Risk Factors For Psychological Distress Research Articles

Risk factors for psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: Loneliness, age, gender, and health status play an important role.

ObjectiveResearch on the psychological toll of the COVID‐19 pandemic is being conducted in various countries. This study aimed to examine risk factors for mental health problems among Israeli adults during this crisis.MethodsA total of 204 participants took part in the study. They completed self‐report questionnaires assessing perceived stress, anxiety, quality of life, and various questions related to quarantine, pre‐existing health issues, and worries related to the virus. The study took place during the last two weeks of March 2020.ResultsThe majority of participants reported relatively high levels of perceived stress and corona‐related worries, but low levels of anxiety. Female gender, younger age, corona‐related loneliness, and pre‐existing chronic illness were all related to higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of quality of life.ConclusionsWhile considering the preliminary nature of these results, the current study highlights risk factors for psychological distress in light of the corona pandemic. Attention should be given to sociodemographic variables that were identified as related to psychological distress, as well as to the important role of loneliness, when screening and treating people during this crisis. More research is needed in order to fully understand the scope and correlates of psychological difficulties during these challenging times.

Mental Health Concern during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal

The whole world struggles to combat COVID-19 pandemic forcing nations to take extreme measures in an attempt to prevent outbreaks and save lives. It has been noted that COVID-19 has established itself as a risk factor for psychological distress among the population of different subgroups. There are several factors such as uncertainties, controversies, misinformation, social isolation, stigma, and discrimination which are escalating the risk of massive mental distress among the public. Nepal is trying to increase its effort to combat COVID-19 by adopting community containment measures, but the mental health of the frontline health workforce, service providers, and the general public seems to be highly overshadowed. In this aspect, this paper aims to shed light on different aspects of mental health issues emerging in Nepal during the time of COVID-19 lockdown, along with some of its potential contributing factors. Nepal lacks adequate infrastructure and human resource to provide mental healthcare services effectively in case of any massive mental distress. In this state of resource deprivation, providing education and training regarding psychosocial issues to health system leaders, first responders, and health care professionals could be a key to address the population need at present and to prevent further complications.

Living in temporary housing and later psychological distress after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011: A cross-lagged panel model.

Living in temporary housing is a risk factor for psychological distress after a natural disaster. As temporary housing is an essential resource for those affected by disasters, investigation of factors which potentially mediate living in temporary housing and psychological distress is needed. This is a cohort study in general population of areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Data were obtained from self-report questionnaires in annual health checks between 2014 and 2016 regarding residential situation (e.g., prefabricated or privately-rented temporary housing), psychological distress, sleep disturbances, social support, and covariates. Mediation effects of sleep disturbances and social support on the relationship between temporary housing and psychological distress were evaluated using a cross-lagged panel model during three time points. Among 3,116 participants in 2014, approximately 12% lived in prefabricated or privately-rented temporary housing. Living in prefabricated (β = 0.046, p = 0.031) and privately-rented temporary housing (β = 0.043, p = 0.042) predicted later psychological distress. There was no mediation effect by sleep disturbances (prefabricated temporary housing: β = 0.001, p = 0.620; privately-rented temporary housing: β = −0.001, p = 0.467) or social support (prefabricated temporary housing: β < 0.001, p = 0.748; privately-rented temporary housing: β < 0.001, p = 0.435). CLPM also showed no relationship between living in temporary housing and increased sleep problems or decreased social support. Mental health support may be required for residents who lived in prefabricated or privately-rented temporary housing three years after a natural disaster, whereas support focusing only on sleep disturbances or social support in residents who lived in temporary housing may not be enough to contribute to reducing psychological distress.

The Enemy Which Sealed the World: Effects of COVID-19 Diffusion on the Psychological State of the Italian Population.

Background: Starting from the first months of 2020, worldwide population has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nations, including Italy, took extreme actions to reduce the diffusion of the virus, profoundly changing lifestyles. The Italians have been faced with both the fear of contracting the infection and the consequences of enforcing social distancing. This study was aimed to understand the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the psychopathological outcomes related to the first phase of this emergency. Methods: The study included 2291 respondents. An online survey collected information on socio-demographic variables, history of direct or indirect contact with COVID-19, and additional information concerning the COVID-19 emergency. Moreover, psychopathological symptoms such as anxiety, mood alterations and post-traumatic symptomatology were assessed. Results: The results revealed that respectively 31.38%, 37.19% and 27.72% of respondents reported levels of general psychopathological symptomatology, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms over the cut-off scores. Furthermore, a significant worsening of mood has emerged. Being a female or under the age of 50 years, having had direct contact with people infected by the COVID-19, and experiencing uncertainty about the risk of contagion represent risk factors for psychological distress. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to impact not only on physical health but also on psychological well-being. Although these results need to be considered with caution being based on self-reported data collected at the beginning of this emergency, they should be used as a starting point for further studies aimed to develop interventions to minimize both the brief and long-term psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serious psychological distress: A national study of Middle Eastern immigrants.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: There is very limited literature on the health of Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States, and the available studies were mostly conducted on small convenient samples in local communities. There is also a need to understand changes in the rates of serious psychological distress (SPD) during the 15years after 2001, as there were negative effects on Arabs' health since the September 2001 aftermath. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The study examined the rates of SPD, the risk of SPD and its associated factors in a national sample of Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States from 2001 to 2015. The study found that serious psychological distress rate was high among Middle Eastern immigrants. Being a female and having obesity were associated with a higher risk of reporting serious psychological distress among this population. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: These outcomes necessitate mental health nursing interventions that provide culturally sensitive mental health care to immigrants For example, developing community-based prevention programmes is required to address risk factors of psychological distress and to increase awareness about psychological distress among Middle Eastern immigrants. ABSTRACT: Introduction While Middle Eastern immigrants are a fast-growing population in the United States, there is very limited literature on their mental health. Most of the available studies were conducted on small convenient samples in local communities. Aims To examine rates of serious psychological distress (SPD) and its associated factors among Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States, compared with US-born, non-Hispanic Whites. Methods Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2001 to 2015 were analysed. The survey included 1,246 Middle Eastern immigrants and 232,392 US-born, non-Hispanic Whites. SPD was measured by the Kessler-6 psychological distress scale. Survey analysis procedures, sampling weights and variance estimates were conducted. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were employed to examine differences and factors associated with SPD. Results SPD rate was the highest among Middle Eastern immigrants (5.99%) between 2006 and 2010. Among Middle Eastern immigrants, being female and obese were significantly associated with a higher risk of SPD. Discussion Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States suffered high rates of SPD. Gender and obesity were factors associated with SPD risk. Implications These outcomes indicate the need for mental health nursing interventions that provide culturally sensitive mental health care to immigrants, such as developing community-based prevention programmes.

The psychological experience of children with cerebral palsy

Many children with cerebral palsy face considerable challenges in their day to day life. Some will be highly dependent on those around them. While motor deficits are most commonly reported, children with cerebral palsy also experience higher rates of challenging behaviour, attention difficulties, social communication problems and to a lesser extent mood disorders in comparison to the general population. Personal risk factors for psychological distress include normal intellect, communication problems and less functional disability. Due to their need for higher levels of care and support, their parent's emotional state and parenting style also highly impacts on the child's development. Research groups have designed parenting interventions and mindfulness groups to support and enhance the parenting of young people with CP. This short article summarises what is known about the psychological experience of children and what interventions are helpful and evidence-based.

The impact of attachment styles and defense mechanisms on psychological distress in a non-clinical young adult sample: A path analysis

IntroductionInsecure attachment styles and immature or neurotic defense mechanisms are related to psychological distress. However, their mutual interaction in influencing psychological distress deserves further investigation. MethodsOne-thousand-one-hundred-twenty-nine University students were evaluated using the Global Severity Index of Symptoms Check List 90-Revised for psychological distress, Relationship Questionnaire for attachment styles and Defense Style Questionnaire for defense mechanisms. Following exploratory analyses, a Path Analysis was performed with psychological distress as outcome. ResultsFearful and preoccupied attachment styles had a substantial impact on psychological distress. About 30% of their effect was mediated by Immature and Neurotic defenses, with the former having the major effect. Dismissing attachment showed no substantial effect on psychological distress. Secure Attachment and Mature Defenses had a small protective effect on psychological distress, but their inclusion in the path model did not improve overall goodness-of-fit. Attachment style and defense mechanisms accounted for nearly 25% of the variance in psychological distress. ConclusionsThe results showed that attachment styles and defense mechanisms have a substantial impact on psychological distress. The effect of attachment style is mediated by defense mechanisms. Individual differences in attachment style and defense mechanisms represent risk factors for psychological distress in young adults.

Prevalence and correlates of PTSD and depressive symptoms one month after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in a sample of home-quarantined Chinese university students

BackgroundWhen COVID-19 emerged in China in late 2019, most citizens were home-quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. This study explored the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in a sample of home-quarantined college students to identify the psychological distress risk factors. MethodThe PTSD and depressive symptoms in the 2485 participants from 6 universities were investigated using online survey versions of the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version and the 9-question Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9), and data on sleep durations, exposure, home-quarantine time and socio-demographic variables were also collected. ResultsThe PTSD and depression prevalence were found to be 2.7% and 9.0%. Subjectively, feeling extreme fear was the most significant risk factor for psychological distress, followed by short sleep durations, being in their graduating year (4th year) and living in severely afflicted areas. Sleep durations was a mediator between exposures and mental health problems. ConclusionsThe results suggested that the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 could be serious. Psychological interventions that reduce fear and improve sleep durations need to be made available to the home-quarantined university students, and graduating students and those in the worst-hit areas should be given priority focus.

Occurrence, prevention, and management of the psychological effects of emerging virus outbreaks on healthcare workers: rapid review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo examine the psychological effects on clinicians of working to manage novel viral outbreaks, and successful measures to manage stress and psychological distress.DesignRapid review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesCochrane Central Register of...

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among key populations in Togo, 2017.

Mental health is a largely neglected issue among in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially among key populations at risk for HIV. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) and to assess the factors associated among males who have sex with males (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and drug users (DU) in Togo in 2017. A cross-sectional bio-behavioral study was conducted in August and September 2017 using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method, in eight cities in Togo. A standardized questionnaire was used to record sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a subset of questions from the Tobacco Questions for Survey were used to assess alcohol and tobacco consumption respectively. PD was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. A blood sample was taken to test for HIV. Descriptive statistics, univariable and multivariable ordinal regression models were used for analysis. A total of 2044 key populations including 449 DU, 952 FSW and 643 MSM with a median age of 25 years, interquartile range (IQR) [21-32] were recruited. The overall prevalence of mild PD among the three populations was 19.9% (95%CI = [18.3-21.8]) and was 19.2% (95%CI = [17.5-20.9]) for severe/moderate PD. HIV prevalence was 13.7% (95%CI = [12.2-15.2]). High age (≥ 25 years) [aOR = 1.24 (95% CI: 1.02-1.50)], being HIV positive [aOR = 1.80 (95% CI: 1.31-2.48)] and hazardous alcohol consumption [aOR = 1.52 (95% CI: 1.22-1.87)] were risk factors for PD. Secondary [aOR = 0.52 (95% CI: 0.42-0.64)] or higher [aOR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.32-0.64)] education levels were protective factors associated with PD. FSW [OR = 0.55 (95% CI: 0.43-0.68)] and MSM [OR = 0.33 (95% CI: 0.24-0.44)] were less likely to report PD compared with DU. This is the first study conducted among a large, nationally representative sample of key populations in Togo. The prevalence of PD is high among these populations in Togo and was associated to HIV infection. The present study indicates that mental health care must be integrated within health programs in Togo with a special focus to key populations through interventions such as social support groups.

Big Five Personality Traits and Disabling Chronic Low Back Pain: Association with Fear-Avoidance, Anxious and Depressive Moods.

PurposePhysical dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients is influenced by psychological variables rather than by pain severity. Assessing personality traits may help clinicians address the complexity of patients’ experiences and design treatments that target these vulnerabilities. This study aimed to identify the distinguishing personality traits of a cohort of patients with disabling chronic low back pain and to determine associations between those traits and fear-avoidance beliefs, depressive, and anxious moods.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 102 chronic low back pain patients (57% male), who failed standard management and were referred to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. All patients completed the five domains of the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI)–Revised (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). One-sample t-test was used to compare sample personality means with average population norms. Association between the five personality domains with TSK and HADS was assessed using Pearson’s correlation, adjusted for patient demographics and pain-related variables. Linear regression was used to estimate associations adjusted for covariates.ResultsBoth men and women had significantly lower scores in the Openness to experience domain and significantly higher scores in the Conscientiousness domain than the general population norms. After adjusting for covariates, Neuroticism was associated with higher fear-avoidance, depression and anxiety scores. Conversely, Extraversion and Openness to experience negatively correlated with depression scores. Extraversion also inversely correlated with fear-avoidance. Conscientiousness negatively correlated with depression and anxiety after adjustment.ConclusionPatients with disabling chronic low back pain show personality characteristics that deviate significantly from the normal population norms but do not reach maladaptive forms of personality disorders. Clinicians would benefit from assessing patients’ personality traits to address protective and risk factors for psychological distress, particularly in difficult-to-treat, highly disabled low back pain patients.

Social Media Use Is (Weakly) Related to Psychological Distress.

Although the growing prevalence of social media usage raises concerns about its potentially negative impact on mental health and distress, research has found mixed results. This study resolves these inconsistencies by examining the association between hours of time spent on social media use and psychological distress in a sample of New Zealand adults (N = 19,075). After adjusting for demographics and time spent on various other activities (e.g., exercise, sleep, and housework), social media use correlated positively with psychological distress. Although social media use had one of the largest per-hour unit associations with psychological distress compared with time spent engaging in other habitual activities, the association was very weak. Thus, only excessive amounts of social media usage would result in practical changes in distress. These findings provide robust data from a large-scale national probability sample of adults, demonstrating that social media use is typically not a serious risk factor for psychological distress.

Is Food Insecurity Associated with Psychological Distress in Undergraduate University Students? A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Food insecurity and psychological distress in university students are public health concerns. However, little is known about their association. We conducted a cross-sectional study of undergraduate students at a Canadian university in October 2017 to measure the prevalence of food insecurity and its association with psychological distress in university students. Our web-based survey included the Household Food Security Survey Module to measure food insecurity, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 to measure psychological distress. We used multivariable logistic regression to measure the association between food insecurity and psychological distress. Twenty-seven percent (95% CI: 24.1–29.9) of participants (n = 882) reported food insecurity and 16.5% (95% CI: 14.1–19.1) reported psychological distress. Marginal/moderate (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.01–2.61) and severe (OR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.37–5.30) food insecurity was significantly associated with psychological distress in some students. Further investigations are needed to determine whether food insecurity is a risk factor for psychological distress in this population.

P62. Preliminary results of randomized controlled trial investigating the role of psychological distress on cervical spine surgery outcomes: a baseline analysis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Recent studies suggest that for patients with neck pain, both psychological and physical symptoms need to be addressed. Psychological distress risk factors are associated with poor outcomes in the fear avoidance model, where individuals passively cope through avoidance behaviors and disuse. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works to address risk factors through education about pain, modification of maladaptive beliefs, and increasing patient's self-efficacy. PURPOSE Determine the effectiveness of brief psychological intervention on outcomes in cervical spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Prospective, blind, and placebo-controlled trial. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 35 symptomatic Cervical Degenerative Disorders patients. OUTCOME MEASURES Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM), Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Outcome Expectation Question (OEQ). Neck Disability Index (NDI), modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), EuroQol Five Dimensions (EQ5D). METHODS Thirty-five patients age >18 with symptomatic cervical degenerative disease have been enrolled in the study. If patients met psychological distress criteria, they were in the treatment group: DRAM >17 and 49/66, PCS >30/52 or OEQ ≤2 (randomized to CBT or placebo). CBT and sham treatment groups had 6 sessions prior to surgery. The control group had no intervention prior to surgery. Baseline and 3M changes were assessed for all outcome measures. RESULTS A total of 35 patients were enrolled (age 53.9 years, BMI 28.7 kg/m2). Twenty-two patients met psychological distress criteria and were randomized into a treatment group (13 CBT vs. 9 placebo). Thirteen patients were in the control group, with 5 having too high of DRAM scores to be CBT candidates. At enrollment, the average DRAM score was 34.55 ± 13.87, with the DRAM observational group, Placebo, and CBT groups all having higher scores than control patients (45.6 vs 13.4, P CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results of this randomized controlled study on cervical degenerative surgery patients showed that patients who received cognitive behavioral treatment before surgery had better improvement in all psychological related questionnaires compared to non treatment patients. Long-term follow up will assess the changes in psychological and pain related outcomes in these groups to assess the impact of psychological intervention for at risk patients. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Risk factors of psychological distress and quality of life in lung cancer patients.

e23187 Background: Most patients with lung cancer have psychological problems, which has a significant impact on patients' rehabilitation, treatment and quality of life. Through the distress and quality of life assessment, to understand the risk factors of distress, in order to improve the quality of life of lung cancer patients. Methods: The investigation was consisted of 209 lung cancer patients who were treated in Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2014 to December 2015.Patients were assessed through the use of distress thermometer, problem list, quality of life questionnaire. Lung cancer patients were divided into a significant distress group and a non-significant distress group. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between demographic characteristics, disease information and significant distress. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors for distress. The Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the significant distress group and each area of the quality of life questionnaire. The test level was significantly different at P&lt; 0.05. Results: The distress of majority lung cancer patients was 0-4 points, 68 cases were significant distress, significant distress rate was 32.5%. Logistic regression showed PS scores, family residence, informed condition were risk factors of significant distress( P&lt; 0.001 &lt; P= 0.035, P= 0.031). Economic problems were the most common cause of psychological distress in lung cancer patients. Other risk factors included the lack of time and energy to take care for the elderly/children, fear, sadness, dizziness and pain. The significant distress of lung cancer patients was negatively correlated with health status, physical function, emotional function, cognitive function, social function, and was positively correlated with symptoms as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, shortness of breath, insomnia, loss of appetite and constipation. Conclusions: The incidence of significant distress in patients with lung cancer is 32.5%. PS score, fully informed, and family residence are the risks of significant distress in patients. The distress of lung cancer patients is significantly related to the quality of life.

Predictors of psychological distress in low-income mothers over the first postpartum year.

Up to 25% of postpartum women experience psychological distress including stress, depressive, or anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which social determinants of health and allostatic load score, a 10-item index of biologic measures of chronic stress, predict psychological distress in low-income pregnant women over the first postpartum year. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Child Community Health Research Network data set. The psychological distress outcome variables were perceived stress (n = 842), depression ( n = 845), and anxiety ( n = 846) symptoms, all measured categorically over the first year postpartum (T1:1 month, T2: 24-29 weeks, and T3: 50-65 weeks). Our predictors were social determinants of health (e.g., demographics, maternal hardship, percent poverty level, interpersonal violence, and food security) and allostatic load score. Generalized linear mixed models were used to determine which predictors were significantly associated with psychological distress symptoms across the first postpartum year. Interpersonal violence was a statistically significant risk factor for stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms over the first year postpartum. Other significant risk factors included low-income level, nativity, and perceived food security. Receiving food stamps was a significant protective factor for stress symptoms. The significance of risk factors for psychological distress, both modifiable and nonmodifiable, can be used as potential targets for further research, screening, and intervention. Future work should explore why and in what conditions these risk factors vary over time.

Associated risk factors for psychological distress in patients with gastric epithelial neoplasm undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychological distress and associated risk factors for distress among patients with gastric epithelial neoplasm undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).A total of 91 patients treated with ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasm between May 2015 and June 2016 were prospectively enrolled. Sociodemographic factors, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, stress, and associated risk factors for psychological distress were evaluated the day before ESD.Twenty-six (28.6%) patients were identified as patients with psychological distress. The psychological distress group had a higher female ratio and more depression and anxiety symptoms than the non-distress group. Distress was also related to stress level. A multivariate analysis showed that unmarried status (odds ratio [OR], 4.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–21.56, P = .034), anxiety (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12–1.39, P <.001), and stress (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12, P = .011) were associated with psychological distress.An unmarried status and a high level of anxiety and stress were associated with more psychological distress in patients undergoing gastric ESD. It could be helpful to screen and proactively monitor patients with such conditions before performing gastric ESD.

Preconception dysmenorrhea as a risk factor for psychological distress in pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

BackgroundDysmenorrhea influences emotional distress as well as physical suffering in young non-pregnant women. The aim of this study was to assess the potential association between preconception dysmenorrhea and the development of psychological distress during pregnancy. MethodsThis study was a part of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a nationwide birth cohort study conducted between 2011 and 2014 in Japan. A total of 87,102 pregnant Japanese women with no psychological distress (Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale [K6] score ≤ 12) in early pregnancy were eligible. Among these, 7626 had mild and 1638 had severe preconception dysmenorrhea. The prevalence and risk of maternal psychological distress (K6 scores ≥ 13) in the second or third trimester were compared among preconception dysmenorrhea severity groups. ResultsA higher percentage of women with mild (2.6%) or severe preconception dysmenorrhea (3.6%) suffered psychological distress during pregnancy compared to that in women without dysmenorrhea (2.1%). A multilevel logistic regression model, adjusting for baseline characteristics and the K6 score at enrollment, showed that the severity of dysmenorrhea was associated with psychological distress (mild dysmenorrhea: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.154; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.980–1.359; and severe dysmenorrhea: aOR, 1.457; 95% CI, 1.087–1.951). LimitationsInformation about dysmenorrhea was obtained during early pregnancy. The JECS did not have clear diagnostic criteria for dysmenorrhea. ConclusionsPreconception dysmenorrhea is associated with an elevated incidence of psychological distress during pregnancy. Additionally, expectant mothers with a history of severe dysmenorrhea symptoms before pregnancy have a higher risk of developing psychological distress.

Lifestyle behaviors and mental health in medical students

Purpose Recently, there has been a renewed interest in medical students’ mental health. The purpose of this paper is to determine factors associated with psychological distress in medical students and to assess the correlation between major lifestyle behaviours and mental health. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among 530 medical students randomized from a faculty of medicine in 2017. The authors used the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ) to assess mental health and lifestyle, respectively. Findings The mean value of GHQ-12 and SLIQ were 4.1±2.8 and 6.2±1.4, respectively. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that SLIQ was significantly correlated to GHQ-12 (r=−0.26; p&lt;0.001). The prevalence of psychological distress (GHQ-12=4) was 50.1%. The authors found that low/middle financial situation of the family (OR=1.5; CI 95%=[1.1–2.3]), internship level, (OR=1.8; CI 95%=[1.1–3.3]), medium/poor perceived academic performance (OR=2.2; CI 95%=[1.5–3.2]) and medium/poor perceived health status (OR=2.3; CI 95%=[1.5–3.6]) were significantly associated with psychological distress. Multivariate analysis performing logistic regression showed that average and unhealthy lifestyle were independently associated with psychological distress, with an adjusted OR of 3.7 (CI 95%=[1.7–7.7]) and 5.8 (CI 95%=[2.4–14.8]), respectively. Originality/value The study highlighted the magnitude and the risk factors of psychological distress in medical students. Unhealthy lifestyle was a potential predictive of mental disorders. These findings provide fundamental information for future researches.

Experimental manipulation of emotion regulation self-efficacy: Effects on emotion regulation ability, perceived effort in the service of regulation, and affective reactivity

Deficits in emotion regulation self-efficacy (Tamir & Mauss, 2011) may be a risk factor for psychological distress. The present study sought to test the hypothesis that participants who were led to believe that emotion regulation self-efficacy was enhanced (expected success condition: n = 34), versus those in a control condition (n = 36), would report relatively less negative affective reactivity in response to a negative mood induction. Additionally, we hypothesized that those in the expected success condition would perform better than those in the control condition on an emotion regulation task. As predicted, those in the expected success condition reported less negative affective reactivity compared to control participants, but no difference was observed between groups on the emotion regulation task. Thus, a one-session manipulation of emotion regulation self-efficacy appears to directly influence self-reported affective reactivity, but not an individual's emotion regulation ability.