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Gangapersad RN, Zhou G, Garcia-Gomez P, Bos J, Hak E, Koch BCP, Schuiling-Veninga CCM, Dierckx B. Comparison of antipsychotic drug use in children and adolescents in the Netherlands before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2695-2703. [PMID: 38183460 PMCID: PMC11272724 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02340-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to describe the patterns and trends in antipsychotic prescription among Dutch youth before and during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (between 2017 and 2022). The study specifically aims to determine whether there has been an increase or decrease in antipsychotic prescription among this population, and whether there are any differences in prescription patterns among different age and sex groups. The study utilized the IADB database, which is a pharmacy prescription database containing dispensing data from approximately 120 community pharmacies in the Netherlands, to analyze the monthly prevalence and incidence rates of antipsychotic prescription among Dutch youth before and during the pandemic. The study also examined the prescribing patterns of the five most commonly used antipsychotics and conducted an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) analysis using data prior to the pandemic, to predict the expected prevalence rate during the pandemic. The prescription rate of antipsychotics for Dutch youth was slightly affected by the pandemic, with a monthly prevalence of 4.56 [4.50-4.62] per 1000 youths before COVID-19 pandemic and 4.64 [4.59-4.69] during the pandemic. A significant increase in prevalence was observed among adolescent girls aged 13-19 years. The monthly incidence rate remained stable overall, but rose for adolescent girls aged 13-19 years. Aripiprazole, and Quetiapine had higher monthly prevalence rates during the pandemic, while Risperidone and Pipamperon had lower rates. Similarly, the monthly incidence rates of Aripiprazole and Olanzapine went up, while Risperidone went down. Furthermore, the results from the ARIMA analysis revealed that despite the pandemic, the monthly prevalence rate of antipsychotic prescription was within expectation. The findings of this study suggest that there has been a moderate increase in antipsychotic prescription among Dutch youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in adolescent females aged 13-19 years. However, the study also suggests that factors beyond the pandemic may be contributing to the rise in antipsychotic prescription in Dutch youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravish N Gangapersad
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Guiling Zhou
- Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pilar Garcia-Gomez
- Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Bos
- Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eelko Hak
- Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Birgit C P Koch
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Catharina C M Schuiling-Veninga
- Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Dierckx
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Yan W, Wang Y, Jiang Z, Peng K, Cohen G. Effects of a self-affirmation intervention among Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large-scale randomized controlled trial. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:1100-1121. [PMID: 38155488 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by its highly contagious nature and devastating death toll, posed a dual threat to both physical and psychological well-being. As a potential intervention to alleviate the psychological impact, values-affirmation involves individuals engaging in the activity of writing about their core values. While its effectiveness in non-WEIRD (i.e. Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) populations, notably among Chinese adults, has been confirmed, it remains largely unexplored whether the intervention can promote mental health in Chinese adolescents, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study thus is to provide the first empirical evaluation of this intervention in promoting well-being and alleviating psychological distress among Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 2,234 students from 112 secondary schools in China were randomly assigned to an affirmation or control condition. The study found that self-affirmation intervention improved students' life satisfaction, mental health, and self-esteem, as well as buffered a decline of their purpose in life; however, no effects were found for clinical measures of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The results suggest that self-affirmation interventions, while having limited effects on clinically relevant outcomes, can be an effective approach to boost well-being in adolescents during a major crisis, including in a more historically collectivist culture. Implications for self-affirmation theory and cultural psychology, as well as avenues for future research, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yan
- School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Stanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Yuling Wang
- School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongxin Jiang
- School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiping Peng
- School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Geoffrey Cohen
- Stanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, CA, USA
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Leventhal MB, Morishita H. How childhood social isolation causes social dysfunction: deprivation or mismatch? Trends Cogn Sci 2024; 28:699-701. [PMID: 38839538 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
There is a major gap in our understanding of how childhood social isolation causes adult social dysfunction. To stimulate future developmental mechanistic studies, we present two conceptual models which highlight that isolation can disrupt developmental events that are concurrent (social deprivation model) or subsequent (developmental mismatch model) to adverse experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Leventhal
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hirofumi Morishita
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
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Saletin JM, Wolfson AR, Wahlstrom KL, Honaker SM, Owens JA, Seixas AA, Wong P, Carskadon MA, Meltzer LJ. Instructional approach, sleep, and perceived academic well-being in adolescents during COVID-19: Evidence from the NESTED study. Sleep Health 2024; 10:485-492. [PMID: 38876932 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES At the peak of COVID-19, adolescent life was disrupted as schools adapted their instructional approaches such as online, in-person, or hybrid instruction. We and others have previously commented on how these shifts facilitated longer, later and (more developmentally appropriate) sleep. Here, we report how sleep contributed to associations between remote instruction and broader academic well-being (e.g., cognitive function, school connectedness, and stress). METHODS Adolescents from all 50 U.S. states (n = 4068) completed online self-report surveys in fall 2020. Instructional approach was operationalized from fully in-person instruction to fully asynchronous online education. Sleep parameters included sleep timing and duration, sleep disturbances, and sleep-related impairments. Perceived academic well-being was defined as cognitive function, school connectedness, and school-related stress. Sleep and perceived academic well-being are examined across instructional approaches, in their association, and in structural models. RESULTS Sleep and perceived academic well-being differed between hybrid and online instruction groups. Less variable or disturbed sleep was associated both with in-person instruction, and with positive outcomes in cognitive function, school connectedness, and stress domains. Sleep mediated a substantial portion of variance in perceived academic well-being attributable to instructional approach. CONCLUSION These data highlight the need to protect both healthy sleep and in-person instruction. Appropriate sleep timing and duration, fewer sleep disturbances and sleep-related impairments accounted for a substantial degree of variance in the association between remote instruction on academic outcomes. While many students experienced "lost learning" because of COVID-19, this study joins a broader discussion of ensuring developmentally appropriate school-start times to support both sleep and achievement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared M Saletin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
| | - Amy R Wolfson
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kyla L Wahlstrom
- Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah M Honaker
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Judith A Owens
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Azizi A Seixas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Patricia Wong
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Mary A Carskadon
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Lisa J Meltzer
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
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Vavassori M, Donzelli G. Impact of COVID-19 restrictive measures during lockdown period on eating disorders: An umbrella review. Nutrition 2024; 124:112463. [PMID: 38749229 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2024.112463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/17/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked or amplified many mental health problems. The aim of this study was to compile evidence from existing systematic reviews to provide an overall assessment of the impact of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on people affected by eating disorders (EDs). PubMed and Scopus were searched up to August 16, 2023. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were selected using the PRISMA 2020 statement. The quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Eleven studies were included in this umbrella review. Six main categories emerged from the studies described in the review: dietary changes and psychopathological effects showed an overall worsening of symptomatology; in studies concerning the impact of isolation and restrictive measures, it was found that social distancing was associated with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression; limited access to direct care was found and therapeutic changes were made; the influence of mass media negatively impacted people with ED; several studies reported positive findings regarding symptomatology; finally, studies regarding 'impact on vulnerable populations showed that vulnerable people are more at risk of reporting body image distortion and eating disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted most of the population with ED leading to a worsening of specific symptomatology. In addition, this worsening of the condition may be caused by limited access to care and treatment, changes in routine, or to the negative influence of the media.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriele Donzelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology of the National Research Council (CNR-IFC), Pisa, Italy
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Mobach L, Wolters NE, Klein AM, Koelen JA, Vonk P, van der Heijde CM, Wuthrich VM, Rapee RM, Wiers RW. Temporal associations of emotional and social loneliness and psychosocial functioning in emerging adulthood. Scand J Psychol 2024. [PMID: 39036816 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Emerging adulthood is an important developmental phase often accompanied by peaks in loneliness, social anxiety, and depression. However, knowledge is lacking on how the relationships between emotional loneliness, social loneliness, social isolation, social anxiety and depression evolve over time. Gaining insight in these temporal relations is crucial for our understanding of how these problems arise and maintain each other across time. Young adults from a university sample (N = 1,357; M = 23.60 years, SD = 6.30) filled out questionnaires on emotional and social loneliness, social isolation, depressive and social anxiety symptoms at three time points within a 3-year period. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to disentangle reciprocal and prospective associations of loneliness subtypes, social isolation, depressive and social anxiety symptoms across time. Results showed that on the within-person level, increases in emotional and social loneliness as well as social isolation predicted higher depression levels on later timepoints. Increases in depressive symptoms also predicted increases in subsequent social loneliness, but not in emotional loneliness. Finally, increases in depressive symptoms predicted increases in social isolation. There were no significant temporal relations between loneliness and social isolation on the one hand and social anxiety symptoms on the other hand. Social distancing imposed by COVID-19 related government restrictions may have impacted the current results. The findings suggest that emotional and social loneliness precede development of depressive symptoms, which in turn precedes development of social loneliness and social isolation, indicating a potential vicious cycle of social loneliness, social isolation and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Social anxiety did not precede nor follow loneliness, depressive symptoms, or social isolation. The current study sheds more light on the temporal order of loneliness and psychopathological symptoms and hereby assists in identifying times where prevention and intervention efforts may be especially helpful to counter development of depression and loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Mobach
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Institute for Integrated Mental Health Care Pro Persona, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nine E Wolters
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- General Practitioners Practice UvA-HvA, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anke M Klein
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jurrijn A Koelen
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Twente, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Vonk
- General Practitioners Practice UvA-HvA, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Ronald M Rapee
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Cheng TW, Mills KL, Pfeifer JH. Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105820. [PMID: 39032845 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
CHENG, T.W., K.L. Mills and J.H. Pfeifer. Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV XX(X) XXX-XXX, 2024. Waves of research and public discourse have characterized adolescence as periods of developmental risk and opportunity. Underlying this discussion is the recognition that adolescence is a period of major biological and social transition when experience may have an outsized effect on development. This article updates and expands upon prior work suggesting that adolescence may be a sensitive period for sociocultural processing specifically. By integrating evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience, we identify how trajectories of social and neurobiological development may relate to adolescents' ability to adapt to and learn from their social environments. However, we also highlight gaps in the literature, including challenges in attributing developmental change to adolescent experiences. We discuss the importance of better understanding variability in biology (e.g., pubertal development) and cultural environments, as well as distinguishing between sensitive periods and periods of heightened sensitivity. Finally, we look toward future directions and translational implications of this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa W Cheng
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Kathryn L Mills
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA.
| | - Jennifer H Pfeifer
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, USA.
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Nishida A, Foo JC, Yamaguchi S, Togo F, Shimodera S, Nishida A, Okazaki Y, Sasaki T. Association between number of confidants and adolescent anxiety/depression: a school-based study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:87. [PMID: 39026352 PMCID: PMC11264789 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00778-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Having no or few confidants is found to be associated with more severe mental health problems and a higher prevalence of depression in adults, but research examining this association in adolescents is scarce. Social relationships may be particularly critical during adolescence, as it is an important developmental period during which vulnerability to mental health problems increases. The present study examined the relationship between having no or few confidants and anxiety/depressive symptoms in adolescents. METHODS Cross-sectional self-report survey targeting 7-12th grade students (age range: 12-18) was conducted in public junior and senior high schools in Mie and Kochi, Japan. Data from 17,829 students (49.7% boys) were analyzed. Associations between anxiety/depressive symptoms (12-item General Health Questionnaire; score range: 0-12) and the number of confidants (None, 1-3, or ≥ 4) were examined using multilevel regression analyses. The analyses were stratified by gender and school level (junior/senior high), and adjusted for experiences of being physically abused and bullied and the interactions of these experiences with the number of confidants. RESULTS Having no or 1-3 confidants was associated with more anxiety/depressive symptoms, compared to having ≥ 4 confidants (p < 0.001) in all stratified groups. Having no confidants was associated with more anxiety/depressive symptoms than having 1-3 confidants (p < 0.001); in senior high boys, no difference was observed between having no confidants and having 1-3 confidants. In addition, in senior high boys, victims of bullying who have confidants reported significantly less anxiety/depressive symptoms than the victims who have no confidants (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Adolescents who had no or few confidants had more anxiety/depressive symptoms. Attention needs to be paid to better identify these adolescents, and avenues to support them need to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Nishida
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
| | - Jerome Clifford Foo
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 11315 - 87 Ave NW, AB, T6G 2H5, Edmonton, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, 87 Avenue & 112 Street, AB, T6G 2E1, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Satoshi Yamaguchi
- The Unit for Mental Health Promotion, Research Center for Social Science & Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Togo
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Shinji Shimodera
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seiwa Hospital, 1777 Otu Sakawa, Takaoka, Kochi, 789-1202, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nishida
- The Unit for Mental Health Promotion, Research Center for Social Science & Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Yuji Okazaki
- Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, 2-1-1 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-0057, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sasaki
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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Myers T, Birmingham EA, Rhoads BT, McGrath AG, Miles NA, Schuldt CB, Briand LA. Post-weaning social isolation alters sociability in a sex-specific manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603129. [PMID: 39026733 PMCID: PMC11257562 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period for brain development in humans and stress exposure during this time can have lasting effects on behavior and brain development. Social isolation and loneliness are particularly salient stressors that lead to detrimental mental health outcomes particularly in females, although most of the preclinical work on social isolation has been done in male animals. Our lab has developed a model of post-weaning adolescent social isolation that leads to increased drug reward sensitivity and altered neuronal structure in limbic brain regions. The current study utilized this model to determine the impact of adolescent social isolation on a three-chamber social interaction task both during adolescence and adulthood. We found that while post-weaning isolation does not alter social interaction during adolescence (PND45), it has sex-specific effects on social interaction in adulthood (PND60), potentiating social interaction in male mice and decreasing it in female mice. As early life stress can activate microglia leading to alterations in neuronal pruning, we next examined the impact of inhibiting microglial activation with daily minocycline administration during the first three weeks of social isolation on these changes in social interaction. During adolescence, minocycline dampened social interaction in male mice, while having no effect in females. In contrast, during adulthood, minocycline did not alter the impact of adolescent social isolation in males, with socially isolated males exhibiting higher levels of social interaction compared to their group housed counterparts. In females, adolescent minocycline treatment reversed the effect of social isolation leading to increased social interaction in the social isolation group, mimicking what is seen in naïve males. Taken together, adolescent social isolation leads to sex-specific effects on social interaction in adulthood and adolescent minocycline treatment alters the effects of social isolation in females, but not males.
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Win N, Hounnaklang N, Tantirattanakulchai P, Panza A. The Impact of Stressors on Depressive Symptoms Among Youth Myanmar Migrant Workers in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:2653-2663. [PMID: 39006890 PMCID: PMC11246626 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s465535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Many youths suffer from depressive symptoms globally, especially youth migrant workers who are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms than non-migrant youths. Given the extensive literature reviewed, little is known about the impact of stressors on depressive symptoms among young migrant populations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of stressors on depressive symptoms among young Myanmar migrants in Thailand. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between August and December 2023, using self-administered questionnaires. The sample size was 165 young migrant workers in Myanmar by simple random sampling. The exclusion criteria were participants who had serious physical illness or acute mental illness, and unwillingness to participate in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and CESD (The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depressive symptoms) were included in the questionnaires. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used for descriptive statistics. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between stressors, self-esteem, coping behavior, and depressive symptoms. Results It was found that 47.9% of young Myanmar migrant workers had experienced depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms was associated with four variables: workplace stressors (β = 0.525, p <0.001), security stressors (β = 0.181, p <0.01), living stressors (β = 0.126, p <0.05), and self-esteem (β = -0.135, p <0.05). Conclusion According to hierarchical linear regression analysis, workplace, security, and living stressors significantly increased depressive symptoms scores, whereas self-esteem decreased depressive symptoms scores among young 165 Myanmar migrant workers. Therefore, policymakers should be encouraged to establish preventive measures against specific stressors. In addition, many young migrant workers have been found to experience depressive symptoms. Mental health care should be prioritized and made accessible to this vulnerable and risky group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Win
- College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Alessio Panza
- College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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11
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Estrada-Prat X, Estrada E, Tor J, Mezzatesta M, Aranbarri A, Aizpitarte A, Butjosa A, Albiac N, Fabrega M, Haro JM, Pineda II, Alda JA, Virgili C, Camprodon E, Dolz M, Keating C, Via E. Caregiver-reported emotional-behavioral symptoms in Spanish youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03364-4. [PMID: 38982168 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03364-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 pandemic stressors affected youth's mental health. This longitudinal study aims to explore these effects while considering predictive factors such as age and sex. METHODS An initial sample of 1502 caregivers answered a longitudinal survey evaluating their youths' (4-17 years of age) emotional/behavioral symptoms using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) screening tool. First assessment in May-July 2020 included the prior year's retrospective (TR) and since-lockdown-start (T0) PSC, followed by monthly evaluations until February 2021. RESULTS A positive screening PSC (PSC+) was reported in 13.09% of cases at TR and 35.01% at T0, but the likelihood of PSC+ quickly decreased over time. At T0, a more pronounced impact was found on children (39.7%) compared to adolescents (25.4%); male children exhibited higher risk for a PSC+ at T0 and longitudinally than females. Adolescents presented a weaker effect of time-improvement. PSC+ at TR, experienced stressors, and caregiver's stress/depressive symptoms positively predicted PSC+ at T0 and longitudinally; adolescents' unproductive coping style predicted PSC+ at T0. CONCLUSION: The study shows a caregiver-reported increase in emotional/behavioral symptoms in youths during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting predominantly younger children in the early stages and showing gradual improvement over time, albeit possibly slower in adolescents. IMPACT The results show the anticipated surge in emotional and behavioral symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown in youth reported by caregivers, followed by subsequent amelioration. Of greater significance, the study reveals a heightened impact on young children initially, yet it suggests a slower improvement trajectory in adolescents. The study also identifies risk factors linked to emotional and behavioral symptoms within each age group. Alongside the longitudinal approach, the authors underscore the remarkable inclusion of a significant representation of young children, an unusual feature in such surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Estrada-Prat
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Eduardo Estrada
- Department of Social Psychology and Methodology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordina Tor
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain.
| | - Marcela Mezzatesta
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Aritz Aranbarri
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Alazne Aizpitarte
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Anna Butjosa
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Albiac
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Marina Fabrega
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Josep Maria Haro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Immaculada Insa Pineda
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Jose A Alda
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Carles Virgili
- Independent researcher in collaboration with the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Camprodon
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Montserrat Dolz
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Psychiatry and Legal Medicine Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charlotte Keating
- Independent researcher in collaboration with the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Via
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain.
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12
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Kiviruusu O. Excessive internet use among Finnish young people between 2017 and 2021 and the effect of COVID-19. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024:10.1007/s00127-024-02723-0. [PMID: 38985326 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE An increase in excessive Internet use (EIU) among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic was suggested in many studies. However, these studies were mostly based on cross-sectional and/or unrepresentative samples. METHODS Using data from a nationwide Finnish school survey in the years 2017, 2019 and 2021 (N = 450,864; aged 13-20 years), changes in the prevalence of EIU (EIUS, 5-item) were assessed. The effects of COVID-19 (year 2021 vs. 2017/2019 combined) and linear trend were analyzed in logistic regression models. Models were adjusted for loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS Among males, EIU prevalence varied minimally (7.8-8.1%) from 2017 to 2021. Among females, the prevalence increased from 6.8 to 11.7% and the effect of COVID-19 was significant (OR = 1.53; p < 0.001). Including the linear trend in the model turned the COVID-19 effect on EIU among females non-significant (p = 0.625), whereas the trend was significant (OR = 1.17; p < 0.001). Adjusting the models with mental health-related factors attenuated the effect of COVID-19 to some extent, but not the effect of linear trend. CONCLUSIONS There is a sex difference in the way the prevalence of EIU developed from 2017 to 2021 among Finnish adolescents. In males, there was no indication of increased prevalence of EIU and among females, while the effect of COVID-19 was first found, it was also suggested to be a product of a trend already started before the COVID-19 pandemic. These results are in contrast with some earlier studies suggesting an effect of COVID-19 on EIU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Kiviruusu
- Mental Health Team, Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, Helsinki, 00271, Finland.
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13
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Wang C, Xie R, Chen L, Yang X, Yan C. Psychometric evaluation of the Social Touch Questionnaire in Chinese adolescents. Psych J 2024. [PMID: 38965783 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Social touch promotes psychological well-being through inducing positive effects on social affiliation and stress alleviation, especially in adolescence. However, there is a scarcity of instruments available for evaluating adolescents' attitude toward social touch in China. The present study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Social Touch Questionnaire (STQ) in Chinese adolescents. A total of 2839 high school students were enrolled, ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. The dimensions of the scale were conducted by exploratory factor analysis, and validated by confirmatory factor analysis. A three-factor model showed the best fit and consisted of the following subgroups: liking of informal social touch, liking of general social touch, and dislike of social touch. Furthermore, positive associations were found between social touch and interaction anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality. Short-term prediction of dislike of social touch in anxiety symptoms was determined, while no significant predictor of depressive symptoms was found. The STQ demonstrates reliability and validity as a self-report questionnaire designed to assess behaviors and attitudes toward social touch. It effectively adapts to the nuances of the Chinese context among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglei Wang
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruyun Xie
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Xinhua Yang
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE&STCSM), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science of Anhui Province on Adolescent, Mental Health and Crisis Intelligence Intervention, Hefei, China
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14
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Lolk K, Werenberg Dreier J, Christensen J. Individual and neighborhood-level socioeconomic deprivation and risk of epilepsy after traumatic brain Injury: A register-based cohort study. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 156:109807. [PMID: 38678986 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Lolk
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Julie Werenberg Dreier
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jakob Christensen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
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15
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Polack RG, Zhang A, Kober H, Joormann J, Benisty H. Back to Normal? Harnessing Long Short-term Memory Network to Examine the Associations Between Adolescent Social Interactions and Depressive Symptoms During Different Stages of COVID-19. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024:10.1007/s10802-024-01208-7. [PMID: 38922462 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a developmental period in which social interactions are critical for mental health. While the onset of COVID-19 significantly disrupted adolescents' social environments and mental health, it remains unclear how adolescents have adapted to later stages of the pandemic. We harnessed a machine learning architecture of Long Short-Term Memory recurrent networks (LSTM) with gradient-based feature importance, to model the association among daily social interactions and depressive symptoms during three stages of the pandemic. A year before COVID-19, 148 adolescents reported social interactions and depressive symptoms, every day for 21 days. One hundred sixteen of these youths completed a 28-day diary after schools closed due to COVID-19. Seventy-nine of these youths and additional 116 new participants completed a 28-day diary approximately a year into the pandemic. Our results show that LSTM successfully predicted depressive symptoms from at least a week of social interactions for all three waves (r2 > .70). Our study shows the utility of using an analytic approach that can identify temporal and nonlinear pathways through which social interactions may confer risk for depression. Our unique analysis of the importance of input features enabled us to interpret the association between social interactions and depressive symptoms. Collectively, we observed a return to pre-pandemic patterns a year into the pandemic, with reduced gender and age differences during the pandemic closures. This pattern suggests that the system of social influences in adolescence was affected by COVID-19, and that this effect was attenuated in more chronic stages of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuma Gadassi Polack
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
- School of Behavioral Sciences, Tel Aviv-Yaffo Academic College, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
| | - Adam Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
| | - Hedy Kober
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Hadas Benisty
- Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
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16
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Matthaeus H, Heim C, Voelkle MC, Singer T. Reducing neuroendocrine psychosocial stress response through socio-emotional dyadic but not mindfulness online training. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1277929. [PMID: 38978617 PMCID: PMC11228163 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1277929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Stress-related diseases pose significant health risks and show wide prevalence. Empirical evidence suggests that contemplative practices, such as socio-emotional dyadic mental exercises, hold promise in mitigating the adverse effects of stress and promoting psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to investigate the differential effects of two online contemplative mental training programs on the psychosocial stress response: the first involved classic mindfulness practices, while the second incorporated a socio-emotional dyadic approach known as Affect Dyad. Methods The study was conducted as part of the longitudinal CovSocial project's phase 2 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 140 individuals participated in the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST), where the psychosocial stress response was assessed with cortisol saliva samples and subjective stress questionnaires in a cross-sectional design after the active training groups finished their intervention period. Participants were randomly assigned to the socio-emotional training group, mindfulness-based training group, or a control group that did not receive any training. Both training programs consisted of a ten-week intervention period with a daily 12-minute app-based mental training practice and weekly 2-hour online coaching sessions led by mental training teachers. Results Results showed that the socio-emotional Dyad group but not the mindfulness-based group exhibited significantly lower cortisol levels at 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes after the stressor as well as lower total cortisol output compared to the control group during the TSST, indicating a reduced hormonal stress response to a social stressor. Subjective markers did not show differences between the three groups. Discussion These findings indicate that the daily socio-emotional dyadic practice, which emphasizes non-judgmental and empathic listening as well as the acceptance of challenging emotions in the presence of others within one's daily life context, may serve as a protective factor against the adverse effects of psychosocial stress triggered by the fear of negative social judgments. Given the high prevalence of stress-related diseases, such online mental training programs based on dyadic practices may thus represent an efficient and scalable approach for stress reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Matthaeus
- Social Neuroscience Lab, Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Heim
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel C Voelkle
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tania Singer
- Social Neuroscience Lab, Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany
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17
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Gong X, Bi T, Zhang L, Zhou J. Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Offspring Internalizing Problems: A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024:10.1007/s10802-024-01224-7. [PMID: 38904741 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
The present study investigated the relations between maternal depressive symptoms and internalizing problems in offspring during late childhood and early adolescence, examining sex differences using symptom network analysis. A total of 885 Chinese youths in late childhood (n = 497, 38.6% girls; age = 9.58 years, SD = 0.24) and early adolescence (n = 388, 48.5% girls; age = 11.30 years, SD = 0.24) and their mothers (Mage = 37.34 years, SD = 5.42) were recruited. Cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis was used to explore bridge symptoms (i.e., symptoms connecting two or more mental disorders) and identify transmission pathways between maternal depressive symptoms and offspring's internalizing problems at these two developmental stages. The CLPN results revealed that in late childhood, the bridge connections in the network model were boys feeling worried to mothers feeling distractible, and girls feeling worried to mothers feeling powerless. In early adolescence, the bridge connections were boys experiencing depressed mood to mothers feeling powerless, and mothers feeling bad to girls experiencing depressed mood. These findings highlight the network-level relations between maternal depressive symptoms and offspring internalizing problems. They provide insights into the developmental differences and similarities in symptoms during these periods and suggest ways to break the vicious cycle of psychopathology between mothers and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Gong
- Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Tiantian Bi
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- School of Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jianhua Zhou
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Incardona RM, Tremolada M. The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Italian Families: The Perception of Quality of Life and Screening of Psychological Symptoms. Pediatr Rep 2024; 16:519-529. [PMID: 38921708 PMCID: PMC11206805 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric16020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 period, families were forced to stay indoors, adapting to online schooling, remote work, and virtual social engagements, inevitably altering the dynamics within households. There was a notable increase in mental health challenges in terms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. This study intended to explore the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian families by adopting self- and proxy-report questionnaires on anxiety, anger, and health-related quality of life. The results showed that approximately 20% obtained a clinical anxiety score and only 10% obtained a clinical anger score. There was a difference in the perception of the quality of life reported by the child and that perceived by the parent. A stepwise regression model showed that total anxiety scores were predicted by sex, quality of life scores from the parents' self-report version, and the total anger score. Another stepwise regression model identified physiological and social anxiety as the best predictors that impact quality of life. Parental well-being actively influences the well-being of children, so it is fundamental to implement preventive programs and promote child well-being by providing parents the most adequate support possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Tremolada
- Department of Development and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy;
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19
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Lennox C, Duncan-Zaleski M, Nasim S, Shirley O, Ross K, Chitsabesan P, Robinson L, Shaw J, Leonard S. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for children in custody: An analysis of inspection reports. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304862. [PMID: 38900712 PMCID: PMC11189207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children in custodial settings are a vulnerable group. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there were concerns about the safety of children in these settings. COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone but given the vulnerability of children in custody, there were concerns about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. All custody settings for children are independently inspected and this research aimed to analyse data from inspection reports. Twenty-six inspection reports undertaken between March 2020 and October 2021 were analysed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of usual care/regime. RESULTS Data showed that across all site's children spent considerable amounts of time isolated and in some cases, this was deemed to amount to solitary confinement. There was evidence of some positive experiences, in the smaller sites, around COVID-19 slowing the pace of life allowing staff and children could foster relationships. However, in the larger sites, isolation was extreme and COVID-19 policies such as 'bubbles' appear to have created unintended consequences as sites have moved into recovery, leading to increased violence and stress. COVID-19 directly impacted staffing levels. This and the COVID-19 policies to reduce mixing also had an impact on how children's behaviour, welfare and safeguarding was managed. In some larger sites, being COVID-19 secure was prioritised over the needs of the children. CONCLUSIONS This research highlights the importance of multi-site longitudinal research to understand how children, staff and institution's function. The experiences of children in custody during COVID-19 differed by site type. The research suggests that the larger sites are struggling to keep children safe and there should be a shift towards smaller, more therapeutic environments. More research is needed to understand the longer-term unintended consequences of COVID-19 policy in custody, for these vulnerable children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lennox
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martha Duncan-Zaleski
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sahara Nasim
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia Shirley
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kenny Ross
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Prathiba Chitsabesan
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Shaw
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Leonard
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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20
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Carmack C, Nganga S, Ahmed E, Coleman T. Concept Mapping STI/HIV Prevention and Condom Use among Young African American Adults. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:501. [PMID: 38920833 PMCID: PMC11201233 DOI: 10.3390/bs14060501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Theory-based HIV prevention programs have resulted in increased condom use, which remains the best method for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sexually active heterosexual individuals. Particularly, the integrative model of behavior prediction theorizes that attitudes, norms, self-efficacy, and socioenvironmental factors influence intention and behavior and has been useful in understanding STI risk among adolescents. However, more research is needed regarding young African American adults. Given the increased freedom and decision-making independence afforded to young adults compared to adolescents, it is important to consider the STI/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention messages that would resonate with them, particularly regarding condom use. The present study sought to explore how attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacies, and socioenvironmental factors may influence condom use and STI/HIV prevention, as conceptualized by the participants. We conducted a group-based concept map, a systems-thinking mixed methodology that resulted in a geospatial map reflecting the conceptualizations of the participants. Self-identified young heterosexual African American adults (N = 43) aged 20-26 engaged in an interactive concept mapping procedure in order to "map out" their overarching concepts about STI/HIV risk and condom use. Seven overall conceptual domains emerged: self-efficacy for partner communication, condom use self-efficacy, social media/sociocultural influences, condom use/STI knowledge, condom use cons, condom use pros, and subjective and social norms about condom use. We presented the concept map and discussed the conceptual interpretations and the relationships among the overarching concepts. We also discussed how the social environment, including the social media environment, was conceptualized regarding STI/HIV risk and prevention among young African American adults. Concept mapping can be viewed as a way to determine worthwhile messages for intervention development. The findings may provide information for prevention programs aimed at reducing the incidence of STIs among young adult heterosexual persons within African American communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chakema Carmack
- Psychological Health and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA; (E.A.); (T.C.)
- Health Research Institute—Research Center in Minority Institution (HRI-RCMI), University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- Center for Health Equity and Evaluation Research (CHEER), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Sarah Nganga
- Legacy Community Health, Houston, TX 77009, USA;
| | - Eisha Ahmed
- Psychological Health and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA; (E.A.); (T.C.)
| | - Taylor Coleman
- Psychological Health and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA; (E.A.); (T.C.)
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Sedlašek E, Krohne N, Borko P, Zemljarič I, Masten R, Vinko M, De Leo D, Poštuvan V. Beyond the Preventive Measures: A Delphi Method-Based Study of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Different Age Groups. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:978. [PMID: 38929595 PMCID: PMC11205892 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive measures affected various aspects of people's lives, while also representing an important risk factor for people's mental health. In the present study, we examined the negative psychological consequences of the preventive measures on people's mental health and the protective factors that strengthened their mental health and well-being during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A study, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods based on a Delphi protocol, was conducted with a sample of Slovenian professionals who worked with people from different demographic groups (i.e., children and adolescents, emerging adults, the adult working population, the elderly) during the pandemic. We conducted (i) a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 11 professionals and (ii) a quantitative study where 73 professionals completed a structured online questionnaire. Results: Experts recognized the disruption of informal face-to-face social contacts as the measure with the greatest impact on people's lives across all groups studied, the effect being particularly evident in relation to individuals' development period and socio-demographic characteristics. An individual's ability to adapt to change and emotional support provided by family or other close persons contributed significantly to maintaining mental health and well-being during the pandemic. Conclusions: Considering the interplay of various COVID-19-related risk and protective factors for mental health, enabling and promoting the maintenance and development of social relationships (including through alternative pathways) should be a priority aspect of (mental health) intervention for all demographic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sedlašek
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (N.K.); (P.B.); (D.D.L.); (V.P.)
| | - Nina Krohne
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (N.K.); (P.B.); (D.D.L.); (V.P.)
| | - Polonca Borko
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (N.K.); (P.B.); (D.D.L.); (V.P.)
| | - Ives Zemljarič
- Department of Oncology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
| | - Robert Masten
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Matej Vinko
- Mental Health Centre, National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Diego De Leo
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (N.K.); (P.B.); (D.D.L.); (V.P.)
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
| | - Vita Poštuvan
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (N.K.); (P.B.); (D.D.L.); (V.P.)
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
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22
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Ahlborg MG, Morgan A, Svedberg P, Nygren JM, Eriksson M, Westberg KH. SoCap YMH - youth mental health, social capital and help-seeking: a study protocol. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1406649. [PMID: 38919916 PMCID: PMC11196961 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1406649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The increase in adolescents reporting mental health problems presents a major public health challenge. The complex association between mental health and social capital motivates further investigation of social capital as a crucial aspect in shaping adolescents' help-seeking knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Aim This protocol presents a project that aims to investigate social capital in relation to help-seeking and mental health in close collaboration with adolescents and key stakeholders in the school setting, in the southern part of Sweden. Methods A mixed-method design with three interconnected work packages (WP) will be undertaken with an emphasis on co-production where adolescents are involved throughout the process. WP1 is a development and validation of two questionnaire instruments for assessing social capital and help-seeking in adolescence. WP2 is a longitudinal quantitative study involving 1,500 adolescents from two regions representing rural and suburban/urban settings. Adolescents aged 15 will be asked to complete questionnaires concerning social capital, mental health, and help-seeking in a baseline and one-year follow-up, allowing for investigation of the role of social capital for help-seeking. WP3 is designed to elucidate experiences and knowledge of adolescents and key stakeholders via collaborative World Café workshops. These will be held along the project to evolve the generated knowledge and maximize it's applicability during and after the project is finalized. Conclusion The results are expected to further the understanding of the relationship between adolescents' social capital, mental health, and help-seeking, to contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the paradoxical help-seeking patterns among adolescents today and to narrow the gap between research and practice to produce sustainable and efficient strategies, which may facilitate help-seeking and improve the mental health of adolescents within existing organizational structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antony Morgan
- Department of Public Health, Glasgow Caledonian University in London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Jens M. Nygren
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Malin Eriksson
- Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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23
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Reygaerts H, Smith S, Renner LM, Ruiz Y, Schwab-Reese LM. A qualitative content analysis of cannabis-related discussions on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304336. [PMID: 38843215 PMCID: PMC11156309 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Social media has become an increasingly important way to seek and share experiences, support, knowledge, and advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reddit, a pseudonymous social media platform, was one way that young people interacted during the pandemic. Our study goals were two-fold: (1) to categorize information sought and provided by users of r/saplings, a subreddit devoted to cannabis use and is often used by young people, and (2) to examine if conversations changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We extracted 213 randomly selected posts and 2,546 related comments across four time periods (before the pandemic, during the first wave, summer, and next fall). We assessed the volume of posts and comments throughout our study period and conducted a qualitative content analysis. Quantitatively, the findings demonstrated an increase in the number of posts and comments throughout the study period. Given the substantial growth in subreddit activity throughout our study period, Reddit may play an increasingly important role in youth socialization related to cannabis. From the content analysis, we identified three major themes: how to acquire cannabis, how to use cannabis, and associated consequences. Reddit-users prioritized certain content in their posts at different stages of the pandemic. 'Places to acquire' and 'future use' were most common at the beginning of the pandemic, while the theme of 'consequences' and the topic of 'tolerance' became more prominent during the summer months. The comments to these posts were generally thorough and responsive to the post. Nearly all the information came from opinions or personal experiences. Firstly, our findings suggest that young people viewed Reddit as a viable outlet for conversations about cannabis. Secondly, due to the nature of the peer comments and lack of verifiable information being exchanged, misinformation may still circulate and inadvertently worsen the efforts to reduce cannabis-related harm. Interventions that provide understandable and accurate cannabis-related information in accessible formats may increase young people's ability to access and practice harm reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Reygaerts
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sidney Smith
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Lynette M. Renner
- School of Social Work, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Yumary Ruiz
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Schwab-Reese
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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24
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Primbs R, Piechaczek CE, Iglhaut L, Grill P, Feldmann L, Schulte-Körne G, Greimel E. Evaluation of a Web-based Information Platform for Youths on Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024; 55:861-871. [PMID: 36264410 PMCID: PMC9583065 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01425-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
During the corona pandemic, youths were confronted with substantial challenges and in urgent need of information on how to prevent mental health problems. This experimental pre-post-follow-up study examined the efficacy and reception of an innovative website ( www.corona-und-du.info ) containing evidence-based information for youths on how to overcome psychological distress during the pandemic. 34 youths aged 11-18 years were presented domains of the website in the laboratory. Standardized questionnaires were applied to assess changes in knowledge, the reception of the website, and changes in behavioral intention to seek psychological help. For all content domains, we found a significant knowledge gain with large effect sizes from pre to post, and from pre to follow-up. The reception of the website was very positive, and participants indicated increased intention to seek psychological support when needed. The results constitute an important basis for future attempts to promote mental health information in youths in times of crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regine Primbs
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Charlotte Elisabeth Piechaczek
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Lucia Iglhaut
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Patricia Grill
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Feldmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerd Schulte-Körne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Ellen Greimel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Nußbaumstr. 5, D-80336, Munich, Germany
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25
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Lahti H, Kokkonen M, Hietajärvi L, Lyyra N, Paakkari L. Social media threats and health among adolescents: evidence from the health behaviour in school-aged children study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:62. [PMID: 38812043 PMCID: PMC11138097 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00754-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media are immensely popular among adolescents. Thus, concerns have been raised about the threats adolescents encounter on social media and the possible negative health consequences, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. This study investigated the prevalence of nine social media threats: (1) cyberbullying, (2) sexual harassment, (3) racism, (4) unauthorized distribution of sensitive material, (5) phishing attempts, (6) misinformation, (7) the sale or distribution of drugs, (8) harmful or dangerous social media challenges, (9) content causing appearance pressures. The study also investigated how individual and social factors, problematic social media use (PSMU), and online communication with strangers are associated with social media threat exposure, as well as the association between social media threats and self-rated health, depressive feelings, and anxiety symptoms. METHODS AND FINDINGS Nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) data from Finland were obtained from 2288 respondents aged 11, 13, and 15 years. Fixed effects regression models were applied. The most common threat, encountered daily and weekly, was misinformation. Regression models showed that individual and social factors, PSMU, and online communication with strangers explained adolescent exposure to social media threats in differing ways. Furthermore, certain factors (e.g., emotional intelligence, family support) were associated with encountering social media threats less frequently, whereas other factors (e.g., PSMU, online communication with strangers) were associated with more frequent encounters. Daily and weekly exposure to social media threats was systematically associated with poor self-rated health, frequent depressive feelings, and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the need for intervention and health promotion efforts to mitigate adolescent exposure to social media threats and ensuing negative health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Lahti
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Marja Kokkonen
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Lauri Hietajärvi
- Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nelli Lyyra
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Leena Paakkari
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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26
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Butter S, Shevlin M, Gibson-Miller J, McBride O, Hartman TK, Bentall RP, Bennett K, Murphy J, Mason L, Martinez AP, Levita L. Psychological distress, wellbeing and resilience: modelling adolescent mental health profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2024; 4:16. [PMID: 38780717 PMCID: PMC11116324 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-024-00071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
There has been concern about adolescent mental health during the pandemic. The current study examined adolescent mental health during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Using indicator of psychological distress, wellbeing and resilience, latent profile analysis was used to identify homogeneous mental health groups among young people aged 13-24 (N = 1971). Multinomial logistic regression was then used to examine which sociodemographic and psychosocial variables predicted latent class membership. Four classes were found. The largest class (Class 1, 37.2%) was characterised by moderate symptomology and moderate wellbeing. Class 2 (34.2%) was characterised by low symptomology and high wellbeing, while Class 3 (25.4%) was characterised by moderate symptomology and high wellbeing. Finally, Class 4 was the smallest (3.2%) and was characterised by high symptomology and low wellbeing. Compared to the low symptomology, high wellbeing class, all other classes were associated with less social engagement with friends, poorer family functioning, greater somatic symptoms, and a less positive model of self. A number of unique associations between the classes and predictor variables were identified. Although around two-thirds of adolescents reported moderate-to-high symptomology, most of these individuals also reported concurrent moderate-to-high levels of wellbeing, reflecting resilience. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate how a more comprehensive picture of mental health can be gained through adopting a dual-continua conceptualisation of mental health that incorporates both pathology and well-being. In this way, at-risk youth can be identified and interventions and resources targeted appropriately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Butter
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland.
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | | | - Orla McBride
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Todd K Hartman
- Department of Social Statistics, University of Manchester, Manchester, England
| | - Richard P Bentall
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
| | - Kate Bennett
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England
| | - Jamie Murphy
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Liam Mason
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, England
| | - Anton P Martinez
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
| | - Liat Levita
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, England
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27
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Gracia-Liso R, Portella MJ, Pujals-Altés E, Puntí-Vidal J, Llorens M, Pàmias M, Jiménez MF, Aguirrezabala IM, Palao DJ. Comparing frequencies of adolescent suicide attempters pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic school terms. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:373. [PMID: 38760731 PMCID: PMC11100050 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05823-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic had and still have a major impact on adolescent mental health and consequently on suicidal behavior. However, few studies have investigated whether the pandemic has changed the patterns and the triggers of suicidality peaks in adolescents, e.g., seasonal patterns or family conflicts. We hypothesized that the pandemic modified suicidality rates: an increment of suicide attempts would be observed in the first semester of the academic year during COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same period of previous academic year; and the precipitating factors would be more related to social stressors during the pandemic school year. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the precipitating factors, also including school-related factors and cognitive skills, of adolescent suicide attempters occurred in the first and second semesters of the year before the pandemic lockdown (study periods 1 and 2) and the year after (study periods 3 and 4). RESULTS The sample consisted of 85 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 recruited consecutively from March 2019 to March 2021 at emergency ward because of suicide attempt. Forty-eight adolescents (55.3% of the sample) were attended before the lockdown (pre-pandemic group) and 38 (44.7%) the year after. The results showed a higher proportion of female suicide attempters in period 4 (Sept 2020-Feb 2021) respect to period 3 (Mar 2020-Aug 2020), i.e., pandemic semesters compared with the increment observed between period 2 and 1 (prepandemic semesters; Fisher's exact test = 4.73; p = 0.026). The multinomial regression models showed a significant effect in the frequency of adolescents who attempted suicide (ratio χ2 = 15.19, p = 0.019), accounted by the differences between period 4 (Sept 2020-Feb 2021) and period 1 (Mar 2019-Aug 2019), with depressive symptoms being a significant contributing factor (Exp(b) = 0.93; p = 0.04). Additionally, social triggers and age were found to be significant risk factors for suicide attempts in the first semester of the pandemic academic year (period 4) compared to the same semester of the pre-pandemic year (period 2; Exp(b) = 0.16, p = 0.01, and Exp(b) = 1.88, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, the decrement between first and second semester of the number of females attempting suicide was more pronounced than in the prepandemic school year -though this findings lacked statistical power due to very limited sample size-. Change in the frequency of adolescent attempting suicide in the different school periods was associated with greater severity of depressive symptoms. Social relations in back-to-school after the lockdown were also associated with the number of adolescents attempting suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Gracia-Liso
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Maria J Portella
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain.
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), Barcelona, 08041, Spain.
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08041, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
| | - Elena Pujals-Altés
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Joaquim Puntí-Vidal
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
| | - Marta Llorens
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08950, Spain
| | - Montserrat Pàmias
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Marc Fradera Jiménez
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Itziar Montalvo Aguirrezabala
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Diego J Palao
- Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí-University Hospital of Sabadell, Barcelona, 08208, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT-CERCA, Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional I3PT-INc, Sabadell, 08208, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, 28029, Spain
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28
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Milbocker KA, Smith IF, Klintsova AY. Maintaining a Dynamic Brain: A Review of Empirical Findings Describing the Roles of Exercise, Learning, and Environmental Enrichment in Neuroplasticity from 2017-2023. Brain Plast 2024; 9:75-95. [PMID: 38993580 PMCID: PMC11234674 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-230151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain plasticity, also termed neuroplasticity, refers to the brain's life-long ability to reorganize itself in response to various changes in the environment, experiences, and learning. The brain is a dynamic organ capable of responding to stimulating or depriving environments, activities, and circumstances from changes in gene expression, release of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, to cellular reorganization and reprogrammed functional connectivity. The rate of neuroplastic alteration varies across the lifespan, creating further challenges for understanding and manipulating these processes to benefit motor control, learning, memory, and neural remodeling after injury. Neuroplasticity-related research spans several decades, and hundreds of reviews have been written and published since its inception. Here we present an overview of the empirical papers published between 2017 and 2023 that address the unique effects of exercise, plasticity-stimulating activities, and the depriving effect of social isolation on brain plasticity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian F. Smith
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, University of Delaware, Newark, USA
| | - Anna Y. Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, University of Delaware, Newark, USA
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29
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McCollum SE, Canter O, Fasanello VJ, Gronsky S, Haussmann MF. Birds of a feather age together: telomere dynamics and social behavior predict life span in female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1363468. [PMID: 38808110 PMCID: PMC11130416 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1363468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Social support is vital for mental and physical health and is linked to lower rates of disease and early mortality. Conversely, anti-social behavior can increase mortality risks, both for the initiator and target of the behavior. Chronic stress, which also can increase mortality, may serve as an important link between social behavior and healthy lifespan. There is a growing body of literature in both humans, and model organisms, that chronic social stress can result in more rapid telomere shortening, a measure of biological aging. Here we examine the role of anti-social behavior and social support on physiological markers of stress and aging in the social Japanese quail, Coturnix Japonica. Birds were maintained in groups for their entire lifespan, and longitudinal measures of antisocial behavior (aggressive agonistic behavior), social support (affiliative behavior), baseline corticosterone, change in telomere length, and lifespan were measured. We found quail in affiliative relationships both committed less and were the targets of less aggression compared to birds who were not in these relationships. In addition, birds displaying affiliative behavior had longer telomeres, and longer lifespans. Our work suggests a novel pathway by which social support may buffer against damage at the cellular level resulting in telomere protection and subsequent longer lifespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. McCollum
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Olivia Canter
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Sarah Gronsky
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
| | - Mark F. Haussmann
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, United States
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Rusk SA, DiBari J, Mason DM, Li M, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Mirolli G, Cheng TL, Kogan MD, Zuckerman B, Wang X. The impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric clinical encounters among low-income racially-diverse children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:631-643. [PMID: 37088737 PMCID: PMC10590822 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of longitudinal data to examine the impact of COVID-19 on all types of clinical encounters among United States, underrepresented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), children. This study aims to examine the changes in all the outpatient clinical encounters during the pandemic compared to the baseline, with particular attention to psychiatric encounters and diagnoses. METHOD This study analyzed 3-year (January 2019 to December 2021) longitudinal clinical encounter data from 3,394 children in the Boston Birth Cohort, a US urban, predominantly low-income, Black and Hispanic children. Outcomes of interest were completed outpatient clinical encounters and their modalities (telemedicine vs. in person), including psychiatric care and diagnoses, primary care, emergency department (ED), and developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP). RESULTS The study children's mean (SD) age is 13.9 (4.0) years. Compared to 2019, psychiatric encounters increased by 38% in 2020, most notably for diagnoses of adjustment disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). In contrast, primary care encounters decreased by 33%, ED encounters decreased by 55%, and DBP care decreased by 16% in 2020. Telemedicine was utilized the most for psychiatric and DBP encounters and the least for primary care encounters in 2020. A remarkable change in 2021 was the return of primary care encounters to the 2019 level, but psychiatric encounters fluctuated with spikes in COVID-19 case numbers. CONCLUSIONS Among this sample of US BIPOC children, compared to the 2019 baseline, psychiatric encounters increased by 38% during 2020, most notably for the new diagnoses of adjustment disorder, depression, and PTSD. The 2021 data showed a full recovery of primary care encounters to the baseline level but psychiatric encounters remained sensitive to the pandemic spikes. The long-term impact of the pandemic on children's mental health warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena A. Rusk
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Jessica DiBari
- Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
| | - Dana M. Mason
- Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Guoying Wang
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Colleen Pearson
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center
| | - Gabrielle Mirolli
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center
| | - Tina L. Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati
| | - Michael D. Kogan
- Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
| | - Barry Zuckerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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Hunter SC, Seth R, Houghton S, Lawrence D, Zadow C, Rosenberg M, Wood L, Qualter P, Shilton T. Trajectories of Loneliness During Adolescence Predict Subsequent Symptoms of Depression and Positive Wellbeing. J Youth Adolesc 2024; 53:1078-1090. [PMID: 38129340 PMCID: PMC10980621 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01925-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to identify the outcomes of changes in loneliness during adolescence, and to consider this within a multidimensional framework of loneliness. This study considered the effects of different trajectories of change in Isolation Loneliness and in Friendship Loneliness upon both positive wellbeing and symptoms of depression. To achieve this, 1782 (43% female; 12.92 years old at the start of the study, SD = 1.60) young people took part in a longitudinal study with four data points across 2 years. Four Isolation Loneliness trajectories and five Friendship Loneliness trajectories were identified. Youth who experienced low levels of Isolation Loneliness that subsequently increased appear to be at particular risk for poor outcomes. Similarly, initially high levels of Friendship Loneliness that decreased rapidly, or which began at a low level and only increased marginally, seem to also be a risk. Loneliness is a multi-dimensional construct and its development during adolescence impacts upon young people's depressive symptomatology and positive mental wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon C Hunter
- Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, Scotland, UK.
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Seth
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Stephen Houghton
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
- University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, Scotland, UK
| | - David Lawrence
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Corinne Zadow
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Michael Rosenberg
- University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Lisa Wood
- University of Notre Dame, 23 High Street, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Pamela Qualter
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, England, UK
| | - Trevor Shilton
- Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
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Hosozawa M, Ando S, Yamaguchi S, Yamasaki S, DeVylder J, Miyashita M, Endo K, Stanyon D, Knowles G, Nakanishi M, Usami S, Iso H, Furukawa TA, Hiraiwa-Hasegawa M, Kasai K, Nishida A. Sex Differences in Adolescent Depression Trajectory Before and Into the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 63:539-548. [PMID: 37805069 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health is mixed and does not disentangle natural age-related changes. We compared depressive symptoms among 16-year-olds surveyed, at a fourth wave, before or during the pandemic, while accounting for expected trajectories of within-person change based on 3 prior waves. METHOD In this longitudinal cohort of 3,171 adolescents in Tokyo, Japan, adolescents were grouped based on their age 16 survey timing: pre-pandemic (February 2019 to February 2020) and during-pandemic (March 2020 to September 2021). Depressive symptoms were self-reported using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Mixed-effect models were fitted to assess group differences while controlling for previous trends. Variations by sex, household income, and pandemic phase (early, late first-year, and second-year) were examined. RESULTS Of 2,034 eligible adolescents, 960 (455 girls) were assessed before and 1,074 (515 girls) during the pandemic. Overall, depressive symptoms increased by 0.80 points (95% CI 0.28-1.31, 0.15 SD of the population average). This increase varied by sex and pandemic phase. For boys the increase emerged in the late first-year phase and enlarged in the second-year phase (mean difference from pre-pandemic: 1.69, 0.14-3.24), whereas for girls it decreased in the early school-closure phase (mean difference: -1.98, -3.54 to -0.41) and returned to the pre-pandemic level thereafter, with no additional increases during the pandemic. CONCLUSION Into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms of 16-year-olds worsened above the expected age-related change only in boys. Continuous monitoring and preventive approaches for adolescents at the population level are warranted. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Hosozawa
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | | | - Syudo Yamasaki
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jordan DeVylder
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan; Fordham University, New York
| | | | - Kaori Endo
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel Stanyon
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gemma Knowles
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan; King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Miharu Nakanishi
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan; Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan; Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hiroyasu Iso
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Kiyoto Kasai
- The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nishida
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Lilja JL, Augustsson P, Praetorius Björk M, Marteinsdottir I, Craighead WE, Örn Arnarson E, Sveinsdottir G, Wikberg C. The protective effects of Swedish COVID-19 pandemic strategies on adolescents' mental health: a longitudinal cohort study. Scand J Public Health 2024; 52:354-359. [PMID: 38516905 DOI: 10.1177/14034948241238836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to investigate a cohort of Swedish eighth graders' mental health and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Participants were 157 eighth graders recruited in junior high schools during 2020 who completed a depression questionnaire and a survey about their psychosocial health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside a follow-up assessment in 2021. Analyses were conducted using latent change score and cross-lagged models. RESULTS Participants' depressive symptoms did not substantially increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of depressive symptoms in 2020 was significantly associated with participants' perceptions of the pandemic in 2020 and spring 2021. Participants with higher depression scores reported worse experiences of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The stable level of depressive symptoms among this cohort of eighth graders suggested that keeping schools open during a nationwide lockdown could mitigate some mental health consequences. Adolescents in this study with higher self-assessed depressive symptoms were more likely to experience increased depression after 6 months and had worse experiences during the pandemic than others. This suggests that the pandemic may not immediately affect mental well-being, but those at risk may be affected over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine L Lilja
- Research, Education, Development and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
- General Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Pia Augustsson
- Research, Education, Development and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
- General Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marcus Praetorius Björk
- Research, Education, Development and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
- General Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ina Marteinsdottir
- Department of Medicine and Optometry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - W Edward Craighead
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eiríkur Örn Arnarson
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Department of Psychiatry, Landspítali-University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Gudny Sveinsdottir
- Research, Education, Development and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carl Wikberg
- Research, Education, Development and Innovation, Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
- General Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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Yang X, Lawrence AJ, Harrison P, Liu Y, Chen L, Wang C, Yan C, Zahn R. Positive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:1551-1561. [PMID: 37486386 PMCID: PMC11098867 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02263-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The potential impact on mental health of home schooling and social isolation due to COVID-19 lockdowns has led to widespread concern, particularly for adolescents. However, studies including pre-pandemic data from longitudinal cohorts with an assessment of the longer-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic beyond the first months of 2020 are scarce. This longitudinal study of 1534 adolescents attending a secondary school in Hunan province investigated self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression using two validated scales (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, Child Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) at six time points before, during, and after the 2020 national lockdown restrictions in China. Perceived COVID-related stress was assessed by an author-developed scale at two timepoints during the lockdown. We investigated trends in symptoms over time with a fixed effects model and multiple imputations of missing data. Counter to our expectations, depressive and anxiety symptoms were reduced during the 2020 lockdown relative to pre-lockdown (depression: b = - 3.37, SE = 0.345, Cohen's d = - 0.25, p < 0.0001; anxiety: b = - 4.55, SE = 0.382, Cohen's d = - 0.30, p < 0.0001). Symptoms remained significantly reduced even after lockdown restrictions eased. Higher symptom levels during lockdown were associated with greater self-reported COVID-related stress (depression: b = 0.11, SE = 0.026, p < 0.0001; anxiety: b = 0.11, SE = 0.036, p < 0.0001). Although COVID-related stresses correlated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, the lockdown period was associated with improved symptom levels in the adolescents taking part in our study. School closures may have improved the mental health of adolescents in China. We speculate this beneficial effect of lockdown can be explained by the adverse effects of attending school itself such as exposure to bullying and achievement pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Yang
- Changning Mental Health Center, 299 Xiehe Road, Changning District, Shanghai, 200335, China.
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Phillippa Harrison
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yanlong Liu
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liangliang Chen
- Changning Mental Health Center, 299 Xiehe Road, Changning District, Shanghai, 200335, China
| | - Chenglei Wang
- Changning Mental Health Center, 299 Xiehe Road, Changning District, Shanghai, 200335, China
| | - Chao Yan
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Roland Zahn
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Zhao M, Xu X, Xu H, Yang S, Li M, Wang W. The regulation of social factors on anxiety and microglial activity in nucleus accumbens of adolescent male mice: Influence of social interaction strategy. J Affect Disord 2024; 352:525-535. [PMID: 38403135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a period characterized by a high vulnerability to emotional disorders, which are modulated by biological, psychological, and social factors. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. METHODS Combining physical or emotional social defeat stress (PS and ES) and pair or isolation rearing conditions, we investigated the effects of stress type and social support on emotional behavior and central immune molecules in adolescent mice, including anxiety, social fear, and social interaction strategies, as well as changes in microglia-specific molecules (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) and a cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b)) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus (HIP), amygdala (AMY), and nucleus accumbens (NAc). RESULTS Mice exposed to both physical stress and isolated rearing condition exhibited the highest levels of anxiety, social fear, and microglial CD11b expression in the NAc. In terms of social support, pair-housing with siblings ameliorated social fear and NAc molecular changes in ES mice, but not in PS mice. The reason for the differential benefit from social support was attributed to the fact that ES mice exhibited more active and less passive social strategies in social environment compared to PS mice. Further, the levels of stress-induced social fear were positively associated with the expression of microglial CD11b in the NAc. CONCLUSION These findings offer extensive evidence regarding the intricate effects of multiple social factors on social anxiety and immune alteration in the NAc of adolescent mice. Additionally, they suggest potential behavioral and immune intervention strategies for anxiety-related disorders in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueping Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, College of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuming Yang
- Division of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510062, China
| | - Man Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Weiwen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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36
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Bamps E, Achterhof R, Lafit G, Teixeira A, Akcaoglu Z, Hagemann N, Hermans KSFM, Hiekkaranta AP, Janssens JJ, Lecei A, Myin-Germeys I, Kirtley OJ. Changes in adolescents' daily-life solitary experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: an experience sampling study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1172. [PMID: 38671393 PMCID: PMC11046767 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18458-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent solitude was drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As solitude is crucial for adolescent development through its association with both positive and negative developmental outcomes, it is critical to understand how adolescents' daily-life solitary experiences changed as a result of the pandemic. METHODS Using three waves of Experience Sampling Method data from a longitudinal study, we compared adolescents' daily-life solitary experiences in the early (nT1=100; MAge=16.1; SDAge=1.9; 93% girls) and mid-pandemic (nT2=204; MAge=16.5; SDAge=2.0; 79% girls) to their pre-pandemic experiences. RESULTS We found that adolescents with lower levels of pre-pandemic social support and social skills reported wanting to be alone less and feeling like an outsider more at both time points during the pandemic. In the mid-pandemic wave, adolescents with higher levels of pre-pandemic social support and social skills reported decreases in positive affect compared to the pre-pandemic wave. CONCLUSION This study shows that adolescents' daily-life solitary experiences worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There should be continued concern for the wellbeing of all adolescents, not only those already at risk, as effects of the pandemic on mental health might only manifest later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bamps
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robin Achterhof
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Mandeville Building Room T15-10, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, The Netherlands.
| | - Ginette Lafit
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Group on Quantitative Psychology and Inaffiliationidual Differences, Faculty of Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102- bus 3713, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ana Teixeira
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zeynep Akcaoglu
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Noëmi Hagemann
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Group Adapted Physical Activity and Psychomotor Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101- bus 1500, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karlijn S F M Hermans
- Strategy and Academic Affairs, Administration and Central Services, Leiden University, 2300 RA, Leiden, PO Box 9500, The Netherlands
| | - Anu P Hiekkaranta
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julie J Janssens
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aleksandra Lecei
- Center for Clinical Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inez Myin-Germeys
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Olivia J Kirtley
- Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49- bus 1029, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Halstead I, Heron J, Svob C, Joinson C. Maternal religiosity and adolescent mental health: A UK prospective cohort study. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:158-164. [PMID: 38281597 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has examined associations between parental religiosity and offspring mental health, but findings are inconsistent, and few studies have focused on late adolescence when mental health problems are more common. This study examines the prospective relationship between maternal religiosity and offspring mental health in late adolescence. METHODS We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to examine the prospective association between latent classes of maternal religiosity (Highly Religious, Moderately Religious, Agnostic, Atheist) and self-reported mental health problems including common mental disorders, ICD 10 depression, depressive symptoms, generalised anxiety symptoms, self-harm acts, self-harm thoughts, and disordered eating outcomes at age 17-18 years (n = 7714). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal mental health, maternal adverse childhood experiences, and socioeconomic variables. RESULTS Compared with adolescent offspring of parents in the Agnostic class, offspring of the Atheist class had increased odds of depressive symptoms ((1.31[1.03,1.67]) and offspring of the Highly Religious class had increased odds of self-harm thoughts (1.43[1.04,1.97]). There was also weak evidence (95 % confidence intervals crossed the null) of increased odds of depression in the offspring of Moderately religious and Highly religious classes (1.26 [0.97,1.65], and 1.30 [0.99,1.70], respectively)) and self-harm acts in the offspring of the Highly religious class (1.31[0.98,1.74]). There was no evidence of associations with the disordered eating outcomes or generalised anxiety disorder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS We found evidence that adolescents whose mothers are Atheist, Moderately Religious, and Highly Religious are more likely to have depressive symptoms than those whose mothers are Agnostic. There was also evidence for an increased likelihood of self-harm (thoughts and acts) amongst adolescents of Highly Religious parents. Further research is needed to examine possible mechanisms that could explain these observed associations as well as a repetition of our analyses in a non-UK sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Halstead
- The Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Jon Heron
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Connie Svob
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA; Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carol Joinson
- The Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
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Hua Y, Jiang W, He Y, Zheng X, Huang C, Guo L, Guo Y, Guo L. Associations of recent stressful life events with anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents with a consideration of family functioning. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2337577. [PMID: 38597558 PMCID: PMC11008314 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2337577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The association between stressful life events (SLEs) and adolescent anxiety symptoms has been extensively studied, but the specific impacts of different SLEs domains remain inconclusive. Moreover, limited research has examined the role of family functioning in these associations.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the associations between various recent SLEs and adolescent anxiety symptoms and explore the role of family functioning.Methods: Data were obtained from the second phase of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescents' Mental and Behavioral Well-being Research in Guangzhou, China. A total of 10,985 students (51.9% boys; mean [SD] age, 15.3 [1.5] years) from forty middle schools participated in the study in 2022 and completed a self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms, SLEs, and family functioning using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Adolescent Self-rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC; including five subscales: interpersonal stress, academic stress, punishment-related stress, loss-related stress, and adaptation-related stress), and the adapted Chinese version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD), respectively. Linear mixed-effects models were performed and the moderation role of family functioning was also examined.Results: The fully adjusted model revealed that a 1-SD increase in the overall ASLEC score was associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms (β = 2.23, 95%CI: 2.15-2.32). Among various SLEs domains, the academic domain shows the most significant association (β = 2.25, 95%CI: 2.17-2.33). Family functioning exerted an independent protective influence on anxiety symptoms, with each 1-SD increase in FAD scores negatively associated with anxiety symptoms (β = -2.11, 95%CI: - 2.29 to - 1.93) in the adjusted model. Moreover, family functioning significantly buffered the impacts of overall SLEs and each domain, except for adaptation-related SLEs, on anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: Higher recent SLEs levels were associated with increased anxiety symptoms among adolescents, with academic SLEs showing the greatest association. Positive family functioning had both direct and buffering influences on anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Hua
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiqing Jiang
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yitong He
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Zheng
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cuihong Huang
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liling Guo
- Department of Prevention and Treatment of Common Diseases among Students, Health Promotion Center for Primary and Secondary Schools in Guangzhou, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangfeng Guo
- Department of Prevention and Treatment of Common Diseases among Students, Health Promotion Center for Primary and Secondary Schools in Guangzhou, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan Guo
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Li DC, Hinton EA, Guo J, Knight KA, Sequeira MK, Wynne ME, Dighe NM, Gourley SL. Social experience in adolescence shapes prefrontal cortex structure and function in adulthood. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02540-6. [PMID: 38580810 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02540-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) undergoes dramatic reorganization. PFC development is profoundly influenced by the social environment, disruptions to which may prime the emergence of psychopathology across the lifespan. We investigated the neurobehavioral consequences of isolation experienced in adolescence in mice, and in particular, the long-term consequences that were detectable even despite normalization of the social milieu. Isolation produced biases toward habit-like behavior at the expense of flexible goal seeking, plus anhedonic-like reward deficits. Behavioral phenomena were accompanied by neuronal dendritic spine over-abundance and hyper-excitability in the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC), which was necessary for the expression of isolation-induced habits and sufficient to trigger behavioral inflexibility in socially reared controls. Isolation activated cytoskeletal regulatory pathways otherwise suppressed during adolescence, such that repression of constituent elements prevented long-term isolation-induced neurosequelae. Altogether, our findings unveil an adolescent critical period and multi-model mechanism by which social experiences facilitate prefrontal cortical maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan C Li
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Hinton
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jidong Guo
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Michelle K Sequeira
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Meghan E Wynne
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Niharika M Dighe
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Dan Wu, Liu Y, Yang T. Pet ownership: A sign of superior socioeconomic position? Evidences from six cities in China. Prev Vet Med 2024; 225:106140. [PMID: 38350165 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of pet ownership and the relationship between pet ownership and people's socioeconomic positions examined at the individual, household, and regional levels among a large representative sample of residents in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among six cities in China, incorporating a total of 5782 male residents along with their families in the analysis. The multilevel logistic regression models were employed to determine associations between socioeconomic deprivation and pet ownership prevalence. Pet-keeping is common in China as about 21.6% (95% C.I. 18.4%-24.0%) of households in China owned pets. Male participants aged over 55 years (OR: 0.78, 95%C.I.0.66-0.98) and those who are married (OR: 0.79, 95%C.I. 0.65-0.97) exhibit a reduced likelihood of pet ownership when contrasted with individuals younger than 25 years and those who have never married. Participants originating from medium or large urban centers demonstrate a significantly elevated likelihood of pet ownership, with an odds ratio of 1.98 (95%C.I. 1.71-2.30), when compared to their rural counterparts. Households residing in areas with medium population density have a 1.73 (95%C.I. 1.21-2.19) times higher likelihood to own a pet compared to those in regions of low population density. Elevated levels of socioeconomic deprivation, both at home and regionally, are associated with a substantially reduced probability of pet ownership. This study provides concrete evidence to the prevalence of pet ownership and its demographic distribution in China. These findings suggest that keeping pets might be more available to people with higher socioeconomic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- School of Psychology/ Shenzhen Humanities & Social Sciences Key Research Bases of the Center for Mental Health, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tingzhong Yang
- Women' s Hospital/Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China.
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Zhang L, Ren T, He H, Huang L, Huang R, Xu Y, Zhou L, Tan H, Chen J, Wu D, Yang H, Zhang H, Yu J, Du X, Dai Y, Pu Y, Li C, Wang X, Shi S, Sahakian BJ, Luo Q, Li F. Protective factors for children with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19-related strict lockdowns: a Shanghai autism early developmental cohort study. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1102-1112. [PMID: 37997447 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 lockdowns increased the risk of mental health problems, especially for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, despite its importance, little is known about the protective factors for ASD children during the lockdowns. METHODS Based on the Shanghai Autism Early Developmental Cohort, 188 ASD children with two visits before and after the strict Omicron lockdown were included; 85 children were lockdown-free, while 52 and 51 children were under the longer and the shorter durations of strict lockdown, respectively. We tested the association of the lockdown group with the clinical improvement and also the modulation effects of parent/family-related factors on this association by linear regression/mixed-effect models. Within the social brain structures, we examined the voxel-wise interaction between the grey matter volume and the identified modulation effects. RESULTS Compared with the lockdown-free group, the ASD children experienced the longer duration of strict lockdown had less clinical improvement (β = 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.19-0.79], p = 0.001) and this difference was greatest for social cognition (2.62 [0.94-4.30], p = 0.002). We found that this association was modulated by parental agreeableness in a protective way (-0.11 [-0.17 to -0.05], p = 0.002). This protective effect was enhanced in the ASD children with larger grey matter volumes in the brain's mentalizing network, including the temporal pole, the medial superior frontal gyrus, and the superior temporal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal neuroimaging cohort study identified that the parental agreeableness interacting with the ASD children's social brain development reduced the negative impact on clinical symptoms during the strict lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tai Ren
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua He
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Like Huang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Runqi Huang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixiang Xu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Hangyu Tan
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danping Wu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanshu Yang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haotian Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Juehua Yu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Center for Experimental Studies and Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiujuan Du
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Dai
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwei Pu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunbo Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shenxun Shi
- Psychiatry Department of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Qiang Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institutes of Brain Science and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Lamash L, Fogel Y, Hen-Herbst L. Adolescents' social interaction skills on social media versus in person and the correlations to well-being. J Adolesc 2024; 96:501-511. [PMID: 37690068 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION High-quality social interactions with peers could protect adolescents' mental health, resilience, and well-being. Assessing their social interaction skills (SIS) is essential to enhancing them. However, few instruments provide information about SIS in in-person and social media environments. The SIS Questionnaire (SISQ) was developed to fill this gap, spotlighting adolescents' viewpoints on SIS in both environments. This study aimed to describe the SISQ development and psychometric properties, differences in adolescents' SIS in both environments, and relationships between the adolescents' SIS and subjective well-being. METHODS A total of 214 typically developed adolescents aged 12-18 (M = 15.3 years, SD = 1.77; 61.2% girls) completed online questionnaires (demographic, SISQ, and Five Well-Being Index). We used exploratory factor analysis for construct validity, Cronbach's alpha for internal reliability, t-tests for differences in SIS, Cohen's d for effect sizes, and Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression for relationships between SIS and well-being. RESULTS The SISQ has content validity and a monofactorial scale construct validity with very good internal reliability. Participants rated their in-person SIS significantly higher than on social media, t(213) = -5.24, p < 0.001, d = 0.36, and the in-person environment as more important, t(213) = -11.57, p < 0.001, d = 0.79, than the social media environment. A significant correlation was found between both in-person SIS (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and social media (r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and well-being. CONCLUSION The SISQ is a valid, reliable tool for assessing adolescents' SIS, essential to promoting these skills in this unique environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liron Lamash
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yael Fogel
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Liat Hen-Herbst
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Saylan E, Soyyiğit V. Body image among adolescents: what is its relationship with rejection sensitivity and self-efficacy? Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 29:479-492. [PMID: 37421237 DOI: 10.1177/13591045231188411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
One of the significant development tasks of the adolescence period steps forth as the satisfaction and acceptance of one's own body. In the meantime, this period distinguishes by the adolescent's intensive need for approval and acceptance by their peers and adults. When adolescents are not accepted or rejected, they may encounter some difficulties. In this context, this study aimed at determining the relationship between body image, rejection sensitivity and self-efficacy among adolescents. The study was carried out based on the correlational design the study group consists of 749 adolescents. The measurement tools were administered to the students who were divided into groups according to grade level by the researchers. Based on the obtained data, a significant negative relationship was identified between body image and self-efficacy while a significant positive relationship was detected between body image and rejection sensitivity. Besides, it was found that body image among adolescents was predicted by rejection sensitivity and self-efficacy. Finally, it was determined that while the interaction effect of gender and self-efficacy on body image was significant, the interaction effect of gender and rejection sensitivity was not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Saylan
- Department of Educational Sciences, Program of Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Faculty of Education, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey
| | - Vesile Soyyiğit
- Department of Educational Sciences, Program of Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Fatih Faculty of Education, Trabzon University, Trabzon, Turkey
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Kirchner R, Rosenkranz R, Sousa BG, Li SC, Altinsoy ME. Phantom Illusion Based Vibrotactile Rendering of Affective Touch Patterns. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HAPTICS 2024; 17:202-215. [PMID: 37713219 DOI: 10.1109/toh.2023.3315964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Physically accurate (authentic) reproduction of affective touch patterns on the forearm is limited by actuator technology. However, in most VR applications a direct comparison with actual touch is not possible. Here, the plausibility is only compared to the user's expectation. Focusing on the approach of plausible instead of authentic touch reproduction enables new rendering techniques, like the utilization of the phantom illusion to create the sensation of moving vibrations. Following this idea, a haptic armband array (4x2 vibrational actuators) was built to investigate the possibilities of recreating plausible affective touch patterns with vibration. The novel aspect of this work is the approach of touch reproduction with a parameterized rendering strategy, enabling the integration in VR. A first user study evaluates suitable parameter ranges for vibrational touch rendering. Duration of vibration and signal shape influence plausibility the most. A second user study found high plausibility ratings in a multimodal scenario and confirmed the expressiveness of the system. Rendering device and strategy are suitable for a various stroking patterns and applicable for emerging research on social affective touch reproduction.
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Stea TH, Bonsaksen T, Smith P, Kleppang AL, Steigen AM, Leonhardt M, Lien L, Vettore MV. Are social pressure, bullying and low social support associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm and self-directed violence among adolescents? A cross-sectional study using a structural equation modeling approach. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:239. [PMID: 38553669 PMCID: PMC10981317 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05696-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More in-depth evidence about the complex relationships between different risk factors and mental health among adolescents has been warranted. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of experiencing social pressure, bullying, and low social support on mental health problems in adolescence. METHODS A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 15 823 Norwegian adolescents, aged 13-19 years. Structural Equation Modelling was used to assess the relationships between socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying, social support, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts. RESULTS Poor family economy and low parental education were associated with high pressure, low parental support and depressive symptoms in males and females. Moreover, poor family economy was associated with bullying perpetration and bullying victimization among males and females, and cyberbullying victimization among females, but not males. Low parental education was associated with bullying victimization among males, but not females. Further, high social pressure was associated with depressive symptoms among males and females, whereas high social pressure was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization were associated with depressive symptoms, self-harm, and suicide thoughts among males and females. Bullying victimization was associated with depressive symptoms among males, but not females, whereas bullying perpetration was linked to self-harm and suicide thoughts among females, but not males. Low parental support was associated with bullying perpetration, bullying victimization, depressive symptoms, self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low parental support was associated with high social pressure among females, but not males. Low teacher support was associated with high social pressure and depressive symptoms. Low support from friends was associated with bullying victimization, depressive symptoms and suicide thoughts among males and females, whereas low support from friends was linked to self-harm among males, but not females. Finally, results showed that depressive symptoms were associated with self-harm and suicide thoughts among males and females. CONCLUSION Low socioeconomic status, social pressure, bullying and low social support were directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and self-directed violence among Norwegian adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonje Holte Stea
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.
| | - Tore Bonsaksen
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
- Department of Health, VID Specialized University, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Pierre Smith
- Health information service. Epidemiology and public health. Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Health and Society, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annette Løvheim Kleppang
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Anne Mari Steigen
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Marja Leonhardt
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Lars Lien
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
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McNaughton KA, Moss A, Yarger HA, Redcay E. Smiling synchronization predicts interaction enjoyment in peer dyads of autistic and neurotypical youth. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024:13623613241238269. [PMID: 38497277 DOI: 10.1177/13623613241238269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT For autistic and neurotypical youth, having positive social interactions with other youth is an important part of well-being. Other researchers have found that one factor that can make people feel like social interactions have gone well is synchronization. Synchronization happens when peoples' body movements and facial expressions align while they're interacting. We focus on smiling synchronization here because other studies have found that when neurotypical individuals synchronize their smiles more in a social interaction, they say they enjoy that social interaction more. However, no studies have directly tested whether smiling synchrony influences social interaction enjoyment in autistic and neurotypical youth. We measured smiling synchrony in pairs of interacting autistic and neurotypical youth who were meeting each other for the first time. Some pairs were autistic youth interacting with other autistic youth (autistic with autistic participant pairs), some pairs were autistic youth interacting with neurotypical youth (autistic with neurotypical participant pairs), and other pairs were neurotypical youth interacting with neurotypical youth (neurotypical with neurotypical participant pairs). We found that autistic with neurotypical participant pairs had lower smiling synchrony than neurotypical with neurotypical participant pairs. Youth who were in dyads that had more smiling synchrony said they enjoyed interacting with their partner more and that they wanted to interact with their partner again. Our research shows that smiling synchrony is one part of interactions between autistic and neurotypical youth that influences how well youth say the interaction went. Identifying natural opportunities for autistic and neurotypical youth to share positive feelings could be one way to promote positive social interactions between autistic and neurotypical youth.
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Pavarini G, Reardon T, Mawdsley G, Singh I. Online peer-led intervention to improve adolescent wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled trial. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:36. [PMID: 38500188 PMCID: PMC10949785 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00723-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have posed a major risk to young people's wellbeing, which might be ameliorated by peer-led programmes. Using a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN77941736 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN77941736 ), we tested the short-term efficacy of an online peer-led intervention designed to equip young people with skills to support their mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Through schools and social media ads, we recruited one hundred young people (aged 16-18) in the UK, focusing on areas with the highest incidence of COVID cases. In December 2020, participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to immediate 5 day Coping during COVID course (n = 49) or a wait-list (n = 51) through a survey software automated randomisation tool. Our primary outcome was self-reported mental wellbeing, and secondary outcomes included self-reported social connectedness, coping skills, sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-compassion. We also collected qualitative reports of participants' perceived impact of the course and intentions to use what they have learnt from the course in their life moving forward. Assessments were completed at baseline, 1 week post randomisation (primary endpoint), and 2-weeks post-randomisation. RESULTS Young people allocated to the peer-led intervention reported significantly greater wellbeing, social connectedness, coping skills, sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-compassion 1 week and 2 weeks post-randomisation (medium-large effect sizes). Specific benefits to mental health, sense of purpose and connectedness were also emphasised in qualitative reports. CONCLUSIONS An online, peer-led intervention targeting youth wellbeing during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic brought benefits across a range of outcomes, suggesting that structured programmes that incorporate peer-to-peer support can be a valuable approach to promote young people's wellbeing and foster psychological resources during a health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Pavarini
- Ethox Centre, Oxford Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX37LF, UK.
| | - Tessa Reardon
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Ilina Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Lahti H, Kulmala M, Lyyra N, Mietola V, Paakkari L. Problematic situations related to social media use and competencies to prevent them: results of a Delphi study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5275. [PMID: 38438460 PMCID: PMC10912411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A three-round Delphi method was used to study the problematic situations that adolescents may encounter when using the social media, and the competencies needed to address these situations. A panel of Finnish experts (N = 22) provided an open-ended list of problematic situations and competencies in 2020-2021. These were then evaluated and ranked according to their significance. The experts provided an information-rich list of both problematic situations and competencies. Finally, 16 problematic situations and 19 competencies were ranked in order of importance by the experts. The most important problematic situations were direct and indirect cyberbullying and sexual harassment. The most important competencies were the ability to act responsibly, knowing what kinds of activity are prohibited, and knowing whom to contact on exposure to cyberbullying or harassment. The findings can be used in developing policies, recommendations, and solutions aimed at counteracting the harmful effects of social media on wellbeing during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Lahti
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - M Kulmala
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - N Lyyra
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - V Mietola
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - L Paakkari
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (L), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Abstract
There has been a subjective increase in the number of patients presenting for tonsil stones to our pediatric otolaryngology clinic. This may be related to frequent viewing of videos on the social media application, TikTok, pertaining to tonsil stones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Sulibhavi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Glenn Isaacson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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50
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Ferrara E, Lee H, Guarecuco JS, Somekh MR, Hirsch E, Keesey R, Cham H, Hoyt LT, Roy AK. Novel Assessment of the Impact of Irritability on Physiological and Psychological Frustration Responses in Adolescents. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2024; 53:216-230. [PMID: 38236707 PMCID: PMC11043015 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2301753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Irritability, typically defined as a proneness to anger, particularly in response to frustration, falls at the intersection of emotion and disruptive behavior. Despite well-defined translational models, there are few convergent findings regarding the pathophysiology of irritability. Most studies utilize computer-based tasks to examine neural responses to frustration, with little work examining stress-related responding to frustration in social contexts. The present study is the first to utilize the novel Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS-A) to examine associations between adolescent irritability and psychological and physiological responses to frustration. METHOD The FSS-A was completed by a predominantly male, racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse sample of 64 12- to 17-year-olds, who were originally recruited as children with varying levels of irritability. Current irritability was assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles-Temper Loss scale (MAP-TL-Youth). Adolescents rated state anger and anxiety before and after the FSS-A, and usable salivary cortisol data were collected from 43 participants. RESULTS Higher MAP-TL-Youth scores were associated with greater increases in anger during the FSS-A, but not increases in anxiety, or alterations in cortisol. Pre-task state anger negatively predicted the slope of the rise in cortisol observed in anticipation of the FSS-A. CONCLUSIONS Results provide support for unique associations between adolescent irritability and anger during, and in anticipation of, frustrating social interactions. Such findings lay a foundation for future work aimed at informing physiological models and intervention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Ferrara
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
| | - Hyunjung Lee
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
| | | | | | - Emily Hirsch
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
| | - Rodolfo Keesey
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
| | - Heining Cham
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
| | | | - Amy Krain Roy
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
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