Predictors Of Mental Health Status Research Articles

Perceived social support and mental health outcomes among perinatally HIV positive children in Gondar healthcare centers, North-Western Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Children with chronic illness are found to be at greater risk for psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety and feelings of isolation. Particularly, HIV positive children in underdeveloped nations are more likely experiencing psychological disorders and live with socially alienated social support systems. In present study, institution-based cross-sectional research design was employed to assess the prevalence of mental health distress among HIV positive children 115(F = 69) in Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. Quantitative data were collected with standardized instruments. Nurse Counsellors and case managers from the children’s ART department participated in sample selection and data collection under the close supervision of a researcher. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the quantitative data. The key findings of this study revealed that 57.4% HIV positive children reported high level in measures of anxiety and 52.2% had high depression level, while 47.8% had low self-esteem. Children’s ages, parental conditions, and perceived social support shown significant association with participants’ mental health condition. Perceived social support was a powerful set of predictors of children level of anxiety F = 1, 113 24.526, p < .001 and self-esteem F = 1, 113 6.494, p < .0.05. Furthermore, children’s age was a strong predictor of mental health status. The present study finding asserted that HIV positive children require a lifetime of continuous treatment, care and support to ensure their physical and mental development. This study reminds families, caregivers and healthcare institutions of the development of appropriate prevention and intervention program to alleviate stressful life events and improve the psychological well-being of HIV positive children.

Associations of nuptiality perceptions, financial difficulties, and socio-demographic factors with mental health status in Australian adults: Analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.

This study examined the association of nuptial/relationship factors, financial difficulties, and socio-demographic factors with the mental health status of Australian adults. Cross-sectional quantitative study design. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey wave 19, 6846 adults were included in the analysis. Mental health was measured using the mental component summary (MCS) subscale of the Short-Form Health Survey SF-36. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were used to examine the predictors of mental health status. Overall, 7.1% of the participants reported poor mental health status. Individual financial difficulty factors explained 3.2% (p<0.001) of the variance in mental health scores. In addition, financial difficulties were negatively associated with mental health status. Nuptiality and relationship factors accounted for 9.8% (p<0.001) of the variance in mental health status. The study suggests negative marital or relationship perceptions and financial difficulties are significant factors accounting for poor mental health. This finding suggests the need for more policy attention toward the social determinants of poor mental health especially nuptiality or relationship perceptions which have received less policy and research attention in Australia.

Mental health in Canadian children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic: the role of personality and, coping and stress responses.

In December 2019, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic first emerged in China and quickly spread to other countries. Previous studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences have negatively impacted the mental health of adults. Individual differences such as personality could contribute to mental health. Furthermore, coping and responses to stress may affect an individual's response to the pandemic. In the past, studies have only investigated this relationship in adults. In the current study, we examine how personality traits (using the Five-Factor Model as our framework) and Coping and Response to COVID-19 stress are related to the mental health of Canadian children and adolescents during the pandemic. Using parent reports of 100 preschoolers and 607 6-18-year-old children, we performed multiple regression analysis to explore how personality traits predict the effects of COVID-19 on mental health. The results showed that personality traits are associated with the mental health of Canadian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In preschoolers, Neuroticism and Agreeableness predicted the most mental health problems, and in 6-18-year-old children, Extraversion negatively predicted the most mental health problems. Also, Openness to Experience was the weakest predictor of mental health status in Canadian youth. These findings could be useful in understanding children's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and could assist public health services delivering mental health services specifically tailored to children's personalities during and after this pandemic.

The mental health impact of multiple deprivations under protracted conflict: A multi-level study in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Building on the literatures examining the impacts of deprivation and war and conflict on mental health, in this study, we investigate the impact of different forms of deprivation on mental health within a context of prolonged conflict in the occupied Palestinian territory(oPt). We expand the operationalization go deprivation while accounting for more acute exposures to conflict and political violence and spatial variations. We use multilevel modelling of data from the Socio-Economic & Food Security Survey 2014 conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, which included a sample size of 7827 households in the West Bank(WB) and Gaza Strip(GS). We conduct the analysis for the combined sample, as for the WB and GS separately. We use a General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ12) score as our main outcome measure of poor health. We used various measures of deprivation including subjective deprivation, material deprivation, food deprivation, and political deprivation. In addition to the different measures of deprivation, we included acute political, health, and economic shocks in our analysis along with background socio-demographic characteristics. The results indicate significant variance at the locality level. We find a significant association between poor mental health and subjective, economic, political, and food deprivation; health, economic, and political stressors; age, and being a woman. Post-secondary education and wealth have a significant inverse association with poor mental health. Subjective deprivation is the strongest predictor of GHQ12 score in the models whereby people who feel very deprived have GHQ12 scores that are almost 4-points higher than people who do not feel deprived. Economic conditions, particularly subjective measures, are significant predictors of mental health status. Our findings confirm that political and social factors are determinants of health. Feeling deprived is an important determinant of mental health. The community effect suggests that spatial characteristics are influencing mental health, and warrant further investigation.

Factors associated with psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Nigeria: Regression-based approach

Background and Purpose: There is growing evidence of mental health amongst Nigerians is currently neglected. A pilot study evaluating variables linked with mental health during pandemic was conducted to add to the expanding body of knowledge in this area and establish the framework for future research. Methods: Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire, a cross-sectional study of 1075 respondents. Mental health status was assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Logistic regression was used to investigate the factors associated with mental health status. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the main factors associated with mental health outcomes. Of the 1075 respondents, 678 (63.9%) had anxiety disorder (i.e., GAD ≥ 3) and 670 (62.3%) had depression (PHQ ≥ 3). The median age were 30 years, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression shows that sex (Standardize Beta = - 0.84, p < 0.01), degree (Standardize Beta = 0.45, p = 0.006), income level (Standardize Beta = 0.98, p < 0.01) and the region (Standardize Beta = 0.78, p < 0.01) are all significant predictors. Conclusions: This study provides supportive evidence for mental health education and psychological counselling services. Current household income, level of education, region and gender are the significant predictors of mental health status amongst Nigerians.

Occupational Stress as a Predictor of Mental Health Status of Universities Lecturers in South-East Nigeria

The focus of this study was to determine occupational stress as a predictor of mental health status of universities lecturers in south-east Nigeria. three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted the correlation survey research design. A sample of 940 lecturers were selected using the multistage sampling procedure. The instrument adopted for data collection is the Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (OSI-R) which was developed by Samuel H. Osipow in 1998 and The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) developed by Lovibond and Lovibond in 1983. The administration of the instrument was done through direct delivery approach to the Lectures, in administering the instrument, A total of 920 (100%) questionnaires were administered with a retrieval rate of 902 (98%). Data collected were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that occupational stress of lecturers between 20-40 years of age had contributed to 51.0 percent and is a significant predictor of their mental health, occupational stress of lecturers within 40 years and above had contributed to 72.0 percent of their mental health and occupational stress of lecturers within 40 years of age is a significant predictor of their mental health. the findings further revealed that that occupational stress of lecturers jointly with age had contributed to 72.0 percent and 6.2 percent respectively of their mental health and occupational stress and age of lecturers is a significant joint predictor of their mental health. Based on the strength of this findings, conclusions were drawn and recommendations made among others that Routine medical check on the mental health status of lecturers should be sponsored by federal and state governments for lecturers in federal and state institutions respectively. Keywords: Occupation, Stress, Occupational Stress, Mental Health, Lecturers, Universities DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-34-04 Publication date: December 31 st 2021

Level of Resilience Among Transgenders in Selected Areas of Puducherry, India: An Exploratory Research.

BackgroundResilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress, and it is a predictor of mental health status that specifically indicates self-esteem, perceived social support, emotion-oriented coping, and a sense of personal mastery.The third gender known better as transgender has existed in every culture, race, class, and religion since the inception of human life has been recorded and analyzed. In spite of many advances and reforms, the current plight of transgender is far from being satisfactory. The social integration of transgender with the mainstream community is practically non-existent even today.Aim and objectiveThe objective of the study is to assess the level of resilience among transgenders at selected areas in Puducherry, India, and to find out the association between the levels of resilience among transgenders with the selected demographic variables.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the selected areas of Puducherry, India, adopting a linear snowball sampling method after consultation with the Nayaks (heads of transgenders) of the transgender groups, and 100 transgenders were enrolled who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and consented to participate in the research.ResultsAbout 29 (29%) transgenders were in the age group of 31-40 years, 28 (28%) were in the age group of 21-30 years, 24 (24%) were in the group of 41-50 years, and 19 (19%) were in the age group of 51 and above. In education status, 38 (38%) had secondary education, 23 (23%) had primary education, 20 (20%) had higher secondary education, 12 (12%) had graduation and above, and seven (7%) were diploma holders. Moreover, 54 (54%) were employed, and 46 (46%) were unemployed; 81 (81%) were residing in rural areas, and 19 (19%) were residing in urban areas. The study revealed that 53 (53%) of them had average resilience, 28 (28%) had the least resilience, and 19 (19%) had the highest resilience among transgenders. The minimum score was 28.0, and the maximum score was 52.0. The mean score was 42.50 with a standard deviation of 4.61. The median value was 43.0.ConclusionTransgenders exhibit low and average resilience that reflects poor mental health status among them. The educational status was found to be associated with the level of resilience. Proper education among transgenders would help in improving their resilience and betterment of their life.

Predictors of Mental Health Status among Quarantined COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The negative psychological impact of COVID-19 in the general population has been well documented. Similar studies among those who were infected and who underwent quarantine remain scarce, particularly in the Arab region. The present study aims to fill this gap. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals who were quarantined in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities were invited to participate in an online survey. All consenting participants answered a generalized questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, as well as a five-part questionnaire that assessed the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress. Results: A total of 335 suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals (198 males and 137 females) participated. Being female is associated with increased risk of depression (odds ratio OR 1.8 (confidence interval, CI 1.1–3.1; p = 0.03)) as well as being employed by the government (OR 2.8 (CI 1.1–7.0; p = 0.03)). Level of education (OR 2.3 (CI 1.0–5.4; p = 0.049)) and employment in government (OR 3.0 (CI 1.2–7.8; p = 0.02)) were significantly associated with distress. Increasing age (45 years and above) appeared to be protective against distress (OR 0.2 (CI 0.02–0.69; p = 0.008)), as well anxiety and sleep pattern (OR 0.3 p < 0.05). Conclusion: Findings of the present study highlight that infected COVID-19 populations are at higher risk for acute and detrimental psychological well-being during quarantine and/or self-isolation. Identification of the coping mechanisms of older adults during periods of distress may prove beneficial in the pandemic preparedness of younger generations.

Depression, Anxiety, Resilience, and Coping: The Experience of Pregnant and New Mothers During the First Few Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: It is well-documented that the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women is essential for maternal, child, and family well-being. Of major public health concern is the perinatal mental health impacts that may occur during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is essential to explore the symptom experience and predictors of mental health status, including the relationship between media use and mental health. Materials and Methods: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women (n = 524) in the United States in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional online observational study collected psychosocial quantitative and qualitative survey data in adult pregnant and postpartum (up to 6 months postdelivery) women in April-June 2020. Results: Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate predictors of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The most common predictors were job insecurity, family concerns, eating comfort foods, resilience/adaptability score, sleep, and use of social and news media. Qualitative themes centered on pervasive uncertainty and anxiety; grief about losses; gratitude for shifting priorities; and use of self-care methods including changing media use. Conclusions: This study provides information to identify risk for anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in perinatal women during acute public health situations. Women with family and job concerns and low resilience/adaptability scores seem to be at high risk of psychological sequelae. Although use of social media is thought to improve social connectedness, our results indicate that increased media consumption is related to increased anxiety symptoms.

Studying Music During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Conditions of Studying and Health-Related Challenges.

ObjectiveThe coronavirus pandemic affects all areas of life. Performing arts and music studies have also experienced considerable changes, with university closures and a fluctuating return to normal and more limited operations. Prior studies detail the impact of the pandemic on college students, but we do not yet know what specific consequences it has for music students. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on music students’ health, practicing behavior, and everyday life.MethodsIn July 2020, we conducted an online survey of 80 students enrolled in performance and music education programs at a German music university and compared these data with data from a survey of 75 students at the same music university carried out in summer 2019.ResultsThe survey revealed that the coronavirus pandemic led to a decrease in practicing hours and an increase of stressful thoughts and feelings. Students were mostly satisfied with Corona-measures taken by the university. Of analyzed determinants, only general fear of health problems was identified as a significant predictor of mental health status. Mental health status did not significantly differ between students surveyed in 2019 and 2020.ConclusionKnowledge about the specific challenges the pandemic poses for music students can help conservatories to better respond to the needs of their students. Specifically, this study will inform future measures supporting music students in coping with difficult situations like a pandemic.

Predictors of Mental Health Status among Older United States Adults with Pain.

Poor mental health is common among older adults with pain, resulting in high economic burden and impaired quality of life. This retrospective, cross-sectional database study aimed to identify characteristics associated with good mental health status among United States (US) adults aged ≥50 years with self-reported pain in the last four weeks using a weighted sample of 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify statistically significant predictors of good (versus poor) perceived mental health status. From a weighted population of 57,074,842 individuals, 85.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 84.4%, 86.7%) had good perceived mental health. Good mental health was associated most strongly with physical health status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 9.216, 95% CI = 7.044, 12.058). Employed individuals were 1.7 times more likely to report good mental health versus unemployed (AOR = 1.715, 95% CI = 1.199, 2.452). Individuals who had completed less than high school education (AOR = 0.750, 95% CI = 0.569, 0.987) or who reported having a limitation (AOR = 0.513, 95% CI = 0.384, 0.684) were less likely to report good mental health. These key characteristics can be utilized to predict mental health status, which may be investigated to better manage concurrent pain and poor mental health.

Addiction, locus of control and health status: A study on patients with substance use disorder in recovery settings

ABSTRACTObjective: This study aims at testing (a) the association between locus of control and socio-demographic, drug use, and treatment-related variables in patients with drug addiction following rehabilitation, and (b) whether locus of control may account for physical and mental health status also controlling for social desirability responding. Methods: Seventy-eight participants were recruited within therapeutic communities for drug rehabilitation treatment. They completed measures of locus of control (LCB), health-related status (SF-12) and social desirability responding (BIDR-6 short form) and provided further socio-demographic, drug use, and treatment-related information. T-tests, Pearson’s correlations, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Results: Education and treatment duration represent the only two meaningful factors potentially favoring higher internal locus of control. Locus of control results to be a predictor of mental health status, explaining for about 6.5% of the outcome variance. However, when considering the potential influence of social desirability responding such a relationship does not remain statistically significant anymore. Conclusion: The study provides some insights about the relationship between locus of control and individual and treatment-related variables, that could be further explored to promote treatment success in rehabilitation programs. As well, social desirability arises as a major concern to be handled when dealing with substance use populations.

Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression among sexual minority and heterosexual women veterans.

This study examined the impact of various traumas across the life span on screening positive for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among heterosexual and sexual minority women veterans. Women veterans were recruited over the Internet (N = 706, 37% lesbian or bisexual) to participate in an anonymous, online survey. We assessed childhood trauma; adult sexual assault and adult physical victimization before, during, and after the military; combat exposure; perceived sexist discrimination during military service; sexual minority military stressors; past-year sexist events; and whether participants screened positive for PTSD or depression. Binary logistic regressions were used to generate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for PTSD and depression, stratified by sexual orientation and controlling for demographic characteristics. Lesbian and bisexual women reported higher rates of trauma across the life span, although in some instances (e.g., sexual assault during and after military service, combat exposure), they did not differ from their heterosexual counterparts. Childhood trauma and traumas that occurred during military service added the most variance to both PTSD and depression models. Sexual assault during military service appeared to be especially harmful with respect to screening positive for PTSD for both sexual orientation groups. Results revealed a number of other predictors of mental health status for women veterans, some of which differed by sexual orientation. Findings indicate a significant burden of interpersonal trauma for both heterosexual and lesbian/bisexual women veterans and provide information on the distinct association of various traumas with current PTSD and depression by sexual orientation.

Co-morbidity and predictors of health status in older rural breast cancer survivors

PurposeMore than 66% of the 200,000 newly diagnosed annual breast cancers in the US occurs in women over 55 years. Treatment advances result in excellent survival, yet older breast cancer survivors with co-morbidity may live longer, but not better after cancer. Decline in physical function, increased social isolation, and diminished economic resources increase vulnerability among older women. Rural women represent an underserved population. The purpose is to examine associations between comorbidity and predictors of health status among older rural breast cancer survivors.MethodsBaseline data of 331 BCS age 55–90 years enrolled in the Rural Breast Cancer Survivors Study. Four surveys were used for data collection. Self-reported prescription medications were used as proxy for co-morbidity. Bivariate tests of association and multivariable recursive partitioning techniques were used for analysis.ResultsMean number of prescription medication categories reported was 3.68 (SD = 2.3; range = 0–12). Common prescription categories were: anti-hormonal, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol- reducing agents. 69% was overweight or obese. BMI >31 was significantly associated with both poorer physical and mental health. Multivariate analyses indicated physical health status was predicted by BMI, comorbid conditions, social support, and adverse changes in economic lifestyle. The same variables, with the exception of BMI, were predictors of mental health status.ConclusionsAssessing co-morbid conditions, mental health status, social support, and economic burden after breast cancer treatment may better inform cancer survivorship care and comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Military Stress, Stress Coping, and Mental Health Status among Soldiers who Need Intensive Care

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the level of military stress, stress coping, and mental health status and to identify the relationships among these variables in soldiers who need intensive care. Methods: The participants were 113 perceived maladjusted soldiers who participated in Green-camp from one army base in Gyeong-gi Province. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed with the SPSS-WIN 20.0 program. The instruments were the Military Stress Inventory, Ways of Coping Checklist, and Symptoms Checklist- 90-Revision (SCL-90-R). Results: The level of stress was 3.6±0.70, overall stress coping was 1.1±0.41, and mental health status was 1.5±0.93. There were significant differences in stress, stress coping, and mental health status according religion, economic status of family, prospects for the future, persons with whom one could talk about troubles. The group with higher emotion focused coping had significantly higher scores on mental health status. There were significant positive correlations among major variables. Military stress was a significant predictor of mental health status (Adjusted R 2 21.0%). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, stress management and intervention pro

Comparative study of mental health and quality of life in long term refugees and host populations in Oru-Ijebu, Southwest Nigeria

BackgroundRefugees as “People Living in Highly Stressful Situation” are particularly vulnerable to mental ill-health as a result of the trauma experienced pre- and post-migration. The lack of information on the mental health disparities of refugees and non-refugees in West Africa is what this study aimed to bridge.A cross-sectional study design was employed using a cluster sampling technique. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaires consisting of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Community Quality of Life (CQoL) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of mental health status and QoL.ResultsRespondents consisted of 444(45.7%) refugees and 527(54.3%) non-refugees. Two-thirds 292 (66%) of the refugees were Liberians. Mean age: refugees - 34.8 ± 12.8 years versus non-refugees - 33.3 ± 8.1 years (p < 0.05). While the majority 376(84.7%) of the refugees were married, most 468(88.8%) of the native population were not (p < 0.001). Significantly higher proportion of refugees had polygamous marriages, lived in poorer type of accommodation and had no formal education compared to the non-refugees (p < 0.05). The overall QoL and CQoL scores were both significantly lower for the refugees (p < 0.001). Refugees were three times more likely than non-refugees to have poor mental health [OR: 3.43; 95%CI: 1.83-6.40]. Overall, being currently ill tripled the odds of mental ill health [OR: 2.73; 95%CI: 1.98-3.77]. Unskilled workers [OR: 2.78; 95%CI: 1.68-4.60], skilled workers [OR: 2.98; 95%CI: 2.03-4.38] and the unemployed [OR: 1.94; 95%CI: 1.29-2.92] had two or more times the odds of poor mental health compared to professionals.ConclusionsQoL and occupational status were the major threats to the mental health of the refugees. Results of this study point to the need for continued attention to not only the healthcare needs but the welfare, housing, employment and overall QoL to support the long-term mental health of refugees and non-refugee populations alike.

Primary Care, Depression, and Anxiety: Exploring Somatic and Emotional Predictors of Mental Health Status in Adolescents

A growing body of research points to regular, comprehensive mental health screening in primary care practices as an effective tool, but a thorough and efficient approach is not yet widely used. The purpose of this report is to describe the pattern of mental health-related concerns, protective and social risk factors reported by adolescents during routine well-child visits in primary care settings, and their occurrence among teens that screen positive for either depression or anxiety with brief validated measures. A personal digital assistant-based questionnaire was administered as part of clinical care to adolescents 11 to 18 years old (N = 2184) attending preventive well-child visits in 13 pediatric and family medicine primary care practices in a northern New England practice-based research network over 18 months (2008 to 2009). Depressive and anxiety-related symptoms were assessed using the 2-question versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, respectively. Analyses determined the role that the protective and social risk factors played in determining who screens positive for depression and anxiety. In the fully adjusted model, risk factors that were significant (P < .05) predictors for a positive screen of depression included substance use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.05); stress (AOR, 3.59); anger (AOR, 1.94); and worries about family alcohol and drug use (AOR, 2.69). Among protective factors, that is, those that reduce the risk of depression, age (AOR, 0.87 for younger patients); having parents who listen (AOR, 0.34); and having more assets (AOR, 0.65) were significant. Significant predictors of screening positive for anxiety included substance use (AOR, 1.97); stress (AOR, 6.10); anger (AOR, 2.31); trouble sleeping (AOR, 1.75), and the sex of the adolescent (AOR, 1.87 for girls). Although having parents who listen was still a significant protective factor for anxiety (AOR, 2.26), other assets were not significant. Comprehensive primary care mental health screening that considers both anxiety and depression while including strength-based and psychosocial support questions is a helpful adjunct to clinical practices and has been done routinely by using an electronic tool at the point of care. Because certain common somatic and emotional concerns can precede depression and anxiety, routine screening for these issues along with depression and anxiety screening is suggested.

A Comparative and Exploratory Analysis of Socio-cultural Factors and Immigrant Women’s Mental Health within a Canadian Context

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of macro-level factors on immigrant and non-immigrant women's mental health status in a Canadian context. This study was part of a larger study examining women's quality of life in south eastern Ontario. Using survey research methods, data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 91 women of whom 66 identified their country of origin as "other" than Canada. Descriptive, bivariate and regression analysis of this data revealed that immigrant and non-immigrant women's macro-level predictors of mental health status vary. Overall, for immigrant women's perceptions of neighbourhood social cohesion was a stronger predictor influencing mental health status, while for non-immigrant women social support was more influential. Research with larger, representative samples should explore the findings to ascertain generalizability.

Social support and self-efficacy in patients with Myasthenia Gravis: a common pathway towards positive health outcomes

Social support and self-efficacy, that was defined as one's belief in one's capabilities to enact a certain behaviour, have a mediating effect on health outcomes and, by facilitating healthy behaviours and compliance to treatment, reduce morbidity and mortality. This pilot study aims to test whether social support and self-efficacy have a positive effect in improving health outcomes of patients with Myasthenia Gravis. 74 patients (mean age 48.1; 67.6% female) were enrolled and reported low self-efficacy and health status, but good perceived social support. Men reported better self-efficacy than women, and those living with a partner reported higher social support levels. No differences were found stratifying for disease onset, disease stage and patients' working situation. Self-efficacy and tangible support were independent predictors of mental health status. These results provide a preliminary indication that psychosocial interventions aimed to increase self-efficacy could positively mediate mental health status in myasthenic patients, especially among women.

Mental Health Symptoms in Combat Medic Training: A Longitudinal Examination

Mental health symptoms in military populations are rising and constitute a significant health concern. This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in soldiers (N = 3,792) undergoing combat medic training. At the start of training, 10.4%, 15.5%, and 4.1% of soldiers had clinically significant depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, respectfully. These percentages increased to 12.2%, 20.3%, and 5.7% at completion of training, respectfully. Worsening of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation occurred for 7.7%, 11.4%, and 4% of soldiers. Higher percentages of symptoms were associated with females, lower education, and lower income. Active duty personnel were more likely to worsen following training with respect to suicidal ideation (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9) compared to reservists. The identification of these significant predictors of mental health status may serve to identify individuals at risk. Additional work to examine the relative contribution of anticipatory (impending deployment) factors vs. training-related factors is warranted.