Negative Life Events Research Articles

Strains and Maladaptive Behaviors among High School Students in Qatar: An Empirical Test of the General Strain Theory

Objectives: This study aims to test the core assumption of Agnew’s general strain theory(GST) in maladaptive behavior (substance use, suicidality, and school truancy). Testing the effects of strain variables (negative life events) on negative emotions that lead to maladaptive behaviors or criminal coping. The present study tests the validity and applicability of a widely known criminological (GST) theory in a non-Western culture. Moreover, one significant contribution of this study is its applicability and generalizability in an Arabian heterogeneous society and culture. Methods: A survey was used, and a questionnaire was developed to measure the GST major assumptions and maladaptive behavior (substance use, suicidality, and school truancy). The survey was distributed among students by trained teams in public schools. A sample of 4096 high school students was randomly selected from seven public schools in Qatar. Results:. Findings showed that some negative life events variables had the highest significant unique contribution (when holding other variables constant) on the maladaptive behaviors more than other variables. These variables are: Depression had the highest significant unique contribution to suicidality, followed by violent victimization and negative feelings. Assaults had the highest significant unique contribution to substance use, followed by delinquency and sexual harassment. Assaults had the most significant unique contribution to school truancy, followed by delinquency. Conclusions: Findings suggest limiting maladaptive behaviors and crimes by equipping students with crime-preventive traits, increasing social support, enhancing social control, and reducing exposure to crime-prone situations. Schools should educate students on managing negative emotions and stress, implement low-abiding coping methods, and conduct awareness campaigns on illegal coping methods to prevent criminal behavior.

Truce: Outcomes and mechanisms of change of a seven-week acceptance and commitment therapy program for young people whose parent has cancer

Truce is an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group program for young people who have a parent with cancer. In a pragmatic controlled trial, we compared Truce with a wait-list condition to assess its effect on unmet needs and distress. We also investigated how process variables—mindfulness, cognitive inflexibility, family functioning, and life events—might influence outcomes. Participants' unmet needs improved over time (β^ = −5.01, SE = 16.48, p = 0.036, effect size = 0.42), and those improvements were greater for the intervention group compared to controls (β^ = −5.03, SE = 2.41, p = 0.040, effect size = 0.29). There was no evidence of a significant program benefit for distress. For the intervention group, greater improvements in unmet needs were associated with higher baseline distress (t = 2.36, df = 47, p = 0.022), and being less mindful at baseline (t = 2.07, df = 47, p = 0.044). No significant mediators were identified. For the control group only, experiencing negative/mixed life events related to cancer was a significant moderator of improvement (t = −2.36, df = 33, p = 0.024). Truce appears to offer therapeutic benefits to young people who have a parent with cancer, over and above the expected adjustment to the situation over time. The program seems to buffer the impact of negative cancer-related life events on participants’ well-being, but the mechanisms of change remain unclear.

Examining an integrated path model of psychological and sociocultural predictors of camouflaging in autistic adults.

Many autistic people use strategies known as 'camouflaging' to change how noticeable their autistic traits are in social situations. Previous research suggests that camouflaging is largely motivated by psychological and social factors. However, most studies so far have only looked at a few psychosocial factors related to camouflaging. In this study, we explored a model that included several individual psychological factors (such as fear of being negatively judged, self-esteem and autistic identity) and broader social and cultural factors (such as perceived stigma, negative life events, cultural emphasis on conformity and desire to fit in or stand out). We surveyed 225 autistic adults aged 18-77 years online. Our findings showed that several sociocultural factors were indirectly linked to camouflaging through individual psychological factors. Fear of being negatively judged emerged as a strong predictor of camouflaging. Specifically, autistic adults who perceived greater stigma, felt greater pressure to conform, had a lesser desire to stand out and a greater desire to fit in tended to experience a greater fear of being negatively judged and reported more camouflaging. In addition, those who experienced more negative life events were more likely to engage in camouflaging. Our study identifies key psychological and social factors as potential targets for social change. Our findings emphasise that our societies need to shift away from stigmatising attitudes towards accepting and including autistic people, which could reduce the pressure on autistic individuals to camouflage in social situations.

Prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across trimesters: a study of 110,584 pregnant women covered by a mobile app-based screening programme in Shenzhen, China

BackgroundAntenatal depression is a significant public health issue affecting pregnant women both globally and in China. Using data from a mobile app-based screening programme, this study explored the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across different trimesters in Shenzhen.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who gave birth in any hospital in Shenzhen between July 2021 and May 2022 and underwent depression screening using an official maternal and infant health mobile app at least once during pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with cut-off scores of 5 and 10 for mild and high level of symptoms, respectively. The prevalence for each trimester was determined by calculating the proportion of women scoring 5 or higher. A variety of sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle factors were assessed for their association with depressive symptoms. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify significant predictors.ResultsA total of 110,584 pregnant women were included in the study, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 18.0% and a prevalence of high-level symptoms of 4.2%. Depressive symptoms were most prevalent in the first trimester (10.9%) and decreased in the second (6.2%) and third trimesters (6.3%). Only a small proportion (0.4%) of women showed persistent depressive symptoms across all trimesters. Anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Other factors linked to an increased risk throughout pregnancy include lower marital satisfaction, living with parents-in-law, experience of negative life events, as well as drinking before and during pregnancy. Factors associated with a reduced risk throughout pregnancy include multiparity and daily physical activity.ConclusionsThis large-scale study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms in Shenzhen. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups and the integration of mental health care into routine antenatal services. Continuous, dynamic monitoring of depressive symptoms for pregnant women and ensuring at-risk women receive comprehensive follow-up and appropriate psychological or psychiatric care are crucial for effectively addressing antenatal depression and improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Association between negative life events and suicidal behavior in adolescents: roles of core self-evaluation, depression and gender.

Negative life events are essential proximal factors that may induce suicidal behavior in adolescents, but the mechanisms connecting this link remain to further explored. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between negative life events (NLEs) and adolescents' suicidal behavior, and the roles of core self-evaluation, depression and gender playing between them. Using the whole-group sampling approach, 5296 Chinese adolescents (51.5% males, Meanage = 12.93) took part in this cross-sectional study in September 2021 and completed a battery of surveys including NLEs, suicidal behavior, CSE (core self-evaluation) and depression. Logistic regression and latent structural equation models were used to test the direct and indirect effects between NLEs and suicide behavior with multi-group path analysis, gender differences in this serial mediating effect were also tested. After controlling for age and gender, NLEs were directly associated with adolescents' suicidal behavior. CSE and depression played significant serial mediating effects in this relationship. Moreover, significant gender differences were obtained in these serial mediating pathways, with stronger effects in girls. Integrating the environmental, individual cognitive and emotional factors, our findings would be helpful in understanding the mechanism of these antecedents on adolescents' suicide behavior, which has specific practical significance for preventing and reducing suicidal behavior.

S18 - Neural Correlates of Controllable Negative Life Events and Their Relationships With Cannabis and Alcohol Use Initiation

S18 - Neural Correlates of Controllable Negative Life Events and Their Relationships With Cannabis and Alcohol Use Initiation

Prenatal stress and gestational epigenetic age: No evidence of associations based on a large prospective multi-cohort study.

Psychological stress during pregnancy is known to have a range of long-lasting negative consequences on the development and health of offspring. Here, we tested whether a measure of prenatal early-life stress was associated with a biomarker of physiological development at birth, namely epigenetic gestational age, using foetal cord-blood DNA-methylation data. Longitudinal cohorts from the Netherlands (Generation R Study [Generation R], n = 1,396), the UK (British Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children [ALSPAC], n = 642), and Norway (Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study [MoBa], n1 = 1,212 and n2 = 678) provided data on prenatal maternal stress and genome-wide DNA methylation from cord blood and were meta-analysed (pooled n = 3,928). Measures of epigenetic age acceleration were calculated using three different gestational epigenetic clocks: "Bohlin", "EPIC overlap" and "Knight". Prenatal stress exposure, examined as an overall cumulative score, was not significantly associated with epigenetically-estimated gestational age acceleration or deceleration in any of the clocks, based on the results of the pooled meta-analysis or those of the individual cohorts. No significant associations were identified with specific domains of prenatal stress exposure, including negative life events, contextual (socio-economic) stressors, parental risks (e.g., maternal psychopathology) and interpersonal risks (e.g., family conflict). Further, no significant associations were identified when analyses were stratified by sex. Overall, we find little support that prenatal psychosocial stress is associated with variation in epigenetic age at birth within the general paediatric population.

How negative life events affect mobile phone addiction among college students

Mobile phone addiction, as an unhealthy internet usage habit, has had a significant negative impact on the physical and mental health of college students, especially in this vulnerable group. In view of this, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on various factors and their mechanisms that affect mobile phone addiction among college students, in order to provide a new perspective and methodology for preventing and intervening in data addiction among college students. In this research context, this study will comprehensively apply quantitative and qualitative research methods to deeply analyze the intrinsic relationship between negative life events, depression, and mobile phone addiction, in order to provide strong scientific basis for solving this problem.This study aims to explore the impact of negative life events on mobile phone addiction among college students and examine the mediating role of depression in this process. A two-year longitudinal study was conducted to conduct three consecutive questionnaire surveys on 5608 college students from a certain university. Research has found a significant positive correlation between negative life events and mobile phone addiction among college students, indicating that college students who experience more negative life events are more likely to develop mobile phone addiction behavior. Further analysis shows that depression plays a partial mediating role between negative life events and mobile phone addiction, that is, negative life events not only directly affect mobile phone addiction, but also indirectly promote the formation of mobile phone addiction by increasing individual depression levels. In addition, the study also found that gender Factors such as BMI and family economic level play important roles in the occurrence of mobile phone addiction.This study found that negative life events affect mobile phone addiction among college students, with depression as a mediating factor. This provides a new perspective for the theory of mobile phone addiction and a scientific basis for intervention. Reducing negative events, lowering depression, and improving self-control can effectively reduce addiction rates and promote the physical and mental health of college students. Future research can expand samples and regions, delve deeper into the mechanisms of action, and explore more intervention strategies.

Mindful Non-Judging and Posttraumatic Reactions in Police Academy Cadets: A Path Analysis

ObjectivesDispositional mindfulness has been associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other negative health symptoms in the police population. Of the various mindfulness facets (i.e., non-judging, observing, describing, acting with awareness), non-judging has been demonstrated to be the strongest predictor of lower PTSD symptoms in police academy cadets. The mechanisms by which non-judging may lead to enhanced health outcomes in police officers are poorly understood and require further investigation.MethodThe purpose of the current study was to test a model involving a pathway from pre-trauma mindful non-judging to PTSD symptoms and ultimately posttraumatic growth (PTG) that is mediated by worldviews in a sample of police academy cadets (n = 379). Data were collected via a survey packet distributed at a police academy located in a Southern state of the United States. We examined the relationships among demographic factors, adverse child events, negative life events, mindful non-judgment, world assumptions, PTSD, and PTG using path analysis.ResultsThe results indicated that positive worldviews served as a mediator between dispositional mindful non-judging and lower PTSD symptoms, which ultimately led to lower PTG.ConclusionsThese findings have important implications for the selection and training of police academy cadets with the goal of increasing resilience to occupational trauma exposure. Additionally, these results have clinical implications regarding the treatment of officers experiencing symptoms of PTSD.PreregistrationThis study is not preregistered.

Does Social Support Buffer the Effect of Negative Life Events on Mental Health Outcomes?

Does Social Support Buffer the Effect of Negative Life Events on Mental Health Outcomes?

Exploring the Interplay between Family History of Depression, Negative Life Events, and Social Support in First-Episode Major Depression: Insights from a Pilot Case-Control Study

Exploring the Interplay between Family History of Depression, Negative Life Events, and Social Support in First-Episode Major Depression: Insights from a Pilot Case-Control Study

Association between negative life events through mental health and non-suicidal self-injury with young adults: evidence for sex moderate correlation

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has exhibited an increasing trend in recent years and is now globally recognized as a major public health problem among adolescents and young adults. Negative life events (NLEs) are positively associated with NSSI. We sought to explore (1) whether sex plays a role in the risk of NLEs leading to NSSI and (2) the role played by mental health (MH).MethodsWe adopted a multi-stage cluster sampling method to select college students across four grades from May to June 2022. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the relationships between NLEs, sex, MH and NSSI, presented as incidence-rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We examined the complex relationship between these variables using the PROCESS method for moderation analysis.ResultsFollowing the exclusion of data that did not meet the study requirements, data from 3,578 students (mean age: 20.53 [± 1.65] years) were included. Poisson regression results indicate that high-level NLEs (RR = 0.110, 95%CI: 0.047–0.173) are associated with increased NSSI. Furthermore, interaction effects were observed among sex, NLEs and NSSI. MH and sex moderated the relationship between NLEs and NSSI.ConclusionIdentifying risk factors for NSSI is also important when exploring the interaction between NLEs and MH given the potential for NSSI to significantly increase the risk of later psychopathological symptoms and substance abuse problems. In addition, the significance of sex differences in risk factors for NSSI should be determined. This study evaluated how the impact of NLEs on NSSI can be reduced among adolescents from multiple perspectives.

The association among negative life events, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms in a psychosomatic outpatient sample

BackgroundDepression is a life-threatening mental health problem. Various factors have been demonstrated to be associated with depressive symptoms, including negative life events (NLEs) and alexithymia. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the relationship among negative life events, alexithymia, and depression symptoms in a psychosomatic outpatient sample in China.MethodsA total of 2747 outpatients (aged 18 – 65) were included in this investigation. The Life Events Scale (LES), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-26), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess NLEs, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms, respectively. A stepwise regression analysis model was established to investigate the relationship among alexithymia, NLEs, and depressive symptoms.ResultsOverall, 67.0% of the patient sample had a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher. The stepwise regression analysis model showed a well-fitted model, in which NLEs and alexithymia explain a total of 34.2% of the variance of depressive symptoms in these participants. NLEs (β = 0.256, p < 0.001) and dimensions of alexithymia (difficult describing feelings (β = 0.192, p < 0.001) and identifying feelings (β = 0.308, p < 0.001)) were positively correlated with symptoms of depression.ConclusionsPrevious studies have confirmed the correlation between NLEs and depression, alexithymia and depression, respectively. In our study, we used a stepwise regression model to explain the relationship among those variables simultaneously, and found that NLEs and alexithymia could function as predictors of depressive symptoms. Based on this discovery, alexithymia-focused treatment strategies could be alternative in depressive patients with alexithymia, but this remains to be verified in the future.

Can profiles of behaviors occurring within 48 h of a suicide attempt predict future severity of suicidal thoughts and reattempt?: An examination of hospitalized patients 12 Months post-discharge

Behavioral warning signs (WS) are near-term changes within individuals, which aid in determining imminent risk for suicide attempts. However, those who attempt suicide differ in their engagement of WS, and it is unclear if these differences relate to future risk of suicidal behavior. Using a sample of 132 adults presenting to a hospital following a suicide attempt, the current study sought to determine if differences in engagement in WS for the index attempt prospectively predicted suicide attempt, frequency of ideation, and intensity of suicide ideation 12 months post discharge. Latent class analyses (LCAs) conducted on 6 behaviors (i.e., alcohol use, nightmares, interpersonal negative life events, suicide communication, risky behavior, low sleep, and high sleep) found a 5-class solution optimally fit the data. One identified class, characterized by engagement in risky behaviors the hours before an attempt differed from other identified classes in terms of risk for future suicidal ideation and behaviors. More specifically, participants in “High Risky Behavior” class had higher rates of 12-month suicide reattempt, significantly more frequent suicide ideation, and significantly worse intensity of suicide ideation during the 12 months following their index attempt compared to participants endorsing typical patterns of WS. These results held when adjusting for various traditional baseline covariates (e.g., depressive symptoms). The current study demonstrates that patterns of behavioral WS may be utilized as their own prognostic indicator of future suicidal ideation and behaviors among high-risk individuals reporting a recent suicide attempt, which can inform post-discharge clinical intervention and prevention efforts.

Bidirectional associations between short sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and psychotic-like experiences in adolescents.

This study investigates the prospective associations between short sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. This study utilized a three-timepoint repeated cross-sectional survey with two nested longitudinal subsamples. A total of 17,722 adolescents were assessed at baseline (April 21 to May 12, 2021) and six months later (December 17 to 26, 2021). Out of these, 15,694 adolescents provided complete responses to the questions at baseline and one year later (May 17 - June 6, 2022). A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure sample characteristics (at baseline), sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and PLEs (at each assessment), and negative life events (at two follow-ups). Baseline short sleep duration and insomnia symptoms predicted frequent PLEs at both follow-up assessments. Additionally, baseline frequent PLEs also predicted insomnia symptoms at six months and one year later. However, when controlling for confounders, PLEs at baseline only predicted short sleep duration at six months, and not at one year. This study reveals bidirectional prospective relationships between short sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and PLEs, even after controlling for covariates. Therefore, it is crucial to assess both sleep patterns and PLEs in order to promote optimal sleep and mental health among adolescents.

Eating behaviors as pathways from early childhood adversity to adolescent cardiometabolic risk.

To identify specific eating behavior pathways that mediate associations between financial difficulties, negative life events, and maternal depressive symptoms from 0 to 5 years and cardiometabolic risk in adolescence. Hypotheses were tested with data from birth to age 15 years using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a birth cohort in the United Kingdom (n = 3,887 for current analyses). Mothers reported on financial difficulties, negative life events, and maternal depressive symptoms at multiple points from 0 to 5 years and reported on worry about child overeating at 8 years. Youth self-reported restrained, emotional, and external eating at age 14. Youth completed a cardiometabolic health assessment at age 15 where waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and insulin resistance were measured. Longitudinal structural equation modeling with bootstrapping was used to test mediation models. Greater negative life events and maternal depressive symptoms predicted greater parental worry about child overeating at age 8, which directly predicted greater restrained and emotional eating at 14 and cardiometabolic risk at 15. Restrained and emotional eating at 14 directly predicted greater cardiometabolic risk at age 15. Negative life events and maternal depressive symptoms in infancy/early childhood are associated with cardiometabolic risk in adolescence through pathways of parental worry about child overeating in middle childhood and youth-reported restrained and emotional eating in adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Beyond physical sensations: investigating empathy and prosocial behavior in vicarious pain responders.

Empathy, the capacity to share others' emotional experiences, has been proposed as a key motivation for altruistic behavior in both humans and animals. Sharing another's emotional experience may generate a self-embodied simulation of their emotional state, fostering understanding and promoting prosocial behavior. Vicarious pain responders report sensing physical pain when observing others in pain. Whether this ability extends to emotional experiences remains unexplored. Using both questionnaires and ecologically valid behavioral tasks, we explored whether vicarious pain responders differ from nonresponders in empathic abilities and prosocial behavior. Participants watched video clips of people describing a negative emotional life event. We operationalized several empathic abilities and responses (empathic accuracy, affective synchrony, emotional reaction, and empathic motivation) based on participants' and targets' responses during and after watching the videos. Participants were also engaged in a donation task measuring tendency for prosocial behavior. Findings reveal that compared to nonresponders, vicarious pain responders exhibit enhanced empathic accuracy, intensified emotional reactions to others' emotional pain, and a greater motivation to communicate with the target. This study marks the first behavioral evidence showcasing vicarious pain responders' empathic abilities, reactions, and motivation in response to nonphysical pain of others, expanding our knowledge of this phenomenon and its association with broader empathic abilities.

The prevalence and possible risk factors of gaming disorder among adolescents in China.

Nowadays, moderate gaming behaviors can be a pleasant and relaxing experiences among adolescents. However, excessive gaming behavior may lead to gaming disorder (GD) that disruption of normal daily life. Understanding the possible risk factors of this emerging problem would help to suggest effective at preventing and intervening. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of GD and analyze its possible risk factors that adolescents with GD. Data were collected between October 2020 and January 2021. In total, a sample of 7901 students (4080 (52%) boys, 3742 (48%) girls; aged 12-18 years) completed questionnaires regarding the Gaming-Related Behaviors Survey, Gaming Disorder Symptom Questionnaire-21 (GDSQ-21); Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS Scale); Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ); Short-form Egna Minnenav Barndoms Uppfostran for Chinese (s-EMBU-C); and Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC). The prevalence of GD was 2.27% in this adolescent sample. The GD gamers were a little bit older (i.e., a higher proportion of senior grades), more boys, with more gaming hours per week in the last 12 months, with more reward responsiveness, maternal rejecting and occurrence of negative life events (e.g., interpersonal relationships, being punished and bereavement factors). These possible risk factors may influence the onset of GD. Future research in clinical, public health, education and other fields should focus on these aspects for provide target prevention and early intervention strategies.

Warning signs in a period of acute risk for suicide attempt: The utility of count- and combination-based classification

ObjectiveThis study sought to establish if models involving the specific combinations of identifiable behavioral warning signs (WS; i.e., alcohol use, suicidal communications, preparation of personal affairs, experiencing negative interpersonal life events) for a suicide attempt outperformed a simpler count model of WS to distinguish an acute risk period (the six hours prior to a suicide attempt) from a control period (a matched six-hour period the day prior). MethodGeneralized linear mixed models tested all logical combinations of four behavioral WS in addition to a count variable of the number of behavioral warning signs. For the count variable, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized to determine the optimal cut point for the number of endorsed WS. ResultsArea under the curve (AUC) compared classification across all models, with the count model demonstrating similar classification performance to the best multivariate model (AUCs of 0.72 and 0.73, respectively), with an optimal cut point of endorsing one or more WS. ConclusionAlthough determinations of acute risk should be informed by multiple sources of information, this study suggests a relatively simple count-based approach that considers the presence of one (or more) behavioral WS may be used as a potential indication of increased acute risk for suicide attempt.

Borderline personality traits mediate the relationship between negative life events and nonsuicidal self-injury in a clinical sample with youth depression

BackgroundBorderline personality traits play a significant role in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), particularly in depressed youths. NSSI is also highly correlated with negative life events. This research aimed to explore the connections between negative life events, borderline personality traits, and NSSI.MethodsThe study included 338 depressed youth aged 13 to 25 years. Self-reported measures and clinical interviews were utilized to evaluate the depressive symptoms, borderline personality traits, negative life events, and NSSI behaviours of these participants. Identifying variables linked to NSSI was the aim of our analysis, and we also conducted a mediation analysis to look into the influence of borderline traits on the connection between negative life events and NSSI.ResultsOf the 338 depressed youth, approximately 59.47% (201/338) displayed NSSI, which was associated with greater clinical severity. Borderline traits had an independent influence on NSSI and it partially explained the connection between negative life events and NSSI, even when accounting for depression symptoms. Depressed youth who were more vulnerable to NSSI behaviours often experienced negative life events such as interpersonal relationships, academic pressure, being punished, and loss.ConclusionsOur research suggests that depressed youth who experience more negative life events are more likely to experience NSSI, and negative life events indirectly influence nonsuicidal self-injury through borderline personality traits. Implementing interventions focused on mitigating borderline symptoms could be a promising therapeutic approach for addressing NSSI in young people.