scholarly journals Do Child Tax Benefits Affect the Well-being of Children? Evidence from Canadian Child Benefit Expansions

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Milligan ◽  
Mark Stabile
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Family Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Child Benefits ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Child Benefit

We exploit changes in child benefits in Canada to study the impact of family income on child and family well-being. Using variation in child benefits across province, time, and family type, we study outcomes spanning test scores, mental health, physical health, and deprivation measures. The findings suggest that child benefit programs had significant positive effects on test scores, maternal health, and mental health, among other measures. We find strong and interesting differences in the effects of benefits by child sex: benefits have stronger effects on educational outcomes and physical health for boys, and on mental health outcomes for girls. (JEL I12, I31, I38, J13)

Health and Voting in Young Adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1163-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ojeda ◽  
Julianna Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Do changes in health lead to changes in the probability of voting? Using two longitudinal datasets, this article looks at the impact of three measures of health – physical health, mental health and overall well-being – on voting trajectories in young adulthood. The results show that self-rated health is associated with a lower probability of voting in one’s first election, depression is related to a decline in turnout over time and physical limitations are unrelated to voting. Some familial resources from childhood are also found to condition when the health–participation effect manifests.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of people living with a long-term physical health condition: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fisher ◽  
A. Roberts ◽  
A. R. McKinlay ◽  
D. Fancourt ◽  
A. Burton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions caused major global disruption. Individuals with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at higher risk of severe illness and often subject to the strictest pandemic guidance, so may be disproportionally affected. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how living with a LTC during the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s mental health and wellbeing. Methods Participants were people living with LTCs who participated in telephone/video call interviews based on a semi-structured topic guide. Key themes and subthemes were determined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Results The sample included 32 participants with LTCs (most commonly cancer, respiratory conditions or cardiovascular diseases), mean age 57 (SD 13) years, 66% female and 72% white British. There were four overarching themes specific to living with a LTC. These were 1) high levels of fear and anxiety related to perceived consequences of catching COVID-19, 2) impact of shielding/isolation on mental health and wellbeing, 3) experience of healthcare during the pandemic and 4) anxiety created by uncertainty about the future. Fourteen subthemes were identified, including concerns about accessing essential supplies and the importance of social support. Individuals who lived alone and were advised to shield could be profoundly negatively affected. Conclusions This study found that there were a number of aspects of living with a LTC during the pandemic that had a significant impact on mental health and well-being. There should be focus on how best to provide practical and social support to people with LTCs during a pandemic, particularly if they have to shield or isolate.

scholarly journals Dog Park Membership and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 867-867
Author(s):  
Betz King ◽  
Adam Duberstein ◽  
McGlinn Maureen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Respondent ◽  
Dog Parks ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Dog park members initially join and attend dog parks for the wellbeing of their dogs, but often experience their own biopsychosocial benefits. This mixed methodology (Quantitative n=44, Qualitative n=11) ) pilot study utilized qualitative heuristic interviewing (Moustakas, C., 1990) and the Satisfaction with Life Survey (Pavot, W., & Diener, E. 2013). Data gathered from interviews and surveys administered to participants of a members-only dog-park indicate a high satisfaction with life. Members 60 years and older reported feelings of life satisfaction almost 7 points over the total respondent average, placing them in the “highly satisfied” range. All members experience the dog-park as a supportive social environment that benefits their physical health, mental health and the well-being of their canine companions. Five qualitative themes were identified: Canine Well-being, Community, Mental Health Benefits, Physical Health Benefits and Fights, Falls & Frustrations. These findings demonstrate the need for more research into the impact and importance of pet ownership, community dog parks and outdoor green spaces on older adults and life satisfaction.

scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Quality of Life and Well-Being in Morocco

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zouhour Samlani ◽  
Yassine Lemfadli ◽  
Adil Ait Errami ◽  
Sofia Oubaha ◽  
Khadija Krati
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Health Score ◽  
The Impact

Introduction:The majority of epidemiological reports focus on confirmed cases of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to assess the health and well-being of adults not infected with Covid-19 after two months of quarantine in Morocco.Materials and methods:Two months after the declaration of quarantine in Morocco following the Covid-19 epidemic, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study of 279 Moroccan citizens. We used the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) as a determinant of quality of life, which is based on eight dimensions of health. The data were collected using an electronic questionnaire distributed online. The participants also indicated their socio-demographic data, their knowledge and practices regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and whether they had chronic health problems.Results:The quality of life of all participants was moderately disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic with a mental health score (MCS) of 34.49 (± 6.44) and a physical health score (PCS) of 36.10 (± 5.82). Participants with chronic diseases scored lower with 29.28 (± 1.23) in mental health (MCS) and 32.51 (± 7.14) in physical health (PCS). The seriousness of COVID-19 has an impact on the quality of life and health well-being of people and this impact is more marked in patients with chronic health problems.Conclusion: Our results confirm the need to pay attention to the health of people who have not been infected with the virus. Our results also point out that uninfected people with chronic illnesses may be more likely to have well-being problems due to quarantine restrictions.

Digital Technologies for Mental Health Improvements in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhui Li
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Intervention Participant ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Automatic Search ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Digital technologies have been used to support mental health services for two decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic creates a unique opportunity for greater utilization and more data-driven assessment of these digital technologies. OBJECTIVE This research aims to provide a systematic review of the characteristics and effectiveness of digital inventions that were employed to improve mental health in the real context of COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A combination of search terms was applied for automatic search of publications in the relevant databases. The key features of included studies were extracted, including the intervention, participant, and study details. RESULTS A total of 14 eligible studies were included in the final review, which were conducted across different geographic regions and among diverse cultural groups. Ten studies mainly examined the impact of digital technologies on healthy individuals, while only one study developed specific interventions for the isolated COVID-19 depressed patients in hospitals. Digital technologies identified in this study mainly include web-based interventions, smartphone or social media applications such as SMS messages, mobile games, and even video conferencing app. But only five of them were aligned with theoretical approaches from standardized psychological treatments. Most of the studies have reported positive effects of digital technologies, either on improving general mental and emotional well-being or addressing specific conditions (e.g., depression, loneliness). CONCLUSIONS This systematic review suggests that digital technologies hold promise in bridging the mental health-care gap during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for more rigorous studies to identify pertinent features that are likely to achieve more effective mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals The Prevalence and Health Impacts of Frequent Work Discrimination and Harassment among Women Firefighters in the US Fire Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara A. Jahnke ◽  
Christopher K. Haddock ◽  
Nattinee Jitnarin ◽  
Christopher M. Kaipust ◽  
Brittany S. Hollerbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Women Firefighters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Intro. Both discrimination and harassment directly impact mental and physical health. Further, workplace discrimination degrades workplace culture and negatively impacts health behaviors, job-related outcomes, and family dynamics. Women represent a small proportion of the fire service and are often the targets of discrimination/harassment, yet little research documents the impact of such experiences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between chronic work discrimination and/or harassment and women firefighters’ (FFs) physical and mental health, substance abuse, and job efficacy, stress, and satisfaction. Methods. Snowball sampling was used to solicit participation from women career FFs. Participants completed an online survey regarding physical and mental health, health behavior, job efficacy/stress/satisfaction, and family well-being. Logistic regression examined the impact of work discrimination-harassment severity on dichotomous variables. Results. 1,773 had complete data on their experiences with work-related discrimination and harassment. Women reported experiencing verbal (37.5%) and written (12.9%) harassment, hazing (16.9%), sexual advances (37.4%), and assaults (5.1%) in the fire service. FFs in the highest tertile of work discrimination-harassment severity reported over 40% more poor health days in the last 30 days (OR=1.42; 95%CI=1.33-1.51; p<0.001). Women who experienced moderate and severe discrimination/harassment had negative mental health outcomes including higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Those who experienced high rates of discrimination and/or harassment also were more likely to report issues with alcohol consumption. Conclusion. The impact of discrimination and harassment, related negative physical and mental outcomes, low levels of job satisfaction, and negative impact of these experiences on family/home stress likely take a significant toll on women in the fire service. Findings confirm and extend previous work suggesting there is a need to improve the mental and physical health of women FFs. Future work should examine the prospective relationship between discrimination/harassment and poor health outcomes and potential policies/practices to reduce these negative behaviors.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of people living with a long-term physical health condition: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Fisher ◽  
A Roberts ◽  
A.R. McKinlay ◽  
D Fancourt ◽  
A Burton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions caused major global disruption. Individuals with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at higher risk of severe illness and often subject to the strictest pandemic guidance, so may be disproportionally affected. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how living with a LTC during the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s mental health and wellbeing.Sample and methods32 participants, mean age 57 (SD 13) years, 66% female and 72% white British, who reported having LTCS (most commonly cancer, respiratory conditions or cardiovascular diseases), participated in telephone/video call interviews based on a semi-structured topic guide. Key themes and subthemes were determined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThere were four overarching themes specific to living with a LTC. These were 1) high levels of fear and anxiety related to perceived consequences of catching COVID-19, 2) impact of shielding/isolation on mental health and wellbeing, 3) experience of healthcare during the pandemic and 4) anxiety created by uncertainty about the future. Fourteen subthemes were identified, including concerns about accessing essential supplies and the importance of social support. Individuals who lived alone and were advised to shield could be profoundly negatively affected.ConclusionsThis study found that there were a number of aspects of living with a LTC during the pandemic that had a significant impact on mental health and well-being. There should be focus on how best to provide practical and social support to people with LTCs during a pandemic, particularly if they have to shield or isolate.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: a comparison between Germany and the UK

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Knolle ◽  
Lisa Ronan ◽  
Graham K Murray
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Financial Situation ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

In March 2020 the SARS-CoV-2infection (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic. In response to its world-wide outbreak radical measures were taken by governments across the world including curfew, quarantine, travel bans, social distancing, work place and school closures, etc, to reduce the transmission of the virus. These measures led to dramatic social and economic changes for the general population, in addition to the fears and worries related to the disease and its contraction. First studies report the impact of the pandemic on mental well-being of the general population showing increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression. In this study, we compare the impact of the pandemic on two European countries: the UK and Germany, which reported their first cases within a week. 241 residents of the UK and 541 residents of Germany filled in an online survey, including questions on COVID-19 exposure, impact on financial situation and work, substance and media consumption, self-reported mental and physical health, as well as including two clinical questionnaires, the general mental health Symptom Check List-27 (SCL-27) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Data collection was completed between 27/04/20-31/05/20. We found distinct differences between the two countries. UK responders reported a stronger direct impact on their health, financial situation and their families. UK responders had higher clinical scores on the SCL-27, with a higher percentage being above cut-off. Interestingly, however, we found that German responders were less hopeful for an end of the pandemic and more concerned about their life-stability. Generally, we found that a younger age, being female, lower education, poorer mental and physical health before the pandemic, as well as more social media and substance consumption was associated with a higher clinical risk. This research shows strong differences between two economically and culturally similar countries, but as 25% of both German and UK responders reported a subjective worsening of the general psychological symptoms and 20-50% of German and UK responders reached the clinical cut-off for depressive, dysthymic and anxieties, it specifically shows the need for health emergency tailored intervention systems to assist not only people vulnerable for mental health problems, but also large proportions of the general public.

Relationship Between Family Functioning, Parents’ Psychosocial Factors, and Children’s Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110307
Author(s):  
Tania Gaspar ◽  
Diego Gomez-Baya ◽  
Joana S. Trindade ◽  
Fábio Botelho Guedes ◽  
Ana Cerqueira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Parental Mental Health ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
The Impact

The main objective of this study is to explore the impact of the psychosocial factors (social support, resilience, and mental health) on the family functioning and on the parent’s perception of their children’s well-being. Participants were 1757 parents of children aged 6 to 16 years, 77.3% female ( N = 1359), and 22.7% male ( N = 398), aged between 20 and 80 years ( M = 41.61 and SD = 5.71). A path analyses model indicated that social support and resilience, which were positively associated, presented positive effects on parental mental health and on family functioning. No effect was observed on family functioning by parental mental health after including the effects by social support and resilience. Finally, this model pointed out that better family functioning, more social support, and more resilience skills were related to better child well-being. Implications to research and to prevention and psychological intervention in relation to parental skills and family functioning are presented in order to promote children well-being and healthy development.

scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Quality of Life and Well-Being in Morocco

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zouhour Samlani ◽  
Yassine Lemfadli ◽  
Adil Ait Errami ◽  
Sofia Oubaha ◽  
Khadija Krati
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Health Score ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chronic Health Problems

Introduction: The majority of epidemiological reports focus on confirmed cases of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to assess the health and well-being of adults not infected with Covid-19 after two months of quarantine in Morocco. Materials and methods: Two months after the declaration of quarantine in Morocco following the Covid-19 epidemic, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study of 279 Moroccan citizens. We used the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) as a determinant of quality of life, which is based on eight dimensions of health. The data were collected using an electronic questionnaire distributed online. The participants also indicated their socio-demographic data, their knowledge and practices regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and whether they had chronic health problems. Results: The quality of life of all participants was moderately disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic with a mental health score (MCS) of 34.49 (&plusmn; 6.44) and a physical health score (PCS) of 36.10 (&plusmn; 5.82). Participants with chronic diseases scored lower with 29.28 (&plusmn; 1.23) in mental health (MCS) and 32.51 (&plusmn; 7.14) in physical health (PCS). The seriousness of COVID-19 has an impact on the quality of life and health well-being of people and this impact is more marked in people with chronic health problems. Conclusion: Our results confirm the need to pay attention to the health of people who have not been infected with the virus. Our results also point out that uninfected people with chronic illnesses may be more likely to have well-being problems due to quarantine restrictions.

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