Psychological Health Factors Research Articles

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan.

Dairy farmers are more likely than nonfarmers to experience high demands and are at risk of mental health problems. However, there is scarce evidence on the current state of psychological health and related factors among dairy farmers, and the knowledge of potential gender differences is limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and its association with work environment characteristics and to identify gender differences. Data were collected from 273 dairy farmer participants (169 males and 104 females) in Japan. Females were more likely to be depressed, and young and middle-aged women appeared to be at risk of depression. For both genders, a demanding work environment was related to depression. There were some gender differences; for example, worries about the harmful effects of pesticides on health and the balancing of family roles and work roles were related to depression in men, while worries about one’s financial situation and the health status of livestock were associated with depression in women. Females benefited from support through direct interaction, while males benefited from involvement in social activities. These findings will contribute to the development of a gender-specific approach to promote psychological health in the dairy farming community.

Review on the role of socioeconomic status in child health and development

This review presents findings from recent studies investigating the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in child development. Studies on associations between SES and different parameters of physical and psychological health, on interventions and possible resilience factors are reviewed. Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies demonstrate social disparities in child behavior and health. They underline the detrimental effects of low SES on child development. Some studies also highlight the potentially adverse effects of early diseases or vulnerabilities on later career and social position. Whereas most studies applied parent-based measures of SES, some studies emphasize the significance of child-based (e.g. perceived social position) and area-level indicators of SES (e.g. area deprivation). With respect to intervention, study findings suggest positive effects of programs aiming to improve specific neighborhood characteristics and psychosocial functioning of individuals. The relation between SES and health is bidirectional and stable, and the effects of interventions aiming at changing behaviors of children and families with low SES are small. There is a need for further center-based and area-level interventions and studies evaluating the effects of these interventions.

Relationships Between Social, Physical, and Psychological Factors in Older Persons: Frailty as an Outcome in Network Analysis

ObjectiveFrailty is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by social, physical, and psychological stressors. Network analysis is a graphical statistical technique that can contribute to the understanding of this complex, multifactorial phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between social, physical, and psychological factors and frailty in older persons. DesignA cross-sectional study. Settings and ParticipantsA total of 2588 community-dwelling older persons from the FIBRA (Frailty in Brazilian Older Persons) 2008 to 2009 study. MeasuresParticipants were assessed for sociodemographic variables, physical and mental health, and the frailty phenotype. Partial correlation network analysis with the Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (glasso) estimator was performed to determine the relationships between social, physical, and psychological factors and frailty. ResultsMean participant age was 72.31 years, 7.0% were frail, and 50.6% were prefrail. In the network structure, frailty correlated most strongly with physical and psychological factors such as diabetes and depression and exhibited greater proximity to physical factors such as disability, urinary incontinence, and cardiovascular risk as measured by waist-to-hip ratio. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe analytical strategy used can provide information for specific subpopulations of interest and here confirmed that frailty is not uniformly determined but associated with different psychological and physical health factors, thereby allowing better understanding and management of this condition.

Abstract P241: Psychosocial Profiles and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Control: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (cardia) Study

Introduction: Psychosocial factors are associated with the onset of chronic disease, however few studies have examined the association between these factors and cardiovascular disease risk factor (CVDRF) control over time in individuals who already have a chronic disease. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate associations of psychosocial factors with a composite measure of CVDRF control. Methods: This study includes 1,018 CARDIA participants (51.6% Black; 41.6% Male) with prevalent hypertension (n = 604), hypercholesterolemia (n = 636), and/or diabetes (n = 210) in 2000-2001 (Year 15 follow-up exam). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct psychosocial profiles based on a combination of personality, social life, and psychological health factors (Table). We used generalized estimating equations to determine associations of the psychosocial profiles with composite control, defined as HbA1c < 7.0%, systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mm Hg, and LDL-cholesterol < 100 mm/dl, all measured in 2005-2016. Results: The LPA revealed an optimal model of three psychosocial profile groups (AIC 87,467.545; entropy = .895) namely “Healthy”, “Depressed Mood” and “Discriminated Against”. There were no significant differences in composite control across the profiles. Looking at HbA1C, SBP, and LDL separately in the unadjusted models, we found participants in the Depressed and Discriminated Against profiles were less likely to meet guidelines for SBP compared to individuals in the Healthy profile. Participants in the Discriminated profile were significantly less likely to meet the guidelines for HbA1C levels compared to the Healthy profile. These associations were attenuated with adjustment for sociodemographic covariates. Conclusions: Psychosocial profiles were associated with CVDRF control in unadjusted models, but not independent of socio-demographic characteristics.

Positive Epidemiology?

Positive Epidemiology?

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PREVALENCE OF SELF-REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AND GENERAL HEALTH AMONG IRANIAN OIL REFINERY WORKERS

Musculoskeletal symptoms are the most frequent occupational health problems and accounts for a large number of losses in working days and disability for workers in modern industrialization. The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between the self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the head/neck, upper back and lower back and certain individual, work- related physical, psychological and general health factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a descriptive questionnaire which was distributed to 350 oil refinery workers in Iran and collected between April to December 2016. A total of 282 workers returned completed questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 81%. For the head/neck region, working at the long periods in uncomfortable posture (adjusted [Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text]–2.58) and doing repetitive activity (adjusted [Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text]–2.67) increased the risk experiencing head/neck symptoms. For the upper back region, lifting and transferring during work increased the risk of experiencing upper back symptoms (adjusted [Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text]–2.79). For the lower back region, working for more than 8[Formula: see text]h a week shows the strongly significant association for the risk of lower back symptoms. Lower back pain was associated with symptoms of anxiety and dysfunction in social functioning. Some physical and psychological factors were associated with the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the spine among oil refinery workers. These data emphasize the need to develop and implement preventive measures that reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among workers.

Factors associated with self- and informant ratings of quality of life, well-being and life satisfaction in people with mild-to-moderate dementia: results from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life programme.

a large number of studies have explored factors related to self- and informant ratings of quality of life in people with dementia, but many studies have had relatively small sample sizes and mainly focused on health conditions and dementia symptoms. The aim of this study is to compare self- and informant-rated quality of life, life satisfaction and well-being, and investigate the relationships of the two different rating methods with various social, psychological and health factors, using a large cohort study of community-dwelling people with dementia and carers in Great Britain. this study included 1,283 dyads of people with mild-to-moderate dementia and their primary carers in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life study. Multivariate modelling was used to investigate associations of self- and informant-rated quality of life, life satisfaction and well-being with factors in five domains: psychological characteristics and health; social location; capitals, assets and resources; physical fitness and health; and managing everyday life with dementia. people with dementia rated their quality of life, life satisfaction and well-being more highly than did the informants. Despite these differences, the two approaches had similar relationships with social, psychological and physical health factors in the five domains. although self- and informant ratings differ, they display similar results when focusing on factors associated with quality of life, life satisfaction and well-being. Either self- or informant ratings may offer a reasonable source of information about people with dementia in terms of understanding associated factors.

DISENTANGLING KNOWLEDGE AND BIAS: COMBATING AGEISM WITH THE REVISED FACTS ON AGING QUIZ

The Facts on Aging Quiz (FoAQ) was developed in 1977 as a 25-item True/False test of knowledge about older adults. Since that time, it has been utilized in hundreds of studies involving clarifying misconceptions, measuring factual knowledge across different groups, and assessing bias toward older adults. The current study examines the psychometric properties of a revision to the FoAQ created in 2015 that modified the original items and added 25 more to better reflect contemporary aging research. Participants were sampled using Qualtrics and MTurk platforms and targeted to equally represent the following four age groups: 18-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65 and older. Exploratory factor analysis (n=956) did not support a multi-factor structure, contrary to previous theories of it having cognitive, physical, societal, and psychological health factors. A single factor model was forced which contained 28 items that only accounted for 26% of the variance in scores. The reliability reached satisfactory levels in the younger three age groups with the 28-item version but remained inadequate among those 65 and older. Small associations with the Expectations Regarding Aging-12 and Aging Semantic Differential scales were observed. In its present format, the FoAQ is not sufficient for research use but remains a useful tool in provoking discussion about age bias and areas in which people of all ages lack factual information. Researchers suggest an expansion in response options and further clarifying the use of this instrument as a measure of knowledge or bias.

REJECTION SENSITIVITY AS A MEDIATOR OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ OLDER ADULTS

As the US population becomes older and more diverse, examinations exploring intersections of identity become increasingly important. Specifically, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults face unique challenges as they move into late life including issues related to caregiving, social isolation, and access to competent care. As such, understanding the role of moderating psychological factors, such as rejection sensitivity, within this population becomes instrumental to providing appropriate healthcare. Thus the purpose of this review is to (a) increase understanding of role of rejection sensitivity in LGBT older adults (b) understand the effect of treatment setting on this relationship. Source documents for this literature review were identified through PsycInfo, PsyARTCILES and Google Scholar using the following keywords, and combinations: “Older Adult,” “Gerontology,” “LGBTQ,” “gay,” “sexual minority,” “Rejection Sensitivity,” and “Social Acceptance”. Consistent with a thorough analysis, all English-Language abstracts were read, as were the full articles of those texts that appeared relevant to this literature review. After applying relevant exclusion criteria (i.e. young age), 6 texts warranted inclusion including: 2 books and 4 articles. A thorough review of the literature revealed that internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity mediate the degree of emotional dysregulation, internalization of symptoms and rejection-based proximal stress across multiple settings. However, the impact of these relationships in long-term care settings remains unknown. Implications of the current presentation include improving awareness of psychological health factors in LGBT older adults and provision of recommendations to reduce barriers to optimal care.

Sedentary behaviour and their association with academic performance among high school students in South Tamil Nadu

Background: Sedentary behaviour refers to activities that require very low energy expenditure where sitting or lying is the dominant posture. It is reported that children spend approximately 80% of their day in sedentary behaviours. It is an important risk factor for physical, psychological and socio-emotional health among school children. Epidemiological studies have shown that spending excessive time in sedentary behaviors have a negative impact on academic performance. The objectives of this study were to study the proportion of sedentary behaviours among high school students. To find out whether any association exist between sedentary behaviors with academic performance.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted from July to September, 2018 among high school students in a government school, Kanyakumari district. 213 students from class 9th and 10th standard participated in our study. Permission was obtained from school authorities after explaining the purpose of study. Data was collected using a pre tested questionnaire. Study variables included internet usage, watching television, duration of sleep, physical activity and academic performance. Data was entered in MS-Excel, analyzed for proportions, chi-square using SPSS version 16.0.Results: 61% watched TV more than 2 hours a day. 59.6% of the students spend >2 hours a day for internet browsing. 60% of the students spend <30 minutes a day for doing exercise. 45% of the students reported sleeping for 8 to 10 hours. Internet browsing and watching TV have shown significant association with academic performance.Conclusions: Sedentary behaviours are on the rise among school children. Multi component school-based interventions are necessary to minimize sedentary behaviours among school children.

Identifying risk of poor physical and mental health recovery following a road traffic crash: An industry-specific screening tool

This study aimed to develop an industry-specific tool to identify risk of poor physical and mental recovery following minor to moderate injuries sustained in a road traffic crash (RTC). Existing tools are often designed for implementation by health professionals rather than insurer case managers who may not have a background in health. This study is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study using data collected at 2–6 months and 24 months post-RTC. Participants were claimants (n = 254; Mean age = 50 years; 65% female) with mild-moderate injuries recruited through the common-law ‘fault-based’ compulsory third party scheme in Queensland, Australia. Sociodemographic, functional and psychological health factors were collected at baseline (2–6 months post RTC) and used as potential predictors for physical and mental health-related quality of life (Short Form 36 v2) at the 2-year follow-up. The LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) analysis identified six disability items (from the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2) to predict poor physical and one item to predict poor mental health-related quality of life. Logistic regressions of these items in addition to age and gender were used to develop a screening tool. Using the tool, 90% of those at risk of poor physical and 80% of those at risk of poor mental health-related quality of life were identified correctly. To conclude, this study presents an 8-item, context-specific tool to help injury managers identify individuals at risk of poor physical and mental health recovery following mild-moderate RTC-related injuries. The tool requires validation in a new cohort and confirmation of acceptability by end-users.

Socio-demographic Correlates of Psychological Well-being among Older Adults in Bhutan

Well-being is a complex combination of physical, psychological, emotional, and social health factors of a person. The feeling of well-being is essential for the overall health of a person and enables them to be successful and achieve what they want in life. There is a paucity of study on the well-being of older adults in Bhutan. This study attempted to assess how older adults in Bhutan perceive their well-being and determine their socio-demographic correlates. The World Health Organization five well-being indexes were applied to measure well-being. Findings indicated above average well-being score with the nature of the relationship with children, education level, and employment status as independent correlates. Efforts to enhance the relationship between family members could be more relevant for the well-being of older adults. Further research on well-being is required to incorporate determinants other than socio-demographic variables.

The "Longing for Interpersonal Touch Picture Questionnaire": Development of a new measurement for touch perception.

Touch is a crucial factor of physiological and psychological health in humans. A lack of touch in contrast is associated with adverse implications on mental health. A new "Longing for Interpersonal Touch Picture Questionnaire (LITPQ)" was developed and tested for its concurrent, predictive, discriminant and face validity as well as its relation to psychological distress. Six different types of touch were depicted and touch frequency and touch wish concerning different interaction partners assessed. A sample of 110 participants aged 18-56 years completed the LITPQ as well as an existing touch deprivation questionnaire and a questionnaire on mental health. Frequency and wish for touch were higher for close interaction partners than for strangers. For 72.7% of the participants, their touch wish exceeded the reported touch frequency. The LITPQ correlated moderately with the existing questionnaire for touch deprivation and was independent of relationship status or gender but positively correlated with depressiveness, anxiety and somatization. Measuring longing for touch is a very complex task considering the many aspects of subjective touch perception and confounds in the method of self-report of touch. In our view, the LITPQ provides promising insights into this matter.

La religiosidad como fortaleza humana

Múltiples investigaciones demuestran que la religiosidad es un factor de la salud física y psicológica. Se presenta una revisión dichos estudios y se interpretan los resultados. Las personas religiosas presentan menos depresión, ansiedad, estrés, suicidio, y menores hábitos no saludables como el consumo de alcohol y de otras sustancias psicoactivas. Las personas religiosas presentan menores tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad, presentando mejores y más rápidas recuperaciones en enfermedades físicas (tales como cirugía cardiaca o intervenciones de cadera), en adicciones (alcohol y otras sustancias), o en estrés postraumático. Estas evidencias se pueden relacionan con diferentes fortalezas psicológicas que la religiosidad promueve, de forma especial con el perdón, la gratitud, la espiritualidad, la justicia, la esperanza, la humanidad y el fortalecimiento de relaciones interpersonales.

The Effect Of Gestational Physical Activity On The Psychological Health Of Their Offspring

PURPOSE: Gestational physical activity (GPA) has been associated with improved fetal outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether exercise during pregnancy contributes positively to the psychological health of their offspring. METHODS: A survey was administered to 1509 children (ages 11-13) to identify psychological health factors such as mental stress, depression, and self-esteem using a modified Daily Hassles Questionnaire, Children’s Depression Inventory, and Rosenberg’s self-esteem, respectively. Mothers of the participants were retrospectively categorized into three groups based on GPA; non-exercisers (CON), low-intensity aerobic exercise (AE), and body-weight strength training (BWT). RESULTS: After excluding questionnaires due to incomplete data sets, 855 surveys were analyzed. Our results indicated significantly lower levels of depression with concomitant increased self-esteem among children of exercising mothers compared to CON (AE: p<0.05 and p<0.01; BWT: p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, there was no effect of exercise on offspring mental stress levels, nor were there any differences observed between AE and BWT for any psychological health factors. Mental stress was significantly correlated with depression (r=0.640, p<0.01) and self-esteem (r=-0.534, p<0.001). In addition, depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r=-0.689, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: GPA had a positive influence on the psychological health of their offspring. Interestingly, there were no differences between types of physical activity, which should be recognized to benefit the mental health of their children regardless of modality. Therefore, implementation of GPA should be accepted as part of the healthy gestational regimen along with prenatal vitamins and a healthy balanced diet.

Advancing supportive oncology care via collaboration between psycho-oncology and integrative medicine.

As survival after cancer diagnosis increases, patients are increasingly turning toward integrative therapies (e.g., yoga, acupuncture, massage) to manage acute and chronic concerns related to cancer treatment and survivorship. As such, integrative medicine programs devoted to combining conventional Western cancer care with complementary treatments such as yoga, acupuncture, botanicals, and homeopathy are increasingly common in cancer communities around the world. However, few integrative medicine programs have included psycho-oncology providers in order to systematically evaluate and treat psychological and behavioral health factors affecting adjustment to cancer. A pilot program was initiated at a large academic medical center to explore benefits of a collaborative clinic visit conducted with psycho-oncology and integrative medicine within an existing supportive oncology clinic. Collaborative medical and psychological interventions were provided to enhance patient quality of life and reduce symptom burden. Forty-nine patients were seen via the dyadic consultation model. Sixty-eight percent of patients rated their emotional distress at or above clinical cutoffs, indicating unmet supportive care needs. The majority of patients seen were White, non-Hispanic, and female. Many cancer patients and survivors report persistent emotional distress and chronic physical problems associated with their diagnosis and treatment. The types of patients seen in this pilot program raise concern about ongoing inequalities in access to integrative medicine and psycho-oncology services, which may contribute to downstream health disparities and poorer clinical outcomes. Future directions will explore billing practices, financial sustainability, and methods to increase access to this type of program for demographically diverse individuals across cancer populations.

Study on the psychological health and related risk factors in 245 patients with psoriasis in Inner Mongolia

ABSTRACTTo investigate the psychological health and related risk factors in patients suffering from psoriasis. A total of 245 inpatients and outpatients with psoriasis were selected from January 2014 to December 2015. Patients with psoriasis were assessed a homemade questionnaire as well as the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Selfrating Anxiety Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire and Social Avoidance and Distress Scale.Differences in sex, age, marital status, type of medical payment, occupation, economic situation, disease severity, and type of psychological state of psoriasis patients were significant, there was no significant difference in psychological health between psoriasis patients with different levels of educational attainment. Scores for anxiety, depression, social avoidance, and social distress were positively correlated with disease severity and negative-coping scores, but a significant negative correlation was observed with scores for social support and positive coping. Stepwise regression analysis of factors influencing psychological health showed that total social support and negative-coping scores could explain 65.2% of the variation. Patients with psoriasis can suffer from anxiety, depression, social distress, and social avoidance. Physicians should pay greater attention to deterioration in mental health of psoriasis patients.

Social & psychological factors associated with oral analgesic use in knee osteoarthritis management

Determine modifiable social and psychological health factors that are associated with use of oral opioid and non-opioid medications for OA. Patients were categorized based on use of the following oral medications: opioids (with/without other oral analgesic treatments), non-opioid analgesics, and no oral analgesic treatment. We used multinomial logistic regression models to estimate adjusted relative risk ratios (RRRs) of using an opioid or a non-opioid analgesic (vs. no oral analgesic treatment), comparing patients by levels of social support (Medical Outcomes Study scale), health literacy ("How confident are you filling out medical forms by yourself?"), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-8). Models were adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. In this sample (mean age 64.2 years, 23.6% women), 30.6% (n=110) reported taking opioid analgesics for OA, 54.2% (n=195) reported non-opioid use, and 15.3% (n=55) reported no oral analgesic use. Opioid users had lower mean social support scores (10.0 vs 10.5 vs 11.9, P=0.007) and were more likely to have moderate-severe depressive symptoms (42.7% vs 24.1% vs 14.5%, P<0.001). Health literacy did not differ by treatment group type. Having moderate-severe depression was associated with higher risk of opioid analgesic use compared to no oral analgesic use (RRR 2.96, 95%CI 1.08-8.07) when adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Neither social support nor health literacy was associated with opioid or non-opioid oral analgesic use in fully adjusted models. Knee OA patients with more severe depression symptoms, compared to those without, were more likely to report using opioid analgesics for OA.

Communication in families with minor children following the loss of a parent to cancer.

Family communication is a known protective factor for minor children's psychological health following the death of a parent, but there is little research describing communication within such families specifically from the perspective of the children. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore communication in parentally bereaved families from the perspective of the children and surviving parent. Interviews with four parents and four children from four families were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Interviews took place in the family's home or at the research center based on the family's wishes 4-14 months after a parent had died. Interviews had an open approach and were based on an interview guide. Each interview was between 60 and 120 min long. Four categories emerged which were related to family members' experiences of family communication while adjusting to their new circumstances as bereaved: the importance of open and honest communication in the family; new challenges in the family which affect communication; communicating the need for help; and talking about and remembering the deceased parent. This study illuminates the connection between family communication and adjustments to new circumstances following the death of a parent. The results suggest that the relationship between family adjustment and communication may be circular whereby the family's ability to adjust to their new circumstances is affected by how the family communicates. Similarly, family communication may be affected by the family's coping strategies and ability to adjust to their new circumstances.

Combat exposure, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and health-related behaviors: the role of sleep continuity and duration.

Aggression, substance misuse, and other health risk behaviors are common among combat veterans. We examined whether sleep quality and quantity predict the association between combat exposure, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and adverse health-related behaviors. Soldiers (N = 2420) from a brigade combat team completed surveys assessing combat experiences, and psychological and behavioral health factors, approximately 3 months following deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. Respondents were 93.5% male; 73% were age 18-29 years old. The response rate was 80% (3076/3832); 94% (2876/3076) of the soldiers who attended the recruitment briefings consented to participate in this research. Complete data were available across the variables used in this study for up to 2420 soldiers. Sleep continuity disturbance accounted for the association of combat exposure with post-traumatic stress symptoms and aggression, alcohol use, and risky behavior. Moreover, for soldiers who reported sleep duration of <6 hr per day, the indirect association of combat exposure and post-traumatic stress on aggression, alcohol use, risky behavior, and opioid use was strongest. This study is the first to model sleep problems as a predictor of the association between combat exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms and frequently reported health-related behavior problems. Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent among Warfighters. While not fully preventable in operational contexts, these problems can be effectively mitigated postdeployment with appropriate policy and intervention resources. Improving the sleep characteristics of combat-exposed soldiers following deployment should reduce subsequent post-traumatic stress and related health compromising behavior, thereby enhancing force readiness.