Personality, Negative Interactions, and Mental Health

Prospective prediction of anxiety onset in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA): A machine learning study

BACKGROUND

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders in the middle aged and older population. Because older individuals are more likely to have multiple comorbidities or increased frailty, the impact of anxiety disorders on their overall well-being is exacerbated. Early identification of anxiety disorders using machine learning (ML) can potentially mitigate the adverse consequences associated with these disorders.

METHODS

We applied ML to the data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) to predict the onset of anxiety disorders approximately three years in the future. We used Shapley value-based methods to determine the top factor for prediction. We also investigated whether anxiety onset can be predicted by baseline depression-related predictors alone.

RESULTS

Our model was able to predict anxiety onset accurately (Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve or AUC = 0.814 ± 0.016 (mean ± standard deviation), balanced accuracy = 0.741 ± 0.016, sensitivity = 0.743 ± 0.033, and specificity = 0.738 ± 0.010). The top predictive factors included prior depression or mood disorder diagnosis, high frailty, anxious personality, and low emotional stability. Depression and mood disorders are well known comorbidity of anxiety; however a prior depression or mood disorder diagnosis could not predict anxiety onset without other factors.

LIMITATION

While our findings underscore the importance of a prior depression diagnosis in predicting anxiety, they also highlight that it alone is inadequate, signifying the necessity to incorporate additional predictors for improved prediction accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Our study showcases promising prospects for using machine learning to develop personalized prediction models for anxiety onset in middle-aged and older adults using easy-to-access survey data.

The association between smoking and family health with the mediation role of personality among Chinese people: nationwide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

There may be unexplored interactions between family health, personality, and smoking that could help provide new perspectives on tobacco control.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the health of one's family and their smoking habits, as well as investigate the potential influence of personality on this relationship.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional investigation, a national survey conducted in China in 2022 recruited a total of 21,916 individuals. The Family Health Scale was utilized to assess the health of the family. The 10-item Big Five Inventory scale was utilized to assess the Big five personality traits. The relationship between big five personality, family health, and smoking were investigated using binary and linear logistic regression. The indirect effects mediated by Big five personality were analyzed using mediation analysis with Sobel tests, and the indirect effects were composited using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of smoking in the study population was 14.87%, 26.19% for males and 3.54% for females. Urban and rural smoking prevalence was 13.81% and 16.10% respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between smoking and family health (odds ratio 0.964, 95% CI 0.959, 0.970, P < 0.001) with covariates controlled. The Karlson-Holm-Breen composition facilitated the connection between extraversion (47.81%) and nervousness (52.19%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preventive interventions for smoking behavior should prioritize family health and the Big five personality as significant areas to focus on. According to this study, in addition to implementing various interventions for different personalities, family health should be strengthened to reduce smoking behavior.

Prevalence and influencing factors of sleep disturbance among medical students under the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Medical students may feel severe psychological stress during COVID-19, which might impair their ability to sleep. This research aimed to look at the risk factors for sleep disturbance and the prevalence of sleep disturbance among medical students.

METHODS

538 medical students in total were recruited for this research. Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance were assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To evaluate the possible risk variables, we computed descriptive statistics for each assessment item and ran univariate and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Medical students had a 63.6% prevalence of sleep disturbance (n = 342). According to logistic regression, introverted students are 1.77 times more likely than extroverted students to have sleep disturbance (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.91). Medical students with depression had a 5.6-times higher risk of sleep disturbance than those without depression (OR = 5.60, 95% CI 3.43-9.15). Additionally, medical students with anxiety were 3.95 times more likely than those without anxiety to have sleep disturbance (OR = 3.95, 95% CI 2.04-7.64).

CONCLUSIONS

According to this research, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant sleep disturbance among medical students. Additionally, among medical students, introversion, anxiety, and depression were risk factors for sleep disturbance.

Worse psychological traits associated with higher probability of emotional problems during the Omicron pandemic in Tianjin, China

Background and Objectives

Individuals with specific psychological weaknesses are prone to mental problems during the coronavirus pandemic. This self-rating study assessed the combined effects of infection-related stress, resilience, worry, and loneliness on the likelihood of depression and anxiety among infected and non-infected individuals during the Tianjin Pandemic in 2022.

Methods

Individuals infected with Omicron (n = 249) and health residents (n = 415) were recruited from two hospitals and communities in Tianjin. Each respondent completed the following on-site assessment: Self-developed Scale of Demographics, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). The respondents were categorized into depression or non-depression group by SDS scores, and anxiety or non-anxiety group by SAS scores.

Results

The overall scores of CD-RISC, DJGJLS, and PSWQ were significantly different both between the depression group and non-depression groups and between the anxiety group and non-anxiety groups. The greater likelihood of depression was associated with lower overall scores of CD-RISC and higher scores of PSWQ; the greater likelihood of anxiety was associated with higher scores of PSWQ. The likelihood of depression was also positively associated with having infection-related stress and three demographics.

Conclusions

This on-site study demonstrates the importance of specific traits in a small-scale pandemic: the worse resilience and the greater worry propensity related to the higher probability of depression, and the greater propensity of worry related to the higher probability of anxiety. Moreover, those experiencing infection-related stress, being male, living alone, and being unemployed are more likely to have depressive problems.

Big Five Personality Traits, Social Networks, and Depression Among Older Adults in Japan: A Multiple Mediation Analysis

This study examines the mediating effect of social network size on depression among older adults in Japan in association with the Big Five personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 739 older adults (Mean age = 75.13, SD = 6.86) residing in Tokyo. Multiple mediation analyses estimated total, indirect, and direct effects between personality and depression. Extraversion was associated with the number of kin and friend networks and agreeableness with the number of kin networks. Moreover, these social networks partially mediated the effects of extraversion and agreeableness on depression. The findings show that personality traits such as extraversion and agreeableness are associated with social network size, which contributes to better mental health in old age.

Relationship between Mental Health and House Sharing: Evidence from Seoul

While the association between general housing and mental health has been well documented, little is known about the mental health outcomes of house sharing. As shared housing has been viewed as an economically and socially viable housing option for young adults, a broader understanding of how shared housing affects the residents’ quality of life, including mental health, is needed. In this context, this study aims to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between mental health and house sharing after controlling for residents’ self-selection. We conducted a survey of 834 young single adults living in shared housing and non-shared housing in Seoul, Korea. Then, to control for residential self-selection, we applied the residential dissonance framework. The main findings of this study were two-fold: first, house-sharers with a positive attitude toward shared housing were more likely to respond that their mental health status improved after they started residing in shared housing; second, if young adults are forced to live in shared housing, this could increase the potential risk of social dysfunction of house-sharers. Based on these findings, we suggest policy measures for shared housing, including pre-occupancy interviews, resident behavior codes, and fostering a livable dwelling environment to ensure a healthier life in shared living arrangements.

Negative interactions with extended family and church members and subjective well-being among older African American women

The purpose of this study was to determine whether negative interactions with family and church members are associated with indicators of subjective well-being (SWB) in a nationally representative sample of older African American women. The analytic sample (N = 537) was drawn from the National Survey of American Life. Linear regressions were used to assess the associations between negative interactions with family and church members and happiness, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. The negative interactions with family variable was inversely associated with happiness and self-esteem. Findings underscore the importance of social relationships and the quality of these relationships in women's well-being.

Childhood experiences and adult health: the moderating effects of temperament

Existing literature demonstrates a strong relationship between childhood experiences and adult health outcomes. The Differential Susceptibility to Environment Theory suggests that there are several factors, including personality, that affect a child's sensitivity to adverse and advantageous experiences. A sample of 246 adults (ages 19–57) were asked questions about extroverted personality characteristics, adverse and advantageous childhood experiences (ACEs and counter-ACEs), and several indicators of adult health, including executive functioning, perceived stress levels, depression, and past smoking habits. The sample was then stratified based on level of extroversion scores with the top quartile being labeled as “extroverts”, the bottom quartile as “introverts”, and those in between as “ambiverts”. Regression analyses were then used to assess the relationship between childhood experiences and each adult health outcome. The results of the study showed that the relationship between childhood experiences and adult health was generally stronger among extroverted individuals. These results suggest that extroverts may be more sensitive to environmental influences in childhood as compared to introverts and ambiverts. More research is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that increase environmental sensitivity among extroverts.

Roles of egos' and siblings' perceptions of maternal favoritism in adult children's depressive symptoms: A within-family network approach

It is well documented that intergenerational ties play important roles in adults' well-being. However, most studies focus on the impact of individuals' own perceptions of their ties without considering whether family members' assessments of these ties affect well-being. We address this question using data from 296 adult children nested within 95 later-life families in which all offspring were interviewed. Applying a mixed-method within-family approach, we explored whether the effect of perceived maternal favoritism on depressive symptoms was increased when siblings shared ego's perceptions. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that ego's own perceptions predicted depressive symptoms, but only among daughters. Siblings' perceptions that egos were most close to mothers did not affect the well-being of daughters or sons. Qualitative analyses suggested that differential effects of perceived favoritism by gender reflected differences in the meaning sons and daughters associated with being favored children. Favored daughters were more likely than favored sons to report that they were emotional caregivers to their mothers; this pattern was especially strong when siblings reinforced egos' perceptions of being "best suited" for this role. These findings emphasize the salience of egos' own perceptions, relative to those of family network members, in shaping role embracement and psychological well-being, especially among women.

The Long Arm of Maternal Differential Treatment: Effects of Recalled and Current Favoritism on Adult Children's Psychological Well-Being

Objectives

In this article, we draw from classic theories of social psychology and the life course to compare the effects of current and recalled perceived maternal differential treatment (MDT) on the depressive symptoms of adult children in midlife.

Method

To address this question, we used data collected from 746 adult children nested within 293 later-life families as part of the Within-Family Differences Study.

Results

Multilevel regression revealed that both recollections of maternal differentiation from childhood and perceptions of mothers' current disfavoritism regarding conflict predicted depressive symptoms, whereas perceptions of current favoritism regarding emotional closeness did not.

Discussion

Taken together, the findings from this investigation reflect principles of theories of social comparison and the life course in that both perceptions of current MDT and MDT recalled from childhood affect children's well-being in midlife. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature highlighting the role of within-family differences in parent-child relationships on well-being across the life course.

Associations of personality traits with internet addiction in Chinese medical students: the mediating role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults. However, few studies have been conducted in medical students. This multi-center study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IA in Chinese medical students, to examine the associations of big five personality traits with IA in the population, and to explore the possible mediating role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in the relationship.

METHODS

Self-reported questionnaires, including Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) Screener, and socio-demographic section were distributed to clinical students at 3 medical schools in China. A total of 1264 students became the final subjects.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of IA among Chinese medical students was 44.7% (IAT > 30), and 9.2% of the students demonstrated moderate or severe IA (IAT ≥ 50). After adjustment for covariates, while conscientiousness and agreeableness were negatively associated with IA, neuroticism was positively associated with it. ADHD symptoms mediated the associations of conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism with IA.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of IA among Chinese medical students is high. Both personality traits and ADHD symptoms should be considered when tailored intervention strategies are designed to prevent and reduce IA in medical students.

Role of Perceived Maternal Favoritism and Disfavoritism in Adult Children's Psychological Well-Being

Objectives

The detrimental consequences of parents' differential treatment on children's well-being have been documented in earlier stages of the life course; however, little is known about this pattern in midlife. Drawing from theories of equity and social comparison, we tested whether psychological well-being was affected only by adult children's perceptions that their mothers treated some offspring in the family differently or by their perceptions that they were favored or disfavored. Further, we explored the extent to which these patterns differed by race.

Method

Multilevel regression modeling was conducted using data collected from 725 adult children nested within 309 later-life families as part of the Within-Family Differences Study-II.

Results

Depressive symptoms were higher when offspring perceived that they had the most emotional closeness to mothers or the greatest conflict with mothers. Depressive symptoms were also higher when respondents identified themselves as being the children in whom the mothers were most disappointed.

Discussion

The findings shed new light on the role of intergenerational relations in adult children's well-being in midlife by taking into consideration the respondents' direct reports of their perceptions of their mothers' favoritism and disfavoritism. Further, the findings provide evidence that the association between maternal differentiation and psychological well-being in adulthood is stronger in Black than in White families. These patterns suggest that the association between psychological well-being and both favoritism and disfavoritism can be accounted for by processes involving social comparison rather than equity for both Black and White adult children in midlife.

Personality and social support as predictors of first and recurrent episodes of depression

BACKGROUND

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder with high personal and public health consequences, partly due to a high risk of recurrence. This longitudinal study examines personality traits, structural and subjective social support dimensions as predictors of first and recurrent episodes of depression in initially non-depressed subjects.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). 1085 respondents without a current depression or anxiety diagnosis were included. 437 respondents had a prior history of depression, 648 did not. Personality dimensions were measured with the NEO-FFI, network size, partner-status, negative and positive emotional support were measured with the Close Person Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses (unadjusted and adjusted for clinical variables and sociodemographic variables) examined whether these psychosocial variables predict a new episode of depression at two year follow up and whether this differed among persons with or without a history of depression.

RESULTS

In the unadjusted analyses high extraversion (OR:.93, 95% CI (.91-.96), P<.001), agreeableness (OR:.94, 95% CI (.90-.97), P<.001), conscientiousness (OR:.93, 95% CI (.90-.96), P<.001) and a larger network size (OR:.76, 95% CI (.64-.90), P=.001) significantly reduced the risk of a new episode of depression. Only neuroticism predicted a new episode of depression in both the unadjusted (OR:1.13, 95% CI (1.10-1.15), P<.001) and adjusted analyses (OR:1.06, 95% CI (1.03-1.10), P<.001). None of the predictors predicted first or recurrent episodes of depression differently.

LIMITATIONS

we used a relatively short follow up period and broad personality dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroticism seems to predict both first and recurrent episodes of depression and may be suitable for screening for preventive interventions.

Gender differences in irritable bowel syndrome: the interpersonal connection

BACKGROUND

While irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects women more than men, the reasons are unclear. Research on the female preponderance of IBS has focused on gender differences in sex-linked biological processes; much less attention has been paid to the role of psychosocial factors. Interpersonal difficulties may be one source of stress that may significantly impact on women with IBS. Because of the importance that women attach to relationships, we suspected they would be more reactive to interpersonal stress.

METHODS

A total of 283 (M age = 41 years, F = 80%), Rome III-diagnosed IBS patients completed a test battery that included the IBS Symptom Severity Scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP), interpersonal support evaluation list (social support), Negative Interactions Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory (distress), Beck Depression Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory, and IBS-Quality of Life as part of baseline assessment of an NIH trial.

KEY RESULTS

Males scored higher on two IIP scales reflecting a hostile-dominant interpersonal pattern, and reported less social support. The quality of relationship problems (more interpersonal difficulties, lower support) correlated with IBS symptom severity as measured mainly by gastroenterologists.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Male, not female, IBS patients reported more interpersonal difficulties. Male patients-a population for whom little is known-are characterized by hostile-dominant interpersonal problems. This finding has clinical importance, given that relationship problems may influence MDs' estimation of IBS symptom severity and undermine the physician-patient relationship.

Negative social interactions and incident hypertension among older adults

OBJECTIVE

To determine if negative social interactions are prospectively associated with hypertension among older adults.

METHOD

This is a secondary analysis of data from the 2006 and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a survey of community-dwelling older adults (age > 50 years). Total average negative social interactions were assessed at baseline by averaging the frequency of negative interactions across 4 domains (partner, children, other family, friends). Blood pressure was measured at both waves. Individuals were considered to have hypertension if they reported use of antihypertensive medications, had measured average resting systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or measured average resting diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Analyses excluded those who were hypertensive at baseline and controlled for demographics, personality, positive social interactions, and baseline health.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine percent of participants developed hypertension over the 4-year follow-up. Each 1-unit increase in the total average negative social interaction score was associated with a 38% increased odds of developing hypertension. Sex moderated the association between total average negative social interactions and hypertension, with effects observed among women but not men. The association of total average negative interactions and hypertension in women was attributable primarily to interactions with friends, but also to negative interactions with family and partners. Age also moderated the association between total average negative social interactions and hypertension, with effects observed among those ages 51-64 years, but not those ages 65 or older.

CONCLUSION

In this sample of older adults, negative social interactions were associated with increased hypertension risk in women and the youngest older adults.

Correlates of Emotional Support and Negative Interaction Among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks

This study explores the relationship of family and demographic factors to the frequency of receiving emotional support and the frequency of engaging in negative interactions with family members (i.e., criticism, burden, and being taken advantage of). The study uses the ambivalence framework and data from the National Survey of American Life, a national sample of African Americans and Caribbean Blacks (Caribbean Blacks). Overall, no significant differences were found between African Americans and Caribbean Blacks in the frequency of emotional support or negative interaction; several significant correlates (e.g., age, family closeness) were found for both groups. However, a number of unique associations were also demonstrated (e.g., marital status, frequency of family contact), indicating differences in the ways that these variables operate within the two populations. These and other findings are discussed in relation to the ambivalence framework and subgroup differences in family phenomena within the Black population.

Suicide, negative interaction and emotional support among black Americans

OBJECTIVES

This study is the first to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional support and negative interaction with family members and suicide ideation and attempts among African American and Caribbean black adults.

METHOD

Cross-sectional epidemiologic data from the National Survey of American Life and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between perceived emotional support and negative interaction and suicide behaviors among 3,570 African Americans and 1,621 Caribbean blacks age 18 and older.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses found that perceived emotional support was associated with lower odds of suicide ideation and attempts for African Americans and Caribbean blacks. Negative interaction with family was associated with greater odds of suicide ideation among African Americans and Caribbean blacks. Ethnicity moderated the impact of emotional support and negative interaction on suicide attempts; among Caribbean blacks, those who reported more frequent emotional support from their family had a significantly greater reduced risk for suicide attempts than African Americans. The effect of negative interaction on suicide attempts was also more pronounced for Caribbean blacks compared to African Americans.

DISCUSSION

Negative interaction was a risk factor for suicide ideation and emotional support was a protective factor for attempts and ideation. These associations were observed even after controlling for any mental disorder. The findings demonstrate the importance of social relationships as both risk and protective factors for suicide and ethnic differences in suicidal ideation and attempts among black Americans.

Emotional support, negative interaction and major depressive disorder among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks: findings from the National Survey of American Life

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have examined the association between social support, negative interaction, and major depressive disorder among representative samples of racial and ethnic minority groups. This study investigates the relationship between emotional support and negative interaction with family members on lifetime major depressive disorder among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks.

METHOD

Cross-sectional epidemiologic data from the National Survey of American Life and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to predict lifetime history of major depressive disorder and to examine the effect of perceived emotional support and negative interaction on major depressive disorder among 3,570 African Americans and 1,621 Caribbean Blacks aged 18 and older.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses found that perceived emotional support was associated with lower odds of MDD for African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. Negative interaction with family was associated with greater odds of MDD for African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. Emotional support moderated the impact of negative interaction on MDD for Caribbean Blacks, but not for African Americans.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to investigate the relationships between emotional support, negative interaction with family members and depressive disorder among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. Negative interaction was a risk factor for depression and emotional support was a protective factor.

The effects of positive and negative support from children on widowed older adults' psychological adjustment: a longitudinal analysis

PURPOSE

This article examines the extent to which positive and negative support from children prior to and after spousal loss and changes in support from pre- to post-loss affect widowed older adults' depressive symptoms, anxiety, and anger 18 months following widowhood.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Analyses are based on the Changing Lives of Older Couples, a prospective study of 1,532 married individuals aged 65 years and older. The analytic sample includes 148 widowed persons who have at least one living child and participated in the baseline and two follow-up interviews conducted 6 and 18 months following widowhood.

RESULTS

The analyses revealed that higher levels of positive support from children 6 months following widowhood were associated with fewer depressive symptoms at the 18-month follow-up, whereas higher levels of negative support 18 months after loss and a decrease in positive support following loss were associated with more depressive symptoms. Greater negative support both prior to and after loss was associated with greater anxiety, whereas greater negative support 6 months after loss and an increase in negative support following loss were related to greater anger.

IMPLICATIONS

Given their differential impact on widowed persons' psychological adjustment, both positive and negative aspects of social support as well as its changing nature should be considered in working with bereaved older adults.