Psychological Distress In Men Research Articles

Malignancy, masculinities, and psychological distress: Comparisons made between men with testicular cancer and healthy controls.

Psychological distress is common in men with testicular cancer (TC), and masculinities may work to explain this. This study aimed to compare masculinities and distress in TC and healthy control (HC) populations and explore relationships between correlates of distress (psychological flexibility and coping style) and masculinities in TC. A cross-sectional, online survey was completed by 92 men with TC (Mage =34.8) and 90 HC (Mage =30.7). Measures included psychological distress (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression/Anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence inventory-short form), masculinities (gender role conflict-short form, inventory of subjective masculinity experiences/subjective masculinity stress scale, masculinity in chronic disease inventory), coping style (mini-mental adjustment to cancer ) and psychological flexibility (comprehensive assessment of acceptance commitment therapy). Linear regressions were conducted to compare groups and analyse associations. There were no differences in masculinities or psychological distress between populations (all p>0.05 and all Cohen's d<0.20), except for subjective masculine stress and restrictive affectionate behaviour between men. For men with TC, restrictive affection/emotion, conflicts between family/work and subjective masculine stress were associated with psychological distress (rs 0.21-0.58). Optimistic action was negatively associated with depression/anxiety, helplessness/hopelessness coping (rs -0.27 to -0.42) and positively associated with psychological flexibility (r=0.35). Masculinities are implicated in psychological distress in men with TC. Psychological flexibility as well as leveraging masculine beliefs (e.g., optimistic action) may be modifiable targets to reduce distress in men with TC.

Perceived COVID‐induced racism and contextual predictors of fear and psychological distress among Black men

AbstractThe present study examined if Black men's perceptions of COVID‐induced racism (i.e., the extent to which racism increased during the beginning months of the COVID‐19 pandemic) were associated with their reported fear of COVID‐19 and psychological distress. Self‐report COVID‐related variables and psychological distress data from 231 Black men in the U.S. were analyzed alongside archival percentages of confirmed cases and deaths by participants' county at the time of participation. Hierarchical regressions identified perceptions of COVID‐induced racism as a significant predictor of Black men's psychological distress over and above contextual (e.g., county‐level COVID‐19 case %) and individual‐level predictors (i.e., perceived race‐related infection risk and self‐reported COVID‐related stressful life events). This work contributes to the growing literature on health inequities during the COVID‐19 pandemic with a snapshot of Black men's experiences during the COVID‐19 and racism pandemics of 2020 in the U.S.

Ethnic discrimination and mental health in the Sámi population in Sweden: The SámiHET study.

To assess the association between experiences of discrimination and mental health among the Sámi population in Sweden. Cross-sectional study among the self-identified Sámi population living in Sweden in 2021, registered in the electoral roll of the Sámi Parliament, the reindeer mark register and the 'Labour statistics based on administrative sources'. The analysis was based on a final sample of 3658 respondents aged between 18 and 84 years. Adjusted prevalence ratios aPRs for psychological distress (Kessler scale), self-reported anxiety and depression were estimated for four different forms of discrimination (direct experience of discrimination, offended because of ethnicity, historical trauma, and combined discrimination). Higher aPRs of psychological distress, anxiety and depression were observed in women experiencing direct discrimination because of their ethnicity, having been offended because of their ethnicity, and those with a family history of discrimination. Among men, higher aPRs for psychological distress were observed in those experiencing the four different forms of discrimination, but not for anxiety. Depression was only detected in the case of having been offended. Adding experiences of discrimination was associated with a higher prevalence of negative outcomes for all the indicators in women and for psychological distress in men. The observed association between experiences of discrimination and mental health problems would support a gender approach when considering ethnic discrimination in public health policies concerning the Sámi in Sweden.

A Comprehensive 6-mo Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program Decreases Psychological Distress Among Men Undergoing Curative Prostate Cancer Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundAlthough survival rates for newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients are very high, most of them will likely suffer significant treatment-related side effects, depression, or anxiety, affecting their quality of life. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-mo online home-based physical, mental, and social support intervention, the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP), on preventing psychological distress among men undergoing curative prostate cancer treatment. Design, setting, and participantsIn a crossover randomized clinical trial of 128 men aged 50–82 yr scheduled for curative prostate cancer surgery or radiotherapy (± hormone treatment), 66 received the 6-mo PC-PEP intervention and 62 were randomized to a waitlist-control arm and received the standard of care for 6 mo, and then PC-PEP to the end of the year. The PC-PEP intervention consisted of daily e-mails with video instructions providing education, patient activation, and empowerment on healthy living including physical and mental health, dietary recommendations, social support, physical and pelvic floor fitness, stress reduction using a biofeedback device, social connection and intimacy, and social support. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe primary outcome was nonspecific psychological distress (clinical cutoff ≥20) measured at baseline, and at 6 and 12 mo using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Results and limitationsAt 6 mo, patients in the waitlist-control group had 3.59 (95% confidence interval: 1.12–11.51) times higher odds for nonspecific psychological distress and need for psychological treatment than men who received the PC-PEP intervention. At 12 mo, the wait-list control group that received the intervention at 6 mo had higher psychological distress than the early group. ConclusionsPC-PEP delivered early following diagnosis significantly prevented the burden of psychological distress in men undergoing curative prostate cancer treatment compared with standard of care, or late (6 mo later) intervention. Patient summaryIn this report, we looked at the effectiveness of a program (Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program: PC-PEP) developed with patients' engagement on the mental distress of patients awaiting curative treatment for their prostate cancer. The PC-PEP program lasted for 6 mo, and it prescribed, described, and demonstrated daily aerobic and strength training, kegels (pelvic floor training to help with urinary and sexual function), dietary changes that have been shown to be helpful in the prevention of prostate cancer and prostate cancer progression, stress reduction using a biofeedback device, as well as social and emotional support. All patients in the PC-PEP program were invited to a monthly video conference with the leads of the program who appeared in the 6 mo of daily videos prescribing the activities the patients were asked to watch and follow. The leads were a prostate cancer oncologist and a scientist in prostate cancer quality of life research. Half of the patients in this study received PC-PEP daily for the first 6 mo and were re-assessed at the end of the year. The other half received standard of care for 6 month and then received the intervention to the end of the year. The results of the study show that, at 6 mo, this intervention was effective at reducing the mental distress that accompanies a prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment compared with the standard of care. Mental distress was significantly reduced when the intervention was received early, compared with that received late (6 mo after scheduled curative treatment). We conclude that multi-faceted patient education and empowerment programming of this kind that is developed with patient engagement from the start is crucial to the care of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and should be implemented in the standard of care. While treatment for prostate cancer is highly successful, side effects that accompany most treatments significantly affect the quality of life of patients. Here, we describe PC-PEP, a patient education and activation program that is cost effective, highly enforced by patients, and successful at reducing the impact of prostate cancer active treatment–related side effects on their psychological state. To learn more about this project, please visit www.pcpep.org. The program is now being tested in a phase 4 implementation trial throughout Canada and internationally (New Zealand), and is being expanded and tested for other types of cancer.

Racial socialization and discrimination-related psychological distress in middle-aged Black men and women.

Our objectives were to evaluate gender-specific associations of racial discrimination with psychological sequelae among middle-aged Blacks and to evaluate the capacity of racial socialization to moderate the association between discrimination and psychological distress, accounting for relevant prospectively assessed childhood factors. We used data from the Child Health and Development Disparities Study that followed a Northern California-based group of Blacks from the prenatal period through midlife (N = 244, 49.6% female). Multiple regression analyses were performed separately by gender to assess (a) the main effects of racial socialization and racial discrimination on adult psychological distress, (b) racial socialization as a moderator of the association between racial discrimination and adult psychological distress, and (c) whether controls for prospectively assessed childhood factors changed conclusions regarding the role of racial socialization. Seventy percent of the middle-aged Blacks in our sample reported having at least one type of major experience of racial discrimination. Increased reports of racial discrimination were positively associated with psychological distress in men, but not in women. Similarly, racial socialization was associated with decreased overall distress for men, but not for women. Discrimination-related distress was attenuated for men who reported higher levels of racial socialization. These findings remained after adjustment for childhood socioeconomic status (SES), childhood internalizing symptoms, parental marital separation, and number of siblings. Findings suggest that racial socialization conferred a protective psychological effect through midlife to Black men who experienced racial discrimination, a commonplace experience in this cohort. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The influence of meaning in life on psychological distress among men: A serial multiple mediation model involving resilience and loneliness

Although studies have reported a significant inverse association between meaning in life and psychological distress, little is known about this association, specifically among men, or its potential underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, this study investigated prospective pathways connecting meaning in life to men's psychological distress through the serial mediation effects of resilience and loneliness. In total, 364 male respondents provided demographic data and completed an online survey to assess meaning in life, resilience, loneliness, and psychological distress. Simple and serial mediation models were tested to examine whether resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress, both separately and jointly. Direct and indirect effects of meaning in life on men's psychological distress were found. As predicted, both resilience and loneliness independently mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress. In addition, serial mediation analysis indicated that resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress via a sequential process. The findings advance knowledge concerning the influence of meaning in life on men's psychological distress and two critical underlying mechanisms in this relationship. Clinical interventions for men that enhance meaning in life may help bolster resilience and reduce loneliness, diminishing psychological distress.

Mindfulness and psychological distress in men during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of environmental mastery and purpose in life.

Men's mental health has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many studies focussing on the determinants of men's psychological distress. This study aimed at examining the relationships between mindfulness, environmental mastery (EM), purpose in life (PL) and indicators of psychological distress (i.e., common mental disorders and perceived stress). This was a cross-sectional online study in which participants were 1,006 men aged between 29 and 39 years (45.1%), residing in Brazil during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A parallel multiple mediator model was used to test the study variables' relationships, using mindfulness as the independent variable and indicators of psychological distress as the dependent variables. Results indicated that EM and PL significantly mediated the effects of mindfulness on men's psychological distress, lowering its levels and accounting for 31% of common mental disorders and 51% of perceived stress. Implications for public health policies and clinical practice are discussed.

Intuitive eating is positively associated with indicators of physical and mental health among rural Australian adults.

IntroductionRural Australians have comparatively higher rates of overweight and obesity, as well as some mental health issues. Intuitive eating has been shown to be positively associated with an array of physical and mental health indicators. Few studies, however, have been conducted with general populations, and none has explicitly examined intuitive eating among rural residents.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of intuitive eating, and associations between intuitive eating and indicators of physical and mental health, among a general population of rural adults.DesignCross‐sectional telephone survey of 200 randomly selected, non‐metropolitan, English‐speaking Australian residents aged 18 or older.FindingsThe prevalence of intuitive eating in the sample was 17.6%, with a higher level of intuitive eating among men than women (26.1% vs 9.1%). Bivariate associations between intuitive eating and each of the six health indicators were all positive and mostly statistically significant. Particularly strong was the correlation between intuitive eating and self‐esteem for women (r = 0.53). After controlling for indication of an eating disorder and demographics, the associations between intuitive eating and the outcome variables held for body mass index (BMI), psychological distress and body esteem for men, and for BMI and self‐esteem for women. Post hoc analyses found that BMI did not moderate the relationship for women between intuitive eating and self‐esteem and that body esteem mediates the relationships between intuitive eating and BMI and psychological distress for men, and between intuitive eating and self‐esteem for women.DiscussionConsistent with most prior research, this study finds that intuitive eating is positively associated with several indicators of both physical and mental health among non‐metropolitan residents in Australia. Practice of intuitive eating in this population, however, is low. These findings may help allied health professionals guide rural populations to better health, and may be a particularly effective approach for people for whom the barriers to seeking out health services are high.ConclusionIntuitive eating appears to have substantial correlations with mental health indicators, and to some extent, physical health indicators, among rural Australians and therefore should be further investigated for its potential to inform public health policy targeted to similar populations.

Does coming out matter? A serial mediation model from outness to reduced psychological distress among Chinese gay men

Coming out of the closet refers to the self‐disclosure of one's sexual orientation to other people. A majority of gay men in mainland China are hesitant about coming out. Considerable research in Western contexts has demonstrated that coming out can alleviate gay men's psychological distress. The current study thus aims to understand the psychological impacts of coming out for gay men in mainland China. We employed a serial mediation model to examine the relationship between overall outness and psychological distress, with internalized homonegativity as the first‐order mediator and perceived discrimination based on same‐sex sexual orientation (hereafter “perceived discrimination”) as the second‐order mediator. An online sample of 251 Chinese adult gay men (Mage = 25.25 years, SD = 5.28 years) completed self‐report measures of outness, internalized homonegativity, perceived discrimination, and psychological distress. Results showed that the negative association between overall outness and psychological distress was partially mediated by internalized homonegativity (indirect effect = −0.057, bias‐corrected 95% confidence interval [−0.153, −0.011]), and serially mediated by internalized homonegativity and then perceived discrimination (indirect effect = −0.019, bias‐corrected 95% confidence interval [−0.048, −0.007]), controlling for age. Additionally, we did not find the simple mediating effect of perceived discrimination between overall outness and psychological distress, which may be because coming out reduced oversensitivity and perception bias but increased the probability of actual discriminatory experiences. These results contribute to our understanding of how coming out affects psychological distress among Chinese gay men. Furthermore, this study may illuminate the design of psychological crisis intervention focusing on this group in mainland China.

College Student-athletes' COVID-19 Worry and Psychological Distress Differed by Gender, Race, and Exposure to COVID-19–related Events

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19–related events (e.g., canceled season, diagnosed with COVID) and their psychological distress in April/May 2020. MethodsThe link to the online survey was emailed to NCAA student-athletes by the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Council and the athletic departments of 80 NCAA institutions. In April–May of 2020, student-athletes (N = 5915; women = 3924) completed the online survey once. The survey included measures of their psychological distress, COVID-19 worry, and their exposure to different COVID-19–related events. To examine differences in exposure to COVID-related events by racial, ethnicity, and gender identities, we conducted logistic regressions. A path analysis examined relationships between COVID-related events, COVID-19 worry, and psychological distress for men and women. ResultsStudent-athletes’ exposure to COVID-19 events differed significantly by gender, race, and ethnicity. In addition, 58.7% of women's and 54.5% of men's psychological distress variance was explained by the path model and mostly by their COVID-related worry. Student-athletes’ stress was directly related to the changes that occurred in class delivery (i.e., online format) and indirectly by being quarantined. Men's psychological distress was also related through worry by their sport season being canceled. DiscussionThe general uncertainty and worry about COVID individuals experienced at the beginning of this pandemic primarily explained the athletes' high levels of psychological distress. As COVID-19 continues to cause quarantines and changes educational experiences, the worry and psychological distress of college students are likely to continue.

Psychological Distress in Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: The Role of the Sociodemographic Variables, Uncertainty, and Social Support.

Objective: To analyze the relationships between sociodemographic variables, intolerance to uncertainty (INT), social support, and psychological distress (i.e., indicators of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) and perceived stress (PS)) in Brazilian men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with national coverage, of the web survey type, and conducted with 1006 Brazilian men during the period of social circulation restriction imposed by the health authorities in Brazil for suppression of the coronavirus and control of the pandemic. Structural equation modeling analysis was performed. Results: Statistically significant direct effects of race/skin color (λ = 0.268; p-value < 0.001), socioeconomic status (SES) (λ = 0.306; p-value < 0.001), household composition (λ = 0.281; p-value < 0.001), PS (λ = 0.513; p-value < 0.001), and INT (λ = 0.421; p-value < 0.001) were evidenced in the occurrence of CMDs. Black-skinned men with higher SES, living alone, and with higher PS and INT levels presented higher prevalence values of CMDs. Conclusions: High levels of PS and INT were the factors that presented the strongest associations with the occurrence of CMDs among the men. It is necessary to implement actions to reduce the stress-generating sources as well as to promote an increase in resilience and the development of intrinsic reinforcements to deal with uncertain threats.

Severity of psychological distress over five years differs as a function of sex and presence of coronary artery disease

Background Psychological distress is more prevalent and severe among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to healthy individuals. Little is known regarding its time course, and whether these differences extend to individuals with non-cardiovascular (CV) illnesses. This study examined the presence, severity, and time course of psychological distress in men and women with CAD and those of similarly aged individuals suffering from non-CV conditions. Methods 1229 individuals (61% men; meanage = 60.4 ± 7.0 years) with stable CAD or non-CV illnesses reported on social support, hostility, stress, anxiety and depression at baseline as well as 4.8 ± 0.8 years later. Analyses involved mixed (Sex*CAD status*Time) repeated measures analyses (controlling for relevant covariates), as well as Chi-square and McNemar analyses. Results Women with CAD reported more symptoms of depression compared to other participants at both evaluations (p’s < 0.01), and reported more symptoms of anxiety and stress compared to others at T1 (p’s < 0.05). At T2, perceived stress remained significantly greater among women with CAD compared to men (p’s < 0.01), though differences in anxiety were no longer significant. Men reported more hostility than women (p = 0.001). CAD women fell within the clinical range for depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.001), and stress (p = 0.030) more frequently compared to others at T1, and for depression (p = 0.009) and stress (p = 0.002) at T2. Conclusions The evolution of patient distress differed as a function of the measure examined, their sex, and/or CV status. While psychological distress was prevalent among these patients with diverse health conditions, women with CAD were particularly and chronically vulnerable.

Association of habitual exercise with adults’ mental health following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident: the Fukushima Health Management Survey

IntroductionThe Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011 impacted survivors’ mental health. This study examined whether exercise habits and mental health conditions were associated, and whether the degree of the effect varied depending on time. MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was sent annually to former residents (born before April 1, 1998) in registered evacuation areas. Exercise habit was evaluated by participants’ exercise frequency, and responses were categorized into “almost never,” “once a week,” and “twice a week and more.” Data were tracked during three periods: fiscal year (FY) 2011–2012, 2012–2013, and 2013–2014. The association between baseline habitual exercise and new onset of psychological distress was assessed using the Japanese version of the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale and logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 1304 (5.7%) of 22,741, 1060 (4.7%) of 22,709, and 759 (3.6%) of 21,220 respondents had psychological distress in FY 2011–2012, 2012–2013, and 2013–2014, respectively. An association between exercise and psychological distress was observed in men in FY 2011–2012 (P for trend: 0.010) and in women in FY 2013–2014 (P for trend: 0.026). “Almost never” was associated with onset of psychological distress in men in FY 2011–2012 [odds ratio (OR): 1.317, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.054–1.645] and in women in FY 2013–2014 (OR: 1.296, 95% CI: 1.027–1.636). ConclusionsExercise habit was associated with psychological distress, and its effect in time varied according to sex.

Psychological distress in men with prostate cancer undertaking androgen deprivation therapy: modifying effects of exercise from a year-long randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesTo assess the long-term effects of various exercise modes on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).Patients and methods135 prostate cancer patients aged 43–90 years on ADT were randomized to twice weekly supervised impact loading and resistance exercise (ImpRes), supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (AerRes), and usual care/delayed supervised aerobic exercise (DelAer) for 12 months, and completed measures of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). BSI-18 provides three subscales for anxiety, depression, and somatisation, as well as the global severity index (GSI) where higher scores indicate higher distress.ResultsFollowing the intervention, somatization was not different to baseline, however, there were significant interactions (p < 0.01) for depression, anxiety, and the GSI. In ImpRes, depression was reduced at 12 months compared to baseline and 6 months (0.78 ± 1.39 vs. 1.88 ± 3.24 and 1.48 ± 2.65, p < 0.001), as was the GSI (3.67 ± 4.34 vs. 5.94 ± 7.46 and 4.64 ± 4.73, p < 0.001) with anxiety reduced compared to baseline (1.08 ± 1.54 vs. 1.98 ± 2.56). Depression and the GSI decreased (p < 0.05) in AerRes at 6 months but increased by 12 months, while in DelAer the GSI was reduced at 12 months compared to 6 months (3.78 ± 3.94 vs. 5.25 ± 4.22, p = 0.031). Men with the highest level of anxiety, depression, somatization, and the GSI improved the most with exercise (ptrend < 0.001).ConclusionVarious supervised exercise modes (aerobic, resistance and impact loading) are effective in reducing psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on ADT. Those with the highest level of psychological distress improved the most. Supervised exercise should be prescribed to improve psychological health in prostate cancer patients on ADT.

Education and psychological distress in adolescence and mid‐life: Do private schools make a difference?

This article extends the evidence base on childhood circumstances, education and psychological distress. We examine the link between childhood advantage and disadvantage, the type of school attended during adolescence and psychological distress at ages 16 and 42. The analysis uses a large, population‐based birth cohort study, the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) (n = 17,198) using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. More advantaged young people were more likely to attend private schools, but we find no evidence for an effect of private schooling on psychological distress for men, and for women there was an association between private schooling and raised psychological distress at age 16. Having a university degree was associated with a modest reduction in psychological distress in mid‐life. We establish that maternal psychological distress at age 10 was a risk factor for the offspring’s psychological distress both in adolescence and in mid‐life, and adolescent psychological distress predicts psychological distress in mid‐life. We conclude that schools which are academically successful do not necessarily provide wider benefits in terms of mental health.

The role of gender and self-esteem as moderators of the relationship between stigma and psychological distress among infertile couples

ABSTRACT To determine if perceived stigma is positively associated with psychological distress, and examine if self-esteem has a moderating effect on the relationship between stigma and psychological distress among infertile Chinese couples. 369 infertile couples completed questionnaires including socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, stigma, self-esteem, and psychological distress. Stigma had a significant, positive association with psychological distress (r = 0.461, P < 0.01). Self-esteem moderated the association between stigma and psychological distress differently for men compared to women. Stigma had a positive, moderate association with psychological distress in men with high self-esteem compared to men with low self-esteem (t = 3.232, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the relationship between stigma and psychological distress between women with high and low self-esteem, tests of the simple slopes showed that non-significant difference of slopes between the two groups (t = −0.017, P = 0.987). The results indicate that self-esteem buffers the net effect of stigma on psychological distress in men but not women. Future research should focus on interventions that use self-esteem as a way to decrease the negative association of stigma with psychological distress, especially among men who are infertile and have low self-esteem.

Psychological Distress In Men With Prostate Cancer Undertaking ADT: Results From A 12-month RCT

Prostate cancer patients are subject to psychological distress which may be exacerbated for those undertaking androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) due to treatment-related adverse effects. Exercise is one strategy to counter a range of treatment toxicities in men with prostate cancer and to improve overall physical function and quality of life. PURPOSE: To assess the effect of up to 12 months of exercise on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on ADT. METHODS: Of 163 men (43-90 years) with prostate cancer on ADT and undertaking a 12-month RCT of various exercise modes, 135 had psychological distress assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Patients were randomized to twice weekly impact loading and resistance training (ILRT, n=49), aerobic and resistance training (ART, n=50), and usual care/delayed aerobic exercise (DEL, n=36). ILRT was supervised for 12 months, ART was supervised for 6 months and home-based for 6 months, and DEL underwent supervised aerobic exercise in the second 6 months. The BSI-18 provides three subscales for anxiety, depression, and somatisation, as well as the global severity index (GSI) where higher scores indicate higher distress. Intention-to-treat was utilised for the analyses which included group x time repeated measures ANOVA using log transformed (ln) data. RESULTS: There were no differences among groups at baseline. Somatisation did not change over the study period, however, there were significant interactions (p<0.01) for depression, anxiety, and the GSI. In ILRT, depression was reduced at 12 months compared to baseline and 6 months (0.78 ± 1.39 vs. 1.88 ± 3.24 and 1.48 ± 2.65, respectively), as was the GSI (3.67 ± 4.34 vs. 5.94 ± 7.46 and 4.64 ± 4.73, respectively) with anxiety reduced compared to baseline (1.08 ± 1.54 vs. 1.98 ± 2.56). Depression and the GSI decreased in ART at 6 months but increased by 12 months, while in DEL the GSI was reduced following exercise at 12 months (3.78 ± 3.94 vs. 5.25 ± 4.22 at 6 months). CONCLUSION: Various exercise modes (when supervised) are effective in reducing psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on ADT. As a result, supervised exercise should be prescribed to not only improve physical but also psychological health in this patient group.

Psychological distress and communication quality in military couples after deployment to war.

Previous research has found elevated levels of psychological distress (i.e., posttraumatic stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms) among veterans. Existing theory and evidence show how psychological distress is associated with marital disruptions. Only a few studies, however, have tested the link between psychological distress and couple communication quality in military couples, most of which were cross-sectional and employed self-report measures. The current study investigated whether psychological distress predicts changes in observed communication quality across 1 year in 228 couples consisting of male service members, who were deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan, and their nondeployed female partners. Psychological distress was indicated by self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. Communication quality was assessed using observed couple interactions. The results of an actor-partner interdependence model showed that men's psychological distress predicted men's lower communication quality at one year after accounting for baseline communication quality. Women's psychological distress did not predict their communication quality, and each partner's psychological distress did not predict changes in their partner's communication quality over time. Consistent with previous findings on civilian populations, our findings highlight the long-term effects of psychological distress among service members on their communication behaviors with their intimate partners, and emphasize the importance of targeting psychological symptoms of service members following deployment to war. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Evolution of Mental Health in the Context of Transitory Economic Changes.

Mental health disorders are highly prevalent across countries. They increase over time and impose a severe burden on individuals and societies. This paper examines the evolution of mental health over a period of 15years, paying special attention on the impact of the most recent economic downturn and subsequent recovery, in Spain. We use data coming from the National Health Surveys of 2006/2007, 2011/2012 and 2016/2017. Mental health is proxied by two measures, doctor-diagnosed mental disorder and psychological distress (based on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire). To account for the relationship between the two mental health indicators, we estimate a bivariate probit model. The potential endogeneity of unemployment status is considered. We observe different patterns of the two mental health indicators over time. Psychological distress in men increased during recession years, but slightly decreased among women. Diagnosed mental disorders declined during the peak years of the crisis. Unemployment is a major risk factor for mental distress. Irrespective of the economic conditions, belonging to a higher social class acts as a buffer against psychological distress for women, but not for men. The remaining determinants acted as expected. Women declared worse psychological health than men, and were also more often diagnosed with mental disorders. Having a partner had a protective impact, while providing intensive care to a dependent relative exerted the opposite effect. Education acted as buffer against the onset of psychological distress in women. Even though the need for mental healthcare increased during the recession, the fact that fewer people were diagnosed suggests that barriers to accessing mental healthcare may be aggravated during the crisis. Policies aiming to tackle the challenges posed by the high prevalence of mental disorders have to be particularly attentive to changes in individuals' socioeconomic situation, including education, unemployment and social class.

Gender differences in grief narrative construction: a myth or reality?

ABSTRACT Background: Narratives play a central role in the recovery process following death, and linguistic properties of grief narratives can serve as indicators of adjustment to loss. The present study examined whether bereaved men and women differ in how they discuss their loss, and how linguistic markers relate to psychological functioning. Positive associations were hypothesized between first-person singular pronoun use and psychological distress. Gender differences were expected for different emotion and social process words, and overall word use. Exploratory analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between linguistic markers and psychosocial outcomes for men and women separately. Method: 50 bereaved widow(er)s and parents (29 women, 21 men; M Age = 71.16 years, SD = 9.95) completed psychosocial self-report questionnaires and individual in-depth interviews. Grief narratives were analysed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), a software program that quantifies words into linguistic and psychological categories. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, first-person pronoun use was not related to psychological distress. Although gender differences emerged in self-reported psychosocial outcomes, we failed to find the predicted gender differences in linguistic markers (emotion and social process words, overall word count). Exploratory analyses revealed additional associations between linguistic markers and psychosocial outcomes, and gender differences in these relationships. Notably, first-person pronoun use was related to heightened grief avoidance. Furthermore, various linguistic markers were associated with increased depression levels in females, but not males. In contrast, nonfluencies were positively associated with indicators of psychological distress in men only. Conclusion: In line with the gender similarities hypothesis, analyses suggest similarities between men and women’s discussion of their grief experience. Associations between linguistic markers and psychological adjustment indicate that grief narratives contain meaningful indices of underlying health.