Psychological Health Risk Research Articles

The State of Policy of Anti Domestic Violence During Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

COVID-19 (a new strain of corona virus) has been declared a global pandemic. In Indonesia, The measures announced over the past few months have drastically changed people's daily lives. However, there are negative, unintended consequences. As the virus continues to spread around the world, it brings many new stresses, including physical and psychological health risks, isolation and loneliness, the closure of many schools and businesses, economic vulnerability, and job loss. Through all of this, children and their mothers are very vulnerable (End Violence against Children, 2020) to the risk of domestic violence. Currently, Covid-19 is a serious threat to the human population on earth because even though it has a health security dimension, it has an impact on other security dimensions. This research concluded that the domestic violence, in gender mainstreamed legal studies, can be included as a threat to human security (human security) which is exacerbated by the pandemic. In the context of policy, Covid-19 requires the participation of various national and cross-country actors, countries and state actors in efforts to resolve it. In that category, the state needs to work with various non-state actors to eradicate domestic violence.

Overwhelmed and powerless: staff perspectives on mother – infant separations in English prisons

Purpose Imprisoned mothers are at increased risk for poor psychological health and psychological distress when separated from their children, so staff need to be highly skilled to support the women. However, there is a paucity of research focusing on staff experiences around sensitive issues such as mother–child separation. This study aims to understand the challenges faced by staff and how these might be addressed. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative interview study explored the views and experiences of 24 prison-based staff in England working with female prisoners separated from their infants. Findings Staff emphasised the challenges of working with separated mothers, specifically the emotional impact of this work, and the impact of the wider criminal justice system on their sense of agency. Originality/value A focus on the experience of separation highlights the broader problem of incarcerating women in general. Reducing the number of mother–child separations would mitigate the impact on both women and staff.

Structure and function in human and primate social networks: implications for diffusion, network stability and health.

The human social world is orders of magnitude smaller than our highly urbanized world might lead us to suppose. In addition, human social networks have a very distinct fractal structure similar to that observed in other primates. In part, this reflects a cognitive constraint, and in part a time constraint, on the capacity for interaction. Structured networks of this kind have a significant effect on the rates of transmission of both disease and information. Because the cognitive mechanism underpinning network structure is based on trust, internal and external threats that undermine trust or constrain interaction inevitably result in the fragmentation and restructuring of networks. In contexts where network sizes are smaller, this is likely to have significant impacts on psychological and physical health risks.

The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence

The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence

Physical activity, pain interference and comorbidities relate to PROMIS physical function in younger adults following total knee arthroplasty

Purpose To determine if preoperative physical and psychological health risk factors are influential on physical function and satisfaction scores in a cohort of relatively younger adults one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Methods Sixty-five patients were recruited pre- and one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Physical (i.e., body mass index, sex, physical activity level, number of comorbidities) and psychological (i.e., depression, expectations, pain inference) health risk factors were obtained pre-total knee arthroplasty and compared to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function computerized adaptive testing and satisfaction scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Results Bootstrap inclusion fraction methods were performed to compare the stability of each predictor variable prior to final regression analyzes. Poorer preoperative physical activity level (standardized regression coefficient = 0.37; p < 0.01), pain interference (standardized regression coefficient = –0.24; p = 0.03) and greater comorbidities (standardized regression coefficient = –0.27; p = 0.01) resulted in worse physical function scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Greater preoperative comorbidities (odds ratio = 0.63; p < 0.01) resulted in worse satisfaction scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. No other predictor variable had any relationship on either clinical outcome (p > 0.05). Conclusion Younger adults with greater comorbidities, lower physical activity level and higher pain interference scores preoperatively reported poorer functional recovery one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Understanding how preoperative status of younger adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty may lead to better improved surgical decision making and health care delivery for this vulnerable and growing patient subgroup. Implications for Rehabilitation Projections estimate total knee arthroplasty in relatively younger adults (<65 years) will make up the majority of surgical procedures performed in the United States within the next two decades, however little is known in this patient population. This study provides evidence that relatively younger adults with greater comorbidities, lower physical activity level and higher pain interference scores preoperatively result in poorer functional recovery one year post-total knee arthroplasty. The results also suggest greater comorbidities identified preoperatively have the largest influence on one year satisfaction scores in younger adults post-total knee arthroplasty. Modifiable characteristics such as improving physical activity level, incorporating pain management strategies and reducing comorbidities preoperatively or adopting into postoperative rehabilitative care may influence the postoperative physical function and satisfaction scores in relatively younger adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Discrimination, health, and the costs and benefits of believing in system fairness.

For minority students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, attending university and succeeding despite social and academic stressors is often considered the ultimate marker of resilience. However, a growing body of work suggests that there may be health costs to upward mobility for such students. This study investigated whether believing that the social system is fair simultaneously promotes psychological health while undermining the physical health of Latinx students experiencing frequent discrimination. Two hundred thirty-three low-income and/or first-generation Latinx college students were followed through their first year at university. Discrimination experiences, psychological health, and physical health risk (a suite of inflammatory, biomorphic, and cardiovascular risk markers) were assessed upon entering university and at the end of the academic year. Regardless of discrimination experiences, believing in system fairness predicted higher end-of-year psychological health (controlling for initial psychological health). However, for students who experienced substantial discrimination at university, believing in system fairness also led to higher end-of-year physical health risk (controlling for baseline levels of discrimination and physical health risk). Beliefs that allow socioeconomically disadvantaged minority students to thrive psychologically may also put them at physical health risk when facing frequent discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Measuring Consumer Willingness to Pay to Reduce Health Risks of Contracting Dengue Fever.

Located in the subtropics, Taiwan is one of the major epidemic areas for dengue fever, with severe epidemics occurring in recent years. Dengue fever has become a serious health threat to Taiwan’s residents and a potentially serious economic cost to society. This study recruited 730 random participants and adopted the contingent valuation method to understand the factors influencing the populace’s willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce the health risk of dengue fever. The results show that high-income women with children and people with higher preventive perceptions and behavior are more willing to invest in preventive measures against dengue fever. In the evaluation of WTP for preventive treatment for health risks, each person was willing to pay on average NT$751 annually to lower psychological health risks, NT$793 annually to lower the risk of illness, and NT$1086 annually to lower the risk of death.

Women’s health-related vulnerabilities in natural disasters: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionThere is a paucity of evidence identifying both the physical and psychological health risks and underlying causes of women’s health-related vulnerabilities related to natural disasters. Therefore, this systematic review will...

Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) in the Age of Online Sexual Networking: Are Young Black Gay/Bisexual Men (YBGBM) at Elevated Risk for Adverse Psychological Health?

Young Black gay/bisexual men (YBGBM) are a highly marginalized population across multiple health outcomes. Most research on YBGBM health has focused on HIV/sexual health, but there is a demonstrable need for research examining racism and psychosocial functioning among this population. Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), also known as sexual racism, is an important but under-investigated phenomenon that may have implications for the psychological health and well-being of YBGBM. This paper provides an overview of empirical research on RSD as experienced by gay/bisexual men of color in online partner-seeking venues. First, the researchers discuss how racialized experiences are a documented online phenomenon, with a variety of manifestations, and identify the potential effects that this phenomenon may have on the psychosocial health of YBGBM, and gay/bisexual men of color as a whole. Second, the researchers synthesize the RSD literature with a broader literature examining psychological well-being across race and sexual orientation. Third, the researchers present a theoretically grounded conceptual model detailing the pathways between RSD and psychological well-being using a stress and coping framework. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research on this topic, including scale development and hypothesis testing.

The Attitudes Towards the Use of Restraint and Restrictive Intervention Amongst Healthcare Staff on Acute Medical and Frailty Wards—A Brief Literature Review

Restraint in modern non-psychiatric-based healthcare is often regarded as a rare occurrence. It is deemed to be used as a last resort to prevent patients from directly harming themselves. However, techniques are used in modern day practice which are considered direct and indirect restraints with the justification of maintaining patient safety, but they are often not classified as “restraints”. Examples of these include the use of bed rails or tables to prevent patients from “wandering” and to reduce the risk of falls and injuries. More indirect techniques would involve passive interactions with patients or leaving mobility aids out of reach. Staff subconsciously restrain patients and reduce their liberties despite agreeing that patient autonomy should be upheld—a necessary evil to maintain a duty of care. Whilst the use of restraints is often justified to ensure patient care and prevent injury, it is not without consequence. There are physical and psychological health risks such as pressure sores from the inability to mobilise, or the brewing of anger and frustration when denied access to everyday actions. The reasons why restraints are used, whilst stemming from maintaining patient safety, are often due to low staffing levels and the inability to constantly watch at-risk patients due to a large workload. Inadequate training is another factor; by improving education in direct and indirect restraint and providing alternative methods, more ethical decisions and positive outcomes can be implemented. Healthcare professionals are reluctant to use restraint but often conduct it without realising it; assessing their understanding of restraint and providing education to raise awareness of the consequences of direct and indirect methods would result in positive steps toward reducing their use at the same time as looking to provide alternatives to uphold patient care whilst maintaining their dignity and liberty.

Post-traumatic stress and psychological health following infidelity in unmarried young adults.

Infidelity is often conceptualized as a traumatic event; however, little research has explored this topic empirically, particularly in unmarried adults. We determined the prevalence of infidelity-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among unmarried adults who experienced a partner's infidelity and whether probable infidelity-related PTSD was associated with additional psychological health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety symptoms). We also investigated whether negative post-traumatic cognitions mediated the associations between infidelity-related PTSD symptoms and psychological health. This study included 73 adults (M age = 19.42, SE = 0.19 years) who experienced infidelity within a committed nonmarital relationship within the last 5 years. Controlling for gender, race, and exposure to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders Criterion A traumas, 45.2% of our sample reported symptoms suggesting probable infidelity-related PTSD. Whether used as continuous or categorical predictor, infidelity-related PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, although results for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms were mixed. Post-traumatic cognitions acted as a partial mediator for depressive symptoms and full mediator for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms. This empirical evidence suggests that infidelity may produce PTSD symptoms at a relatively high rate, even in unmarried young adults, and may put individuals at risk for poorer psychological health, partially through post-traumatic cognitions.

The Association Between Video Gaming and Psychological Functioning.

Video gaming is an extremely popular leisure-time activity with more than two billion users worldwide (Newzoo, 2017). However, the media as well as professionals have underscored the potential dangers of excessive video gaming. With the present research, we aimed to shed light on the relation between video gaming and gamers’ psychological functioning. Questionnaires on personality and psychological health as well as video gaming habits were administered to 2,734 individuals (2,377 male, 357 female, Mage = 23.06, SDage = 5.91). Results revealed a medium-sized negative correlation between problematic video gaming and psychological functioning with regard to psychological symptoms, affectivity, coping, and self-esteem. Moreover, gamers’ reasons for playing and their preferred game genres were differentially related to psychological functioning with the most notable findings for distraction-motivated players as well as action game players. Future studies are needed to examine whether these psychological health risks reflect the causes or consequences of video gaming.

Sleep Quality Types and Their Influences on Psychological and Physical Health in Chinese Adolescents: A Person-Centered Approach

Poor sleep in adolescents is a global health problem. This study examined Chinese adolescents’ sleep quality types by using a person-centered approach and examined the associations of adolescent sleep quality types with psychological characteristics and health risk behaviors. Using data from 1,310 Chinese adolescents (53.7% male; mean age = 13.48 years) and latent class analyses, four distinct sleep quality types were identified: good sleepers (26%), fair sleepers (55%), short sleepers (8%), and poor sleepers (11%). These types of sleepers exhibited differences in their psychological characteristics and health risk behaviors. Good sleepers displayed the best psychological health (highest self-esteem, life satisfaction and positive well-being, and fewest depressive symptoms), followed by short sleepers, fair sleepers, and poor sleepers. Good sleepers were least likely to have suicidal thoughts. Short sleepers were most likely to be physically inactive. Poor sleepers were most likely to drink alcohol and have suicidal thoughts. The implications are discussed.

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 work intervention for women experiencing early pregnancy loss in the emergency department

ABSTRACTOften referred to as miscarriage, Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL) is the spontaneous death of a fetus experienced within the first 20 weeks of gestation and is the most common complication in pregnancy. Symptoms of an impending EPL are routinely managed in the Emergency Department (ED). EPL can have a substantial impact on women, potentially leading to psychological and emotional health issues and risks to future pregnancies. Despite the high prevalence of EPL, many women suffer in silence due to the common societal belief that EPL are insignificant. Many women experience EPL as an ambiguous loss and are at risk for disenfranchised grief. Compassionate, patient-centred care has been identified by women as an essential and often missing aspect of ED care and can have a profound impact on the overall well-being of women after EPL. Social workers play a critical role in the ED given that they prioritize the psychosocial well-being of patients in a system that is structured to primarily address trauma care. In an effort to reduce the psychological impact and complicated grief reactions of women experiencing EPL, specific recommendations for social work intervention to address the individual needs of women experiencing EPL in the ED are presented. These include acknowledging the loss, providing psychoeducation, honouring the loss, assessing resources, referral and additional information, and building capacity in the ED.

Lifestyle Intervention for Breast Cancer Women.

Breast cancer patients have various physical, psychological health risks, among which are the effects on general health. Lifestyle intervention involving nutrition education, physical activity, and stress management, and has been shown to be effective in improving the health of breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and apply a lifestyle intervention program to promote health in breast cancer patients.

The Examination of non-pharmacologic treatment of pain after spinal cord injury

Background: One of the primary debilitating secondary health conditions experienced by individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is chronic pain. Approximately, over 30% of SCI patients endure chronic pain after sustaining the injury, and engage in opioid pharmacotherapy as the first form of treatment. The increase in use and misuse of prescribed opioids for chronic pain can lead to both physical and psychological health risks. This danger is exacerbated by the notion that a large percentage of the SCI population have a pre-existing condition of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. This study will examine how pain is actually being addressed through non-pharmaceutical methods among the SCI adult population. &#x0D; Experimental Design: Employing a cross-sectional web survey design with a convenience sample of adults with a SCI. A Qualtrics survey is currently being administered to known individuals with SCIs via email. The survey questions will illuminate what pain management strategies are being implemented in the SCI population within the US. &#x0D; Anticipated Results: The results from the data will provide insight on what non-pharmacological interventions can be employed in place of or in combination with the pharmacological management. This will allow community-based rehabilitation therapies to incorporate appropriate pain management strategies. &#x0D; Potential Impact: Non-pharmacological interventions may hold the answer in treating chronic pain in the SCI population by limiting or eliminating the use of opioids. This study will help develop the most appropriate non-pharmacological intervention to test in quasi-experimental clinical trials, and ultimately minimize the use of opioids for chronic pain.

Time-varying social support and time to death in the cardiovascular health study.

There is a consensus that social connectedness is integral for a long, healthy life. However, studies of social support and survival have primarily relied on baseline social support measures, potentially missing the effects of fluctuations of perceived support over time. This is especially important for older adults who experience increased changes in disability. This study examined whether among older adults time-varying perceived social support was associated with time to death (main effect model of support) and whether time-varying disability was a modifier (stress-buffering model of support). Gender and marital status were also examined as modifiers. Older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study (N = 5,201) completed self- report measures of demographics and psychological health and clinical risk factors for mortality at baseline (1989-1990). Perceived social support and disability were measured from baseline through Wave 11 (1998-1999). Cox regression of time to death with time-varying covariates was performed. Time-varying as well as baseline-only perceived social support was associated with greater survival in the unadjusted models but not after adjustment. Gender, marital status, and time-varying disability were not significant modifiers. In contrast with the previously reported association between baseline individual differences in perceived social support and time to death, older adults' baseline-only and fluctuating perceptions of perceived support over time were not associated with time to death after adjustment for other clinical physical and psychological risk factors. Research is needed to identify other relationship factors that may be more informative as time-varying predictors of health and longevity in large longitudinal data sets. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Analytical review of the Australian policy context for work-related psychological health and psychosocial risks

Psychosocial hazards and risks are widely acknowledged to be a serious challenge in work health and safety (WHS). WHS regulatory (hard law) and non-regulatory (soft law) policies should strive to engage organisations in psychosocial risk management practices and set a standard for good psychological health in the workplace. Therefore, policies should contain key definitions and aspects of good-practice psychosocial risk management principles. However, at present there has been limited review on policy in this area, despite growing evidence of poor work-related psychological health. Using qualitative methods, the current paper reviews relevant regulatory and non-regulatory policy documents and conducts a gap analysis according to criteria identified in models of good psychosocial risk management practice. The paper extends upon European research by Leka et al. (2015) and examines 39 policies (6 regulatory and 33 non-regulatory) in Australia. We found that most policy documents included psychological health in the objective of the policy. Non-regulatory policies showed sound coverage of exposure factors and preventive actions and, to a slightly lesser degree, risk assessment. Moreover, non-regulatory policy documents scored higher than regulatory policies. Within regulatory policies, there is poor inclusion of risk assessment, preventive action and poor coverage of exposure factors and psychological health outcomes. All policies could be strengthened by including greater coverage of work-related psychological health problems/disorders and associated aoutcomes. This is a novel review, which contributes to a broader program of research on Australian WHS policy. The next research phase seeks detailed information from WHS experts about the effectiveness and/or implementation of these policies in order to ascertain potential improvements.

Depression among military spouses: Demographic, military, and service member psychological health risk factors.

More than a decade of war has strained service members and their families and the psychological health of military spouses is a concern. This study uses data from the largest study of military families in the United States to examine the demographic, military-specific, and service member mental health correlates of probable diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) among military spouses. Data were from service member-spouse dyads from all branches of the U.S. military. Demographic and military-specific factors were assessed using administrative personnel records and survey data. Of the 9,038 spouses, 4.9% had a probable diagnosis of MDD. In unadjusted models, spouses of service members who deployed and experiencecd combat-related events, were enlisted, had a probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, or screened positive for alcohol misuse were more likely to screen positive for MDD. In adjusted models, only spouses married to enlisted service members or those with PTSD had increased risk for MDD. Other demographic and military-related factors associated with MDD in spouses included less educational attainment, unemployment, having four or more children, and having prior military service (although not currently serving in the military) in the adjusted models. Findings characterize demographic, military, and service member psychological health factors that are associated with depression among military spouses. These findings imply that deployment alone may not negatively affect military spouses, but rather it may be the mental health impact on the service member, especially PTSD that increases the odds for MDD among military spouses.