Determinants of mental and physical health treatment-seeking among military personnel

2019 ◽  
Vol 217 (2) ◽  
pp. 420-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Britt ◽  
Maurice L. Sipos ◽  
Zachary Klinefelter ◽  
Amy B. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Enlisted Personnel ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

BackgroundAlthough research has documented factors influencing whether military personnel seek treatment for mental health problems, less research has focused on determinants of treatment-seeking for physical health problems.AimsTo explicitly compare the barriers and facilitators of treatment-seeking for mental and physical health problems.MethodUS soldiers (n = 2048) completed a survey with measures of barriers and facilitators of treatment-seeking for mental and physical health problems as well as measures of somatic symptoms and mental health.ResultsThe top barrier for both mental and physical health treatment-seeking was a preference for handling problems oneself. The top facilitators for both symptom types were related to treatment improving quality of life. Differential endorsement of barriers occurred for treatment of mental versus physical health symptoms. In contrast, facilitators were endorsed more for physical than for mental health treatment. While there were few gender differences, officers reported more barriers and facilitators than did enlisted personnel. Screening positive for mental or physical health problems was associated with greater endorsement of both barriers and facilitators for physical and mental health treatment, respectively.ConclusionsThe leading barriers and facilitators for seeking treatment for mental health and physical problems are relatively similar, suggesting that health education should consider decision-making in seeking both mental and physical healthcare. Interventions should be tailored to reduce barriers for officers and improve facilitators for junior enlisted personnel, and address barriers and facilitators for service members screening positive for a mental or physical health problem.

Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Treatment-Seeking in U.S. Active Duty Soldiers With Sexual Assault Histories

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi M. Zinzow ◽  
Thomas W. Britt ◽  
Cynthia L. S. Pury ◽  
Kristen Jennings ◽  
Janelle H. Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Health Treatment

The Intersection of Childhood Maltreatment and Marriage: Implications for Adult’s Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2098450
Author(s):  
Michael Fitzgerald ◽  
Bryan Spuhler ◽  
Cailyn Hamstra
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Marital Support ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Marital Strain ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Childhood maltreatment is associated with mental and physical health problems across the life course. Marriages may be a risk factor for continued mental and physical health problems or, alternatively, they could buffer the effects of maltreatment severity on adult health. Using data from the study of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), we evaluated marital support and strain as moderators of child maltreatment and adults’ subjective evaluations of physical and mental health in a sample of 760 married adults using the life course perspective. Results show that the interaction between childhood maltreatment severity and marital strain was associated with poorer physical health and was marginally associated with mental health. Marital support did not significantly interact with childhood maltreatment severity in predicting adult mental or physical health. Results suggest maltreatment and marital strain interact resulting in a greater accumulation of disadvantage leaving adults at risk for health problems.

The Lifelong Health Effects of Parenting a Child With Developmental or Mental Health Problems

2018 ◽  
pp. 142-154
Author(s):  
Jieun Song ◽  
Marsha R. Mailick ◽  
Jan S. Greenberg ◽  
Jinkuk Hong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Parenting a child with developmental or mental health problems is a lifelong process with unique challenges and adjustments. Parents of children with these conditions often experience chronic stress and an elevated risk of mental and physical health problems and cognitive decline in later life, although profiles of resilience have been noted. This chapter reviews Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) studies that have examined the lifelong effects of parenting children with developmental or mental health problems. MIDUS research has found that midlife and older parents of children with these conditions have poorer physical and mental health profiles and poorer cognitive functioning in later life than counterparts whose children do not have such conditions, and that mental and physical health disparities increase as parents age. Possible mechanisms underlying these differences have been examined in studies utilizing the multidisciplinary data of MIDUS, which include a variety of psychosocial, cognitive, and biological assessments.

scholarly journals Bibliotherapy in practice: a person-centred approach to using books for mental health and dementia in the community

2020 ◽  
pp. medhum-2020-011898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Brewster ◽  
Sarah McNicol
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
The North ◽  
Value Judgements ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Bibliotherapy is the use of texts to provide support for people with mental and physical health problems. It is widely seen to have beneficial outcomes but there is still disagreement about how best to deliver bibliotherapy in practice. This article explores one method of delivering bibliotherapy which has evolved over the past 20 years in the North of England, the Kirklees approach. Using a multimethod qualitative research design including reflective observations, interviews and document analysis, the article examines how bibliotherapy has been delivered to people with mental health problems and dementia in a volunteer-led scheme. As an inherently flexible and adaptable approach, bibliotherapy in practice in Kirklees is best defined by its ethos, rather than a prescriptive list of its activities, as is the case for many alternative approaches to bibliotherapy. It is an approach to bibliotherapy which is person-centred; avoids value judgements of texts and responses to them; is often co-produced with group participants; is about making a contribution (in a variety of ways); and emphasises social connection. This separates it from other current models of bibliotherapy operating in the UK, and demonstrates how it may be tailored to the requirements of those experiencing diverse mental and physical health conditions. A more responsive form of bibliotherapy, as outlined here, has the potential to provide support across the community.

Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among Active-Duty Army Personnel

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 514-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi M. Zinzow ◽  
Thomas W. Britt ◽  
Cynthia L. S. Pury ◽  
Mary Anne Raymond ◽  
Anna C. McFadden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Army Personnel

scholarly journals Masculinity and Mental Health Treatment Initiation for Former Political Prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar – A Qualitative Investigation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Paul Lakin ◽  
Kyaw Soe Win ◽  
Htin Aung ◽  
Khin Nyein Chan Soe ◽  
Bo Kyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Political Prisoners ◽  
Community Leader ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Self Reliance

Abstract Background Men are less likely to seek care for mental health problems globally. This finding is more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where poor healthcare infrastructure, differences in illness conceptualization, and stigma impact treatment seeking. To improve the likelihood of successful engagement of men in psychotherapy, it is necessary to identify factors that influence treatment adherence, and to better understand men’s attitudes surrounding decisions to seek and initiate care. The purpose of this investigation was to explore themes of masculinity, treatment seeking, and differences between men who accepted and declined therapy in an urban low-income context. Methods We conducted a qualitative, interview-based investigation with 30 former political prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar who were eligible to receive mental health counseling provided by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Men were initially screened using a composite questionnaire with items related to depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptom severity. After screening, if potential clients were identified as having probable mental health problems, they were asked if they would like to participate in a multi-session cognitive behavioral therapy program. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 15 participants who accepted and 15 participants who declined therapy. Interviews were transcribed and translated by local partners and thematically coded by the authors. We used thematic analysis to identify and explore differences in treatment-seeking attitudes between men who accepted and men who declined the intervention. Results Men described that being a community leader, self-reliance, morality, and honesty were defining characteristics of masculinity. A focus on self-correction often led to men declining psychotherapy. A general lack of familiarity with psychological therapy, and how it differed from locally available treatments (e.g. astrologists) was connected to stigma regarding mental health treatment. Conclusions Masculinity was described in similar terms by both groups of participants. The interpretation of masculine qualities within the context of help-seeking (e.g. self-reliance as refusing help from others versus listening to others and applying that guidance) were driving factors behind men’s decision to enter psychotherapy.

Employee mental health treatment seeking: Perceptions of responsibility and resilience

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skye K. Gillispie ◽  
Thomas W. Britt ◽  
Crystal M. Burnette ◽  
Anna C. McFadden ◽  
Chad R. Breeden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Employee Mental Health

scholarly journals Mental and Physical Health Problems as Conditions of Ex-Prisoner Re-Entry

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7642
Author(s):  
Anna Pękala-Wojciechowska ◽  
Andrzej Kacprzak ◽  
Krzysztof Pękala ◽  
Marta Chomczyńska ◽  
Piotr Chomczyński ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Juvenile Detention ◽  
Detention Centers ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

The article focuses on a less-discussed issue of social marginalization of people leaving penitentiaries, which is the prevalence of multifaceted health problems experienced by people in this category. It includes poor health status, resulting from, among others, poor housing conditions, harmful or risky lifestyle, and lack of access to medical services. Data from the District Inspectorate of the Prison Service in Lodz, Poland on the health conditions of inmates was accessed. These data were supplemented by qualitative research conducted in 21 juvenile detention centers and 8 prisons across the country, conducting direct observations and In-Depth Interviews (IDI). A total of 198 IDIs were conducted with incarcerated (72) and released (30) juvenile offenders, and incarcerated (68) and released (28) adult offenders. These were complemented by IDIs with experts (50) and Focus Group Interviews (FGIs; 8) with male and female inmates in 4 Polish prisons. The study revealed that mental and physical health is a serious obstacle to social reintegration of ex-prisoners. It is rarely addressed by state institutions. There are strong associations between neglect of health issues in the prison population and increasing social exclusion after leaving prison. As Poland has a restrictive penal policy, former prisoners remain a group with social stigma and little support.

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