Lower Levels Of Depressed Mood Research Articles

Coping Flexibility: Match Between Coping Strategy and Perceived Stressor Controllability Predicts Depressed Mood

AbstractIndividual differences in coping responses can predict psychological distress, anxiety, and depression; therefore, it is vital to explore adaptive coping strategies. Recent research suggests that an individual’s ability to choose strategies based on the context may be more important than the ability to use any one strategy, an ability termed coping flexibility. For example, problem-focused coping is adaptive for situations of high control, while emotion-focused coping is adaptive for situations of low control. This conceptualization of coping flexibility, termed strategy-situation fit, consists of the match of strategy to situation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if daily fluctuations in strategy-situation fit for daily stressors would be associated with daily levels of depressed mood. A seven-day diary study in a sample of undergraduate students (n = 75) was completed. The results of generalized linear mixed models demonstrated that in situations of high stress and high control, more use of emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of depressed mood. Additionally, in situations of high stress and low control, more use of emotion-focused coping was related to lower levels of depressed mood. These findings suggest that the match between emotion-focused coping and perceived stressor controllability can be a predictor of daily experiences of depressed mood when faced with high-level stressors.

I'll catch you when you fall: Social safety nets and housing instability in IPV-exposed pregnant women

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) has significant consequences for women's mental health, and it also compromises women's economic security and livelihood, including housing stability. There is a dearth of research, however, on protective factors in the link between housing instability and psychopathology in IPV-exposed women. MethodsThe current study examines the protective role of social support in the association between housing instability and mental health (depression, posttraumatic stress) in a sample of pregnant, IPV-exposed women (N = 137). ResultsOverall models for both depression and posttraumatic stress were significant (F = 6.42, p<.001; R2=16.3%; F = 15.09, p<.001; R2=31.0%, respectively). Housing instability was significantly associated with higher levels of depressed mood (β=0.20, p<.016), but not posttraumatic stress symptoms. Social support was significantly associated with lower levels of depressed mood (β=-0.17, p<.036) and posttraumatic stress (β=-0.38, p =0.001). The addition of the interaction term (housing instability*social support) resulted in a significant improvement in variance explained from the main effects model for depression (F = 4.90, p<.028, ∆R2=3.0%) and the interaction term was significant (β=-0.60, p=.029). An interaction effect of housing instability and social support on posttraumatic stress was not identified. LimitationsAlthough the current study is the first to examine protective factors in the relationship between housing instability and psychopathology in IPV-exposed pregnant women, data were cross-sectional and therefore directionality and temporality cannot be inferred. ConclusionsResults suggest that housing instability may play a greater role in women's depressed mood than in their experience of posttraumatic stress symptoms, and the presence of social support may substantially ameliorate the effect of this adversity.

Impact of sex and depressed mood on the central regulation of cardiac autonomic function.

Cardiac autonomic dysregulation has been implicated in the comorbidity of major psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease, potentially through dysregulation of physiological responses to negative stressful stimuli (here, shortened to stress response). Further, sex differences in these comorbidities are substantial. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mood- and sex-dependent alterations in brain circuitry implicated in the regulation of the stress response are associated with reduced peripheral parasympathetic activity during negative emotional arousal. Fifty subjects (28 females) including healthy controls and individuals with major depression, bipolar psychosis and schizophrenia were evaluated. Functional magnetic resonance imaging and physiology (cardiac pulse) data were acquired during a mild visual stress reactivity challenge. Associations between changes in activity and functional connectivity of the stress response circuitry and variations in cardiovagal activity [normalized high frequency power of heart rate variability (HFn)] were evaluated using GLM analyses, including interactions with depressed mood and sex across disorders. Our results revealed that in women with high depressed mood, lower cardiovagal activity in response to negative affective stimuli was associated with greater activation of hypothalamus and right amygdala and reduced connectivity between hypothalamus and right orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. No significant associations were observed in women with low levels of depressed mood or men. Our results revealed mood- and sex-dependent interactions in the central regulation of cardiac autonomic activity in response to negative affective stimuli. These findings provide a potential pathophysiological mechanism for previously observed sex differences in the comorbidity of major depression and cardiovascular disease.

Depression and African Americans in the First Decade of Midlife: The Consequences of Social Roles and Gender

ObjectiveThis study examined gender differences in how three social roles – marriage, parenthood, and employment – impact depressive symptoms and clinically significant depression for African Americans in the first decade of midlife, from 40 to 50 years old. Specifically, we sought to understand the associations between roles configurations (e.g., married parent versus employed only) and depressed mood as well as diagnosable depression. MethodThe data for this study were extracted from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort (NLSY79). Constituting a representative sample of non-institutionalized Americans, NLSY respondents were interviewed each year from 1979 to 1994 and biennially thereafter. Our study included 2372 African Americans. We used ordinary least squares regression to estimate depressive symptoms and logistic regression to model the probability of clinically significant depression. ResultsAfrican American men who were married/cohabiting only, employed only, or married/cohabiting, employed parents experienced lower levels of depressed mood, compared to African American women. Holding none of the roles under consideration in this study resulted in higher levels of depressive symptoms for African American women than for African American men. For diagnosable depression, the role combinations of married/cohabiting, employed and married/cohabiting, employed parent resulted in a lower probability of depression for African American men, compared to their female counterparts. Regardless of gender, role configurations that included employment produced the lowest levels of depressive symptoms and the lowest likelihood of clinically significant depression. ConclusionsOverall, the pattern of findings showed that role configurations are important in shaping mental health for both African American men and women. Multiple role combinations that included employment make individuals less vulnerable to depressive symptoms and clinically significant depression. Having no roles (e.g., unmarried, unemployed, non-parent) was more problematic for the well-being of African American women compared to African American men, but not as detrimental to African American mental health as prior studies focused on other racial and ethnic groups have suggested.

Parental monitoring protects against the effects of parent and adolescent depressed mood on adolescent drinking

ObjectiveParental monitoring is a well-established protective factor for adolescent drinking. This study examined whether parental monitoring protected against three common risk factors for alcohol use in a sample of high-risk adolescents: parental depressed mood, adolescent depressed mood, and parental alcohol use. MethodsParticipants included 117 adolescents (mean age=15.5; 52% female) who presented to the hospital emergency department due to an alcohol-related event and their primary parent/guardian. Adolescents completed self-report measures of alcohol use frequency, depressed mood, and parental monitoring, while parents completed self-report measures of problematic alcohol use and depressed mood. ResultsHierarchical regression confirmed that parental monitoring was associated with lower frequency of adolescent alcohol use, even after controlling for the three risk factors. Significant interactions were found between parental monitoring and both adolescent and parental depressed mood. Parental monitoring had significant protective effects against drinking frequency among adolescents with higher levels of depressed mood, but not among adolescents with lower levels of depressed mood. By contrast, parental monitoring only had protective effects among those parents with lower levels of depressed mood. Parental problematic alcohol use did not affect the relationship between parental monitoring and adolescent alcohol use. ConclusionsOur results suggest that adolescents with high levels of depressed mood may be more likely to benefit from parental monitoring, whereas parents with high levels of depressed mood may be less likely to monitor effectively. Interventions targeting parental monitoring in high-risk adolescents should take into account the influence of both adolescent and parental depressed mood.

Interactive Effect of Child Maltreatment and Substance Use on Depressed Mood Among Adolescents Presenting to Community-Based Substance Use Treatment.

Adolescents referred to community behavioral health centers (CBHC) for substance use (SU) problems report high rates of child maltreatment. Although SU and maltreatment are independent risk factors for adolescent depression, few studies have examined their interactive effects. This study examined the interactive effects of SU (alcohol and marijuana) and exposure to different types of trauma on depressed mood among 74 adolescents referred to a CBHC for SU. Hierarchical regressions controlling for sex and common adolescent comorbidities showed that sexual abuse had a stronger relationship with depressed mood than other types of maltreatment. Although SU was not independently related to depressed mood, consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, increased SU was associated with lower levels of depressed mood among adolescents with greater exposure to sexual abuse. Results suggest that teens presenting to CBHCs for SU should be assessed for multiple forms of maltreatment and for depressed mood.

Brief web-based intervention for college students with comorbid risky alcohol use and depressed mood: Does it work and for whom?

College is a time of increased risk for problematic alcohol use and depressed mood. The comorbidity of these conditions is well documented, but is less well understood, with few interventions designed to prevent or reduce the related consequences. The current study evaluated a web-based personalized intervention for students (N=311) who reported an AUDIT score of 8 or more, a BDI-II score of 14 or more, and reported drinking four (women) or five (men) or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month. Method: Invited participants were randomly selected from all enrolled undergraduates at a large, public, Pacific Northwestern University. Participants completed a screening and baseline assessment, and those who met study eligibility criteria were randomized to one of four conditions (alcohol only, depressed mood only, integrated, and referral-only control). Follow-up occurred one-month post-intervention. Results: While no main effects for the interventions were found, there were moderation effects, such that students in the alcohol only and integrated conditions who had lower levels of depressed mood or alcohol-related problems at baseline showed greater reductions in alcohol-related problems at follow-up compared to students in the control condition. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Estudo sobre resiliência de mães em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

A experiencia de acompanhar um familiar internado em UTI tende a ser vivenciada como uma situacao de crise. Os estudos da Psicologia Positiva tem especial interesse em investigar os potenciais de saude de cada sujeito que favorecem o enfrentamento e a adaptacao as situacoes de crise, dentre os quais e destacada a resiliencia. Embora ainda sem uma defi nicao consensual, a resiliencia tem sido reconhecida como a habilidade humana para superar crises, enfrentar ou ser fortalecido por adversidades. Dada a relevância da investigacao sobre o tema, o presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a resiliencia de maes de criancas internadas em UTI e investigar a relacao com esperanca, otimismo e pessimismo, qualidade de vida e humor deprimido. Para isso, este estudo foi realizado em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, com um total de 18 maes, que reponderam a um protocolo de pesquisa elaborado para o presente estudo. Dentre os principais resultados, foi possivel observar correlacoes signifi cativas entre os indices de resiliencia e esperanca, entre qualidade de vida e otimismo, e entre qualidade de vida e esperanca. Ao comparar os resultados das escalas nos grupos de depressao moderada/severa e minima/leve, contrariando o que se esperava, as maes mais resilientes nao demonstraram, necessariamente, menores indices de humor deprimido. De maneira geral, maiores indices de esperanca, otimismo e qualidade de vida relacionam-se negativamente com a depressao, corroborando com conclusoes de pesquisas semelhantes. Palavras-chave : resiliencia, UTI Pediatrica, Psicologia Positiva.

Differentiating Adolescent Suicide Attempters from Ideators: Examining the Interaction between Depression Severity and Alcohol Use

Depressed mood, frequency of alcohol use, and their combination were examined to see if they differentiated nonsuicidal adolescents from those with suicidal ideation and adolescents with suicidal ideation from those who have made a suicide attempt. Hierarchical logistic regressions indicated that frequency of alcohol use did not differentiate nonsuicidal adolescents from those with current suicidal ideation, but severity of depressed mood did so. In contrast, alcohol use was a significant differentiating factor between adolescents who had attempted suicide compared to those with suicidal ideation only, with severity of depressed mood not being significant. However, there was also a significant interaction effect such that for adolescents with suicidal ideation and low levels of depression, increased frequency of alcohol use was associated with increased odds of a suicide attempt. These findings suggest that alcohol use may hasten the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt in adolescents with low levels of depressed mood.

Motivating Latino Smokers to Quit: Does Type of Social Support Matter?

Social support may help smokers quit and buffer against factors that hinder quitting. The study's aims are to examine which types of social support are effective for quitting smoking among Latino smokers and whether social support buffers the effects of depressed mood on smoking cessation. Participants were Latino smokers with children with asthma (N = 131, mean age = 37 years, 73% female). They did not have to want to quit smoking to participate. Smoking status was biochemically verified at a 3-month follow-up. Social support was assessed as whether or not the participant had a significant other, level of perceived general support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List) and level of perceived partner support for smoking cessation (Partner Interaction Questionnaire). Depressed mood was assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Hierarchical logistic regression. Thirty percent of those with a partner quit smoking versus 14.3% of those without a partner. 43.5% of those with high levels of perceived positive partner support quit smoking vs. 17.4% of those with low levels. There was a significant interaction between whether or not a smoker had a partner and depressed mood on quitting: among those not partnered, quit rates were higher among those with low levels of depressed mood (37%) than among those with high levels of depressed mood (9%; odds ratio = 1.147, 95% confidence interval = 1.031-1.276, p < .02). Among those partnered, quit rates were not significantly different between those with high vs. low levels of depressed mood. This paper is the first to examine multiple sources of support for smoking cessation in Latino smokers; partner support and the presence of a significant other are associated with quitting smoking.

Predictors of retention in smoking cessation treatment among Latino smokers in the Northeast United States

Only one previous study on minority retention in smoking cessation treatment has been conducted (Nevid JS, Javier RA, Moulton JL III. Factors predicting participant attrition in a community-based, culturally specific smoking cessation program for Hispanic smokers. Health Psychol 1996; 15: 226-29). We investigated predictors of intervention completion and assessment completion among Latino smokers (n = 131) with asthmatic children participating in a home-based asthma education study that included smoking cessation counseling. We examined a variety of pretreatment demographic and psychosocial predictors of intervention completion (completing all three home visits versus <3), assessment completion (attendance/not) and total study participation (completing all six contacts versus <6). Lower levels of depressed mood (OR = 0.912, 95% CI: 0.857-0.971, P < 0.01) and fewer 'pros' of smoking (OR = 0.882, 95% CI: 0.809-0.961, P < 0.01) predicted intervention completion. Predictors of assessment completion included having more friends who smoke (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.23-3.56, P < 0.01), fewer pros of smoking (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81-0.95, P < 0.01) and a strong belief that quitting smoking would benefit the child's asthma (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.04-2.74, P < 0.05). Unemployed participants were more likely to complete all six study contacts than those who were working (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14-0.99, P < 0.05). Findings suggest the need to tailor retention strategies during active treatment and follow-up assessments to target those who at risk of dropping out.

Links between friendship relations and early adolescents’ trajectories of depressed mood.

The present study examined to what extent different types of friendship experiences (i.e., friendlessness, having depressed friends, and having nondepressed friends) are associated with early adolescents' longitudinal trajectories of depressed mood. On the basis of a sample of 201 youths (108 girls, 93 boys), we identified 3 distinct longitudinal profiles of depressed mood from Grade 5 (age 11) through Grade 7 (age 13): one group with consistently low levels of depressed mood, another group showing a sharp increase in depressed mood from late childhood through early adolescence, and a 3rd group with consistently high levels of depressed mood from late childhood through early adolescence. Subsequent analyses revealed that, compared to friendless youths, youths with nondepressed friends showed less elevated trajectories of depressed mood, whereas youths with depressed friends showed more elevated trajectories. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

The interaction of conduct problems and depressed mood in relation to adolescent substance involvement and peer substance use

Conduct problems are strong positive predictors of substance use and problem substance use among teens, whereas predictive associations of depressed mood with these outcomes are mixed. Conduct problems and depressed mood often co-occur, and such co-occurrence may heighten risk for negative outcomes. Thus, this study examined the interaction of conduct problems and depressed mood at age 11 in relation to substance use and problem use at age 18, and possible mediation through peer substance use at age 16. Analyses of multirater longitudinal data collected from 429 rural youths (222 girls) and their families were conducted using a methodology for testing latent variable interactions. The link between the conduct problems × depressed mood interaction and adolescent substance use was negative and statistically significant. Unexpectedly, positive associations of conduct problems with substance use were stronger at lower levels of depressed mood. A significant negative interaction in relation to peer substance use also was observed, and the estimated indirect effect of the interaction on adolescent use through peer use as a mediator was statistically significant. Findings illustrate the complexity of multiproblem youth.

Social Support, Disease-Related Cognitions and Coping as Predictors of Depressed Mood in Systemic Sclerosis

Psychological mood or distress in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is only weakly related to physician-assessed disease severity, self-reported symptoms and physical functioning. Psychological variables such as social support indices, disease-related cognitions and coping strategies are likely predictors of depressed mood. Until now, however, the independent association between these variables and psychological mood in patients with SSc after controlling for disease severity, symptoms and functioning has not been studied. One hundred and twenty-three patients completed questionnaires measuring symptoms, physical functioning, social support, cognitions, coping and depressed mood. Depressed mood was measured using a subscale of a self-report function scale developed for patients with rheumatic conditions. In addition, disease severity was assessed by a rheumatologist. In the final analysis, being married, higher levels of perceived potential support and higher levels of disease-related cognition acceptance each showed independent associations with lower levels of depressed mood after controlling for disease severity, self-reported symptoms and function. Expression of emotion showed associations with higher levels of depressed mood. These findings suggest that psychological interventions in SSc should try to improve social support skills and acceptance of the disease by the patient.

Depression profile in patients with and without chronic heart failure

Objective Depression often goes undetected and untreated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). To investigate whether patients with CHF show a specific profile of depression symptoms, we compared depression symptoms in depressed patients with and without CHF. Methods Of a total of 921 patients from a CHF and a psychosomatic outpatient clinic, 137 met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and 113 for other depressive disorders. Depressed patients with CHF ( n = 113) and without CHF ( n = 137) were compared with respect to severity of individual DSM-IV depressive symptoms, as measured with the PHQ-9. To stratify for depression severity, ANCOVAs with sociodemographic characteristics as covariates were performed separately for patients with major depressive disorder and other depressive disorders. Results Among the patients meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder, patients with CHF reported significantly lower levels of depressed mood ( p = .006) and worthlessness/guilt ( p = .019) than patients without CHF. In contrast, no significant group differences were found for any of the other depression symptoms. Group comparisons among the patients with other depressive disorders completely replicated these results ( p ≤ .001, and p = .04, respectively). Limitations Our study population of CHF patients may not be representative for CHF patients recruited in the general population. Conclusions The diagnostic features discriminating between depressed patients with and without CHF are the cognitive–emotional symptoms of depression, not the somatic symptoms. This finding may partially explain the low recognition rate of depression in patients with CHF. The different profile of depression symptoms in patients with and without CHF should be considered in diagnosis, treatment and medical education.

Depressed mood and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake from fish: non-linear or confounded association?

There is increasing evidence of an association between low dietary intake of essential n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 EFAs) and depressed mood. This study aimed to evaluate this association in a large population-based sample of UK individuals. N-3 EFA intake (intake from fish alone, and from all sources (fish and supplements)), depressed mood (assessed using the short-form Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales) and demographic variables (sex, age, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) based on postal code, and date of questionnaire completion) were obtained simultaneously by self-report questionnaire (N = 2982). Using polynomial regression, a non-linear relationship between depressed mood and n-3 EFA intake from fish was found, with the incremental decrease in depressed mood diminishing as n-3 EFA intake increased. However, this relationship was attenuated by adjustment for age and IMD. No relationship between depression and n-3 EFA intake from all sources was found. These findings suggest that higher levels of n-3 EFA intake from fish are associated with lower levels of depressed mood, but the association disappears after adjustment for age and social deprivation, and after inclusion of n-3 EFA intake from supplements. This study does have a number of limitations, but the findings available suggest that the apparent associations between depressed mood and n-3 EFA intake from fish may simply reflect a wider association between depressed mood and lifestyle.

Work, Postsecondary Education, and Psychosocial Functioning Following the Transition From High School

Through a two-wave panel study of emerging adults, the authors examine how living situation, work and school roles, and experiences in those roles affect psychosocial functioning following the transition from high school. Enrollment in college programs and fulltime work are associated with lower levels of depressed mood and more positive quality of life. Disruptions in work roles (getting fired, an unwanted period of unemployment) are linked to higher levels of depressed mood, heavy episodic drinking, and poorer quality of life; the negative effects of disruptions in postsecondary schooling are confined to heavy episodic drinking. Open-ended data support the view that ongoing responsibilities are important for emerging adults'sense of progress toward adulthood. Findings linking heavy episodic drinking to problems in role functioning inform recent debates concerning the developmental import of alcohol use, suggesting that heavy drinking is not developmentally harmless.

Relations with Parents and with Peers, Temperament, and Trajectories of Depressed Mood During Early Adolescence

The present study examined (a) whether groups of children can be empirically identified with distinct longitudinal profiles of depressed mood from late childhood through early adolescence, (b) to what extent these different longitudinal depression profiles are predicted by problematic relations with parents, same-sex peers, and other-sex peers, and (c) what role individuals' temperamental characteristics play in this context. Based on a sample of 414 early adolescents (197 girls), four groups were identified with distinct longitudinal profiles of depressed mood between ages 11 and 14: One group with consistently low levels of depressed mood, another with consistently moderate levels of depressed mood, a third group whose depressed mood increased sharply from late childhood through early adolescence, and a fourth group who already showed clinical-range levels of depressed mood during late childhood and whose depressive feelings increased even slightly more thereafter. Subsequent analyses revealed that rejection by same-sex peers was related to the odds of following an increasing trajectory of depressed mood, but only for girls with a highly reactive temperament. A problematic relationship with parents increased the odds of an elevated trajectory of depressed mood regardless of individual temperament. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Developmental, Gender, and Health-Related Variations in Self-Competence and Depressed Mood Among School-Aged Urban Children with Asthma: A Pilot Study

This pilot study examined associations among asthma status, gender, self-competence, and depressed mood across 2 years of middle childhood in a sample of 57 urban children. Results revealed no differences across health status in self-competence and depressed mood. Girls showed a significant increase in levels of self-competence from Year -1 to 2. Higher levels of self-competence were associated with lower levels of depressed mood at Year 1, at Year 2, and from Year 1 to 2. Self-competence accounted for a larger amount of the variance in depressed mood for girls than for boys. Changes in levels of self-competence were significantly associated with changes in depressed mood for girls only. Results suggest meaningful gender-based differences in the socioemotional trajectories of school-aged children, which should be considered when designing preventative interventions in urban environments.

Structured after‐school activities as a moderator of depressed mood for adolescents with detached relations to their parents

AbstractThis study investigated whether participation in structured after‐school activities moderates the association between detached parent–adolescent relationships and adolescent depressed mood. A representative sample of 539 14‐year‐olds and their parents were assessed concerning adolescent participation in after‐school activities, the parent–adolescent relationship, and adolescent depressed mood. Results showed that adolescents with detached relations to their parents reported high levels of depressed mood. Adolescents who participated in after‐school activities reported low levels of depressed mood compared to adolescents not participating in such activities; however, this was primarily true of participants who perceived high support from their activity leader. Support from after‐school activity leaders was particularly important for a subgroup of youth characterized by highly detached relations to their parents. Although girls reported higher levels of depressed mood than did boys, the associated benefits of perceived support from an activity leader were consistent across gender. © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.