High Levels Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

The moderating effect of psychological distress in the association between temperaments and dark future among young adults

ObjectiveThe aim of the current study is to evaluate the moderating effect of psychological distress variables, depression, anxiety and stress on the relationship between affective temperaments and future anxiety, assessed with the Dark Future scale.MethodsLebanese adults from all districts/governorates of Lebanon participated in this cross-sectional study. The data was collected through a questionnaire including: a section about sociodemographic characteristics, the Dark Future scale (DFS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-8) and the Affective Temperament Scale (TEMPS-M).ResultsThe interaction irritable temperament by psychological distress (p = .007) was significantly associated with dark future; at low levels of psychological distress, more irritable temperament (Beta = 0.16) was significantly associated with more dark future. The interaction anxious temperament by psychological distress (p = .010) was significantly associated with dark future; at low (Beta = 0.34), moderate (Beta = 0.25) and high (Beta = 0.15) levels of psychological distress, more anxious temperament was significantly associated with more dark future.ConclusionThe nature of the associations among depression, anxiety and stress, specific temperaments and anxiety towards the future in a sample of Lebanese individuals was clarified. This is especially significant as Lebanese people live in circumstances that promote psychological distress and future anxiety such as dramatic economic and political crises, instability and lack of security in different aspects of life.

Psychological Distress, Adaptive Coping Mechanism, and Well-Being of Junior High School Students in Public Schools

This study investigated various aspects of psychological distress, adaptive coping mechanisms, and well-being among junior high school students in public schools within General Santos City. The researchers employed a descriptive-correlational research design, administering a researcher-developed questionnaire to students from four prominent public high schools. Statistical analyses included the use of mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's r correlation. The findings indicate that junior high school students experience high levels of psychological distress. Although the overall impact of contributing factors is low, specific factors such as excessive use of technology or social media and concerns about post-junior high school futures were notably significant. Despite experiencing high levels of psychological distress, students reported using adaptive coping mechanisms and maintaining a high level of well-being. A significant relationship was also identified between psychological distress and student well-being. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend the implementation of tailored mental health intervention programs to address the specific challenges faced by students in public high schools. Such programs could enhance student well-being, mitigate long-term issues, and provide support for school counselors, teachers, and mental health advocates. The study's results offer a foundation for developing practical interventions to improve the mental well-being of junior high school students in public schools, thereby promoting a healthier and more supportive educational environment.

Study of socio-clinical risk factors and assessment of metabolic syndrome and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With polycystic ovary syndrome

Background and Aims: More than 1.55 million women of reproductive age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the world; PCOS is an important disease threatens public health, linked to psychological, metabolic, and reproductive problems. The aim of our work was an evaluation of some risk factors, oxidative stress and Cardiovascular Risk among PCOS Women in El-Oued region. Methods: Our risk factor study was conducted on a group of 200 women who were diagnosed by specialized doctors (100 healthy and 100 polycystic ovaries), with 50 women volunteering to provide blood and saliva samples to study the blood glucose, Atherogenic index, lipids profile, hematological and oxidative stress markers. Results: About risk factors study, our results showed that the high levels of Psychological distress, Menstrual fluctuation and year of taking pills are the most dangerous factors (OR=3.11; OR=9.205; OR=5.940) respectively. Our result demonstrated a significant increase (P > 0.05) in blood glucose, total cholesterol, Triglycerides, VLDL, Atherogenic index and sedimentation rate, MDA and SOD levels and a significant decreased (P > 0.01) in HDL, WBC (P < 0.000), MCV (P < 0.05) HGB, RBC, CMH, CMH level in women with PCOS patients as compared to controls. Conclusions: In conclusion, several social and nutritional factors contributed to the spread and development of PCOS in El-Oued region. In addition to a change in blood components, lipid profile Atherogenic index and their relationship to oxidative stress, which contributes to metabolic syndrome development and the occurrence of cardiovascular complication in women with PCOS.

Effectiveness of group problem management plus in distressed Syrian refugees in Türkiye: a randomized controlled trial.

Despite high levels of psychological distress, mental health service use among Syrian refugees in urban settings is low. To address the mental healthcare gap, the World Health Organization developed group problem management plus (gPM+), a scalable psychological intervention delivered by non-specialist peer facilitators. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of gPM+ in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among Syrian refugees in Istanbul, Türkiye. A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 368 distressed (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K10 > 15) adult Syrian refugees with impaired functioning (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, WHODAS 2.0 > 16). Participants were recruited between August 2019 and September 2020 through a non-governmental organization providing services to refugees. Participants were randomly allocated to gPM+ and enhanced care as usual (gPM+/E-CAU) (184 participants) or E-CAU only (184 participants). Primary outcomes were symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25)) at 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5; PCL-5), functional impairment (WHODAS 2.0), and self-identified problems (psychological outcome profiles). Intent-to-treat analyses showed no significant effect of gPM+ on symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and self-identified problems. Yet, there was a significant reduction in functional impairment in gPM+/E-CAU compared to E-CAU at 3-month follow-up (adjusted mean difference 1.66, 95 % CI 0.04, 3.27, p = 0.045, d = 0.19). Post-hoc subgroup analyses among participants with probable baseline depression or anxiety showed that there was a small but significant reduction in depression (adjusted mean difference -0.17, 95 % CI -0.32, -0.02, p = 0.028, d = 0.27) and anxiety (adjusted mean difference -0.21, 95 % CI -0.37, -0.05, p = 0.009, d = 0.30) symptoms comparing gPM+/E-CAU to E-CAU only at 1-week post assessment, but not at 3-month follow-up. There was a significant difference between conditions on functional impairment at 3-month follow-up, favouring gPM+/E-CAU condition (adjusted mean difference -1.98, 95 % CI -3.93, -0.02, p = 0.048, d = 0.26). In this study in an urban setting in Türkiye, gPM+ did not alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety among Syrian refugees experiencing psychological distress and daily living difficulties. However, participants with higher distress at baseline seemed to benefit from gPM+, but treatment gains disappeared in the long term. Current findings highlight the potential benefit of tailored psychosocial interventions for highly distressed refugees in volatile low-resource settings.

Factors Associated with Psychological Distress, Fear, and Coping Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite being initially perceived as a local infectious disease, COVID-19 has emerged as one of the most perilous global health threats, significantly impacting the psychological well-being of individuals worldwide. This cross-sectional descriptive study investigates the psychological distress, fear, and coping mechanisms among Thai people residing in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. This online cross-sectional survey targeted Thai individuals during the first and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants aged 18 and above who provided consent self-reported their responses to the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Data collection occurred between November 2020 and January 2021 across four regions of Thailand. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses explored associations between contextual factors and the variables of interest. Out of 498 survey respondents, with an average age of 43.07 (SD = 13.69) years, 81.9% were female, and 61.6% self-identified as healthcare workers, with 47.59% identified as frontline healthcare workers. Findings revealed that 46% of participants experienced moderate-to-very high levels of psychological distress, 14.3% reported high levels of fear of COVID-19, and 35.1% exhibited low resilient coping. Factors such as changes in employment status or financial situations, comorbidities, contact with known or suspected COVID-19 cases, recent healthcare utilization for COVID-19-related stress, and elevated fear of COVID-19 were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Conversely, being nurses and perceived better mental health status were linked to more effective coping strategies. These results emphasize the critical importance of government interventions to safeguard the psychological well-being of healthcare workers and the broader Thai population. Urgent measures to bolster resilience among these groups during and after the pandemic are imperative.

Caregiver mental health and school-aged children's academic and socioemotional outcomes: Examining associations and mediators in Northern Ghana.

While there is a strong link between caregiver mental health, caregiver engagement, and child development, limited research has examined the underlying mechanisms of these associations in Africa. We examined the mediating role of dimensions of caregiver engagement in the association of caregiver psychological distress with children's academic and socioemotional outcomes in Ghana. Data came from 4,714 children (aged 5-17 years) and their caregivers in five regions of northern Ghana. Caregiver psychological distress and engagement (i.e., engagement in education, emotional supportiveness, and parenting self-efficacy) were self-reported by children's primary caregiver. Children's academic (literacy and numeracy) and socioemotional (prosocial skills and socioemotional difficulties) outcomes were directly assessed using validated measures. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate mediation models. We tested moderation by caregiver exposure to formal education, child's age, and child's sex. Fourteen percent of caregivers experienced elevated psychological distress. Higher levels of psychological distress were associated with children's poorer literacy and numeracy skills, and higher socioemotional difficulties, but not prosocial skills. The mediating role of caregiver engagement varied by caregiver exposure to formal education but not child's age or sex. Caregiver engagement in education explained the association between psychological distress and children's literacy skills (but not numeracy or socioemotional) in families where the caregiver had no formal education (indirect effect: β = 0.007 [95% CI: 0.000, 0.016]), explaining 23% of the association. No mediator explained the association of psychological distress with child outcomes among families where the caregiver had some formal education. The mechanisms through which caregiver psychological distress is associated with child outcomes in rural Ghana differ as a function of caregivers' exposure to formal education. These results highlight the importance of developing multi-component and culturally-sensitive programs to improve child outcomes. Further research in similar contexts is needed to advance scientific understanding on how to effectively promote child and family wellbeing.

Beyond direct exposure to violence: effects of living in disordered and violent communities on psychological distress in young Mexican people.

The association between community violence and mental health has been studied by reports of individual experiences, particularly in adolescents and youths, but little is known about the effect of living in disordered and violent communities. This study aims to determine the possible relation between living in disordered and violent community environments and psychological distress in Mexican adolescents and youths regardless of their individual experience of victimization and to assess the potential modifying effect of sex and age on this association. Data come from a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of adolescents and youths living in Mexican municipalities, including 39,639 participants aged from 12 to 29 years. Disordered and violent community environments were assessed using reports from a secondary sample of adults who lived in the same communities as participants. Using exploratory factor analysis, three contextual variables related to disordered and violent community environment were created: social disorder, vandalism, and criminality. Multilevel linear regression models with random intercept were estimated. Adolescents and youths who lived in environments with higher social disorder had more psychological distress. Men in environments with greater vandalism had a higher level of psychological distress. Unexpectedly, women from communities with higher levels of crime had fewer symptoms. It is necessary to address the violence that exists in these communities, creating strategies that reduce not only crime, but also the social disorder and vandalism that could contribute to developing negative effects on mental health.

Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care.

Hospitalized patients with palliative care needs often have high levels of physical and psychological symptom distress. Virtual reality (VR) with a music therapy intervention may improve physical and psychological symptoms. To assess symptom distress and quality of life (QOL) among hospitalized palliative care patients who participated in a virtual reality-based music therapy (VR-MT) intervention, and to explore VR-MT from the perspectives of health care professionals involved in their care. Single-arm pilot study of a two-day VR-MT intervention. Patients seen by an inpatient palliative care consultation service at a U.S. hospital could participate in the VR-MT intervention. Participants created a customized soundtrack with a music therapist and then listened to it while experiencing a 360-degree VR nature-based environment of their choice. Patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, revised version (ESAS-r) and McGill Quality of Life, revised version (MQOL-R) before and after VR-MT. Members of the participants' health care teams were interviewed. Seventeen patients completed VR-MT (range 20-79 years of age, 59% women). Moderate clinical improvements were observed for total ESAS-r score (Cohen's d effect size, 0.68), physical distress subscale (0.52), and psychological distress subscale (0.60); small improvements were observed in total MQOL-r score (0.26) and the existential subscale (0.27). Health care team members described the value of VR-MT as facilitating meaningful conversations. This pilot study of VR combined with a music therapy intervention for hospitalized patients with palliative care needs supports opportunities for future study of potential improvements in symptom distress and QOL.

PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS OF NEPAL

Background: Medical training can be a period of significant psychological distress but adequate data examining the prevalence and association of poor mental health in medical students in Nepal is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety and stress among undergraduate medical students in Nepal. Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in addition to questions about socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine correlation. Results: Among the 551 participants, the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 50.1%, 62.8% and 42.3% respectively. Female gender, being bullied, and dissatisfaction with one’s academic performance were significant predictors of all three outcomes. Alcohol consumption was an additional predictor of stress.. Conclusions: Nepalese medical students experience high levels of psychological distress. There is a need for relevant authorities to implement changes to the medical education system in Nepal and develop adequate support services for this population.

Pain-Associated Psychological Distress Is of High Prevalence in Patients With Hip Pain: Characterizing Psychological Distress and Phenotypes

To identify common pain-related psychological factors among patients seeking care for athletic hip pain, as well as characterize psychological distress phenotypes and compare hip-specific quality-of-life measures across those phenotypes. A total of 721 patients were recruited from hip preservation clinics. The Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome-Yellow Flag Assessment Tool (OSPRO-YF) was used to identify the presence or absence of 11 different pain-associated psychological distress characteristics (yellow flags), while the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) was used to assess hip-related quality of life. Latent class analysis identified patient subgroups (phenotypes) based on naturally occurring combinations of distress characteristics. An analysis of variance was used to compare demographics, number of yellow flags, and iHOT-12 scores across phenotypes. The median (interquartile range) number of yellow flags was 6 (3-9), with 13.5% of the sample reporting 11 yellow flags. Latent class analysis (L2= 543.3, classification errors= 0.082) resulted in 4 phenotypes: high distress (n= 299, 41.5%), low distress (n= 172, 23.9%), low self-efficacy and acceptance (n= 74, 10.3%), and negative pain coping (n= 276, 24.4%). Significant differences in mean yellow flags existed between all phenotypes except low self-efficacy and negative pain coping. There were no differences in demographics between phenotypes. The high distress class had the lowest mean iHOT-12 score (mean [SD], 23.5 [17.6]), with significant differences found between each phenotypic class. There was a high prevalence of pain-associated psychological distress in patients presenting to tertiary hip arthroscopy clinics with hip pain. Furthermore, hip quality-of-life outcome scores were uniformly lower in patients with higher levels of psychological distress. Level III, retrospective cohort study.

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF CHORAL SINGING ON CHANGE IN PERCEIVED DISTRESS FOR CARE PARTNERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract Family care partners (CP) of persons with dementia (PwD) report high levels of psychological distress that impact many facets of their lives. Arts-based interventions have shown promise for improving psychological health. Here, we describe findings from the Voices in Motion (ViM) study, a weekly lifestyle intervention for CP-PwD dyads, with specific emphasis on examining the impact of choral singing on level and change in perceived distress for CP. Data from n=29 CP (Mage=67.7 years, 80% female) were used to examine change in caregiver distress, indexed using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI). ViM employed an intensive longitudinal design characterized by monthly retests embedded within 3.5-month choral seasons (up to 7 assessments per person). Choral seasons were separated by a 4-month summer break, yielding a naturalistic ABA experimental design optimal for evaluating the impact of choral singing on caregiver distress. Multilevel models of change with piecewise splines were fit; REML was employed due to its advantageous properties for small samples. A significant reduction in caregiver distress (-1.14 units per month, p<.01) was observed across the 3.3-month span of season 1. Following the 4-month summer break, level of caregiver distress at the outset of season 2 had increased back to initial baseline levels (ZBI =19.9 units – a moderate to borderline-high level), thereby underscoring the importance of the choir intervention. These findings suggest that lifestyle engagement may offer an effective complement for lessening the impact of caregiver distress for CP, with implications for the development of dementia care plans.

Uncovering latent profiles of internet, smartphone and gaming use among young adults and their relationships with psychosocial risk factors

ABSTRACT The present study examined internet users aged 18–24 years based on their generalised (i.e. internet and smartphone) and specific (i.e. gaming, frequency of gaming, time spent in video game sessions) problematic internet use behaviours, and their relations with sociodemographic variables and psychosocial risk factors. The sample included 851 Italian young adults (51.9% females; Mage = 21.62 ± 1.58 years). Five different profiles of young adults characterised by unique patterns of generalised and specific problematic internet use were identified through the latent profile analysis (LPA): (1) non-problematic internet users, (2) normative internet and gaming users, (3) non-problematic gamers, (4) problematic internet users, and (5) problematic gamers. Significant differences were observed among profiles on several auxiliary variables, with problematic internet users and problematic gamers displaying higher levels of psychological distress, emotion dysregulation, dissociative experiences, attachment insecurity and loneliness, as well as lower levels of satisfaction of basic psychological needs, self-esteem, and perceived social support. The study findings support the view that a relatively small subgroup of internet users may need tailored intervention to reduce their maladaptive use of internet services and improve their psychological well-being.

Impact of Child and Family Factors on Caregivers' Mental Health and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece.

Although primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience higher levels of distress than primary caregivers of typically developing children do, this problem has received limited attention in Greece. Therefore, this study examined mental health and associated factors among primary caregivers of children with and without DDs in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study included 156 participants. Primary caregivers completed a self-report survey on sociodemographic characteristics, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Primary caregivers of children with DDs, particularly mothers, reported more mental health problems and higher levels of psychological distress than the control group. Among families parenting a child with disabilities, caregivers' psychological distress was significantly related to having a child with autism spectrum disorder and the severity of the child's behavioral difficulties. Significant predictors of caregivers' distress were the parent being female, the child being male, a single-parent family, a lower income, and higher depressive symptoms. Caregivers raising children with DDs face unique challenges in terms of care, necessitating the development of family-based interventions to improve the social-emotional well-being and overall quality of life for both parents and children.

Modern psychological assistance technologies for internally displaced persons

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, many Ukrainians have fled their homes in search of safer places, thus the problem of developing convenient and effective methods of providing psychological support to the maximum number of citizens has become urgent. The research aims to develop a technology for helping internally displaced persons based on exposure therapy methods. The study sample consisted of 84 respondents who had the official status of internally displaced persons. To quantify the parameters of the stressful state, the PCL-5 post-traumatic stress disorder diagnostic tool was used, and the updated Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) was used to determine the emotional state. At the beginning of the study, 67% of respondents in the sample had a level of symptoms sufficient to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder, which indicates a high level of psychological distress. The methods of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing were used for psychotherapeutic procedures. The use of both methods proved to be effective in improving the overall psychological state of the respondents. The use of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy led to a 9.0% reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and a 37.73% increase in happiness compared to the control group. The method of desensitisation and eye movement processing led to a 15.41% reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and a 35.30% increase in subjective indicators of happiness compared to the control group. The combined use of both methods showed the best results: after three months, there was a 19.72% reduction in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and a 42.54% increase in happiness scores compared to the control group. Based on the data demonstrated in this paper, the combined use of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing can be recommended to reduce the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms and improve the well-being of internally displaced persons

Association of nutritive value and cognitive performance in adolescent girls of eastern Uttar Pradesh

Introduction: Food insecurity (FI) is a pressing concern affecting millions globally, particularly adolescents, impacting physical and cognitive health. Studies highlight its association with poor cognition, emphasizing the critical need for understanding and addressing this issue. Materials and Methods: The study, conducted in urban slums of Saharanpur district, India, employed a community-based, cross-sectional design. Systematic random sampling was utilized, with 384 adolescent girls selected. Data collection included socio-demographic profiles, household food security assessment, cognitive performance evaluation, and morbidity analysis. Results: Findings revealed a significant prevalence of morbid conditions among adolescent girls, including anemia, dental issues, and respiratory problems. Household food insecurity correlated with socio-demographic factors and significantly impacted cognitive performance, manifesting in high levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Conclusions: Over 50% of adolescent girls in the study faced household food insecurity, with notable cognitive impairment and numerous morbidities. These results underscore the urgent need for public health interventions addressing food insecurity and socio-economic disparities, particularly in urban slum settings. Effective strategies should ensure access to nutritious food and promote socio-economic stability to mitigate the adverse effects of food insecurity on adolescent health and well-being. Keywords : Cross-sectional study, Household food insecurity, Cognition, Adolescent girl, Urban slum, ICD 11

Tōku Oranga: the subjective wellbeing and psychological functioning of postgraduate and medical students in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Postgraduate and medical students are at risk of psychological distress and burnout, which can cause significant functional and occupational impairment. We aimed to report subjective wellbeing, psychological distress and burnout in postgraduate and medical students in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and identify any associations between participant and course information and outcome measures including exposure to major earthquakes in 2010/2011 and the 2019 terrorist attack. A self-report online survey was completed by 140 students between November 2019 and March 2020. Life satisfaction, psychological distress and burnout were primary outcomes. Data were analysed using univariate and multivariable analysis. High levels of psychological distress were present in both student groups. Burnout was reported by 78% of respondents. There were no significant associations found between exposure to the Christchurch earthquakes or terrorist attack with primary outcomes. Personality factors, resilience and perceived support and success were weakly associated with wellbeing, distress and burnout. Postgraduates and medical students reported high levels of psychological distress and burnout. The earthquakes and terrorist attack do not appear to be associated with negative effects in these cohorts. Personality and resilience characteristics may assist in predicting students at risk of morbidity and evaluating potentially relevant interventions.

Exploring lesbian internalised homophobia and self-harming: A thematic analysis

BackgroundInternalised homophobia has been associated with maladaptive coping and higher levels of psychological distress. Self-harm within a lesbian population is under researched, specifically in relation to internalised homophobia. The study aimed to explore whether internalised homophobia influences self-harming and coping mechanisms in a lesbian population.MethodAll participants (N = 103) were over 18 (M = 22.87, SD = 6.9) assigned female at birth, and identified as lesbian. The study implemented a qualitative design through an online questionnaire which asked six open-ended questions regarding sexuality, coping mechanisms and internalised homophobia. Results: Through thematic analysis three themes were identified: the role of sexuality on self-harm, importance of LGBTQ+ community, and negative societal perceptions which were explored in relation to relevant literature.ConclusionThrough thematic analysis, internalised homophobia was identified as a sub-theme of self-harming behaviours. The LGTBQ+ community was found to be a protective factor from maladaptive coping behaviours through belonging and shared culture. Participants highlighted there were negative societal perceptions regarding the LGBTQ+ community in general, but also their struggles with self-harm and mental health. The strengths and limitations of the study are addressed alongside suggestions for future research.

Prevalence of psychological distress in nurses, physicians and leaders working in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national one-year follow-up study

ObjectiveTo report and compare psychological distress as symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress among intensive care units’ (ICU) nurses, physicians and leaders at 12 months after the baseline survey...

Psychological distress and aggression among adolescents with internet gaming disorder symptoms

The present study aimed to investigate the current situation of internet gaming disorder (IGD) in Chinese adolescents and explore the impact of IGD-related factors on adolescent aggression. We hypothesized that IGD symptoms in adolescents would be associated with aggressive behavior and that risk factors for IGD symptoms could increase the aggressive tendencies of adolescents. To verify the above hypothesis, a cross-sectional survey of junior and senior high school students from southern, southwestern, central, and eastern China was conducted. A total of 9306 valid questionnaires were collected. The results showed that the prevalence of IGD symptoms was 1.78 % among Chinese adolescents. The adolescents in the disordered gamer group had the most severe IGD symptoms, with the highest levels of psychological distress and aggression. Interestingly, adolescents in the casual gamer group had the lowest psychological distress and aggression scores. Linear regression analysis further showed that higher levels of aggression were significantly associated with male sex, younger age, more severe psychological distress and IGD symptoms, and more violent game exposure. Our results suggested that excessive online gaming not only contributes to psychological distress in adolescents but also increases their levels of aggressive behavior. Apart from male sex and younger age, severe IGD symptoms and psychological distress are the most important predictors of the development of aggressive behavior.

Prevalence and correlates of positive parental attitudes towards cannabis use and use intention in Australia during 2016 and 2019

IntroductionWith recent policy changes around medicinal cannabis in Australia, there is concern about the influence of changing norms of cannabis use on adults who are actively parenting. MethodsThis repeated cross-sectional population study used National and Drug Strategy and Household Surveys to estimate the changes and correlates of cannabis-related attitudes (support of legalisation, approve of regular use, would try or use if legal) among Australian parents from 2016 to 2019. ResultsThe estimated proportion of parents who supported legalisation and approved regular cannabis use increased significantly. Parents who would try cannabis if it was legal grew from 5.9% (95 %CI: 5.2, 6.7) to 8.1% (95 %CI: 7.2, 9.0). Parents who said they would use cannabis more often increased from 1.6 (95 % CI: 1.2, 1.9) to 2.9 (95 %CI: 2.4, 3.4), an 81% jump in the three years.The strongest associations were observed between a very high level of psychological distress and regular smoking and drinking. For example, people with a very high level of psychological distress were 2.16 times (95 %CI: 1.42, 3.28) and 2.48 times (95 %CI: 1.61, 3.83) more likely to approve legalisation and regular cannabis use, respectively. Daily drinking was associated with higher odds of trying cannabis (OR = 1.66; CI: 1.25–2.20). Discussion and conclusionThe proportion of parents who would try or use cannabis more often represents a sizeable pool of potential new and frequent users. This highlights the need for education and intervention strategies for parents who use cannabis and care for young children. The associations between mental health and substance use suggest that more research is needed to understand the impact of legalisation on vulnerable groups.