Hope as a moderator of negative life events and depressive symptoms in a diverse sample

Sexual Orientation Concealment, Hope, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Women: The Moderating Role of Sexual Orientation

Sexual minority women (SMW) experience higher levels of depression compared to heterosexual women, and bisexual women show higher levels than lesbian women. Sexual orientation concealment is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among SMW. Hope is protective against depressive symptoms in diverse samples, but limited research in this area has centered on SMW. This study examined the role of hope and its components, agency and pathways, as moderators of the relation between sexual orientation concealment and depressive symptoms, and whether the moderating effects were conditional on sexual orientation. An international sample of 218 lesbian women aged 18 to 69 (M = 32.93 years, SD = 12.75) and 230 bisexual women aged 18 to 67 (M = 27.83 years, SD = 7.52) completed an online survey. Hope, agency, and pathways did not moderate the relation between sexual orientation concealment and depressive symptoms. The significant negative relations between hope and depressive symptoms, and between agency and depressive symptoms, were moderated by sexual orientation: the relations were stronger among lesbian women than bisexual women. Results suggest that increasing levels of hope and agency through clinical intervention may reduce depressive symptoms for both groups of women, with more pronounced effects among lesbian women.

Hope and Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults Living in the Rural Mid-Hills of Nepal

OBJECTIVES

The current study investigated whether hope and its two components (agency and pathways) weakened the relations between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and fearlessness about death and suicidal ideation among older adults living in rural Nepal.

METHODS

A community sample of 300 people aged from 60 to 90 years (Mage = 67.07, SDage = 6.23) who resided in the rural mid-hills of Nepal completed standardized measures.

RESULTS

Hope and agency moderated the relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation and pathways moderated the relationship between thwarted belongingness and suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

Hope, and particularly agency, may play a protective role in reducing suicidal ideation among older Nepali adults living in rural areas who experience perceived burdensomeness. In contrast, pathways may be an additional risk factor for older adults experiencing unmet belongingness needs. Research is required to understand fearlessness about death and suicidality among older Nepali adults.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Increasing hope and particularly agency may be associated with a reduction in suicidal ideation among older Nepali adults who experience feelings of being a burden. However, increasing pathways may be associated with an increase in suicidal ideation among those who experience unmet belongingness needs. Research is needed to understand how to accurately assess suicide risk among Nepali older adults.

Hope and healthy lifestyle behaviors in older adulthood

OBJECTIVES

Hope has been associated with better health and social well-being outcomes, including emotional adjustment, positive affect, life satisfaction, reduced risk of all-cause mortality, and increased physical activity, yet how hope as a construct impacts these health benefits in older adults is not very well-understood. This study examined: (1) the relationship between hope and health behaviors in older adults; (2) how this relationship may differ across different socio-demographic groups; and (3) how hope relates to perceived future selves among older adults.

METHODS

The study used cross-sectional data from 711 community-dwelling adults aged ≥55 years (280 men, 431 women). Survey measures included the Snyder Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS) and the Herth Hope Index (HHI), a health behaviors checklist, self-reported health, and a future self-scale. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multiple regressions.

RESULTS

Hope was positively associated with healthy behaviors in older adults. Participants with higher levels of hope also reported more positive future selves and better health. The associations were similar across different racial/ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study fills an important gap in our understanding of hope and its association with health behaviors in community-dwelling older adults. These findings highlight a need to promote hope in older adults in order to enhance their sense of well-being.

Effectiveness of Enhanced Self-Positivity Bias Training in Mitigating Depressive Mood following Negative Life Events

The phenomenon of self-positivity bias refers to the common tendency for individuals to perceive themselves in a more positive light than is objectively warranted. The current study seeks to investigate the impact of enhanced self-positivity bias on depressive mood resulting from negative life events. The study included two experiments, a resistance experiment (exp. 1) and an improvement experiment (exp. 2), with 40 randomly selected college students randomly assigned to either a self-positive bias training group or a neutral training group in each experiment. In the resistance experiment, self-positive bias training was conducted before failure feedback, while in the improvement experiment, it was conducted after failure feedback. The results showed that failure feedback significantly increased depression levels among college students, and self-positive bias training improved the level of self-positive bias. In the resistance experiment, there was no significant difference between the self-positive bias training group and the neutral training group regarding depression. However, in the improvement experiment, being in the self-positive bias training group had a significantly greater effect on improving depression compared to the neutral training group. Overall, the findings suggest that while self-positive bias training cannot prevent depression caused by failure events, it has a positive effect on improving depression.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Mizan-Tepi University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Depression is an extremely common and widespread problem among university students. A better understanding of the magnitude and determinants of depressive symptoms is required to create appropriate interventions for those groups. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among Mizan-Tepi University students during the pandemic lockdown.

METHODS

From September 11th to September 25th, 2020, 779 Mizan-Tepi University students participated in this web-based cross-sectional study. The link was created with a Google Form, and the questionnaire was distributed to participants via e-mail, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other social media accounts. To determine the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms, both descriptive and inferential analyses were used. The chi-squared test of association and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of depressive symptoms among university students. We used (IBM) SPSS version 20 for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students was 39.5%. According to results of multivariable binary logistic regression, being female (AOR = 0.339, 95%CI: 0.220-0.522), being an alcoholic (AOR = 2.101, 95%CI: 1.452-3.041), smoking (AOR = 2.088, 95%CI: 1.460-2.986), being quarantined for 14 days (AOR = 1.775, 95%CI: 1.231-2.560), frequently using social media (AOR = 1.510, 95%CI: 1.063-2.145), fearing COVID-19 (AOR = 5.058, 95%CI: 3.508-7.292), having sleeping problems (AOR = 1.703, 95%CI: 1.051-2.760), having a family member infected with COVID-19 (AOR = 1.829, 95%CI: 1.211-2.763), being exposed to COVID-19 (AOR = 1.748, 95%CI: 1.114-2.743), monthly disposable income ≥ 501 ETB (AOR = 0.531, 95%CI: 0.359-0.784), having a higher level of hope (AOR = 0.158, 95%CI:0.056-0.447), and having high social support (AOR = 0.546, 95%CI: 0.374-0.797) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms among students.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be high among university students. Being an alcoholic, smoking, quarantined for 14 days, frequently using social media, fearing COVID-19, having sleep problems, having a family member infected with COVID-19, and being exposed to COVID-19 were all associated with an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms, while being a female, having a high level of disposable monthly income, hope, and social support decreased the risk of depressive symptoms among university students. Interventions should be put in place to promote mental health among university students.

Hope Buffers the Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Depression among College Students: Insomnia as a Mediator

BACKGROUND

In the period of the global pandemic, psychophysical problems induced by the fear of COVID-19 among college students deserve attention since the dormitory environment in college greatly increases the possibility of COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

A hypothesized mediated moderation model was to be verified using a cross-sectional study among 2453 college students. Fear of COVID-19, insomnia, hope, and depression were assessed by using the relevant scales.

RESULTS

(1) The fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated to depression (β = 0.365, t = 5.553, 95% CI = [0.236, 0.494]); (2) hope moderated the influence of the fear of COVID-19 on depression (β = -0.093, t = -4.066, 95% CI = [-0.137, -0.048]), as well as on insomnia (β = -0.095, t = -4.841, 95% CI = [-0.133, -0.056]); and (3) the mediated moderation model with hope as the moderator and insomnia as the full mediating variable between fear of COVID-19 and depression was verified (β = -0.060, 95% CI = [-0.093, -0.028]).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that hope is a vital mechanism to explain the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and depression in early adulthood. In practical application, mental health practitioners should focus on boosting hope and alleviating insomnia when addressing COVID-19-related depression issues among college students.

Hope and depression and personality disorders

Hope is a positive psychology construct that comprises goals, agency thinking, and pathways thinking and has been associated with psychological and physical well-being. This paper summarizes recent findings regarding the relationship between hope and depressive symptoms as well as hope and personality disorders and traits. Studies have shown that hope is inversely associated with negative affect when examined cross-sectionally, although the relationship between hope and depression is more complex longitudinally. Little is known about hope as it pertains to personality disorders, though more recent studies have examined the relationship between hope and personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion; results from those studies are mixed, leaving a wide gap in the literature for future exploration.

Hope across cultural groups

Over the past 30 years, there has been an increasing amount of research about hope and culture. While early studies focused on looking at differences in hope between racial groups, recent research has focused more broadly on the measurement of hope and how hope operates in diverse contexts and nations. Many translations of the adult and child versions of the hope scale now exist, though questions about the structure of hope (e.g., pathways and agency) have been raised in certain groups. Paradoxically, recent research suggests that higher levels of hope are associated with less well-being for those experiencing racial discrimination. Finally, hope has started to be explored in other aspects of identity including disability, religion/spirituality, and sexual orientation, emphasizing the importance of context when understanding hope.

Role of rumination and hope on negative life events and suicidal ideation under the background of normalization of pandemic prevention and control: A moderated mediation model

Introduction

The study aimed to investigate the impact and mechanism of negative life events on college students' suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the buffering effect of hope under the background of normalization of pandemic.

Methods

A total of 5211 participants took part in this study. Self-reported negative life events, rumination, hope and suicide ideation were measured using a range of questions and scales. Our research demonstrated that the incidence of suicidal ideation among college freshmen in the past week was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than that before the pandemic. In this study, conditional process model 15 was used to verify the hypothetical model of rumination as a potential mediator and hope as a moderator.

Results

The hypothesized moderated mediation model was verified significant (β = -0.047, 95% CI = [-0.061, -0.035]), and hope was found to moderate the direct effect of negative life events on suicidal ideation (β = -0.039, t = -2.937, 95% CI = [-0.065, -0.013]) as well as the indirect effect of through the mediator rumination (β = -0.134, t = -10.850, 95% CI = [-0.158, -0.110]).

Discussion

We found that rumination partially mediated the effect of negative life events on suicidal ideation, and hope buffered the direct and indirect effect of negative life events on suicidal ideation. The implications of the findings for clinical interventions are discussed, including the importance of hope arousal as a protective factor and rumination as a cognitive mechanism for emotion regulation under the background of normalization of pandemic.

Anxiety and well-being amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and the moderating role of locus-of-hope: Evidence from a large sample in the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a heavy psychological burden on the lives of many individuals and created a rise in the prevalence of anxiety, which could be detrimental to people's well-being. Nevertheless, there have also been reports about having hope in overcoming the challenges brought about by the pandemic. The study intended to find out whether the different locus-of-hope dimensions (internal, family, peers, and spiritual locus-of-hope) would moderate the impact of anxiety symptoms on well-being (psychological, social, and emotional well-being). A nationwide survey was conducted among Filipino adults ( N = 10,529). Results showed that anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Moderation analyses show that internal, family, and spiritual locus-of-hope buffered the negative effect of anxiety symptoms on specific well-being outcomes, whereas peer locus-of hope did not. The study demonstrates the importance of hope as a viable resource in facilitating an individual's well-being amid adverse and uncertain circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical Exercise, Social Capital, Hope, and Subjective Well-Being in China: A Parallel Mediation Analysis

Based on data from the 2017 China General Social Survey, a conditional process analysis was conducted to explore the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being, as well as the parallel mediating effect of social networks and a sense of hope. The results showed that physical exercise had a significant positive predictive effect on the participants' subjective well-being. Furthermore, social networks and a sense of hope mediated the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being. Physical exercise indirectly promoted subjective well-being by enhancing social networks and a sense of hope. However, the indirect effect of a sense of hope on the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being was greater than that of social networks. The results of this study revealed the internal mechanism of the effect of participation in physical exercise on the improvement of subjective well-being, which is of great significance for formulating relevant policies and plans to further improve Chinese residents' well-being.

Effects of media use, smart phone addiction, and adult ADHD symptoms on wellbeing of college students during the COVID-19 lockdown: Dispositional hope as a protective factor

Introduction

The present study investigated the role of dispositional hope as a potential protective factor moderator in the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms, media use/smart phone addiction and wellbeing during the period of isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic among students in Romania.

Methods

A sample of 333 college students (86.8% female and 13.2% male) between the age of 18 and 47 with a mean of 20.6 years old from West University of Timişoara completed online surveys. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed to assess the associations among the variables.

Results

Results confirmed the negative associations of both adult ADHD and smartphone addiction with overall wellbeing. The smartphone addiction/ wellbeing association was moderated by dispositional hopefulness, such that high hopefulness served as a protective factor [b = -0.008, 95% percentile CI (-0.0134; -0.0012)].

Discussion

Implications for the educational environment are discussed.

The Role of Perceived Social Support and Stress in the Relationship between Hope and Depression among Chinese Shadow Education Tutors: A Serial Mediation Model

The association between hope and depression has been studied, leaving the underlying mechanism of how hope might predict depression unexplored. With a cross-sectional design, this study investigated two possible mediating factors in the relationship between hope and depression among Chinese shadow education tutors, who confront a high turnover rate and are at high risk for depression. Altogether, 221 tutors participated in the survey, and reported their dispositional hope, perceived social support (PSS), perceived stress (PS), and depression. Results indicated that both PSS and PS mediated the relationship between hope and depression. Results also supported the hypothesized serial mediating effect. In other words, hope as a positive disposition may promote PSS, which can mitigate PS. The reduced PS, in turn, alleviates depression. This finding not only shed light on the independent and accumulative mediating effects of PSS and PS, but also has implications for preventive interventions among Chinese shadow education tutors experiencing the enormous pressure of instability. This serial mediation model should be confirmed by further longitudinal study.

Understanding sexual and gender minority substance use through latent profiles of ecological systems

Background: Whereas the increased use of substances in sexual and gender minority (SGM) samples has been well documented, further person-centered analyses are necessary to better understand the unique profiles of SGM individuals and substance use. Methods: Utilizing a sample of 1,852 SGM emerging adults (M_age = 23.31) recruited via Prolific, a latent profile analysis was conducted to determine profiles of ecological systems using self-esteem, hope for the future, minority group connection, and a history of childhood adverse experiences. These profiles were then used to explore intergroup differences in the use of substances (alcohol, cannabis, prescription opioids, hallucinogens, heroin, tobacco, and amphetamines). Results: Four profiles were identified in this sample: (1) moderate with low self-esteem (47.8%), (2) connected with low adversity (30.9%), (3) moderate with high self-esteem (11.5%), and (4) disconnected with adversity (9.7%). Significant differences between profiles in the frequency of use were found in all substances except for cannabis and hallucinogens. Of note, participants in the connected with low adversity profile reported significantly more frequent alcohol use (M = 3.30) compared to the disconnected with adversity (M = 2.89) and the moderate with low self-esteem (M = 2.96) profiles. Additionally, the disconnected with adversity profile reported significantly more frequent tobacco use (M = 1.99) compared to all other profiles. Conclusion: With a majority of the sample fitting profiles marked by mental health concerns, the present study indicates the need to identify and address risk and protective factors for SGM emerging adults' substance use and highlights differences within the larger SGM community. Implications for improving mental health are described.

The Association of Sense of Power with Well-Being Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Hope-Agency

Studies have shown that sense of power is positively associated with subjective well-being, but this relationship has proved inconsistent in collectivist contexts. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sense of power, well-being outcomes, and psychological maladjustment in Chinese early adults, and further investigated the potential mediating role of hope. Sense of power, dispositional hope, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect were measured in Study 1 (n = 522). Sense of power was found to be positively related to hope and to emotional and cognitive well-being. Furthermore, mediating analysis indicated that hope-agency (but not hope-pathway) was a significant mediator of the relationship between perceived power and subjective well-being. Study 2 (n = 391) additionally measured loneliness and perceived stress as components of psychological maladjustment. The results showed that sense of power was negatively associated with stress and loneliness, and that hope-agency partially mediated the link of perceived power to psychological maladjustment. Overall, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between sense of power and well-being outcomes, and suggest that a sense of power might foster people's well-being and mental health by activating their motivation to achieve desired goals.

Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives around the world. Autistic adults are at higher risk for co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions and may be more prone to difficulties adapting to pandemic-related changes and social distancing mandates and coping with ongoing uncertainties. On the other hand, the pandemic may lead to greater understanding and acceptance of accommodations in the broader community that may facilitate supports for autistic adults beyond the pandemic. To learn more about their early pandemic experiences, online surveys were sent to independent adults enrolled in the Simons Powering Autism Research Knowledge (SPARK). The first survey was open from March 30 to April 19, 2020; a follow-up survey sent to original responders was open from May 27 to June 6, yielding 396 participants with data for both surveys. We found that adults who were female, younger, had prior diagnoses of a mental health condition, personal COVID-19 experience (i.e., knowing someone who had symptoms or tested positive) or less frequent hope for the future reported the greatest negative impacts. Decrease in feelings of hopefulness over time predicted greater psychological distress at T2, accounting for T1 impact and distress levels and increases in total COVID-19 impact. Less perceived benefit of online services also predicted later distress. Although there tends to be a focus on coping with negative effects of the pandemic, mental health providers may consider approaches that focus on positives, such as fostering hope and understanding factors that facilitate benefit from online services. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic adults may be at risk for psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study suggests that autistic adults who were younger, female, had a mental health diagnosis before the pandemic and knew someone who showed symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 reported more areas negatively impacted by COVID-19 and greater difficulty coping with those effects. Decreases in hope over time were associated with greater psychological distress. Less perceived benefit from online services also predicted distress 2 months later. These results suggest important areas to further explore as we develop supports for autistic adults during the pandemic.

Depressive Symptoms in Relation to Adverse Childhood Experiences, Discrimination, Hope, and Social Support in a Diverse Sample of College Students

BACKGROUND

Young adulthood is a critical transitory period, with various factors impacting mental health and longer-term health outcomes, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities. Drawing from minority stress theory, this study examined correlates of depressive symptoms, specifically adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), racial/ethnic discrimination, hope, social support, and their interactive effects, among a diverse sample of college students.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 666 racial/ethnic minority college students (57% Black, 22% Latinx, 21% Asian) attending seven colleges and universities in the state of Georgia. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9). Multivariable linear regressions included ACEs, racial/ethnic discrimination, hope, and social support, adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, parent education, nativity, and age. We tested two-way interaction terms in four separate models to examine the potential buffering effect of social support and hope on the association between ACEs and discrimination.

RESULTS

Participants were on average 20.56 years old (SD = 1.93) and 30% were male. The mean PHQ-9 score was 3.89 (SD = 4.91); 56% reported at least one ACE; 70% experienced racial/ethnic discrimination. ACEs and racial/ethnic discrimination correlated with higher levels of depressive symptoms; higher social support and hope correlated with decreased depressive symptoms. While hope and social support did not moderate the relationships between ACEs or discrimination and depressive symptoms among the full sample, racial/ethnic subgroup analyses indicated that, among Asian students, the positive association between discrimination and depressive symptoms was significantly weaker for those perceiving greater hope.

CONCLUSIONS

Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in mental health requires concerted efforts to prevent and/or reduce ACEs and discrimination and identifying protective factors that can mitigate their relationship to depressive symptoms.

Prevalence and its associated factors of depressive symptoms among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a mental health crisis around the world. The psychological health of college students also faces great challenges. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the related factors of depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.

METHODS

This online cross-sectional survey was conducted via Wenjuanxing platform from March 3-15, 2020 and received 1681 effective questionnaires. Each questionnaire contains the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Herth Hope Index, and the self-designed items. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the significantly associated factors of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among college students was 56.8%. Sleep problems (OR 2.678, 95%CI 2.094-3.424), family members' going out (OR 1.775, 95%CI 1.089-2.894), perceived more stress for online education (OR 1.642, 95%CI 1.191-2.263), fear of COVID-19 (OR 1.450, 95%CI 1.121-1.876), influence on social interaction (OR 1.354, 95%CI 1.053-1.741) and higher grade (OR 1.378, 95%CI 1.046-1.816) were considered as risk factors of depressive symptoms. Perceived social support (OR 0.354, 95%CI 0.259-0.484), hope (OR 0.052, 95%CI 0.034-0.080), female (OR:0.557, 95%CI 0.427-0.725) and higher monthly disposable income (OR 0.666, 95%CI 0.447-0.993) were identified as protective factors against depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to find ways to alleviate the pressure and fear of college students, to provide them with more social support, and to help them adapt to the changes in learning style and lifestyle.

A Preliminary Examination of Negative Life Events and Sexual Assault Victimization as Predictors of Psychological Functioning in Female College Students: Does One Matter More Than the Other?

The present study examined negative life events (NLEs) and sexual assault victimization as predictors of positive and negative psychological functioning in a sample of 151 female college students. Results obtained from conducting regression analyses indicated several notable patterns. NLEs, compared with sexual assault victimization, were a stronger negative predictor of positive functioning based on indices related to subjective well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, positive affect). Alternatively, sexual assault victimization, compared with NLEs, was a stronger positive predictor of negative functioning based on indices related to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (e.g., anxiety) and related conditions (e.g., alcohol use). Furthermore, both NLEs and sexual assault victimization were found to be positive predictors of negative functioning based on indices related to suicide risk (e.g., depressive symptoms, suicidal behaviors). Overall, our findings indicate that both NLEs and sexual assault victimization represent important and distinct predictors of psychological functioning in female college students.

Measuring hope during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines: development and validation of the state locus-of-Hope scale short form in Filipino

Various adaptations of the Dispositional Hope Scale have been validated and used for specific research and applied purposes. The Locus-of-Hope Scale was developed as a cultural adaptation that measures internal and external aspects of agency related to goal-pursuit that are typical in collectivist cultures. The scale has been used to account for variations in well-being-related factors in collectivist societies but still assumes that hope-related thoughts are dispositional. A State Locus-of-Hope Scale was developed to assess hope-related thinking concerning ongoing events and experience during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines in March 2020. The 16-item scale in Filipino was adapted from a short version of Locus-of-Hope Scale. Using data from 3128 respondents, confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit between the four-factor model (compared to one-factor and two-factor models), supporting the scale's structural validity. There was also good evidence for the subscales' convergent and discriminant validity. Preliminary evidence for construct criterion validity was demonstrated by examining associations with well-being and anxiety. The results indicate the viability of the State Locus-of-Hope scale for assessing temporal hope-related thoughts that can inform efforts to understand how individuals engage in goal-related processes and maintain well-being in specific personal and social situations.

Stressful life events and depressive symptoms among adolescents in Malaysia: the mediating role of maladaptive cognitive schema

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to examine the mediational role of maladaptive cognitive schema in the association between stressful life events, which are operationalised as major (i. e. negative life events) and minor (i. e. daily hassles) life stressors, and depressive symptoms among adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted to recruit participants across four selected states of Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka and Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia. This study involved a total of 1,032 adolescents from 25 government secondary schools, identified using probability proportional to size cluster sampling technique. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire.

RESULTS

Using structural equation modelling analyses, findings revealed a full mediation effect of maladaptive cognitive schema between negative life events and depressive symptoms, and a partial mediation effect between daily hassles and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided valuable insights about the significance of maladaptive cognitive schema as a mediator in the stress-depression association and advanced the understanding of mechanism underlying development of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Malaysia. Findings also benefit the clinical practice in the development of targeted depression prevention and intervention programs.

Perceived Stress, Hope, and Health Outcomes Among Medical Staff in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigated the buffering role of hope between perceived stress and health outcomes among front-line medical staff treating patients with suspected COVID-19 infection in Shenzhen, China. In the cross-sectional study with online questionnaires, medical staff's perceived stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and hope were measured by the 10-item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Locus-of-Hope Scale, respectively. A total of 319 eligible front-line medical staff participated. The prevalence of anxiety (29.70%), depression (28.80%), poor sleep quality (38.90%) indicated that a considerable proportion of medical staff experienced mood and sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internal locus-of-hope significantly moderated the effects of stress on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. Moreover, external family locus-of-hope and external peer locus-of-hope significantly moderated the association between perceived stress and depression. The prevalence of symptoms indicates that both mental and physical health outcomes of front-line medical staff deserve more attention. Internal and external locus-of-hope functioned differently as protective factors for medical staffs' health and might be promising targets for intervention.

Relationship Status and Suicidal Behavior in Gay Men: The Role of Thwarted Belongingness and Hope

OBJECTIVE

Levels of suicidal behavior among gay men are a significant concern. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide proposes that being unpartnered is a risk factor for suicidal behavior due to thwarted belongingness; however, this has yet to be tested empirically. Recent studies also indicate that the two components of hope, agency and pathways, may be protective against suicidal behavior. The first aim of the current study was to investigate whether thwarted belongingness mediates the relationship between relationship status and suicidal behavior in gay men. The study also examined whether agency and pathways weaken the association between relationship status and thwarted belongingness, and whether agency weakens the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal behavior.

METHOD

A sample of 370 self-identified gay men aged from 18 to 66 years old (M = 26.13, SD = 8.02) completed the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-Revised, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale.

RESULTS

Results showed that thwarted belongingness mediated the relationship between relationship status and suicidal behavior. The hypothesized moderated-mediation models were not supported.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have implications for the development of interventions that aim to reduce suicidal behaviors in gay men.

Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated With Reported Depression in College Students

Depression is a serious but treatable health issue that affects college students at an alarming rate. Improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) decreases depression risk and severity but this relationship has not been fully evaluated in the college student population. Non-exercise estimated CRF (eCRF) could be used to identify students at risk for or suffering from depression. This study investigated the associations of depression and eCRF in college students. Participants (N = 437) completed a survey which included demographic and student-status questions, eCRF variables, and a validated depression instrument. Descriptive, chi-square, t-test, regression, and odds ratio analyses were employed. Depression was associated with low-fitness (X 2 = 4.660, P = 0.031) and eCRF below age-predicted CRF (t = 3.28, P < 0.001). Predictors of increased depression included low-fitness, sexual orientation, current depression treatment, and GPA (R 2 = 0.145-0.159; Adj R 2 = 0.135-0.149). Odd ratio analyses determined that low-fitness increased the risk of reporting depression (β = 2.39, P = 0.017, 95% CI = 1.17-4.872) which remained significant when adjusted (β = 2.478, P = 0.017, 95% CI = 1.175-5.229). Adjusted odds ratio analyses also indicated increased risk of reporting depression for those in a sexual minority (β = 2.582, P = 0.001, 95% CI = 1.44,4.629) and undergoing current depression treatment (β = 2.393, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 2.393-13.043). High levels of fitness did not reduce the odds of reporting depression compared to age predicted CRF. A simple eCRF algorithm can be used to identify college student depression.

Differences in hope, core self-evaluations, emotional well-being, and health risk behaviors in freshman university students

The purpose of this cross-sectional anonymous survey study was to explore differences in hope, core self-evaluations (CSE), emotional well-being, health risk behaviors, and academic performance by gender, race, and social desirability in a sample of freshman university students. Four hundred and ninety-five freshmen ages 18 to 21 (M age 18.4), 67% female attending a large public university in the Northeast participated in the study. A Health Risk Behavior Score, with scores ranging from 3 to 9, was calculated by creating risk categories for drug use, alcohol use, and sexual risk-taking. Hope and health risk behaviors did not differ by gender, however, men reported higher CSE and emotional well-being. There were racial differences in hope, CSE, emotional well-being, and health risk behaviors. Nurses and researchers should consider gender and racial differences when designing or implementing hope interventions. Future researchers should compare their findings with ours for patterns or convergence and divergence and aim for larger representative samples of nonwhite groups. These are necessary next steps to advance the understanding of the role hope may play in promoting mental health among diverse college students.

Effects of the neuropeptide S receptor gene on the mediating effect of somatization on the association between life-event scores and psychological distress

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms underlying the relationship between life events and psychological distress are unclear. However, evidence of genetic involvement, including the neuropeptide S receptor gene (NPSR1), exists.

METHODS

A total of 600 Chinese adults were enrolled in this cross-sectional study using random cluster sampling. Demographic information, measures of life events and psychiatric symptoms, and fasting blood samples were collected.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were observed among life-event scores, somatization, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms). Regression revealed life-event scores and somatization predicted anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress, while controlling for sex, age, income, education, and marital status. Structural equation modeling indicated that somatization mediated the association between life-event scores and psychological distress. Moreover, the mediating effect was influenced by the NPSR1 gene, suggesting that the NPSR1 polymorphisms rs324981, rs6947841, and rs6972158 influenced the association between life-event scores and somatization (ps < 0.05). The NPSR1 polymorphisms rs12673132 significantly affected the relationship of somatization with psychological distress (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, somatization mediated the association between life-event scores and psychological distress. The current study is the first to demonstrate this relationship with a Chinese sample, whereby the NPSR1 gene affects the mediating effect of somatization on the association between life-event scores and psychological distress.

"She Finally Smiles … for Real": Reducing Depressive Symptoms and Bolstering Resilience Through a Camp Intervention for LGBTQ Youth

While summer camps are a recognized evidence-based strategy for building social and emotional skills among youth (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009), no known studies have evaluated the effects of camp programming for LGBTQ youth in the United States. This pilot study evaluates a novel program (Brave Trails) for LGBTQ youth ages 12 to 20, using a pre-post camper survey (N = 56) and a post-camp parent survey (N = 54). Results show campers experienced increases in identity affirmation and hope and a reduction in depressive symptoms. Regression analyses found changes in identity affirmation predicted reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in resilience. Additionally, campers' experience of key camp programming features predicted changes in depressive symptoms. Findings from the parent survey were consistent with camper survey results. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Examining the Positive Cognitive Triad: A Link Between Resilience and Well-Being

Extant literature links higher levels of resilience to overall well-being; however, the underlying mechanisms explaining this relation are unclear. Replicating and extending the study of Mak, Ng, and Wong, the present study investigated the “positive cognitive triad” of hope, world-view, and self-esteem as a possible mediator between resilience and well-being for the first time in an American sample. Participants ( n = 198) completed online surveys of self-esteem, hope, view of the world, and resilience. Consistent with expectations, the triad was a significant mediator of the relation between resilience and well-being. These findings underscore the importance of developing interventions targeting the positive cognitive triad and examining the triad within the context of mental illness. Limitations and areas for future research are discussed.

Hope and Mental Health in Young Adult College Students: An Integrative Review

One in five young adults are diagnosed with a mental illness and many experience psychological distress during their first year of college due to new pressures in academia. The purpose of the current integrative review was to describe and synthesize hope and mental health in young adults in college. PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched for articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 2011-2016. Twenty empirical works were selected for inclusion and five themes emerged: (a) Hope is Associated With Improved Coping, (b) Hope is Associated With Improved Well-Being, (c) Hope is a Moderator Between Depression and Negative Life Events, (d) Hope is a Protective Factor in Suicide, and (e) Hope is a Factor in Healthy Behavior Engagement. Hope may be a protective factor in suicide and negative, self-deprecatory thinking. Further research is needed to determine if increasing hope in young adult college students will decrease the risk of suicide and non-suicidal self-injury, increase healthy behavior engagement, and improve coping and well-being. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 55(2), 28-35.].

Relation Between Sexual Assault and Negative Affective Conditions in Female College Students: Does Loss of Hope Account for the Association?

The present study examined dispositional hope as a potential mediator of the association between sexual assault and negative affective conditions, namely, depressive and anxious symptoms in a sample of 223 female college students. Results from conducting bootstrapped mediation analyses indicated that hope agency, but not hope pathways, mediated the link between sexual assault victimization and negative affective conditions in females. Importantly, the associations of sexual assault with both depressive and anxious symptoms remained highly significant independent of hope. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.

Depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in western china: An epidemiological survey of prevalence and correlates

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a school-based sample of 7-17-year-old children and adolescents in west-central China. A large cross-sectional sample survey of 10657 children and adolescents was conducted in Chongqing, a municipality in west-central China. Data were collected from the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) and social-demographic variables which were evaluated with a structured scale. The total prevalence of depression risk was 23.9%. The risk factors for depressive symptoms included age older than 12 years, grade lower than 10, having unmarried parents, being taken care of by people other than two parents (single parent, grandparent(s), other relatives, or others), and living in a low-income family. The pressures of health and adaptation, interpersonal relationship, and study were also strong predictors of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in Chongqing of China is relatively high compared with most figures reported in other cities. There is an urgent need to develop efficacious interventions aimed at the prevention and early recognition of childhood and adolescent depression.

Using a Positive Psychology and Family Framework to Understand Mexican American Adolescents’ College-Going Beliefs

Positive psychology is a useful framework to understand Mexican American adolescents’ academic experiences. We used a quantitative, predictive design to explore how presence of meaning in life, search for meaning in life, subjective happiness, hope, and family importance influenced 131 Mexican American adolescents’ college-going beliefs. We used the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Subjective Happiness Scale, Hope Scale, Pan-Hispanic Familism Scale, and College-Going Self-Efficacy Scale to measure the aforementioned factors. Using multiple regression analysis, findings indicated that hope and familism were significant predictors of college-going beliefs. Higher levels of hope and familism positively predicted college-going beliefs. We provide a discussion regarding the importance of these findings as well as recommendations for future research.

Acculturation and Hope as Predictors of Career Decision Self-Efficacy Among Korean International Undergraduate Students

This study examined the role of acculturation to the host culture, acculturation to the home culture, and dispositional hope in career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) in a sample of 213 Korean international undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. universities. The findings revealed that hope and acculturation to the host culture uniquely and positively predicted CDSE. Acculturation to the home culture was positively related to CDSE but did not account for unique variance in CDSE beyond that accounted for by hope. Hope was the strongest predictor of CDSE. As expected, acculturation to the host culture and acculturation to the home culture were not significantly related, suggesting that one does not necessarily require sacrifice of the other. No interaction effects were found between hope and acculturation variables on CDSE. Limitations of this study and implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Personality Strengths as Resilience: A One-Year Multiwave Study

We examined how personality strengths prospectively predict reactions to negative life events. Participants were 797 community adults from 42 countries. At five points over the course of 1 year, participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring seven personality strengths (hope, grit, meaning in life, curiosity, gratitude, control beliefs, and use of strengths), subjective well-being, and frequency and severity of negative life events. Using hierarchical linear modeling with assessment periods nested within participants, results from lagged analyses found that only hope emerged as a resilience factor. To illustrate the importance of using appropriate lagged analyses in resilience research, we ran nonlagged analyses; these results suggest that all seven personality strengths moderated the effect of negative life events on subjective well-being, with greater strengths associated with healthier outcomes. To provide evidence that personality strengths confer resilience, a prospective examination is needed with the inclusion of events and responses to them. The use of concurrent methodologies and analyses, which is the norm in psychology, often leads to erroneous conclusions. Hope, the ability to generate routes to reach goals and the motivation to use those routes, was shown to be particularly important in promoting resilience.

Origins of Early Adolescents’ Hope

Psychology has recently increased attention to identifying psychological qualities in individuals that indicate positive mental health, such as hope. In an effort to understand further the origins of hope, we examined the relations among parental attachment, stressful life events, personality variables, and hope in a sample of 647 middle school students from one middle school in a southeastern U.S. state. The results showed statistically significant correlations between hope and all four predictor variables as well as students’ grade levels and socioeconomic status (SES) levels. The results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis further revealed that after controlling for grade level and SES, the personality variable of neuroticism contributed significance variance to early adolescents’ hope scores. Furthermore, the quality of parental attachment accounted for significant variance in hope scores over and above the demographic variables of grade and SES as well as extraversion scores. Contrary to expectations, students’ levels of neuroticism did not moderate the relation between stressful life events and hope. The frequency of occurrence of stressful life events was inversely associated with early adolescents’ individual differences in hope regardless of neuroticism levels. Implications for hope interventions are discussed.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its correlations with positive psychological variables among Chinese medical students: an exploratory cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students and its related factors is rather limited. Understanding the correlates of depressive symptoms and the roles that positive psychological variables play in depressive symptoms is of vital importance for future interventions. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the integrated effects of resilience, hope and optimism on depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students.

METHODS

This multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2014. The questionnaires that consisted of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and socio-demographic characteristics, were distributed to students at four medical colleges or universities in Liaoning province, China. A total of 2925 medical students became the final subjects. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to explore the integrated effects of resilience, hope and optimism on depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students was 66.8 % (CES-D ≥ 16). Resilience, hope and optimism were all negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and they accounted for 26.1 % of the variance in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students calls for special attention from all stakeholders, especially university authorities. Intervention strategies that focus on enhancing the positive psychological variables of resilience, hope and optimism can be integrated into depression prevention and treatment programs.

Loneliness and Negative Affective Conditions in Adults: Is There Any Room for Hope in Predicting Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms?

This study examined the role of hope in understanding the link between loneliness and negative affective conditions (viz., anxiety and depressive symptoms) in a sample of 318 adults. As expected, loneliness was found to be a significant predictor of both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Noteworthy, hope was found to significantly augment the prediction of depressive symptoms, even after accounting for loneliness. Furthermore, we found evidence for a significant Loneliness × Hope interaction effect in predicting anxiety. A plot of the interaction confirmed that the association between loneliness and anxiety was weaker among high, compared to low, hope adults. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.