A longitudinal twin and sibling study of the hopelessness theory of depression in adolescence and young adulthood

The effect of the perceived social support on mental health of Chinese college soccer players during the COVID-19 lockdown: The chain mediating role of athlete burnout and hopelessness

The isolation and blockade during the COVID-19 pandemic have a great impact on the mental health of Chinese college soccer players. This study aimed to explore the effect of perceived social support on mental health of college soccer players, as well as the mediating role of athlete burnout and hopelessness during the COVID-19 lockdown. Based on a sample of 674 college soccer players from several universities in China, the study used the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The results indicated that: (1) there was a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (2) the athlete burnout played a mediating role between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (3) the hopelessness also played a mediating role between perceived social support and mental health of college soccer players; (4) the athlete burnout and hopelessness played a chain mediating role between perceived social support and mental health. These findings could contribute to insight into the mechanisms by which perceived social support affects the mental health of college soccer players and provide important practical guidance for protecting and promoting their mental health.

Exploring the Association of Age with Depressive Symptomatology in Childhood and Adolescence: A Network Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the association of age with individual depression and anxiety symptoms and their connectivity (i.e., number/strength of connections with other symptoms) in girls and boys.

METHOD

Our study comprised cross-sectional data from 31,960 Dutch girls and 32,162 Dutch boys aged 8 to 18 and considered 11 depression symptoms and 14 anxiety symptoms measured by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Network estimations were used to examine whether age was associated with individual symptoms and, in a separate step, with the connectivity of depression symptoms with other depression symptoms and with the connectivity of depression symptoms with anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

Age was, in general, positively associated with depression symptoms in girls, but not in boys, and with the connectivity of depression symptoms with other depression symptoms in both sexes. These findings were the most profound for energy-related symptoms in girls. Age was, in general, negatively associated with anxiety symptoms and not or negatively associated with the connectivity of depression symptoms with anxiety symptoms in girls and boys, respectively. Substantial differences across symptoms were found.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that it is important to focus on individual symptoms, for age is mainly associated with energy-related depression symptoms and their connectivity in girls. Future etiologic studies may examine the role of energy-related depression symptoms in the development of depressive symptomatology in girls as these symptoms seem potential targets for the prevention of depression in the female population.

Physical diseases and elderly suicide in rural China: A case-control psychological autopsy study

OBJECTIVES

Physical diseases are well-established risk factor for suicide, particularly among older adults. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of the association. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of physical diseases and their influences on the elderly in rural China and to examine the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between physical diseases and suicide.

METHODS

This matched case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted from June 2014 to September 2015. Consecutive suicide cases (242) among people aged 60 years or above were identified in three Chinese provinces. The suicide cases were 1:1 matched with living comparisons based on age, gender and residential area. Two informants for each participant were interviewed to collect data on their demographic characteristics, the severity index of physical diseases, depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness, mental disorders and social support.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found between suicide cases and living comparisons regarding the prevalence of physical diseases (83.5% vs 66.5%, p < 0.001) and their severity (11.3 ± 6.2 vs 6.7 ± 5.3, p < 0.001). Independent risks of suicide included the following: not currently married (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = [1.04, 7.62]), mental disorders (OR = 7.18, 95% CI = [1.83, 28.13]), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = [1.05, 1.26]) and feelings of hopelessness (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = [1.20, 1.90]). The structural equation model indicated that the relationship between the severity index of physical diseases and suicide was mediated by depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders.

CONCLUSION

The severity and number of physical diseases were found to be correlated with suicide among the elderly in rural China, after controlling for demographic characteristics. Physical diseases elevate one's suicide risk by increasing depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders. Efforts for suicide prevention should be integrated with strategies to treat physical diseases along with psychological interventions.

Experiences of new diagnoses among HIV-positive persons: implications for public health

Background

Ready acceptance of experiences of new diagnoses among HIV-positive persons is a known personal and public health safety-net. Its beneficial effects include prompt commencement and sustenance of HIV-positive treatment and care, better management of transmission risk, and disclosure of the HIV-positive status to significant others. Yet, no known study has explored this topic in Ghana; despite Ghana’s generalised HIV/AIDS infection rate. Existing studies have illuminated the effects of such reactions on affected significant others; not the infected.

Methods

This paper studied qualitatively the experiences of new diagnoses among 26 persons living with HIV/AIDS. Sample selection was random, from two hospitals in a district in Ghana heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. The paper applied the Hopelessness Theory of Depression.

Results

As expected, the vast majority of respondents experienced the new diagnoses of their HIV-positive infection with a myriad of negative psychosocial reactions, including thoughts of committing suicide. Yet, few of them received the news with resignation. For the vast majority of respondents, having comorbidities from AIDS prior to the diagnosis primarily shaped their initial reactions to their diagnosis. The respondents’ transitioning to self-acceptance of their HIV-positive status was mostly facilitated by receiving counselling from healthcare workers.

Conclusions

Although the new HIV-positive diagnosis was immobilising to most respondents, the trauma faded, paving the way for beneficial public health actions. The results imply the critical need for continuous education on HIV/AIDS by public health advocates, using mass media, particularly, TV. Healthcare workers in VCTs should empathise with persons who experience new diagnoses of their HIV-positive status.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12809-6.

Predictors for Estimating Scars’ Internalization in Victims with Post-Traumatic Scars versus Patients with Postsurgical Scars

(1) Background: Scars are the consequence of physiological inherent healing processes of post-traumatic and surgical lesions with a psychological impact. Post-traumatic scarring may induce emotional and behavioral changes through social stigma. In this study we analyze the internalization of scars and their impact on hopelessness, depression, or the perception of social support in subjects with post-traumatic scars compared to people with surgical scars. (2) Methods: to research this suggested model, we analyzed data collected from 110 participants 61 women and 49 men, aged between 18 and 64 years; 55 participants had post-traumatically and 55 surgically acquired scars. They all were examined to assess the characteristics of scars, were asked to complete four psycho-social scales, and the results were compared. (3) Results: our results indicate that people with post-traumatic scars are oriented toward the internalization of scars, depending on their shape and size. We argue that hopelessness, appreciation of scars, age, and how scars are produced are important predictors of internalization. (4) Conclusions: the patient’s attitude toward the appearance of a scar is an indicator of how he/she will react in the future and it could predict the vulnerability to hopelessness. Finally, we nuance the impact of objective bodily harm on the psychological and moral suffering.

Fatores de risco e proteção e sintomas de depressão na adolescência

Avaliou-se a relação fatores de proteção e risco e sintomas depressivos na adolescência. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com amostra de 388 adolescentes de Sergipe, estudantes do ensino médio. Utilizaram-se um questionário sociodemográfico/escolar e as escalas da Bateria de Avaliação de Indicadores de Depressão Infantojuvenil (BAID-IJ). Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste de Regressão Logística Multinomial. Observou-se que o sexo feminino (OR = 6,1) e ter idade igual ou superior a 16 anos (OR = 3,3) aumentaram consideravelmente as chances de os adolescentes pontuarem no estrato de elevada pontuação quanto à sintomatologia depressiva. Baixa pontuação em autoconceito (OR = 5,7), elevado desamparo (OR = 12,3), elevada solidão (OR = 7,0) e elevada desesperança (OR = 2,8) exibiram impacto significativo para a presença de sintomas de depressão. Acredita-se tais achados podem auxiliar na elaboração de intervenções eficazes frente aos sintomas depressivos na adolescência.

Psychological Strain and Suicidal Ideation in Athletes: The Multiple Mediating Effects of Hopelessness and Depression

The present study aims to examine the relationship between psychological strain, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression among Chinese athletes. Participants were 774 Chinese athletes (454 men and 320 women), with a range of ages from 12 to 35 (M = 18.47, SD = 3.39). The structural equation modeling method was used to examine the multiple mediating effects of hopelessness and depression between psychological strain and suicidal ideation. As expected, a positive correlation between psychological strain, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression was found. Additionally, results seem to indicate that psychological strain directly and positively influenced suicidal ideation, and that hopelessness and depression played a serial mediating role in the relationship between psychological strain and suicidal ideation. To conclude, the psychological strain theory is applicable for explaining suicidal ideation in athletes. In athletes, psychological strain is sequentially associated first with a sense of hopelessness and then depression, which is in turn related to suicidal ideation. The present study makes a significant contribution to the literature because we provide a new theoretical basis and new methods for preventing mental disorder and suicidality in athletes.

Evidencias de validez factorial de la Escala de desesperanza de Beck en español con muestras clínicas y no clínicas

El propósito del presente estudio fue evaluar la estructura interna de la adaptación al español de Escala de Desesperanza de Beck et al. (1974), dada su utilidad y relevancia en la predicción de conductas suicidas. Para esto, se analizaron las respuestas a la escala de 1260 estudiantes universitarios (M = 4.79; DT = 4.29) y de una muestra clínica en la que participaron 150 jóvenes con intento de suicidio de alta letalidad (M = 8.51; DT = 2.38). Se examinó la estructura interna por medio del Análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) en tres fases: en la primera, se comparó el modelo original con cuatro modelos encontrados en las diferentes adaptaciones al español; en la segunda, se tomaron en cuenta modelos que analizan la aquiescencia; y en la tercera, se hizo una validación cruzada de esos modelos con población clínica. Los resultados señalan que la escala es unidimensional tanto en el caso de las muestras clínicas (χ2 = 154.84, gl = 135, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99,RMSEA = 0.03) como en la población universitaria; sin embargo, a esta última se le añadió un factor de método para el tratamiento de la aquiescencia (χ2 = 252.14, gl = 134, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.03). Los resultados muestran la importancia de utilizar análisis y modelos que consideren la naturaleza de los datos y las características de la muestra para aportar evidencias más sólidas para la validez de constructo.

Contributions of fixed mindsets and hopelessness to anxiety and depressive symptoms: A commonality analysis approach

BACKGROUND

Fixed mindsets (beliefs that personal traits are unchangeable) show consistent associations with internalizing symptoms. However, the mindset-internalizing symptom link has previously been studied in isolation of other maladaptive cognitions that relate to internalizing symptoms. Thus, the unique contributions of mindsets to internalizing symptoms remains unclear.

METHOD

We used commonality analysis (CA), which yields unique and shared effects of independent variables on an outcome, to assess unique contributions of emotion and anxiety mindsets to anxiety and depression symptoms, relative to the contributions of hopelessness. Participants in two online studies (Ns=200, 430) self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms, hopelessness, and emotion and anxiety mindsets.

RESULTS

In Study 1, neither mindset type contributed unique variance to depression or anxiety beyond the contribution of hopelessness. In Study 2, emotion mindsets again explained no unique symptom variance. Anxiety mindsets uniquely contributed 2.0% and 6.5% of depression and anxiety variance, respectively-but far larger proportions of symptom variance (20.0%-60.9%) were contributed by hopelessness alone, variance shared by hopelessness and anxiety mindsets, and variance shared among hopelessness, anxiety mindsets, and emotion mindsets.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions, and the non-referred adult samples may limit generalizability.

DISCUSSION

Mindsets contributed little unique variance to internalizing symptoms beyond hopelessness. Interventions teaching growth mindsets have been shown to reduce internalizing problem in past studies. However, these interventions might not necessarily operate by shaping mindsets; rather, they may affect symptom change by shaping closely-linked maladaptive cognitions-like hopelessness-with stronger ties to internalizing distress.

Self-Continuity Moderates the Association Between Peer Victimization and Depressed Affect

Two longitudinal studies conducted with early adolescents (ages 10-13) examined the hypothesis that self-continuity, or the degree to which individuals feel that they remain the same person over time regardless of how their specific characteristics may change, would moderate the association between victimization and depressed affect. Both Study 1 (N = 141) and Study 2 (N = 100) provided evidence of the moderating role of self-continuity as a buffer on the effect of peer victimization. Study 2 confirmed that self-continuity had a moderating effect after controlling for academic performance, number of friends, self-esteem, self-concept clarity, hopelessness, and self-blame. Findings support self-continuity as being protective with regard to negative peer environments.

Indirect Effect of Hopelessness on Depression Symptoms Through Perceived Burdensomeness

Hopelessness theory of depression posits that hopelessness due to negative inferences may serve as a proximal and sufficient cause of depression, while interpersonal theories suggest that interpersonal stress resulting from relationship problems and social rejection may lead to symptoms of depression. We propose that the two perspectives can be integrated by examining a model in which hopelessness predicts depression symptoms through two specific interpersonal stress constructs, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, in a sample of university students from Macau (N = 350). Results of mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of hopelessness on depression symptoms through perceived burdensomeness (indirect effect = .45; 95% confidence interval = .28 to .65), but not thwarted belongingness (indirect effect = .06; 95% confidence interval = -.05 to .18). Alternative models were also tested. When each interpersonal construct was treated as a separate mediator without controlling for the other, significant indirect effects of both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness were found. Moreover, when hopelessness was assigned as the mediator and interpersonal constructs as independent variables, significant indirect effects were likewise found for perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Findings suggest that the two different yet compatible views about depression-hopelessness and interpersonal theories-may be integrated to provide a better understanding of the process of how depression symptoms occur. It also reinforces the importance of considering interpersonal factors in the study of depression, especially in societies where interpersonal relationships are highly valued.