Higher Symptom Levels Research Articles

Racial Differences in Resilience: U.S. College Student’s Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Concerns about the mental health of college students have been increasing over the last several decades. The COVID-19 pandemic only served to put more attention on this problem. Prior to the pandemic, minority students bore a heavier burden of mental disorder symptoms, but it is unclear if this racial difference persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic and if the resilience of students to this crisis varies by race. This study investigates race-specific trends in college students’ mental health, using four repeated cross-sectional surveys collected yearly between November 2019 and November 2022 from students in a Midwestern state university in the United States. We found that racial minority students had a higher level of symptoms before the pandemic. However, they did not experience a significant elevation during the pandemic. On the other hand, White students reacted more dramatically to the initial shock of the pandemic in 2020. They recovered in 2021 but experienced another elevation in mental health symptoms in 2022. Our study added to the minority mental health paradox literature that racial minority students were more resilient to the impact of the pandemic than White students. Programs to enhance resilience for all students are recommended.

Impact of socioeconomic and political stressors on mental health: a cross-sectional study on university students in Lebanon

A cross-sectional study was conducted investigating the association between exposure to financial, political, academic and social stressors, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and burnout among university students in Lebanon. Lebanon is a developing country experiencing a financial crisis and sociopolitical turmoil with poorly characterized impacts on the mental health of residents. To assess burnout and symptoms of depression, anxiety, a condensed version of the Malach-Pines Burnout Measure and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) were used, respectively. Out of 240 respondents, 52.3% experienced burnout, 29.3% experienced high/very high burnout, and 54.2% reported symptoms of depression, anxiety. Women had poorer mental health outcomes. The strongest associations were between little sleep and burnout (aOR = 6.78, p < 0.001) and symptoms of depression, anxiety (aOR = 2.84, p < 0.001). Exposure to high financial and COVID-19 pandemic stressors were associated with high levels of burnout and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results highlight the gravity of the psychological state of university students in Lebanon, as they navigate through the struggles of an uncertain future.

Exposure to warfare and demoralization: acute stress symptoms and disengaged coping as mediators

ABSTRACT Background: Demoralization in the face of adversity is a common existential state. However, it has not been examined in reaction to warfare, and the mediators between the extent of exposure to war and demoralization in this context are also unknown. Objective: This study explored the associations of indirect exposure to war, acute stress symptoms, disengaged coping, and demoralization. Additionally, it examined the serial mediation of acute stress symptoms and disengaged coping in the relationship between indirect exposure to war and demoralization. Method: The survey was conducted 4 weeks after the 7 October war broke out and included 393 Israeli citizens (women and men, Jews and Arabs) indirectly affected by the threatening situation in Israel. Questionnaires measured acute stress symptoms, disengaged coping, and demoralization. War-related exposure and demographic data were collected. Results: The analysis revealed that the higher the indirect exposure to war, the higher the acute stress symptoms, use of disengaged coping, and demoralization. Additionally, individuals with acute stress disorder had higher demoralization. The serial mediation model showed partial mediation: acute stress symptoms and the use of disengaged coping mediated the relationships between indirect exposure to war and demoralization (although the direct association between the extent of exposure and demoralization remained significant). Conclusions: In the face of traumatic events, such as warfare, professionals should identify individuals with high levels of acute stress symptoms and provide help to reduce the use of disengaged coping and long-term negative consequences such as demoralization.

Sleep trajectories and frequency of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: a person-oriented perspective over two years

Adolescent sleep quality and quantity is commonly linked to worse emotion regulation. One maladaptive emotion regulation strategy that is on the rise is non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which includes burning, hitting, or scratching one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent. The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of NSSI among different longitudinal trajectories of insomnia symptoms and short sleep duration to identify at-risk adolescents. We used questionnaire data collected annually (3 time points over 2 years) from a sample of Swedish adolescents (N = 1,294; Mage = 13.2 [range: 12–15 years], SD = 0.4; 46.8% girls). Adolescents answered questions about their sleep duration, symptoms of insomnia, NSSI, depressive symptoms, and demographics. Adolescents who reported persistent or increasing sleep problems over time also reported more NSSI. A notable pattern was that adolescents whose insomnia symptoms were high and increasing reported the highest frequency of NSSI, also compared to adolescents who started at the same high level of insomnia symptoms but improved over time. Therefore, measuring NSSI may help identify a risk-group for persistent sleep problems and self-injury. Because sleep disturbances, especially insomnia, and NSSI go hand-in-hand for most adolescents, sleep interventions would benefit the treatment and prevention of self-injury.

Online parent-mediated family cognitive-behavioral therapy for high levels of anxiety symptoms in children with developmental disorders: a pilot study

Online parent-mediated family cognitive-behavioral therapy for high levels of anxiety symptoms in children with developmental disorders: a pilot study

Teenagers' emotional symptoms and antisocial behavior in group home care: A myth or reality?

BackgroundChild advocates, group home and child protection workers report high levels of emotional symptoms and antisocial behavior among teenagers living in group homes. Extant studies is, however, silent on the prevalence of emotional symptoms and its association with teenagers' antisocial behavior in group homes. ObjectiveThe study aims at examining the association between emotional symptoms and teenagers' antisocial behavior and how prevalent emotional symptoms are among teenagers living in group homes. Participants and settingA total of 875 teenagers living in group homes in Ontario, Canada were included in the study. MethodOntario Looking After Children data of cohorts surveyed in 2010–2015 was used for analysis. The data included participants' gender, age, ethnicity, general health status, academic challenges, conduct problems, group home size and emotional symptoms. ResultTeenagers' emotional symptoms was found to be associated with their antisocial behavior (OR = 2.49, 95 % CI 1.83, 3.39). Sixty-three percent (63 %) of the teenagers experience emotional symptoms of anxiety on regular basis, four out of every 10 of them show depressive symptoms. Majority of them (73.7 %) get nervous when faced with new situations and can lose confidence in such instances and 54.5 % of them could easily get scared in such situations. ConclusionFindings suggest that there is a significant association between teenagers' emotional symptoms and their antisocial behavior. Findings also show that there is significant prevalence of emotional symptoms among teenagers in group homes in Ontario. The social and clinical implications make future research into the issue important.

The Association of Plasma Selenium and Selenoprotein P Levels with Depression Severity and Anxiety Symptoms Among Medical Students in Latvia.

Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress has been identified as a key process involved in different diseases, particularly depression. Selenium (Se) protects against oxidative stress, one of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in affective disorders. Selenium is incorporated into antioxidant selenoproteins, such as selenoprotein P, which acts as the main selenium-transport protein in plasma and as an extracellular oxidant defense mechanism. This study aimed to determine whether lower selenium and selenoprotein P levels correlate with high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Materials and Methods: The research design was a quantitative cross-sectional study among employed fourth-year medical students at Riga Stradins University in Latvia. The respondents were selected using convenience samples. The symptoms of anxiety were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the symptoms of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. Results: A total of 32 respondents participated; 90.6% (n = 29) were female. A significant association was found between selenoprotein P and symptoms of depression (p = 0.006), as well as between selenoprotein P and symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.012). The median selenium level was not significantly lower (p = 0.214) in the study group compared to the control group. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant correlation between selenoprotein P and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and there is a tendency for students with symptoms of depression and anxiety to have lower selenium levels. However, alternative unrecognized oxidative stress mechanisms involved in the development of symptoms of depression and anxiety, involving selenium and selenoprotein P pathways, may exist. Consequently, further research assessing possible alternative pathways and the effect size is required.

The Rodent Electronic Nicotine Delivery System: Description and Validation of an Apparatus for Nose-Only E-Cigarette Aerosol Inhalation in Freely Moving Rats.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death globally and in the U.S. After decades of decline, driven by decreases in combusted tobacco use, nicotine product use has increased due to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), also known as e-cigarettes or vapes. Preclinical models of nicotine self-administration can serve as important lodestars in the search for effective intervention and prevention tactics. Current variants of the task have substantial limitations, however. Therefore, we created the Rodent Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (RENDS), a novel low-cost non-proprietary snout-only preclinical model of self-administration of nicotine aerosol. We validated the RENDS using two techniques. First, we measured fine particulate matter (2.5 microns or less in diameter), generated by e-cigarettes, and showed that levels in the chamber were similar to room air when RENDS was in operation, confirming that nicotine aerosol is sequestered in the nose port. We also demonstrated that rats robustly self-administer flavored nicotine aerosol, resulting in high blood levels of cotinine (the major nicotine metabolite) and spontaneous somatic withdrawal symptoms. Thus, we provide strong validation of the operation and function of the RENDS, opening the door to an open-source preclinical aerosol model of nicotine self-administration that is far less costly. Four existing operant chambers can be retrofitted with the RENDS for under $1,300. All RENDS diagrams and plans for custom designed components can be found freely on our open science framework site (OSF; https://osf.io/x2pqf/?view_only=775b55435b8e428f98e6da384ef7889d).

Unraveling the relationship between executive function and mind wandering in childhood ADHD

ABSTRACT Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children. According to developmental literature findings, there is a link between executive function (EF) and ADHD. Although EF deficits vary across ADHD presentations in children, working memory capacity is commonly associated with attention impairments. Notably, deficits in working memory capacity are also observed in frequent mind wandering reports for typically developing children. Mind wandering is shifting attention away from a current task to an unrelated thought. To explore the relationship between EF and mind wandering in children with ADHD (n = 47) and further compare our current sample to a typically developing (control) group from a previous study (n = 47), all participants completed three EF-related tasks. They concurrently reported if they were on task or mind wandering. Our results indicate better short-term memory capacity predicted lower mind wandering frequency in children who reported high levels of ADHD symptoms. Similar trends were observed for working memory capacity and ADHD symptomatology. Children with ADHD also reported more overall and unintentional mind wandering on questionnaires compared to children without ADHD. However, the relationship between EF and mind wandering did not differ between these groups. The current study suggests memory-related cognitive abilities may inform our understanding and management of mind wandering in children, driving the development of interventions targeting attention regulation.

Influence of tau pathology and anxiety and depressive symptoms on metamemory in cognitively normal older adults

AbstractBackgroundThe ability to accurately discern memory function (i.e., metamemory) decreases with age and is further diminished in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As such, changes in metamemory may be a sensitive behavioral indicator of pre‐symptomatic AD.MethodCognitively normal older adult participants (N=48) completed a neuropsychological battery consisting of episodic memory tasks (California Verbal Learning Task, Face‐Name Associative Memory Exam) and self‐reported measures of metamemory (Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire) and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire). Z‐scores from each measure were combined into three separate composite scores: memory ability, metamemory, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. All participants also had a tau PET scan ([18F]MK‐6240) completed within 12.7 (SD = 11.6) months of neuropsychological testing in which standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) referenced to the inferior cerebellar gray matter were calculated using Freesurfer‐defined ROIs for Braak I, Braak II, metatemporal, and amygdala regions of interest (ROIs). Linear regression models were used to test for the contribution of anxiety and depression symptoms, tau pathology, and memory ability on metamemory; education, age, and sex were entered as covariates in all models.ResultBehavioral analyses suggest that anxiety and depression symptoms (t = ‐2.1, p=0.046), but not memory ability (t = 0.4, p=0.698), were related to metamemory. Interestingly, tau pathology helped to explain additional variance in the relationship between metamemory and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Specifically, amygdala tau interacted with anxiety and depression symptoms to predict metamemory (t = ‐2.61, p=0.013), when controlling for age, sex, education, and memory ability, such that participants with both high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and high levels of amygdala tau pathology had lower self‐reported metamemory (Figure 1). This relationship was not observed in Braak I, Braak II, or metatemporal ROIs (ps &gt; 0.07).ConclusionTogether, these results suggest that depressive and anxiety symptoms are an important metric to consider when examining the relationships between tau pathology and metamemory. Further, the results underscore that mechanisms supporting metamemory are likely distinct from those underlying memory ability and each merit unique consideration towards understanding their relationship to AD pathology.

Does Academic Burnout Alleviate or Exacerbate Internet Dependence in University Students with Depression and Anxiety?

This study aims to investigate whether academic burnout alleviates or exacerbates internet dependence among college students with depression and anxiety. Moreover, it intends to construct a moderated mediation model to examine how academic burnout moderates the relationship between depressive and anxious emotions and internet addiction and how social support mediates this relationship to determine the psychological motivations underlying addiction. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the simple random sampling method, which yielded 757 valid responses (response rate: a 93.11% response rate). The sample included 274 males and 466 females, with an average age of 20.90 years (±1.48). Hierarchical regression analysis was employed for data analysis. Anxiety and depressive symptoms directly affect the internet dependence of university students and indirectly affect it through the mediating role of social support. Academic burnout moderates the relationship between negative emotions and internet addiction, with high levels of academic burnout potentially decreasing the internet dependence of students experiencing negative emotions. We proposed a psychological self-regulation mechanism theory, which posits that learned helplessness may intensify the emotional symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is reflected in reduced internet use behavior. High levels of academic burnout can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, significantly reducing students' interest in activities. For these students, a decrease in internet addiction may not be a positive sign; instead, it could indicate worsened depression and anxiety. This finding underscores the need for close monitoring of and intervention implementation for college students experiencing high levels of burnout and symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Psychological reactions of Holocaust survivors following the October 7 attack in Israel

Holocaust survivors may be sensitive to additional traumatic events that can awaken memories of their past. The study examined Holocaust survivors' reactions to the October 7 terrorist attack. Data were collected from 118 Israeli Jewish older adults, who were divided into three groups: Survivors with high (n = 17), and with low PTSD symptom levels (n = 69) and a comparison group (n = 32), matched for background variables. Results demonstrate that survivors who reported high PTSD symptom levels due to the Holocaust reported more anxiety (p < .001, η2 = 0.13), depression (p = .006, η2 = 0.08), and PTSD symptoms due to the Israel–Hamas War (p < .001, η2 = 0.22), compared to low-PTSD-level survivors and comparisons – those not directly exposed to the Holocaust. However, there were no group differences in hope, activity engagement, and community resilience. The findings highlight the heightened distress experienced by highly traumatized Holocaust survivors following additional mass trauma, while also demonstrating their remarkable resilience.

The Relationship Between Work Engagement, Depression, Anxiety, and COVID-19 Anxiety in Physician Assistant Students.

Introduction: Physician assistants (PAs) are subject to high levels of burnout, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, which can negatively impact quality of care and patient outcomes. Learning how to handle stress in the classroom may increase success and engagement in PA programs. The goal of this study was to characterize burnout, depressive symptoms, and anxiety in current PA students and examine the relationship between these factors and work engagement.Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed PA students (n = 42) via convenience sampling from eighteen different PA programs across North and South Carolina in October, 2021. Questionnaires included the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-17), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), the General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CIAS). Adjusted linear regression was used to assess associations between the GAD-7, PHQ-2, and CIAS and the three subscales of the UWES-17 (vigor, dedication, and absorption).Results: Students were primarily female (79%), white (79%), second-year students (62%), and had an average body mass index of 21.0 ± 3.9kg/m2. A one-unit increase in the GAD-7 was associated with a decrease in the vigor (β = -0.94, SE = 0.19, p < .01) and dedication (β = -0.42, SE = 0.15, p = .01) subscales. A one-unit increase in the PHQ-2 was associated with a decrease in the vigor subscale (β = -2.94, SE = 0.60, p < .01).Conclusions: Recognizing warning signs of declining mental health early among PA school students may be key to increasing resilience, enthusiasm, and concentration, which may enhance school/work engagement. More work is needed to elucidate potential intervention targets to increase school/work engagement in PA students.

Exploring the relationship between proactive personality, individual innovation, and mental health in university students

PurposeThe aim of this study is to determine the effects of proactive personality and individual innovation characteristics of university students on their mental health together with their socio-demographic characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Yozgat Bozok University in 2022. Data was collected using a sociodemographic information form, Individual Innovation Scale (IIS), Proactive Personality Scale (PPS), and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21). The questionnaire forms were presented to students online through Google Forms. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, correlation and multinomial logistic regression (MLR).ResultsIn this study, the mean scores of the anxiety, depression and stress subscales of DASS were found to be 6.0 ± 3.7, 6.8 ± 4.4 and 7.4 ± 3.8, respectively. The percentage of students showing moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms were 22.2%, 32.0%, and 15.1%, respectively, while those with high or very high levels of symptoms were 31.5%, 17.0%, and 9.8%, respectively. This study provides evidence that proactive personality, individual innovativeness traits, age, and familial characteristics may not significantly influence anxiety, depression, or stress in college students. The probability of students showing moderate and high levels of mental health symptoms was found to be associated with being female and having poor health status.ConclusionAnxiety was found to be the most common mental health problem among university students, followed by depression and stress. No relationship was found between students’ proactive personality, individual innovation traits, and their mental health.

Association of vaping with respiratory symptoms in U.S. young adults: Nicotine, cannabis, and dual vaping

IntroductionAlthough studies have found nicotine and cannabis vaping to be individually associated with respiratory symptoms, little is known about the harm of dual vaping. We aim to assess the association of nicotine-only, cannabis-only, and dual vaping with respiratory symptoms. MethodsUsing a national sample of 8033 U.S. young adults (ages 18–24) interviewed in 2021, we employed multivariable logistic regressions to assess the association between vaping behaviors and past 12-month respiratory outcomes. ResultsOf all participants, 75.4 % did not vape, 15.0 % vaped nicotine only, 4.7 % vaped cannabis only, and 4.9 % vaped both. Compared with no vaping, nicotine-only vaping was associated with sounding wheezy (aPR = 1.75, 95 % CI, 1.28–2.39) and dry cough at night (aPR = 1.43, 95 % CI, 1.19–1.72). Cannabis-only vaping was also associated with these two symptoms, with aPRs at 1.82 (95 % CI, 1.15–2.88) and 1.61 (95 % CI, 1.18–2.21), respectively. In addition to these two symptoms (aPR = 2.24, 95 % CI, 1.42–3.54 for sounding wheezy, and aPR = 1.50, 95 % CI, 1.01–2.22 for dry cough at night), dual vaping was associated with wheezing or whistling (aPR = 1.93, 95 % CI, 1.23–3.04) and high level of respiratory symptoms (aPR = 2.02, 95 % CI, 1.24–3.32). Compared with non-frequent vaping, cannabis-only and dual frequent vaping were associated with higher risks of wheezing or whistling. ConclusionsNicotine-only and cannabis-only vaping were associated with two respiratory symptoms while dual vaping with four. The elevated respiratory risk of dual vaping warrants future research on the underlying mechanisms of different vaping behaviors and respiratory outcomes.

Differential psychosocial consequences between male and female workers who have suffered an amputation in an occupational accident.

The main goals of this study are to determine the sociodemographic, occupational and psychosocial characteristics and type of amputation of people affected by occupational amputations in Navarre, Spain, and to analyse the differing characteristics based on sex. People affected by occupational amputations in Navarra between January 2000 and December 2019 were identified by the Public and Work Health Institute of Navarre. Sociodemographic, amputation, psychopathological (Symptom Checklist, SCL-90-R; Severity Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Revised, EGS-R), maladjustment (Maladjustment Scale), pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and suicide (Columbia Scale Screening for Suicidal Ideation, C-SSRS) characteristics were assessed. Of the 557 workers identified, 80 were included in the study. The results showed the presence of relevant psychosocial repercussions with a moderately high level of psychopathological symptoms, a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) prevalence rate of 10%, re-experimentation as the most relevant symptom, and labour and leisure as the most affected areas. Sex differences were found in PTSD re-experimentation symptoms (higher in women) and leisure maladjustment (higher in men). No sex differences were found in the remaining variables studied. This study demonstrates the relevance of psychosocial consequences in workers with amputations. Research on this topic is necessary due to the scarcity of studies conducted to date.

Factors Predicting Posttraumatic Stress and Anxiety in Parents Who Experienced the Great Eastern Anatolian Fault Line Earthquakes: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

To identify levels and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and anxiety in parents who experienced the Great Eastern Anatolian Fault Line earthquakes. A cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted from May to September 2023, with 200 parents who experienced earthquakes along the East Anatolian Fault Line. A descriptive information form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used for data collection. Independent samples t test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The earthquakes caused significant distress among parents: 53% experienced unemployment, 85% had damaged homes, 31.1% lost a relative, 82% lacked an emergency kit, and 90% were concerned for their children's safety. Significant predictors of PTSD included loss of a loved one or relative, not having an emergency kit, having a severely damaged or uninhabitable home, having a chronic illness, and being anxious about the earthquake's impact on their child. High anxiety and PTSD levels were prevalent, with a positive correlation between STAI and IES-R scores. Parents were found to have high levels of PTSD symptoms and anxiety. Findings highlight the complex needs of parents in the post-earthquake context, underscoring the critical need for health professionals, including nurses, to provide comprehensive support to individuals who experienced natural disasters. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Cyberbullying Among Adolescents in Norway: Time Trends and Factors Associated with Perpetration and Victimization.

There is limited knowledge about time trends in cyberbullying involvement, and whereas previous studies have often focused on various mental health outcomes, possible outcomes of cyberbullying may concern a wide range of areas. A better understanding of cyberbullying development over time, as well as of the possible consequences, is needed for effective prevention and intervention efforts. The aims of this study were (i) to gain knowledge of time trends in cyberbullying among Norwegian adolescents, and (ii) to better understand how different forms of cyberbullying involvement is related to a variety of outcomes. Data from the Norwegian Ungdata surveys (2014-2016) were used to assess involvement in cyberbullying over time. Associations with cyberbullying involvement and four outcome variables (belief in a good and happy life, loneliness, school thriving, and depressive symptoms) were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Across years of study, the prevalence rates for cyberbullying involvement were 1.5% for perpetration, 3% for victimization, and 1% for perpetration-victimization. Compared with non-involvement, involvement in cyberbullying in any role was associated with poorer outcomes on all variables. Cyber-victims who were also perpetrators were less likely to have high levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms, compared to cyber-victims only. The prevalence of cyberbullying involvement among adolescents in Norway was relatively unchanged between 2014 and 2016. Cyberbullying involvement is associated with negative outcomes related to mental health, loneliness, school thriving, and beliefs in one's personal future, and victims of cyberbullying appear to be the most vulnerable group.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms in Korean adults with diabetes: Individual differences and associations with life satisfaction and mortality.

We examined trajectories of depressive symptoms and their predictors in adults with diabetes. We assessed whether these trajectories were related to life satisfaction and mortality. Longitudinal, prospective observational study. We analysed data from 1217 adults with diabetes (aged ≥45 years) in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2018). Three trajectories of depressive symptomology were identified in growth mixture models: low/stable (i.e., low and stable levels of symptoms; 85.56%), high/decreasing (i.e., high levels of symptoms with a decreasing trajectory; 7.47%), and moderate/increasing (i.e., moderate levels of symptoms with an increasing trajectory; 6.98%). Participants with poor perceived health status at baseline were more likely to be in the moderate/increasing or high/decreasing classes than in the low/stable class. The moderate/increasing class had the lowest satisfaction with quality of life, followed by the high/decreasing and low/stable classes. The moderate/increasing and the high/decreasing classes had lower satisfaction with relationships with spouse and children than the low/stable class. The high/decreasing class had a higher mortality risk than the low/stable class. Long-term monitoring of depressive symptoms in adults with diabetes is warranted given their potential adverse impact on life satisfaction and mortality.

Perceived social support moderates the relations between mental health symptoms and current suicidal ideation.

Despite efforts to identify risk factors associated with suicidal ideation (SI), less work has been conducted to highlight protective factors to promote prevention. Perceived social support has been shown to positively impact a wide range of psychological outcomes; however, prior efforts exploring whether perceived social support moderates the relationship between mental health (MH) symptoms and current SI among men and women have been hampered by limitations. To address knowledge gaps, data from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study was used to evaluate whether (a) perceived social support moderates the relationship between mental health symptoms (posttraumatic stress, anxiety, alcohol use, depressive) and current SI among veterans and nonveterans; (b) the strength of this moderating effect varies by gender and veteran status; and (c) the strength of this moderating effect varies by social support source (significant other, friend, family). Results suggest that perceived social support is more protective against SI for those with lower levels of mental health symptoms (≤ 25th percentile) than for those with higher symptom levels (≥ 75th percentile). Findings were largely consistent across study groups, support sources, and mental health symptoms examined; however, a significant moderating effect on the alcohol use-SI relationship was only observed for veteran men. Those with a lower mental health symptom severity may receive more benefit from strategies aimed at increasing perceived social support compared to those with higher symptom severity. Research is needed to match protective factors to individual phenotypes, with the goal of engaging those living with SI in more effective interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).