Women's Mental Health Research Articles

For Whom and for How Long Does the “Be a Mom” Intervention Work? A Secondary Analysis of Data From a Randomized Controlled Trial Exploring the Mid-Term Efficacy and Moderators of Treatment Response

This study explored clinical and sociodemographic moderators of treatment response to “Be a Mom”, an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) intervention, from baseline to postintervention, in women at high risk for postpartum depression (PPD). The study also assessed the stability of women’s treatment gains from baseline to 4-months postintervention (follow-up). This open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) involved a sample of 1,053 postpartum Portuguese women identified as being at high risk for PPD (i.e., having a score of 5.5 or higher on the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised); participants were allocated to “Be a Mom” intervention group or a waiting-list control group, and completed self-report measures at baseline, postintervention, and a 4-month follow-up (554 women completed follow-up assessments). Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and flourishing/positive mental health was assessed with the Mental Health Continuum. Regression models and linear mixed models were used to examine moderators of treatment and the mid-term efficacy of the “Be a Mom” intervention, respectively. The results revealed that treatment completion, higher depression scores at baseline, and higher income levels were linked to greater symptom reduction and positive mental health enhancement. Moreover, the efficacy of the “Be a Mom” intervention was supported at the 4-month follow-up. The “Be a Mom” intervention appears to be an effective iCBT tool for reducing psychological distress and enhancing positive mental health in women at risk for PPD, with therapeutic improvements maintained over a 4-month period.

Prevalence of mental illness among women in an urban slum area of Jaipur: A cross- sectional study

Gender has been described as a critical determinant of mental health and mental illness. Depression is not only the most common women's mental health problem, but may be more persistent in women than men.To assess the burden of depression, anxiety and stress among women residing in urban slums of Jaipur and also to assess the factors affecting them. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban field practice area among women aged 18-59 years with calculated sample size of 503. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)-21 questionnaire was used to capture the primary outcomes—depression, anxiety, and stress. Data was analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel. The statistical significance was evaluated at 95% confidence level. The difference in proportions was compared using Chi-square test and p-value <0.05 was considered significant. In our study, the overall, the prevalence of anxiety, stress and depression was 38.22%, 9.11%, and 18.61%, respectively which ranged from mild to extremely severe. There were meaningful correlations between probable factors like physical inactivity, poor sleep and generalized pain and DASS scores obtained by the participants. The study showed that the prevalence of anxiety was higher compared to other DASS symptoms. The DASS symptoms were poorly associated to demographic characteristics of the study participants although amongst the separated and widowed females there was significant statistical association.

Emotional Distress Caused by the Measures Taken in Assisted Reproductive Treatments during the COVID-19 Confinement in Spain.

Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between April and May 2020. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was applied by telephone in a Spanish adapted version. The research also included social, personal, and work aspects which may be involved in the challenging situation. A total of 115 patients participated in the study (73.7%). Women showed a mean in trait anxiety of 17.79 (SD = 8.80) and a mean in state anxiety of 19.95 (SD = 9.08). Neither the type of treatment nor the time of infertility were predictors of trait anxiety or state anxiety. Greater age pressure and more worry were associated to greater trait and state anxiety (p < 0.001). The most common emotional reactions to discontinuation of fertility treatments were sadness and anxiety. Discontinuation of fertility treatments due to confinement restrictions had a negative impact on the mental health of women who were following a process of assisted reproduction treatment, increasing their levels of emotional distress and anxiety.

Impact of COVID-19 on the sexual function and self-esteem of young Brazilian undergraduate students

Introduction: Satisfactory sexual function contributes considerably to women's physical and mental health and is affected by several factors, including chronic stress. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these stressors have been intensified by fear of contamination and morbidity and mortality, deaths, and long-term social isolation. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual function and self-esteem of young women attending university in Brazil and also investigate the importance of social isolation in these conditions. Methods: This longitudinal study included 90 students with active sexual life who answered questionnaires before (in person) and during (virtually) the pandemic. The instruments used were the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Only 67 women answered all questionnaires sent during the pandemic and had a mean age of 22.9 (±2.99) years; most of them were eutrophic, healthy students and, had a fixed partner. The total FSFI score allowed us to classify women without sexual dysfunction and was not modified during the pandemic. On the other hand, the self-esteem found was slightly lower than that considered healthy and did not change during the pandemic. Women who maintained social distancing showed a statistically significant reduction in sexual function when compared to those who did not (p=0.003). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic did not influence young women’s sexual function or self-esteem attending university in Brazil. However, the behavior of social isolation during the pandemic impaired the sexual function of these women.

New Media Use and Mental Health of Married Women: Mediating Effects of Marital Quality.

While previous studies have investigated the influence of new media on mental health, little is known about its effects on the mental health of married women. This is a crucial research area, given that married women commonly encounter distinct mental health difficulties. Also, current research fails to provide comprehensive, population-based studies, with most relying on cross-sectional designs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between new media use and mental health among married women in China, utilizing a nationally representative longitudinal dataset. We utilized a balanced panel dataset from 2016 to 2020 to establish a causal connection between internet use and the mental health of these women. Our findings indicate that internet use has a positive impact on the mental health of married women in China. Additionally, a structural estimation model (SEM) with 2020 wave data was utilized to investigate various new media use effects and explore mediating pathways of marital satisfaction. Consistently, there were negative findings between new media use, marital satisfaction, and depression. Furthermore, it was determined that new media usage had a significant negative impact on married women's overall satisfaction with their spouses' housework contribution, which, in turn, negatively affected marital satisfaction as a whole. The pathways that mediate the effect of marital satisfaction on depression differ across general internet use, streaming media use, and WeChat use. Examining various theoretical perspectives, we interpreted the indirect impact of new media use on mental health through marital satisfaction as passive mediation.

The physiological functions and therapeutic potential of exosomes during the development and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a very common disease of gynecological endocrine, accompanied by irregular menstruation, hyperandrogenism, metabolic abnormalities, reproductive disorders and other clinical symptoms, which seriously endangers women's physical and mental health, but its etiology and pathogenesis are not completely clear. Recently, the contribution of exosomes to the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in the biomedical field has attracted much attention, including PCOS. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, containing various biologically active molecules such as cell-specific proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. They are important signaling regulators in vivo and widely participate in various physiopathological processes. They are new targets for disease diagnosis and treatment. Considering the important role of non-coding RNAs during the development and treatment of PCOS, this article takes exosomal miRNAs as the breakthrough point for elucidating the physiological functions and therapeutic potential of exosomes during the development and treatment of PCOS through analyzing the effects of exosomal miRNAs on ovarian follicle development, hormone secretion, oxidative stress, inflammatory response and insulin resistance, thus providing new research directions and theoretical basis for PCOS pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and prognosis improvement.

Evaluating a multi-behavioural home-based intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in postnatal women : The food, move, sleep (FOMOS) for postnatal mental health randomised controlled trial protocol

BackgroundPostnatal depression (PND) is a leading cause of illness and death among women following childbirth. Physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, poor sleep, and sub-optimal diet quality are behavioural risk factors for PND. A feasible, sustainable, and scalable intervention to improve healthy behaviours and reduce PND symptoms among women at postpartum is needed. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a multi-behavioural home-based program Food, Move, Sleep (FOMOS) for Postnatal Mental Health designed to improve PND symptoms in women at postpartum. MethodsThis randomised clinical trial will recruit 220 Australian women (2–12 months postpartum) experiencing heightened PND symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 10). Participants will be randomised to FOMOS or wait-list control receiving standard clinical care. FOMOS is a 6-month mobile health (mHealth) intervention targeting diet quality, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, and mental health. The intervention, informed by the Social Cognitive Theory and incorporating behaviour change techniques defined in the CALO-RE taxonomy and Cognitive Behavioural Treatment of Insomnia, provides exercise equipment, and educational/motivational material and social support via mHealth and social media. Data collection pre-intervention and at 3, 6 and 12 months will assess the primary outcome of PND symptoms and secondary outcomes (diet quality, physical activity, sitting time, sleep quality) using self-report and device measures. Process evaluation will explore acceptability, appropriateness, cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability via analytic tools, record keeping, interviews, and surveys. DiscussionIf effective, FOMOS could be a feasible and potentially scalable management strategy to support improvement of health behaviours and mental health for women with PND symptoms. Trial registrationhttps://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12622001079730p

How are adverse childhood experiences and women's mental health associated? A latent class analysis

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a cumulative effect on adult mental health; however, the effect of such combinations is less well known. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between specific combinations of early adversities and women's mental health. MethodsA total of 378 women (Myears = 41.4; SDyears = 13) receiving support from mental health and social services participated in this cross-sectional study. Latent class analysis was performed to classify participants based on the number of ACEs types. ResultsOur results provided support for four latent classes which differed in ACEs types reported: class 1 range of maltreatment but no family disruption (16.40 %; n = 62), class 2 range of maltreatment with family disruption (24.87 %; n = 94), class 3 few ACEs (44.71 %; n = 169), class 4 high maltreatment/high family disruption (14.02 %; n = 53). Differences in psychological functioning (presence of psychopathology, attachment, emotion dysregulation, and coping strategies) were found between the classes, especially between few ACEs and high maltreatment/high family disruption classes. In addition, women who lived in a low-adversity home and those who lived in a home with maltreatment, but no family disruption, differed in their desire for closeness, problem-solving and emotional expression strategies. ConclusionThis study highlights that the probability of exposure to different combinations of ACEs is associated with differences in adult psychological functioning. Deeper insight into this association may contribute to a better understanding of mental health problems and to improved prevention and intervention strategies in public support systems.

Improving the mental health of working women with work-life conflict: A protocol development for an explanatory mixed method study

BACKGROUND: Today, one problem facing working women is the conflict between work and life, and the resultant stress has a great impact on their mental health. A well-known model for stress management is Lazarus and Folkman's model. The primary goal of the present study is to improve working women's mental health through stress management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study employs a mixed approach and is conducted in 4 phases. The target population is women working in Birjand University (South Khorasan province/Eastern Iran). The first step is to describe the research population of a cross-sectional study. The measurement instrument used is Carlson's standard work-life conflict measurement questionnaire. The sample size in this step is 319. The second step is to conduct a qualitative study by interviewing working women with work and life conflict. The sampling will continue until data saturation and then the data will be analyzed through a content analysis. The third step will be the development of a questionnaire based on Lazarus and Folkman's model using the information obtained from the qualitative step. This questionnaire will be then validated in the target research population. Moreover, an exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis and a reliability test will be run. The last step is to carry out an educational intervention to measure the effect of the intervention on stress management and general health in working women with work and life conflict. The measurement instruments used in this step are Cohen's Perceived Stress Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, and a researcher-made stress management questionnaire. CONCLUSION: It seems that the educational intervention of stress management with educational content designed based on the needs of the audience, can be effective in controlling and managing the stress caused by women's work-life conflict. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT (IRCT20210918052508N1) from the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials in 2021-09-21.

The relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction: An equation model analysis

BACKGROUND: The relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction in middle-aged women has been reported previously. However, there is insufficient evidence that depression is related to sexual satisfaction or that sexual satisfaction is related to depression. This study evaluated the relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction in middle-aged women by evaluating the equation model analysis of the two models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 190 middle-aged women in Isfahan, Iran, in 2021. Sexual satisfaction dimensions were evaluated using self-report women's sexual satisfaction questionnaire. Also, the depression scale of the general health questionnaire was used to measure of the depression level. Research data were analyzed using a multivariate linear regression test. Also, the fit of the model was evaluated using Amos software. RESULTS: The results showed that depression score had an inverse relationship with sexual satisfaction in the relational concern dimension (Beta = −0.27, P = 0.006, CI: −0.11 to − 0.86). Model fit evaluation showed that the sexual satisfaction-depression model had a better fit than the depression-sexual satisfaction model (CMIN/DF = 1.123, P = 0.64). CONCLUSION: The results showed that depression in middle-aged women is related to the relational concern. It is necessary to consider counseling programs to solve sexual relationship concerns in middle-aged women's mental health promotion programs.

The Expansion of a Women's Mental Health Fellowship and its Effect in the Number of Consultations and Referrals

The Expansion of a Women's Mental Health Fellowship and its Effect in the Number of Consultations and Referrals

(206) Impacts on Women's Mental Health Following COVID-19 Infection During Delivery: A Qualitative Study

(206) Impacts on Women's Mental Health Following COVID-19 Infection During Delivery: A Qualitative Study

Strategy for supporting the mental health of refugee women from Ukraine

The article substantiates the ways of strategizing to support the mental health of refugee women from Ukraine, in particular, the basic terms are clarified, in particular, «strategizing», «refugee» and «mental health»; the results of an empirical study conducted according to the questionnaire «Emotional disturbances under conditions of stress in refugee women from Ukraine» are presented.&#x0D; Two strategic areas of support for refugee women from Ukraine have been identified: 1) Implementation of national (coordinated with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health) rehabilitation programs of personal psycho-emotional support for Ukrainian women who have the status of refugees and/or internally displaced persons. These programs should include approved psychosocial care protocols, because the experience of specialists involved in such work is mostly insufficient and does not meet international standards. 2) State policy on socio-economic support for women who have the status of refugees and/or internally displaced persons, because this is a link of hope for returning home. This connection is very important, it is not about finances, rather it is about morality, spiritual and national unity, about the place of strength that is the motherland.&#x0D; Strategizing to support the mental health of refugee women from Ukraine includes meaningful and organizational and methodological provisions and procedures that regulate and ensure the process of policy development and implementation (state-wide, regional, municipal and branch (medical, educational, etc.) (other) levels) regarding the support of women's mental health during periods of war and post-war recovery of the country.&#x0D;

Correlation between phenotype and cortisol with anxiety status related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/VpTspeX7fe0 Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism, obesity, acne vulgaris, and infertility. PCOS is a stigmatized condition that affects women's identity and mental health, especially anxiety. In addition, increased cortisol is associated with increased anxiety. This study aims to determine the effect of phenotype and cortisol on anxiety status in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Methods: 40 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aged 18-40 years in Makassar. The Indonesian version of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) assesses anxiety. A blood sample is taken to check for cortisol (drip blood test). Cortisol levels were measured using the CMIA (Chemiluminescent microparticle Immunoassay) method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. Results: The prevalence of phenotypes A, B, C, and D were 27.5%, 0%, 45%, and 45%, respectively. Phenotype C had a higher body mass index than the other phenotypes but was not significantly different. (p &gt; 0.05). About 26.1% of patients with phenotype A were found to suffer from mild anxiety and 29.5% experienced moderate anxiety. Compared to phenotype C, 52.2% experienced mild anxiety and 35.5% experienced moderate anxiety; however, these results were not statistically significant. Higher cortisol levels were found in phenotype A compared to other phenotypes (phenotype C; 7.01±3.12 and phenotype D; 6.37±3.02) but not significantly different (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The PCOS phenotype has no relationship with the anxiety status of PCOS patients and there is no relationship between the phenotype and serum cortisol levels in PCOS patients.

Gender Microaggressions That Target Women in the U.S. Military: Examining Links with Depression and the Moderating Role of Rank and Coping

In this study, we examined active-duty women's experiences with gender microaggressions in the U.S. military and their associations with depressive symptoms. We also tested if rank and coping strategies would moderate the link between gender microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Participants comprised 682 self-identified women from the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy. Results from an online survey indicated that active-duty women's experiences with gender microaggressions were positively and significantly associated with their scores on a measure of depressive symptoms. Military rank moderated this association but coping strategies did not. Specifically, among those in lower military ranks (i.e., enlisted service members) we found a stronger association between gender microaggressions and depressive symptoms, whereas higher rank (i.e., officers) served as a buffer. Our results suggest that clinicians should be aware of the potential effects of gender microaggressions on active-duty women's mental health, especially among enlisted women. Commanding officers and military policymakers should consider potential implications of gender microaggressions on unit cohesion, unit performance, and mission effectiveness.

Measuring skin color inequality in women's health in Northeast Brazil: Evidence from the PCSVDFMulher survey.

In this paper, we investigate whether skin color is a source of inequality in women's health by exploring the longitudinal framework of the PCSVDFMulher survey in Northeast Brazil. Specifically, we measure the skin color gradient in women's general and mental health, as well as in showing health risk behavior. We find that darker-skinned women show poorer mental health outcomes and a higher likelihood of drinking and smoking more frequently than their lighter-skinned counterparts. The skin color gradient is persistent and systematic, even when modeling different sources of unobserved heterogeneity and accounting for the existing socioeconomic inequalities and racial identity. We also find that racial identity is an important source of heterogeneous responses of women's health to skin tone.

Tracking pregnant women's mental health through social media: an analysis of reddit posts.

Present an artificial intelligence-enabled pipeline for estimating the prevalence of depression and general anxiety among pregnant women using texts from their social media posts. Use said pipeline to analyze mental health trends on subreddits frequented by pregnant women and report on interesting insights that could be helpful for policy-makers, clinicians, etc. We used pretrained transformer-based models to build a natural language processing pipeline that can automatically detect depressed pregnant women on social media and carry out topic modeling to detect their concerns. We detected depressed posts by pregnant women on Reddit and validated the performance of the depression classification model by carrying out topic modeling to reveal that depressive topics were detected. The proportion of potentially depressed surprisingly reduced during the pandemic (2020 and 2021). Queries related to antidepressants, such as Zoloft, and potential ways of managing mental health dominated discourse before the pandemic (2018 and 2019), whereas queries about pelvic pain and associated stress dominated the discourse during the pandemic. Supportive online communities could be a factor in alleviating stress related to the pandemic, hence the reduction in the proportion of depressed users during the pandemic. Stress during the pandemic has been associated with pelvic pain among pregnant women, and this trend is confirmed through topic modeling of depressive posts during the pandemic.

Feminist Approaches in Counselling Psychology: Empowering Women's Mental Health

This paper explores the application of feminist approaches in counselling psychology to empower women's mental health. It highlights the importance of considering gendered experiences, power dynamics, and societal influences on women's well-being. By examining the existing literature, this article identifies the key principles and interventions of feminist counselling psychology and their impact on women's empowerment. The paper concludes with recommendations for integrating feminist perspectives into counselling practices to promote positive mental health outcomes for women.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Women's Mental Health.

Background: Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety with rates increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to understand how women's intersecting identities, personal strengths, and COVID-19-related stressors were associated with their anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms early in the pandemic. Methods: During May-June 2020, American women (N = 398) recruited via MTurk completed an online questionnaire assessing mental health (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), demographic characteristics, personal strengths (coping, hope, social support), and experiences with COVID-19-specific stressors. Results: Women who had a child younger than 18 years of age, lived in rural or urban areas (compared with suburban), and identified as sexual minority reported increased levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Social support and hope (Agency) were associated with fewer mental health symptoms. Engagement in maladaptive coping and greater perception of COVID-19 threat and perceived stress was associated with more PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. COVID-19-related illness events and difficulty accessing living essentials were associated with increased anxiety symptoms. COVID-19-related disruption to living and income were associated with increased PTSD symptoms. Loneliness was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms. Conclusions: Results of this study can inform prevention and intervention efforts to address depression and anxiety among women with intersecting identities during times of stress. Specifically, supporting the development of women's resilience and adaptive coping and intervening to address maladaptive coping strategies, such as drinking, provide paths to supporting women's mental health.

Digital Tools in the Service of Peer and Social Support for Perinatal Mental Health.

This study is critically evaluating the current status of digital tools for perinatal mental health, specifically focusing on how these tools can enhance peer and social support. Digital tools could be used to: (1) identify individuals in need and guide them towards appropriate human-supportive care; (2) autonomously train and allocate peers to aid women experiencing perinatal mental health challenges; and (3) amplify support from their natural social network. Despite clear evidence supporting the significance of social support for perinatal mental health, there is a dearth of studies on digital tools aimed at boosting such support, leaving a gap in the evidence. Findings underscore the necessity of developing digital initiatives that explicitly aim to augment social support as an active ingredient of therapeutic change for women's perinatal mental health. To establish clear evidence of digital tools' value in providing digital peer-support, further development and research are indispensable.