Age and gender differences in the influence of social support on mental health: a longitudinal fixed-effects analysis using 13 annual waves of the HILDA cohort

TikTok as a Source of Health Information and Misinformation for Young Women in the United States: Survey Study

BACKGROUND

TikTok is one of the most-used and fastest-growing social media platforms in the world, and recent reports indicate that it has become an increasingly popular source of news and information in the United States. These trends have important implications for public health because an abundance of health information exists on the platform. Women are among the largest group of TikTok users in the United States and may be especially affected by the dissemination of health information on TikTok. Prior research has shown that women are not only more likely to look for information on the internet but are also more likely to have their health-related behaviors and perceptions affected by their involvement with social media.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a survey of young women in the United States to better understand their use of TikTok for health information as well as their perceptions of TikTok's health information and health communication sources.

METHODS

A web-based survey of US women aged 18 to 29 years (N=1172) was conducted in April-May 2023. The sample was recruited from a Qualtrics research panel and 2 public universities in the United States.

RESULTS

The results indicate that the majority of young women in the United States who have used TikTok have obtained health information from the platform either intentionally (672/1026, 65.5%) or unintentionally (948/1026, 92.4%). Age (959/1026, 93.47%; r=0.30; P<.001), education (959/1026, 93.47%; ρ=0.10; P=.001), and TikTok intensity (ie, participants' emotional connectedness to TikTok and TikTok's integration into their daily lives; 959/1026, 93.47%; r=0.32; P<.001) were positively correlated with overall credibility perceptions of the health information. Nearly the entire sample reported that they think that misinformation is prevalent on TikTok to at least some extent (1007/1026, 98.15%), but a third-person effect was found because the young women reported that they believe that other people are more susceptible to health misinformation on TikTok than they personally are (t1025=21.16; P<.001). Both health professionals and general users were common sources of health information on TikTok: 93.08% (955/1026) of the participants indicated that they had obtained health information from a health professional, and 93.86% (963/1026) indicated that they had obtained health information from a general user. The respondents showed greater preference for health information from health professionals (vs general users; t1025=23.75; P<.001); the respondents also reported obtaining health information from health professionals more often than from general users (t1025=8.13; P<.001), and they were more likely to act on health information from health professionals (vs general users; t1025=12.74; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that health professionals and health communication scholars need to proactively consider using TikTok as a platform for disseminating health information to young women because young women are obtaining health information from TikTok and prefer information from health professionals.

Social Support and Associated Factors Among Men and Women in Pre-COVID Substance Use Treatment

Low levels of social support are related to negative health outcomes, representing further obstacles to recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). This study examined relationships among stressors, symptoms and social support in 124 women and 102 men engaged in two outpatient public sector substance use treatment programs. Multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to assess relationships between variables of interest and social support. Men reported significantly lower social support than women. Food insecurity was associated with lower social support for men (β= -13.6 [95% CI -26.7, -0.4], p = 0.04). When examining emotional support and tangible aid, victimization history was related to lower support (both types) for women while food insecurity was associated with lower support (both types) for men. Depression was related to lower emotional support among both men and women. Substance use treatment programs should explicitly target social support and related stressors to facilitate recovery for the individuals they serve.

Gender differences in social networks and physical and mental health: are social relationships more health protective in women than in men?

Background

Individuals' relationships are characterized by multidimensional aspects and the unique make-up of different features is more or less supportive of physical and mental health. The current study derived social network types based on an extended set of indicators reflecting the structure, function, and quality of relationships, then examined their associations with diverse physical and mental health outcomes separately for men and women.

Methods

Using samples of 620 South Korean adults (Mage = 53.52), Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to uncover distinct social network types, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the link between network types and health outcomes.

Results

LPA analysis derived four network types: diversified, family-(un)supported, friend- based, and restricted. The prevalence and configuration of network types differed between men and women: the family-unsupported type was more prevalent in women than in men whereas the restricted type was more prevalent in men than in women. An individual's network type membership was significantly associated with one's physical and mental health and the positive effects of an optimal network type and the negative effects of a non-optimal network type on mental health were much greater for women than they were for men.

Discussion

The findings suggest that women benefit more from supportive networks but that they are also more vulnerable to a lack of supportive (or the presence of conflict-filled) relationships, and highlight that having diversified and greater quality relationships, and avoiding conflicts are critical for women to have enhanced health.

Employment-related mental health outcomes among Australian migrants: A 19-year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Migrants experience various stressors at different stages of migration based on their country of origin, ethnic backgrounds, migration context and host country. Employment is one important post-settlement factor associated with mental health among migrant groups. The study investigates whether the country of origin modifies the association between employment and mental health for Australian migrants.

METHODS

Nineteen waves of data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey were used. Using fixed-effects regression, we examined the effects of within-person changes in employment status on mental health outcomes as measured by the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), controlling for time-varying confounders and stratified by sex and examined effect modification by country of origin.

RESULTS

The relationship between unemployment and mental health was modified by country of origin for men but not women. Unemployed men from Asian (β = -4.85, p < 0.001), African and Middle Eastern (β = -3.61, p < 0.05) countries had lower mental health scores compared to employed Australian-born men. For men, there was evidence of effect modification of the association between employment and mental health by country of origin, with the combined effect of being unemployed and being a migrant from an Asian country was almost three points lower than the summed independent risks of these factors (β = -2.72; p = 0.01). Also, for men, the combined mental health effect of not being in the labour force and coming from a non-English-speaking European country was greater than the summed effects of these factors (β = -2.33; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Tailored employment-support programmes may be beneficial for migrants from ethnic minorities, particularly those from Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries in Australia. Further research is needed to understand why the mental health of migrant men from these countries is particularly vulnerable to unemployment.

Psychosocial and Economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Veteran Men and Women

Purpose: The psychosocial impacts of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on women Veterans' mental health compared to men are understudied, with few studies examining the differential impact of COVID-19 stressors on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, little is known about whether social support may buffer against adverse pandemic-related outcomes for this population. In the present study, we examined (1) gender differences in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on numerous life domains, including economic, work, home, social, and health; (2) how pandemic impacts in these domains were associated with depression and PTSD symptoms; and (3) whether social support buffered against worse mental health outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 1530 Veterans enrolled in the Longitudinal Investigation of Gender, Health, and Trauma (LIGHT) study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple groups' path analyses. Results: Women reported higher pandemic impact scores across life domains. For both men and women, higher health impacts were associated with increased PTSD symptoms; differential findings emerged for depressive symptoms. Home and economic impacts were associated with increased depression for both men and women, social and health impacts were associated with depression for women, and work impacts were associated with depression for men. Higher social support was associated with decreased depressive symptoms for both men and women; however, social support moderated the relationship between pandemic impacts and both PTSD and depressive symptoms for women only. Conclusions: Findings highlight the value of social support in mitigating effects of pandemic-related stress, particularly for women Veterans.

Reciprocal longitudinal associations of supportive workplace relationships with depressive symptoms and self-rated health: A study of Korean women

BACKGROUND

Supportive relationships in the workplace are important determinants of an individual's psychological health, buffering work stress. This study aimed to estimate the bidirectional association of workplace relationships with depressive symptoms and self-rated health in female workers.

METHODS

Based on the nationally representative biannual survey data from 2014 (T1) to 2020 (T4) (N = 2556), we used a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to estimate autoregressive and cross-lagged bidirectional associations between workplace relationships and health variables.

RESULTS

Regarding satisfactory workplace relationships and depressive symptoms, a negative correlation was observed at the between-person level. At the within-person level, the cross-lagged path showed that an increase in satisfaction with workplace relationships was related to a subsequent decrease in depressive (T1 to T2: β = -0.039; B = -0.253, P = 0.017). Further, an increase in depressive symptoms was related to subsequent relationship deterioration in the workplace (T1 to T2: β = -0.049, B = -0.007, P = 0.003). Regarding workplace relationships and self-rated health, a positive correlation was observed at the between-person level. At the within-person level, there as was no significant within-person level association between WPR and self-rated health. and the effect sizes were small.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a bidirectional association between workplace relationships and depressive symptoms. Therefore, it is important to implement intervention programs that promote workplace interpersonal relationships and workers' mental health.

Investigating Impostorism Among Undergraduate Medical Students at Sultan Qaboos University: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background Imposter syndrome or phenomenon (IP) is a behavioral phenomenon observed in successful individuals where they fail to recognize and internalize their achievements. It is often accompanied by feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and worries of being exposed as frauds, with the impostors often attributing their achievements to external factors like good luck and timing. The presence of IP among medical students is gaining more attention, with studies reporting a strong association with burnout phenomenon, anxiety, and depression. Objectives This study sought to determine the prevalence of IP among Omani medical students and classify the levels of severity among the sample. Methodology This was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at a public university in Muscat, Oman. The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), a validated publicly available questionnaire, was used to determine whether students exhibited impostorism. Students who scored 63 or higher in the CIPS were classified as impostors. In addition, students were also classified based on the severity of their impostorism. As per the CIPS, scores between 41 and 60 indicate mild impostorism, scores between 61 and 80 indicate moderate impostorism, and finally scores between 81 and 100 indicate severe impostorism. Results A total of 276 students participated (M 34%, F 66%), of which 144 (52.2%) were found to have IP with 12.7% exhibiting severe impostorism.  Conclusion The results show that IP is present in significant frequencies among medical students; further studies are needed to address this problem.

Differential network interactions between psychosocial factors, mental health, and health-related quality of life in women and men

Psychosocial factors affect mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a complex manner, yet gender differences in these interactions remain poorly understood. We investigated whether psychosocial factors such as social support and personal and work-related concerns impact mental health and HRQL differentially in women and men during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between June and October 2020, the first part of a COVID-19-specific program was conducted within the "Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB)" cohort study, a representative age- and gender-stratified sample of the general population of Würzburg, Germany. Using psychometric networks, we first established the complex relations between personal social support, personal and work-related concerns, and their interactions with anxiety, depression, and HRQL. Second, we tested for gender differences by comparing expected influence, edge weight differences, and stability of the networks. The network comparison revealed a significant difference in the overall network structure. The male (N = 1370) but not the female network (N = 1520) showed a positive link between work-related concern and anxiety. In both networks, anxiety was the most central variable. These findings provide further evidence that the complex interplay of psychosocial factors with mental health and HRQL decisively depends on gender. Our results are relevant for the development of gender-specific interventions to increase resilience in times of pandemic crisis.

Age-varying relationships between family support and depressive symptoms in Chinese community-dwelling older adults

BACKGROUND

Adequate family support is an important factor in reducing the risk of depressive symptoms in older adults. We aimed to explore the age-varying relationships of family support and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

A total of 22,163 person-waves of older adults aged 60 to 85 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey were included. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Family support was divided into instrumental family support and emotional family support. A Time-Varying Effects Model was utilized to analyze the age-varying relationships.

RESULTS

There were age-varying relationships between family support and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults. Around age 70 was an important turning point of age. In instrumental family support, access to living care can reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in almost all age groups. At least medium-level financial support was required to be protective against depressive symptoms, and high-level financial support was necessary after age 70. In emotional family support, meeting children with high frequency was significantly associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms before age 70. Contacting children with low or medium frequency added the risk of depressive symptoms before age 70.

LIMITATIONS

Limited sample size of participants aged 80 years and above, lack of assessment for expectations of family support.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing the appropriate type and intensity of family support for older adults at a suitable age was encouraged. Future research should further verify and explicate the age-varying relationships longitudinally.

Interventions Involving Caregivers for Children and Adolescents Following Traumatic Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although treatment guidelines recommend interventions entailing caregiver involvement for children and adolescents following traumatic experiences, evidence on their effectiveness is inconsistent. The present systematic review and meta-analysis considered possible moderators of their effectiveness.

METHOD

Eligible studies were (quasi-)randomized controlled trials and efficacy trials published in English or German with participants up to the age of 21 years presenting symptoms of mental disorders due to traumatic experiences. The effectiveness of interventions entailing any kind and extent of caregiver involvement had to be investigated by applying evaluated instruments. PubMed, PsycINFO, ERIC, COCHRANE and PSYNDEX were searched.

RESULTS

A total of 33 studies with 36 independent samples were retrieved. Child- and parent-reports on PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, internalizing, externalizing symptoms and behavior problems were analyzed where available. The pooled effect size is significant and robust at post-treatment for child-reported PTSD, g = - 0.34 (95% CI = - 0.53; - 0.14), parent-reported PTSD, g = - 0.41 (95% CI = - 0.71; - 0.11), child-reported depression, g = - 0.29 (95% CI = - 0.46; - 0.11), child-reported anxiety, g = - 0.25 (95% CI = - 0.42; - 0.08), and parent-reported internalizing symptoms, g = - 0.27 (95% CI = - 0.47; - 0.07). Female sex and fulfilling diagnostic criteria appeared as potential moderators. The only significant effect size at follow-up is found for child-reported PTSD symptoms 12 months post-treatment, g = - 0.37 (95% CI = - 0.67; - 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions entailing caregiver involvement revealed greater symptom reductions than control conditions. Determinants of their effectiveness should be examined further.

Gender Differences in Social Support and Posttraumatic Growth for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

The current study investigated gender differences in perceived social support and posttraumatic growth for survivors of intimate partner violence. Participants for this study included 86 undergraduate students who indicated at least one instance of partner abuse (consisting of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and harassment). Participants were predominantly female (68%), White/Caucasian (62%), and between 18 and 21 years of age (84%). Participants responded to the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Composite Abuse Scale, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Mean differences and correlational analyses were utilized to investigate potential gender differences in the study variables as well as the relationships among them. The prevalence of intimate partner violence was comparable to those found in other studies, with 59% of men and 57% of women indicating experiencing abuse from a partner. Although the prevalence rates were similar, women indicated higher overall partner abuse victimization than did men. Moreover, women indicated statistically significantly higher scores than men in three of the four Composite Abuse Scale subscales, reflecting higher levels of victimization for all forms of abuse except for partner harassment. Further, perceived social support scores were similar for men and women, with the only significant gender difference to emerge being that men indicated higher levels of familial support than did women. No statistically significant gender differences emerged for overall posttraumatic growth or for any of its domains. Finally, social support was correlated with posttraumatic growth for women but not for men. The current study, therefore, suggests that men and women may experience similar levels of personal growth in the aftermath of partner abuse. Moreover, these results imply that the relationship between social support and posttraumatic growth may vary according to the gender of the survivor.

Trajectories of wellbeing in people who live with gamblers experiencing a gambling problem: An 18-year longitudinal analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey

In cross-sectional gambling studies, friends, family, and others close to those experiencing gambling problems (concerned significant others 'CSOs') tend to report detriments to their quality of life. To date, however, there have been no large, population-based longitudinal studies examining the health and wellbeing of CSOs. We analyse longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to examine the 18-year trajectories of general, social, health and financial wellbeing of household CSOs (n = 477) and compare these to those without a gambling problem in the household (n = 13,661). CSOs reported significantly worse long-term wellbeing than non-CSOs in their satisfaction with life, number of life stressors, and social, health and financial wellbeing. However, both social and financial wellbeing showed a temporal effect, declining significantly for CSOs at times closer to the exposure to the gambling problem. This finding suggests a causal link between living in a household with a person with a gambling problem and decreased CSO social and financial wellbeing. Policy responses, such as additional social and financial support, could be considered to assist CSOs impacted by another person's gambling problem.

Daily Reports of Aggressive Behaviors in Interpersonal Conflicts

Interpersonal conflicts are inevitable, but the probability that conflicts involve aggressive behavior varies. Prior research that has tended to focus on victimization in intimate partnerships reported through retrospective designs. Addressing these limitations, the current study examines daily reports of behaving aggressively in any conflict across relationships in a sample of 512 young adults drawn from the nationally representative iCOR cohort. Respondent attitudes and affective measures were collected at the end of the daily data collection period. Regression methods were applied to examine the probability and frequency of aggression, investigating early and recent exposure to adversities, attitudes, self-control, affect and emotional states, and alcohol use behavior. Recent adversities and the propensity to endorse a defensive honor code attitude, consistent with theory and retrospective studies of aggression, predicted both prevalence and frequency of aggressive behavior. The associations of childhood maltreatment and self-control with the prevalence of behaving aggressively were as expected, but these constructs were significantly associated with the frequency of aggression with unexpected, inverse directionality. Moreover, respondents' affect and other emotional states were only associated with the frequency, not the prevalence, of aggressive behavior. Overall, this daily data collection constructively distinguished risk and protective factors for behaving aggressively more often. Further research is needed to disentangle the extent to which affective states drive or is a consequence of frequent aggressive behavior.

Social Support and Psychological Distress among the Bedouin Arab Elderly in Israel: The Moderating Role of Gender

In Israel, as in other developed countries, mental health problems are common among older adults who are members of disadvantaged ethnic minorities that are experiencing cultural and social changes. The main goals of the current study were: (a) to examine gender differences in the levels of psychological distress and social support among Bedouin elders, and (b) to examine the moderating role of gender in the associations between social support indices and psychological distress. We used a cross-sectional design, and independent t-tests and hierarchical linear regression analysis were performed. The study was conducted in homes and in social clubs and community centers for elderly people and involved face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires. A convenience sample of 170 Bedouin Arab elderly people living in Israel participated in the study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed psychological distress, perceived social support, instrumental social support, and socio-demographic characteristics. Male elders reported lower levels of psychological distress and higher levels of instrumental support. Female elders, who reported low levels of both perceived and instrumental support, also reported higher levels of psychological distress. Among the women, there were significant associations between psychological distress and perceived social support, and instrumental support only when the levels of support were low. This study underscores the moderating role of gender in the associations between different types of social support and psychological distress among elderly people belonging to ethnic and cultural underprivileged minority groups.

Inequality in Social Support Associated With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study of Older (≥60 Years) Residents in Shanghai, China

Objective: Social support plays a critical role in the detection and management of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, socioeconomic inequalities exist in both social support and health care services. Our study aimed to compare the level of social support received by MCI patients in comparison with those without MCI and to determine its link with income. Methods: Secondary data analyses were performed. Social support was measured using the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) and satisfaction ratings. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine the associations of personal income and MCI with social support after adjustment for variations in the sociodemographic and health characteristics of the respondents. The multiplicative and additive interaction effects of income and MCI were further examined through introducing the MCI^*Income variable to the regression models and using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) analysis, respectively. Results: The logistic regression models showed that the respondents with MCI had significantly lower social support as measured by the DSSI scores (AOR = 33.03, p < 0.001) and satisfaction ratings (AOR = 7.48, p < 0.001) compared with those without MCI. Similarly, social support decreased with lower personal income (p < 0.001). There existed a significant multiplicative interaction effect between personal income and MCI on social support (AOR = 0.30-0.32, p < 0.01). The gap in social support between those with and without MCI was higher in the higher income group compared with the lower income group (p < 0.001). No significant additive interaction effects on social support were found between MCI and income. Conclusions: There are significant disparities in social support between people living with and without MCI. Such a gap is more profound in people with higher income. The inequality in social support associated with MCI may present a significant challenge to the successful implementation of community MCI detection and management.

Mental distress among young adults - gender differences in the role of social support

Background

The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent observed gender differences in mental health are associated with the protective factors social support, sense of coherence and participation in regular physical activity and more generally, engagement in organized or unorganized activity with other people.

Methods

This study was based upon a cross-sectional regional health survey in Norway, conducted during the winter of 2015–2016, in three southern counties; Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder and Vestfold. The study focused on young adults, comparing three age groups; 18–24 years old (n = 624), 25–31 (n = 582), and 32–38 years old (n = 795).

Results

Sense of coherence was strongly associated with low mental distress in all age groups and for both genders, while the association between low social support and mental distress was significant for young women only. Regular physical activity was not positively associated with low mental distress when sense of coherence and social support were included in the analysis.

Conclusion

Social support appears to have a stronger role as a protective factor for mental distress among young women, compared to young men and older persons. This has implications for health promoting activities that target young women. Sense of coherence showed a strong association with low mental distress scores for all ages studied.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12109-5.

Social Network Correlates of Mental Health among Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China

Internal rural-to-urban migrants in China are facing a high risk of mental disorders. Previous research on mental health correlates and predictors among this population focused on individual-level characteristics, neglecting network-level indicators, and migrant–urbanite intergroup relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Beijing, China from December 2018 to January 2019. A convenience sample of 420 rural-to-urban migrants completed the Chinese 12-item General Health Questionnaire and reported their relationship with urbanites in the past six months. Multivariate linear regression models were used to test the association of the inter-hukou network with migrant mental health. Two indicators of the inter-hukou network were significantly associated with migrant mental health. Migrants were more mentally healthy if their proportion of weak ties in the inter-hukou network was no less than 50%. The more social support migrants received from the inter-hukou network, the better their mental health was. Meanwhile, there was a significant interaction effect between social support and sex, indicating that the same level of social support better protected the mental health of female migrants. Results suggest the importance of social network factors and migrant–urbanite ties for migrant mental health. Future efforts may need to mobilize and facilitate the inter-hukou network to improve migrant mental health.

COVID-19 and the Change in Lifestyle: Bodyweight, Time Allocation, and Food Choices

We analyze the dynamic changes in individuals' lifestyle during the COVID-19 outbreak and recovery period through a survey of 1061 Chinese households. Specifically, we are interested in individuals' bodyweight, time allocation and food choices. We find that COVID-19 is associated with weight gain, less time spent on exercise and more time on entertainment. The proportion of online food purchase and snack purchases also shows an upward trend. This study provides useful implications on the impact of COVID-19 and its associated lockdowns on individuals' lifestyle and offers foresights for countries in different stages of the pandemic. It explains how encouraging exercise, managing new food purchase venues, and reducing the intake of unhealthy food such as snacks may also need to be considered in dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19.

Assessing the Impact of Social Media Use on Everyday Emotion in Health Crises: A Study of International Students in China during COVID-19

Social media has become a valuable tool in providing an opportunity to stay in touch with one's social networks, providing reassurance and practical advice to individuals to pre-empt panic and rumors in COVID-19. However, the implications of social media use on the everyday emotion (anxiety and depression) of users especially, international students, are not well understood. Thus, this study sought to examine the impact of social media use on the everyday emotion of international students in China during COVID-19. Using a structured online questionnaire based on modified questions from the generalized anxiety disorder 7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and social media use instruments, data were collected from 480 participants. Of the total responses received, 474 were further analyzed employing the Partial Least Squares Path Modelling (PLS-PM). This study showed a significant positive relationship between social media use and everyday emotion (B = 0.34, 95% CI (0.26, 0.44)). Additionally, self-rated anxiety and depression associated with social media use among international students were generally mild (n = 249, 52.50% and n = 350, 73.80%, respectively). Moderating effects revealed that age and sex do not significantly moderate the relationship between social media use and everyday emotion in COVID-19. Given the nature of social media among international students, who are also prone to suffering from anxiety and depression associated with social media use, the positive effect of social media use and everyday emotion, especially in COVID-19, has important implications for international students' education stakeholders. Thus, gaining a deeper understanding of this relationship could enable them to harness social media and use it as a valuable tool to overcome the social distancing constraints in COVID-19.

Referral and access to heart function clinics: A realist review

RATIONALE, AIM, AND OBJECTIVES

Heart failure (HF) clinics are highly effective, yet not optimally utilized. A realist review was performed to identify contexts (eg, health system characteristics, clinic capacity, and siting) and underlying mechanisms (eg, referring provider knowledge of clinics and referral criteria, barriers in disadvantaged patients) that influence utilization (provider referral [ie, of all appropriate and no inappropriate patients] and access [ie, patient attends ≥1 visit]) of HF clinics.

METHODS

Following an initial scoping search and field observation in a HF clinic, we developed an initial program theory in conjunction with our expert panel, which included patient partners. Then, a literature search of seven databases was searched from inception to December 2019, including Medline; Grey literature was also searched. Studies of any design or editorials were included; studies regarding access to cardiac rehabilitation, or a single specialist for example, were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened the abstracts, and then full-texts. Relevant data from included articles were used to refine the program theory.

RESULTS

A total of 29 papers from five countries (three regions) were included. There was limited information to support or refute many elements of our initial program theory (eg, referring provider knowledge/beliefs, clinic inclusion/exclusion criteria), but refinements were made (eg, specialized care provided in each clinic, lack of patient encouragement). Lack of capacity, geography, and funding arrangements were identified as contextual factors, explaining a range of mechanistic processes, including patient clinical characteristics and social determinants of health as well as clinic characteristics that help to explain inappropriate and low use of HF clinics (outcome).

CONCLUSION

Given the burden of HF and benefit of HF clinics, more research is needed to understand, and hence overcome sub-optimal use of HF clinics. In particular, an understanding from the perspective of referring providers is needed.

Living in opposition: How women in the United States cope in spite of mistrust of federal leadership during the pandemic of Covid-19

International research collaborators conducted research investigating sociocultural responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our mixed methods research design includes surveys and interviews conducted between March and September of 2020 including 249 of 506 survey responses and 18 of 50 in-depth, exploratory, semi-structured interviews with self-defined politically left-leaning women in the United States. We employ a sequential design to analyze statistical and qualitative data. Despite international data suggesting that trust in federal governments reduces anxiety, women who did not trust and actively opposed the Trump administration reported lower levels of anxiety than expected. Results indicate reliance on and development of new forms of connection that seem to mitigate symptomatic anxieties when living in opposition. Women living in opposition to the leadership of the federal government use and develop resources to help them cope. Research on coping strategies and mental health and anxiety during crisis can inform recommendations for ways to support and strengthen sense of coherence during tumultuous times.

Profiles of Youth In-Person and Online Sexual Harassment Victimization

This study examines whether online sexual harassment (SH) is a unique form of behavior, separate and apart from in-person SH. Data were drawn from the National Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV), a national representative household survey focused on youth interpersonal aggression. A weighted sample of 1,184 youth (12-21 years old) completed a baseline and a follow-up survey 1 year later. Through latent class analysis (LCA), we investigate our first research question of whether there are distinct classes/profiles of mutually exclusive online or in-person SH victims or whether they mostly overlap. Second, does there exist a high-rate group of SH victims who experience most of the SH behaviors both in-person and online? Third, what individual characteristics and behaviors, based on past research, are associated with these identified profiles of SH? LCA did not reveal an in-person-only or online-only SH class. The majority of the sample (78.5%) were represented in a Low/Near Zero SH class; 15.3% in a Sexual Orientation Harassment class suffering sexual orientation-related verbal harassment online and in-person; 4.2% in a Verbal SH class suffering verbal sexual comments, being forced to talk about sex, and being shown sexual pictures in-person and online; and 1.9% in a High SH class featured by a high probability of experiencing all online and in-person forms of SH. Biological sex, attitudes, anger, previous violence exposure, and gender stereotyping each predicted at least one latent class. The findings can help inform the design of more effective interventions to prevent SH, highlighting the overlapping nature of in-person and online SH. Prevention efforts designed to address in-person SH need to also consider online SH and vice versa. Clinicians should also consider the risk factors of SH identified in this study in their work identifying at-risk youth.

Age and gender differences in the reciprocal relationship between social connectedness and mental health

PURPOSE

To examine (i) reciprocal longitudinal associations between social connectedness and mental health, and (ii) how these associations vary by age and gender.

METHODS

Three waves of nationally representative data were drawn from the HILDA survey (n = 11,523; 46% men). The five-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Australian Community Participation Questionnaire provided measures of informal social connectedness, civic engagement and political participation. Multivariable adjusted cross-lagged panel regression models with random intercepts estimated bidirectional within-person associations between mental health and each of the three types of social connectedness. Multi-group analyses were used to quantify differences between men and women, and between three broad age groups (ages: 15-30; 31-50; 51+).

RESULTS

Reliable cross-lagged associations between prior informal social connections and future mental health were only evident among adults aged 50 years and older (B = 0.101, 95% CI 0.04, 0.16). Overall, there was no significant association between prior civic engagement and improvements in mental health (p = 0.213) though there was weak evidence of an association for men (B = 0.051, 95% CI 0.01, 0.09). Similarly, there was no significant association in the overall sample between political participation and improvements for mental health (p = 0.337), though there was weak evidence that political participation was associated with a decline in mental health for women (B = - 0.045, CI - 0.09, 0.00) and those aged 31-50 (B = - 0.057, CI - 0.10, - 0.01). Conversely, prior mental health was associated with future informal social connectedness, civic engagement, and political participation.

CONCLUSION

Interventions promoting social connectedness to improve community mental health need to account for age- and gender-specific patterns, and recognise that poor mental health is a barrier to social participation.

Prevalence of COVID-19 Anxiety in Division I Student-Athletes

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent in athletes. The pandemic of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may increase risk for symptoms due to fear of exposure during competition or uncertainty regarding participation. The current study examined the prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety in 437 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes and its association with psychological symptoms. Only 0.2% of participants endorsed COVID-19 anxiety symptoms above cutoff. COVID-19 anxiety did not change after postponement of fall sports or differ between persons competing in different seasons. However, higher levels of COVID-19 anxiety were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Though student-athletes generally reported low levels of psychological symptoms, females endorsed significantly higher levels than males. Low levels of COVID-19 anxiety in student-athletes may reflect protective factors (e.g., health knowledge, emotion regulation) or the tendency for this population to minimize psychological symptoms. Further investigations on the psychological impact of COVID-19 in athletes is needed.

Measuring Social Support among Soldiers with the Experienced Post-Deployment Social Support Scale (EPSSS): A Rasch-Based Construct Validity Study

Perceived social support following deployment is a known buffer against post-deployment adverse mental health outcomes. Given contextual sensitivity of social support measures, scales that address specific social support needs of soldiers in the first months after home coming should be developed and validated. In a sample of 553 soldiers deployed to Afghanistan at two different time points (2009 and 2013, respectively), we selected items for and tested the construct validity of an 8-item measure of experienced post-deployment social support (experienced post-deployment social support scale; EPSSS). Within the item response theory framework, we used Rasch models (RM) to conduct item analysis with an emphasis on testing for differential item functioning (DIF) across background variables such as previous deployments and cohort. In short, we found that the scale did not fit the Rasch model, but with exclusion of two items, a 6-item version of the scale did fit an extended graphical loglinear Rasch model (GLLRM) with only one instance of DIF, for which the score can be adjusted. We also demonstrated that when applied as a scale, the DIF will not affect the results substantially. Hence, we conclude that the constructed 6-item EPSSS can be validly applied without score correction to assess the level of social support in Danish soldiers after home coming.

Health-related quality of life and pain interference in two patient cohorts with neuropathic pain: breast cancer survivors and HIV patients

OBJECTIVES

Persistent pain is common in HIV patients and breast cancer (BC) survivors. The aim of this study was to compare two patient groups with neuropathic pain (NP) regarding several psychological variables and Health-related Quality of Life. Although, treatment of pain is always planned individually, the knowledge of the differences and similarities between the patient groups may help us to understand more precisely the targets of the interventions for pain.

METHODS

Eighty nine BC and 73 HIV patients with symptoms of neuropathic pain (patients with ≥3/7 in the Douleur Neuropathique four interview part (DN4i)) participated in a cross-sectional study. Patients completed questionnaires about mood (HADS), symptoms of insomnia (ISI), pain catastrophizing (PCS), personality (TIPI), Mental and Physical Health-related Quality of Life (M/PHrQoL, RAND/SF-36), and pain intensity and interference (BPI). Analyses were applied by using t-tests and linear regression to assess associations between the studied factors.

RESULTS

HIV patients reported higher anxiety (p<0.001), depressive symptoms (p<0.001), pain catastrophizing (p<0.001) and pain interference (p<0.001), poorer sleep (p<0.001), and lower HrQoL in all dimensions compared with BC survivors. There were significant differences in personality traits extraversion, emotional stability, and agreeableness between the two patient groups. In HIV patients, pain interference (β=-0.344, p<0.001) and mood (β=-0.580, p<0.001) and in the BC group, mood (β=-0.591, p<0.001), extraversion (β=0.229, p=0.005) and sleep (β=-0.154, p=0.042) associated with MHrQoL. Pain interference (HIV β=-0.645, p<0.001, BC β=-0.491, p<0.001) and age (HIV β=-0.016, p=0.042 and BC β=-0.018, p=0.019) associated with PHrQoL in both groups, and catastrophizing in the BC group (β=-0.303, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV patients and BC survivors with neuropathic pain, measured with DN4i, have significant differences in various health-related variables and Health-related Quality of Life with both patient groups reporting low HrQoL. The differences in low HrQoL may reflect the fundamental differences between these diseases, BC survivors in remission and HIV patients living with a chronic disease that is under control. This study brings information about the diversity of different patient populations with symptoms of neuropathic pain, and how neuropathic pain associates with wide range of health-related factors. Interventions to support better coping with the symptoms of neuropathic pain could be tailored more individually if the background disease is taken into account.

Examining moderators of the relationship between social support and self-reported PTSD symptoms: A meta-analysis

Social support is one of the most robust predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, little is known about factors that moderate the relationship between social support and PTSD symptom severity. This meta-analysis estimated the overall effect size of the relationship between self-reported social support and PTSD severity and tested meaningful demographic, social support, and trauma characteristics that may moderate this association using both cross-sectional and longitudinal effect sizes. A comprehensive search identified 139 studies with 145 independent cross-sectional effect sizes representing 62,803 individuals and 37 studies with 38 independent longitudinal effect sizes representing 25,792 individuals. Study samples had to comprise trauma-exposed, nonclinical adult populations to be included in the analysis. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses revealed a near medium overall effect size (rcross = -.27; 95% CI [-.30, -.24]; rlong = -.25; 95% CI [-.28, -.21]) with a high degree of heterogeneity (cross-sectional I2 = 91.6, longitudinal I2 = 86.5). Both cross-sectional and longitudinal moderator analyses revealed that study samples exposed to natural disasters had a weaker effect size than samples exposed to other trauma types (e.g., combat, interpersonal violence), studies measuring negative social reactions had a larger effect size than studies assessing other types of social support, and veteran samples revealed larger effect sizes than civilian samples. Several other methodological and substantive moderators emerged that revealed a complex relationship between social support and PTSD severity. These findings have important clinical implications for the types of social support interventions that could mitigate PTSD severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Maternal Functioning and Depression Scores Improve Significantly With Participation in Visiting Moms® Program

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing can affect the entire family unit. Health professionals must strive to identify and develop effective, feasible solutions for women during this critical period. AIMS: To determine whether postpartum maternal functioning (as measured by the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning) and depression symptoms (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were improved after participation in the Visiting Moms program. METHOD: Paired data were collected from women at program intake and after completion of the Visiting Moms program. Visiting Moms provides services through eastern and central Massachusetts and was designed to support new mothers throughout the infant's first year of life. The study population was composed of adult women living in the Jewish Family and Children's Services geographic catchment area, who enrolled in Visiting Moms between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all 402 women enrolled in this timeframe. Utilizing a pretest/posttest design, paired t tests were performed for the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (n = 149) and for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (n = 156), where women had complete scores at both intake and completion, to determine the program's potential impact on depressive symptoms and functional status. RESULTS: Functioning and depression scores were significantly improved after participation in the program. CONCLUSIONS: Visiting moms, and similar programs, aimed at delivery of enhanced social support, may be effective in promoting mental and emotional wellness among new mothers who are require additional support in the postpartum period.

The relationship between social networking sites usage and psychological distress among undergraduate students during COVID-19 lockdown

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, interpersonal interactions are restricted to social networks. Undergraduate students are isolated in their homes and dorms. Loneliness is closely related to psychological distress. Fear of contracting the disease will worsen psychological distress. The purpose of this study was to assess the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among undergraduate students and their relationships with social networking sites usage during the COVID-19 lockdown. An online survey was used to recruit 456 participants for this cross-sectional descriptive study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data on students' demographics, depression, anxiety, stress, and social networking usage. The results revealed that the majority of students had symptoms of depression (74.1%), anxiety (59.6%), and stress (61.2%). Female students had higher depression and anxiety symptoms than males. Senior-level students' psychological distress symptoms were significantly different from those of junior level. The largest percentage of students (91.9%) used social networking sites for entertainment. The academic usage of social networking sites was negatively (p < .05) correlated with depression and stress scores, while entertainment usage was positively correlated with anxiety. Age was not found to be significantly correlated with psychological distress. Academic and entertainment use of social networking sites were successfully associated with psychological distress symptoms after controlling for demographics. During this unprecedented time of undergraduate students' course of study, they were experiencing higher than average distress symptoms. These symptoms could be mitigated by continuing the regular academic activities and delivering the most accurate up-to-date information on the COVID-19 through social networking sites.

Family SES, family social capital, and general health in Chinese adults: exploring their relationships and the gender-based differences

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have clarified that family socioeconomic status (SES) is positively associated with health. However, the mechanism of family SES on health needs to be further investigated from a social epidemiological perspective. This study aims to analyze the relationships among family SES, family social capital, and adult general health and tests whether gender-based differences exist in the relationship between family social capital and general health.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 4187 representative households in six Chinese provinces. Family SES was conceptualized based on household income, family education, and family occupational status. Family social capital was measured by using family cohesion and health-related family support. General health was assessed by using five general health perception items of the Health Survey Short Form. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the relationships among family SES, family social capital, and general health, and a linear regression model was used to test gender-based differences.

RESULTS

The SEM showed that the direct effects of family SES, family cohesion, and health-related family support on health were 0.08 (P < 0.001), 0.17 (P < 0.001), and 0.10 (P < 0.001), respectively. Family SES had indirect effect (β = 0.05, P < 0.01) on general health via health-related family support. The total effect of family social capital (β = 0.27, P < 0.001) on general health was greater than that of family SES (β = 0.13, P < 0.001). Besides, the regression showed that the effect of health-related family support on general health was greater for women (β = 0.13, P < 0.001) than men (β = 0.04, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide strong support for the positive association between family SES, family social capital, and adult health. Family intervention programs should focus on establishing a harmonious family relationship to mobilize family support, particularly for the families with low cohesion and low SES.

Which groups affected by Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) are most at risk for a lack of social support? A prospective population-based study on the 12-month prevalence of PTEs and risk factors for a lack of post-event social support

Objectives

Little is known about the 12-month prevalence of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and to what extent the type of PTE is a risk factor for post-event lack of social support. In addition, it is largely unknown if pre-event mental health problems and loneliness, and demographics are risk factors for a lack of support. Aim of the present prospective study is to fill these gaps in evidence-based knowledge.

Methods

A survey was conducted among a large random sample of the Dutch adult population (i.e. the longitudinal LISS panel) in March-April 2018, and linked with pre-event mental health and loneliness data from surveys conducted in 2016 (n = 5,879). We distinguished four forms of perceived social support: emotional and esteem support, and social recognition and general disapproval.

Results

Loss of a significant other and/or colleague (28%) was the most prevalent 12-month PTE. The 12-month prevalence of violence, accidents and/or, and theft-related events was 13%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed no differences in lack of emotional and esteem support, or in lack of recognition across non-death PTEs and death-related PTEs. However, victims of threat and physical (sexual) violence more often faced disapproval than those affected by burglary and accidents. Results furthermore showed that pre-event mental health problems, pre-event loneliness and stress during the PTE were important independent predictors of forms of support and acknowledgment. Affected individuals with a non-Western background more often lacked support and acknowledgment.

Conclusions

Many adults are confronted with a PTE during a year. In general, pre-event factors and stress during the event are better predictors of a perceived lack of support and acknowledgment than type of event. Early screening programs should especially assess pre-event mental health and loneliness, besides levels of stress during the event, to identify affected people who are at risk for a lack of social support and acknowledgment.

Relationships among economic stress, social support, age and quality of life in patients with chronic wounds: A moderated mediation model

AIMS

The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to determine if social support mediates the relationship between economic stress and quality of life; and (b) to explore whether participants' ages would moderate the indirect relationship between economic stress and quality of life through social support.

DESIGN

A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

From January 2015-June 2016, a total of 300 patients with chronic wounds were recruited from three hospitals. Data regarding economic stress, social support and quality of life were collected through survey questionnaires. The moderated mediation analysis was examined using the Hayes' PROCESS macro modelling tool, based on the bias-corrected bootstrapping method.

RESULTS

Economic stress was negatively correlated with quality of life and social support. The indirect effect of economic stress on quality of life through social support was negative. Furthermore, age moderated the relationship between economic stress and quality of life, as well as the relationship between economic stress and social support.

CONCLUSION

Reducing economic stress and improving social support are important strategies for improving quality of life in patients with chronic wounds, especially for younger patients.

IMPACT

Patients with chronic wounds experience considerable economic stress and severely impaired quality of life; however, little is known about the inner mechanisms of this relationship. This study emphasized the importance of providing social support in coping with the damage that economic stress causes to health. Clinical nurses should strengthen the comprehensive assessment of the socioeconomic status of patients and adjust nursing plans timely, to reduce the economic burden of patients based on the rational use of wound care materials. Moreover, when nursing for patients with chronic wounds, especially the elders, caregivers should strengthen the evaluation of social support and develop interventions to improve social support.

Profiles of Adolescent Relationship Abuse and Sexual Harassment: a Latent Class Analysis

This study aims to identify homogeneous groups of individuals based on self-reported victimization and perpetration of three subtypes of adolescent relationship abuse (ARA; physical, psychological, and sexual) and sexual harassment (SH). Study sample consists of 645 current or past-year daters aged 12-21, drawn from the National Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV). Latent class analysis was used to classify individuals, and a three-class model was selected (Low ARA-Low SH, High ARA-High SH, and Psychological ARA-Medium SH). Results provide evidence for three latent classes with varying patterns of ARA and SH. A number of exogenous variables were significantly associated with these patterns, e.g., youth who were previously exposed to any general violence were three times as likely to be in the High ARA-High SH class as those not previously exposed to violence. Adolescent relationship abuse prevention efforts should include activities to address sexual harassment, and vice versa. Results call for universal preventive intervention programs targeting adolescent relationship abuse and sexual harassment to start as early as adolescence, and the existence of the High ARA-High SH group supports the need for more targeted effort to interrupt such patterns.

Predictors of health care use in Australian cancer patients

Objective

The purpose of this study is to measure health care utilization in Australian cancer patients based on their demographic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Method

A total of 13,609 participants (aged 15 and over) from 7,230 households were interviewed as part of Wave 13 of the national Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Five hundred and seventeen participants indicated a current cancer diagnosis with 90% of those receiving active treatment at the time of interview. Independent sample t-tests, Pearson Chi-sq tests, Kruskal‒Wallis H test, binary logistic regression and a zero-inflated Poisson regression were used to examine inequality in health care use.

Results

Demographic and sociocultural factors such as advancing age, gender, low income, low education status, rurality, no private health insurance, increased psychological distress and less access to specialist care are associated with lower health care utilization among cancer patients. However, models of care such as general practitioner-led cancer care is preferable in younger individuals with cancer, while accessing specialist care is associated with lower rates of hospitalization and higher levels of psychological distress increases hospital length of stay.

Conclusions

The findings of lower health care utilization by those cancer patients with characteristics of disadvantage have implications for policy development and intervention design. Broadly, policies targeting structural social inequities are likely to increase health care utilization among the most affected/disadvantaged populations. Further investigation is needed to identify potential links between health care utilization and cancer outcomes as a step toward targeted interventions for improving outcomes in the adversely affected groups.

The role of social support in the psychological illness of women

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the relationship between perception of social support and emotional and physical symptoms associated with psychiatric conditions among women.

METHOD

a cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out with a randomized random sample of 141 women attended at a Family Health Unit of the city of Ribeirão Preto/SP. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Self-Report Questionnaire were used.

RESULTS

there was no association between sociodemographic characteristics and mental disorder, but between aspects such as low income and schooling. The exercise of professions culturally considered as of low prestige gave rise to some reflections related to gender inequality. There was a significant difference in the satisfaction scores between the women who reported or not the symptoms of tiredness and sadness and the number of supporters among those who reported or not the symptom of fatigue. Spouses and children were the most mentioned supporters, and having mental disorder was significantly associated with having no friends in the support network.

CONCLUSION

issues related to gender equity and satisfaction with social support are important aspects of care. For the promotion of mental health, efforts must be made to make women feel more connected and supported by the supporters available in their social environment.

The interpersonal context of depression and violent behavior: A social psychological interpretation

Depression is a particularly prevalent form of psychopathology affecting millions of individuals worldwide. It is associated with a variety of adverse social and behavioral outcomes. Numerous observational studies have found that depressed individuals have significantly elevated rates of interpersonal violence. As of now, the social mechanisms that explain the association between depression and violence remain understudied and not well understood. Drawing on the aggression and social psychology literatures, we argue that depressed actors suffer skills deficits and exhibit hostile communication styles that provoke grievances and disputes. We suggest that, because of these interpersonal tendencies, depression increases involvement in verbal disputes, and that frequent participation in verbal disputes foments social contexts where interpersonal violence is more common. Findings from a series of regression models based on a nationally representative sample of 2171 respondents offer support for our assumptions. The study suggests a consideration of interpersonal dynamics, particularly verbal disputes, might unlock clues about the association between depression and violence involvement.

Gender and age interact to predict the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following a motor vehicle accident

OBJECTIVE

Women have a greater overall risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than men after exposure to trauma. In addition to gender, other sociodemographic factors have been identified as risk factors for PTSD; however, research has typically examined these factors separately. Age has been found to contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders, and both linear and curvilinear relationships have been reported between age and risk of developing PTSD. Recent research has suggested that this relationship may vary depending on gender.

METHOD

We performed a secondary analysis of data from a prospective study of 287 (164 men, 123 women) motor vehicle accident (MVA) patients (aged 18-81) who completed clinical interviews 6 weeks, 6 months, and/or 1 year after an MVA.

RESULTS

Overall, women developed more severe PTSD symptoms than men; however, gender differences were small in the young (18-24 years) and the old (55 and older) groups. In women, age was not associated with PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks and 6 months; however, age was curvilinearly associated with PTSD severity at 1-year post-MVA such that middle-aged women reported greater symptom severity than younger and older women. Prior trauma exposure and social support mediated this relationship. In men, PTSD severity was not associated with age, but was related to income and social support.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight age-based subgroups of women at elevated risk for PTSD following a traumatic injury and suggest that psychosocial intervention with middle-aged women following trauma exposure may help reduce the risk of persistent PTSD symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

The social anatomy of adverse childhood experiences and aggression in a representative sample of young adults in the U.S

Objective The current study assesses the effect of adverse childhood experiences on later aggression and violence across young adult relationships contexts, including intimate partners, friends, or strangers. Method Surveys were conducted with a nationally representative sample of young adults ages 18-32, drawn from the AmeriSpeak panel, a probability-based panel with coverage of 97% of U.S. households. The weighted study sample is 2284 young adult respondents, of whom 1561 reported being in an intimate partnership. Results Rates of verbal aggression perpetrated by young adults declined with the intimacy of the relationship, such that aggression against a partner (72%) exceeded aggression directed at friends (43%) and strangers (34%). Similar rates of physical violence (about 9%) were reportedly perpetrated against partners, friends, and strangers. Adjusting for a range of personal characteristics, both adverse childhood experiences and recent stressors in these young adult lives exhibited direct associations with verbal and physically aggressive outcomes. Conclusions In models of verbal and physical aggression across relationship contexts, childhood adversity exhibits lasting effects unaccounted for by important proximal life circumstances, including recent life stressors, mental health, and substance use behaviors. These results provide empirical insights for clinical treatment of young adults prone to aggressive conflicts as well as input to positive youth development programming to foster healthy approaches to conflict.

Mental Health, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Social Support in the UK Armed Forces by Gender

Background: Little is known about gender differences in mental health, related help-seeking behavior and social support in UK military personnel. Methods: 1714 UK military serving personnel and ex-service veterans were randomly selected if, in a cohort study, they endorsed experiencing a subjective stress, emotional, alcohol or mental health problem in the previous three years. Following exclusions, the final sample size was 1448 (participation rate 84.5%; women n = 219). Structured telephone interviews assessed anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, help-seeking and social support occurring both currently and in the past three years. Outcomes were assessed using weighted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses. Results: Mental health problems assessed at interview were broadly similar for men and women; for both genders, levels of social support were high. One-fifth of respondents screened positive for probable mental disorder or alcohol misuse; although rates of mental disorder symptoms did not differ by gender, women were significantly less likely than men to report alcohol misuse. Women were significantly more likely to have sought help from formal medical sources but significantly less likely to access informal support such as friends, family or unit welfare sources; reasons for seeking formal medical support were similar for men and women except for problem recognition and acting on advice from others, which were both significantly more common among women. Conclusion: For military personnel with a history of mental ill-health, women should make greater use of informal support networks while for men, engagement with formal medical help sources should be encouraged.

Social support and mental health in late adolescence are correlated for genetic, as well as environmental, reasons

Late adolescence is a crucial, but underexplored, developmental stage with respect to the aetiology of social support. These individuals are experiencing many major life changes and social support can help them adjust to the associated environmental stressors of this time. Using 1,215 18-year-old twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study, we collected measures of two indices of support: support quality and support quantity, as well as wellbeing and depression. Both support indices were moderately heritable (55% and 49%, respectively), an interesting finding given the many environmental changes that late adolescents are encountering that could be environmentally altering their social network structures. Finding a genetic influence on support suggests the presence of gene-environment correlation whereby individuals create and perceive their supportive environment based upon their genetic predispositions. Shared genetic influences mediated the moderate phenotypic correlation (mean r = 0.46) between support and mental health. Genetic correlations were higher between support quality and mental health (mean rA = 0.75), than between support quantity and mental health (mean rA = 0.54), reflecting the phenotypic pattern. This suggests that interventions should focus more on making late adolescents aware of the support quality around them than encouraging them to increase their social network size.

Does social support modify the effect of disability acquisition on mental health? A longitudinal study of Australian adults

PURPOSE

Disability acquisition in adulthood is associated with deterioration in mental health. Social support may act as a "buffer" against poor mental health following disability acquisition. We tested the hypothesis that women and men with low social support experienced larger declines in mental health on acquisition of a disability compared to women and men with high social support.

METHODS

We assessed whether social support, measured both prior and subsequent to disability acquisition, modified the association between disability acquisition and mental health using 14 annual waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Participants reported at least two consecutive waves of disability preceded by at least two consecutive waves without disability (2200 participants, 15,724 observations). Fixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate average differences in mental health between waves with and without disability, for women and men separately. We tested for effect measure modification of the association by social support, including a three-way interaction between disability and social support prior and subsequent to disability acquisition.

RESULTS

Though the effects of disability acquisition on mental health were much larger for women, for both women and men there was a consistent pattern of association with social support. There was evidence that social support modified the association between disability acquisition and mental health, with the largest effects for those experiencing a change from high to low social support subsequent to disability and for people with consistently low social support.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of developing new policy and practice strategies to improve the mental health of people with disabilities, including interventions to promote social support at the time of disability acquisition.

Associations between health culture, health behaviors, and health-related outcomes: A cross-sectional study

Background

To examine the associations between demographic characteristics, health behaviors, workplace health culture, and health-related outcomes in Chinese workplaces.

Methods

A total of 1508 employees from 10 administrative offices and 6 enterprises were recruited for a cross-sectional survey. Self-administered questionnaires mainly addressed demographic characteristics, health behaviors, workplace health culture, and health-related outcomes including self-rated health, mental health, and happiness.

Results

The proportion of participants who reported good health-related outcomes was significantly higher in those working in administrative offices than those working in enterprises. The result of the potential factors related to self-rated health (SRH), mental health, and happiness by logistic regression analyses showed that age and income were associated with SRH; type of workplace, age, smoking, and health culture at the workplace level were associated with mental health; and beneficial health effects of direct leadership was positively associated with happiness. Moreover, there were some similar results among 3 multivariate regression models. Firstly, good SRH (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.744), mental health (OR = 1.891), and happiness (OR = 1.736) were more common among highly physically active participants compared with those physical inactive. Furthermore, passive smoking was negatively correlated with SRH (OR = 0.686), mental health (OR = 0.678), and happiness (OR = 0.616), while health culture at the individual level was positively correlated with SRH (OR = 1.478), mental health (OR = 1.654), and happiness (OR = 2.916).

Conclusions

The present study indicated that workplace health culture, health behaviors, and demographic characteristics were associated with health-related outcomes. Furthermore, individual health culture, physical activity, and passive smoking might play a critical role in workplace health promotion.

Social support mediates the relationships between extraversion, neuroticism, and cognitive function in older adults

OBJECTIVES

We supplement existing findings on a link between social support and cognitive function in later life by considering the role of personality as an antecedent to both, and of social support as a mediator of the link between personality and cognitive function.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational cohort study.

METHODS

We evaluated social support using the Lubben Social Network Scale, across 624 adults aged over 60 years, and investigated this measure as a mediator of the relationships between extraversion and neuroticism at baseline 2007-2009, and cognitive function at follow-up, 2 years later. A half-longitudinal mediation design, within a structural equation modelling framework, was used.

RESULTS

There was a direct effect of extraversion, such that lower levels were related to higher scores of cognitive function. There was no significant direct effect of neuroticism on cognitive function at follow-up. Social support partially mediated the paths between both extraversion and neuroticism and cognitive function at follow-up. Decomposing the mediation effects by using social support subscales (measuring support from friends, relatives and neighbours) showed meaningful indirect effects for both predictors.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that social support may offer a target for interventions for cognitively at-risk older adults and add to the existing empirical evidence describing the link between personality and cognitive function.