Mental Health Of Young Adults Research Articles

Prenatal exposure to air pollution and maternal depression: Combined effects on brain aging and mental health in young adulthood

IntroductionBoth maternal depression problems during pregnancy and prenatal exposure to air pollution have been associated with changes in the brain as well as worse mood and anxiety in the offspring in adulthood. However, it is not clear whether these effects are independent or whether and how they might interact and impact the brain age and mental health of the young adult offspring. MethodsA total of 202 mother–child dyads from a prenatal birth cohort were assessed for maternal depression during pregnancy through self-report questionnaires administered in the early 90s, exposure to air pollutants (Sulfur dioxide [SO2], nitrogen oxides [NOx], and suspended particle matter [SPM]) during each trimester based on maternal address and air quality data, mental health of the young adult offspring (28–30 years of age; 52% men, all of European ancestry) using self-report questionnaires for depression (Beck Depression Inventory), mood dysregulation (Profile of Mood States), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and psychotic symptoms (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire), and brain age, estimated from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and previously published neuroanatomical age prediction model using cortical thickness maps. The brain age gap estimate (BrainAGE) was computed by subtracting structural brain age from chronological age. Trajectories of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy were assessed using Growth Mixture Modeling. The interactions of prenatal depression and prenatal exposure to air pollutants on adult mental health and BrainAGE were assessed using hierarchical linear regression. ResultsWe revealed two distinct trajectories of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy: “early exposure,” characterized by high exposure during the first trimester, followed by a steady decrease, and “late exposure,” characterized by low exposure during the first trimester, followed by a steady increase in the exposure during the subsequent trimesters. Maternal depression during the first half of pregnancy interacted with NOX exposure trajectory, predicting mood dysregulation and schizotypal symptoms in young adults. In addition, maternal depression during the second half of pregnancy interacted with both NOx and SO2 exposure trajectories, respectively, and predicted BrainAGE in young adults. In those with early exposure to NOx, maternal depression during pregnancy was associated with worse mental health and accelerated brain aging in young adulthood. In contrast, in those with early exposure to SO2, maternal depression during pregnancy was associated with slower brain aging in young adulthood. ConclusionsOur findings provide the first evidence of the combined effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution and maternal depression on mental health outcomes and brain age in young adult offspring. Moreover, they point out the importance of the timing and trajectory of the exposure during prenatal development.

Parenting Style as Correlates of Anxiety Among Young Adults

Abstract: This study recognizes the crucial role early familial experiences have in influencing mental health outcomes and examines the association between parenting methods and anxiety levels among young adults. In this exploratory study, a broad sample of young adults (ages 18 to 25) completed self-report questionnaires to gauge their anxiety levels and describe their parents' parenting approaches in retrospect. Incorporating Baumrind's authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting styles, the study used a comprehensive framework. The results showed a strong relationship between different parenting philosophies and young people' anxiety levels. Interestingly, those who grew up in authoritative households demonstrated reduced anxiety, underscoring the benefits of equitable parental response and engagement. On the other hand, those with histories of authoritarian or negligent parenting showed higher levels of anxiety, highlighting the possible drawbacks of excessively strict or uncaring parenting styles. In order to better understand the intricate interactions between parenting practices and anxiety consequences, the study also looked into potential mediating factors, such as attachment types and perceived social support. The findings of this study add to a more complex knowledge of the long-term effects of early experiences providing care on the mental health of young adults and could guide the development of focused therapies to lessen anxiety-related problems in this population. In the end, this study emphasizes how critical it is to take a multifaceted approach to studying the complex relationships between parenting practices and anxiety during the transition to adulthood.

Psychometric properties of the positive mental health questionnaire: short form (PMHQ-SF18) in young adults.

Positive Mental Health (PMH) plays a pivotal role in the promoting of mental health. Assessing this phenomenon is essential for early recognition and intervention in mental health. To date, only one tool was validated with 39 items to assess PMH among Portuguese young adults. This study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the short version of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) among Portuguese university students. The PMHQ Short Form was administered to a sample of 3,647 university students via an online platform. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The principal factor solution was employed because some items showed higher levels of kurtosis. Multivariate analysis was tested using the Mardia's Test, Henze-Zirkler, and Royston. Findings of content, construct validity tests, and Cronbach's alfa demonstrated the satisfactory validity and suitable reliability of the PMHQ-Short Form (PMHQ-SF). The exploratory factor analysis produced six dimensions of the PMHQ-SF with three items in each factor demonstrating adequate internal reliability. The global internal consistency was 0.92, with factors ranging between 0.60 to 0.82. The results suggest that the PMHQ-SF is reliable, easier, and more practical to complete by university students due to the shortening of the number of items. The PMHQ-SF is useful for assessing positive mental health in young adults. The final version of the instrument contains from 32 to 18 items.

Study on Predictor Variables for Different Dimensions of Mental Health among Melavoi Village of Covid-19 Affected Young Adults Living in Anantapuram District, Andhra Pradesh

Early adulthood is an extremely diverse period of life. it encompasses a wide range of lifestyle choices and responsibilities. The pandemic has impacted the mental health of young adults very severely. Covid-19 pandemic there has been an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, chronic trauma with an eventual risk of increased suicidality and suicidal behavior linking this to immune mediated mechanisms of stress. For better dealing with these psychosocial issues of different strata of the society, psychosocial crisis prevention and intervention models should be urgently developed by the government, health care personnel and other stakeholders. Apt application of internet services, technology and social media to curb both pandemic and infodemic needs to be instigated. The main focus of the study was to swot on “Study on predictor variables for different dimensions of mental health among Melavoi village of Covid-19 affected young adults living in Anantapuram district, Andhra Pradesh”. Purposive random sampling technique was selected for the study. The respondents were selected from Melavoi village of Anantapuram district, Andhra Pradesh. Male and Female who are in the age group of 18-35 years affected with Covid-19 was selected for the study. The group consists of 30 Covid-19 affected young adults of 15 males and 15 females from Melavoivillage for the study. The study found that Covid-19 outbreak made respondents to experience lot of mental health problems like emotional distress, anxiety, stress, despair, dissatisfaction, impatience irrespective of gender.

Chinese college students' mental health during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of family functioning.

Various psychological theories suggest that a supportive family environment protects the mental health of young adults during stressful life events. However, evidence is limited regarding the protective role of family support during a major public health crisis. To examine the role of family functioning on mental health among Chinese college students during first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January-March 2020, 1,555 college students (44% female, on average 19 years old) from five Chinese universities participated. Participants rated their family functioning on the Family APGAR Index and their mental health on the Psychological Questionnaires for Emergent Events of Public Health, measuring depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive-anxiety and hypochondriasis. Better family functioning was associated with having fewer psychological symptoms. In addition, we identified three mental health profiles related to the severity across the psychological symptoms: Low-level, medium-level and high-level symptom clusters. Latent profile analysis showed that as family function improved, students were, respectively, 16 to 24% more likely to be in the low-level symptom group, compared to being in the medium symptom group or the high-level symptom group. These results support the notion that family support may act as a psychological buffer for young adults during a large-scale public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effect of single mothers’ employment on their children’s mental health in young adulthood: Random effects model for longitudinal data

ObjectiveBased on a longitudinal approach, this study explores the effect of single mothers’ employment from pregnancy to their children’s preschool years on their adult children’s self-esteem and depression. MethodsThe National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) were employed to pair mothers and their adult children. We used six NLSY79 CY waves from 2004 to 2014. A total of 2,596 single mother-headed household dyads were selected. Variables repeatedly measured at six points in time were tested using the Random Effects Model. ResultsResults show that single mothers’ higher frequency of employment from pregnancy to when their children were four years old was significantly related to their children’s self-esteem and depression at above the age of 18 years.Discussion.Providing more opportunities for single mothers to get a job is necessary to enhance their children’s mental health over time. Accessible job training programs for single mothers and free provision of accessible and high-quality childcare services by the government should be focused on single mothers, particularly those who are pregnant or have children under the age of 5 years, for their children to positively develop self-esteem and reduce depression over time. The intergenerational transmission of inequality between single mothers and their adult children can be addressed by providing more opportunities for well-paying stable jobs with flexible schedules to single mothers, so they are better able to provide their children with time, support and resources.

Recoverability and estimation of causal effects under typical multivariable missingness mechanisms.

In the context of missing data, the identifiability or "recoverability" of the average causal effect (ACE) depends not only on the usual causal assumptions but also on missingness assumptions that can be depicted by adding variable-specific missingness indicators to causal diagrams, creating missingness directed acyclic graphs (m-DAGs). Previous research described canonical m-DAGs, representing typical multivariable missingness mechanisms in epidemiological studies, and examined mathematically the recoverability of the ACE in each case. However, this work assumed no effect modification and did not investigate methods for estimation across such scenarios. Here, we extend this research by determining the recoverability of the ACE in settings with effect modification and conducting a simulation study to evaluate the performance of widely used missing data methods when estimating the ACE using correctly specified g-computation. Methods assessed were complete case analysis (CCA) and various implementations of multiple imputation (MI) with varying degrees of compatibility with the outcome model used in g-computation. Simulations were based on an example from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS), where interest was in estimating the ACE of adolescent cannabis use on mental health in young adulthood. We found that the ACE is recoverable when no incomplete variable (exposure, outcome, or confounder) causes its own missingness, and nonrecoverable otherwise, in simplified versions of 10 canonical m-DAGs that excluded unmeasured common causes of missingness indicators. Despite this nonrecoverability, simulations showed that MI approaches that are compatible with the outcome model in g-computation may enable approximately unbiased estimation across all canonical m-DAGs considered, except when the outcome causes its own missingness or causes the missingness of a variable that causes its own missingness. In the latter settings, researchers may need to consider sensitivity analysis methods incorporating external information (e.g., delta-adjustment methods). The VAHCS case study illustrates the practical implications of thesefindings.

Memories of Upbringing in Relation to Mental Health of Young Adults

Our mental well-being can be significantly affected by our recollections of our upbringing, especially our memories of how we were parented. This study focuses on the impact of memories of parenting on the mental health of young adults. The study employed the EMBU scale to measure recollections of upbringing. The scale measures emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection as the three parenting/upbringing axes. The study evaluated the mental health of 160 participants, aged between 18 and 25, using the DASS-21 scale, which includes three subscales: depression, anxiety, and stress. Pearson Correlation and Regression was used to analyze the relationship between the above mentioned variables. The results revealed significant correlations between rejection and mental health (r = .609, p < .01), warmth and rejection (r = -.350, p < .01), warmth and mental health (r = .156, p < .05), and overprotection and mental health (r = .850, p < .01). Additionally, a regression analysis showed that rejection significantly predicted mental health (β = .355, p < .001), even after controlling for overprotection. These findings suggest that higher levels of rejection are associated with poorer mental health outcomes, while warmth and overprotection have mixed relationships with mental health. Keywords: Memories of upbringing, mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, rejection, warmth & overprotection.

Adverse childhood experiences and subsequent physical and mental health among young adults: Results from six universities in China

Research has shown that individuals with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to encounter heightened risks of physical and psychological challenges later in life. However, limited research has explored the comprehensive impact on the physical and mental health of young adults. Thus, we conducted a study to investigate the associations of ACEs with the physical and mental health of 18,723 college students in China. Their physical and mental health status was assessed using self-perceived health assessments, self-reported disease diagnoses, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7-item scale. Results showed that 82.6 % of participants had experienced at least one ACE, with 10.7 % reporting exposure to four or more ACEs. Compared to participants with low ACEs exposure (≤ 1), participants with high ACEs exposure (≥ 4) had a nearly twofold increase in the odds of cardiometabolic diseases (OR [95 % CI] = 2.06 [1.55-2.74]) and fractures (2.32 [1.88-2.87]). Additionally, individuals with high ACE exposure exhibited a threefold increased odds of severe anxiety symptoms (3.78 [2.59-5.51]) and bipolar disorder/schizophrenia (3.38 [2.18-5.23]). These findings highlight ACEs as a significant risk factor for poor physical and mental health among young adults. Targeted support and interventions for individuals with multiple ACEs may help mitigate their long-term disease burden.

Religion and mental health in young adulthood: a register-based study on differences by religious affiliation in sickness absence due to mental disorders in Finland

BackgroundReligiosity and spirituality are known to be positively correlated with health. This is the first study to analyse the interrelation between religious denomination and sickness absence due to mental disorders...

Perceived Mental Health among Identified Talented and Nonidentified Students from Indian Villages, Towns, and Cities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study investigates the perception of experience of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among young adults (18–22 years of age) from different locales in India during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 1,020 participants (603 males and 417 females) with 470 identified talented students (ITS) and 550 nonidentified students (NiS) from Indian villages, towns, and cities. multivariate analysis of variance and ordinal logistic regression analysis were carried out to understand the differences between the various subcategories and the probability of having high negative emotional states among those groups. Results point toward varying levels of DAS depending on whether they were ITS or NiS, whether male or female, and whether they came from Indian villages, towns, or cities. Both similarities and dissimilarities with other studies were observed, and the results provide insights into the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of young adults in India. The importance of developing psychological support systems for all students is implicated in the findings of the study.

Hope and Grit: How Human-Centered Product Design Enhanced Student Mental Health

Two organizations that focus on tech-based health innovation have partnered to improve the mental health of young adults. In this “tech for good” project, Hopelab and Grit Digital Health worked together to create an app using human-centered product design. With the core needs of users at the forefront, the team developed an app both with and for college students to combat loneliness, a prevalent issue that can lead to other problems such as depression, anxiety, and even dropping out of college. The team also applied systems thinking to address the root causes of this “wicked problem,” resulting in their Nod app, which has improved outcomes for college students. This article is based on the author’s award-winning case study.

Sleep duration and mental health in young adults

BackgroundThe association between sleep duration and mental illness has been established in middle-aged and older populations, yet remains less explored in younger adults. Additionally, a common limitation to existing studies is the lack of statistical power to explore less common disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine sleep duration as a predictor for a range of mental disorders and well-being in a longitudinal sample of young adults. MethodsData were derived from two waves (w1, w2) of the SHoT survey, which invited all full-time university and college students in Norway. The response rates were 34.4 % (n = 62,498) in 2021 (w1) and 35.1 % (n = 59,554) 2022 (w2). This study utilized a nested longitudinal sample from both w1 and w2, encompassing 21,289 students. Demographics, sleep duration (w1), and mental health (w2) were measured by self-report questionnaires. Sex-stratified linear regression models and log-link binomial regression analyses were employed to determine the proportion and calculate the risk ratios, respectively, for mental illness across different sleep duration categories. ResultsThe mean age of the sample was 24.8 years ± 4.5 years (w1). Students with shorter sleep durations, and to some degree longer sleep durations (illustrating a ᒐ-shaped association), exhibited a higher risk for all assessed mental disorders and well-being outcomes one year later, compared to students sleeping 8–9 h. The ᒐ-shaped trend was consistent for both female and male students. ConclusionSleep duration appears to be a transdiagnostic marker for mental health in young adults.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Use of Antidepressants by Young Adults in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte (Italy).

The association between younger age and poorer mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has been documented. Whether these changes were associated with a change in antidepressant (AD) use is not well understood. This study aimed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AD use by young adults in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte (Italy). The impact of the pandemic on the weekly prevalence of AD users was assessed using interrupted time-series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average models. A total of 1071 subjects (18-22 years with ≥1 AD dispensation) were included in the study. The observed prevalence was lower than the predicted value for several weeks after the introduction of the lockdown. However, it was consistently higher than the predicted values from week 134. The maximum difference between observed and predicted values (25 subjects per 10,000 young adults) was found at week 170. Changes in AD use were observed in both genders and were more pronounced for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In conclusion, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young adults is likely to be significant in the coming years, which may place a future burden on pharmaceutical public health and community health.

The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: A Study of Young Adults in the United States

This paper examines the effects of social media on the mental health of young adults in the United States. Considering that social media has been a significant part of daily lives, the effects caused by social media should be clearly identified before using them, and a clear understanding of the health problems caused by various uses of social media should be gained. Social media, however, is limited by methodological limitations, such as a lack of comprehensive sampling and measures, and the use of social media within this range. The hypothetical impact mechanism of social media on mental health should be further explored through qualitative surveys and interviews with specific populations. Due to the purpose of this research is to precisely describe the effects and the sources of harm caused by social media. The results of the research indicates a strong correlation between social media usage and adverse outcomes, including increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The paper concludes with recommendations for social media companies and individuals to promote healthier use of social media.

Urban violence and mental health of young adults in Paraguay

Urban violence and mental health of young adults in Paraguay

Adverse childhood experiences in mental health of young adults: An exploratory study from Delhi-NCR, India.

Despite the growing realization regarding the importance of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adult health outcomes, this area of research has received little scientific attention in low- and middle-income countries, including India. To understand the overall and domain-specific association of exposure to ACEs with current depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being among young adults of Delhi-NCR. This cross-sectional study was carried out among 1,812 young adults (aged 18-25 years) of both sexes (68.7% females). Fieldwork was conducted on the campuses of the University of Delhi, Delhi, and Amity University, Noida, India. ACEs, depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being were screened using the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and WHO-5 Well-Being Index, respectively. Exposure to ACEs was found to increase the odds of moderate/severe depression, moderate/severe anxiety, and high stress and decreased the odds of good well-being in a dose-response manner. Being bullied, followed by emotional abuse, was associated with the highest odds of current moderate/severe depression, moderate/severe anxiety, and high stress and the lowest odds of good well-being. Further, while several domains of household dysfunction showed poor association with studied mental health outcomes, domains of abuse and violence were more consistently associated. The present study revealed the detrimental impact of ACEs on mental health outcomes among young adults of Delhi-NCR, India, and underscored the relevance of ACEs in the Indian context. Considering the lack of trauma awareness in Indian societies, there is an urgent need to create widespread awareness regarding ACEs and associated health implications.

Mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young adults: empirical analysis of the past, present and the way forward.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants have had and are having serious implications for the mental health of the public. The critical limitations in the published literature for children, adolescents and young adults raise doubts about their clinical utility and overall generalisability. Amidst these gaps in knowledge, a twin study (Rimfeld et al) addresses several of these issues in relation to heritable individual differences and responses to environmental stressors. Besides calculating genetic correlation, the longitudinal study also compares symptoms at four different time points during the pandemic. These findings reflect a counterintuitive understanding of the role of resilience in the mental health of young adults in the UK. Unlike prior studies, this study focuses on methodological designs and underscores the applications of accurate statistical measures in observing these complex phenomena.

Perceived marginalization and mental health of young adults with migration backgrounds in South Korea: exploring moderating and mediating mechanisms

This study explored the mediating effect of career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and immigration backgrounds (native- or foreign-born young adults) on the relationship between perceived marginalization and the mental health of young adults with migration backgrounds (having mixed parentage of one Korean and one non-Korean immigrant parent) in South Korea. We collected data from 300 adults aged 25–34 with migration backgrounds (204 born in Korea and 96 born abroad) through the Gallup Research Institute of Korea and conducted a moderated-moderated mediation analysis using Model 21 of PROCESS Macro in SPSS. The analysis showed that career maturity moderated by intimacy with parents and migration backgrounds mediated the relationship between perceived marginalization and mental health. However, the results were only significant for participants who were born abroad and immigrated to Korea, and not for those who were born in Korea. These findings suggest that while greater perceived marginalization leads to lower career maturity and negatively impacts the mental health of foreign-born young adults, higher levels of intimacy with parents can buffer these negative effects.

Exploring Internet Use, Problematic Behavior, and Their Impact on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review

This literature review examines the relationship between internet usage, problematic online behaviors, and their impact on the mental health of young adults and adolescents. As the internet and digital technologies become integral to daily life, concerns have grown regarding the consequences of excessive internet use, particularly problematic internet use (PIU). The review starts by systematically assessing the increasing prevalence of internet use among young individuals, emphasizing the need to differentiate regular usage from PIU. It also explores problematic smartphone use and its connection to psychopathology, especially anxiety and depression, which share characteristics with behavioral addiction. Furthermore, the review investigates longitudinal trends in internet use and trust levels among American adults and late adolescents from 1972 to 2012. It reveals a significant decline in trust and confidence, potentially associated with increased internet use. The review also examines the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and its co-occurrence with depression, offering insights into the diagnostic criteria for IGD. In summary, this comprehensive literature review underscores the need for further research to understand the evolving dynamics and develop effective interventions related to internet use. It emphasizes the bidirectional relationship between internet use and mental health and highlights the relevance of diminishing trust and confidence. These considerations are vital for shaping strategies to promote mental well-being in the digital age.