Mental Health Mobility Research Articles

Im/Perceptible Boyhood in a Post-Andrew Tate World

ABSTRACT This study examines how boyhood is rendered im/perceptible via the infamous social media influencer Andrew Tate, in response to testimonies of teachers that attest to his influence on boys’ adoption of misogynistic, anti-feminist and sexist behaviour. Alongside the assemblage of discourses about Tate, we examine videos featuring him on the social network, a TikTok. Somewhat in contrast to the prevailing narrative that Tate’s influence on and appeal to boys is confined to misogyny, much of the content featuring him centred on narratives of self-improvement, mental health, resilience and upward mobility. Negative framings or outright degradation of women – while present in some content – appeared within a much wider context in which factors ranging from highly neoliberal aspiration, harshly conservative and traditional gender roles for men and women, pseudoscientific claims about evolutionary biology and extravagant consumerist lifestyles were presented as a single belief system. We conclude that the cultural individualism encouraged and exacerbated by neoliberalism in the English-speaking developed world act as a key element in the life of boys and young men anticipating their transition to adulthood, raising questions for the opportunities that this case may offer for the development of forms of feminism that include boys.

Functional disability, health care access, and mental health in Ukrainians displaced by the 2022 Russian invasion

Armed conflict has negative mental health impacts on internally displaced people and refugees, however, much less is known of its effects on the mental health of displaced people and refugees with disabilities. We use pan-European data (N = 9,676), collected via an internet health needs survey across April-July 2022, to examine the mental health impacts of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on the mental health of displaced people with disabilities during the first months of the war. Regression models separately examined associations between functional impairment (vision, walking, existing mental health condition), access to healthcare, welfare payments, and anxiety and sleep quality, controlling for sociodemographic variables. The presence of pre-existing mental health conditions, mobility and vision impairment were each associated with higher levels of anxiety and poorer sleep quality. The ability to access health services and social security payments was also associated with better sleep and lower levels of anxiety. Humanitarian and local authorities must ensure Ukrainian refugees and IDPs are reviewed for their mental health needs, with particular attention to those with known disabilities.

INCORPORATING SPIRITUALITY INTO COGNITIVE STIMULATION THERAPY GROUPS FOR PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract With the rise in Dementia-Related Disorders globally, few non-pharmacological approaches have been developed to effectively target cognitive impairment and memory loss. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) has shown effectiveness in improving cognition and quality of life of older adults with dementia. To date, no studies have incorporated spirituality into CST for improving the cognition and quality of life of older adults with dementia. This study’s aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of CST with a spirituality component compared to the traditional CST group intervention. Our team grouped participants (Nf34) into either spiritual or traditional groups based on their location of residence and level of cognition. Preliminary results showed that spiritual-themed groups improved in mental health status, mobility, and depression. The spiritual groups had a mean difference of 1.85-points improvement on mental status exam as compared to 0.2-point reduction for the traditional groups. In addition, the spiritual groups had a mean difference of 4.80-points improvement in mobility and 0.6-point improvement on depression as compared to a 5.25-points reduction in mobility and a 2.13-points reduction on depression of the traditional groups respectively. Compared to the traditional CST group, there were no significant differences noted regarding cognition and memory recall. Incorporating spirtiuality and other faith-based themes in groups may provide additional benefit for individuals with memory loss. Both healthcare and long-term care facilities may benefit from incorporating group interventions such as CST into their routine care with older adults.

How schools in Germany shape and impact the lives of adolescent refugees in terms of mental health and social mobility

Schools are relevant settings for supporting refugee adolescents' mental health. As education and migration are important social determinants of health, we aim to integrate the qualitative findings of our mixed-methods study into a broader discussion regarding the role of schools and the potential effects on refugee adolescents' lives and mental health, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we present the findings of school-based actors' (i.e., teachers and school psychologists) perception of refugee adolescents' access to mental health care. The interviews highlight the importance of schools and social activities as main stabilizers and sources of support for refugee adolescents’ mental health and the role trusting school-parent relationships play in mental health care help-seeking. Our data indicate that schools lack the resources to properly address these needs. However, these structural gaps are rooted into historical segregation and discrimination in the German educational system and left unaddressed, can increase stigma and intergenerational social inequalities, especially in connection to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude our article with a set of recommendations that could be relevant and implemented across different contexts to strengthen the role of the school setting in promoting the mental health and well-being of refugee adolescents.

Pandemic and disability: Challenges faced and role of technology

The pandemic has affected every facet of human life. Apart from individual’s psychological and mental health issues, mobility, access and communication with high risk infection is a challenging situation. People with disabilities are more vulnerable to infections. The new changes in our social lifestyle (social distancing, limiting touch) can profoundly impact the day-to-day life of people with disabilities. In this paper, we will briefly discuss the situation faced by individuals with disabilities, some known remedies, and yet to be identified and curated technological remedies; the impact due to transition of special education toward online mode, and tips and tricks for better utilization of work from home concept by people with disabilities. Accessibility must be universal, accommodate all and encourage inclusivity. As rightly said by Helen Keller, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision”; subsequently, going by the demands of the time, we should contribute towards the universal design approach by supporting people with disabilities and committing to the changes required in disability care to reduce the impact of the pandemic.

Relationship of Mental Health to Religiosity

The purpose of the present study was to examine the question of whether or not commitment to religious beliefs is associated with better mental health in typical community members. A household interview survey was conducted in a stratified, clustered sample of 3% of the adults that resided in a largely religious and rural mountain community. The Duke Health Profile was used to assess mental and physical health, and the nature and depth of religious devotion or commitment was based on the response to an interview item. Of the respondents in the sample, the mean age was 48.7 years, 55% were women, and the average annual family income was $14 300 (US). In a simple unadjusted analysis, religiosity was significantly correlated with physical health (the ill were more religious) and gender (women were more religious), but not with mental health, age, income, education level, or geographic mobility. Mental health was correlated with gender (women scored lower), physical health (the ill scored lower), and income (the wealthy scored higher); but the correlations with these variables were largely in the opposite direction than religiosity. When the correlation between religiosity and mental health were adjusted for the economic, health, and demographic characteristics with the multiple partial correlation method, a definite correlation was found (r = 0.11 to 0.14, p = 0.005 to 0.032). The conclusion is drawn that there is an association between religious commitment and good mental health, but that it can be masked by the inverse dependencies of religion and mental health on economic, health and demographic factors. These results suggest that further investigation should be undertaken in order to elucidate the clinical utility of incorporating religious beliefs and practice into patient therapy.

Health equity considerations in COVID-19: geospatial network analysis of the COVID-19 outbreak in the migrant population in Singapore.

BackgroundLow-wage dormitory-dwelling migrant workers in Singapore were disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This was attributed to communal living in high-density and unhygienic dormitory settings and a lack of inclusive protection systems. However, little is known about the roles of social and geospatial networks in COVID-19 transmission. The study examined the networks of non-work–related activities among migrant workers to inform the development of lockdown exit strategies and future pandemic preparedness.MethodsA population-based survey was conducted with 509 migrant workers across the nation, and it assessed dormitory attributes, social ties, physical and mental health status, COVID-19-related variables and mobility patterns using a grid-based network questionnaire. Mobility paths from dormitories were presented based on purposes of visit. Two-mode social networks examined the structures and positions of networks between workers and visit areas with individual attributes.ResultsCOVID-19 risk exposure was associated with the density of dormitory, social ties and visit areas. The migrant worker hub in the city centre was the most frequently visited for essential services of grocery shopping and remittance, followed by south central areas mainly for social gathering. The hub was positioned as the core with the highest degree of centrality with a cluster of workers exposed to COVID-19.ConclusionsSocial and geospatial networks of migrant workers should be considered in the implementation of lockdown exit strategies while addressing the improvement of living conditions and monitoring systems. Essential services, like remittance and grocery shopping at affordable prices, need to be provided near to dormitories to minimize excess gatherings.

Testing the Family Stress Model among Black Women Receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Black female primary caregivers who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are burdened not only by economic pressure but also by a disproportionate prevalence of psychological disorders. This is particularly pernicious given that poverty and maternal mental health impact child outcomes and may decrease the economic mobility of families. Consequently, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms that explain the association between economic pressure and child outcomes. The current study addressed this gap by testing an application of the Family Stress Model (FSM), which describes how economic pressure results in parental psychological distress, particularly depression, and in turn impacts parenting quality and child outcomes. Additionally, social support was assessed as a potential culturally-salient protective factor within the model. Four hundred sixteen Black female primary caregivers who receive TANF were administered a series of measures assessing mental health and family wellbeing. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test a single model that incorporated all hypotheses. Maternal depression and quality of parenting serially mediated the relationship between economic pressure and school performance. The relationship between economic pressure and adverse child outcomes, however, was mediated only by maternal depression. Social support did not significantly moderate the relationship between economic pressure and maternal depression; however, it did demonstrate a significant direct effect on maternal depression. The current study corroborates the application of FSM to another population. Further, it demonstrates the importance of interventions that target maternal mental health, parenting, social support, and family economic mobility as well as system-level policy interventions to address poverty.

Discovering Best Practice Establishing Evacuation Centers for Vulnerable Populations: Findings from Australia and Japan

Introduction:Potentially vulnerable population groups in disasters include the elderly and frail, people who are isolated, and those with chronic diseases, including mental health conditions or mobility issues. The disasters such as the Queensland flood and Great East Japan Disaster in 2011, affected regions of Australia and Japan. This study is followed by two pilot studies in both countries after the disasters. While both countries have different evacuation center procedures for evacuees, the issues regarding the role and responsibility across governments involving planning, setup, and management of evacuation centers demonstrate similarities and differences.Aim:This paper will report the preliminary findings of a pilot study undertaken with local government officials and humanitarian agencies in Australia and Japan concerning their involvement in planning for, setting up, and managing evacuation centers for vulnerable populations in recent natural disasters. The objective is to illuminate the similarities and differences that officials and agencies faced, and to highlight the resolutions and lessons learned in the preparation of evacuation centers through this event.Methods:This is the final stage of the study. After completing an analysis of both phases, a comparative framework to highlight similarities and differences was developed.Results:Each government’s role in relation to the establishment of evacuation centers is legally defined in both countries. However, the degree of involvement and communication with non-governmental organizations from the planning cycle to the recovery cycle demonstrates different expectations across governments.Discussion:While the role of governments is clearly established in both countries based on the legal frameworks, the planning, set-up, and management of evacuation center differs.

Discovering Best Practice for Establishing Evacuation Centers for Vulnerable Populations: Findings from an Australian Pilot Study

Introduction:Potentially vulnerable population groups in disasters include the elderly and frail, people who are isolated, and those with chronic diseases, including mental health conditions or mobility issues. The 2011 Queensland flood disaster affected central and southeast Queensland, resulting in 2.5 million people being adversely affected. Seventy-two local government areas disaster were activated under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, which was more than 99 percent of Queensland. The issues regarding the role and responsibility across governments relating to planning, setup, and management of evacuation centers will be discussed.Aim:This paper will report the preliminary findings of a pilot study undertaken with local government officials and humanitarian agencies in Australia concerning their involvement in planning for, setting up, and managing evacuation centers for vulnerable populations in Australia during the Queensland floods in 2011. The objective is to illuminate the challenges officials faced, and the resolutions and lessons learned in the preparation of evacuation centers through this event.Methods:The study involved interviews with local government and relevant agencies’ officials who have been involved in establishing evacuation centers for vulnerable populations during the 2011 floods. Six officials were recruited from local government areas affected by the disaster in Queensland, Australia. Semi-structured phone interviews were audio-recorded and thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software.Results:Three core themes emerged: 1) understanding of the importance of preparation, 2) challenging evacuation center environments, and 3) awareness of good governance principles.Discussion:This pilot study demonstrated that communication with stakeholders during the preparation period prior to a disaster is essential to best practice for evacuation center management. Understanding and being aware of good governance is also an important element to establish evacuation centers effectively.

Falling Through the Cracks

Low-income preseniors represent a vulnerable, often overlooked population facing multiple challenges related to finding and sustaining employment, limited financial resources, mental and physical health challenges, mobility issues, and ineligibility for pensions and benefits for seniors. These issues make finding suitable, affordable housing particularly challenging when compounded with limited affordable housing stock, thus increasing this population’s risk for housing insecurity/homelessness. This qualitative, exploratory study examined subsidized housing issues for low-income preseniors from the perspective of subsidized housing providers ( n = 16). Barriers for this population occurred within individual (limited financial resources; complex health, mental health, and disability issues; current unsafe/inadequate housing; and new immigrant status) and structural (strict age cutoffs, inadequate safe/affordable housing supply, lack of information about the housing and service needs of the population, and ineffective collaboration within the sector) domains. Policy changes at the provincial and federal levels related to income support, availability of affordable housing supports, and immigration are recommended.

The association between mental health symptoms and mobility limitation among Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants: a population based study.

BackgroundResearch has demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between physical function and depression, but studies on their association in migrant populations are scarce. We examined the association between mental health symptoms and mobility limitation in Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland.MethodsWe used data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu). The participants comprised 1357 persons of Russian, Somali or Kurdish origin aged 18–64 years. Mobility limitation included self-reported difficulties in walking 500 m or stair climbing. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) and symptoms of somatization using the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R). A comparison group of the general Finnish population was selected from the Health 2011 study.ResultsAnxiety symptoms were positively associated with mobility limitation in women (Russians odds ratio [OR] 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–6.94, Somalis OR 6.41; 95% CI 2.02–20.29 and Kurds OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.41–5.04), after adjustment for socio-demographic factors, obesity and chronic diseases. Also somatization increased the odds for mobility limitation in women (Russians OR 4.29; 95% CI 1.76–10.44, Somalis OR 18.83; 95% CI 6.15–57.61 and Kurds OR 3.53; 95% CI 1.91–6.52). Depressive symptoms were associated with mobility limitation in Russian and Kurdish women (Russians OR 3.03; 95% CI 1.27–7.19 and Kurds OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.39–4.99). Anxiety symptoms and somatization were associated with mobility limitation in Kurdish men when adjusted for socio-demographic factors, but not after adjusting for obesity and chronic diseases. Finnish women had similar associations as the migrant women, but Finnish men and Kurdish men showed varying associations.ConclusionsMental health symptoms are significantly associated with mobility limitation both in the studied migrant populations and in the general Finnish population. The joint nature of mental health symptoms and mobility limitation should be recognized by health professionals, also when working with migrants. This association should be addressed when developing health services and health promotion.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1629-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

“Why me?”: Low-Income Women’s Poverty Attributions, Mental Health, and Social Class Perceptions

Although much is known about broad societal attitudes toward poverty, less is known about how women perceive their own poverty. We sought to examine the types of self attributions low-income women make about their poverty, as well as the association of self poverty attributions to women’s mental health and upward mobility beliefs. Using close-ended questions in a community sample of 66 low-income mothers from the Midwestern United States, we found these women were most likely to attribute their poverty to issues related to having children, their romantic relationships, and structural/government blame. The least endorsed attributions for poverty were fatalistic and individualistic reasons. Attributing one’s poverty to children and structural reasons was related to greater depression, and attributing one’s poverty to romantic relationships and structural reasons was related to greater anxiety. Moreover, attributing one’s poverty to children and romantic relationships was positively related to upward mobility beliefs, whereas individualistic attributions were negatively related to upward mobility beliefs. Understanding how women view their poverty and upward mobility can help to improve interventions and policies aimed at low-income women.

State of malnutrition and its fast growing wing in developing countries

Nutrition is one of the most important issues for the well-being of human life. It concerns rich and poor, rural and urban, developed and developing countries. Since, it is not a specific problem for some part of the world only, like most other problems, it should get serious attention as it deserves.. Accordingly, different literatures show that, for millions of people worldwide, hunger and malnutrition are common everyday challenges; for some, even famine is a threat. But in many developed countries, food abundance brings other serious nutritional and health problems. Though these are being addressed, western habits are starting to spread.However, most of literatures focus more on the undernutrition aspect of malnutrition, rather than overnutrition. Malnutrition is a broad term which refers to both undernutrition (sub nutrition) and overnutrition. Individuals are malnourished, or suffer from undernutrition if their diet does not provide them with adequate calories and protein for maintenance and growth, or they cannot fully utilize the food they eat due to illness. People are also malnourished, or suffer from overnutrition if they consume too many calories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is the gravest single threat to global public health. And according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the number of people globally who were malnourished stood at 923 million in 2007, an increase of over 80 million since the 1990-92 base -period. In more wealthy industrialized nations malnutrition is usually caused by: Poor diet, mental health problems, Mobility problems, digestive disorders and stomach conditions, alcoholism. In poor, developing nations malnutrition is commonly caused by: Food shortages, Food prices, food distribution and Lack of breastfeeding.In this research nine countries from different continent are included. And the result of this assessment shows that there is high-rate of growth as far as overnutrition is concerned, in both high income and low income countries for both sexes. And the percentage growth of overweight and obesity for some low-income countries is very significant. Cameron is the one that shows high obesity rate from the low-income countries. And, France is the country that shows a low growth rate for overweight from high-income countries. The study also figure out that, there is a high positive relationship between the energy consumption and overweight.

Mental health and occupational mobility in a group of immigrants

Mental health and occupational mobility in a group of immigrants

Mental health and occupational mobility in a group of immigrants

Studies on occupational mobility and mental disorders are reviewed. Failure to study homogeneous types of mental disorder, to include adequate status controls and to provide supporting theoretical and empirical evidence are frequent methodologic errors. Evidence that schizophrenia is linked to downward mobility appears to be fairly consistent; on the other hand, mild psychiatric disorder seems to be linked to upward mobility. For the present study, a sample of North African Jewish immigrants to Montreal was interviewed in 1972. With appropriate status controls, the presence of mild psychiatric symptoms was also weakly associated with upward mobility. However, the correlation increased in strength for those who had changed jobs more recently. A similar pattern was obtained for a measure of job satisfaction. The results indicate that job stresses involved in upward mobility can lead to mild psychiatric symptoms.