Variance In Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

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.

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.

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.

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.

Associations Between Negative Context of Reception and Depressive Symptoms Among Immigrant Latino Men: The Moderating Effect of Machismo and Hispanicism

This study examines the cumulative effects of negative context of reception (NCR), traditional Latino gender norms, and acculturation on depressive symptoms among adult Latino immigrant men, and if levels of acculturation and traditional Latino gender norms moderated associations between NCR and depressive symptoms in the study sample. Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) and moderation analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 280 Latino men. Predictor variables were entered into the HMR model: (1) demographic variables, (2) perceived stress, (3) acculturation and gender norms, and (4) NCR. Subsequently, moderation analysis was conducted using PROCESS v3.2 model 1. 19% of the variance of depressive symptoms was explained by all predictor variables entered in the HMR model. Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects with machismo (exacerbating) and Hispanicism (attenuating) the association between NCR and depressive symptoms. Study findings have implications for culturally appropriate interventions that target gender norms among Latino immigrant men.

Trajectories in Depressive Symptoms and Midlife Brain Health

AbstractBackgroundEvidence in older adults suggests that depressive symptoms may be part of prodromal mood changes in dementia, rather than a risk factor. However, it is unclear whether variations in depressive symptoms in adulthood exhibit distinct characteristics in brain structure and cognitive function in midlife.MethodsFrom the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, we identified 662 Black and White participants (age 23‐36 at baseline) who completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES‐D) at six time points over 20 years. 20 years after baseline, the participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to characterize gray matter (GM) structures (total GM, temporal cortex, hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Participants also completed neuropsychological tests including the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Rey‐Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Stroop Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and category and letter fluency tests, analyzed as z‐scores.ResultsUsing growth mixture modeling, we identified four trajectories of depressive symptoms (Figure 1): consistently low scorers (“steady low”; n = 509, 76.9%), a class with an early peak and decline in symptoms (“declining”; n = 63, 9.5%), a class with late increases in symptoms (“increasing”; n = 49, 7.4%), and consistently high scorers (“steady high”; n = 41, 6.2%). Compared to the steady low class, the steady high class had lower entorhinal cortex volume (β: ‐180.80, 95% CI: ‐336.69 to ‐24.91). The increasing class, had more WMHs (β: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.89) and less total brain volume (β: ‐9269.25, 95% CI: ‐17104.67 to ‐1444.82). Both the steady high and the increasing classes had poorer performance on the Stroop task (β: ‐0.40, 95% CI: ‐0.70 to ‐0.10; β: ‐0.39, 95% CI: ‐0.64 to ‐0.14, respectively), however the steady high also had poorer DSST performance (β: ‐0.40, 95% CI: ‐0.67 to ‐0.13), while the increasing class had poorer performance on the MoCA (β: ‐1.20, 95% CI: ‐2.04 to ‐0.37). The declining group was not significantly different from the steady low group on any brain or cognitive measures.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that trajectories in depressive symptoms in young to mid‐adulthood show different cognitive and brain phenotypes in midlife.

Social Vulnerability, COVID-19, Racial Violence, and Depressive Symptoms: a Cross-sectional Study in the Southern United States.

In March 2020, the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic. In May 2020, George Floyd was murdered, catalyzing a national racial reckoning. In the Southern United States, these events occurred in the context of a history of racism and high rates of poverty and discrimination, especially among racially and ethnically minoritized populations. In this study, we examine social vulnerabilities, the perceived impacts of COVID-19 and the national racial reckoning, and how these are associated with depression symptoms in the South. Data were collected from 961 adults between June and November 2020 as part of an online survey study on family well-being during COVID-19. The sample was majority female (87.2%) and consisted of 661 White participants, 143 Black participants, and 157 other racial and ethnic minoritized participants. Existing social vulnerability, perceived impact of COVID-19 and racial violence and protests on families, and depressive symptoms were assessed. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to predict variance in depressive symptoms. Half of the sample (52%) reported a negative impact of COVID-19, and 66% reported a negative impact of national racial violence/protests. Depressive symptoms were common with 49.8% meeting the cutoff for significant depressive symptoms; Black participants had lower levels of depressive symptoms. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis indicate social vulnerabilities and the perceived negative impact of COVID-19 and racial violence/protests each contribute to variance in depressive symptoms. Race-specific sensitivity analysis clarified distinct patterns in predictors of depressive symptoms. People in the South report being negatively impacted by the confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of racial violence/protests in 2020, though patterns differ by racial group. These events, on top of pre-existing social vulnerabilities, help explain depressive symptoms in the South during 2020.

Prevalence and variability of depressive symptoms in Europe: update using representative data from the second and third waves of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS-2 and EHIS-3)

Assessing the prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms and their possible variation by country and over time could be a valuable resource to inform the development of public health policies and preventive resources to reduce mental health burden. We aimed to assess cross-national differences in the point prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in Europe in 2018-20, and to evaluate point prevalence differences between countries and over time between 2013-15 and 2018-20. In this population-based study, data from participants in the second and third waves of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS-2 from 2013 to 2015 and EHIS-3 from 2018 to 2020) from 30 European countries were used (n=542 580). From the total sample, 283 692 participants belonging to EHIS-3 were included in the study (52·4% women and 47·5% men). The non-response in EHIS-3 ranged by country, from 12% to 78%. Point prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms was evaluated using a cutoff score of 10 or more for the 8-item version of the Patient Health Questionnaire. Crude prevalence ratios and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were obtained to assess differences in the prevalence between countries and over time within countries. The point prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in Europe in 2018-20 was 6·54% (95% CI 6·34-6·73), ranging across countries from 1·85% (1·53-2·17) in Greece to 10·72% (10·04-11·40) in Sweden. Compared with the other European countries, those with the lowest aPRs were Greece, Serbia, and Cyprus and those with the highest aPRs were Belgium, Slovenia, and Croatia. A small but significant increase in the prevalence between EHIS-2 and EHIS-3 was observed (aPR 1·11 [1·07-1·14]). A wide variability over time in the point prevalence within countries was observed, ranging from an aPR of 0·63 (0·54-0·74) in Hungary to 1·88 (1·53-2·31) in Slovenia. This study, based on large and representative datasets and a valid and reliable screening tool for the assessment of depression, indicates that the point prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in Europe from 2013 to 2020 remains relatively stable, with wide variability between countries. These findings could be considered a baseline for monitoring the prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in Europe, and could inform policy for the development of preventive strategies for depression both at a country and European level. Center for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health Network and AGAUR.

Using a Trans-theoretical Approach to Identify Differences in Determinants of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Mental Wellbeing Between Two Age Groups

AbstractThe objective of this research was to compare social, emotional, and cognitive determinants of depression and anxiety symptoms and mental wellbeing using the two-continua model of mental health and illness in two age groups. The two-continua model proposes that mental health and mental illness are not two ends of the same spectrum but are, in fact, two separate but related spectrums. This cross-sectional study used a multi-age group comparison approach to identify the relative predictive strengths of risk and protective factors for the two-continua model of mental health and mental illness. Participants (n = 458: 251 16–25 year olds, and 207 35–64 year olds) completed an online survey that measured the outcome variables of depression and anxiety symptoms and mental wellbeing. Independent variables from three conceptual areas in psychology—(1) positive psychology: optimism, pessimism, and accomplishment; (2) emotion regulation: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression; and (3) interpersonal theories: belonging and relationship with parent/child—were measured to ascertain the determinants of these outcome variables. The all-variables models explained 58–68% of the variance in depression symptoms, 77–80% in mental wellbeing, and 26–43% in anxiety symptoms. For both groups, the strongest predictor of mental wellbeing in these models was accomplishment. The strongest predictors in these models of mental illness symptoms differed between groups: belonging in the younger group and accomplishment in the older group. Programs targeting belonging and accomplishment could be highly effective in promoting mental wellbeing and reducing mental ill-health for these groups. Interventions require contextual investigation to locate drivers of mental wellbeing and illness for different age groups prior to implementation.

Longitudinal relationships between self-compassion and depressive symptoms in midlife women

Objective Women in midlife face a range of biopsychosocial stressors that increase the risk of depression, with potential negative consequences in older adulthood. Lower self-compassion is known to predict subsequent depressive symptoms, but little is known about whether depressive symptoms predict subsequent levels of self-compassion. This study examined the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between self-compassion and depressive symptoms over a 5-year period in midlife. Method This longitudinal study used data from 272 women aged 40–60 years at baseline. Cross-lagged panel analysis was used to investigate reciprocal relationships between depressive symptoms and self-compassion at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Results After controlling for autoregressive effects, self-compassion at baseline explained 4% of unique variance in depressive symptoms 5 years later. Baseline depressive symptoms also predicted subsequent levels of self-compassion, with 2% of unique variance explained. Conclusion This is the first study to report a bidirectional longitudinal relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms. Midlife women may experience a negative cycle whereby low self-compassion and depressive symptoms reinforce each other through midlife and into older adulthood. Clinical trials examining self-compassion interventions in midlife are indicated.