyads with a school-age child rated marital functioning, parental psychological symptoms, and children's adjustment problems. Parents with more psychological symptoms reported lower marital satisfaction levels. Mothers' and fathers' marital functioning and symptomatology individually related to children's adjustment in the expected directions. In addition, interaction tests revealed that, for mothers but not fathers, the combination of poorer marital functioning and higher levels of psychological symptoms amplified the negative effects on children's adjustment problems. These findings support the hypothesis that parental psychopathology and marital adjustment together affect children's functioning in an interactive way, underscoring the need to consider multiple family influences in studies of child development.

Residence arrangements and well‐being: A study of Norwegian adolescents

The purpose of this study was to assess any differences in psychosocial problems among adolescents living with both parents, or with their mother or their father. Any benefits of living with a same-sex parent compared to a parent of the opposite sex, was also analysed. A total of 1,686 adolescents aged 14-15 years participated from 29 schools in Hordaland county, including schools in downtown Bergen and more rural areas. The findings revealed significantly more psychosocial problems among the adolescents living with one parent compared to both parents. Significant differences were also observed between adolescents living in mother custody compared to father custody, indicating more problems among the latter group. Furthermore, girls living with their father had significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms, compared to boys in father custody. Similarly, boys living with their father were involved in more stealing behavior than girls in father custody. However, residence arrangement accounted for only a limited proportion of the variance in the adolescents' psychosocial problems, indicating large within-group variance and overlap between the different custody groups.

The connections between adolescents' perceptions of parents, parental psychological symptoms, and adolescent functioning

A total of 150 biological mother–father–adolescent triads were interviewed to investigate adolescents' perceptions of parents with and without high levels of psychological symptoms in relation to adolescents' emotional/behavioral functioning. There was a more consistent pattern for sons to show greater externalizing emotional/behavioral problems in relation to levels of adolescents' perceptions of maternal behaviors (i.e., lower acceptance and higher negative affect toward mother). Daughters, however, appeared to show greater internalizing emotional/behavioral problems in relation to higher levels of paternal depression and anxiety and lower levels of maternal control. Furthermore, both sons and daughters showed evidence of higher emotional/behavioral problems (especially internalizing problems) in relation to triangulation and interparental conflict. The complex patterns of the findings relating to the mother–father–adolescent triads emphasize the importance of including both mothers and fathers in future research of adolescents' perceptions of parents.

Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Drive in Spinal Cord Injured Women

Levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual drive in women with spinal cord injuries were examined. Eighty-four spinal cord injured (SCI) women and thirty-seven able-bodied (AB) control subjects completed the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory which measured current level of sexual functioning in 10 areas: information, experience, drive, attitude, psychological symptoms, affect, gender role definition, fantasy, body image, and sexual satisfaction. When compared with AB women, SCI women had significantly lower levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual drive and significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms and negative affect. Among SCI women, sexual satisfaction decreased significantly with age. Among AB women, sexual satisfaction increased significantly with age. Married SCI women were no longer less sexually satisfied than AB women. Results support conclusions from previous self-report studies in which significant decreases in sexual satisfaction and drive were reported for SCI women. Implications for continued research on the psychological and physiological aspects of sexuality and sexual functioning in SCI women are discussed.

House Demolition and Mental Health: Victims and Witnesses

This research examines the immediate effects of losing one’s home and witnessing the demolition of others’ houses on the mental health ofPalestinian adults and children. The loss group consisted of 47 adults whose homes were demolished, the witness group of 24 adults who witnessed the house demolition, and the control group of 33 adults. The groups were compared for their anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms. In addition, 38 children in the loss group, 36 children in the witness group, and 50 children in the control group were compared for their psychological symptoms. The results showed that adults who were exposed to house demolition showed a higher level of anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms than the witness and control groups. The children in the loss group showed a higher level of psychological symptoms than the children in the witness and control groups. The witness group differed from the control group in having more depression among women and more psychological symptoms among children. Women suffered more from anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms than men in the loss and witness groups but not in the control group.

Race, combat, and PTSD in a community sample of New Zealand Vietnam war veterans

AbstractThe association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat exposure, and race was examined in a New Zealand community sample of 756 Vietnam War veterans. Maori veterans reported higher levels of PTSD than their non‐Maori counterparts. However, the race effect was shown to be mediated by combat exposure level, rank, and combat role. These findings support differential experience explanations for the relationship between postwar adjustment and race, suggesting that higher levels of psychological symptoms reported by minority group veterans can be accounted for by their experience of higher levels of combat stressors.

House Demolition and Mental Health: Victims and Witnesses

The research examines the immediate effects of losing one’s home and witnessing the demolition of others houses on the mental health of Palestinian adults and children. The loss group consisted of 47 adults whose homes were demolished, the witness group of 24 adults who witnessed the house demolition, and the control group of 33 adults. The groups were compared for their anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms. In addition, 38 children in the loss group, 36 children in the witness group, and 50 children in the control group were compared for their psychological symptoms. The results showed that adults who were exposed to house demolition showed a higher level of anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms than the witness and control groups. The children in the loss group showed a higher level of psychological symptoms than the children in the witness and control groups. The witness group differed from the control group in having more depression among women and more psychological symptoms among children. Women suffered more from anxiety, depression, and paranoiac symptoms than men in the loss and witness groups but not in the control group.

Childhood traumatic brain injury: initial impact on the family.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in children, resulting in a wide range of cognitive and behavioral sequelae. However, little is known about the effects of pediatric TBI and its aftermath on families. The current investigation examined the impact of TBI on families during the first month following injury. Children with orthopedic injuries requiring hospitalization served as a control group. The sample consisted of 44 families of children of severe TBI, 52 families of children with moderate TBI, and 69 families of children with orthopedic injuries not involving the central nervous system (CNS). Families of children with severe TBI experienced significantly more injury-related stress than the other two groups of families. Parents of children with TBI also reported higher levels of psychological symptoms than parents of children with orthopedic injuries. Findings from regression analyses suggested that families facing multiple stressors in addition to the injury and those who cope poorly may be at greatest risk for adverse consequences. Future interventions could provide anticipatory guidance and support to at-risk families.

The Relation Between Masculine Role Conflict and Psychological Distress in Male University Counseling Center Clients

This is the first study to examine the relations between components of masculine gender role conflict and specific symptoms of psychological distress in a sample of men seeking counseling services. One hundred and thirty male clients from 2 university counseling centers completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale and the Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised. Participants reported moderate to high levels of psychological symptoms, which were correlated with components of masculine role conflict. Results of simultaneous multiple regressions supported previous findings in nonclinical samples of relations between masculine role conflict and depression and interpersonal issues. In addition, masculine role conflict significantly predicted paranoia, psychoticism, and obsessive compulsivity. Implications for counseling and future research are discussed.

Gender, generational and social support correlates of mental health in Asian immigrants.

A sample of 100 Asian immigrants, mainly from India and Pakistan, were interviewed in their native language (Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi or English) concerning their psychological adjustment to life in Britain. It was predicted that female Indo-Pakistan immigrants would have higher levels of psychological symptomatology than male immigrants; and that second generation immigrants would have higher levels of psychological symptomatology than the first generation immigrants did not have higher levels of psychological symptoms than the first generation immigrants. Social support networks of the subjects were not correlated with mental health. However for the two generations, there was evidence linking social support to mental health. The extent of acculturisation, as measured by identificational assimilation, was not correlated with mental health. Results are discussed in terms of the burgeoning literature in this field.

Clients' beliefs about psychological problems

Abstract An investigation of clients beliefs about the causes and treatments of their own psychological problems, using a new instrument, the Opinions about Psychological Problems (OPP). We found that, although the beliefs about the various models were positively correlated, clients made clear overall discriminations between them. For causation, they tended to agree with the four psychological models (Behavioural, Cognitive, Humanistic and Psychodynamic) and the Naive model, and tended to disagree with the Socio-economic and Organic models. For treatment, they endorsed Behavioural, Cognitive and Humanistic most highly, and again disagreed overall with Socio-economic and Organic. Individual difference variables showed that clients reporting a higher level of psychological symptoms tended to endorse all causation beliefs more highly, and also were more likely to agree with Behavioural, Cognitive, Humanistic and Psychodynamic treatments. The structure of clients' beliefs differed from that found in previous ...