Prevalence Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Effects of spirituality and religious attendance on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of inmates: a case study of Harare central prison, in Zimbabwe

The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of mental health problems at Harare Central Prison, Zimbabwe, in addition to assessing the prisoners’ levels of religiosity and spirituality, and furthermore ascertain how these affect their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. This paper used a qualitative research design, whilst the target population constituted the inmates at Harare Central Prison with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions. Purposeful sampling was used, whilst the research instrument employed was structured interviews. Data were presented in narrative form and analyzed using thematic analysis. The major findings of this study were that religion and spirituality had beneficial effects on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of inmates, including working as a protective factor. It was concluded that all the various stakeholders concerned should work on promoting the functional and beneficial aspects of religion and spirituality at the prison.

Prevalence and patterns of mental health problems among students in a Saudi Public University: a cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of mental health problems (MHPs) and their relationship with help-seeking behavior among college students at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-completed electronic question-naire distributed to IMSIU students. The questionnaire contained items related to barriers preventing from seeking help and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) to evaluate the distress. Results: The prevalence of MHPs among IMSIU students with severe distress, mild to moderate dis-tress, and no/less distress was 54.8%, 31.2%, and 14.0%, respectively. The prevalence of stu-dents who planned to seek help for MHPs was 53.7%. Being a female, single, smoker, with a family history of MHPs had a significantly higher mean perceived K-6 mental distress score. Conclusion: The competent authorities should develop programs that enhance students\' mental health and provide psychosocial support.

Mental health dynamics of adolescents: A one-year longitudinal study in Harari, eastern Ethiopia.

This study aims to assess the dynamics of in-school adolescents' mental health problems in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia for a year. Using multistage sampling technique, we conducted a year-long longitudinal study at three public high schools between March 2020 and 2021. Three hundred fifty-eight in-school adolescents were chosen by systematic random sampling for the baseline assessment, and 328 completed the follow-up assessment. We used self-administered, adolescent version of SDQ-25 Questionnaire to collect the data. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and McNemara's Chi-squared tests were used to examine the median difference and distribution of mental health problems between times one and two. Random-effects logistic regressions on panel data was used to identify factors associated with mental health problems. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The magnitude of overall mental health problems at baseline assessment was 20.11% (95% CI: 16-25), with internalizing problems accounting for 27.14% (95% CI: 23-32) and externalizing problems accounting for 7.01% (95% CI: 4.6-10.3). At the follow-up assessment, these proportions rose to 22.56% (95% CI, 18-27) for overall problems and 10.3% (95% CI, 7.7-14.45) for externalizing problems. On other hand, internalizing problems decreased unexpectedly to 22.86% (95% CI, 18.6-27.7) at follow-up assessment. Internalizing problem scores at time two were significantly lower than baseline among older adolescents, girls and those with average wealth index in our study cohort. The prevalence of mental health problems were high among the study cohort. The proportion of overall problems and externalizing problems has increased over time, indicating a deterioration in the mental health of the study cohort. However, the decrease in internalizing problems among older adolescents, girls, and those with an average wealth index is a positive sign. The findings highlight that tailored interventions are required to reduce externalizing problems and maintain the decrease in internalizing problems. These interventions should target middle-aged and male adolescents from low-income families.

Mood and Sleep Quality in Peruvian Medical Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

IntroductionThe prolongation and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an uncertain and devastating panorama in many populations, and the evidence shows a high prevalence of mental health problems in medical students. The objective was to evaluate the association between mood disorders and sleep quality (SQ) in Peruvian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 medical students from a private university in Peru. The SQ was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while mood disorders were evaluated using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). All information was collected by online surveys and then analysed in the R programming language. ResultsThe SQ results measured by PSQI were poor in 83.9% of the medical students. In the Poison regression analysis, the results of the bivariate analysis in men show that all mood disorders found the prevalence of poor SQ. However, in the multivariate analysis only stress (PRa=1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.57; P<0.01) and anxiety (PRa=1.34; 95% CI, 1.09-1.56; P <0.01) increased the prevalence of poor SQ. Women had a similar pattern in bivariate analysis, whereas in multivariate analysis, only severe stress (PRa=1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.29; P <0.05) increased the prevalence of poor SQ. ConclusionsThis study allows us to observe the consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on medical students in Peru. It also revealed a population group vulnerable to poor quality of sleep and bad mood, which in the future will impact on health. It is suggested to educate medical students about the importance of proper sleep hygiene and the consequences of poor sleep hygiene practices.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and Substance Use Among School-going Adolescents of Tribal Ethnicity: A Preliminary Study from North-East India

Background: Mental health disparities are more pronounced among marginalized and ethnic communities due to a multitude of societal and environmental factors. These include family dynamics, cultural influences, geographic location, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, all of which contribute to increased vulnerability to mental health issues within these populations. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of mental health issues and substance use among adolescents belonging to tribal communities. Methods and Materials: The current research adopts a cross-sectional descriptive study design and was conducted across five Indian states, with a particular focus on the north-eastern region, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. The selection of districts and schools was done based on convenience sampling in the initial phase of the study. From each state, two schools were selected where the tribal population was high. In each district, a list of schools (20 schools) was prepared based on census data where the tribal population was high. Following the selection of schools within the district, a randomized sampling approach, employing the lottery method, was utilized to choose 10 schools from the compiled list. Subsequently, a total enumeration method was employed for the selection of school-going adolescents, ensuring the inclusion of all individuals within the chosen schools. A total of 983 adolescents belonging to tribal communities participated in the study after providing both assent and parental consent. A socio-demographic datasheet, strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), and Brief Screener for Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs (BSTAD) were administered. Results: In the context of school-going adolescents, Arunachal Pradesh exhibited a higher prevalence of mental health issues, including emotional and behavioral problems, at 41.9%, surpassing the rates observed in Assam (32.8%), Meghalaya (31.4%), Nagaland (26%), and Manipur (14.22%). The finding shows that the use of alcohol was higher in Arunachal Pradesh (29.03%) as compared to other states; 29.44% of students from Nagaland sniffed or huffed, which was the highest among the five states; and 28.04% of students from Meghalaya took illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, etc., which was the highest among the five states. Conclusion: Proactive measures are urgently required to tackle the mental health obstacles confronting tribal adolescents. Implementing targeted mental health programs tailored to their specific needs is crucial for ensuring their well-being and fostering resilience within these communities.

Prevalence and correlates of mental health difficulties following the beirut port explosion: The roles of mentalizing and resilience.

Research has consistently highlighted an increased prevalence of mental health problems, such posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, following both man-made and natural disasters. Mentalizing and resilience have been previously identified as potential protective factors against the onset of mental health difficulties following such events. This study first identified the prevalence of PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress and subsequently assessed mentalizing abilities and resilience as predictors of PTSD symptomatology in a sample of 521 Lebanese participants following the Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020. Findings were consistent with existing literature highlighting elevated rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety subsequent to man-made disasters, with higher rates of mental health symptoms observed among women, those with a preexisting diagnosis of psychiatric disorder (1.5 times more likely to meet the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 [PCL-5] cutoff score), and those who had to move houses (over 2 times more likely to meet PCL-5 cutoff) as a consequence of the explosion. Higher mentalizing capacities were positively correlated with higher resilience scores and lower indices of mental health difficulties. Each unit increase in resilience scores was associated with a 3% reduction in meeting PCL-5 cutoff, and poorer mentalizing abilities was associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk of meeting PCL-5 cutoff. Presence of a previous psychiatric diagnosis, having to move houses, lower mentalizing capacities, and lower resilience scores were found to predict elevated PCL-5 scores. Findings are discussed within the framework of recommendations for interventions targeting people affected by traumatic events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: a systematic review of prevalence and wave-based patterns

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of the entire population, and especially of the healthcare, due to their close contact with the virus and the health emergency. However, the diversity of studies makes it difficult to determine the prevalence of mental health problems in Spanish healthcare workers. This study aims to examine the studies carried out during COVID-19 with the Spanish healthcare population to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and burnout symptomatology. A systematic search of the articles in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was performed following PRISMA criteria. Pooled prevalence was obtained for all the mental health symptomatology from moderate to severe, as well as divided by wave. Our data revealed that 50.54% of healthcare workers reported stress, 41.02% burnout, 35.25% anxiety, 29.76% depression, and 25.82% PTSD symptomatology. Anxiety, depression, PTSD and burnout symptomatology diminished in the second and/or the third waves but increased in the following waves. However, stress showed the maximum prevalence during the second wave. Our study highlights a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during health crises, and emphasizes the immediate need for mental health support for healthcare workers during and after pandemics. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout symptomatology exhibit a “valley” effect, initially decreasing but increasing with prolonged exposure to the COVID-19 health crisis. This underscores the necessity to implement prevention strategies to enhance stress management, emotional regulation skills, and coping abilities.

Correction: Prevalence of mental health problems among children with long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Correction: Prevalence of mental health problems among children with long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mental health literacy in Polynesian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.

The high prevalence of mental health problems and underutilization of mental health treatment are more severe among the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations and remain misunderstood and understudied. Examining mental health literacy (MHL) - the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders - aids their recognition, management, or prevention - has been shown to identify barriers to seeking and receiving care. This study aimed to assess the level of MHL in NHPIs and identify associated demographic variables. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from 298 US NHPIs via an online questionnaire of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS). The overall mean MHLS score was 121 (SD = 17.3), with statistically significant higher scores in female participants, >31 years old, Tongan, more educated, and with higher income. This study demonstrated that overall MHL is comparable among NHPI compared to the current literature. However, NHPI men ≤30 years old and with lower income had lower MHL, which may be linked to the mental health disparities specific to this population. Current interventions should focus on increasing knowledge of risk factors, causes, self-treatments, and available professional help regarding mental disorders. Efforts to improve the MHL of NHPI should target men ≤30 years with lower income (<$50 000).

The association between parent mental health and pediatric chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mental health problems are common among parents of children with chronic pain and associated with worse outcomes for the child with chronic pain. However, the effect sizes of these associations between parent mental health and pediatric chronic pain vary widely across studies. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to generate pooled estimates of the (1) prevalence of mental health problems among parents of children with chronic pain and (2) associations between parent mental health and the (2a) presence of child chronic pain and (2b) functioning of children with chronic pain. Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched up to November 2022. Observational studies that examined symptoms or diagnoses of parent anxiety, depression, or general distress and the presence of child chronic pain and/or related functioning were included. From 32,848 records, 2 coders identified 49 studies to include in random-effects meta-analyses. The results revealed that mental health problems among parents of children with chronic pain were common (anxiety: 28.8% [95% CI 20.3-39.1]; depression: 20.0% [15.7-25.2]; general distress: 32.4% [22.7-44.0]). Poorer parent mental health was significantly associated with the presence of chronic pain (anxiety: OR = 1.91 [1.51-2.41]; depression: OR = 1.90 [1.51-2.38]; general distress: OR = 1.74 [1.47-2.05]) and worse related functioning (ie, pain intensity, physical functioning, anxiety and depression symptoms; r s = 0.10-0.25, all P s < 0.05) in children. Moderator analyses were generally nonsignificant or could not be conducted because of insufficient data. Findings support the importance of addressing parent mental health in the prevention and treatment of pediatric chronic pain.

“Hermes” - Hemophilia Related Mental Illness: A Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study in Switzerland

Background: The availability of clotting factor concentrates and prophylactic home treatment for patients with hemophilia (PWH) A and B in developed countries greatly improved clinical outcomes. As the life expectancy of affected patients has increased, the management of comorbidities has become a greater focus within the comprehensive care setting. However, most studies focus on somatic complications. The past two decades revealed a growing body of work reporting increased prevalence of mental health problems in PWH. Given the severity and chronicity of the disease, internalizing disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression) as well as externalizing disorders (i.e. substance dependency, irritability and aggression) seem to go hand in hand with hemophilia. We aimed to assess the prevalence of comorbid mental health problems among PWH in Switzerland. We investigated age effects on this relationship as well as potentially influencing factors (illness factors and environmental factors) that may account for these. We also aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and age dependency in this setting. We are heading to identify targets of prevention/early intervention of mental health problems and foster improvement of evidence-based interdisciplinary treatment in PWH. Methods:This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted within six hemophilia treatment centers in Switzerland. Study participants were aged 6-99 years with congenital hemophilia of any severity. All participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent, and the study was approved by the cantonal medical ethics committee of the responsible states. Participants aged 12 or older underwent a detailed personal psychological assessment followed by completing an online survey utilizing validated psychological measures (HRQoL, psychosocial functioning, somatic comorbidities/parental factors). Participants younger than 12 years underwent a detailed personal psychological assessment with one parent/legal guardian followed by an online survey to be completed by their parent/guardian. In all participants younger than 18 years, we assessed one parent/legal guardian additionally. Results:A total of n=164 PWH participated in the study (133 adult and 31 pediatric participants). Data analyses showed a median age of 39.26 years (SD 20.41). The majority of participants had hemophilia A (n=134, 82%), while hemophilia B was diagnosed in n=30 (18%) of participants. A severe hemophilia was reported in n=85 (52%), a moderate in n=31 (19%) and a mild hemophilia in n=48 (29%). Prophylactic treatment regimen was used in n=97 (59%). Out of n=156 participants with completed neuropsychiatric diagnostic interview, n=38 (24%) participants showed a psychiatric disorder over lifetime. This was significantly associated with disease severity, being more prevalent in moderate and severe hemophilia. We could not detect an association with age, so age does not moderate this association. In n=153 participants with available data on HRQoL, we found a lower HRQoL also to be associated with disease severity (moderate and severe). Moderation analyses could not confirm an association with age. Conclusion:Our data show an association of (lifetime) psychiatric diagnoses and a lower health-related quality of life in hemophilia depending on disease severity. This association is evident in moderate and severe hemophilia and is independent of age despite recent progress in development and use of new therapies going along with suggested lower hemophilia disease burden. Further analyses including somatic and treatment factors as well as parenting are ongoing and will be presented.

Fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia among undergraduate nursing students in Oman

Background &amp; Aim: The emergence of COVID-19 has created fears, worries, and anxiety among individuals worldwide. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of mental health problems (fear, stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia) and their contributing factors among undergraduate nursing students in Oman two years after the start of the pandemic.&#x0D; Methods &amp; Materials: A cross-sectional study was employed for this study. The questionnaire was distributed electronically via Qualtrics® Online survey software. It consisted of items relating to detailed demographics, background history, and standard scales, including the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index.&#x0D; Results: The sample comprised 548 nursing students. The participants had a mean FVC-19 score of 16.39, with a standard deviation of 6.04. The overall prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia among nursing students was 94%, 70%, 53%, and 38%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between fear of COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.05) and stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.&#x0D; Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia pose notable challenges for undergraduate nursing students. Identifying these mental health issues early is crucial as well as introducing preventive and supportive interventions tailored to the specific contributing factors. This is essential to mitigate the potential for more severe psychological consequences among nursing students.

A Network Study of Family Affect Systems in Daily Life

Adolescence is a time period characterized by extremes in affect and increasing prevalence of mental health problems. Prior studies have illustrated how affect states of adolescents are related to interactions with parents. However, it remains unclear how affect states among family triads, that is adolescents and their parents, are related in daily life. This study investigated affect state dynamics (happy, sad, relaxed, and irritated) of 60 family triads, including 60 adolescents (M age = 15.92, 63.3% females), fathers and mothers (M age = 49.16). The families participated in the RE-PAIR study, where they reported their affect states in four ecological momentary assessments per day for 14 days. First, we used multilevel vector-autoregressive network models to estimate affect dynamics across all families, and for each family individually. Resulting models elucidated how family affect states were related at the same moment, and over time. We identified relations from parents to adolescents and vice versa, while considering family variation in these relations. Second, we evaluated the statistical performance of the network model via a simulation study, varying the percentage missing data, the number of families, and the number of time points. We conclude with substantive and statistical recommendations for future research on family affect dynamics.

Internal migration in Chile and mental health in migrant‐sending communities

AbstractEmpirical research on migration has mostly concentrated on its economic impacts, with growing but limited focus on its mental health impacts in migrant‐sending communities. Existing studies mainly concentrate on the mental health of remaining household members, mostly establishing cross‐sectional correlations, with mixed findings depending on individual and contextual characteristics. Studies that address potential endogeneity are few and tend to find no significant causal impact of migration on the mental health of remaining family members. However, migration may affect not only the remaining household members but also the entire sending community by changing its demographic, social and economic composition. The aim of this paper is to analyse the overall impact of migration on the mental health of sending communities, considering both the impact of having a migrant family member and of living in a community experiencing net emigration. The paper addresses potential endogeneity through an instrumental variable approach, controlling for confounding factors and examines mental health outcomes beyond depression and stress, assessing also psychosocial difficulties and self‐efficacy. It uses nationally representative data from the 2017 National Health Survey in Chile, a country characterised by high internal mobility, significant mental health issues and concentration of mental healthcare provision in large urban centres. The study finds that living in net emigration municipalities increases the probability of experiencing a major depressive episode, psychosocial difficulties and low self‐efficacy. Results are robust to controlling for endogeneity using past migration rates as an instrument for current migration rates. These findings suggest that smaller, net emigration communities require policy attention, and in particular better mental healthcare provision, to avoid increasing the prevalence of mental health problems and the treatment gap between larger and smaller communities in Chile.

Bridging the evidence gap: A review and research protocol for outdoor mental health therapies for young Australians

AbstractInternationally, over 60% of all lifetime cases of mental health disorders are identified as emerging by 25 years of age. In Australia, young people (aged 16–24 years) report the highest prevalence of mental health problems. Acceptability of mainstream services for young people is a concern, particularly for clients 18–25 years, heterosexual males and certain marginalised communities. With unaddressed distress in young people a precursor to poor, potentially lifelong mental ill-health trajectories, the provision of acceptable, and accessible mental health services remains a critical system imperative.Outdoor therapies, such as outdoor talking therapies, present an option for increasing the breadth of mental health interventions available to young people. Reported benefits of outdoor therapies include improved self-esteem and confidence, positive and negative affect, stress reduction and restoration, social benefits, and resilience. As outdoor therapies draw on multidisciplinary skillsets, this modality has the potential to expand services beyond existing workforce capacities. However, there are evidence gaps that must be addressed before mainstreaming of this treatment modality can occur.Here we overview the existing evidence base foroutdoor talking therapies,as a form of outdoor mental healthcare, to determine their appropriateness as an effective and efficient treatment modality for young people with psychological distress in Australia and elsewhere. We then propose a research protocol designed to determine the acceptability, efficacy and efficiency of ‘outdoor talking therapies’. Our aim is to help address identified youth mental healthcare service shortages in Australia, and potentially support the health of our mental healthcare workforce.

Effectiveness of the holistic primary school-based intervention MindMatters: study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence has increased significantly, not least due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and other countries worldwide. Although holistic school interventions to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems are considered promising, there is currently uncertainty about their effectiveness due to evaluation studies with heterogeneous methodological quality. This paper presents the study protocol for the evaluation of the primary school module of MindMatters.MethodsAs part of a universal mental health intervention, the MindMatters primary school module ‘Learning Together with Emotions’ aims to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom across five skill areas. In addition to classroom activities, the intervention includes a school development module to help primary schools create structures and processes to maintain and promote mental health. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, a two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted, including schools implementing MindMatters over a 12-month period and a control group with no access to the intervention. Data will be collected before and 18 months after initiation of the intervention. Controlled for baseline conditions, multilevel regression analysis will be used to examine primary intervention outcomes at the pupil level (i.e. reductions in mental and behavioural problems). Further mediation and moderation analyses will examine whether proximal outcomes predict changes in mental health outcomes and whether school-level factors influence the effectiveness of the intervention.DiscussionThis study will contribute to strengthen the evidence base for holistic school (mental) health promotion interventions using a study design with high internal validity. Based on an intervention model, the results will not only provide insights into the relationship between proximal and distal outcomes, but will also allow conclusions to be drawn about how the implementation of the intervention affects its effectiveness. Finally, the findings also address the question of whether improved mental health has a positive effect on primary school pupils’ academic performance.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00023762. Registered on 5 January 2021.

Covariates Associated with Mental Health Problems Faced by Undergraduate Medical Students Undergoing Competency-Based Medical Education at a Rural Institution in North India: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Survey

Abstract Introduction: Mental health-related problems among medical students were well-researched before the era of competency-based curricula. These problems were revealed to be widespread among college students who experienced greater effort-reward imbalance and over-commitment. Such research is insufficient in the Indian context. Aims: The present study aims to assess the prevalence of mental health problems (stress, anxiety, and depression), and their covariates among female medical undergraduate students. Methodology: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from March 2022 to May 2022 on 364 female medical undergraduate students in a rural institution located in Northern India. A stratified random sampling technique was used. The study included a semi-structured sociodemographic with personal and psychological domains proforma along with a Perceived Stress Scale-10, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, Becks Depression Inventory-II, Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire, and brief-coping orientation to problems experienced to assess perceived stress, anxiety, depression, stressors, and coping mechanisms, respectively. The Chi-square test and backward multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the correlates of dependent variables. Results: Of 364, around 40.7%, 36.5%, and 17.9% of students were highly stressed, anxious, and moderate to severely depressed, respectively, with a mean age of 20.44 ± 1.88 years. The results indicate that poor sleep and irregular exercise patterns were significant covariates of mental health problems. Respondents with interpersonal- and intrapersonal-related stressors were found to have two times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.632; confidence interval [CI] = 1.216–5.698; P &lt; 0.05) and four times (AOR = 4.230; CI = 1.832–9.763; P &lt; 0.001) higher odds of perceived stress and anxiety symptoms, respectively. A personal history and family history of psychiatric illness among participants influenced perceived stress by 211%–226% while drive- and desire-related stressors influenced depressive symptoms by more than three times (AOR = 3.719; 95% CI = 1.702–8.124; P &lt; 0.001) Conclusions: Findings from the present study suggest that a large number of students are suffering from mental health issues. Modifiable factors such as poor sleep and irregular exercise patterns can be addressed through various wellness programs and group sessions. Various supportive and preventive measures along with scheduled psychological interventions can be adopted by the institution to address various stressors faced by the students.

Independent and joint associations of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise with mental health in adolescents: A cross-sectional analysis before and during COVID-19 using the 2015–2021 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey

PurposeCOVID-19 led to social isolation that may have compromised adolescent mental health. This study examined the independent and joint associations of aerobic physical activity (PA) and muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) with mental health problems in adolescents. MethodsParticipants were US adolescents who completed the 2015–2021 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 61,298; 45.7% female). Data were collected between 2015 and 2021 and analyzed in 2023. Outcomes were binary response items asking about feeling sad/hopeless, having difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, and having a suicidal ideation. Preventive exposure variables were items asking about frequencies of aerobic PA and MSE with responses dichotomized to align with recommendations. Independent and joint associations were examined using robust Poisson regression with covariates selected using double selection lasso. Structural equation models examined the associations treating PA and MSE as continuous predictors and poor mental health as a latent dependent variable. ResultsMeeting either recommendation alone associated with a 4–10% lower prevalence of mental health problems (APR = 0.90–0.96, p < 0.05), and meeting both recommendations associated with a 15%–20% lower prevalence of mental health problems (APR = 0.80–0.85, p < 0.001). Although categorical joint associations were stronger in males (p < 0.05), multiplicative interactions were observed in females using continuous variables for PA and MSE (β = −0.09, p < 0.001). ConclusionMeeting aerobic PA and MSE recommendations associated with lower prevalence of mental health problems. Participation in MSE below recommended levels may be beneficial for females when combined with aerobic PA. Future research should examine these associations by acquiring contextual information and device-based assessments.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of general population: A comparison study between rural and urban population

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the mental health of the population globally with the increase in cases of depression, suicide, and self-harm. According to the World Health Organization, there has been an increase of 28% and 26% in major depressive disorders and anxiety, respectively, during 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few studies had been conducted in India assessing mental health, especially the post hoc effect of a pandemic. Therefore, the current study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in rural against urban populations as well as the contributing factors viz age, gender, socioeconomic class, change in occupation, and income. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2021 to February 2022 among participants residing in the area covered by the Urban Health Training Centre (Ajmera, Pimpri, Pune) and Rural Health Training Centre (Alandi, Pune) of a medical college in Pune. One hundred fifty-four participants (total of 308) above 18 years of age who were not diagnosed or under treatment for psychiatric illness were interviewed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) to screen for anxiety, depression, and stress in each setting. Results: Overall prevalence of mental distress was 35.71% (n = 110). In the rural area, it was 29.2% (n = 45) as compared to 42.2% (n = 65). in the urban category. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in urban areas (33.1%) compared to rural areas (19.4%), with an overall prevalence of 26.3%. The net prevalence of anxiety and stress was 35.7% and 15.6%, respectively, which were also higher in urban areas (Anxiety OR = 1.769, P = 0.018*; Stress OR = 2.262, P = 0.013). The upper middle class had the least psychological problems. Overall, 11% of participants had lost their jobs; 48.75% in rural and 37% of urban participants had a decrease in their income. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased burden of mental illness. The prevalence of mental health problems is alarmingly high, especially in urban communities. To combat the global mental health pandemic, the interventions that mediate psychological distress must be quickly implemented. Due importance should be given to mental healthcare in the community.

Mental Health of Immigrant Children and Adolescents (6-17 Years) in Canada: Evidence from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Studies indicate a higher prevalence of mental health problems among immigrants, but findings on immigrant children and adolescents are mixed. We sought to understand the magnitude of differences in mental health indicators between immigrant and non-immigrant children and adolescents in Canada and the influence of age, sex, household income, and household education. We completed a secondary analysis of data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, using a pooled estimate method to combine data from four survey cycles. A weighted logistic regression was used to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. We found an association between the mental health of immigrant versus non-immigrant children and adolescents (6-17 years) as it relates to emotional problems and hyperactivity. Immigrant children and adolescents had better outcomes with respect to emotional problems and hyperactivity/inattention compared to non-immigrant children and adolescents. Lower household socioeconomic status was associated with poorer mental health in children and adolescents. No significant differences in overall mental health status were evident between immigrant and non-immigrant children and adolescents in Canada but differences exist in emotional problems and hyperactivity. Sex has an influence on immigrant child mental health that varies depending on the specific mental health indicator.