Lower Levels Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

The effect of diet quality and body mass index on depression in older adults: a growth curve analysis

BackgroundNutrition not only plays an important role in one’s physical health, but also mental health. The causal association between nutrition and mental health remains unclear. While a healthy dietary pattern may protect one against mental illness, it is also possible that poor mental health could lead to unhealthy eating habits or choices. Furthermore, emerging studies suggest that a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in older adults, contrasting the effect observed in other populations. With an ageing population, this study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of a healthy dietary pattern, BMI, and other covariates on depressive symptoms in older adults.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study between 2014 and 2017, with each follow-up assessment being one year apart. A total of 2081 participants above 65 years old (M = 79.65, SD = 7.94) completed the baseline assessment in 2014, which included basic demographics, self-reported eating habits, depressive symptoms, and the measurement of height and weight. Distance to supermarkets and fast food was calculated based on participants’ residential addresses. Two growth models were performed to assess the trajectory of change in depressive symptoms over time.ResultsOlder adults experienced a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over time (intercept = 2.68, p < .001; slope = -0.25, p < .001). At baseline, a higher diet quality (B = -0.95, p < .001), higher BMI (B = -0.09, p < .001), younger age (B = 0.40, p = .001), being a male (B = 0.76, p < .001), and having fewer chronic diseases (B = 0.39, p < .001) were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Over time, a higher diet quality (B = 0.14, p = .05), higher BMI (B = 0.02, p = .04), and fewer chronic diseases (B = -0.08, p < .001) predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms over time.ConclusionsA higher diet quality and higher BMI may serve as protective factors for depressive symptoms in older adults. Potential implications are being discussed.

Exploring the effect of gender and culture on the relationship between self-silencing and depressive symptoms

ABSTRACT Objective The self-silencing theory explains how cultural norms can expect women to maintain their relationships by silencing their self, which can restrict voice and power in relationships, thereby potentially leading to depression. However, the literature regarding gender differences in self-silencing is inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate gender and cultural differences in self-silencing in an adult community sample. Method Iranians residing in Australia (men n = 60, women n = 58) and European Australians (men n = 53, women n = 59) completed measures of self-silencing, depression and self-reported gender. Results There were no cultural or gender differences in self-silencing. Aspects of self-silencing (i.e. greater levels of divided self, r = .33, p < .001, and greater levels of externalised self-perception, r = .40, p < .001) were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Gender moderated the association between care as a self-sacrifice and depressive symptoms, B = .31, SE= .14, 95%CI [.04−,58], t = 2.24, p = .026. Follow-up analyses showed that for women, higher levels of care as self-sacrifice were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, B = 0.17, SE = 0.09, t = 1.88, p = .06, 95% CI [<−.001,0.35]. However, for men, higher levels of care as self-sacrifice were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, B = −0.13, SE = 0.10, t = 1.32, p = .18, 95% CI [−0.34, 0.67]. Cultural group did not moderate any of the associations. Conclusions This cross-cultural study offers further insights regarding self-silencing in the context of depressive symptoms and provides initial insights for clinical practice.

Meaning-Centred Coping Predicted Lower Depressive Symptoms among Caregivers with Complicated Grief.

Complicated grief is characterised by persistent low mood, intense distress and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore coping strategies (i.e. emotion-, problem- and meaning-centred) used by bereaved individuals facing complicated grief and how these strategies may predict psychological and cognitive outcomes. In a cross-sectional study, 20 bereaved individuals (5 males, 15 females) that aged 27 years old-65 years old (mean = 42.25, standard deviation [SD] = 9.30) were recruited following the loss of a loved one due to physical illness. Participants were screened for complicated grief and subsequently completed self-report assessments of coping strategies and depressive symptoms using Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Questionnaire, Meaning-Centered Coping Scale (MCCS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Items (PHQ-9). Following that, participants underwent a neurocognitive assessment of working memory using the 2-Back task. Caregivers with complicated grief suffered from moderate severity of depressive symptoms (mean = 17.45, SD = 4.43) as they were coping with the losses. Furthermore, the findings showed that MCC significantly predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms (b = -0.50, t (16) = -2.25, P = 0.04). However, coping strategies did not significantly predict working memory performance. These findings highlight the potential benefits of MCC in alleviating depressive symptoms in bereaved individuals and underscore its contribution to the development of grief interventions. Grief therapists can emphasise this coping strategy to promote healing and resilience in patients in the grief work.

Dyadic Isolation in Social Interactions: The Role of Depressive Symptoms

Dyadic isolation is the tendency of some individuals to be involved in pairwise interactions rather than in larger group interactions. This article investigates the interpersonal processes associated with the dyadic isolation of individuals with depressive symptoms. We hypothesize that such individuals tend to initiate more and stay longer in dyadic interactions compared to group interactions (dyadic preference hypothesis) and that individuals—irrespective of their own level of depressive symptoms—tend to join and stay longer in interactions when interaction partners have lower levels of depressive symptoms (depression avoidance hypothesis). We analyze two data sets (N = 123) of face-to-face interaction events (N = 86,915) collected with proximity badges at a social event. Hypotheses are tested using a relational event model (DyNAM-i) specifically tailored for modeling group interactions. In line with the dyadic preference hypotheses, individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms are found to be more likely to join and stay in dyadic interactions. Post hoc analyses reveal that this result only applies to female participants. We find limited support for the depression avoidance hypotheses.

The impact of internet device diversity on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China: A cross-lagged model of social participation as the mediating role

BackgroundDepressive symptoms is more prevalent in middle-aged and older populations, and the development of Internet technology has brought new challenges and opportunities for the mental health of this group. This study aims to explore the bidirectional relationship between Internet device diversity and levels of depressive symptoms through longitudinal data analysis, as well as investigate the mediating role of social participation. MethodsData for the analysis was retrieved from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2015, 2018, and 2020, which included 9259 middle-aged and older adults. The sum of the number of devices mentioned by each participant was calculated to assess the diversity of internet device use, a weighted total score of how frequently and to what extent individuals had participated in various social activities in the past month was calculated to measure the social engagement, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to calculate depressive symptoms. A cross-lagged mediation model and bivariate correlation analysis were employed to examine the longitudinal relationships among depressive symptoms, internet device diversity, and social participation. Age, gender, highest education level, marital status, drinking status, smoking history, self-rated health, sleep duration, and chronic health conditions were adjusted as covariates. ResultsThe results from the three waves of longitudinal data revealed mutual predictive relationships among internet device diversity, social participation, and depressive symptoms. The mediating effect was significant (β = −0.612, 95 % CI −0.796 to −0.429), with significant gender differences observed. Furthermore, our findings indicated that social participation functioned as a protective factor against depressive symptoms, and the association between social participation and depressive symptoms was not a straightforward linear relationship. This suggests that participation in social activities (either high or low) is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms compared to no social participation, with no gender differences. ConclusionsThis study suggests that there is a relationship between internet device diversity and lower levels of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China. Social participation mediates the relationship between internet device diversity and depressive symptoms, and different levels of social engagement have different effects on depressive symptoms. It is recommended to increase support for social participation among middle-aged and older adults, strengthen structural social capital, and better leverage the use of the internet to reduce depressive symptoms levels and promote the physical and mental well-being of this population.

Depression, Loneliness and Quality of Life in Institutionalised and Non-Institutionalised Older Adults in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2050, the world's population over 60 will number two billion people, which poses complex challenges in terms of maintaining the mental health of older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this population, but the post-pandemic phase has not yet been studied much. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2023 among institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults (total n = 525; institutionalised = 458; non-institutionalised = 67) who were selected by convenience sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms, the WHOQOL-BREF to assess perceived quality of life and the Loneliness Scale (UCLA) to assess negative feelings of loneliness. Unconditional logistic regression models were fitted to compute crude adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the association between sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics and depressive symptomatology, according to institutionalisation status. The final model was adjusted for sex, age, QoL and feelings of loneliness. Of the 525 participants, 74.6% of the non-institutionalised participants had no or minimal depressive symptoms, while 55.4% of the institutionalised participants fell into this category. Mild to moderately severe depressive symptoms were present in 25.4% of the non-institutionalised participants. 26.9% of the institutionalised participants had mild symptoms, 11.8% had moderate symptoms, 3.9% had moderately severe symptoms, and 2.0% had severe depressive symptoms. Overall, a higher quality of life was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Participants describing feelings of loneliness were more likely also to present depressive symptoms (OR = 78.10; 95%CI 2.90-2106.08 and OR = 3.53; 95%CI 1.72-6.91 for non-institutionalised and institutionalised older adults, respectively), independently of institutionalisation status. The prevalence of depressive symptoms is high in older adults, which means that it has not decreased after the increase seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lower perception of quality of life and the presence of negative feelings of loneliness are associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. These conclusions suggest that plans should be developed to intervene in the dimensions of depressive symptoms, perceived quality of life and negative feelings of loneliness.

Military service and sociodemographic determinants of depressive symptom trajectories

Little is known about preservice depressive symptoms, their linkages to subsequent depressive symptoms, and the role of sociodemographic factors in shaping depressive symptoms of those who serve in the military. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 18,910), we modeled depressive symptom trajectories from baseline (Mage = 15.67) through midlife and compared differences in depressive symptoms between participants who did and did not enter military service. Those who served in the military went on to develop lower levels of depressive symptoms than civilians during their prime military service years, even after accounting for sociodemographic factors that shape pathways into military service. Differences in depressive symptoms by military affiliation were no longer significant by their mid-30s. Results provided a more complete account of depressive symptom patterns associated with military service by including data on individuals before and during military service.

Trajectories of adolescents’ depressive symptoms surrounding the transition to vocational education

AbstractAlthough studies examined depressive symptoms across adolescence, the impact of school transitions is often neglected. This study examined trajectories of depressive symptoms surrounding the transition to vocational education. Additionally, it examined gender differences and co‐occurring trajectories of parental emotional support and adolescents’ self‐esteem. The sample comprised 840 adolescents and their parents (53% boys, 92% German, ageat_T1 = 16–19, average participation rate = 3.44). Adolescents reported trait items for depressive symptoms from the State‐Trait‐Depression Scale. Heterogeneous linear mixed models revealed four trajectories, with the majority exhibiting relatively stable low levels of depressive symptoms in two distinct trajectories. However, 10% experienced temporary increases, while another 10% experienced temporary decreases following the transition. Initial high levels of parental emotional support seemed to co‐occur with temporary decreases in depressive symptoms, whereas self‐esteem co‐occurred with low levels of depressive symptoms. Although school transitions may provide new opportunities and may induce stress, the transition to vocational education had little to no relation to self‐reported trait items of depressive symptoms in the present study. For those affected, self‐esteem and social support seem vital resources.

Depressive symptoms across the retirement transition in men and women: associations with emotion regulation, adjustment difficulties and work centrality

BackgroundRetirement is a major life event and factors driving depression in the retirement transition might differ in men and women. The aim was to prospectively study depressive symptoms across the retirement transition in men and women and to test associations with emotion regulation strategies (suppression and reappraisal), adjustment difficulties, and work centrality.MethodsThe sample included 527 individuals from the population-based Health, Aging and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study who were working at baseline and retired during one of the following four annual measurement waves. Participants contributed with a total of 2635 observations across five measurement waves. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); total score was modelled as a function of time to and from retirement. Changes over the retirement transition were analyzed with multilevel growth curve models. Gender differences in associations with emotion regulation, adjustment difficulties and work centrality were examined by including interaction effects with sex.ResultsWe observed a general reduction of depressive symptoms in the early years of retirement in both men and women. Higher suppression was related to higher depression scores while higher cognitive reappraisal was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Women more often used cognitive reappraisal, and men more often suppression, but no significant gender interaction in associations with depressive symptoms could be shown. Retirement adjustment difficulties and greater importance of work for self-esteem were related to higher depression scores. Greater meaning of work, on the other hand, was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms, and this association was stronger in men.ConclusionsThere was a general reduction of depression scores in the early years of retirement in both women and men. Findings suggest that basing one’s self-esteem on workplace performance was related to higher levels of depressive symptoms after retirement, while perceiving one’s job as important and meaningful may facilitate better adjustment in terms of lower depression symptom levels, especially in men.

Depressive symptoms predict cannabis vaping initiation among young adults

BackgroundYoung adults in the United States, including college students, have the highest prevalence of cannabis use compared with other age groups. Although cannabis vaping is increasingly prevalent during young adulthood, little is known about factors contributing to the onset of cannabis vaping during this developmental period. MethodsParticipants were 3085 cannabis vaping naïve young adults aged 18–25 years (M = 20.60; SD = 1.80), initially recruited from 24 Texas colleges and participating in a multi-wave, longitudinal study. A survival analysis was conducted to determine if participants reporting elevated depressive symptoms had an increased risk of onset of cannabis vaping over six follow-up waves from fall 2015 to spring 2019 compared to their peers with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Socio-demographic characteristics, time-varying past 30 day substance use, and time-varying peer nicotine vaping were included as covariates in the model. ResultsTwenty-five percent of participants initiated cannabis vaping during the four-year study period, with stable initiation rates from 2015 to 2017 but doubling from 2017 to 2019. Analyses, both unadjusted and adjusted for study covariates, indicated that elevated depressive symptoms were significantly associated with an increased risk of cannabis vaping initiation. ConclusionFindings indicate that initiation of cannabis vaping during young adulthood is common, and particularly more likely among those with greater depressive symptoms, thus underscoring the importance of prevention programs that include mental health support services tailored to young adults.

Autonomy-supportive parenting as a moderator of associations between ethnic and racial identity processes and psychological adjustment during college.

The purpose of this study was to test the roles of ethnic and racial identity (ERI) processes and autonomy-supportive parenting on college students' psychological adjustment. American college students of color (N = 505) completed questionnaires assessing ERI exploration and commitment, autonomy-supportive parenting, and psychological adjustment (self-esteem, depressive symptoms). Key variables were operationalized as latent constructs, and main and interaction effects were tested using the latent moderated structural equation modeling approach. Higher levels of ERI commitment (but not exploration) and parental autonomy support each uniquely predicted higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of depressive symptoms. Parental autonomy support moderated associations between ERI processes and psychological adjustment, and the nature of moderation did not differ across Black and Latino/a/x students. Supporting the psychological adjustment of college students of color necessitates acknowledging the importance of both parental and institutional efforts to encourage students' autonomy strivings and ERI processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Dyadic Prenatal Coparenting Interaction Behaviors Predicting Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Transition to Parenthood.

Postpartum depressive symptoms constitute a common yet serious complication of pregnancy and childbirth, but research on its association with coparenting is scarce. Furthermore, although coparenting dynamics start forming prior to the child's birth, no research has explored dyadic prenatal coparenting dynamics as a predictor of postpartum depressive symptoms. The current study assessed how dyadic prenatal coparenting behaviors predicted postpartum depressive symptoms in first-time parents. We conducted a dyadic mixed-method longitudinal study of 107 expectant couples with data collected prenatally, and at 3, 6, and 24 months post-birth. The results indicated that prenatal coparenting dyadic synchrony predicted low levels of depressive symptoms among first-time fathers 3 and 6 months after the birth, and a prenatal coparenting dynamic of dyadic negative escalation predicted high levels of depressive symptoms among first-time mothers at 3 and 24 months postpartum. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Effects of Mat Pilates online on the depressive symptoms and quality of life of older people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled clinical trial

The objective is to verify the effects of an online Mat Pilates intervention on the depressive symptoms and quality of life of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial involving 56 healthy and sedentary older adults (64.38 ± 3.45 years), randomized into two groups: Mat Pilates Training Group (PTG, n = 28) and Control Group (CG, n = 28). The intervention lasted 12 weeks, with two weekly 45-minute sessions using a video calling application. In the main part, the Basic Mat Pilates sequence was performed with progressions in the intensity, volume, and complexity of the exercises. The CG received a booklet with guidance on exercising without supervision and weekly health education lectures. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed using two questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD) and their respective domains. The analyses were carried out using the Generalized Estimating Equations model. In the per protocol analysis, there were no significant differences either in time (p = 0.352) or between groups (p = 0.739) for depressive symptoms (Pre: 3.50 ± 2.61 and 4.20 ± 5.92; Post: 3.08 ± 2.57 and 3.40 ± 3.86; PTG and CG respectively). No significant interactions (p = 0.969) were observed in overall quality of life (Pre: 75.00 ± 14.10 and 73.75 ± 13.76; Post: 76.04 ± 8.36 and 75.00 ± 17.68; PTG and CG respectively) nor in the domains analysis of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Regarding WHOQOL-OLD, there was an improvement in the Death and Dying domain (p = 0.042) for both groups (Pre: 70.31 ± 21.67 and 71.88 ± 20.04; Post: 79.69 ± 15.34 and 74.38 ± 23.65; PTG and CG respectively), with no interactions for overall quality of life (p = 0.820) or for the other domains. Conclusion: Remote Mat Pilates was able to maintain low levels of depressive symptoms and improve some aspects of the quality of life of older adults.

Sexual orientation concealment, hope, and depressive symptoms among gay and bisexual men: a moderated-moderation model

ABSTRACT The prevalence of depressive symptoms among gay and bisexual men is cause for concern. This study aimed to investigate whether hope and its two components (agency and pathways) moderated the relationship between sexual orientation concealment and depressive symptoms in gay and bisexual men and whether the moderating effects were conditional on sexual orientation. Participants were 197 gay men aged 18 to 71 years (M = 35.13 years, SD = 12.18 years) and 212 bisexual men aged 18 to 66 years (M = 29.24 years, SD = 10.46 years) who completed The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, The Sexual Orientation Concealment Scale, and The Adult Hope Scale. Results did not support the moderating role of hope, agency, or pathways. The interaction between sexual orientation and pathways was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Higher levels of pathways were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms for both groups of men, however, the association was stronger for gay men compared with bisexual men. Higher levels of hope, agency, and pathways were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Interventions aimed at increasing hope may be beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms among gay and bisexual men.

Self-Warmth, Self-Coldness, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Adults

Depression is more prevalent among sexual minority adults than heterosexual adults. Whilst research has shown self-compassion is related to lower levels of depressive symptoms, few studies have focused on sexual minority adults. Furthermore, few studies have examined the relationship between the positive (self-warmth) and negative (self-coldness) components of self-compassion and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate whether self-warmth and self-coldness were associated with depressive symptoms among sexual minority adults and whether these relations were moderated by gender and sexual orientation. An international sample of 439 sexual minority women aged 18 to 69 years (M = 30.21, SD = 10.70) and 391 sexual minority men aged 18 to 71 years (M = 32.20, SD = 11.74) completed the Center for Epidemiology-Depression Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale. Results indicated both self-warmth and self-coldness were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, however, self-coldness explained more unique variance (12%) than self-warmth (1%). Higher levels of self-warmth were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms and the association was not conditional on gender or sexual orientation. Higher levels of self-coldness were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. This association was conditional on sexual orientation but not gender. The association was stronger for bisexual adults than monosexual adults. Interventions such as compassion-focused therapy that target self-coldness among sexual minority adults may be beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms, particularly bisexual adults.

Effect of MAOA rs1465108 polymorphism on susceptibility to substance/alcohol use disorder: a novel PCR-RFLP assay for the detection of MAOA rs1465108.

The health and social consequences of substance/alcohol use disorders are harmful. Most of the individuals cannot stop using them due to more likely their genetic background. The current study aimed both to develop a novel PCR-RFLP method for genotyping of MAOA rs1465108 and to analyze the effect of MAOA rs1465108 on the risk of alcohol (AUD), opioid (OUD) or methamphetamine (MUD) use disorders and on the depressive and anxiety symptoms in a Turkish population. A total of 353 individual with AUD (n = 154), OUD (n = 160) or MUD (n = 39) and 109 healthy subjects were included. The intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms and craving and opioid withdrawal were measured by appropriate scales. Logistic regression analysis revealed no association between MAOA rs1465108 polymorphism and substance/alcohol use disorder (p > 0.05). Healthy subjects (3.0) had significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than individuals with OUD (27.0), AUD (21.0) and MUD (25.5) groups. The severity of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in OUD as compared to AUD. There was a statistically significant difference between individuals with AUD, OUD and MUD in view of the average ages of first use (17, 19 and 20 years, respectively) (p < 0.05). The results presented here do not support the hypothesis that MAOA rs1465108 is associated with substance/alcohol use disorders. The intensity of depressive symptoms could be changed according to the abused substance type. A novel PCR-RFLP was developed for genotyping of MAOA rs1465108 polymorphism, which could be a better option for laboratories without high technology equipment.

Informal Caregiver Social Network Types and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience

ABSTRACT Little is known about whether and why social networks protect mental health among informal caregivers. This study examined the association between informal caregiver social network types and depressive symptoms and the mediatory mechanism of psychological resilience. Latent class analysis, applied to cross-sectional data on 278 Singaporean caregivers, identified four social network types: restricted (42%), friend (16%), family (21%), and diverse (21%). Path analysis showed that the diverse social network type, compared to the restricted social network type, was associated with a lower level of depressive symptoms, and psychological resilience fully mediated this association. Interventions should help caregivers to maintain social networks with their family and friends.

Daily Functionality of People with Low Vision: The Impact of Visual Acuity, Depression, and Life Orientation-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Low vision (LV) has a significant negative impact on the activities of daily life as well as on the psychological health of patients. The objective of this study is to investigate psychological, clinical, and demographic factors that may impact the daily functionality of patients with LV. A convenience sample of 53 patients, meeting the WHO criteria for LV, was recruited. Questionnaires on daily functionality, depression, and life orientation (in terms of optimism/pessimism) were administered along with a semistructured personal interview. Key Findings. The main results revealed a significant negative correlation between daily functionality and depression (r = -0.423, p < 0.001). Conversely, there is a positive correlation between daily functionality and visual acuity (r = 0.415, p < 0.001), while years since diagnosis were negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.345, p < 0.001). Depression seems to be a moderate predictor of a person's daily functionality (β = -0.389, p < 0.002), followed by visual acuity (β = -0.344, p = 0.006), explaining the 31.1% of the total variance. The study supports a correlation between daily functionality and both depression and visual acuity. Optimism as a personality characteristic did not factor into the prediction model for daily functionality, but it showed a strong correlation with lower levels of depressive symptoms. This highlights the potential for developing coping strategies for chronic disease management. Recommendations. The study could serve as a useful guide and may urge clinicians to pay attention to the psychological evaluation of these patients, supporting their unique emotional needs. Mental health professionals can use patients' positive resources to provide appropriate counseling and embrace the coping skills that encourage their engagement in activities of daily life.

The influence of sibling relationship quality on emotional distress from adolescence to early midlife.

This study examines continuity and change in sibling relationship quality (warmth and hostility) from adolescence to adulthood, as well as how changes in sibling relationship quality across developmental stages are associated with early midlife emotional distress. Data come from the Family Transitions Project, a two-decade longitudinal study of youth and their families followed from adolescence to adulthood. The present study included target adolescent self-report data on warmth and hostility toward and received from their sibling over ten data points from ages 15 to 31. Target to sibling warmth decreased from ages 23 to 31, whereas sibling to target warmth increased in emerging adulthood and then decreased into adulthood. Both sibling to target and target to sibling hostility decreased in adolescence and emerging adulthood and then remained low and stable from emerging adulthood to adulthood. Target to sibling warmth at age 23 predicted lower levels of anxiety at age 41. Sibling to target warmth at age 23 also predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms. Target to sibling hostility at age 23 predicted anxiety and hostility in middle adulthood, whereas sibling to target hostility at age 23 predicted anxiety, depressive symptoms, and hostility. In addition, a slower decline in sibling to target hostility from ages 15 to 19 was associated with higher levels of anxiety at age 41. This study is one of the first to examine the quality of sibling relationships across developmental stages and exemplifies how relationship quality between siblings from adolescence to young adulthood can influence emotional distress into early midlife. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors with Depressive Symptoms and Mood Disturbance Throughout Pregnancy.

Purpose: Mental health is critical for a healthy pregnancy, yet few studies have evaluated its associations with best practice, objectively measured moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) or sedentary behavior (SED). This study evaluated associations of MVPA and SED with mental health across pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Two cohort studies (total n = 125, mean [standard deviation] 31 [5] years, and 14.4% Black) measured MVPA (waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X) and SED (thigh-mounted activPAL) as well as self-reported depressive symptoms and mood disturbance in each trimester. Associations of group-based trajectories of MVPA and SED with depressive symptoms and mood disturbance were analyzed using regression analyses, both overall and by trimester. Results: Overall, the medium versus low trajectory of MVPA was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms (B = -1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.97 to -0.68). In the second trimester, women in either the medium or high MVPA trajectories had lower levels of depressive symptoms compared with women in the low MVPA trajectory (B = -8.73, 95% CI -15.74 to -1.71; and B = -2.18, 95% CI -3.80 to -0.56). SED trajectories were not associated with depressive symptoms. Higher trajectories of MVPA and lower trajectories of SED were associated with lower total mood disturbance, with significant associations in the second trimester for MVPA and the first and second trimesters for SED. Higher MVPA trajectories were associated with higher tension, fatigue, and confusion subscales, while higher SED trajectories were associated with higher anger and fatigue and lower esteem and vigor subscales. Conclusions: MVPA and SED levels appear to affect mental health during pregnancy, although larger prospective studies are warranted. Clinical Trail Registration Number: NCT03084302.