Higher Prevalence Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Diverging trends in alcohol use and mental health in Australian adolescents: A cross‐cohort comparison of trends in co‐occurrence

AbstractBackgroundIn recent years, psychological distress in Western countries has rapidly increased among older adolescents while alcohol use has declined, though little is known about younger adolescents. It is also unclear if and how these trends relate to co‐occurring alcohol use and distress. This study sought to examine temporal changes in the prevalence of distress, alcohol use, and their co‐occurrence among young Australians.MethodsThis study used data from 13,388 youth in their early teens (aged 12–14). Differences in the prevalence of high psychological distress (Kessler‐6 ≥ 13), any alcohol use (standard drink in past 3/6 months), and their co‐occurrence across cohorts (2007, 2012, 2014, 2019) were tested through log‐binomial regression models. Changes in co‐occurrence across cohorts were tested with cohort‐by‐alcohol interactions predicting distress, and vice‐versa. Differential trends by sex were evaluated.ResultsFrom 2007 to 2019, the prevalence of high distress more than doubled (4.6%–13.5%) while alcohol use decreased by ∼90% (11.8%–3.1%). Distress increased more‐so among females, while alcohol use decreased more‐so among males. The prevalence of high distress was significantly greater among adolescents who used alcohol compared to those who had not (>2 times higher), with this co‐occurrence remaining consistent across cohorts.ConclusionsPsychological distress appears to be increasing similarly among youth in their early teens who do and do not use alcohol. At the same time, alcohol use is decreasing similarly among youth with and without distress. While alcohol use does not appear to be a driver of increases in distress, rates of co‐occurring alcohol use and distress remain high. Addressing co‐occurrence and distress‐specific mechanisms remain necessary.

Strict association between development of psychological conditions and hypertension incidence: A cross‐sectional study

AbstractBackground/AimsPrevious studies indicated a significant association between mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) with comorbidity hypertension (HTN), and vice versa, leading to a challenge in the final decision. To resolve this issue, we aimed to exclude comorbidities and further assessed to better find any association between mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).MethodsThe cross‐sectional study involved 300 participants: 100 with HTN (without HF or CAD), 100 with HF (without HTN or CAD), 100 with CAD (without HTN or HF), and 100 healthy individuals as a control group. To evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress levels, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21 (DASS‐21) was applied. For further analysis, the SPSS ver.20 was used.ResultsThe analysis showed that the score of depression, anxiety, and stress was higher in the HTN patients compared to the control (p < 0.001), CAD (p < 0.001), and HF (p < 0.001) groups, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed between the other study groups. Notably, patients with HF and CAD without concurrent HTN had similar psychological distress levels to healthy participants.ConclusionThe present study emphasized the higher prevalence of psychological distress in HTN patients and suggests a requirement for further research regarding the etiology involved in this association.

Predictors of Job Satisfaction and Association with Psychological Distress Among Academic Medicine Faculty in Kazakhstan.

The growing concern for the faculty's well-being is allied with the emotionally demanding nature of teaching, which has an adverse effect on physical and mental health. There is abundant evidence that academic medicine faculty are subjected to high rates of dissatisfaction, distress, burnout, and turnover among medical educators. This study is dedicated to the exploration of the association between job satisfaction and psychological distress among academic medicine faculty in Kazakhstan. The observational cross-sectional study was conducted among medical educators in Kazakhstan between 1 October and 25 December. The survey was completed by 715 representatives of academic medicine staff. The sample size was calculated by Epi Info Sample Size Calculator, version 7.0. Multinomial logistic regression analysis using the forced entry procedure was applied to identify the factors associated with job satisfaction. The prevalence of job satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and stress was 19.2%, 40.6%, 41.3%, and 53%, respectively. Three variables were significantly associated with job satisfaction: having a partner (AOR=0.79; 95% CI 0.38-1.659), having work experience of 5-10 years (AOR=0.32; 95% CI 0.14-0.74), and holding a Ph.D. degree (AOR=0.40; 95% CI 0.18-0.91). Job satisfaction was significantly associated with depression (p=0.005) and stress (p<0.001). Compared to previous research in this area, our findings reported a higher prevalence of psychological distress and dissatisfaction. Potential reason for higher rates of dissatisfaction may be the global disruption due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Examining temporal trends in psychological distress and the co-occurrence of common substance use in a population-based sample of grade 7-12 students from 2013 to 2019.

Characterizing trends and correlates of adolescent psychological distress is important due to observed global increases over the last 20years. Substance use is a commonly discussed correlate, though we lack an understanding about how co-occurrence of these concerns has been changing over time. Data came from repeated, representative, cross-sectional surveys of grade 7-12 students across Ontario, Canada conducted biennially from 2013 to 2019. Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to examine changes in the joint association between psychological distress (operationalized as Kessler-6 [K6] scores ≥ 13) and substance use over time. Weighted prevalence ratios (PR) and their 99% confidence intervals were estimated, where p < 0.01 denotes statistical significance. The prevalence of psychological distress doubled between 2013 and 2019, with adjusted increases of about 1.2 times each survey year. This biennial increase did not differ based on sex, perceived social standing, school level, or any substance use. Students using substances consistently reported a higher prevalence of psychological distress (between 1.2 times and 2.7 times higher). There were similarly no differential temporal trends based on substance use for very high distress (K6 ≥ 19) or K6 items explored individually. Psychological distress steeply increased among adolescents and substance use remains important to assess and address alongside distress. However, the magnitude of temporal increases appears to be similar for adolescents reporting and not reporting substance use.

Psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain in manual therapists during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on healthcare, and the health of healthcare workers has been subject of much research. However, studies of health-related factors in manual therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. Research in this field can provide valuable insights for future crises policy and guidelines, including in regions where the public health response to COVID-19 contrasts with that of most other international jurisdictions. The aim was to describe the prevalence of psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain, and to investigate factors potentially associated with high psychological distress and activity-limiting musculoskeletal pain in clinically active chiropractors and naprapaths during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed to a representative sample of Swedish manual therapists, between November 2020 and January 2021. High psychological distress and activity-limiting musculoskeletal pain were investigated regarding associations with residing in a municipality with a high spread of infection, a previous/ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinical interferences and economic consequences associated with the pandemic. Generalized Linear Models with log link and binomial distribution were used, computing prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsA total of 762 participants were included, representing 46% of the source population. The prevalence of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms was 17%, 7%, and 12%, respectively. Neck (50%), low back (46%), upper back (40%), and shoulders (39%) were the most prevalent musculoskeletal pain areas. Economic consequences due to the pandemic were associated with high psychological distress (PR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.48–3.53).ConclusionsDuring the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, manual therapists primarily suffered from musculoskeletal pain related to the back and shoulders, while depressive symptoms were the most common symptom of psychological distress. Owners of businesses that suffered economic consequences had a higher prevalence of high psychological distress, which may call for targeted support of this group in future similar contexts. Future longitudinal studies during the pandemic are warranted to assess these associations further.

The impact of psychological distress on quality of care and access to mental health services in cancer survivors.

Psychological distress is highly prevalent among cancer survivors and significantly impacts their health outcomes. Our study aim is to examine the impact of psychological distress on the quality of care in cancer survivors. We utilized longitudinal panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data spanning from 2016 to 2019 to estimate the impact of psychological distress on quality of care. We compared a sample of cancer survivors with psychological distress (N = 176) to a matched sample of cancer survivors without psychological distress (N = 2,814). We employed multivariable logistic regression models and Poisson regression models. In all models, we adjusted for age at the survey, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, insurance, exercise, chronic conditions, body mass index, and smoking status. Descriptive statistics and regression models were performed using STATA software. Our findings revealed a higher prevalence of psychological distress among younger survivors, females, individuals with lower incomes, and those with public insurance. Cancer survivors with psychological distress reported more adverse patient experiences compared to those without distress. Specifically, survivors with distress had lower odds of receiving clear explanations of their care (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.17-0.99) and lower odds of feeling respected in expressing their concerns (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.18-0.99) by their healthcare providers. Furthermore, psychological distress was associated with increased healthcare utilization, as evidenced by a higher number of visits (p = 0.02). It also correlated with a decrease in healthcare service ratings (p = 0.01) and the affordability of mental health services (p < 0.01) for cancer survivors. These findings indicate that psychological distress can significantly impact the delivery of healthcare and the patient experience among cancer survivors. Our study underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of cancer survivors. It provides insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers to better understand and cater to the mental health needs of this population.

Nursing students' academic conditions, psychological distress, and intention to leave school: A cross-sectional study

Psychological distress and intention to leave school are highly prevalent among nursing students. Academic conditions, including psychosocial stressors and school-work-life conflicts, could contribute to psychological distress and intention to leave school. To explore the associations between academic conditions and 1) psychological distress and 2) intention to leave school. Cross-sectional correlational design. Data collection was performed in February and October 2021 in two nursing schools in Canada: Cegep (publicly funded college, technical degree) and university (bachelor's degree). 230 nursing students (Cegep 131, university 99). A self-administered online questionnaire assessed academic conditions (psychosocial stressors (Demand-Control-Support, Effort-Reward Imbalance and Overcommitment scales) and school-work-life conflicts (single item)), psychological distress (Kessler-6 scale), intention to leave school, and several covariates. Poisson robust multivariate regression models were built to explore the associations between academic conditions and 1) psychological distress and 2) intention to leave school. A large proportion of participants experienced high efforts, school-work-life conflicts, overcommitment, and psychological distress (49.5-84.7%). One out of five participants had had intention to leave school "many times" (Cegep 20.61%; university 22.22%). In adjusted analysis, overcommitment and school-work-life conflicts were associated with a higher prevalence of psychological distress (Prevalence ratio=2.10; 95% Confidence Intervals=1.15-3.84 and Prevalence ratio=2.32; 95% Confidence Intervals=1.24-4.32, respectively). Adverse associations were observed between effort-reward imbalance (Prevalence ratio=2.32; 95% Confidence Intervals=1.09-4.94) as well as school-work-life conflicts (Prevalence ratio=2.40; 95% Confidence Intervals=1.05-5.45) and intention to leave school. Academic conditions might be risk factors for psychological distress and intention to leave school among nursing students. Interventions targeting modifiable academic conditions might improve nursing students' mental health and retention.

Prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among academic medicine faculty in Kazakhstan: a Cross-sectional Study.

Psychological distress refers to a set of painful mental and physical symptoms of anxiety and depression, which often coexist and coincide with common somatic complaints and chronic conditions. In Kazakhstan, mental disorders are the second leading cause of years lived with disability. Currently, medical education in Kazakhstan is undergoing comprehensive reform, which creates an additional burden on faculty, fostering mental health concerns. A quantitative observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 large medical universities in Kazakhstan. Data were obtained from 715 faculty academics by using an online self-reported DASS-21. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20.0. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate the relationship between predictor and outcome variables. The total prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 40.6%, 41.3%, and 53.0%, respectively. Younger age (p = 0.002), female gender (p = 0.001), being single (p = 0.044) or in a relationship (p = 0.001), having chronic diseases (p < 0.001), holding Master (p = 0.036) or PhD degree (p = 0.040), employment status (p = 0.034), and being involved in additional activities (p = 0.049) were significantly associated with different dimensions of distress. Nearly half of the study population reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Due to the higher prevalence of psychological distress amongst academic medicine faculty, determined risk factors must be taken into consideration in developing policies for mental issues prevention.

Risk of psychological distress by decrease in economic activity, gender, and age due to COVID-19: A multinational study.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2-virus. COVID-19 has officially been declared as the latest in the list of pandemics by WHO at the start of 2020. This study investigates the associations among decrease in economic activity, gender, age, and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic considering the economic status and education level of countries using multinational surveys. Online self-report questionnaires were administered in 15 countries which were spontaneously participate to 14,243 respondents in August 2020. Prevalence of decrease in economic activity and psychological distress was stratified by age, gender, education level, and Human Development Index (HDI). With 7,090 of female (49.8%), mean age 40.67, 5,734 (12.75%) lost their job and 5,734 (40.26%) suffered from psychological distress. Associations among psychological distress and economic status, age, and gender was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for country and education as random effects of the mixed model. We then measured the associations between HDI and age using multivariate logistic regression. Women had a higher prevalence of psychological distress than men with 1.067 Odds ratio, and younger age was significantly associated with decrease in economic activity for 0.998 for age increasing. Moreover, countries with lower HDI showed a higher prevalence of decrease in economic activity, especially at lower education levels. Psychological distress due to COVID-19 revealed a significant association with decrease in economic activity, women, and younger age. While the proportion of decrease in economic activity population was different for each country, the degree of association of the individual factors was the same. Our findings are relevant, as women in high HDI countries and low education level in lower HDI countries are considered vulnerable. Policies and guidelines for both financial aid and psychological intervention are recommended.

Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress during the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, a comparison between populations in Poland, Ukraine, and Taiwan

Ukraine has been embroiled in an increasing war since February 2022. In addition to Ukrainians, the Russo-Ukraine war has affected Poles due to the refugee crisis and the Taiwanese, who are facing a potential crisis with China. We examined the mental health status and associated factors in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. The data will be used for future reference as the war is still ongoing. From March 8 to April 26, 2022, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS)-21 item scale; post-traumatic stress symptoms by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and coping strategies by the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). We used multivariate linear regression to identify factors significantly associated with DASS-21 and IES-R scores. There were 1626 participants (Poland: 1053; Ukraine: 385; Taiwan: 188) in this study. Ukrainian participants reported significantly higher DASS-21 (p < 0.001) and IES-R (p < 0.01) scores than Poles and Taiwanese. Although Taiwanese participants were not directly involved in the war, their mean IES-R scores (40.37 ± 16.86) were only slightly lower than Ukrainian participants (41.36 ± 14.94). Taiwanese reported significantly higher avoidance scores (1.60 ± 0.47) than the Polish (0.87 ± 0.53) and Ukrainian (0.91 ± 0.5) participants (p < 0.001). More than half of the Taiwanese (54.3%) and Polish (80.3%) participants were distressed by the war scenes in the media. More than half (52.5%) of the Ukrainian participants would not seek psychological help despite a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress. Multivariate linear regression analyses found that female gender, Ukrainian and Polish citizenship, household size, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores after adjustment of other variables (p < 0.05). We have identified mental health sequelae in Ukrainian, Poles, and Taiwanese with the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war. Risk factors associated with developing depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms include female gender, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping. Early resolution of the conflict, online mental health interventions, delivery of psychotropic medications, and distraction techniques may help to improve the mental health of people who stay inside and outside Ukraine.

Sleep Problems and Psychological Well-Being: Baseline Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

International studies have demonstrated associations between sleep problems and poor psychological well-being; however, Canadian data are limited. This study investigated this association using cross-sectional baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a national survey of 30,097 community-dwelling adults, 45-85 years of age. Short sleep duration, sleep dissatisfaction, insomnia symptoms, and daytime impairment were consistently associated with a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction with life, psychological distress, and poor self-reported mental health. Long sleep duration was associated with a higher prevalence of psychological distress and poor self-reported mental health, but not with dissatisfaction with life. Associations between sleep problems and psychological distress were 11-18 per cent stronger in males. With each 10-year increase in age, the association between daytime impairment and life dissatisfaction increased by 11 per cent, and insomnia symptoms and poor mental health decreased by 11 per cent. Sleep problems in middle-aged and older adults warrant increased attention as a public health problem in Canada.

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 and Psychological Distress among Front Liners at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Campus during the Third Wave of COVID-19.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the globe and disrupted various aspects of psychological wellbeing, more so in frontline workers. Research on assessing the seroprevalence of COVID-19 has been scarce; in addition, there are limited studies assessing the association between the seroprevalence of COVID-19 and psychological distress. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 and the prevalence of psychological distress and to determine whether sociodemographic variables, occupational information variables, coping styles, and psychological processes might contribute to the development of psychological distress. A cross-sectional study involving 168 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) front liners was carried out to assess these issues. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess psychological distress, together with the COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit Antibody (RTK Ab) and a series of questionnaires, including a sociodemographic and occupational information questionnaire, the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM) questionnaire, the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), and the Brief COPE questionnaire. The results demonstrated a seroprevalence of COVID-19 at 8.3% (95% CI = 5.0–14.0). Non-healthcare workers (HCWs) had a higher COVID-19 prevalence. Meanwhile, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among front liners was low (3.0%, 3.6%, and 1.2%, respectively). Younger people (aged 30 years old or less) and HCWs had a higher prevalence of psychological distress; being a HCW was significantly associated with a higher level of anxiety. Dysfunctional coping and psychological inflexibility were consistently found to be predictors for higher levels of the three psychological distress variables. This study suggested some alternatives that could be explored by mental health providers to address mental health issues among front liners at universities.

Are pro-inflammatory markers associated with psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of healthy adolescents 15\u201317\xa0years of age? The Fit Futures study

BackgroundInflammatory markers have been associated with depression and anxiety disorder in adolescents. Less is known about the association between inflammation and subclinical symptoms in the form of psychological distress. We investigated prevalence of psychological distress and examined the associations between common pro-inflammatory markers and psychological distress in an adolescent population sample.MethodsThe study was based on data from 458 girls and 473 boys aged 15–17 years from the Fit Futures Study, a large-scale study on adolescent health, conducted in Northern Norway. Psychological distress was measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10). Serum-levels of the following low-grade inflammatory markers were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 1 (TRANCE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 2 (TWEAK). Associations between quartiles of inflammatory markers and HSCL-10 were examined by logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders in sex-stratified analyses.ResultsThe proportion of psychological distress above cutoff were 26.9% and 10.8% among girls and boys, respectively. In both girls and boys, crude analysis showed positive associations between all inflammatory markers and HSCL-10, except for TWEAK and TRANCE in boys. However, none of these associations were statistically significant. Further, there were no significant findings in the adjusted analyses.ConclusionThere was a higher prevalence of psychological distress in girls compared to boys. Pro-inflammatory markers were not significantly associated with psychological distress in data from healthy adolescents aged 15–17 years.

Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse in a Nationwide Population Survey in Taiwan.

Background: Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is a critical mental health issue relating to psychiatric morbidity. This study investigated the prevalence of PDM and its associated psychopathology and psychosocial factors in the general population in Taiwan. Methods: The survey randomly selected a representative sample >15 year-olds using the stratified proportional randomization method. The measurements included demographic variables, previous experience with PDM, self-rated physical and mental health, health self-efficacy, risk factors for suicidality, and psychological distress. Results: The weighted one-year prevalence of PDM was 8.5% (n = 180) among 2126 participants. Those with psychological distress and lifetime suicide ideation (23.3%) or suicide attempts (5.0%) were significantly associated with PDM. PDM was also prevalent among those with poorer self-rated health and lower self-efficacy. Insomnia (OR = 1.52), depression (OR = 1.77), and low self-efficacy (OR = 2.29) had higher odds of PDM after adjustment in the logistic regression model. Conclusions: Individuals who misused prescription drugs had a higher prevalence of psychological distress and suicidality and lower levels of self-rated health. Prescription drug misuse problems should be screened for early prevention when prescribing medications for people with insomnia, depression, or lower perceived health beliefs or conditions.

Aggravation of Behavioural Side Effects of Antiseizure Medications during COVID-19

Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom reside in developing countries. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of people across the world including patients with epilepsy, who have a higher prevalence of psychological distress during public health emergencies. Long-term adherence to therapy is crucial for the successful management of epilepsy. Anti-Seizure Medications (ASMs) are however, known to be associated with Behavioural Adverse Events (BAEs) and psychiatric adverse events. Adverse events not only are a common cause of ASM discontinuation, they also negatively impact Quality of Life (QoL) in majority of Persons with Epilepsy (PWE). Many of the proposed COVID-19 treatments also have the potential for neuropsychiatric side effects as well as drug-drug interactions. Hence, it is important to carefully consider the riskbenefit of each agent before initiating therapy in a PWE.

Stress, anxiety, and depression in infertile couples are not associated with a first IVF or ICSI treatment outcome

BackgroundPsychological distress may exert a negative influence on reproductive function of couples at reproductive age. Couples seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment may have a higher prevalence of psychological distress than fertile couples. However, whether psychological distress is associated with the outcome of ART treatment remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association of pre-treatment psychological distress and clinical pregnancy rate among infertility couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.MethodsThis nested case-control study was conducted based on women who underwent their first fresh IVF or ICSI cycle in the Jiangsu Birth Cohort Study (JBC) between November 2015 and January 2019. A total of 150 women who did not obtain clinical pregnancy after first IVF or ICSI fresh embryo transfer were identified as cases, and a total of 300 age matched women who obtained clinical pregnancy were identified as controls. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between psychological distress and the outcome of first IVF or ICSI treatment, adjusting for multiple potential confounders.ResultsNo statistically significant association was observed between score of maternal symptoms of psychological distress and clinical pregnancy. Adjusted ORs of logistic regression were 1.00 (95% CI 0.97-1.03) for anxiety, 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1.02) for depression, and 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1.01) for perceived stress, respectively. When treat depression and anxiety as categorical variables, 62 (13.8%) were classified as clinical depression, 11 (2.4%) were classified as clinical anxiety, among 450 women in the present study. Psychological distress symptoms were also not associated with clinical pregnancy rate. Adjusted ORs of logistic regression were 0.27 (95% CI 0.03-2.33) for anxiety, 0.88 (95% CI 0.46-1.68) for depression, respectively.ConclusionsOur findings firstly indicated that psychological distress experienced prior to IVF/ICSI treatment was not associated with clinical pregnancy.

Association of child's disability status with father's health outcomes in Japan

Fathers' involvement in childcare has been increasing in recent years. However, very little is known about the health impact on fathers when they are caring for or living with a disabled child. This study aims to understand the psychological distress and subjective health outcomes among fathers living with a disabled child compared to fathers living without a disabled child. Data for this study were obtained from the Comprehensive Survey of the Living Conditions conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used among 438 disabled-child and father dyads and 27,682 non-disabled-child and father dyads to analyse the association between a child's disability status with father's health outcomes. Fathers of disabled children had a higher prevalence of psychological distress (17% vs. 12%) and poor subjective health status (13% vs. 8%) than fathers of non-disabled children. A large proportion of disabled children were boys (70%) and had disability level 1 (47%). After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratio (OR) of having psychological distress (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.19–1.97) and poor subjective health status (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.34–2.36) among fathers of disabled children is significantly higher compared to fathers of non-disabled children. Unemployed fathers had a higher odds ratio of psychological distress (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 2.49–3.79) and poor subjective health status (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 3.95–6.09) compared to regular working fathers. Fathers of children with disabilities need greater physical and mental health and wellbeing support. They should be provided with additional support not just for their mental but also their subjective wellbeing.

Personality Profiles and Personal Factors Associated with Psychological Distress in Chinese Nurses.

BackgroundA high prevalence of psychological distress is observed in nurses due to multiple occupational stressors. Personality traits and personal factors are important factors that lead to psychological distress. The personality profile reflects a combination of personality traits; however, the relationship between personality profiles and personal factors that affect psychological distress among nurses has not been defined.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2020 in China. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants. Latent profile analysis was used to identify personality profiles of nurses based on the big-five personality traits. Single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the factors affecting psychological distress. The structural equation model was used to verify the hypothetical model linking personality profiles, self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and coping style with psychological distress.ResultsA total of 953 Chinese nurses (934 female) with a mean (S.D.) age of 32.8 (8.6) years were recruited. Personality profiles identified were negative, normative, and positive. A personality profile may predict psychological distress directly and indirectly through self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and coping style.LimitationsNo complex sampling limits the representativeness of Chinese nurses. External factors affecting psychological distress were not investigated.ConclusionNurses with anegative personality profile had a higher prevalence of psychological distress. This study establishes the importance of personality profile assessment to identify nurses at higher risk of psychological distress. It suggests that interventions should be based on self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and coping style as potential management strategies.

Vulnerability of Evacuees Having No One to Consult after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey.

After the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, some evacuees had no one to consult despite many local care providers offering assistance. This study identified the characteristics of individuals who did not receive consultations and the relevant determinants, and proposed the available measures to address this issue. Altogether, 32,699 participants aged 16 years or older and residing in the disaster area at Fukushima were surveyed. Those with no one to consult showed a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress (16.2%, p < 0.001) and drinking problems (21.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that these behaviors were associated with the middle age group (i.e., 40–64 years old) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.46), men (OR = 2.46; 95% CI, 2.27–2.66), bad financial circumstances (OR = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.96–2.27), and living alone (OR = 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39–1.68). This research verifies that people with such characteristics were more likely to be isolated and vulnerable to psychiatric problems, such as depression. We suggest that it is integral for local care providers to recognize those who have no one to consult and provide targeted support.

Food insecurity is adversely associated with psychological distress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic

Early COVID-19 pandemic data showed a spike in both food insecurity and poor mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and mental health outcomes nine months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey of adults 18 years and older was administered in December 2020 (N = 8,355). Multivariable logistic models and post-estimation margins commands were used to show the predicted probability of mental health outcomes (psychological distress, anxiety, and depression) by food security status. The majority of participants (68.5%) reported high/marginal food security, 15.5% had low food security, and 16.0% had very low food security. There was a strong dose response relationship between food insecurity and higher psychological distress, anxiety and depression. Fewer than one in five adults with high/marginal food security screened positive for all three mental health outcomes, while more than two in five adults with low food security screened positive for psychological distress (39.9%), depression (41.7%) and anxiety (41.3%). Among adults with very low food security, nearly half screened positive for psychological distress (47.7%), depression (48.1%) and anxiety (49.4%). Younger adults had higher prevalence of psychological distress compared to older adults regardless of food security status. Food insecure adults, particularly young adults, have higher rates of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression than their food secure counterparts. Facilitating opportunities to connect at risk populations with food assistance and affordable mental healthcare should be prioritized as the pandemic continues and beyond.