scholarly journals Dimensions of neighborhood tracts and their associations with mental health problems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Forthman ◽  
Hung-wen Yeh ◽  
Rayus Kuplicki ◽  
Martin P. Paulus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neighborhood Characteristics ◽  
Dimensional Assessment

AbstractObjectiveNeighborhood characteristics can have profound effects on resident health. The aim of this study was to use an unsupervised learning approach to reduce the multi-dimensional assessment of a neighborhood using American Community Survey (ACS) data to simplify the assessment of neighborhood influence on health.MethodMultivariate quantitative characterization of the neighborhood was derived by performing a factor analysis on the 2011-2015 ACS data. The utility of the latent variables was examined by determining the association of these factors with poor mental health measures from the 500 Cities Project 2017 release.ResultsA five-factor model provided the best fit for the data and the latent factors quantified the following characteristics of the census tract: (1) affluence, (2) proportion of singletons in neighborhood, (3) proportion of African-Americans in neighborhood, (4) proportion of seniors in neighborhood, and (5) proportion of noncitizens in neighborhood. African-Americans (R2 = 0.67) in neighborhood and Affluence (R2 = 0.83) were strongly associated with poor mental health.ConclusionsThese findings indicate the importance of this factor model in future research focused on the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and resident health.

scholarly journals Latent Variables Quantifying Neighborhood Characteristics and Their Associations with Poor Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Forthman ◽  
Janna M. Colaizzi ◽  
Hung-wen Yeh ◽  
Rayus Kuplicki ◽  
Martin P. Paulus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neighborhood Characteristics

Neighborhood characteristics can have profound impacts on resident mental health, but the wide variability in methodologies used across studies makes it difficult to reach a consensus as to the implications of these impacts. The aim of this study was to simplify the assessment of neighborhood influence on mental health. We used a factor analysis approach to reduce the multi-dimensional assessment of a neighborhood using census tracts and demographic data available from the American Community Survey (ACS). Multivariate quantitative characterization of the neighborhood was derived by performing a factor analysis on the 2011–2015 ACS data. The utility of the latent variables was examined by determining the association of these factors with poor mental health measures from the 500 Cities Project 2014–2015 data (2017 release). A five-factor model provided the best fit for the data. Each factor represents a complex multi-dimensional construct. However, based on heuristics and for simplicity we refer to them as (1) Affluence, (2) Singletons in Tract, (3) African Americans in Tract, (4) Seniors in Tract, and (5) Hispanics or Latinos in Tract. African Americans in Tract (with loadings showing larger numbers of people who are black, single moms, and unemployed along with fewer people who are white) and Affluence (with loadings showing higher income, education, and home value) were strongly associated with poor mental health (R2=0.67, R2=0.83). These findings demonstrate the utility of this factor model for future research focused on the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and resident mental health.

scholarly journals Psychometric Properties of Object Relation Scale: Factor Structure and Relationship to Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 616-624
Author(s):  
Masayo Uji ◽  
Makiko Kawaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Object Relation ◽  
Best Fit

Background: Object Relations Scale (ORS: Iume, Hirai, Aoki & Baba, 2006) was developed for accessing an individual’s object relation pattern. It consists of five domains: Insufficiency of Intimacy, Superficiality in Interpersonal Relations, Egoistic Manipulation, Excessive Need for Identification, and Abandonment Anxiety. However, its factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is still undetermined. Purpose: This study aims at evaluating the psychometric properties of ORS, in particular, confirming its factor structure using CFA, and examining the relationship of object relation maturity, to mental health as well as to psychological distress. Methods: The subjects of this study were 547 medical college students in Japan. CFA were conducted in order to determine the best fit model. The relationships of maturity level of one’s object relation pattern to his/her mental health as well as psychological distresses were examined by t-tests. Results: A four-factor model, a modified version of the original five-factor model showed the best fit. Among the four factors, three were those included in the original model. They were Insufficiency of Intimacy, Superficiality in Interpersonal Relations, and Abandonment Anxiety. The last factor consisted of items originally included in the remaining two factors, Egotistic Manipulation and Excessive Need for Identification. Each ORS subscale score positively correlated with that of mental health problems as well as those of psychological distresses of one or more domains at significant levels. Conclusion: The four-factor model, which does not necessarily negate the original five-factor model proposed by Iume et al., showed the best fit. Immaturity and instability in object relation relationship contributed to a variety of distresses as well as poor mental health.

scholarly journals Is there an association between diet and depression in children and adolescents? A systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundus Khalid ◽  
Claire M. Williams ◽  
Shirley A. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Unhealthy Diet

AbstractThis review critically evaluates previous studies investigating the association between dietary intake of children and young people and depression and related mental health problems. A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane. A total of twenty studies were identified that met inclusion criteria and were subsequently rated for quality. The studies used a range of methods to measure dietary intake and mental health. Important potential confounding variables (e.g. socio-economic status) were often not included or controlled. There were also inconsistencies in the use of key constructs, which made comparisons between studies difficult. Despite some contradictory results, overall there was support for an association between healthy dietary patterns or consumption of a high-quality diet and lower levels of depression or better mental health. Similarly, there was a relationship between unhealthy diet and consumption of low-quality diet and depression or poor mental health. However, where significant relationships were reported, effect sizes were small. Future research on the relationship between diet and mental health in young people should use more clearly defined constructs to define diet and include or control for important confounders.

scholarly journals Emotional and Behavioral Responses to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-347
Author(s):  
Alison M. Bacon ◽  
Dino Krupić ◽  
Nese Caki ◽  
Philip J. Corr
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Behavioral Approach ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition System ◽  
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory ◽  
Personality Research ◽  
Sensitivity Theory ◽  
Reinforcement Sensitivity

Abstract. This review appraises evidence for the role of personality in COVID-19 related emotions and behaviors. Three key models of personality are considered: the Five-factor Model, HEXACO model, and Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). In line with personality research, more generally, most studies focus on the Five-Factor model. Key findings are that neuroticism is most associated with poor mental health, and extraversion is associated with a reluctance to socially isolate. Conscientiousness predicts compliance with safety guidelines but also with fewer prosocial behaviors, particularly stockpiling. Research within the HEXACO framework largely confirms these findings, especially for emotionality and mental health. The additional HEXACO Honesty-Humility factor is found to be associated with prosocial views and abstention from panic buying. Studies based on the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality indicate emotional conflict as people wish to stay safe while maintaining a sense of normality. Behavioral compliance is driven by activation in the Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS; fear-related) and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS; anxiety-related). The Behavioral Approach System (BAS) is implicated in approach-driven behaviors such as avoiding infection. These findings have implications for health communications and post-pandemic support.

Physical and Psychological Benefits of Written Emotional Expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.

scholarly journals An fMRI investigation of the relations between Extraversion, internalizing psychopathology, and neural activation following reward receipt in the Human Connectome Project sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtland S. Hyatt ◽  
Emily S. Hallowell ◽  
Max M. Owens ◽  
Brandon M. Weiss ◽  
Lawrence H. Sweet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Internalizing Psychopathology ◽  
Human Connectome Project

Abstract Quantitative models of psychopathology (i.e., HiTOP) propose that personality and psychopathology are intertwined, such that the various processes that characterize personality traits may be useful in describing and predicting manifestations of psychopathology. In the current study, we used data from the Human Connectome Project (N = 1050) to investigate neural activation following receipt of a reward during an fMRI task as one shared mechanism that may be related to the personality trait Extraversion (specifically its sub-component Agentic Extraversion) and internalizing psychopathology. We also conducted exploratory analyses on the links between neural activation following reward receipt and the other Five-Factor Model personality traits, as well as separate analyses by gender. No significant relations (p < .005) were observed between any personality trait or index of psychopathology and neural activation following reward receipt, and most effect sizes were null to very small in nature (i.e., r < |.05|). We conclude by discussing the appropriate interpretation of these null findings, and provide suggestions for future research that spans psychological and neurobiological levels of analysis.

scholarly journals Media consumption and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown: a UK cross-sectional study across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth D Neill ◽  
Carolyn Blair ◽  
Paul Best ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Cherie Armour
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Media Exposure ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Media Consumption ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Longitudinal Data Collection

Abstract Aim As individuals adjust to new ‘norms’ and ways of living during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a continuing need for up-to-date information and guidance. Evidence suggests that frequent media exposure is related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine whether COVID-19 related media consumption is associated with changes in mental health outcomes. Methods This paper presents baseline data from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. The cross-sectional study data was collected using an online survey following the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with some other basic information collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of socio-demographic and media specific factors on anxiety and depression. Results The study suggested that media usage is statistically significantly associated with anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales with excessive media exposure related to higher anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion This study indicated that higher media consumption was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Worldwide it should be acknowledged that excessive media consumption, particularly social media relating to COVID-19, can have an effect on mental health. However, as this was a cross-sectional study we cannot infer any directionality as we cannot infer cause and effect; therefore, future research involving longitudinal data collection and analyses of variables over time is warranted.

The Association Between Problem Recognition, Race/Ethnicity, and Professional Help-Seeking Intentions Across Psychological Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110004
Author(s):  
Ayanda Chakawa ◽  
Steven K. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Problem Recognition ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Race Ethnicity

While 75% mental health problems emerge by young adulthood, there is a strong reluctance during this developmental stage to seek professional help. Although limitations in mental health literacy, such as incorrect problem recognition, may hinder professional help-seeking intentions, the relationship between these variables has been understudied among young adults in the United States (U.S.) and racial/ethnic differences in help-seeking intentions for specific disorders have not been well explored. Using a vignette-based design, the current study examines the association between psychological disorder recognition and professional help-seeking intentions among 1,585 Black/African American and White/European American young adults. Correctly identifying a psychological disorder was significantly associated with intentions to seek professional help for several disorders and race/ethnicity significantly influenced intentions to seek professional help for some disorders. Implications for ways to address unmet mental health care needs, especially among racially/ethnically diverse young adults, and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Emotional and Cognitive Empathy in Caregivers of People With Neurodegenerative Disease: Relationships With Caregiver Mental Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262097436
Author(s):  
Alice Y. Hua ◽  
Jenna L. Wells ◽  
Casey L. Brown ◽  
Robert W. Levenson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disease ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Emotional Empathy ◽  
People With Dementia

Caregiving for a person with dementia or neurodegenerative disease is associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety. As the population ages and dementia prevalence increases worldwide, mental health problems related to dementia caregiving will become an even more pressing public health concern. In the present study, we assessed emotional empathy (physiological, behavioral, and self-reported emotional responses to a film depicting others suffering) and two measures of cognitive empathy (identifying the primary emotion experienced by another person and providing continuous ratings of the valence of another person’s changing emotions) in relation to mental health (standard questionnaires) in 78 caregivers of people with dementia or neurodegenerative disease. Greater emotional empathy (self-reported emotional responses) was associated with worse mental health even after accounting for known risk factors. Neither measure of cognitive empathy was associated with mental health. A relationship between high levels of emotional empathy and poor mental health in caregivers suggests possible risk indicators and intervention targets.

scholarly journals Preconception prediction of expectant fathers' mental health: 20-year cohort study from adolescence

BJPsych Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Spry ◽  
Rebecca Giallo ◽  
Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽  
Jacqui Macdonald ◽  
Denise Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expectant Fathers

We examined prospective associations between men's common mental disorders in the decades prior to offspring conception and subsequent paternal antenatal mental health problems. Data came from a prospective intergenerational cohort study which assessed common mental disorder nine times from age 14 to 29 years, and in the third trimester of subsequent pregnancies to age 35 years (N = 295 pregnancies to 214 men). Men with histories of adolescent and young adult common mental disorders were over four times more likely to experience antenatal mental health problems. Future research identifying modifiable perinatal factors that counteract preconception risk would provide further targets for intervention.Declaration of interestNone.

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