Levels Of Mental Health Symptoms Research Articles

Problemas de salud mental en estudiantes de una universidad regional chilena

The increase in university population in Chile has also increased the number of students presenting mental health disorders. To determine the frequency of mental health problems and its association with other relevant variables among students of a regional university in Chile. A sample of 484 students aged 18 to 28 years (45% males) were assessed once using a battery of tests designed to detect mental health problems. The instruments used were Derogates SCL-90-R, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and a social-demographic questionnaire. Fifteen percent of the sample presented high levels of mental health symptoms, determined according to the cut-off points of Beck inventories. This symptomatic group, which also showed high levels of stress, was composed mostly of freshmen and women. There was a significant association between symptoms and socio-demographic variables such as living in rural areas, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, a higher need for psychological and psychiatric care and a lower number of extracurricular activities. The knowledge of mental health problems among university students will allow to generate strategies for mental health prevention, promotion and treatment.

Peers and Peer-Based Interventions in Supporting Reintegration and Mental Health Among National Guard Soldiers: A Qualitative Study

National Guard soldiers experience high levels of mental health symptoms following deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, yet many do not seek treatment. We interviewed 30 National Guard soldiers with prior deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan to assess mental health treatment barriers and the role of peers in treatment engagement. Interview transcripts were analyzed by a multidisciplinary research team using techniques drawn from grounded theory. The following themes were identified: (1) personal acceptance of having a mental health problem rather than treatment access is the major barrier to treatment entry; (2) tightly connected, supportive peer networks can decrease stigma related to mental health problems and encourage treatment; however, soldiers in impoverished or conflicted peer networks are less likely to receive these benefits; and (3) soldiers are generally positive about the idea of peer-based programs to improve treatment engagement, although they note the importance of leadership support, peer assignment, and unit specialty in implementing these programs. We conclude that some, but not all, naturally occurring peer networks serve to overcome stigma and encourage mental health treatment seeking by soldiers. Formal peer-based programs may assist soldiers not sufficiently benefitting from natural peer networks, although there are barriers to implementation.

The impact of political violence on psychosocial functioning of individuals and families: the case of palestinian adolescents.

The impact of political violence on the psychosocial functioning of adolescents and their families was compared for surveyed populations from two regions of Palestine. A randomly-selected sample of 971 adolescents (521 from the West Bank and 450 from the Gaza Strip regions, 42% male/57% female) completed scales measuring traumatic event, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), peer relations, mental health, aggression, and family functioning. (1) West Bank participants reported a significantly higher level of exposure to political violence and significantly more aggression, mental health symptoms, problems in family and social functioning; (2) Participants exposed to greater political violence reported higher levels of depression, hostility, paranoid ideation, and PTSD; (3) Economic status and level of parental education were related to reduced levels of mental health symptoms and greater family functioning; (4) There were gendered differences. The study provides a starting point to begin to compare the experiences and outcomes between Palestinian adolescents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and a basis for considering implications for service delivery and policy makers concerned with the well being of Palestinian communities.

Relationships over time between mental health symptoms and transmission risk among persons living with HIV.

Relationships between mental health symptoms (anxiety and depression) or a positive state of mind and behavior associated with HIV transmission (substance use and risky sexual behavior) were explored in a longitudinal study of persons living with HIV (PLH; N = 936) who were participants in a transmission-prevention trial. Bivariate longitudinal regressions were used to estimate the correlations between mental health symptoms and HIV-related transmission acts for 3 time frames: at the baseline interview, over 25 months, and from assessment to assessment. At baseline, mental health symptoms were associated with transmission acts. Elevated levels of mental health symptoms at baseline were associated with decreasing alcohol or marijuana use over 25 months. Over 25 months, an increasingly positive state of mind was associated with decreasing alcohol or marijuana use; an increasingly positive state of mind in the immediate intervention condition and increasing depressive symptoms in the lagged condition were related to increasing risky sexual behavior. Our findings suggest that mental health symptoms precede a decrease in substance use and challenge self-medication theories. Changes in mental health symptoms and sexual behavior occur more in tandem.

Alcoholism in Older Women Religious

ABSTRACT The specific risk factors for addiction within religious community members remain poorly understood and undefined. This paper presents data on the characteristics of chemically dependent women Religious (nuns) in order to understand the etiology and treatment needs of this special group. This study contrasts a group of Roman Catholic women Religious who are in treatment for chemical dependency with a volunteer, nonalcoholic, comparison group from similar religious communities. The treatment group had higher levels of mental health symptoms and past history of childhood trauma (parental separation or divorce, early loss of mother), compared to the volunteer sample. Family history of alcoholism did not differ, however, and prevalence of sexual abuse was more common for the volunteers than for those in treatment. Women Religious in this study resemble the classification of “negative affect” alcoholism (Cloninger Type I, Babor Type A), which is characterized by lower severity, prevalence of environmental over genetic risk factors, and less severe legal or social consequences. Implications for health screening and treatment of women Religious are addressed.

Predictors of receiving counseling in a national sample of youth: the relative influence of symptoms, victimization exposure, parent–child conflict, and delinquency

This paper identifies factors that predict children's use of counseling services within a 2-year period. Using two waves of data from a national survey of 1009 youth age 6-17, we describe differences in utilization by demographic characteristics and compare receipt of counseling between children who scored high versus lower on: (1) levels of mental health symptoms, (2) multiple victimization exposure; (3) levels of delinquency; and (4) parent-child conflict. Multivariate logistic regressions were also performed to examine the relative and independent effects of a these factors on receiving counseling. Results indicate that counseling was received by only one- quarter or less of the 10-17 year olds and one-third or less of the 6-9 year olds with the highest levels of symptoms, victimization or delinquency. For the 10-17 year olds, delinquency and parent-child conflict were better predictors of treatment than were mental health symptoms or victimization exposure. In contrast, younger children (age 6-9) were most likely to receive counseling if they lived in a single parent or stepfamily household. The findings suggest that more counseling should be made available to distressed and victimized children, particularly those who do not engage in high delinquency and conflict which tend to promote referral.

Acculturation and Mental Health Among Ghanaians in the Netherlands

The current literature on the relationship between cultural adaptation and mental health is premature to offer a comprehensive explanation about the ways acculturation exerts either positive or adverse effects on the mental health of migrants. This study is an empirical approach towards understanding the magnitude of the relationship between consequences of cultural adaptation and psychological distress. Two samples of Ghanaian migrants in The Netherlands were included: a clinical group (n = 36) and a non-clinical community group (n = 97). Data were acquired by administering a semi-structured interview. Quantified data were analysed using multivariate techniques. Contradictory to our hypotheses, the reported level of mental health symptoms in both groups was relatively low, suggesting a substantial resilience among the Ghanaian group. Confirming our hypotheses, specific dimensions of the acculturation process were associated with health status, particularly affiliation with cultural traditions and feelings of loss concerning the country of birth. Acculturation demands capture critical elements of migrants' experiences that warrant professional interventions tailored to their specific needs. A subtle balance between holding on to the supportive cultural traditions together with moderate involvement in ruminating about pre-migration life, in conjunction with acquiring instrumental skills of the host culture, is a starting position for better health.

Stages of change as a correlate of mental health symptoms in abused, low-income African American women.

The current study aims to further our understanding of the applicability of the transtheoretical model (TM) to intimate partner violence (IPV), with particular focus on mental health symptoms (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, suicidal ideation) in a sample of low-income African American women seeking medical services at an inner city emergency department. Results revealed that of the 121 abused African American women, the majority (95%) were in the precontemplation and contemplation stages of the change process. Further, contrary to predictions, bivariate analyses revealed those at further stages of change endorsed more severe mental health symptoms. However, a multivariate analysis of variance examining differences in level of mental health symptoms between women high and low on stages of change was inconclusive due to the small number of women at the higher stages of the TM model. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature supporting the TM as applied to IPV. Results are discussed in terms of applicability to intervention design.

The Impact of Mental Health Treatment Intensity on the Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Youth in a Residential Treatment Facility

This study focused on the growing number of juvenile delinquents who enter the juvenile justice system presenting severe mental health issues that often go undetected by juvenile justice professionals. The sample consisted of 163 court ordered juvenile delinquents at a residential treatment facility in northwestern Pennsylvania. The sample was required to complete two surveys in an attempt to measure presenting mental health symptoms, emotional, and behavioral problems while at the facility, mental health service intensity, and severity of prior delinquent behaviors. This study is intended to examine the impact treatment intensity had on the emotional and behavioral problems the delinquent experiences while at the facility controlling for presenting mental health issues and severity of prior delinquent activity. The results show a not significant relationship between treatment intensity and emotional problems while at the facility. However, greater service intensity was related to the amount of behavioral problems the youth experiences while at the facility. Severity of prior delinquent activity and presenting mental health issues are strong predictors of increased behavioral problems while at the facility, while high levels of mental health symptoms can predict elevated emotional problems.

The deterioration and mobilization effects of trauma on social support: Childhood maltreatment and adulthood military violence in a Palestinian community sample

Objectives: To show that exposure to childhood maltreatment deteriorates, whereas exposure to adulthood military violence mobilizes social support; Second, to show that associations between traumatic events and mental health problems are mediated through social support and, subsequently, adulthood military violence is associated with low level and childhood maltreatment with high level of mental health symptoms; third, to explore whether the moderating (protecting) effect of sufficient and satisfactory social support would differ among victims of childhood maltreatment and adulthood military violence. Method: The participants were a random-sample of Palestinian men and women ( n = 585) of 16–60 years of age. Exposure to military violence in adulthood was assessed by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ_I), and to childhood maltreatment by a 13-item questionnaire developed for the study. A Social Network Schedule was applied to assess the function, source, and satisfaction with social support, and the Revised SCL90-R Symptoms Checklist to assess mental health symptoms. Results: Findings supported our hypothesis that exposure to childhood maltreatment was associated with low levels of social support, whereas exposure to adulthood military violence was associated with high levels of social support. Contrary to our second hypothesis, both childhood maltreatment and adulthood military violence were associated with high levels of mental health symptoms. Finally, high level and satisfactory social support moderated the association between exposure to military violence in adulthood and mental health symptoms, but not between childhood maltreatment and mental health symptoms. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that the nature of trauma, that is, whether familial or political, determines the availability of protective resources versus vulnerability, which should be considered when tailoring interventions to trauma victims.

Clinical Utility and Policy Implications of a Statewide Mental Health Screening Process for Juvenile Offenders

This study examined the utility of screening adjudicated juvenile offenders for mental health symptoms at intake to the State of Washington Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration. The authors assessed the ability of a screening measure, the Massachusetts Youth Screening Inventory, second edition (MAYSI-2), to identify youths with mental health problems and co-occurring substance use problems. This study also examined the relationship of these symptoms to treatment utilization both before and after intake to the juvenile justice system. Ethnic and gender differences in the screening results were studied. The MAYSI-2 was administered to 1,840 youths consecutively admitted to state custody. Cluster analysis was used to group the youths by mental health symptom status, and the relationship between symptoms and treatment utilization was tested in the groups identified in the cluster analysis. Youths who reported a high level of mental health symptoms, with or without co-occurring substance use problems, were more likely to have received previous mental health treatment than youths with a low level of mental health symptoms. Youths with a high level of mental health symptoms were more likely to receive extraordinary sentences and were thus less likely to be eligible for community transition programs than youths with a low level of mental health symptoms. Significant gender and ethnic differences in mental health symptom reporting on the screening inventory were found. Female offenders were significantly more likely than male offenders to report a high level of symptoms, and Hispanic youths were significantly less likely than youths in other ethnic groups to report a high level of symptoms. The MAYSI-2 has utility in identifying youths in the juvenile justice system who have mental health problems, and MAYSI-2 results are related to use of treatment services both before and after intake to the juvenile justice system. Ethnic and gender differences in MAYSI-2 reporting must be considered in interpreting mental health screening data.

Community Contact and Mental Health amongst Socially Isolated Refugees in Edinburgh

The availability of familial and broader social networks has been proposed as a significant influence on mental health outcomes for resettling refugees. This small-scale local study considered the experience and adjustment of 26 refugees and asylum-seekers resettling in Edinburgh who had been identified as at particular risk of social isolation. While 92 per cent of refugees reported having social contact outside the home, only 19 per cent had established contacts outside refugee networks and language classes. 54 per cent of the sample scored at levels on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) indicative of a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, with 42 per cent scoring at levels indicative of a diagnosis of depression. Levels of both anxiety and depression increased with length of time in the UK. Social contacts outside the home were generally infrequent and, while their frequency was not found to be associated with lower levels of mental health symptoms, refugees themselves prioritized increased social contact above assistance with practical issues and the provision of counselling. Particular interest was expressed in contact with local individuals and groups that could serve as a ‘bridge’ into host country customs and practices. In the context of a growing literature regarding post-migratory adjustment, the study supports the vulnerability of resettling refugees (particularly those who are single) to poor mental health. While the protective influence on mental health of family linkage and wider social support was not demonstrated by findings, refugees' prioritization of needs suggests that refugee settlement following a ‘dispersal’ strategy should explicitly seek both to facilitate family and wider co-ethnic linkage and to identify mechanisms for ‘bridging’ support from indigenous, majority populations.

The long-term mental health consequences of child sexual abuse: an exploratory study of the impact of multiple traumas in a sample of women.

The current study examined exposure to multiple traumas as mediators of the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and negative adult mental health outcomes. Participants were 174 women interviewed in the third wave of a longitudinal study of the consequences of child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse victims reported a lifetime history of more exposure to various traumas and higher levels of mental health symptoms. Exposure to traumas in both childhood and adulthood other than child sexual abuse mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and psychological distress in adulthood. There were also some significant direct effects for child sexual abuse on some outcome measures. Results point to the importance of understanding the interconnected nature of trauma exposure for some survivors.

Prenatal and Infancy Home Visitation by Nurses: Recent Findings

This article describes a 20-year program of research on the Nurse Home Visitation Program, a model in which nurses visit mothers beginning during pregnancy and continuing through their children's second birthdays to improve pregnancy outcomes, to promote children's health and development, and to strengthen families' economic self-sufficiency. The results of two randomized trials (one in Elmira, New York, and the second in Memphis, Tennessee) are summarized, and an ongoing trial in Denver, Colorado, is briefly described. Results of the Elmira and Memphis trials suggest the following: The program benefits the neediest families (low-income unmarried women) but provides little benefit for the broader population. Among low-income unmarried women, the program helps reduce rates of childhood injuries and ingestions that may be associated with child abuse and neglect, and helps mothers defer subsequent pregnancies and move into the workforce. Long-term follow-up of families in Elmira indicates that nurse-visited mothers were less likely to abuse or neglect their children or to have rapid successive pregnancies. Having fewer children enabled women to find work, become economically self-sufficient, and eventually avoid substance abuse and criminal behavior. Their children benefitted too. By the time the children were 15 years of age, they had had fewer arrests and convictions, smoked and drank less, and had had fewer sexual partners. The program produced few effects on children's development or on birth outcomes, except for children born to women who smoked cigarettes when they registered during pregnancy. The positive effects of the program on child abuse and injuries to children were most pronounced among mothers who, at registration, had the lowest psychological resources (defined as high levels of mental health symptoms, limited intellectual functioning, and little belief in their control of their lives). Generally, effects in Elmira were of greater magnitude and covered a broader range of outcomes than in Memphis, perhaps because of differences between the populations studied, community contexts, or a higher rate of turnover among home visitors in Memphis than in Elmira. The article concludes that the use of nurses as home visitors is key; that services should be targeted to the neediest populations, rather than being offered on a universal basis; that clinically tested methods of changing health and behavioral risks should be incorporated into program protocols; and that services must be implemented with fidelity to the model tested if program benefits found in scientifically controlled studies are to be reproduced as the program is replicated in new communities.

Women in a prenatal care/substance abuse treatment program: links between domestic violence and mental health.

This study examines the prevalence of violence experienced by patients enrolled in the Step by Step program, a combined prenatal care/substance abuse treatment program at the Wake County Health Department in North Carolina. In addition, potential associations between violence and sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and mental health are investigated. All prenatal care/substance abuse treatment patients who met study eligibility criteria (N = 84) were assessed by health care providers. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used to compare victims of violence and nonvictims on a wide range of variables. Multiple linear regression analysis estimated the impact of the women's experiences of violence on their levels of mental health symptoms while controlling for confounding factors. Forty-two percent of patients had been victims of both sexual and physical violence, and 30% had been victims of physical violence alone. The combination of sexual and physical violence was significantly less common among African-American women compared with other women. No other significant differences were found between victims and nonvictims in terms of sociodemographics or substance use. Compared with nonvictims, victims of the combination of sexual and physical violence had significantly elevated levels of general psychological distress as well as elevated levels of hostility, depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and somatization. However, no significant differences in levels of mental health symptoms were observed among women who had experienced physical violence in the absence of sexual violence. Questions concerning experiences of violence, including sexual victimization, should be incorporated into the clinical history-taking procedures of professionals working within prenatal care/substance abuse treatment programs so that effective interventions that take experiences of violence into account can be put into place for these high-risk women.