Implications For Mental Health Research Articles

Social media use and emerging mental health issues

ABSTRACT Since its inception, social media has brought about numerous benefits, including higher levels of social connectedness, potential positive interactions, and greater access to information. Nonetheless, the excessive use of social media can lead to negative health outcomes, such as social anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, reduced sleep quality, and higher perceived stress. It has been argued that boredom and loneliness may be mediating factors between social media misuse and negative mental health effects, above all among youth and adolescents. Likewise, exposure to graphic imagery or misinformation on social media may also have deleterious implications for mental health. Taken together, this suggests a need for targeted studies on the relationship between social media and mental health, as well as the development of educational interventions for adolescents to share knowledge about the safe use of such tools. Mental health professionals should be adequately trained in identifying risk factors and treating the negative health outcomes that may result from social media. Specific strategies and guidelines should be adopted by social media companies aligned with international evidence from health agencies and experts in e-mental health.

Navigating a world in conflict: The mental health implications of contemporary geopolitical crises

ABSTRACT Throughout history, armed conflicts have profoundly affected individuals and societies, with recent events in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond bringing into sharp focus the severe mental health and humanitarian consequences of geopolitical crises. Such situations often result in mass fatalities, destruction, displacement, forced migration, and other critical life events. Amid these scenarios, the adverse outcomes for mental health and well-being in both the short and long term must be emphasized. As a conceivable example of the latter, the proposed concept of intergenerational trauma could have far-reaching implications. In particular, in certain regions, civilians have repeatedly experienced instances of violence and may have continually been exposed to critical life events and traumatic stress. In this context, the consequences of these events for individual well-being and global mental health will likely be registered for years to come. Accordingly, urgent help and actions to address the mental health burdens within contemporary conflicts should be accentuated in humanitarian, political, and diplomatic interventions. Equally, health policies must adopt a long-term approach to support initiatives under the purview of global and public mental health objectives.

A pharmacist's role in increasing access to menstrual products: an education and advocacy approach

Individuals who menstruate grapple with diverse challenges in menstrual and reproductive health. This includes financial burdens, societal stigmas, and negative mental and physical health implications. Period poverty, marked by insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation, remains a prevalent and poorly addressed issue. Alarming statistics highlight the extent of this problem and shed light on the staggering number of individuals lacking access to essential menstrual products. The discourse extends to the safety and accessibility of a diverse array of menstrual products. A comprehensive comparison of the cost of available period products was conducted using data obtained from various retail websites. The often-overlooked potential indirect expenses and profound impacts on quality of life were also discussed. Amidst other public health initiatives, pharmacists have emerged as pivotal advocates and educators. Pharmacists are poised to drive initiatives that increase access to menstrual products through public health education and advocacy. By providing education on different menstrual product options, pharmacists can empower individuals to make informed decisions based on their needs. This perspective illuminates the complex impacts of menstruation on individuals and proposes that pharmacists can play a role in overcoming barriers to access. The proposed strategies, rooted in education, research, and advocacy, pave the way for enhancing access, reducing stigma, and elevating the quality of life for those navigating the intricate complexities of menstruation.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care of Girls and Women with Turner Syndrome.

Turner syndrome affects 50 per 100,000 females, affects multiple organs through all stages of life, necessitating multidisciplinary care. This guideline extends previous ones and includes important new advances, within diagnostics and genetics, estrogen treatment, fertility, co-morbidities, and neurocognition and neuropsychology. Exploratory meetings were held in 2021 in Europe and US culminating with a consensus meeting in Aarhus, Denmark in June 2023. Prior to this, eight groups addressed important areas in TS care: 1) diagnosis and genetics, 2) growth, 3) puberty and estrogen treatment, 4) cardiovascular health, 5) transition, 6) fertility assessment, monitoring, and counselling, 7) health surveillance for comorbidities throughout the lifespan, and 8) neurocognition and its implications for mental health and well-being. Each group produced proposals for the present guidelines, which were meticulously discussed by the entire group. Four pertinent questions were submitted for formal GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evaluation with systematic review of the literature. The guidelines project was initiated by the European Society for Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, in collaboration with members from the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions, the Society for Endocrinology, and the European Society of Cardiology, Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Australia and New Zealand Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Latin American Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, and the Asia Pacific Pediatric Endocrine Society. Advocacy groups appointed representatives for pre-meeting discussions and the consensus meeting.

Electrophysiological and behavioral differences of general and food-specific inhibitory control in people with different levels of intuitive eating

Intuitive eating influences health-related behaviors (including calorie and nutritional intake) that are modulated by inhibitory control, producing implications for physical, mental, and emotional health. However, little is known about the relationship between intuitive eating habits and inhibitory control. Therefore, we tested intuitive eating's influence on measures of general and food-related inhibitory control using behavioral and event-related potentials (N2 and P3 components). We included 40 healthy participants: 23 had a higher level of intuitive eating, and 17 had a lower level. They participated in food-specific go/no-go and general go/no-go tasks for which we recorded electroencephalogram data. As expected, in the food-specific go/no-go task, the P3 component amplitude in the lower intuitive eating group was significantly larger than in the higher intuitive eating group; there were no significant between-group differences in the N2 amplitudes or behavioral measures. Moreover, there were no ERP or behavioral difference between groups in the general go/no-go task. Further research is needed to understand the role of positive eating behaviors in food-specific inhibitory control.

Efficacy of the iJobs Web-Based Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Job Search Behavior and Promote Mental Health Among Unemployed People: Protocol for a Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial.

Unemployment affects millions of people worldwide and, beyond its economic impact, has severe implications for people's well-being and mental health. Different programs have been developed in response to this phenomenon, but to date, job-search interventions have proved to be most effective, especially the JOBS II program. The JOBS II program proved not only to be effective for re-employment but also has a positive impact on beneficiaries' mental health (ie, reduces anxiety or depression). However, by now, this evidence-based program has been delivered only on site in the various countries where it was implemented. In the digital era, web-based alternatives to such programs are highly needed because they have the advantages of scalability and cost-effectiveness. In this context, we aim to investigate the efficacy of iJobs, the web-based adaptation of the JOBS II program, on job-search intensity and effort, the quality of job-search behaviors, and job-search self-efficacy. Further, 1 month after the intervention, we will also assess the employment status and the satisfaction with the job (if applicable). This study will also investigate the effect of iJobs on well-being and mental health (ie, anxiety and depression). This study is a 2-arm randomized controlled trial. The 2 independent groups (intervention vs waiting list control group) will be crossed with 3 measurement times (ie, baseline, the postintervention time point, and 1-month follow-up). The design will be a 2 (intervention vs control) × 3 (baseline, the postintervention time point, and 1-month follow-up) factorial design. iJobs is a 2-week intervention consisting of 6 modules: an introductive module and 5 modules adapted from the original JOBS II program to the web-based setting and Romanian population. The web-based intervention also has a human component, as beneficiaries receive personalized written feedback after each module on the platform from a team of psychologists involved in the project. The enrollment of study participants started in June 2023 and is expected to end in May 2024. The data collection is expected to be completed by July 2024. The results are expected to be submitted for publication in the summer of 2024. This study is the first large-scale randomized controlled trial aiming to test the efficacy of a web-based adaptation of the JOBS II program. If our results support the efficacy of iJobs, they will offer the premise for it to become an evidence-based, accessible alternative for unemployed people in Romania and might be implemented in other countries. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05962554; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05962554. PRR1-10.2196/55374.

Interoceptive accuracy in children aged 8 to 13 and their parents: implications for mental health

Interoceptive accuracy in children aged 8 to 13 and their parents: implications for mental health

Neurophenomenological Investigation of Mindfulness Meditation "Cessation" Experiences Using EEG Network Analysis in an Intensively Sampled Adept Meditator.

Mindfulness meditation is a contemplative practice that is informed by Buddhism. It has been proven effective for improving mental and physical health in clinical and non-clinical contexts. To date, mainstream dialogue and scientific research on mindfulness has focused primarily on short-term mindfulness training and applications of mindfulness for reducing stress. Understanding advanced mindfulness practice has important implications for mental health and general wellbeing. According to Theravada Buddhist meditation, a "cessation" event is a dramatic experience of profound clarity and equanimity that involves a complete discontinuation in experience, and is evidence of mastery of mindfulness meditation. Thirty-seven cessation events were captured in a single intensively sampled advanced meditator (over 6,000h of retreat mindfulness meditation training) while recording electroencephalography (EEG) in 29 sessions between November 12, 2019 and March 11, 2020. Functional connectivity and network integration were assessed from 40s prior to cessations to 40s after cessations. From 21s prior to cessations there was a linear decrease in large-scale functional interactions at the whole-brain level in the alpha band. In the 40s following cessations these interactions linearly returned to prior levels. No modulation of network integration was observed. The decrease in whole-brain functional connectivity was underlain by frontal to left temporal and to more posterior decreases in connectivity, while the increase was underlain by wide-spread increases in connectivity. These results provide neuroscientific evidence of large-scale modulation of brain activity related to cessation events that provides a foundation for future studies of advanced meditation.

Abstract PO2-10-09: Professional Support for Eating and Nutrition among Women Living with Breast Cancer: Implications for Mental Health and Quality of Life

Abstract Background: Within oncology, nutrition and eating behaviors are often tied to cancer prevention, incidence rates, progression, and healthy survivorship, as well as symptom and side effect management. While many nutrition-related resources and guidelines focus on physical health outcomes, support around nutrition and eating behaviors can have critical implications for mental health and quality of life outcomes among breast cancer patients and survivors. Methods: 232 women with breast cancer enrolled in the online Cancer Experience Registry and provided sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, answered questions about their eating and nutrition experiences, including utilization of a Registered Dietitian for professional eating and nutrition support since being diagnosed with cancer, and completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29v2.0 + 2-item Cognitive Function Short Form). Frequencies were calculated and group differences among those who wanted professional support for eating and nutrition but either did or did not receive it were assessed using independent-samples t-tests. Results: The sample was 81% Non-Hispanic (NH) White, 9% NH Black. Participants varied in age (mean=61 yrs; SD=9.2), time since diagnosis (median=7 yrs, range: < 1-39) and socioeconomic status (16% household income < $40K; 32% employer-provided insurance coverage). 44% were currently receiving treatment, with 70% in remission, 12% with metastatic disease, and 21% with history of recurrence. Over one-third (36%) received professional support for eating and nutrition from a Registered Dietitian since being diagnosed with cancer, including 12% receiving that support in the last 6 months. Participants wanted professional support for eating and nutrition during active treatment (51%), after treatment (44%), at initial diagnosis (23%), before treatment (18%), before being diagnosed with cancer (11%) . The most commonly reported eating and nutrition needs driving the desire for professional support included weight-related support (54%; maintenance, gain, or loss), achieving healthy eating patterns (52%), increasing energy level (46%) and physical fitness/strength (45%). However, experiences with professional support for eating and nutrition varied: 54% wanted eating and nutrition support since being diagnosed with cancer, but only 68% of those who wanted this support were able to access care. Irrespective of access to professional eating and nutrition support, participants report changing their eating patterns to manage SSEs (50%) or improve long-term health (57%). Among those who desired professional support for eating and nutrition since being diagnosed with cancer (n=102), those who did not get the desired support (n=34) compared to those who did (n=68) reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and pain, as well as lower levels of physical and cognitive function (all ps < .05). Levels of fatigue and social function were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: While there is a strong desire for professional support surrounding eating and nutrition among women with breast cancer, when that support is needed and what it aims to address varies greatly. Among those interested in receiving professional support for eating and nutrition, those who accessed professional support reported greater mental health and quality of life. Further research is needed to understand barriers to accessing eating and nutrition support among those who are not able to obtain it. Community-based advocacy organizations that offer access to professional support services for eating and nutrition are critical for addressing unmet needs in this area to improve health and well-being among women with breast cancer. Citation Format: Victoria Morris, Melissa Miller, Susan Weldon, Gail Kelly. Professional Support for Eating and Nutrition among Women Living with Breast Cancer: Implications for Mental Health and Quality of Life [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-10-09.

The influence of economic policies on social environments and mental health.

Despite increased advocacy and investments in mental health systems globally, there has been limited progress in reducing mental disorder prevalence. In this paper, we argue that meaningful advancements in population mental health necessitate addressing the fundamental sources of shared distress. Using a systems perspective, economic structures and policies are identified as the potential cause of causes of mental ill-health. Neoliberal ideologies, prioritizing economic optimization and continuous growth, contribute to the promotion of individualism, job insecurity, increasing demands on workers, parental stress, social disconnection and a broad range of manifestations well-recognized to erode mental health. We emphasize the need for mental health researchers and advocates to increasingly engage with the economic policy discourse to draw attention to mental health and well-being implications. We call for a shift towards a well-being economy to better align commercial interests with collective well-being and social prosperity. The involvement of individuals with lived mental ill-health experiences, practitioners and researchers is needed to mobilize communities for change and influence economic policies to safeguard well-being. Additionally, we call for the establishment of national mental wealth observatories to inform coordinated health, social and economic policies and realize the transition to a more sustainable well-being economy that offers promise for progress on population mental health outcomes.

Mental Health Implications of Family Separation Associated with Migration Policies in the United States: A Systematic Review

The practice of family separation as a mechanism of oppression has a deep-rooted history in the U.S., manifesting in diverse contexts, including punitive migration policies. This systematic review aimed to provide a rigorous and updated synthesis of the research on family separation as a result of migration policies and its impacts on immigrants’ mental health while making a distinction between forced family separation, family separation by constrained choices, and living with the fear of family separation. We systematically searched four bibliographic databases using keywords related to family separation, migration, transnational families, and mental health for peer-reviewed studies published in English on or before January 1st, 2022. Results of the review indicate that family separation or fear of it may result in depression, anxiety, behavioral and emotional issues, sleep disturbances, and stress or distress in affected children. Similarly, impacted parents or caregivers might experience stress or distress, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Findings call for migration policy changes prioritizing family unity and comprehensive mental health interventions to respond to the pervasive consequences of family separation or fear thereof among immigrants in the U.S.

Extended Paid Maternity Leave Associated With Improved Maternal Mental Health In Hong Kong.

In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation. Participants had a mean age of thirty-two, were majority primiparous, and were mostly working in skilled occupations. Our results show that the policy was associated with a 22percent decrease in mothers experiencing postnatal depressive symptoms and a 33percent decrease in postpartum emotional well-being interference. Even this modest change in policy, an additional four weeks of paid leave, was associated with significant mental health benefits. Policy makers should consider extending paid maternity leave to international norms to improve mental health among working mothers and to support workforce retention.

Exploring Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Use Among Cisgender Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are disproportionately used by sexual minority men, with the physical and mental health implications of AAS use incompletely understood. To understand the reasons for use and health care needs of gay, bisexual, and queer cisgender men using AAS. This qualitative study was conducted from November 2021 to May 2023 using self-administered questionnaires and semistructured interviews that were transcribed and coded using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer clinical centers in New York, New York, as well as through online platforms. All patients self-identified as cisgender and gay, bisexual, or queer. History of nonprescribed AAS use for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks was required. The primary outcomes were reasons for and health implications of AAS use and interactions with health care practitioners, as determined through interviews. Interview transcripts were collected and analyzed. Thematic saturation was reached after interviews with 12 male participants (mean [SD] age, 44 [11] years), with the majority of participants identifying as gay (10 participants [83%]), White non-Hispanic (9 participants [75%]), being in their 30s and 40s (9 participants [75%]), holding a bachelor's degree or higher (11 participants [92%]), and having used steroids for a mean (SD) of 7.5 (7.1) years. One participant (8%) self-identified as Black, and 2 (17%) identified as Hispanic. Seven men (58%) met the criteria for muscle dysmorphia on screening. Nine overarching themes were found, including internal and external motivators for initial use, continued use because of effectiveness or fear of losses, intensive personal research, physical and emotional harms experienced from use, using community-based harm reduction techniques, frustration with interactions with the medical community focused on AAS cessation, and concerns around the illegality of AAS. In this qualitative study, AAS use among cisgender gay, bisexual, and queer men was found to be associated with multifactorial motivators, including a likely AAS use disorder and muscle dysmorphia. Despite all participants experiencing harms from use, men seeking medical help found insufficient support with practitioners insistent on AAS cessation and, thus, developed their own harm reduction techniques. Further research is needed to assess the utility of practitioner education efforts, the safety and efficacy of community-developed harm reduction methods, and the impact of AAS decriminalization on health care outcomes for this patient population.

Integrative Analysis of Binge -Watching Behaviour in the Streaming Era

Abstract Background: Binge-watching (BW), defined as the continuous and prolonged viewing of multiple episodes of series, movies, and other digital media, has become a prevalent phenomenon with the rise of streaming services. This subject, which has seen increasing academic interest, is marked by conceptual variations and debates concerning its mental health implications. Objectives: Conduct an integrative review to contribute to the scientific basis and promote the conceptual consolidation of BW from various perspectives. Methods: This integrative review examines key scholarly articles on BW. We analyzed 24 studies from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scielo, selected based on the P.E.C.O.S. inclusion criteria and published between 2013 and 2023. Results: The definition of BW varies, including criteria such as episode count, session duration, and the number of seasons viewed, along with seven different behavioral assessment scales. Associations were found between BW and several mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, and loneliness. Conclusion: The review outlines the definitions, motivations, and mental health comorbidities associated with BW. It highlights significant gaps in current knowledge, partly due to the non-systematic search methods that may have excluded relevant studies. Keywords: Binge Watching, Digital media, Integrative review.

Profiles of childhood trauma: epidemiological survey results of an educated young community cohort

Profiles of childhood trauma: epidemiological survey results of an educated young community cohort

School Bullying and Mental Health in Adolescence:

This article is a comprehensive narrative review on school bullying, which has been taken as a significant public health issue in relation to our children or ourselves. It increases the risk of lifelong consequences including mental disorders and social problems. Though there are existing reviews summarizing some critical parts of this topic, it is scarce of systematic examination to the fundamentals of bullying and comparisons across different bullying roles of victims, perpetrators, and in particular, positive and negative bystanders. By examining prevalence rates, types, influencing factors, consequences, correlates, preventions and mediators, this article aims to consolidate in-depth understanding of school bullying dynamics and their mental health implications. Additionally, the synthesis of both Western and Chinese studies offers a cross-cultural perspective. Finally, this review also provides suggestions on future research direction, emphasizing the need for attention to negative bystanders and targeted and culturally sensitive prevention strategies. Main Contribution to Evidence-Based Practice The main contribution of this study is the provision of evidence-based insights and knowledge that equip stakeholders in the healthcare sector with a holistic view of the bullying phenomena, especially affecting adolescents in the school environment. It allows for informed decision-making, the formulation of effective policies, and the advancement of prevention of bullying and mental health challenges to benefit adolescents at schools across the World.

Navigating the complex terrain of motivated behavior: a bibliometric and neuroscientific perspective.

Over several decades, motivated behavior has emerged as a crucial study area within neuroscience. Understanding the neural substrates and mechanisms driving behaviors related to reward, addiction, and other motivation forms is pivotal for novel therapeutic interventions. This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the literature, highlighting the main trends, influential authors, and the potential future direction of the field. Utilizing a dataset comprised by 3,150 publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases ("motivated behavior as query), we delve into key metrics like publication trends, keyword prevalence, author collaborations, citation impacts, and employed an unsupervised natural language processing technique - Latent Dirichlet Allocation - for topic modeling. From early investigations focusing on basic neural mechanism and behaviors in animal models to more recent studies exploring the complex interplay of neurobiological, psychological, and social factors in humans, the field had undergone a remarkable transformation. The last century has seen a proliferation of research dedicated to uncovering the intricacies of motivation, significantly enriching our understanding of its myriad implications for human behavior and mental health. This bibliometric analysis aims to offer comprehensive insights into this dynamic research area, highlighting the field's key contributions and potential future directions, thereby serving as a valuable resource for researchers, and hopefully give a more thorough understanding of the research area.

Mental health implications and psychologic factors in workers' compensation cases.

Work-related injuries can harm mental health and affect other facets of injured workers' lives. Clinicians must be aware of the problem of emotional distress and treat the whole patient after a workplace injury. More education and information are needed for clinicians, employers, and workers' compensation carriers so that injured workers can be properly screened for mental health issues and supported during treatment. Further research is needed to establish a protocol for early intervention to minimize the negative emotional and mental health effects of workplace injuries.

Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Mental Health and Substance Use

Aim: Traumatic stressor events disrupt the normal daily functioning of individuals and groups, and the consequences of collective trauma magnify psychopathology and mental health issues. One overlooked mental health implication of traumatic stress is loneliness. The current study examines loneliness as a result of traumatic stress and its psycho-social correlates, including substance abuse and changes in daily health behaviors. Design: Cross-sectional, nationwide, online survey. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, nationwide online survey that included 2,530 adults in the United States, 18-83 years old, and examined the associations between loneliness and psychosocial factors and substance use during the initial part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Increased loneliness was associated with younger age, single marital status, and lower levels of education. Mental health disorders, including major depression, generalized anxiety, and somatization, were also associated with high levels of loneliness. Further, individuals with high levels of loneliness were more likely to report increased substance use, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Discussion: The findings of this study indicate that during times of collective traumatic events, high levels of loneliness are a risk factor for mental health and substance use. Further initiatives are warranted to create awareness and institute routine screenings for symptoms of loneliness to mitigate mental health distress and increases in substance abuse.

An In-depth Study of the Online Education Landscape in Mumbai Suburbs, India, with a Focus on the Psychological and Social Challenges Encountered by Students, Including Isolation, Mental Health Implications, and Their Holistic Well-being

An In-depth Study of the Online Education Landscape in Mumbai Suburbs, India, with a Focus on the Psychological and Social Challenges Encountered by Students, Including Isolation, Mental Health Implications, and Their Holistic Well-being