Gender and depression

Longitudinal cross-lagged analysis of depression, loneliness, and quality of life in 12 European countries

BACKGROUND

In the older population, depression, loneliness, and quality of life are closely related, significantly influencing health status. This paper aimed (1) to investigate autoregressive and cross-lagged associations over 2 years between depression, loneliness, and quality of life, and (2) to examine sex-related differences in the 2-year associations between depression, loneliness, and quality of life in a large sample of European citizens aged ≥ 50 years.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal analysis. We included 7.456 individuals (70.89 ± 7.64 years; (4.268 females) who responded to waves 7 (2017) and 8 (2019) of the SHARE project. The variables analyzed in both waves were depression, loneliness, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Comparatively, females indicated higher depression and loneliness scores than males and a lower perception of quality of life. Autoregressive associations pointed that past depression, loneliness, and quality of life predicted their future episodes 2 years later (p < 0.001). The cross-lagged analysis of males showed positive and significant bidirectional associations between depression and loneliness 2 years later. Females also showed a positive and significant association between depression and loneliness, but loneliness was not associated with depression 2 years later. In turn, previous high levels of quality of life had a protective role in late depression and loneliness up to 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlighted the need to simultaneously assess and manage depression, loneliness, and quality of life in the older European population. It is suggested that sex-specific policies can be created, including social support, in order to reduce depression and loneliness, and promote quality of life.

Patterns of Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms and Treatment among People Booked into a Large Metropolitan County Jail

The Brief Jail Mental Health Screen (BJMHS) is one of the most well-known and frequently used tools to conduct routine mental health screening at jail intake. In prior research, the BJMHS results typically have been evaluated overall (i.e., yes/no positive screen). However, there is heterogeneity in symptom presentation and treatment histories among people with serious mental illness, and there are potential consequences of this heterogeneity for mental health administration and policy in jails. We conducted a latent class analysis of BJMHS item-level results using administrative data for 37,998 people booked into a southeastern, metropolitan, U.S. county jail over a 3.5-year period. A 4-class solution provided the best fitting and most interpretable model. The largest class (89.5%) comprised people unlikely to report symptoms or treatment histories (limited symptoms). The next class comprised people who were unlikely to report ongoing symptoms but reported medication and hospitalization (managed symptoms). The third class (2.5%) included people likely to report feeling useless/sinful, prior hospitalization, and current psychiatric medication (depressive symptoms). The fourth class (1.0%) comprised people likely to report thought control, paranoia, feeling useless/sinful, medication, and hospitalization (psychotic symptoms). Controlling for sociodemographic and booking characteristics, people in the managed, depressive, and psychotic symptoms classes had significantly longer jail stays compared to those in the limited symptoms class. People in the managed and depressive symptoms classes were at heightened risk of re-arrest compared to the limited symptoms class. Findings can inform case prioritization and the allocation of resources to support efficient and effective jail-based mental health services.

Age of onset of major depressive episode and association with lifetime psychiatric disorders, health-related quality of life and impact of gender: A cross sectional and retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the long-term impact of the age of onset (AOO) of the first major depressive episode (MDE) according to 3 age groups and considering gender.

METHODS

Data were extracted from NESARC III, a representative U.S.

SAMPLE

We included 8053 participants with an MDE history in a cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study. We defined 3 AOO groups: childhood-onset (< 13 yo), adolescence-onset (13-18 yo), and adult-onset (> 18 yo). We compared sociodemographic characteristics, lifetime psychiatric disorders per DSM-5 criteria, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in each group and performed gender-stratified analyses.

RESULTS

Prevalence of childhood-onset MDE was 10.03 %, adolescence-onset was 14.12 %, and adult-onset was 75.85 %. Suicide attempts (AOR = 3.61; 95 % CI 2.90-4.50), anxiety disorders (AOR = 1.92; 95 % CI 1.62-2.27), and personality disorders (AOR = 3.08; 95 % CI 2.56-3.71) were more frequent in the childhood-onset than in the adult-onset one. Adolescence-onset group showed similar results. Physical Disability scale (p < 0.001) and Mental Disability scale (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the childhood-onset group. Results were more nuanced in the adolescence-onset group. Women in childhood-onset and adolescence-onset groups had poorer outcomes than the adult-onset group. Differences were less pronounced in men.

LIMITATIONS

Recall and classification biases inherent to survey design.

CONCLUSION

Individuals, particularly women, who experienced their first MDE during childhood or adolescence exhibit higher lifetime psychiatric disorder prevalence and poorer HRQOL than those with adult-onset MDE. These findings highlight the importance of preventive measures, early diagnosis, and treatment of youth depression.

Exploring the relationship between depression and delinquency: a sibling comparison design using the NLSY

Relative to the general population, adolescents with psychiatric disorders such as major depression disorder are incarcerated (and reincarcerated) at higher rates. Current research is mixed on whether this association is a cause, consequence, or the product of selection. For example, aggression can lead to more depressive symptoms, yet depression is associated with antisocial behaviors (e.g., delinquency). To better understand the relationship between depression and delinquent behavior, we used the discordant kinship model to examine data from sibling pairs in the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1979, a nationally representative study. By explicitly modeling within- and between-family variance, we reduced the influence of genetic and shared-environmental confounds on our analysis. Our results suggest that the relationship between depression and delinquency is not causal, but rather a product of selection.

The contribution of chronic peer victimization in elementary school to depressive symptoms in adolescence

Throughout his career, John Schulenberg challenged us to understand adolescent development as the confluence of distal and proximal experiences along with critical transitions. Heeding this call, we examined whether chronic childhood peer victimization predicted adolescents' depressive symptoms via early-emerging depression growth trajectories, continued victimization into adolescence, and stress-amplification at the middle school transition. Self-reported depressive symptoms and teacher-reported and self-reported peer victimization were obtained from 636 youth (338 girls; Mage = 7.96 years, 66.7% White, 21.7% Black, 11.6% other) in the 2nd-9th grades. Latent growth curve analyses revealed that, by 7th grade, chronic childhood peer victimization was associated with depressive symptoms only through an indirect association with peer victimization in adolescence, underscoring how interrelated historical and ongoing interpersonal stressors contribute to adolescent psychopathology.

Disorder-specific versus transdiagnostic cognitive mechanisms in anxiety and depression: Machine-learning-based prediction of symptom severity

INTRODUCTION

Psychiatric evaluation of anxiety and depression is currently based on self-reported symptoms and their classification into discrete disorders. Yet the substantial overlap between these disorders as well as their within-disorder heterogeneity may contribute to the mediocre success rates of treatments. The proposed research examines a new framework for diagnosis that is based on alterations in underlying cognitive mechanisms. In line with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach, the current study directly compares disorder-specific and transdiagnostic cognitive patterns in predicting the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms.

METHODS

The sample included 237 individuals exhibiting differing levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the STAI-T and BDI-II. Random Forest regressors were used to analyze their performance on a battery of six computerized cognitive-behavioral tests targeting selective and spatial attention, expectancy, interpretation, memory, and cognitive control biases.

RESULTS

Unique anxiety-specific biases were found, as well as shared anxious-depressed bias patterns. These cognitive biases exhibited relatively high fitting rates when predicting symptom severity (questionnaire scores common range 0-60, MAE = 6.03, RMSE = 7.53). Interpretation and expectancy biases exhibited the highest association with symptoms, above all other individual biases.

LIMITATIONS

Although internal validation methods were applied, models may suffer from potential overfitting due to sample size limitations.

CONCLUSION

In the context of the ongoing dispute regarding symptom-centered versus transdiagnostic approaches, the current study provides a unique comparison of these two views, yielding a novel intermediate approach. The results support the use of mechanism-based dimensional diagnosis for adding precision and objectivity to future psychiatric evaluations.

Mastery is central: an examination of complex interrelationships between physical health, stress and adaptive cognition, and social connection with depression and anxiety symptoms

Background

Research has established the link between physical health, stress and cognition, and social connection with depression and anxiety. Nevertheless, an understanding of the comorbidity of depression and anxiety symptoms and their complex interrelationships with relevant factors remains still limited. This study investigated the complex pattern of interplay between depression and anxiety symptoms and pertinent physical, cognitive, and social factors and potential gender differences.

Methods

Using a sample of 600 middle-aged men and women, depression and anxiety as well as physical health, perceived stress and mastery, and social connection were assessed. The network structure of depression and anxiety symptoms and risk and resilience factors were characterized by examining interrelationships and the centrality indices of Strength and Bridge Strength. Gender differences were examined using the Network Comparison Test.

Results

Perceived stress and mastery were central bridge factors influencing comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress, anhedonia, and mastery exhibited strong inter-connections to each other. The connections of physical health-anhedonia and sleep disturbance-irritability were stronger in men than in women, while social connection with family was linked to interpersonal problems only in women.

Conclusions

The results underscore that prevention and interventions targeting reducing perceptions of stress and promoting mastery would prevent onset or recurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms among middle-aged men and women. Engaging in behavioral activities to maintain physical health and ensuring adequate sleep could be particularly beneficial for men in reducing overall symptom severity.

My Story of Depression: A Content Analysis of Autobiographic Videos on Douyin

Autobiographical accounts on social media could play an essential role in shaping the public's understanding of illnesses and dispelling illness-related stigma. This study examined how people living with depression describe their illness experiences on Douyin, China's leading video-sharing platform, through content analysis. It finds that most videos were created by young women who have lived with the illness for over three years. The top three topics were patient psychology, experience sharing, and knowledge and medical advice. These videos provided an overall non-stigmatizing portrayal of depression, with more than 80% of the influencers using challenge cues. However, stigma cues contributed to the virality of the videos. The theoretical and practical implications of the study were discussed.

Depressive Symptoms are Associated with Decline Over Time in Verbal Fluency Performance in Female but Not Male Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

The current study was designed to examine associations between depressive symptoms and longitudinal declines in category and letter fluency performance in a gender-stratified sample of older adults.

METHOD

Participants were community-residing older adults (females: n = 289; males: n = 233) followed annually (2011-2018) as part of a cohort study conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Standard forms assessed category and letter fluency performance. Participants were dementia-free during study enrollment.

RESULTS

The presence of baseline depressive symptoms suggestive of subclinical depression was associated with a worse longitudinal decline in category fluency performance in female but not male participants. These associations remained significant when excluding participants with prevalent and incident mild cognitive impairment and incident dementia. Irrespective of gender, letter fluency performance did not decline over time and was not influenced by the presence of depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

The present study's results can aid in identification of older adults who may be at greater risk for cognitive decline, and add to the limited literature examining the influence of gender on longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and verbal fluency performance.

Protective Factors in the Context of Childhood Bereavement: Youth Gratitude, Future Orientation, and Purpose in Life

The objective of the study was to examine potential associations between positive youth development constructs (gratitude, future orientation, purpose in life) and psychological functioning (posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, maladaptive grief reactions) among bereaved youth and test whether these associations vary by age. A diverse sample of 197 clinic-referred bereaved youth (56.2% female; M = 12.36, SD = 3.18; 36.1% Hispanic, 23.7% White, 20.1% Black, 11.9% Multiracial, and 8.2% another race/ethnicity) completed self-report measures of psychological functioning and positive youth development constructs. Linear regression models indicated that gratitude and purpose were associated with lower posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms among bereaved youth. Future orientation was associated with higher posttraumatic stress symptoms. Results were consistent across age. If replicated longitudinally, gratitude and purpose may be important protective factors against negative mental health outcomes in the aftermath of losing a loved one.

Individualized prediction of anxiety and depressive symptoms using gray matter volume in a non-clinical population

Machine learning is an emerging tool in clinical psychology and neuroscience for the individualized prediction of psychiatric symptoms. However, its application in non-clinical populations is still in its infancy. Given the widespread morphological changes observed in psychiatric disorders, our study applies five supervised machine learning regression algorithms-ridge regression, support vector regression, partial least squares regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and Elastic-Net regression-to predict anxiety and depressive symptom scores. We base these predictions on the whole-brain gray matter volume in a large non-clinical sample (n = 425). Our results demonstrate that machine learning algorithms can effectively predict individual variability in anxiety and depressive symptoms, as measured by the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire. The most discriminative features contributing to the prediction models were primarily located in the prefrontal-parietal, temporal, visual, and sub-cortical regions (e.g. amygdala, hippocampus, and putamen). These regions showed distinct patterns for anxious arousal and high positive affect in three of the five models (partial least squares regression, support vector regression, and ridge regression). Importantly, these predictions were consistent across genders and robust to demographic variability (e.g. age, parental education, etc.). Our findings offer critical insights into the distinct brain morphological patterns underlying specific components of anxiety and depressive symptoms, supporting the existing tripartite theory from a neuroimaging perspective.

The Associations of Physical Activity and Health-Risk Behaviors toward Depressive Symptoms among College Students: Gender and Obesity Disparities

Engaging in health-risk behaviors (HRBs) may be correlated with depressive symptoms among college students, but these relationships require more research. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity levels (i.e., light [LPA] and moderate-vigorous [MVPA]) and HRBs (i.e., sedentary behavior [screen-based and non-screen-based behavior] and cigarette and e-cigarette tobacco use) with depressive symptoms in a sample of college students. Physical activity levels and HRBs were assessed through validated questionnaires. In total, 366 students participated (Mage = 22.59 ± 3.54; 60.1% female; 52.9% normal weight). E-cigarette use in males (β = 0.23, p < 0.05) and screen-based sedentary behavior in females (β = 0.14, p < 0.05) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. In the overweight/obese group, screen-based sedentary behaviors (β = 0.19, p < 0.05) and e-cigarette use (β = 0.23, p < 0.01) showed significant predictive utility toward depressive symptoms. Females reported higher levels of depressive symptoms (Mfemale = 18.23 vs. Mmale = 14.81; η2 = 0.03) and less MVPA (Mmale = 52.83 vs. Mfemale = 41.09; η2 = 0.06) than males. Enhancing mental health by improving physical activity and eliminating HRBs should be tailored toward at-risk demographics.

The "bubbles"-study: Validation of ultra-short scales for the assessment of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms

Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms cause substantial psychological and economic burdens around the globe. To mitigate the negative consequences, the negative symptoms should be identified at an early stage. Therefore, the implementation of very brief valid screening tools in mental health prevention programs and in therapeutic settings is advantageous. In two studies on representative German population samples, we developed and validated three ultra-short scales-the "bubbles"-that consist of only one item based on the Depression Anxiety Stress 21 subscales (DASS-21) for the assessment of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. The results of Study 1 (N = 1,001) and Study 2 (N = 894) revealed that the bubbles are valid instruments that fit the DASS-21 subscales on the factor level. Moreover, the bubbles replicated the association pattern of the DASS-21 subscales with demographic variables, and with variables that belong to the negative and the positive dimension of mental health. Thus, due to their time- and cost-efficiency, the bubbles can be used as brief screening tools in research (e.g., large-scale studies, longitudinal studies, experience sampling paradigms) and in praxis. Their shortness can prevent fatigue, motivation decrease, and participants' drop-out.

Position Paper: fragmented youth healthcare services in the Netherlands endanger treatment of teenage boys with psychiatric disorders

For children who show strongly deviant behaviour in the Netherlands, a distinction is made between behavioural problems and psychiatric problems. As a result, two different domains have emerged over time, each with its own legal frameworks and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Consequently, there is no well-organized, coherent system for youth mental health care in the Netherlands. This strong dichotomy raises the question whether patients are being admitted to facilities where they are receiving appropriate care. In addition, referral bias can arise, because the type of complaint with which a young person presents is often dependent on the type of coping of the individual and thus, in turn, the gender of the patient. In this Position Paper, we examined the gender distribution at a youth psychiatric high and intensive care (HIC-Y) and other streams of youth care in the Netherlands to explore possible inequities in access to psychiatric care among children and adolescents. Results show that girls are significantly more likely than boys to be admitted to the HIC-Y for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and emotional dysregulation. In fact, girls account for 80% of all admissions, while boys account for only 20%. In contrast, regional and national reports from youth services and probation show a majority of boys being admitted (56-89%). The way care is organized (lack of cross-domain collaboration and the interplay between gender-dependent coping and exclusion criteria) seems to play a role in the underrepresentation of boys in acute psychiatry and their overrepresentation in secure youth care. Based on our research results, the concern is raised whether boys have a greater chance of undertreatment for psychiatric problems. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors that contribute to gender bias in psychiatric admissions, and to develop interventions that promote gender equality in healthcare.

Developmental interactions between peer victimization and depressive symptoms in adolescents: A latent change score analysis

Peer victimization and depressive symptoms are highly relevant risks during adolescence. Understanding the dynamic patterns of interactions between peer victimization and depressive symptoms as well as gender differences in these variables can improve intervention strategies for adolescents navigating this critical transition period. In the present study, a large sample of Chinese adolescents reported peer victimization and depressive symptoms in four survey waves at six-month intervals. A total of 2534 adolescents (51.9% boys, M = 12.98 ± 0.60 years) were included in the latent change score (LCS) analysis. The results supported the reciprocal effects model obtained in the full sample. Changes in peer victimization were influenced by prior changes in depressive symptoms over time, and changes in depressive symptoms were influenced by prior levels of peer victimization. There were also gender differences, with boys exhibiting depressive symptom-driven effects on peer victimization, while girls exhibiting peer victimization-induced depressive symptoms. The dynamic relationships between peer victimization and depressive symptoms that promote and constrain each other in adolescents are elucidated in this study. Differentiating effects on boys and girls is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of practical interventions.

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the 8-item CES-D: a national longitudinal sample of Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

The 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D 8) has been widely used to measure depressive symptoms in many large-scale surveys. Due to its brevity, it can lower costs, relieve respondent burdens, and ensure data quality. However, its factor structure and measurement invariance across gender and time among adolescents have not been adequately evaluated. This study investigated its factor structure and measurement invariance across gender and time among adolescents.

METHODS

The data was drawn from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) conducted in 2018 and 2020, with 3099 participants (46.82% girls) aged 11 to 18 in 2018. First, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure of the CES-D 8. Next, multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test its measurement invariance across gender and time. Finally, a longitudinal cross-gender test was conducted to further confirm the stability of the scale.

RESULTS

A two-factor structure was identified among the adolescents, including Negative Symptoms and Diminished Happiness Feeling. Measurement invariance across gender and time, as well as the longitudinal cross-gender invariance, was supported, with configural, factor loadings, thresholds and residual invariance.

CONCLUSIONS

The factor structure of the CES-D 8 remains stable across gender and time among adolescents, indicating that it is a promising instrument for measuring depressive symptoms, especially in large-scale and longitudinal surveys.

Sex differences in depression, anxiety and health-promoting lifestyles among community residents: A network approach

BACKGROUND

Researchers have studied sex differences in typical depressive and anxiety symptoms and their cooccurrence. The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a mental health promotion objective that suggests considering protective health-promoting factors when developing strategies for preventing mental disorders between sexes. From a network perspective, psychopathology is viewed as a result of interacting symptoms and influential factors. This study adopted network approach to investigate sex differences in health-promoting lifestyles (HPL) and the cooccurrence symptoms of communities in Shanghai. The aim is to provide health-promoting suggestions on better enhancing the life quality for community members.

METHODS

Depression, anxiety symptoms, and HPL were assessed with PHQ-9, GAD-7 and HPLP-II scales in 2420 adults (1411 females). Networks were constructed by Gaussian Graphical Models and the networks of two sexes using the Network Comparison Test.

RESULTS

Females scored significantly higher on PHQ-9 (p < 0.001) and GAD-7 (p < 0.001), and no differences were found between the two sexes in HPL scores. Restlessness and low energy yielded the highest strength centrality in the female network, while suicide ideation and restlessness were central in male network. Regarding protective HPL, physical activity and stress management were identified as the central mental health-promoting behaviours in female and male network, respectively. However, stress management was positively related to suicide ideation in the male network.

CONCLUSION

Communities should be aware of suicide ideation in males because of its high relationships with other symptoms and also provide stress management courses, especially for males. As for women, chronic energy deficiency deserves more attention for its high probability of cooccurrence with other symptoms in the network. Also, advocating physical activities may be particularly beneficial for the overall mental health among women. Future study should collect time-series data and analyze intraindividual networks to specify personalized health promoting strategies for each individual.

Perceived belonging on campus predicts depression among heavy drinkers: A test of three moderators

Objective: An association exists between perceived belonging and depression among college students. Because a student's sense of belongingness may vary as a function of their social identity, three identities - ethnicity, first-generation college student status, and sex - were investigated as potential moderators of this relationship. Participants: One hundred eighty-seven heavy-drinking college students (63% female; 52% non-Latinx White; M = 20 years of age) were assessed. Methods: Three hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to test whether belonging at baseline predicted depression at six months and whether each identity variable moderated this association. Results: Analyses yielded significant main effects between belonging and depression. Hispanic nor first-generation status interacted with belonging in predicting depression. Sex interacted with belonging where higher belongingness was associated with lower levels of depression only among female students. Conclusion: Mental health providers should consider asking female students about their perceptions of belonging on college campuses to understand their vulnerability to depression.

Depression by gender and associated factors among older adults in India: implications for age-friendly policies

Inspite of implementing policies to control mental health problems, depression remains a severe health concern among older adults in India. We examined self-reported differences in the depression among older men and women in India and examined associated factors for gender differences in depression at the population level. We utilized nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) wave I, for years 2017-2019. Our analytical sample comprised of 30,637 older adults ages 60 years and above (14,682 men and 15,655 women). We conducted descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests followed by binary logistic regression and multivariate decomposition analyses to examine our study objectives. Depression was reported in - 7.4% (95% CI 7.0, 7.8) of older men and 9.5% (CI 9.1, 10.0) of older women. Poor self-rated health, multimorbidity status, physical activity, difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) were the significant health-related factors associated with depression among older men and women. Not being satisfied with one's life, not being satisfied with their present living arrangement, receiving any type of ill-treatment, and being widowed were the significant factors associated with depression among older men and women. We found gender disparity in self-reported depression. Marital status contributed-to 36.7% of the gender gap in depression among older adults. Additionally, ADL and IADL difficulties among men and women contributed to 17.6% and 34.0%, gender gap, self-rated health contributed to 18.8% gap, whereas not having equal social participation (4.4%) and not satisfied in present living arrangements (8.1%) were other factors that contributed to gender gap for depression in India. Depression is a critical and persistent public health problem among-older females in India. Our findings provide a broader framework for policymakers and health practitioners to focus on gender-specific strategies to mitigate this highly emergent problem.

The mental functioning of school-age children in Poland since the outbreak of war in Ukraine and during the subsequent refugee crisis

BACKGROUND

There is growing body of research focusing on the functioning of children who have fled from war-torn areas. However, there is currently lack of data regarding the functioning of children residing in host countries.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the presence of emotional problems, negative attitudes, interpersonal problems, and functional difficulties among Polish children during the first month after the outbreak of war and initial phase of the current refugee crisis.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHOD

The study group comprised children aged 9-15 (N = 360), living in Poland. The Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI-2) and The Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children (CTIC) was used to measure emotional functioning. The study took place 7 to 39 days after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

RESULTS

The children reported more emotional problems (t(359) = 9.340; p < .001; d = 0.49) with a negative mood (t(359) = 6.692; p < .001; d = 0.35) and negative self-esteem (t(359) = 9.632; p < .001; d = 0.51). The severity of depression symptoms was the highest in the first week after the outbreak of the war (F(5,354) = 2.472; p < .05; η2 = 0.03). The view of the self (F(1,358) = 3.858; p = .05; R2 = 0.01) and of the world (F(1,358) = 5.359; p < .05; R2 = 0.02) improved over time; however, their vision of the future remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

The results shows that children who are not directly affected by the war can also display difficulties in mental functioning. In the initial months following the outbreak of the war and during the early stage of the current refugee crisis, Polish children demonstrated significantly higher levels of emotional problems and negative self-esteem. Moreover, the perception of oneself and the world appeared to be influenced by the duration since the onset of the war.

Relational sanctification, communal coping, and depression among African American couples

Despite the common use of religious buffers, African Americans are disproportionately affected by depressive symptoms. Communal coping may serve as one factor in helping religious African American couples alleviate the symptoms of depression. This study examines the association between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms as mediated by the communal coping of 467 African American married and cohabiting couples. Data from the sampled couples were analyzed using a common fate model, and analyses revealed higher scores on the measure of sanctification were associated with more communal coping; more communal coping was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women and men, and communal coping acted as a mediator between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms in both partners. Findings from this study underscore the importance of considering how the religiosity and cooperative action of African American couples relate to depressive symptoms.

A Comparison of Cognitive Performance, Depressive Symptoms, and Incidence of Falls in Brazilian Older Women with and without a Confirmed History of COVID-19

The study aimed to compare cognitive performance, depressive symptoms, and the incidence of falls in Brazilian older women with and without a confirmed history of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study included 188 women (60-89 years), divided into two groups: one with a history of COVID-19 (n = 139), and one without any history of COVID-19 (n = 49). The instruments used were the Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument (COGTEL) test battery, the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the self-reported history of falls since the beginning of mandatory confinement. The higher the age, the higher the incidence of falls. The highest prevalence of falls (57.1%) occurred in the COVID-19 group (p = 0.001), the members of which also indicated a better cognitive performance in the COGTEL test (p = 0.017), TMT-B (p = 0.004), and ∆TMT (B-A) (p = 0.004). In turn, the depressive symptoms were more severe in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.001). We observed that COVID-19 infection without hospitalization did not affect the cognitive performance of older adult women. Future studies should be carried out to monitor the mental health of older adult Brazilian women. Moreover, regardless of their history of COVID-19, older adults should participate in a physical training program focused on preventing falls.

The influence of media use degree on public depressive symptoms: mediating role of big five personality

BACKGROUND

Mixed results have been found regarding the relationship between media use degree and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between media use degree, big five personality and depressive symptoms with a mediation model.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional study. With 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) and self-designed media usage scale, 11,031 participants aged 12 and above in 120 cities in China were collected. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed on the data. The Process plug-in was used to construct the mediation model and explore the relationship among media use degree, big five personality and depressive symptoms. The nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effect of personality traits.

RESULTS

The degree of media use was positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.20, P < 0.001), and big five personality played a mediating role between the degree of media use and depressive symptoms. Among five traits, extroversion (r=-0.12, P < 0.001), conscientiousness (r=-0.23, P < 0.001), openness (r=-0.03, P < 0.01) and agreeableness (r=-0.22, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, and neuroticism (r = 0.25, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with depressive symptoms. In addition, extraversion (-0.004, -0.001), conscientiousness (-0.015, -0.008), agreeableness (-0.008, -0.001) and neuroticism (-0.015, -0.007) in big five personality played a mediating role between media use and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The degree of media use positively predicted depressive symptoms, and excessive media use may bring risks to mental health. People with high neuroticism, low agreeableness, low conscientiousness and low extroversion are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms.

Pre-pandemic psychological and behavioral predictors of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in nine countries

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents (N = 1,330; Mages = 15 and 16; 50% female), mothers, and fathers from nine countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, United States) reported on adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems, adolescents completed a lab-based task to assess tendency for risk-taking, and adolescents reported on their well-being. During the pandemic, participants (Mage = 20) reported on changes in their internalizing, externalizing, and substance use compared to before the pandemic. Across countries, adolescents' internalizing problems pre-pandemic predicted increased internalizing during the pandemic, and poorer well-being pre-pandemic predicted increased externalizing and substance use during the pandemic. Other relations varied across countries, and some were moderated by confidence in the government's handling of the pandemic, gender, and parents' education.

Emotional responses to a global stressor: Average patterns and individual differences

Major stressors often challenge emotional well-being-increasing negative emotions and decreasing positive emotions. But how long do these emotional hits last? Prior theory and research contain conflicting views. Some research suggests that most individuals' emotional well-being will return to, or even surpass, baseline levels relatively quickly. Others have challenged this view, arguing that this type of resilient response is uncommon. The present research provides a strong test of resilience theory by examining emotional trajectories over the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In two pre-registered longitudinal studies (total N =1147), we examined average emotional trajectories and predictors of individual differences in emotional trajectories across 13 waves of data from February through September 2020. The pandemic had immediate detrimental effects on average emotional well-being. Across the next 6 months, average negative emotions returned to baseline levels with the greatest improvements occurring almost immediately. Yet, positive emotions remained depleted relative to baseline levels, illustrating the limits of typical resilience. Individuals differed substantially around these average emotional trajectories and these individual differences were predicted by socio-demographic characteristics and stressor exposure. We discuss theoretical implications of these findings that we hope will contribute to more nuanced approaches to studying, understanding, and improving emotional well-being following major stressors.

Major depressive disorder in post-secondary students attending foodbanks in France

Introduction

Poor mental health among youth is a major public health issue that has risen to the forefront since the COVID-19 crisis, especially among post-secondary students and precarious populations. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the rate of major depressive disorder (MDD) among precarious post-secondary students in the greater Paris region, to describe its risk factors, and to identify determinants for not seeking care.

Methods

We conducted a multi-site, cross-sectional survey of post-secondary students attending a selection of 13 student foodbanks in the greater Paris region (France) between 30 November 2021 and 27 January 2022. This study had two complementary epidemiological and sociological components: a quantitative description of MDD through completion of a questionnaire performed through face-to-face or telephone interviews, and a qualitative assessment of the factors underlying MDD through in-depth follow-up interviews conducted among a sub-selection of students who participated in the first phase.

Results

Among 456 students who participated in our survey, 35.7% presented with MDD. The risk of suffering from MDD was higher among women, students housed by third-parties, students reporting moderately to severely hungry and/or poor physical health. Students receiving material and/or social support were less likely to present with MDD. Among students who reported needing health care in the last year or since their arrival in France, 51.4% did not seek care.

Conclusion

To address poor mental health among precarious students, policy action must jointly consider financial precarity, administrative barriers, housing, food security, physical health, and access to health services, especially mental health.

Correlation analysis of hysterectomy and ovarian preservation with depression

The relationship between hysterectomy and ovarian preservation and depression is controversial. This study aimed to determine the association of hysterectomy and ovarian preservation with depression using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. To assess the association between hysterectomy with or without ovariectomy and depression, we used 3 methods. Method 1: propensity score model (PSM) was established. Method 2 was logistics regression analysis of hysterectomy and depression before and after PSM. Method 3 was a logistics regression analysis of the relationship between hysterectomy and different depressive symptoms. At the same time, in order to evaluate the association between hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy and depression, we explored the effect of four different surgical procedures on depression using logistic regression equations. We enrolled 12,097 women, of whom 2763 underwent hysterectomy, 34.455% were positive for depression. After weighting, 33.825% of the total sample had a PHQ ≥ 5. Finally, a total of 2778 women were successfully matched by propensity score, and 35.537% of them were positive for depression. The OR for PHQ ≥ 5 was 1.236 after crude adjustment of covariates and 1.234 after exact adjustment. This suggests that Hysterectomy is strongly associated with positive depression. Positive depression (PHQ ≥ 5) was associated with little interest, feeling down and trouble concentrating. It was not associated with trouble sleeping, feeling tired, poor appetite, feeling bad, slow moving or speaking, and suicidal thoughts. Oophorectomy-alone is not associated with depression. Hysterectomy-alone is a risk factor for depression, but Hysterectomy combined with Oophorectomy has a stronger correlation with depression than Hysterectomy-alone. Women who have had a Hysterectomy are at higher risk of depression than women who have not had a Hysterectomy, and this risk may be exacerbated if the uterus and ovaries are removed. When clinically appropriate, surgeons should try to preserve the patient's ovaries.

A CBT-based mobile intervention as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with symptoms of depression: a virtual randomized controlled feasibility trial

Background

High rates of adolescent depression demand for more effective, accessible treatment options. A virtual randomized controlled trial was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week, self-guided, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mobile application, Spark, compared to a psychoeducational mobile application (Active Control) as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A community sample aged 13-21, with self-reported symptoms of depression, was recruited nationwide. Participants were randomly assigned to use either Spark or Active Control (N_Spark = 35; N_{Active Control} = 25). Questionnaires, including the PHQ-8 measuring depression symptoms, completed before, during, and immediately following completion of the intervention, evaluated depressive symptoms, usability, engagement, and participant safety. App engagement data were also analyzed.

Results

60 eligible adolescents (female = 47) were enrolled in 2 months. 35.6% of those expressing interest were consented and all enrolled. Study retention was high (85%). Spark users rated the app as usable (System Usability Scale_mean = 80.67) and engaging (User Engagement Scale-Short Form_mean = 3.62). Median daily use was 29%, and 23% completed all levels. There was a significant negative relationship between behavioral activations completed and change in PHQ-8. Efficacy analyses revealed a significant main effect of time, F = 40.60, p < .001, associated with decreased PHQ-8 scores over time. There was no significant Group × Time interaction (F = 0.13, p = .72) though the numeric decrease in PHQ-8 was greater for Spark (4.69 vs. 3.56). No serious adverse events or adverse device effects were reported for Spark users. Two serious adverse events reported in the Active Control group were addressed per our safety protocol.

Conclusion

Recruitment, enrollment, and retention rates demonstrated study feasibility by being comparable or better than other mental health apps. Spark was highly acceptable relative to published norms. The study's novel safety protocol efficiently detected and managed adverse events. The lack of significant difference in depression symptom reduction between Spark and Active Control may be explained by study design and study design factors. Procedures established during this feasibility study will be leveraged for subsequent powered clinical trials evaluating app efficacy and safety.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04524598.

Parental Phubbing and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms during COVID-19: A Serial Meditating Model

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms, a common emotional problem among adolescents, have become more prominent. Regarding the influencing factors of adolescent depressive symptoms, it is widely accepted that parents' problematic cellphone use around the family (specifically parental phubbing) is a strong predictive factor for the development of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp increase in the number of individuals with depressive symptoms, and the negative consequences of parental phubbing and depressive symptoms might have been exacerbated. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the association between parental phubbing and adolescent depressive symptoms as well as their underlying mechanism.

METHOD

To test our hypotheses, we conducted an offline/online survey with 614 adolescents in Central China from May to June 2022, which corresponded to a period of strict lockdowns in some areas due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant. The participants completed a set of measures, including a technology interference questionnaire, a parent-child relationship scale, a self-concept clarity scale, and the depressive symptoms scale.

RESULTS

Parental phubbing was positively associated with adolescent depressive symptoms; the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity could independently mediate this relationship; and the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity were also serial mediators in this association. These findings extend previous research by highlighting the impact of parental technology use on their children and the underlying mechanism explaining adolescent depressive symptoms. They provide practical recommendations for parents to prioritize fostering a positive family environment and minimizing phubbing behaviors to enhance adolescent development, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Childhood anxiety and depression have been increasing for years, and evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend. However, research has examined anxiety and depression primarily as exclusive conditions, overlooking comorbidity. This study examined relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic and anxiety and depression to clarify risk factors for singular and comorbid anxiety and depression in children. Using 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 samples from the National Survey of Children's Health, a nationally representative survey of children aged 0-17 in the United States, associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and child anxiety and depression were examined via survey-weights' adjusted bivariate and multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic characteristics. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher odds of having comorbid anxiety and depression but not singular anxiety or depression. Female sex, older age, having special healthcare needs, more frequent inability to cover basic needs on family income, and poorer caregiver mental health were associated with having been diagnosed with singular and comorbid anxiety and depression. Children that witnessed or were victims of violence in the neighborhood were also more likely to have comorbid anxiety and depression. Implications for prevention, intervention, and policy are discussed.

COVID-19: Factors Predicting Depressive Symptoms in People Aging With Long-Term Physical Disabilities

The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may be greater than that of the viral infection. This impact is likely greater for disadvantaged groups such as people with long-term physical disabilities (PwLTPD). This cross-sectional study used a multiple linear regression model to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms and to understand their relative importance during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The model explained 58% of the variance in depressive symptoms. Anxiety was the most important predictor, accounting for 8% of variance. Higher levels of anxiety, loneliness, and financial stress; prior diagnosis of depression; and non-Black race predicted a higher level of depressive symptoms in PwLTPD during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational therapy practitioners should strategically acknowledge predictors of depression that cannot be modified and actively address those that can be modified through evidence-based interventions to improve depressive symptoms in PwLTPD.

Psychological wellbeing, memories, and future thoughts during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic led countries to place restrictions on the general public in order to protect their safety. These restrictions, however, may have negative psychological consequences as people are restricted in their social and leisure activities and facing daily life stressors. Investigating the relationship between how people are remembering pandemic events and thinking about their futures is important in order to begin to examine the psychological consequences - cognitive and emotional - of the Covid-19 pandemic. The present study examined how characteristics of past and future thinking relate to psychological wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. In an online questionnaire study, 904 participants in Germany and the USA recalled and predicted negative and positive events related to the pandemic. Participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring cognitions and psychological symptoms. Participants' current psychological wellbeing related to how they remembered events and thought of their future. Participants reported a greater sense of reliving for past compared to future events. However, future events were more rehearsed than past events. Additionally, the emotional impact of positive and negative events differed for the past and the future. Participants seem to be strongly future oriented during the Covid-19 pandemic, but have a negative view of future events.

The longitudinal predictive effect of self-reported frequency of premenstrual syndrome on depression: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

Background

Previous studies have revealed a high comorbidity between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and depression; however, whether PMS can longitudinally predict depression has not been examined in large sample studies.

Methods

This study surveyed 8,133 women from the 1973-78 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Participants completed seven repeated measurements at 3-year intervals starting in 2000 (aged 22-27 years). Binary logistic and multivariate ordered logistic regression models were used to examine the predictive role of self-reported frequency of PMS symptoms in 2000 on self-reported diagnosis of depression and frequency of depressive symptoms, respectively, for each follow-up survey.

Results

Self-reported frequency of PMS symptoms in the year 2000 predicted self-reported diagnosis of depression in most follow-up surveys. Specifically, compared to women who reported "never" had PMS symptoms in 2000, those who reported "often" had them were more likely to report a diagnosis of depression in 2006 (OR = 1.72), 2012 (OR = 1.88), 2015 (OR = 1.49), and 2018 (OR = 1.90); and those who reported "sometimes" had PMS symptoms in 2000 were more likely to report a diagnosis of depression in 2012 (OR =1.37) and 2018 (OR = 1.59). Furthermore, self-reported frequency of PMS symptoms in 2000 predicted self-reported frequency of depressive symptoms in each follow-up survey. Compared to women who reported "never" had PMS symptoms in 2000, those who reported "sometimes", or "often", had PMS symptoms reported depressive symptoms more frequently.

Conclusion

Self-reported frequency of PMS can predict the self-reported frequency of depressive symptoms and the subsequent diagnosis of depression.

Role of multiple risk factors in mental disorders diagnosed in middle-aged women: A population-based follow-up study

The aims of the study were 1). to investigate the association between the potential risk factors including socio-demographic, lifestyle and DNA methylation and mental disorders in middle-aged women from a large population-based follow-up study, and 2). to estimate the risk score by combining the potential risk factors to examine the mental disorder's incidence. A total of 6461 women, aged 50-65 years, were included in the study. After a median follow-up of 17 years, 2026 (31%) women were diagnosed with mental disorders. The association between these factors and the risk of mental disorders was analyzed using Cox regression models. Harrell's concordance index (C-index) was used to quantify models' predictive performance for future mental disorders. Blood-based global DNA methylation was assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that smoking (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.24-1.54), less physical activity (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.10-1.60), being single (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.29) and unemployment (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.33-1.70) were independently associated with an increased risk of overall mental disorders. Risk score models combining all these observed factors showed an increased risk, but the prediction ability was low, except for the risk of alcohol use disorders (AUD) and drug use disorders (DUD) (C-index = 0.8). Finally, women who developed MDD/anxiety during follow-up had significantly higher global DNA methylation at baseline than women who did not develop MDD/anxiety (p = 0.005). In conclusion, our results indicate that the studied risk factors were associated with mental disorders in a type-specific manner. The predictive model showed that smoking, alcohol consumption, education and physical activity may predict future AUD/DUD. Global DNA methylation may be a potential risk factor for MDD/anxiety incidence.

Nutrient deficiency profiles and depression: A latent class analysis study of American population

BACKGROUND

Research into the effects of nutrition on depression is often performed by examining the effects of singular nutrients and dietary styles (e.g.: vegan, Mediterranean). The present study is the first one to establish the effects of patterns of nutritional deficiency within the American population and examines their effects on depression.

METHODS

Data was drawn from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Latent class analysis was performed to identify homogeneous groups of nutrient deficiency. A 3-step analysis was performed to establish class-dependant differences in depression severity. BCH analysis revealed unique predictors of depression dependant on most probable class.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed 4 classes of nutrient deficiency. Magnesium and dietary fibre were the least endorsed. 'Nutrient deprived' individuals showed the highest depression severity (Mean = 4.137, SD = 0.337). Profiles were predicted by different socioeconomic and anthropogenic predictors with meeting minimum calories showing the strongest odds of not being nutrient deprived (OR between 5.44 and 11.11). Overall, age (β = -0.115, p ≤ 0.01) and income (β = -0.147, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest protecting factors while being female (β = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01) and arthritis (β = 0.130, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest risk factors.

LIMITATIONS

The study involved binary variables based on minimum daily intakes and did not account for positive effects of exceeding minimum recommended doses.

CONCLUSIONS

The study supports the notion of a negative relationship between good nutrition and depression. Finding unique risk factors for depression symptoms supports the utility of nutrient deficiency profiling.

The Relationships between Prospection, Self-Efficacy, and Depression in College Students with Cross-Lagged Analysis

Depression is one of the most prevalent and disabling mental health problems in college students. Previous studies have established cross-sectional associations between negative bias in prospection e.g., increased negativity in future simulation, low self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, the temporal bidirectional associations between them are rarely examined. In the current study, we collected valid data on 276 college students at two time points within a 10 week interval. Cross-lagged panel analysis was applied to investigate the relationships between proportions of negative future events, levels of self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms. Results suggested depressive symptoms predict subsequent proportions of negative prospections and levels of self-efficacy. Inversely, neither prospection nor self-efficacy predicted depression. Temporal correlations between prospection and self-efficacy were also not significant. Since this is one of the first studies that attempts to figure out temporal links between these mutually informing factors, more longitudinal research is needed to draw a firm conclusion. This study provides new insights into the relationship between negative biases in cognitions and depressive symptoms and highlights the need to intervene early with depressive symptoms before any possible cognitive distortions in college students.

Women's Participation in a Savings Group and Depression: a Community-Based Financial Capability Intervention in Mozambique

Background

As one of the fastest growing community-based financial capability approaches, village savings and loan group (VSLG) is an organized group and formal entity that creates opportunities for participants to save and access financial assets. VSLG has potentially positive impacts on increasing women's financial resources and social support and further improves their mental health. Participation in a VSLG not only increases women's opportunities for asset-building and income generation, but also facilitates trust and promotes social capital development. However, few studies have examined the association between the VSLG participation and women's depression status. To fill the knowledge gap, we examined the association between the VSLG participation and depressive symptoms among low-income women in Mozambique.

Methods

The data was collected as part of the VSLG program evaluation. The study applied a posttest-only comparison group quasi-experimental design and sampled female VSLG participants and non-participants from three sub-villages in the Sofala province, Mozambique. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, and a total of 205 women were randomly selected, including 105 VSLG participants and 100 non-participants. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) with a summative score ranging from 7 to 28. Using the cutoff value at a score of 14, we created a dichotomous depression indicator. Linear and logit models were used to examine the associations of the VSLG participation and the participation duration with the depression score and the presence of depression controlling for demographic variables.

Results

The VSLG participants had a statistically lower mean depression score of 12.2 (SD = 4.4) compared to non-participants (15.0, SD = 4.0, p < .001). The regression analysis suggested that the VSLG participants had a mean depression score of 2.7 lower than the non-participants (p < .001). Nearly 60% of the non-participants reported the presence of depression; however, this percentage is 31% for participants (p < .001). The multivariate logit model indicated the odds of the presence of depression for participants are .34 of that for non-participants. Similar results were obtained when the VSLG program duration was used as an independent variable.

Conclusions

Study findings showed a positive association between the VSLG participation and women's mental health. Future research should further explore the intervention mechanisms and assess how the VSLG participation affects women's mental health. Findings also provided important insights into developing community-based financial capability interventions to improve low-income women's mental health.

Polygenic risk scores for predicting outcomes and treatment response in psychiatry: hope or hype?

Over the last years, the decreased costs and enhanced accessibility to large genome-wide association studies datasets have laid the foundations for the development of polygenic risk scores (PRSs). A PRS is calculated on the weighted sum of single nucleotide polymorphisms and measures the individual genetic predisposition to develop a certain phenotype. An increasing number of studies have attempted to utilize the PRSs for risk stratification and prognostic evaluation. The present narrative review aims to discuss the potential clinical utility of PRSs in predicting outcomes and treatment response in psychiatry. After summarizing the evidence on major mental disorders, we have discussed the advantages and limitations of currently available PRSs. Although PRSs represent stable trait features with a normal distribution in the general population and can be relatively easily calculated in terms of time and costs, their real-world applicability is reduced by several limitations, such as low predictive power and lack of population diversity. Even with the rapid expansion of the psychiatric genetic knowledge base, pure genetic prediction in clinical psychiatry appears to be out of reach in the near future. Therefore, combining genomic and exposomic vulnerabilities for mental disorders with a detailed clinical characterization is needed to personalize care.

Adulthood Employment Trajectories and Later Life Mental Health before and after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

This life course study has two aims. First, to explore how diverse employment trajectories across adulthood are related to older people's mental health in Chile, a country with no research in this field, and second, to analyze these associations before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We use data from the nationally-representative and longitudinal 'Chilean Social Protection Survey' sequence analysis to reconstruct employment trajectory types, and bivariate and multivariate analyses to measure their association with depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that formal labor force patterns in adulthood show the lowest burden of depressive symptomology before and after the onset of the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic when controlling for traditional risk factors.

CONCLUSION

We emphasize that policymakers in both the labor market and public health domains must consider the relationship between informal employment pathways in adulthood and poorer mental health in old age. Public policies should improve the conditions and quality of jobs during adulthood and promote more formalization in the labor market to address the high uncertainty involving low social protection, which is strongly associated with severe mental health problems in later life.

Combined Race and Gender Trend Disparities in Depressive Symptoms among U.S. High School Students: 1999-2019

In 2019, over 3.2 million adolescents in the U.S. reported depressive symptoms-a number that continues to increase annually. Not only can depression negatively impact an adolescent's academic performance, social development, and cognitive function, but it is also the most common condition associated with suicide. Previous studies have reported prevalence rates and statistical trends by either gender or race. We conducted an in-depth analysis of the current racial and gender trend disparities in adolescent depressive symptoms by examining linear and quadratic trends from the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (N = 158,601) over two decades (1999-2019), stratified by gender and race subgroups, both separately and combined. This novel quantitative method allows for a more nuanced approach when exploring social and cultural influences on adolescent depressive symptoms. We found a significant difference in the prevalence of depressive symptoms between males and females among Black, Hispanic, and multiracial adolescents in each separate year of pooled data. However, an increased prevalence trend over the 20-year period was only seen among the females of these three racial categories. White and Asian female adolescents also exhibited a statistical increase in prevalence of depressive symptoms over time. The only group of males with a significant trend increase over time were White adolescents. Understanding the intersection of gender and race in adolescent depressive symptoms trends enhances evidence for nurses and other healthcare professionals when developing and implementing targeted, effective prevention and intervention measures.

Financial hardship and mental health conditions in people with underlying health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Background

Financial hardship is a major concern for patients who are suffering from long-term underlying health conditions. It is likely that emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic would impose increased financial distress and lead to the development or exacerbation of mental health conditions.

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between financial hardship and mental health conditions (loneliness, anxiety, and depression) among patients with underlying health conditions in Bangladesh.

Methods

An e-survey based cross-sectional study was conducted among purposively selected 971 patients (50.1% male; mean age = 42.29 [SD = 15.86]) with underlying health conditions between November 2020 and January 2021. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and UCLA loneliness scale, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine any associations between financial hardship and mental health conditions (loneliness, anxiety, and depression).

Results

46.2% of participants reported experiencing financial difficulties, and a number of respondents (12.3%) had lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of anxiety, depression and loneliness were 35.2%, 38.9%, and 47.68%, respectively. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, age, gender, occupation, marital status, monthly income, self-reported health status and financial hardship were significantly associated with mental health conditions.

Conclusions

Mental health problems were prevalent among people with underlying health conditions and were also associated with financial difficulties. The findings suggest that care facilities should be strengthened by including psychosocial support components delivered with lower costs, particularly for patients with underlying health conditions.

Cumulative life course adversity, mental health, and cognition in the UK biobank

The association between adversity and cognition varies according to the specific adversity, when the adversity was experienced, and the cognitive domains investigated. Disentangling the effect of adversity and the underlying mechanistic pathway is therefore difficult. The association between adversity (i.e., maltreatment) accumulated over the life course and cognitive flexibility, as well as two potential mediators (i.e., intra-individual variability in reaction time and depression) of this association, were investigated. Data stem from the baseline population of the UK Biobank study (N = 73,489, Mdn_age = 56, SD_age = 7.628, 55.740% of women). Cumulative life course adversity (specifically maltreatment) was measured with items based on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTS-5) and items adapted from the British Crime Survey. Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Intra-individual variability in reaction time was measured with a reaction time test "snap game" and the Trail Making Test A and B were used as a measure of cognitive flexibility. A path analysis was performed on these data. Higher cumulative adverse experiences were associated with lower performance in cognitive flexibility (β = .016, p < .001, 95% CI [0.009, 0.024]), and this effect was partly mediated by the level of depression (22.727% of the total effect of cumulative life course adversity on cognitive flexibility was mediated by depression (β = .005, p < .001, 95% CI [0.004, 0.007])). No association between cumulative life course adverse experiences and intra-individual variability in reaction time was found, nor was any indirect association between cumulative life course adversity and performance in cognitive flexibility via intra-individual variability in reaction time. The association between cumulative life course adversity, depression, and performance in cognitive flexibility has been highlighted. In contrast, no indirect effect between cumulative life course adversity and performance in cognitive flexibility via intra-individual variability in reaction time was found, suggesting that it is not a potential mechanism underlying the association between cumulative life course adversity and executive function.

Social Exclusion and Depression among undergraduate students: the mediating roles of rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy

Nowadays, depression has been a prominent mental health problem throughout the world. A common but negative social experience, social exclusion (also known as ostracism) is a great risk factor for individuals' health and adaptation. Undergraduate students are in a development period of challenges and transitions, so they are vulnerable to suffering from depression and negative social experiences. Against this background, the present study aimed to examine the association between social exclusion and undergraduate students' depression as well as the underlying mechanism - the mediating roles of rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy. Seven hundred sixty-two undergraduate students were recruited to participate in this study, who were asked to complete a set of questionnaires measuring social exclusion, depression, rejection sensitivity, and social self-efficacy. After controlling for gender, social exclusion was positively associated with undergraduate students' depression. And rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy could significantly mediate this relation through three mediating paths - the separate mediating effects of rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy, as well as the serial mediating effect of rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy. These results could not only deepen our understanding of this theme, but also have several practical implications for the intervention of depression, for example, relevant social skill training and cognitive therapy could be adopted to intervene the rejection sensitivity and social self-efficacy.

Disruption to well-being activities and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediational role of social connectedness and rumination

BACKGROUND

Disruption to everyday routine during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerable implications for global mental health. The inter- and intra-personal mechanisms by which disrupted routine can contribute to elevated depressive symptoms has not been well-explored. The present study aimed to examine how feelings of social (dis)connectedness and rumination, as a maladaptive coping strategy, could explain the association between disrupted well-being activities and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Participants (N = 496) ranging in age from 18 to 73 years (M = 28.73, SD = 10.93) completed an online survey within the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included measures of disruption to usual psychological and physical well-being activities, social connectedness, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Social connectedness and rumination were investigated as serial mediators of the association between disrupted well-being activities and depression using Hayes' PROCESS macro.

RESULTS

39.5% of the sample reported clinically significant levels of depression. Disruption to well-being activities predicted higher depressive symptoms, and this was partially explained by feelings of social disconnectedness and subsequent rumination. Rumination, alone, was not a significant mediator between disrupted routine and depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional survey design does not preclude the possibility of bidirectional effects.

CONCLUSION

The social distancing public health measures to combat COVID-19 have contributed to widespread disrupted routine, and in turn, elevated symptoms of depression. Social disconnectedness plays a particularly important role in this association. Intervention strategies should consider social factors as a 'social cure' for mass, positive mental health promotion during COVID-19.

Predicting the gender difference in depressive symptoms in older adults

Objectives: The gender difference in depressive symptoms in older adults is well-established, with women exhibiting approximately twice as many depressive symptoms as men across the life span. However, almost no studies have explored why we see this pattern in older adults.Method: In this study, moderation, mediation and reverse mediation analyses were used to learn how gender differences in psychosocial and health variables contribute to the gender difference in depressive symptoms in 60-74 year old participants in the baseline sample of the ORANJ BOWL study (n = 3008).Results: Moderation analyses show that functional ability, health, social support, and living alone interact with gender to predict depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses demonstrate that gender differences in financial comfort, social support, health, functional ability and living alone help explain the gender difference in depression. Reverse mediation analyses show that depressive symptoms also predict the gender difference in psychosocial and health variables.Conclusion: While the moderation analyses show multiple points of entry for clinical implications, they do not provide clarity that explains the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses highlight the roles of functional ability, financial comfort, health and living alone in explaining the gender difference. Reverse mediation analyses suggest a negative feedback loop between depressive symptoms and the predictor variables, with gender differences in functional ability, financial comfort, health and living alone at least partially explained by gender differences in depression. The findings highlight opportunities for targeted depression screening and to identify the gender inequities that need attention in order to reduce disadvantages for women.

The reciprocal relationship between mobile phone dependence and school adaptation in Korean adolescents: Autoregressive cross-lagged modeling

The purpose of this study is to investigate the reciprocal longitudinal effects between mobile phone dependence and school adaptation among Korean adolescents, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. An autoregressive cross-lagged model was applied to a data set from a sample of 1659 adolescents from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. We found that the positive autoregressive effects of mobile phone dependence and school adaptation were statistically significant over the study period. Results from the cross-lagged analyses demonstrated a unidirectional relationship between two variables: Superior school adaptation decreased mobile phone dependence, but mobile phone dependence did not affect school adaptation. Thus, we identified the causal direction and reciprocal relationship between mobile phone dependence and school adaptation. Girls were found to have a higher level of mobile phone dependence than boys did. Furthermore, the higher the household income, the better adolescents adapted to school. Child abuse and neglect played a role in increasing mobile phone dependence and negatively affected school adaptation.

The Effect of Child Abuse and Neglect on Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms and Aggression in Korean Adolescents: Exploring Gender Differences

We analyzed gender differences in the effects of child abuse and neglect experienced during adolescence on depressive symptoms and aggression in Korean adolescents using a representative sample of participants over a three-year period. We applied a latent growth model to a sample of 1797 adolescents aged 14–16 from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey. Our findings revealed that abuse increased depressive symptoms in early adolescence, while lowering the rate of increase in depressive symptoms over time. Neglect adversely affected depressive symptoms in boys, but not in girls. Abuse increased the initial value of aggression in girls more than in boys, but reduced the increase rate of aggression over time in girls. Neglect increased the initial value of aggression only in boys. Consequently, abuse and neglect experienced during adolescence can affect depressive symptoms and aggression in the individual differently, depending on gender. This study suggests that, in order to reduce depressive symptoms and aggression in adolescents, work should be undertaken to solve the problems of abuse and neglect, and different approaches should be taken according to the gender of the individual.

Internal Migration and Depression Among Junior High School Students in China: A Comparison Between Migrant and Left-Behind Children

Using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), which was a nationally representative sample of junior high school students, this study examined the association of internal migration with depression among migrant and left-behind children, while exploring the moderating effect of gender difference and the mediating effects of social relationships. The results showed that migrant children had a significantly lower level of depression than left-behind children. Further, the difference in mental health between migrant children and left-behind children was more prominent for boys than girls. The mechanism analyses indicated that compared to left-behind children, internal migration positively predicted parent–child relationships and peer relationships of migrant children, which in turn reduced their depressive symptoms. Although migrant children suffered from a higher level of teacher discrimination than their left-behind counterparts, it had no significant relationship with depression after controlling for children’s social relationships with parents and peers. Our findings suggested that migrating with parents was helpful to reduce children’s depressive symptoms in comparison with being left behind. Therefore, actions should be implemented to reduce the occurrence of involuntary parent–child separation and the prevalence of children’s depressive disorders due to institutional constraints. In addition, necessary treatments are needed to improve the psychological wellbeing of disadvantaged children, especially among left-behind children with mental illness.