Birth cohort increases in psychopathology among young Americans, 1938–2007: A cross-temporal meta-analysis of the MMPI

Young people on social media in a globalized world: self-optimization in highly competitive and achievement-oriented forms of life

Research investigating young people's social media use has been criticized for its limited theoretical foundations and scope. This paper elaborates young people's social media activity from a socio-ecological evolutionary perspective (SEE), where young people's online exchanges cannot be divorced from the highly competitive and achievement-oriented modern market cultures in which they live. In highly competitive and achievement-oriented forms of life, young people's social media environments are often constituted as dynamic and evolving extrinsically oriented ecological niches that afford for status and identity enhancement while also affording for peer approval, belongingness, and self-worth nested within, and subordinate to, these higher-order affordances. The extrinsic value organization of social media platforms that serve young people's status and identity-enhancement are embodied by a community of mutually interdependent criteria that are evolutionary-based, developmentally salient, and market-driven: physical attractiveness, high (educational and extracurricular) achievements, and material success. Young people's online signaling of these interdependent extrinsic criteria affords for status-allocation and self-enhancement, where each criteria becomes an arena for social competition and identity formation, enabling young people to build personal and optimal models of social success congruent with their own interests and abilities. Young people's status and identity enhancing signaling of these extrinsic criteria is moving toward increasingly idealized or perfect embodiments, informed by accelerating, short-term positive feedback processes that benefit from the technological affordances and densely rewarding peer environments instantiated on social media.

Effects of Covid-19 Emergency and Associated Lockdown Policies on the Normative Expectations for the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS)

Standardized personality tests compare the test taker's scores to those of a large sample of individuals representing normative expectations. However, what is psychologically normal in one historical context may not be similarly normal in another, so the recent spread of a new coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19), may have implications for what should normally be expected of a nonclinical person taking a personality test shortly after this dramatic event. To address this research question, we administered the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) to 60 nonclinical volunteers from Italy and compared their scores with the official normative reference values of the two tests, which had been established before COVID-19. The results of a series of two-sample t-tests indicated that our newly collected sample appeared somewhat less psychologically healthy compared with normative expectations, and these discrepancies were more pronounced on the PAI than on the R-PAS. Implications and future perspectives are discussed.

Student preferences for treatment in college counseling centers: examining evidence-based models of care

Objective: This study surveyed undergraduates to understand current experiences of on-campus mental healthcare. The study assessed student ratings of specific interventions for addressing mental health issues in college counseling centers. Participants: 160 undergraduate students. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data included acceptability ratings of therapeutic approaches and treatment strategies, and preferences for therapeutic options for two hypothetical scenarios. Qualitative data included narrative responses about treatment models. Results: Individual therapy was the preferred approach for treating typical concerns based on acceptability ratings and qualitative data. Male participants were more likely to rate self-help and non-therapist-assisted treatments as acceptable than females. Students of color were less likely to find therapist-assisted interventions acceptable. Conclusions: Undergraduate students prefer individualized therapy methods, although preferences are associated with gender and racial identity. Further research should focus on clarifying the preferences of males and students of color and incorporating preferences into decisions about treatment delivery.

Nutraceuticals in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review

Correct nutrition and diet are directly correlated with mental health, functions of the immune system, and gut microbiota composition. Diets with a high content of some nutrients, such as fibers, phytochemicals, and short-chain fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids), seem to have an anti-inflammatory and protective action on the nervous system. Among nutraceuticals, supplementation of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids plays a role in improving symptoms of several mental disorders. In this review, we collect data on the efficacy of nutraceuticals in patients with schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of recent evidence obtained on this topic, pointing out the direction for future research.

Anxiety and suicidality in the college student population

Objective: This study examined symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicidality in a national sample of college students. Participants: Using national survey data from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS), a random sample from 184 U.S. campuses from fall 2016 to spring 2019 was analyzed (N = 119,875). Methods: Prevalence rates were examined with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and suicidality questions. Relationships between anxiety, depression and suicidality were assessed through Spearman's correlations, the Kruskal-Wallis H test and logistic regressions. Results: Findings revealed that screening only for depression would pick up 23% of suicidal ideation, increasing to 35% when also screening for anxiety. Those with anxiety and no to minimal depression had the second highest likelihood of suicide attempt, following those with anxiety and depression. The symptom "feeling afraid something awful might happen" doubled the odds of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: College campuses may benefit from assessing particular anxiety symptoms in relation to suicide.

Effects of physical fitness on mental health of Chinese college students: across-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The physical and mental health of college students is often mentioned, but there is limited research on a direct relationship between the mental health status of college students and their physical fitness level. This study mainly proves the relationship between Chinese college students' mental health and physical fitness indicators.

METHOD

This study collected SCL-90 Scale test results from 5262 students (4012 boys and 1250 girls) through a questionnaire survey and conducted a Sport Quality Test on these students. Statistical software SPSS was applied for differential analysis and logistic regression analysis. Specifically, the differences in sport quality indicators between normal and abnormal mean total scores of psychological tests were analyzed first. Then, the binary logistic regression model was used to explore the impacts of sports quality indicator scores on students' psychological fitness.

RESULTS

There are differences in the results of physical fitness tests between students with abnormal psychology and students with normal psychology. The four indexes of students' vital capacity, speed, explosive power of lower limbs, and endurance running are effective in improving students' psychologically abnormal state, and endurance running and improving vital capacity are the most effective methods to improve students' psychologically abnormal state. In the physical tests of Chinese college students, the risk of psychological abnormalities was reduced by 9% for every one-point increase in lung capacity and 10.4% for every one-point increase in endurance running performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese college students' physical fitness and mental health are related. The best methods for treating psychological disorders are lung capacity improvement and endurance running. According to the physical test results of Chinese college students, for every 1-point increase in lung capacity and endurance running, the risk of psychological abnormalities decreased by 9% and 10.4%, respectively.

The Addition of Fish Oil to Cognitive Behavioral Case Management for Youth Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials suggest that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) (fish oil) may reduce depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Therefore, n-3 PUFAs may be a potential treatment for depression in youth.

METHODS

Participants were 15- to-25 year-old individuals with major depressive disorder who sought care in one of three government-funded mental health services for young people in metropolitan Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney, Australia. Participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind, parallel-arm design to receive either fish oil (840 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 560 mg of docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo capsules as adjunct to cognitive behavioral case management. All participants were offered 50-minute cognitive behavioral case management sessions every 2 weeks delivered by qualified therapists (treatment as usual) at the study sites during the intervention period. The primary outcome was change in the interviewer-rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Adolescent Version, score at 12 weeks. Erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels were assessed pre-post intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 233 young people were randomized to the treatment arms: 115 participants to the n-3 PUFA group and 118 to the placebo group. Mean change from baseline in the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology score was -5.8 in the n-3 PUFA group and -5.6 in the placebo group (mean difference, 0.2; 95% CI, -1.1 to 1.5; p = .75). Erythrocyte PUFA levels were not associated with depression severity at any time point. The incidence and severity of adverse events were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This placebo-controlled trial and biomarker analysis found no evidence to support the use of fish oil for treatment in young people with major depressive disorder.

Relationships between racial discrimination, social isolation, and mental health among international Asian graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: Racial aggression against Asians and the implementation of state-wide stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively impacted mental health in Asian international graduate students in the United States, yet these relationships are unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate these relationships. Participants: Data were collected from 177 participants from four universities. Methods: On-line survey was used to assess perceived racial discrimination related to the COVID-19, daily racial discrimination during the pandemic, home boundness and loneliness, and depression and anxiety. Results: Daily racial discrimination was associated with an increased risk for depression. Home boundness was related to fewer depression symptoms (B = -0.728) and fewer anxiety symptoms (B = -0.558). Higher symptoms of loneliness (B = 0.377) were related to more depression symptoms. More loneliness (B = 0.257) was related to more anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: The findings can help university stakeholders to create a guideline for the development and implementation of resource programs for Asian international graduates.

The Association Between Emotion Recognition and Internalizing Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis

Numerous studies have explored the link between how well youth recognize emotions and their internalizing problems, but a consensus remains elusive. This study used a three-level meta-analysis model to quantitatively synthesize the findings of existing studies to assess the relationship. A moderation analysis was also conducted to explore the sources of research heterogeneity. Through a systematic literature search, a total of 42 studies with 201 effect sizes were retrieved for the current meta-analysis, and 7579 participants were included. Emotion recognition was negatively correlated with internalizing problems. Children and adolescents with weaker emotion recognition skills were more likely to have internalizing problems. In addition, this meta-analysis found that publication year had a significant moderating effect. The correlation between emotion recognition and internalizing problems decreased over time. The degree of internalizing problems was also found to be a significant moderator. The correlation between emotion recognition and internalizing disorders was higher than the correlation between emotion recognition and internalizing symptoms. Deficits in emotion recognition might be relevant for the development and/or maintenance of internalizing problems in children and adolescents. The overall effect was small and future research should explore the clinical relevance of the association.

A cross-sectional historical study on the changes in self-esteem among Chinese adolescents from 1996 to 2019

This study aimed to investigate the changes in self-esteem levels among Chinese adolescents from 1996 to 2019. In this cross-sectional historical study, 109 articles using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (SES) were selected from three Chinese and five English databases. The results showed that: (1) The self-esteem level of Chinese adolescents was positively correlated with the period, indicating that the self-esteem of Chinese adolescents was gradually increasing. (2) The increase in self-esteem level of girls was higher than that of boys. (3) The increase in the self-esteem level of only child was higher than that of non-only child. (4) The self-esteem level of rural adolescents increased year by year. However, the self-esteem level of urban adolescents was not significantly correlated with the years. (5) The changes in macro social factors can significantly predict the upward trend of the self-esteem level of Chinese adolescents.

Adolescent Young Carers Who Provide Help and Support to Friends

Prior studies emphasize the value of friends' support for children/adolescents who have a disability or suffer from mental ill-health or a long-term illness. However, few studies have explored how a caring role affects those young friend carers themselves. This paper addresses a gap in the research by focusing on this hitherto neglected group of young carers to explore the impact of providing care to friends. An online survey was employed for a cross-national study conducted in 2018-2019 in Sweden, Italy, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to examine the incidence of adolescent young friend carers, the extent of care they provide, and their self-reported health, well-being, and school situation. The survey was completed by 7146 adolescents, aged 15-17, and 1121 of them provided care to a friend with a health-related condition, most frequently mental ill-health. They carried out high levels of caring activities, and a quarter of them also provided care to a family member. They experienced both positive and negative aspects of caring. Nevertheless, in comparison with adolescents who provided care to family members, they reported more health problems, with a dominance of mental ill-health, and they received lower levels of support. Since adolescent friends play a valuable role for young people with health-related conditions, especially mental ill-health, it is important to find ways of optimizing their caring experiences in order that those adolescents who choose to care for a friend can do so without it having a negative impact on their own mental health, well-being, and life situation.

Mental and Physical Health Impacts of Mindfulness Training for College Undergraduates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Universities increasingly offer mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) to improve student health and reduce their impact on overburdened psychological services. It is critical for evidence-based policy to determine for what health outcomes mindfulness programs are effective and under what conditions. Objectives were to: (a) perform a comprehensive analysis of the effects of mindfulness interventions on physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes in college undergraduate students, and (b) examine moderators of intervention effects to identify factors that may help improve existing university mindfulness programs and guide the design of new programs.

Method

Systematic searches of five databases identified MBP randomized controlled trials for undergraduate students, measuring any health outcome. Analyses using robust variance estimation focused on standardized mean differences for outcomes between groups and modeled through coded study features.

Results

The 58 studies in the review primarily focused on mental health with fewer assessments of physical health or health behaviors. Overall, mindfulness interventions significantly outperformed both active and inactive controls (ps<.05), with the most marked effects on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and mindfulness; greater success appeared for clinical populations. Online programs performed equivalent to in-person, and non-MBP programs were equivalent to MBP programs after controlling for other factors. Publication bias and other quality issues also emerged.

Conclusions

Mindfulness programs improve well-being in college students, with the strongest evidence for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. More studies utilizing stronger methods are needed to evaluate mindfulness programs' effects on additional health outcomes and online interventions in clinical populations.

More Competition in Mind, Better Sleep at Night? The Mediating Role of Anxiety between Competitive Attitude and Sleep Quality

Previous studies have suggested that individuals with hypercompetitive attitude and interpersonal insecurity would have a high level of anxiety, and anxiety has been found to strongly impact on sleep quality. However, the associations between competitive attitudes and sleep quality have not been studied until now. The present study aimed to examine whether anxiety mediates the relationship between competitive attitudes and interpersonal relationships with sleep quality. This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 713 college students (age = 20.18 ± 2.16 years old; 78.8% female) recruited online to measure hypercompetitive attitude, personal development competitive attitude, interpersonal security, state anxiety and sleep quality. Path analysis models were conducted in this study. The path analysis models showed that both hypercompetitive attitude and interpersonal security had direct and indirect significant effects on poor sleep quality due to the mediating effect of state anxiety (β = 0.023, 95% bootstrapped CI: 0.005 to 0.047; β = -0.051, 95% bootstrapped CI: -0.099 to -0.010, respectively). However, personal development competitive attitude had only an indirect significant effect, but it had a negative role on poor sleep quality via state anxiety (β = -0.021, 95% bootstrapped CI: -0.042 to -0.008). The current study provided evidence that college students' competitive attitudes would impact sleep quality and highlighted the mediating role of state anxiety. The current findings suggested that individuals shifting their hypercompetitive thinking to concentrate on ability development would benefit their mental health.

Weight-neutral interventions in young people with high body mass index: A systematic review

AIM

This systematic review explored the feasibility, acceptability and effect on health outcomes of weight-neutral interventions in health improvement-seeking young people with overweight/obesity.

METHODS

Six databases were searched to March 2021 for health, but not weight, focused interventions (PROSPERO, CRD42020152671). Eligible studies recruited young people (10-24 years) with overweight/obesity. The studies were described using narrative synthesis, with numerical results summarised. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

RESULTS

Six articles were included, representing three pilot studies. Study 1 (n = 37, 14-17 years) compared a 6-week mindful eating program with single-session lifestyle education; Study 2 (n = 35, 14-17 years) compared 12-week weight-neutral lifestyle education focused on intuitive eating and carbohydrate quality, with/without guided imagery; and Study 3 (n = 33, 12-17 years) compared a 6-week mindfulness intervention with cognitive behavioural therapy in adolescents with depressive symptoms at risk of type 2 diabetes. All interventions explored feasibility (intervention group retention 57%-88%, attendance >80%) and reported interventions were acceptable. Studies 1 and 3 reported no change in mindfulness. Study 2 reported an increase (p < 0.05) in intuitive eating following weight-neutral plus guided imagery (0.32 ± 0.36, Hawks' Scale, score 1-4), compared with weight-neutral alone (0.15 ± 0.29). Study 1 reported decreased body mass index (p < 0.001) following mindful eating (-1.1 kg/m² ), compared with single-session lifestyle education (+0.7 kg/m² ); Studies 2 and 3 found no change in body mass index or body mass index z-score.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight-neutral interventions may be feasible and acceptable in adolescents with overweight/obesity in the short term (≤12 weeks), but data are limited.

Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI): Study Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Study for a Multidimensional Assessment of Mental Health and Its Determinants

The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a severe psychosocial crisis affecting patients, their relatives, friends, and healthcare professionals. In Italy, public health residents (PHRs) remain essential to the national response to the pandemic. To assess their mental sphere, the "Public Mental Health" working group of the medical residents' Assembly of the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine has designed the Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI). This is a nation-wide cross-sectional study based on an 88-item self-administered voluntary survey that evaluates how sociodemographic variables are associated with mental issues, including wellness, eating disorders, sleeplessness, alcohol misuse, depression, and anxiety. Data will be gathered by disseminating a Google Forms link across the Assembly network of medical residents. All PHRs enrolled in a four-year program in one of the Italian postgraduate schools of public health will be qualified as participants. PHRASI aims to draw a comprehensive and detailed picture of the mental health state of Italian PHRs. PHRs are a significant group of healthcare professionals that may serve as a future benchmark for developing and enacting regulations intended to support the mental health of healthcare professionals.

A solution for factorial validity testing of three-item scales: An example of tau-equivalent strict measurement invariance of three-item loneliness scale

Ultra-short scales are increasingly popular in surveys. Congeneric model fit of a three-item scale cannot be tested with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) without additional assumptions because the number of degrees of freedom is equal to zero. A more rigorous tau-equivalent model, assuming equality of factor loadings can be tested instead. The objective of this study was to demonstrate this approach with an example of the psychometric study of the Polish version of the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS), and to discuss the arising problems and possible solutions. There seems to be a high need for such analysis because currently, some properties of CFA make it an approach still predominant over Item Response Theory (IRT) models in the quality of life research. A sample of 3510 students completed TILS together with the questionnaires measuring a variety of indicators of well-being. The results provided evidence for a good fit of a tau-equivalent model. Furthermore, multi-group CFAs provided support for strict measurement invariance of this model. To the Authors' knowledge, it is the first practical application of a tau-equivalent model to testing the factorial validity of an ultra-short scale and probably the first empirical case of tau-equivalent measurement invariance in psychological literature in general. TILS showed good criterion validity and satisfactory reliability. Unidimensionality of three-item scales can be examined with a tau-equivalent model that has some favorable psychometric properties. However, it might be exceedingly restrictive in certain practical cases. When developing a new short scale, it is recommended to maintain at least four items.

Secular trends in mental health profiles among 15-year-olds in Sweden between 2002 and 2018

Background

Studies of secular trends in mental unhealth indicate that adolescents in the Nordic countries, especially girls, have an increased reported prevalence of mental health problems the last decades. This increase needs to be seen in the light of the adolescents' assessments of their perceived overall health.

Objective

To investigate whether a person-centered approach to research can enhance understanding of changes over time in the distribution of mental health problems among Swedish adolescents.

Method

A dual-factor approach was used to study changes over time in mental health profiles among nationally representative 15-year-old adolescent samples from Sweden. Cluster analyses of subjective health symptoms (psychological and somatic) and perceived overall health from the Swedish Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 were used to identify these mental health profiles (n = 9,007).

Results

Four mental health profiles were identified by a cluster analysis which combined all five data collections-Perceived good health, Perceived poor health, High psychosomatic symptoms, and Poor mental health. There were no significant differences in the distributions of these four mental health profiles between the survey years 2002 and 2010, but substantial changes took place between 2010 and 2018. Here, particularly the High psychosomatic symptoms profile increased among both boys and girls. The Perceived good health profile decreased among both boys and girls, and the Perceived poor health profile decreased among girls. The profile involving the most pronounced mental health problems, the Poor mental health profile (perceived poor health, high psychosomatic problems), was stable from 2002 to 2018 among both boys and girls.

Conclusion

The study shows the added value of using person-centered analyses to describe differences in mental health indicators between cohorts of adolescents over longer periods of time. In contrast to the long-term increase in mental health problems seen in many countries, this Swedish study did not find an increase among young persons, both boys and girls, with the poorest mental health, the Poor mental health profile. Rather, the most substantial increase over the survey years, predominantly between 2010 and 2018, was found among the 15-year-olds with High psychosomatic symptoms only.

Variations in psychological disorders, suicidality, and help-seeking behaviour among college students from different academic disciplines

BACKGROUND

Elevated levels of suicidality, ADHD, mental ill-health and substance disorders are reported among college students globally, yet few receive treatment. Some faculties and courses appear to have more at-risk students than others. The current study aimed to determine if students commencing college in different academic disciplines were at a heightened risk for psychopathology, substance use disorders and suicidal behaviour, and examined variations in help-seeking behaviour.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study utilised data collected from 1,829 first-year undergraduate students as part of the Student Psychological Intervention Trial (SPIT) which commenced in September 2019 across four Ulster University campuses in Northern Ireland and an Institute of Technology, in the North-West of Ireland. The SPIT study is part of the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative (WMH-ICS) which uses the WMH-CIDI to identify 12-month and lifetime disorders.

RESULTS

Students from Life and Health Sciences reported the lowest rates of a range of psychological problems in the year prior to commencing college, while participants studying Arts and Humanities displayed the highest levels (e.g. depression 20.6%; social anxiety 38.8%). However, within faculty variations were found. For example, psychology students reported high rates, while nursing students reported low rates. Variations in help seeking behaviour were also revealed, with male students less likely to seek help.

CONCLUSIONS

Detecting specific cohorts at risk of psychological disorders and suicidality is challenging. This study revealed that some academic disciplines have more vulnerable students than others, with many reluctant to seek help for their problems. It is important for educators to be aware of such issues and for colleges to provide information and support to students at risk. Tailored interventions and prevention strategies may be beneficial to address the needs of students from different disciplines.

Students experiences of an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention at a college of opportunity: a qualitative investigation of the mindfulness-based college program

BACKGROUND

Mindfulness-based programs have the potential to improve the well-being of undergraduate students by reducing anxiety, depression, and isolation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore lived experiences of undergraduates in a mindfulness-based program at a "college of opportunity" that has high proportions of first-generation college students. Specifically, we sought to: (1) explore the application of mindfulness practices in students' daily lives; (2) explore how participants believe mindfulness training affected their health and well-being; (3) learn participants' recommendations and suggested changes for mindfulness-based interventions in future iterations.

METHODS

Students were recruited from XXX and consented to participate in semi-structured digitally conducting interviews after the completion of the 8-week intervention in the Fall/Spring 2020 academic year. Data were analyzed using Applied Thematic Analysis and a codebook was constructed using a consensus-driven process using both a priori and emergent coding. All transcripts were double-coded, and concordance was achieved for all interviews.

RESULTS

Qualitative results indicated that the most applied practices were those that could be easily incorporated into a daily routine. Furthermore, students reported an increased ability to cope with a variety of stressors, decreased reactivity, and enhanced resilience specifically concerning mental health challenges. Additionally, engaging in mindfulness training improved students' ability to navigate social distancing measures, other COVID-19-specific stress, and enhanced motivation for self-care practices to sustain well-being. Concerning preferred intervention delivery modality, participants stated that due to multiple, growing responsibilities (e.g., pressures of commuting to class) they preferred in-person delivery, shorter sessions over a longer period, with classes in the morning or early afternoon.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide pragmatic and psychosocial insights into students' application of mindfulness training across personal, professional, and academic domains enhancing their well-being. This work builds on qualitative work concerning students' perceptions and applications of mindfulness while offering insights into the future of mindfulness programs among undergraduates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03124446.

Let's teach peer support skills to all college students: Here's how and why

The mental health of students at U.S. colleges and universities is rapidly deteriorating, and our counseling infrastructure struggles to meet rising demand. Given this reality, colleges must supplement reactive counseling services with preventive, campus-wide initiatives targeting root causes of distress, including loneliness and lack of social support. One promising innovation would be to provide basic training on listening and helping skills to all students so they can take turns reciprocally supporting each other. Self-disclosure and providing support both have strong mental health benefits. This would also increase social connection, which is likely to improve academics and retention. This paper reviews the benefits and limitations of teaching peer support skills to a large volume of students, which may enable colleges to deliver the social and emotional aspects of education that are critical to health and academics, yet often sorely missing.

Associations between two conceptualizations of materialism and subjective wellbeing in China: A meta-analysis of studies from 1998 to 2022

This meta-analysis examines the relationship between materialism (materialistic values and extrinsic aspirations) and subjective wellbeing in the Chinese population. Fifty-six relevant studies covering the period from 1998 to 2022 were included in the meta-analysis. Fifty-eight independent effect sizes from a total of 52,368 participants were obtained to calculate the mean effect sizes. Materialistic values correlated with significantly lower subjective wellbeing (r = −0.205), while the mean effect size for extrinsic aspirations was found to be not significant (r = −0.048). The effect sizes varied across different types of wellbeing outcomes (materialistic values: rs = −0.095 to −0.202; extrinsic aspirations: rs = 0.066 to −0.125). The associations were also moderated by certain demographic factors (age and gender), methodological factors (study design and scoring method), publication features (type of publication and publication year), and economic indicators (economic growth and wealth inequality). We discuss our limitations and the implications for future research.

Perspectives on the complex links between depression and dementia

This review highlights that depression is a growing health problem for the individual, and because of its high frequency in most societies, a growing burden on health care budgets. The focus of the review is the physiological links between depression and dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease. It suggests that depression is a significant risk factor for cognitive decline and explores the pathways that may lead depressed individuals to suffer this outcome. This review shows that depression and a number of its precursors activate pro-inflammatory mediators. These lead to cerebral small vessel disease with the consequent reduction in cerebral blood flow, which is known to precede cognitive decline. Thus, the impact of depression on the physiological events that lead to dementia is identical to the impact of other dementia risk factors recently reviewed. Depression is distinct, however, in being a relatively treatable condition, but the impact of treating depression on later cognitive decline is not always positive, leading to the hypothesis that only the antidepressants that attenuate inflammation alleviate subsequent cognitive decline.

Changes in General Health and Mental Health Outcomes in an Urban Population Over a Decade: A Population-Representative Analysis Stratified by Sexual Orientation

Purpose: We explored population-level changes in general and mental health outcomes among sexual minority and heterosexual New York City (NYC) adults. Methods: Using the NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, we analyzed data from 2931 adults surveyed between 2004 and 2014. Sexual minority (LGB+) participants included those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, something else, or not sure. Prevalence estimates of general health, mental health services use, prescription use for a mental/emotional condition, and mental/emotional disability were calculated. Changes in these estimates were compared across survey iterations with two-sided t-tests. Multivariate log binomial regression modeling was also employed. Results: Across the study period, LGB+ adults reported a decrease in fair/poor general health (24%-18%). Compared to 2004, LGB+ adults in 2014 were more likely to use mental health services (15%-27%), take prescription medication for a mental/emotional condition (11%-20%), and have a mental/emotional disability limiting work (5%-10%). Point estimates showed similar changes over time among both LGB+ and heterosexual adults, but some changes were not statistically significant. We also found that bisexual adults utilized mental health services (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-3.44) and medications (PR = 2.92; 95% CI: 1.72-4.96) more than heterosexual adults. Conclusion: Although reporting fair/poor general health decreased, the prevalence of using mental health services, using prescription medication, and having a mental/emotional disability increased for both LGB+ and heterosexual adults in NYC. These findings may be related to greater mental health literacy and awareness or to other population-wide trends.

Generational differences in the prevalence of postpartum depression among young Australians: a comparison of two cohorts born 17 years apart

Whether there has been an increase in postpartum depression (PPD) over the generation remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the prevalence in two cohorts of young Australian women born 17 years apart and identified the factors associated with any generational differences. Participants were from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, who gave birth between ages 18 and 27 (born in 1973-78 and 1989-95). PPD prevalence was calculated as the percentage of births associated with PPD. Both the prevalence of PPD diagnoses (among 1,610 births) and PPD symptoms (among 953 births) were compared. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to report generational differences in the prevalence for PPD diagnoses; Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs used for PPD symptoms. Factors that differed between cohorts and were associated with PPD diagnoses or PPD symptoms were adjusted. The prevalence of both PPD diagnoses (21.4% vs 10.3%; crude RR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.59-2.60) and symptoms (20.1% vs 13.3%; crude HR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.15-2.34) were higher in the 1989-1995 cohort than the 1973-1978 cohort. Generational differences in PPD diagnoses persisted after controlling for potential contributors (RR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.15-2.04), while generational differences in PPD symptoms were attenuated (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.64-1.49). Of all contributing factors, a history of depression explained most of the generational differences, especially in PPD symptoms (49%), to the extent that when the study sample was stratified by history of depression, no generational differences were detected (without prior depression, HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.20-2.08; with prior depression, HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.71-1.96). The higher prevalence of PPD in the recent generation was mainly due to the high prevalence of depression. Strategies that well manage pre-existing depression may benefit the prevention of PPD for the current young generation. Further research is warranted to inform detailed prevention approaches.

Digital biomarkers of anxiety disorder symptom changes: Personalized deep learning models using smartphone sensors accurately predict anxiety symptoms from ecological momentary assessments

Smartphones are capable of passively capturing persons' social interactions, movement patterns, physiological activation, and physical environment. Nevertheless, little research has examined whether momentary anxiety symptoms can be accurately assessed using these methodologies. In this research, we utilize smartphone sensors and personalized deep learning models to predict future anxiety symptoms among a sample reporting clinical anxiety disorder symptoms. Participants (N = 32) with generalized anxiety disorder and/or social anxiety disorder (based on self-report) installed a smartphone application and completed ecological momentary assessment symptoms assessing their anxiety and avoidance symptoms hourly for the course of one week (T = 2007 assessments). During the same period, the smartphone app collected information about physiological activation (heart rate and heart rate variability), exposure to light, social contact, and GPS location. GPS locations were coded to reveal the type of location and the weather information. Personalized deep learning models using the smartphone sensor data were capable of predicting the majority of total variation in anxiety symptoms (R² = 0.748) and predicting a large proportion of within-person variation at the hour-by-hour level (mean R² = 0.385). These results suggest that personalized deep learning models using smartphone sensor data are capable of accurately predicting future anxiety disorder symptom changes.

Can Self-Esteem Help Teens Resist Unhealthy Influence of Materialistic Goals Promoted By Role Models?

The aim of the study was to examine the role of self-esteem in resisting the influence of materialistic goals of four social role models (mother, father, peers, and media) in adolescents (aged 13–16). Previous studies showed a negative correlation between the psychological health of teens and striving for materialistic goals, one of the main sources is the social modeling of materialism. Two studies were carried out. The first, correlational study, was conducted on target teens and their mothers, fathers, and peers of their choice. It examined if self-esteem is a moderator of the relationship between the materialism of social role models (mothers, fathers, peers, and media) and the materialism of teens. The second, experimental study, was conducted on target teens only. It examined how boosting the self-esteem of teens and activating materialism of social role models (mothers, fathers, peers, and media) may affect the materialism of teens. Study 1 showed a significant interaction effect of self-esteem and the materialism of peers on the materialism of teens. The interaction effects of self-esteem and other role models (parents and media) were not significant. Study 2 showed that elevated self-esteem lowered the influence of the materialism of peers on the materialism of teens. The results were not significant when other role models (parents and media) were analyzed. The results obtained in the presented studies indicate that the self-esteem of teens may have an important role in resisting the influence of materialism role models of peers. Practical implications of the studies for the psychological health of teens are also discussed.

OUP accepted manuscript

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders (ANX) are common neurodevelopmental conditions with several overlapping symptoms. Notably, many children and adolescents with ASD also have an ANX diagnosis, suggesting shared pathological mechanisms. Here, we leveraged structural imaging and phenotypic data from 112 youth (33 ASD, 37 ANX, 42 typically developing controls) to assess shared and distinct cortical thickness patterns of the disorders. ANX was associated with widespread increases in cortical thickness, while ASD related to a mixed pattern of subtle increases and decreases across the cortical mantle. Despite the qualitative difference in the case–control contrasts, the statistical maps from the ANX-vs-controls and ASD-vs-controls analyses were significantly correlated when correcting for spatial autocorrelation. Dimensional analysis, regressing trait anxiety and social responsiveness against cortical thickness measures, partially recapitulated diagnosis-based findings. Collectively, our findings provide evidence for a common axis of neurodevelopmental disturbances as well as distinct effects of ASD and ANX on cortical thickness.

ACT em Grupo para Manejo de Ansiedade entre Universitários: Ensaio Clínico Randomizado

Resumo Estima-se que um a cada cinco estudantes universitários ao redor do mundo apresenta algum tipo de transtorno psicológico, dentre os quais os transtornos de ansiedade são os mais prevalentes. Este estudo consiste em um ensaio clínico randomizado com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia e efetividade de um protocolo semiestruturado de psicoterapia em grupo baseado nos princípios da Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso (ACT) para o tratamento de ansiedade entre estudantes universitários. Os participantes foram alocados aleatoriamente entre os grupos intervenção e controle. Os níveis de ansiedade pré e pós-intervenção foram avaliados por meio do instrumento General Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7). A amostra final do estudo foi composta por 15 pessoas, dentre as quais 10 foram alocadas no grupo intervenção e 5, no grupo controle. Os resultados foram analisados de duas formas: a) por protocolo (Per-protocol analysis); e b) por intenção de tratar (Intention-to-treat Analysis). Este tratamento reduziu a sintomatologia ansiosa em 39,7% entre os pacientes que completaram o tratamento (por protocolo, p=0,030) e em 30,8% entre todos alocados para o grupo intervenção (i.e., por intenção de tratar, incluindo os dropouts, p=0,035), enquanto os controles não tiveram redução significativa no mesmo período. Portanto, recomenda-se a utilização deste protocolo dentro do contexto universitário como uma alternativa viável ao acompanhamento individual em situações de transtornos de ansiedade. Pesquisas futuras com amostras maiores podem contribuir na consolidação deste protocolo.

"A mismatch between what is happening on the inside and going on, on the outside": a qualitative study of therapists' perspectives on student mental health

BACKGROUND

Although a growing number of studies indicates a high prevalence of reported mental health problems in students and that the problems are growing in number and severity, less is known about the experiences of students facing mental health problems and personnel who interact with students that seek help for these problems. The aim of this study is to examine the perspectives of therapists working with students seeking therapy for mental health problems.

METHODS

A qualitative study of 15 therapists' perspectives. Data are collected with in-depth, semistructured and open-ended interviews, and analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

We developed four themes that summarize how the therapists viewed and understood the students' experiences of mental health problems: (1) an agonizing mismatch between the inside and the outside, (2) conflicting needs for closeness and distance, (3) no room for pain, and (4) a major potential for ripple effects.

CONCLUSIONS

We relate our findings to the existing theory and research, and we discuss the implications for clinical practice and the limitations of the study. We argue that our findings demonstrate the need to provide students room to explore and make meaning of their difficulties and pain related to mental health problems, in addition to offer some symptom-reducing tools and techniques that can enhance performance and academic achievements. More research is needed to understand what student mental health problems might be related to and what students need.

Mental Health Outcomes among Chinese College Students over a Decade

Background: Economic growth in China has brought about significant social and psychological changes in society. Objective: This study aims to explore how the mental and psychological health of college students has changed over the past decade. Methods: We observed several cohort samples in a Chinese university over a decade and looked at five mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, depression, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support, throughout each year of testing. Results: Our study highlights the declining rates of suicidal ideation and depression, combined with relative stability and even small increases in optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support across a range of demographic variables. Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that in the context of economic growth, stabilizing and improving positive mental health states can help prevent and reduce the risk of depression and suicidal ideation among college students. The study also highlighted the need for more public health campaigns and interventions in universities to help students cope with mental health problems.

Access to Outpatient Pediatric Mental Health Care After Emergency Department Discharge

OBJECTIVES

Pediatric mental health presentations to emergency departments (EDs) have shown dramatic increases nationally. This study aimed to identify the ability of patients discharged with mental health from the ED to establish outpatient care.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of all mental health patients aged 7 to 19 years who were seen by a child psychiatry consult team in a tertiary care pediatric ED from September 2016 to January 2017. Patients were contacted by phone at least 6 months after discharge. Data obtained included time to follow-up, reasons for delayed follow-up, type of provider seen, and frequency of outpatient visits.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-eight charts were reviewed and 51 were successfully interviewed. The median age was 14 years and 61% were female. Most patients (61%) reported seeing a psychiatrist or therapist, whereas 19% reported a primary care provider and 19% reporting "other." The majority were able to establish care within 1 month (73%), whereas 9% reported never obtaining outpatient follow-up. Most patients (58%) were able to be seen more than once per month. The most common reason for delayed follow-up was provider availability.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that a large number of patients were able to be seen within 1 month of discharge for mental health care. However, almost 10% of patients never established outpatient care, which is concerning and is an area needing further research.

Racial Disparities and Sex Differences in Early- and Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer Incidence, 2001-2018

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates have increased in younger individuals worldwide. We examined the most recent early- and late-onset CRC rates for the US.

Methods

Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR, per 100,000) of CRC were calculated using the US Cancer Statistics Database’s high-quality population-based cancer registry data from the entire US population. Results were cross-classified by age (20-49 [early-onset] and 50-74 years [late-onset]), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander), sex, anatomic location (proximal, distal, rectal), and histology (adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine).

Results

During 2001 through 2018, early-onset CRC rates significantly increased among American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, and Whites. Compared to Whites, early-onset CRC rates are now 21% higher in American Indians/Alaskan Natives and 6% higher in Blacks. Rates of early-onset colorectal neuroendocrine tumors have increased in Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics; early-onset colorectal neuroendocrine tumor rates are 2-times higher in Blacks compared to Whites. Late-onset colorectal adenocarcinoma rates are decreasing, while late-onset colorectal neuroendocrine tumor rates are increasing, in all racial/ethnic groups. Late-onset CRC rates remain 29% higher in Blacks and 15% higher in American Indians/Alaskan Natives compared to Whites. Overall, CRC incidence was higher in men than women, but incidence of early-onset distal colon cancer was higher in women.

Conclusions

The early-onset CRC disparity between Blacks and Whites has decreased, due to increasing rates in Whites—rates in Blacks have remained stable. However, rates of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors are increasing in Blacks. Blacks and American Indians/Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of both early- and late-onset CRC.

Impact

Ongoing prevention efforts must ensure access to and uptake of CRC screening for Blacks and American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

There is increasing awareness of the importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for optimal brain development and function. In recent decades, researchers have confirmed the central role of PUFAs in a variety of patho-physiological processes. These agents modulate the mechanisms of brain cell signalling including the dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Therefore, nutritional insufficiencies of PUFAs may have adverse effects on brain development and developmental outcomes. The role of n-3 PUFAs has been studied in several psychiatric disorders in adulthood: schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorder, and borderline personality disorder. In contrast to the great number of studies conducted in adults, there are only limited data on the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation in children and adolescents who suffer from mental disorders or show a high risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review is to provide a complete and updated account of the available evidence of the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids on developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents and the effect of fatty acid supplementation during developmental milestones, particularly in high-risk populations of children with minimal but detectable signs or symptoms of mental disorders.

Does the millennial generation of women experience more mental illness than their mothers?

BACKGROUND

There is concern that rates of mental disorders may be increasing although findings disagree. Using an innovative design with a daughter-mother data set we assess whether there has been a generational increase in lifetime ever rates of major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced prior to 30 years of age.

METHODS

Pregnant women were recruited during 1981-1983 and administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) at the 27-year follow-up (2008-11). Offspring were administered the CIDI at the 30-year follow-up (2010-2014). Comparisons for onset of diagnosis are restricted to daughter and mother dyads up to 30 years of age. To address recall bias, disorders were stratified into more (≥12 months duration) and less persistent episodes (< 12 months duration) for the purposes of comparison. Sensitivity analyses with inflation were used to account for possible maternal failure to differentially recall past episodes.

RESULTS

When comparing life time ever diagnoses before 30 years, daughters had higher rates of persistent generalised anxiety disorder, and less persistent major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of conflicting findings concerning generational changes in mental disorders we find an increase in generational rates of persistent generalised anxiety disorders and a range of less persistent disorders. It is not clear whether this finding reflects actual changes in symptom levels over a generation or whether there has been a generational change in recognition of and willingness to report symptoms of mental illness.

Changes in emotional problems, hyperactivity and conduct problems in moderate to late preterm children and adolescents born between 1958 and 2002 in the United Kingdom

Background

Preterm birth is a risk factor for the development of emotional and behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence. Given the substantial improvements in neonatal care across decades, it has been expected that the difference in emotional problems, hyperactivity, and conduct problems between moderate to late preterm (MLPT) and full term (FT) children and adolescents have declined in recent years.

Methods

Data from four UK population-based studies were used: The National Child Development Study (NCDS; 1958), the British Cohort Study (BCS70; 1970), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, 1991-1992) and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; 2000-2002). Emotional problems, hyperactivity and conduct problems were assessed with mother-reports in early childhood (5-7 years), late childhood (10-11 years) and adolescence (14-16 years). Furthermore, emotional problems were self-reported in adolescence in BCS70, ALSPAC and MCS.

Results

In the most recent cohort, the MLPT group had higher mother-reported emotional problems than those born FT in late childhood and adolescence, whereas there were no differences in self-reported emotional problems in adolescence. Regarding mother-reported hyperactivity symptoms, the MLPT group had higher scores than the FT group in the two most recent cohorts in late childhood and in the most recent cohort in adolescence. Regarding mother-reported conduct problems, MLPT children had significantly higher scores than the FT children in the oldest and in the most recent cohort in late childhood. On the other hand, in adolescence, MLPT children had significantly lower scores in conduct problems in comparison to FT children in the cohort born in 1991-1992.

Conclusions

Mother-reported emotional problems and hyperactivity symptoms of those born MLPT have increased from the birth years 1958 to 2000-2002 during late childhood and adolescence, whereas self-reported emotional problems were similar in MLPT and FT groups during adolescence from 1970 to 2000-2002. Findings are less consistent regarding conduct problems. The current findings highlight the importance of raising the awareness of teachers about the association between MLPT birth and behavioural and emotional problems in late childhood and adolescence to prevent the long-term negative outcomes associated with the sequalae of MLPT birth.

Global, regional and national burden of anxiety disorders from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

AIMS

Anxiety disorders are widespread across the world. A systematic understanding of the disease burden, temporal trend and risk factors of anxiety disorders provides the essential foundation for targeted public policies on mental health at the national, regional, and global levels.

METHODS

The estimation of anxiety disorders in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 using systematic review was conducted to describe incidence, prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019. We calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) to quantify the temporal trends in anxiety disorders burden by sex, region and age over the past 30 years and analysed the impact of epidemiological and demographic changes on anxiety disorders.

RESULTS

Globally, 45.82 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 37.14, 55.62] million incident cases of anxiety disorders, 301.39 million (95% UI: 252.63, 356.00) prevalent cases and 28.68 (95% UI: 19.86, 39.32) million DALYs were estimated in 2019. Although the overall age-standardised burden rate of anxiety disorders remained stable over the past three decades, the latest absolute number of anxiety disorders increased by 50% from 1990. We observed huge disparities in both age-standardised burden rate and changing trend of anxiety disorders in sex, country and age. In 2019, 7.07% of the global DALYs due to anxiety disorders were attributable to bullying victimisation, mainly among the population aged 5-39 years, and the proportion increased in almost all countries and territories compared with 1990.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety disorder is still the most common mental illness in the world and has a striking impact on the global burden of disease. Controlling potential risk factors, such as bullying, establishing effective mental health knowledge dissemination and diversifying intervention strategies adapted to specific characteristics will reduce the burden of anxiety disorders.

College students in the western world are becoming less emotionally intelligent: A cross-temporal meta-analysis of trait emotional intelligence

OBJECTIVE

Over the last two decades, Western society has undergone a marked cultural transformation characterized by rising individualism. Concurrently, the digital landscape has transformed through the rise of social media and smartphones. These factors have previously been implicated in changing individuals' attitudes, behavior, and interpersonal interactions. We investigated whether these societal changes have coincided with changes in trait emotional intelligence (EI) over the last 17 years in Western university students.

METHOD

We examined this question using a cross-temporal meta-analysis (k = 70; N = 16,917).

RESULTS

There was no change in overall trait EI; however, the trait EI domains "well-being," "self-control," and "emotionality" demonstrated significant decreases with time, after controlling for gender composition and between-country differences.

CONCLUSION

We discuss these findings in relation to how they contribute to our understanding of trait EI, and how they add to the literature on how Western society is changing with time.

Real-world stress resilience is associated with the responsivity of the locus coeruleus

Individuals may show different responses to stressful events. Here, we investigate the neurobiological basis of stress resilience, by showing that neural responsitivity of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC-NE) and associated pupil responses are related to the subsequent change in measures of anxiety and depression in response to prolonged real-life stress. We acquired fMRI and pupillometry data during an emotional-conflict task in medical residents before they underwent stressful emergency-room internships known to be a risk factor for anxiety and depression. The LC-NE conflict response and its functional coupling with the amygdala was associated with stress-related symptom changes in response to the internship. A similar relationship was found for pupil-dilation, a potential marker of LC-NE firing. Our results provide insights into the noradrenergic basis of conflict generation, adaptation and stress resilience.

Harnessing mobile technology to reduce mental health disorders in college populations: A randomized controlled trial study protocol

About a third of college students struggle with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, and only 20-40% of college students with mental disorders receive treatment. Inadequacies in mental health care delivery result in prolonged illness, disease progression, poorer prognosis, and greater likelihood of relapse, highlighting the need for a new approach to detect mental health problems and engage college students in services. We have developed a transdiagnostic, low-cost mobile mental health targeted prevention and intervention platform that uses population-level screening to engage college students in tailored services that address common mental health problems. We will test the impact of this mobile mental health platform for service delivery in a large-scale trial across 20+ colleges. Students who screen positive or at high-risk for clinical anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder and who are not currently engaged in mental health services (N = 7884) will be randomly assigned to: 1) intervention via the mobile mental health platform; or 2) referral to usual care (i.e., campus health or counseling center). We will test whether the mobile mental health platform, compared to referral, is associated with improved uptake, reduced clinical cases, disorder-specific symptoms, and improved quality of life and functioning. We will also test mediators, predictors, and moderators of improved mental health outcomes, as well as stakeholder-relevant outcomes, including cost-effectiveness and academic performance. This population-level approach to service engagement has the potential to improve mental health outcomes for the millions of students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities.

Changing cultures, changing brains: A framework for integrating cultural neuroscience and cultural change research

Cultural neuroscience research has provided substantial evidence that culture shapes the brain by providing systematically different sets of experiences. However, cultures are ever-changing in response to the physical and social environment. In the present paper, we integrate theories and methods from cultural neuroscience with the emerging body of research on cultural change and suggest several ways in which the two fields can inform each other. First, we propose that the cultural change perspective helps us reexamine what is meant by culturally typical experiences, which are shaped by the dynamic interaction between cultural norms, values, meanings, and other environmental constraints on behavior. It also allows us to make predictions about the variability/stability of cultural neural differences over time. Then, we discuss how methods used in cultural change research may be applied to cultural neuroscience research and vice versa. We end with a "blue sky vision" for a neuroscience of cultural change.

Comparison of Brief Videos and Articles to Promote Coping Skills Among Student-Athletes

This study sought to determine the efficacy of particular strategies for delivering information about coping skills for stress to college student-athletes. This study analyzed 166 undergraduate varsity student-athletes. Among these participants, 60.8% were female (n = 101). The authors used a randomized controlled trial to compare video-based and text-based interventions designed to deliver coping skills information. Five weeks after the intervention, the participants completed a follow-up survey containing simple self-report questions regarding the memorability, use, and helpfulness of the coping skills information. In general, both strategies led to the use of coping skills by a sizeable proportion of the sample. The participants in the video-based deep breathing intervention were more than twice as likely to use coping skills compared with participants in the text-based intervention (risk ratio = 2.20, 95% confidence interval [1.02, 4.71], p = .03). Overall, the results suggest that both video- and text-based interventions have the potential to promote coping skills.

Trends in self-reported psychological distress among college and university students from 2010 to 2018

BACKGROUND

An increase in reported psychological distress, particularly among adolescent girls, is observed across a range of countries. Whether a similar trend exists among students in higher education remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to describe trends in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian college and university students from 2010 to 2018.

METHODS

We employed data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT), a nationwide survey for higher education in Norway including full-time students aged 18-34. Numbers of participants (participation rates) were n = 6065 (23%) in 2010, n = 13 663 (29%) in 2014 and n = 49 321 (31%) in 2018. Psychological distress was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25).

RESULTS

Overall, a statistically significant increase in self-reported psychological distress was observed over time across gender and age-groups. HSCL-25 scores were markedly higher for women than for men at all time-points. Effect-size of the mean change was also stronger for women (time-by-gender interaction: χ2 = 70.02, df = 2, p < 0.001): in women, mean HSCL-25 score increased from 1.62 in 2010 to 1.82 in 2018, yielding a mean change effect-size of 0.40. The corresponding change in men was from 1.42 in 2010 to 1.53 in 2018, giving an effect-size of 0.26.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the level and increase in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian students in higher education are potentially worrying. Several mechanisms may contribute to the observed trend, including changes in response style and actual increase in distress. The relative low response rates in SHoT warrant caution when interpreting and generalising the findings.

Mindfulness-Based College: A Stage 1 Randomized Controlled Trial for University Student Well-Being

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate effects of a mindfulness-based program, adapted to the young adult life course stage (age, 18-29 years), named Mindfulness-Based College (MB-College). The primary outcome was a young adult health summary score, composed of key health risk factors: body mass index, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, stress, loneliness, and sleep duration. Secondary outcomes were hypothesized self-regulation mechanisms, including attention control, interoceptive awareness, and emotion regulation.

METHODS

This was a stage 1 randomized controlled trial of the 9-week MB-College program (n = 47) versus enhanced usual care control (n = 49) including students from three universities. Assessments were at baseline, during the beginning of the college term when stress is typically lower, and at MB-College completion (3-month follow-up), when term-related stress is typically higher. Intention-to-treat, linear regression analyses estimated the marginal effects of MB-College versus control on the outcomes.

RESULTS

MB-College participants (mean age = 20 years, 68% female, 37% racial minorities) demonstrated improved health summary scores at follow-up compared with control participants whose health summary scores worsened (marginal effect for MB-College versus control = 0.23; p = .004). Effects on loneliness were pronounced (marginal effect = -3.11 for the Revised University of Los Angeles Loneliness Scale score; p = .03). Secondary analyses showed significant impacts of MB-College on hypothesized self-regulation mechanisms (e.g., Sustained Attention to Response Task correct no-go percent, p = .0008; Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p < .0001; Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, p = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this early stage clinical trial suggest that MB-College may foster well-being in young adults.Trial Registration: NCT03124446.

Have decreases in young workers' risky drinking resulted in an increase in illicit drug use?

ISSUES ADDRESSED

Recent reductions in young people's risky alcohol use have been widely documented but have not been examined among employed youth. Young workers' risky drinking may have corresponded with increased illicit drug use. This study investigated these issues.

METHODS

Secondary analyses were conducted for 15-24 year old Australian workers using nationally representative data from 2007 to 2016. Frequency analyses examined alcohol and illicit drug use, Z scores assessed differences over time, and logistic regression examined predictors of illicit drug use.

RESULTS

Risky drinking decreased significantly over time whilst low-risk drinking increased. This pattern was observed for both young workers and young employed illicit drug users. Whilst "any" illicit drug use did not change over time, methamphetamine use decreased, and cannabis and hallucinogen use increased. Drinking alcohol at risky levels (monthly) was associated with illicit drug use in 2016, as were being single and having high/very high levels of psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Risky drinking reductions over time have not corresponded with increased illicit drug use. Nonetheless, as risky drinking remains high among young workers, and is strongly associated with illicit drug use, it warrants concerted health promotion efforts that may also help minimise illicit drug use. SO WHAT?: Despite a reduction in young workers' risky alcohol consumption, risky drinking is still high and may impact the health and safety of workers and the wider community. As risky drinking is strongly associated with illicit drug use, workplaces could potentially play a vital role in combating alcohol and illicit drug misuse.