Variance In Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Are Methylation Patterns in the KALRN Gene Associated with Cognitive and Depressive Symptoms? Findings from the Moli-sani Cohort

The KALRN gene (encoding kalirin) has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, genetic evidence supporting this implication is limited and targeted epigenetic analyses are lacking. Here, we tested associations between epigenetic variation in KALRN and interindividual variation in depressive symptoms (PHQ9) and cognitive (MoCA) performance, in an Italian population cohort (N = 2409; mean (SD) age: 67 (9) years; 55% women). First, we analyzed the candidate region chr3:124584826–124584886 (hg38), within the KALRN promoter, through pyrosequencing of 1385 samples. Then, we widened the investigated region by analyzing 137 CpGs annotated to the whole gene, rescued from epigenome-wide (Illumina EPIC) data from 1024 independent samples from the same cohort. These were tested through stepwise regression models adjusted for age, sex, circulating leukocytes fractions, education, prevalent health conditions and lifestyles. We observed no statistically significant associations with methylation levels in the three CpGs tested through pyrosequencing, or in the gene-wide association analysis with MoCA score. However, we observed a statistically significant association between PHQ9 and cg13549966 (chr3:124106738; β (Standard Error) = 0.28 (0.08), Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.025), located close to the transcription start site of the gene. This association was driven by a polychoric factor tagging somatic depressive symptoms (β (SE) = 0.127 (0.064), p = 0.048). This evidence underscores the importance of studying epigenetic variation within the KALRN gene and the role that it may play in brain diseases, particularly in atypical depression, which is often characterized by somatic symptoms.

Unravelling the impact of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes on depression following trauma: A 2-year prospective study of burn survivors

ObjectiveIndividuals with severe burn injuries may develop depression, yet knowledge about psychological risk factors for depression following trauma is limited. This study investigated the prospective impact and interplay of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes (posttraumatic negative appraisals and trauma-related rumination) to depressive symptoms between 6 and 24 months after burn injury. MethodTaiwanese adult survivors of burn (N = 118) participated in surveys immediately post-burn and at 6-, 12-, and 24-months follow-up. Participants were 7 5% men, with an average age of 41.8 years and an average of TBSA of 18.3%. ResultsA total of 8.5%, 5.9%, and 4.2% met criteria for probable major depression at 6, 12, and 24 months post-burn, respectively. The prevalence increased to 23.7%, 11.0%, and 5.9% using the cutoff on the PHQ-9. Prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes immediately post-burn explained 13.5%, 20.5%, and 18.6% of the variance in depressive symptoms at 6, 12, and 24 months post-burn, respectively. Posttraumatic negative appraisals strongly predicted depressive symptoms post-burn across follow-ups. Moreover, posttraumatic negative appraisals significantly mediated the effect of prior depression on subsequent depressive symptoms across follow-ups. Prior depression significantly moderated the effect of trauma-related rumination on depressive symptoms at 6 months post-burn. ConclusionsOur results are the first to demonstrate the role and interplay of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes in post-burn depression. Findings highlight that pre-and post-trauma psychological factors jointly affect depression following trauma, broadening the applicability of cognitive theories of PTSD.

Identifying Person-Specific Drivers of Depression in Adolescents: Protocol for a Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment and Passive Sensing Study.

Adolescence is marked by an increasing risk of depression and is an optimal window for prevention and early intervention. Personalizing interventions may be one way to maximize therapeutic benefit, especially given the marked heterogeneity in depressive presentations. However, empirical evidence that can guide personalized intervention for youth is lacking. Identifying person-specific symptom drivers during adolescence could improve outcomes by accounting for both developmental and individual differences. This study leverages adolescents' everyday smartphone use to investigate person-specific drivers of depression and validate smartphone-based mobile sensing data against established ambulatory methods. We describe the methods of this study and provide an update on its status. After data collection is completed, we will address three specific aims: (1) identify idiographic drivers of dynamic variability in depressive symptoms, (2) test the validity of mobile sensing against ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and actigraphy for identifying these drivers, and (3) explore adolescent baseline characteristics as predictors of these drivers. A total of 50 adolescents with elevated symptoms of depression will participate in 28 days of (1) smartphone-based EMA assessing depressive symptoms, processes, affect, and sleep; (2) mobile sensing of mobility, physical activity, sleep, natural language use in typed interpersonal communication, screen-on time, and call frequency and duration using the Effortless Assessment of Risk States smartphone app; and (3) wrist actigraphy of physical activity and sleep. Adolescents and caregivers will complete developmental and clinical measures at baseline, as well as user feedback interviews at follow-up. Idiographic, within-subject networks of EMA symptoms will be modeled to identify each adolescent's person-specific drivers of depression. Correlations among EMA, mobile sensor, and actigraph measures of sleep, physical, and social activity will be used to assess the validity of mobile sensing for identifying person-specific drivers. Data-driven analyses of mobile sensor variables predicting core depressive symptoms (self-reported mood and anhedonia) will also be used to assess the validity of mobile sensing for identifying drivers. Finally, between-subject baseline characteristics will be explored as predictors of person-specific drivers. As of October 2023, 84 families were screened as eligible, of whom 70% (n=59) provided informed consent and 46% (n=39) met all inclusion criteria after completing baseline assessment. Of the 39 included families, 85% (n=33) completed the 28-day smartphone and actigraph data collection period and follow-up study visit. This study leverages depressed adolescents' everyday smartphone use to identify person-specific drivers of adolescent depression and to assess the validity of mobile sensing for identifying these drivers. The findings are expected to offer novel insights into the structure and dynamics of depressive symptomatology during a sensitive period of development and to inform future development of a scalable, low-burden smartphone-based tool that can guide personalized treatment decisions for depressed adolescents. DERR1-10.2196/43931.

Linguistic style as a digital marker for depression severity: An ambulatory assessment pilot study in patients with depressive disorder undergoing sleep deprivation therapy.

Digital phenotyping and monitoring tools are the most promising approaches to automatically detect upcoming depressive episodes. Especially, linguistic style has been seen as a potential behavioral marker of depression, as cross-sectional studies showed, for example, less frequent use of positive emotion words, intensified use of negative emotion words, and more self-references in patients with depression compared to healthy controls. However, longitudinal studies are sparse and therefore it remains unclear whether within-person fluctuations in depression severity are associated with individuals' linguistic style. To capture affective states and concomitant speech samples longitudinally, we used an ambulatory assessment approach sampling multiple times a day via smartphones in patients diagnosed with depressive disorder undergoing sleep deprivation therapy. This intervention promises a rapid change of affective symptoms within a short period of time, assuring sufficient variability in depressive symptoms. We extracted word categories from the transcribed speech samples using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Our analyses revealed that more pleasant affective momentary states (lower reported depression severity, lower negative affective state, higher positive affective state, (positive) valence, energetic arousal and calmness) are mirrored in the use of less negative emotion words and more positive emotion words. We conclude that a patient's linguistic style, especially the use of positive and negative emotion words, is associated with self-reported affective states and thus is a promising feature for speech-based automated monitoring and prediction of upcoming episodes, ultimately leading to better patient care.

The association among negative life events, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms in a psychosomatic outpatient sample

BackgroundDepression is a life-threatening mental health problem. Various factors have been demonstrated to be associated with depressive symptoms, including negative life events (NLEs) and alexithymia. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the relationship among negative life events, alexithymia, and depression symptoms in a psychosomatic outpatient sample in China.MethodsA total of 2747 outpatients (aged 18 – 65) were included in this investigation. The Life Events Scale (LES), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-26), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess NLEs, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms, respectively. A stepwise regression analysis model was established to investigate the relationship among alexithymia, NLEs, and depressive symptoms.ResultsOverall, 67.0% of the patient sample had a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher. The stepwise regression analysis model showed a well-fitted model, in which NLEs and alexithymia explain a total of 34.2% of the variance of depressive symptoms in these participants. NLEs (β = 0.256, p < 0.001) and dimensions of alexithymia (difficult describing feelings (β = 0.192, p < 0.001) and identifying feelings (β = 0.308, p < 0.001)) were positively correlated with symptoms of depression.ConclusionsPrevious studies have confirmed the correlation between NLEs and depression, alexithymia and depression, respectively. In our study, we used a stepwise regression model to explain the relationship among those variables simultaneously, and found that NLEs and alexithymia could function as predictors of depressive symptoms. Based on this discovery, alexithymia-focused treatment strategies could be alternative in depressive patients with alexithymia, but this remains to be verified in the future.

Exploring the relationship between sleep patterns and depression among Chinese middle school students: a focus on sleep quality vs. sleep duration.

This study aims to explore the relationship between sleep patterns and depressive symptoms among adolescents, examining variations in depressive symptoms across different sleep qualities, durations, and habits. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, gathering data from 8,775 Chinese adolescents on their demographics, lifestyle habits, sleep quality and duration, and depressive symptoms. The association between sleep parameters and depressive symptoms was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The findings reveal a significant correlation between sleep quality/duration and depressive symptoms. Specifically, adolescents with poor sleep quality had higher depressive scores (mean score = 14.62, standard deviation = 5.71), significantly exceeding those with better sleep quality (mean score = 11.54, standard deviation = 4.69). Adolescents with shorter sleep duration also showed significantly higher depressive scores than those with moderate sleep duration. Importantly, adolescents experiencing both poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration were at a significantly increased risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 4.04, 95% CI: 3.53-4.62, P < 0.001). Further analysis indicated that older age and lower family economic status were independent predictors of a higher risk of adolescent depression (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.38, P = 0.001), whereas factors such as gender, ethnicity, residence, being an only child, and parental education levels were not statistically significant. Among Chinese adolescents, poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration are independent predictors of higher depressive symptom scores. Adolescents experiencing both of these conditions simultaneously have a significantly increased risk of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, older age and lower family economic status are also significantly related to an increased risk of depression in adolescents. These findings emphasize the importance of improving sleep quality and optimizing sleep duration for the prevention of adolescent depression. They also suggest the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the multifaceted factors influencing adolescent mental health, including sleep patterns and socioeconomic disparities.

Self-Compassion, Resilience and Mental Health in Community Adults.

To investigate the associations among self-compassion, resilience and mental health of community residents. Cross-sectional study. Voluntary survey of web-based, posters-based platform. 453 community residents. Participants living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan were recruited from posters, online advertisements based platforms and were assessed with the self-compassion scale (SCS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and The Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH-scale) measures during the period from March 1 to October 31, 2023. After adjusting for age, gender and education, stepwise regression analysis revealed that isolation, self-judgment, and control accounted for 14% of the variance in depressive symptoms (CES-D) (adjusted R2 = .149, P < .05). Over-identification, self-kindness and control accounted for 26% of the variance in satisfaction with life (SWLS) (adjusted R2 = .263, P < .001). Over-identification, self-kindness, isolation, control and personal competence and tenacity accounted for 37% of the variance in positive mental health (PMH-scale) (adjusted R2 = .375, P < .05). Findings suggested that components of self-compassion and resilience may be important factors that promote positive mental health and provide potential interventions for professionals to increase the well-being of community residents.

Childhood adversity, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms among pre-abortion Chinese women

BackgroundUnintended (unwanted) pregnancy is a sexual and reproductive health issue with psychosocial consequences for the individual, their family, and society. However, the relationship between social support and related mental health issues, like depression and the effects of childhood adversity, is poorly studied. This study aims to explore the connections between childhood adversity, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms in pre-abortion women (women who have decided to have an abortion) in a clinical setting, based on the common risk factor approach and social support theory.MethodsA total of 299 pre-abortion Chinese women 18–45 years were recruited in a hospital in Shantou, China. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relative effects of childhood adversity and sources of social support on depressive symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic influences.ResultsThe results show that 37.2 percent of participants reported at least one adverse experience in childhood. More than half of the respondents were at risk for depression. Results of regression analysis showed that childhood adversities were negatively associated with depressive symptoms before sources of social support were entered into the model. However, when the sources of perceived social support were added, the effect of childhood adversity was not significant. Perceived social support explained the additional 15 percent variance in depressive symptoms. Additionally, being married (β = -.12, p < .05) and number of siblings (β = .13, p < .05) were significantly related to depressive symptoms.DiscussionPre-abortion women are at risk of mental health problems. Peer and familial social supports can alleviate the influence of childhood adversity on depression among pre-abortion Chinese women. Strengthening the role of various sources of social support can help to improve the mental health conditions of pre-abortion women.

Early Maladaptive Schemas and Depression in Caregivers of Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum and Bipolar Disorders.

Early maladaptive schemas represent unhelpful frameworks of cognitions, emotions and subsequent behavioural responses and can be associated with depressive symptoms. Caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) frequently report experiencing depressive symptoms. It is unclear whether depressive symptoms in caregivers are influenced by schemas. We aimed to compare activated schemas in caregivers of people with schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) and bipolar disorder (BD) diagnoses and to determine whether they were differentially related to depressive symptoms. Caregivers completed validated measures of depression and schemas. Independent samples t-tests and multivariate generalised linear models were used to assess differences in schemas and depressive symptoms between caregiver groups. Interrelationships between schema domains and caregiver depressive symptoms were delineated using correlational analyses and forward stepwise regressions. One hundred eight caregivers participated in the study (SSD n = 68, BD n = 40). No differences in depressive symptom severity or activated schemas were observed between caregiver groups. All schemas were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and the Disconnection-Rejection schema domain explained the most variance in depressive symptoms in both caregiver groups. Schemas contribute to the severity of caregiver depression regardless of whether the person receiving care is diagnosed with SSD or BD. Schema therapeutic frameworks may be beneficial for use with caregivers to address schemas within the Disconnection-Rejection domain and alleviate depressive symptoms by reducing experiences of social isolation and alienation.

All in the Family: Does Grandparenting Impact Chinese Grandparents’ Depressive Symptoms?

Grandparenting is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, especially in Chinese society. However, the impact of grandparenting on older adults’ health remains unclear. This study examined whether and how grandparenting is associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults and the role of intergenerational support (i.e., financial, emotional, and instrumental support) in this relationship. Using data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 wave, the researchers employed multivariate linear regression models to investigate variations in depressive symptoms and their associations with grandparenting; the role of intergenerational support was also explored. The results indicated that older adults who engage in grandparenting, particularly in non-intensive care, experience a reduction in depressive symptoms, even after accounting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Overall, intergenerational support plays a mediating role in the relationship between grandparenting and associated mental health outcomes. Bidirectional emotional and financial support and receiving instrumental support were associated with lower depressive symptoms among Chinese grandparents. In general, the findings of this study suggest that grandparenting, along with intergenerational support, provides certain protective health benefits for Chinese grandparents. With rapid changes in Chinese society, further prospective longitudinal studies are needed to examine family contexts in the relationship between grandchild caregiving and associated health outcomes.

Above and Beyond Number of Illnesses: A Two-Sample Replication of Current Approaches to Depressive Symptoms in Multimorbidity

ABSTRACT Objectives To expand current models of depressive symptoms in older adults with multimorbidity (MM) beyond the number of illnesses as a predictor of worsened mental health. Methods Two-sample replication study of adults ≥62 years old with ≥ two chronic illnesses, who completed validated questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, and disease- and treatment-related stressors. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression. Results The model of cumulative number of illnesses was worse at explaining variance in depressive symptoms (Sample 1 R2 = .035; Sample 2 R2 = .029), compared to models including disease- and treatment-related stressors (Sample 1 R2 = .37; Sample 2 R2 = .47). Disease-related stressors were the strongest factor associated with depressive symptoms, specifically, poor subjective cognitive function (Sample 1: b = -.202, p = .013; Sample 2: b = -.288, p < .001) and greater somatic symptoms (b = .455, p < .001; Sample 2: b = .355, p < .001). Conclusions Using the number of illnesses to understand depressive symptoms in MM is a limited approach. Models that move beyond descriptive relationships between MM and depressive symptoms are needed. Clinical implications Providers should consider the role of somatic symptom management in patients with MM and depressive symptoms.

Addressing fertility in gender-affirming care and its mental health implications: a cross-sectional study from Turkey

Background: Transgender and non-binary (TNB) people may seek gender-affirming treatments and these treatments have well-known effects on fertility. Aims: The goal of this study was to identify TNB people’s desire for parenthood, perspectives on fertility preservation, and how possible involuntary childlessness in the future might negatively impact mental health. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study. Participants self-reported their demographics and perspectives on parenthood and fertility preservation. In addition, they filled out scales for conceptual future parent grief (CFPG), perceived social support, perceived discrimination, satisfaction with life and depressive symptoms. Results: A total of 67 participants were included in the study. 58.2% wanted to have children and among them 56.4% preferred genetic parenthood. Of the participants using gender-affirming treatments, 35.1% were not informed about the adverse effects on fertility. 40.3% would utilize fertility preservation if given the opportunity. Analyses suggest that CFPG accounts for 3% of the variation in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Addressing fertility and CFPG might be important for promoting the psychological well-being of TNB people. This study also highlights the need for revisiting fertility related legal and healthcare aspects of gender affirmation in Turkey.

Deviations from the balanced time perspective, cognitive fusion, and self-compassion in individuals with or without a depression diagnosis: different mean profiles but common links to depressive symptoms.

Prior research indicates that depressive symptoms in unselected or sub-clinical samples are associated with time perspective biases, including a more negative view of the past and a more fatalistic attitude toward the present. In the current study, we compared time perspective profiles for a clinical sample, with a depression diagnosis with that of a control group. Additionally, we considered a measure known as deviations from the balanced time perspective (DBTP) that capture deviations across time frames, not considered in previous studies. A second obejctive was to test a model involving DPTP as a mediator of the links between cognitive fusion and self-compassion with depressive symptoms. In total, 300 individuals participated in the study, 150 participants with a depression diagnosis and 150 without a depression diagnoses. All participants filled in questions regarding background variables together with Polish adaptations of ZTPI, CFQ, SCS-S, and DASS-21 using a web-survey. The results showed significantly higher scores on Past Negative and Present Fatalistic in the clinical sample. In line with the hypothesis the clinical group also displayed elevated DBTP scores (d = 0.75), a difference that remained significant when current symptoms were adjusted for. The results of structural equation modeling moreover indicate a major role of cognitive fusion (which, as expected, was strongly associated with DBTP) in predicting symptom burden, regardless of the clinical/non-clinical distinction, but. Still, DBTP accounted for significant (unique) variance in depressive symptoms. By contrast, the inclusion of cognitive fusion and DBTP eliminated the association of self-compassion and depressive symptoms. Taken together, the results indicate that levels of DBTP/fusion for persons with depression diagnosis is present regardless of current symptom burden. Thus, DBTP could be regarded as a risk factor of developing depression. Prospective research designs are needed to further evaluate the associations of the main constructs in this study and the extent to which they are predictive of future diagnosis and changes in symptom level.

Association between occupational stress, occupational burnout, and depressive symptoms among medical staff during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China.

Studies have extensively examined the factors contributing to the onset of occupational stress, burnout, and depression. However, the relationship between these variables is limited. This study aimed to explore the association between occupational stress, burnout, and depressive symptoms and to investigate the mediating effect of burnout between occupational stress and depressive symptoms in medical staff. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical staff in Chongqing, China. The Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS), Maslach Burnout Inventory: General Survey (MBI-GS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to assess the status of occupational stress, burnout, and depressive symptoms, respectively. The bootstrapping analyses using SPSS PROCESS macros version 3 were conducted to examine mediating effects. The study conducted on medical staff in Chongqing revealed that the detection rates of occupational stress, occupational burnout, and depressive symptoms were 31.8%, 23.3%, and 30.3%, respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that occupational stress and burnout accounted for 19.3% (p < 0.001) and 18.8% (p < 0.001) of the variance in depressive symptoms, respectively. Mediation analysis showed that occupational stress indirectly affected depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of occupational burnout, with a mediation effect value of 0.13 (bootstrap 95% CI: 0.116-0.144) and the mediation effect accounting for 44.8% of the total effect. Our results indicated that occupational stress and burnout were predictors of depressive symptoms. Occupational stress had a significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms via burnout. These results suggest that reducing occupational stress and burnout could be effective strategies for preventing depression among medical staff.

Longitudinal Examination of Stress and Depression in Older Adults Over a 2‐Year Period: Moderation Effect of Varied Social Support Measures

Depressive symptoms and stress exposure fluctuate over time in community‐dwelling older adults, but they are frequently assessed using one‐time retrospective self‐report measures. Social support viewed as a multifaceted construct can play diverse moderating roles in this association although it is typically gauged through the measure of perceived social support. This study aims to explore the relationships between stress, social support, and depressive symptoms among older adults by utilizing the longitudinal data collected through a smartphone application and supplemented by annual face‐to‐face interviews conducted over a 2‐year period. Using longitudinal multilevel analysis, we analyzed the data on PHQ‐9, stress exposure, and four distinct measures of social support collected from 354 community‐dwelling older adults in South Korea. The results demonstrated that 59% of the variability in depressive symptoms was attributable to differences between individuals. Stress exposure was a strong predictor (γ = 3.01 ∗∗∗, 95% CI = 2.34–3.67). As expected, positive functional social support alleviated the effects of stress on depression (γ = −1.12 ∗∗, 95% CI = −1.92 ~ −0.32) while negative functional social support (γ = 2.36 ∗∗∗, 95% CI = 1.29–3.44) and negative structural social support (γ = 3.22 ∗, 95% CI = 0.79–5.64) worsened the effects of stress on depression. A notable finding is that stress‐amplifying effects from the negative functional and structural social support, in addition to well‐known stress‐buffering effects from positive functional social support, should be regarded as indispensable components in safeguarding the mental health of older adults. Considering the decline in social interactions and the lower probability of older adults establishing new social connections, it is essential to consider approaches that prevent a lack of functional and structural social support and foster a high‐quality of functional and structural social support, particularly for those facing greater stressors, as a preventative method against depressive symptoms.

Just as Essential: The Mental Health of Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic deleteriously impacted physical and mental health. In the summer of 2020, return-to-learn plans were enacted, including virtual, hybrid, and in-person plans, impacting educators and students. We examined (1) how return-to-learn plan was related to depressive and social anxiety symptoms among educators and (2) how psychological flexibility related to symptoms. Educators (N = 853) completed a survey via Qualtrics that assessed internalizing symptoms, psychological flexibility, and occupational characteristics. Two one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) examined between-group differences in return-to-learn plans across depression and social anxiety. Two hierarchical linear regressions examined the relation between psychological flexibility components and depressive and social anxiety symptoms. Median T-scores were well above the national normative means for General Depression (median T-score: 81) and Social Anxiety (median T-score: 67). There were no significant differences between reopening plans in general depression nor social anxiety T-scores. Psychological flexibility accounted for 33% of the variance in depressive symptoms and 24% of the variance in social anxiety symptoms. Results indicated high levels of psychiatric symptoms among educators during COVID-19, and psychological flexibility was associated with lower symptoms. Addressing educator mental health is of utmost importance in future research.

Evaluating the utility and validity of a discrimination‐specific measure of shift‐&amp;‐persist coping

AbstractShift‐&amp;‐persist (S&amp;P) coping has been shown to buffer against the effects of discrimination on psychosocial functioning in racially and ethnically minoritized youth. However, existing measures of S&amp;P refer broadly to coping with stress and are not specifically tailored to the type of stressor individuals are coping with (e.g., discrimination). The current study evaluated the measurement properties, utility, and validity of a discrimination‐specific adapted measure of S&amp;P relative to an existing, general measure among a sample of 327 minoritized youth (Mage = 18.80, SD = 1.28, 78.6% female, 50.5% Black) recruited from a large public minority‐serving institution in the southeastern United States. Contrary to our hypotheses, when the item stem was changed to refer to coping specifically with discrimination, the measurement properties of a validated S&amp;P scale (Lam et al., 2018) were worse relative to the original measure. Overall, the general S&amp;P measure produced larger main effects and explained two times more variance in depressive symptoms than discrimination‐specific S&amp;P. Findings do not rule out the idea that context‐specific measures may better characterize coping with discrimination experiences than ‘trait‐like’ general coping measures. However, results highlight that small adaptations to current measures may not be sufficient and may compromise predictive validity. Coping with discrimination measurement recommendations is discussed.

Body image dissatisfaction during the first year of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.

Dissatisfaction with one's body can be distressing; youth with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) may be at increased risk for body image dissatisfaction given disease symptoms and treatment side effects. Yet, no studies have examined body image dissatisfaction over time in youth with IBD and whether depressive symptoms are associated with change in dissatisfaction. Fifty-seven pediatric participants (8-17 years old) newly diagnosed with IBD were enrolled. Youth completed questionnaires assessing body image dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms shortly after diagnosis (Time 1) and 12 months later (Time 2). Multilevel longitudinal modeling was used to test the extent to which body image dissatisfaction changed across the first year of diagnosis and to test change in body image dissatisfaction as a function of depressive symptoms. Findings indicated significant between- and within-person variance in body image dissatisfaction over the 12 months, yet the sample as a whole did not report significant changes in dissatisfaction from Time 1 to Time 2. Children reporting depressive symptoms greater than their individual average over time reported greater body image dissatisfaction. Between-person variation in depressive symptoms demonstrated a significant interaction with time. As an individual's depressive symptoms exceeded the group average, their body image dissatisfaction increased, although less drastically as time since diagnosis progressed. Findings suggest that body image dissatisfaction is a complex and dynamic construct across youth and that interventions for pediatric IBD patients need to be tailored to the needs of individuals. Methods for assessing body image dissatisfaction efficiently and repeatedly across multiple visits are provided.

A path analysis investigation into menopausal osteoporosis, sarcopenia risk, and their impact on sleep quality, depressive symptoms and quality of life

PurposeThe objective was to investigate the relationships among disease characteristics, sarcopenia risk, bone function, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life in menopausal women. Additionally, we also examined the potential mediating role of coping in the relationship between these factors and health outcomes for individuals with osteoporosis. MethodsIn a cross-sectional approach, 201 participants were referred by a physician from the Family Medicine Department during their outpatient visits at a general hospital in Southern Taiwan. Data collection involved structured one-on-one interviews, and the analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics, along with a structural equation modeling. ResultsThe participants' bone function was strongly positively related to coping, physical and mental quality of life (QOL), and negatively related to sleep quality and depressive symptoms. The duration of osteoporosis was positively related to pain, sarcopenia risk, sleep quality, but negatively related to bone function, physical and mental QOL. This structural framework explains 36% of the variance in depressive symptoms, 25% in sleep disturbances, 54% in mental QOL, and 72% in physical QOL. The best-fit structural equation modeling showed that physical function, exercise, sarcopenia, pain, and coping were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, with coping acting as a mediator in these relationships. ConclusionIndividuals who employed more active coping strategies exhibited fewer depressive symptoms, better sleep quality, and superior physical and mental QOL. Further, individuals with osteoporosis had lower pain levels, less sarcopenia risk, and higher engaged in exercise presentation improved physical and mental QOL. Future longitudinal research holds the promise of providing deeper insights into these complex relationships.

Black Grief Matters: Undergraduate Students’ Experiences Grieving Police Murders of Black Americans

Black Americans’ witnessing of online anti-Black police brutality is related to negative psychological outcomes, including stress and depressive symptoms. This study examined the degree to which grief disenfranchisement, social support, and coping style predicted stress, depressive symptoms, and prolonged grief among 189 Black undergraduate students grieving police murders of Black Americans. The students experienced moderate stress, elevated depressive symptoms, and low levels of prolonged grief, and coping style emerged as the most robust predictor of mental health outcomes. Specifically, planning, behavioral disengagement, and ritual-centered coping predicted variance in perceived stress. Additionally, behavioral disengagement explained variance in depressive symptoms; and disenfranchised grief, changes in goals, and collective-centered coping accounted for variance in prolonged grief. These findings may contribute to the development of interventions to support Black undergraduate students as they grieve police murders of Black Americans.