Variations In Psychological Distress Research Articles

Body image perception and social support as predictors of psychological distress among third trimester pregnant women in Nigeria

BackgroundBody image perception and social support during pregnancy can impact the psychological distress levels experienced by pregnant women. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various components of social support and body image perception on psychological distress levels among pregnant women in their third trimester in Nigeria.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and attending selected health care facilities in Ogbomoso, a semiurban city in Oyo State, Nigeria. Body image perception, social support, and psychological distress scales were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA and multiple regression), with significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsRegression analysis showed that 44% of the variation in psychological distress among pregnant women was explained by the background variables, marital status, body image perception, appraisal support, tangible support, belonging support, interaction between body image perception and appraisal support, belong support and tangible support.ConclusionIntervention programs focusing on bolstering tangible support, belonging support and appraisal support are recommended at reducing the psychological distress due to body image perception among pregnant women at third trimester.

Coloniality and Ethnic Variation in Psychological Distress Among US Latinx Immigrants.

To address ethnic variation and potential cross-cultural measurement error in diagnostic criteria, this study extends on the racialized ethnicities framework to examine how Latinxs' self-reported psychological distress differ among ethnic groups. Utilizing data from the National Health Interview Survey, logistic regression models and partial proportional odds models assessed differences in likelihood of self-reporting frequent anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, and Central and South American immigrants. Membership in Caribbean Latinx ethnic groups, and the Puerto Rican ethnic group in particular, was significantly associated with higher predicted probabilities of frequent anxious and depressive feelings, and severe psychological distress, relative to membership in non-Caribbean Latinx ethnic groups. This work highlights the need for research on Latinxs to disaggregate among ethnic groups, and proposes the existence of a gradient of exposure to the psychosocial consequences of US coloniality that might explain some of these variations.

Associations between Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Distress: An Analysis of Disaggregated Latinx Subgroups Using Data from the National Health Interview Survey

Differences in socioeconomic status (SES), including income, education, and employment, continue to be significant contributors to health disparities in the United States (US), including disparities in mental health outcomes. Despite the size and diversity of the Latinx population, there is a lack of literature describing differences in mental health outcomes, including psychological distress, for Latinx subgroups (e.g., Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cuban). Therefore, we used pooled data from the 2014-2018 National Health Interview Survey to examine variations in psychological distress among Latinx subgroups as compared to other Latinx subgroups and non-Latinx whites. Additionally, we conducted regression analyses and tested whether race/ethnicity modified the relationship between SES indicators and psychological distress. Findings indicate that individuals categorized as Dominican and Puerto Rican were among the Latinx subgroups with the highest levels of psychological distress when compared to other Latinx subgroups and non-Latinx whites. Additionally, results demonstrate that SES indicators, such as higher levels of income and education, were not necessarily significantly associated with lower levels of psychological distress for all Latinx subgroups when compared to non-Latinx whites. Our findings discourage the practice of making broad generalizations about psychological distress or its associations with SES indicators to all Latinx subgroups using results garnered from the aggregate Latinx category.

Sexual Minority Disparities in Subjective Cognitive Impairment: Do They Persist After Accounting for Psychological Distress?

Objectives: Sexual minority older adults are a health disparate group with disproportionate rates of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and psychological distress. This study estimated risks of SCI by sexual orientation and gender, accounting for variations in psychological distress. Methods: We aggregated National Health Interview Survey data (2013-2018) of adults aged 45 and older and implemented logistic regressions of SCI indicators on sexual orientation and psychological distress, adjusting for covariates. Results: Sexual minority adults showed higher likelihoods of SCI in terms of status, severity, frequency, extent, and activity limitations than heterosexuals, even after controlling for psychological distress. SCI risk was significantly higher among sexual minority vs. heterosexual women, with no significant difference among men. Conclusions: Public health initiatives should address this health disparity in SCI and support informal care networks for sexual minorities. Future research is needed that further investigates SCI at-risk groups, with attention to sexual minority women.

When Perceptions of Public Service Harms the Public Servant: Predictors of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Government

Public servants’ mental health can impact how, how well, and to whom services are delivered. In this article, we extend the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework to consider whether employees’ perceptions of themselves, their co-workers, and beneficiaries predict higher psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a survey of state and local public servants ( n = 3,341), we report alarming rates of psychological distress: one in three employees are burnt out and one in five are experiencing compassion fatigue. Those who view government as the place to make a difference, and those who perceive co-workers as competent, are less likely to report distress. Those who attribute poverty to systemic factors, and not to individual flaws of beneficiaries, experience higher distress. These findings suggest an urgent need to prioritize public servant mental health, and show that individual perceptions of self and others can predict variation in psychological distress, even in periods of widespread crisis.

Mass Trauma and Long-Term Psychological Distress

Abstract. Older widowed women in postconflict and postdisaster settings are a potentially vulnerable group due to both exposure to multiple potentially trauma events and ongoing stressors. Drawing from conservation of resources theory, in this study, we tested a model predicting variation in psychological distress among a sample of widows over 50 years of age ( N = 256) in Eastern Sri Lanka. Exposure to traumatic events and degree of damage from the 2004 tsunami were hypothesized to be associated with psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress) indirectly through two contextual stressors (unmet physical needs and economic strain). We fit an unconstrained path model including direct effects from trauma exposure and tsunami damages to mental health distress, followed by a constrained model removing direct effects. We retained the constrained model as the most parsimonious based on a nonsignificant χ2 difference test. In that model, higher exposure to trauma was significantly associated with more problems with unmet physical needs (β = .11, p = .054) and greater economic strain (β = .28, p &lt; .001). Higher levels of tsunami damages are significantly associated with greater economic strain (β = .04, p &lt; .05). These two intermediary variables were, in turn, associated with more severe symptoms of distress. Health problems were controlled in both the intermediary and outcome variables revealing significantly higher distress in association with more health problems. The results highlight the importance of assessing both the impacts of trauma and loss and the ongoing economic deprivation among this population.

Explaining the gaps in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours between non-Indigenous and Indigenous adults living off-reserve in Canada: a cross-sectional study.

Background:Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by mental health issues in Canada. We investigated factors underlying the difference in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours between non-Indigenous and Indigenous populations living off-reserve in Canada.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey — Mental Health. Respondents were aged 18 years and older. We measured the variation in psychological distress (10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale scores, ranging from 10 [no distress] to 50 [severe distress]) and the prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide plan between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations and explained these differences using the Blinder–Oaxaca approach.Results:The overall response rate for the survey was 68.9%, comprising 18 300 respondents (933 Indigenous and 17 367 non-Indigenous adults). We found lower mean psychological distress scores among non-Indigenous people than among Indigenous people (15.1 v. 16.1, p < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation (9.2% v. 16.8%, p < 0.001) and plan (2.3% v. 6.8%, p < 0.001). We found that if socioeconomic status among Indigenous people were made to be similar to that of the non-Indigenous population, the differences in mean psychological distress scores and prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide plan would have been reduced by 25.7% (women 20.8%, men 36.9%), 10.2% (women 11.2%, men 11.9%) and 5.8% (women 7.8%, men 8.1%), respectively.Interpretation:Socioeconomic factors account for a considerable proportion of the variation in mental health outcomes between non-Indigenous and Indigenous populations in Canada. Improving socioeconomic status among Indigenous people through plans like income equalization may reduce the gap in mental health outcomes between the 2 populations in Canada.

Mechanisms of Racial Health Disparities: Relationships between Coping and Psychological and Physiological Stress Responses.

Psychological distress and physiological dysregulation represent two stress response pathways linked to poor health and are implicated in racial disparities in aging-related health outcomes among US men. Less is known about how coping relates to these stress responses. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine whether midlife and older men's coping strategies and behaviors accounted, in part, for Black-White disparities in men's psychological and physiological stress responses. We examined racial differences in 12 coping strategies (COPE Inventory subscales, religious/spiritual coping, and behaviors such as stress eating and substance use) and their relationships with psychological distress (Negative Affect scale) and physiological dysregulation (blunted diurnal cortisol slopes) using regression models and cross-sectional data from 696 Black and White male participants aged 35-85 years in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) II, 2004-2006. Black men exhibited more psychological distress and physiological dysregulation than White men. Black and White men reported comparable use of most coping strategies, none of which demonstrated similar relationships with both stress responses. Coping strategies explained variations in psychological distress consistent with conventional protective-harmful categorizations. Coping accounted for racial disparities in men's psychological distress, as Black men reported using harmful strategies more often and were more susceptible to their negative effects. Neither differential use of coping strategies nor differing relationships accounted for racial disparities in physiological dysregulation. Findings revealed complex relationships between coping and psychological and physiological stress responses and suggest the importance of differing approaches to reducing associated racial health disparities among men.

Rural and urban variation in psychological distress among adults: results of the 2014-2015 Eastern Townships Population Health Survey (ETPHS).

A growing number of people live in urban areas. Urbanization has been associated with an increased prevalence of mental disorders, but which mechanisms cause this increase is unknown. Psychological distress is a good indicator of mental health. This study sought to examine the relationship between urbanization and distress among adults in the Eastern Townships (southern region of Quebec, Canada). In the 2014-2015 Eastern Townships Population Health Survey (N = 10,687 adults living in one of the 96 Eastern Townships communities), distress was measured with the K6 distress scale (≥ 7). Urbanization was estimated by the residential density of the community treated in quintiles. Logistic regression analyses were carried out with adjustments for individual and environmental characteristics. Women, young people aged18-24, single parents, those without diplomas, those without a job, those with < $20,000 in income, adults with two or more chronic physical illnesses, adults with bad perceived health, or those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods exhibited more distress. The unadjusted estimate between density and distress is only significant for the fifth quintile when compared with the first quintile (OR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06-1.42). The relationship is practically the same after controlling for individual characteristics but decreases considerably after controlling for environmental characteristics (lack of trees, social deprivation, intersection density, vegetation index, and land use mix). This study was the first to examine an association between urbanization and distress by considering individual and environmental characteristics. The latter seem to explain the relationship between these concepts.

Association of workplace social capital with psychological distress: results from a longitudinal multilevel analysis of the J-HOPE Study

ObjectivesWorkplace social capital (WSC) is increasingly recognised as a social contextual determinant of workers’ mental health, but longitudinal data are sparse. We aimed to evaluate the impact of changes in...

A role for genes in the \u2018caregiver stress process\u2019?

The stress that accompanies caring for one’s parent, and the contribution of that stress to adverse physical and mental-health outcomes, is extensively studied and widely acknowledged. Yet there has been almost no attempt to incorporate the well-documented role of genetic variation in psychological distress into research on caregiving. We use phenotypic data from a large, population-based sample linked to extensive genotype data to develop a polygenic risk score (PRS) for depression, and test for both direct and interactive effects of the PRS in a multilevel repeat-measures model of caregiver-related stress. We distinguish three groups: potential caregivers (those with a living parent who does not need care), noncaregivers (those who do not provide care to their parent that needs care), and caregivers. We also obtain separate estimates according to the gender of both the parent and child. We found that a parent’s need for care, and the child’s provision of care, are associated with depression in some but not all cases; in contrast the PRS was significantly associated with the risk for increased depressive symptoms (with P ≤ 0.01) in all cases. These findings support an additive genetic contribution to the diathesis-stress model of depression in the context of caregiving.

Secure Attachment to God Uniquely Linked to Psychological Health in a National, Random Sample of American Adults

ABSTRACTRelationships between religiousness and psychological health are well established. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether perceived relationship with God (i.e., attachment to God) or how people view God (i.e., image of God) account for variation in psychological distress and well-being. Statistical relationships between two attachment to God dimensions (avoidance, anxiety), two dimensions of God image (forgiving, wrathful), and general psychological well-being were investigated in a convenience sample (Study 1) and nationally representative sample (Study 2) of American adults who expressed belief in God or a higher power. In both studies, secure attachment to God (i.e., lower avoidance, lower anxiety) and religious service attendance were positively correlated with self-reported psychological well-being. Hierarchical regressions indicated that attachment to God dimensions account for unique variability in reported mental health even after religious service attendance, prayer frequency, God image and demographic variables were statistically controlled. Negligible associations were found between images of God as forgiving or wrathful and psychological well-being. Perceived relationship with God appears to be an important factor in the connection between religiousness and psychological health.

An integrated exploration of factors associated with psychological distress among older prisoners

This paper compares the contributions of socio-demographic, health, mental health, social and environmental factors in explaining variations in psychological distress among older prisoners in two Australian states. One hundred and seventy-three prisoners (aged 50+ ) from 8 Australian prisons were interviewed using the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale. Three regression analyses were conducted to compare different models of 14 variables significantly associated with psychological distress. Independent variables most prominently associated with variations in psychological distress among older inmates were self-reported levels of social support, self-reported safety and ease of health care access. Difficulties in the built environment and mental health history were significantly explanatory of variations in older prisoner distress in two of the three models. The findings suggest that modifiable situational factors evident in current prison contexts are reasonably explanatory of variations in prisoner distress among older inmates.

The Relationship between Dimensions of Forgiveness with Mental Health in Mothers of Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

&lt;p&gt;The aim of the current study was to predict mental health of the mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the magnitude of their forgiveness. To fulfill the stated goal 88 mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities by means of accessible sampling procedure, and Besharat mental health (2009) as well as Enright forgiveness inventories standardized by Ghobari Bonab et al. (2003) was given to them. Analysis of data using Pearson’s correlation revealed that among mental health (psychological well-being and psychological distress) and all three dimensions of forgiveness a positive relation was found. In other words, individuals who were higher in forgiveness were more satisfied in their mental health. Multivariate regression also revealed that 23% of variations in psychological well-being by affective and cognation, and 20% of variations in psychological distress by cognation and behavioral component can be accounted by dimensions of their forgiveness. Theoretical implication and practical application of the findings have been delineated in the original paper.&lt;/p&gt;

Abstract C17: Racial/ethnic variation in psychological distress following an abnormal Pap test

Abstract Introduction: While racial/ethnic disparities in cervical cancer incidence are mostly attributed to screening test utilization, lower rates of adherence to diagnostic and clinical follow-up after an abnormal Pap test may contribute to the higher cervical cancer mortality among racial/ethnic minorities. Psychological distress is a known contributor to non-adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic follow-up. The objective of this analysis is to explore racial/ethnic differences in distress following an abnormal Pap. Methods: Data were collected as part of a clinical trial to evaluate emerging optical technologies for the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia. Participants were non-pregnant women, age ≥18 years, with a recent abnormal Pap test and were recruited at one of the participating colposcopy clinics. Participants answered questionnaires before and after their colposcopy procedure. Distress regarding the abnormal Pap was assessed using the Cervical Dysplasia Distress Questionnaire (CDDQ). The CDDQ measures multiple domains of distress, including those related to the colposcopy procedure (i.e., Tension and Discomfort, Embarrassment), as well as those related to having a positive screening test for cervical cancer (i.e., Health Consequences, Sexual/Reproductive Consequences). Additional items assessed participants' fear of cancer. Subscale scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating higher levels of distress. Linear regression models were built to assess the differences in distress scores among Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white women after controlling for age and education (Model 1) and age, education, trait anxiety and depression (Model 2). Trait anxiety and depression were respectively measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Results: Eighty-five Hispanic, 55 non-Hispanic black, and 86 non-Hispanic white women were included in these analyses. After controlling for age and education, there were statistically significant differences by race/ethnicity in distress scores, particularly for the domains of health consequences (p=0.02) and cancer worry (p = 0.014). In both domains, scores were highest among Hispanic women, compared to non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white women (mean health consequences scores = 2.45, 2.02, and 2.16, respectively; mean cancer worry scores = 2.02, 1.62, and 1.75, respectively). Furthermore, these racial/ethnic differences in domain-specific distress remained statistically significant after controlling for differences in underlying depression and trait anxiety. Discussion: Our results suggest that there are racial/ethnic differences in levels of distress following an abnormal Pap test, particularly related to concerns over health consequences and fear of cancer. Distress scores in these domains were significantly greater among Hispanic women compared to non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites. Hispanic women may be more likely to perceive that their abnormal Pap test will have long-term health consequences and develop into cancer. Clinical and ancillary health professionals who communicate Pap test results to Hispanic patients should reinforce messages to address unrealistic fears about disease and alleviate distress. Citation Format: Jane R. Montealegre, Michael E. Scheurer, Eileen H. Shinn, Thelma Carrillo, Zuber Mulla, Michele Follen, Karen Basen-Engquist. Racial/ethnic variation in psychological distress following an abnormal Pap test. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C17.

Variations in psychological distress between gender and sexual minority groups

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to compare rates of elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among six different lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) subgroups (cisgender lesbians, cisgender gay males, cisgender bisexual females, cisgender bisexual males, transgender females, and transgender males). A total of 2,702 LGBT-identified individuals participated in the online study. While controlling for other demographic factors, rates of elevated levels of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.015), and stress (p < 0.001) all varied significantly between LGBT subgroups. Post-hoc examinations of pairwise differences revealed substantial and unexpected variations, highlighting the importance of separately examining LGBT subgroups when considering mental health outcomes.

Diurnal Variations in Psychological Distress in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms severity and amplitude of diurnal variations in depression symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Prospective, observational proof-of-concept study. Fourteen participants with moderate/severe COPD completed a 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) estimating depressive symptoms severity. Throughout one week, the four-item very short version of the CES-D was completed every day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Strong positive correlations were observed between depressive severity and the mean range of diurnal variations in positive (r = .61) and depressed affects (r = .67), somatic complaints (r = .82), and disturbed interpersonal relationships (r = .71). In COPD patients, a greater diurnal variation in depression symptoms was associated with greater depression severity. This relationship seems independent of COPD severity. Diurnal variation in the symptoms of depression is a new method of identifying depression severity in COPD.

Teasing Experiences, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Self-Schema and Psychological Distress in Youth: an Exploratory Study

The present study as aimed at exploring peer victimization (teasing) experiences, interpersonal sensitivity, self-schemas and psychological distress in youth. The sample consisted of 231 male and female participants who met specified criteria. Participants completed The Teasing Questionnaire-Revised, Teasing Checklist, Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, General Health Questionnaire- 28 and Self- Schema Questionnaire. In addition, an open ended question was included to obtain data on teasing experiences. The results showed that the appearance related teasing was reported to be the highest, with more females than males reporting teasing experiences on this domain. Teasing experiences in the domains of performance, social behavior, family and appearance were positively related to psychological distress. Interpersonal sensitivity and self-schema were positively correlated with distress and there was a significant difference between distressed and non-distressed participants on these measures. On IPSM, the need for approval was higher in females whereas fragile inner self was higher in males. Self-efficacy on Self Schema Questionnaire (SSQ), Separation Anxiety (IPSM), Social behavior (TQ) and Teasing Checklist were found to be significant predictors of psychological distress, accounting for 29 % of the variation in psychological distress. Teasing experiences is a significant predisposing factor for psychological distress. Our findings have important clinical implications in understanding early teasing experiences in the development of psychological and emotional disorders.

Psychological Distress of Older Chinese: Exploring the Roles of Activities, Social Support, and Subjective Social Status

The goal of this research is to examine if the long neglected correlates such as social and leisure activities, social support, and subjective social status contribute to variations in psychological distress among older Chinese. Using data collected in one of the most developed areas in China-Suzhou city, Jiangsu province, the authors find that engaging in various exercises, living with both spouse and adult children, perceived availability of social support from others as well as believing in the importance of caring for other family members are particularly beneficial for mental health whereas the perception of relative deprivation and low life quality is detrimental to mental health for older Chinese. This work is among the first studies that comprehensively examined various important correlates of psychological distress and indicate the unique patterns of distress among the elderly in the most developed area in the contemporary China.

Affective team climate

In occupational health research, the demand–control–support (DCS) model has attracted a great deal of attention. Although this model emphasizes the interaction between workers and their work environment, the DCS framework has mainly been tested at the micro-level. The present study shows that combining the DCS model with insights from organizational climate studies offers a fruitful theoretical framework by which to address variation in psychological distress in team workers. Hierarchical logistic regression using data on 1,098 workers from 97 teams in a car factory in Belgium reveals that a positive perception of the affective climate in one’s team lowers levels of psychological distress. In addition, the team’s affective climate, emerging from and reproduced within everyday social interaction between team members, plays a significant role of its own in the well-being of team members. When the affective team climate is positive, all team members benefit in terms of distress levels, even those workers who hold a negative perception of their emotional work environment. Part of the health effects of a positive climate runs through moderating the health-damaging effects of high job demands.