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Zegarra-López AC, Luna-Victoria G, Romero-Montenegro D, Florentino-Santisteban B, Prieto-Molinari DE, Montoya-Cuadrao M. Prevalence and Predictors of Somatization in Peruvian Undergraduate Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15576. [PMID: 36497651 PMCID: PMC9739199 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on mental health. Multiple studies report the alarming prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions due to the lockdown measures. Nevertheless, somatization has been an overlooked topic in current literature despite its strong relationship with most mental health conditions. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of somatic symptoms and their associated factors in a sample of 3218 undergraduate students from Lima, Peru. A cross-sectional design was carried out. The prevalence of somatic symptoms was measured with the PHQ-15. As predictors of somatic symptom severity, we included psychopathological (depression, anxiety, and stress), psychological (perceived social support, resilience, satisfaction with life, and academic self-efficacy), and sociodemographic (e.g., age, sex, employment status, relationship status, daily hours of sleep) variables. A generalized linear model from a binomial family and a logit link function were applied based on a Factor Score Regression approach, with half of the sample presenting moderate-to-severe somatic symptoms. Anxiety was the strongest predictor of somatic symptom severity, followed by academic self-efficacy. Significant differences were found regarding sex, relationship status, daily hours of sleep and COVID-19 risk-related variables. In conclusion, interventions on reducing anxiety and promoting academic self-efficacy may have a stronger impact on somatic symptom severity and should focus on more vulnerable specific demographic groups such as females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Christopher Zegarra-López
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru
- Grupo de Investigación en Psicología, Bienestar y Sociedad, Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru
| | | | | | | | - Diego Eduardo Prieto-Molinari
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru
- Grupo de Investigación en Psicología, Bienestar y Sociedad, Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad de Lima, Lima 15023, Peru
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Wong JYH, Choi EPH, Lo HHM, Wong W, Chio JHM, Choi AWM, Fong DYT. Intimate Partner Sexual Violence and Mental Health Indicators Among Chinese Emerging Adults. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:NP10229-NP10254. [PMID: 31478438 DOI: 10.1177/0886260519872985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) among emerging adults, including heterosexuals and sexual minorities in the Chinese population, is poorly understood. Focusing on college students, the objectives of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of IPSV among Chinese emerging adults, examine the association between sexual orientation and IPSV, and evaluate the mental health and quality of life of survivors of IPSV. Data were collected from four university campuses in Hong Kong. A total of 1,015 participants were included in the data analysis. The prevalence of IPSV as identified by Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)-2 was 12.1%. There was no gender difference in the prevalence of IPSV. Multiple logistic regression found that being older; having experienced childhood sexual abuse and having a smoking habit; and belonging to a sexual minority were factors associated with IPSV. Multiple linear regression found that IPSV survivors were more likely to have higher levels of anxiety and depression, more severe psychosomatic symptoms, and poorer quality of life in three domains: psychological, social relationships, and environment when compared with those without IPSV experience. The documented factors underscored the importance of awareness that men and sexual minorities might incur IPSV, which should receive more attention in IPSV prevention programs. Also, interventions for IPSV survivors should be targeted at improving their mental health and quality of life and sex education should place more emphasis on sexual consent and sexual health in dating relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wendy Wong
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Cheong Poon AW, Cassaniti M, Sapucci M, Ow R. Wellbeing and experiences of Chinese and Vietnamese carers of people with mental illness in Australia. Transcult Psychiatry 2021; 58:351-364. [PMID: 32969331 DOI: 10.1177/1363461520952629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many studies show that carers of people with mental illness experience a negative impact on their wellbeing. Given the growing number of people relocating to Australia every year, there are limited studies examining the experience of carers of people with mental illness from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia. Using cultural safety as a conceptual framework, this exploratory study recruited 14 carers of Chinese and Vietnamese heritage who were attending culturally and linguistically oriented support groups in Sydney, Australia. Standardised, validated scales were administered to measure carers' wellbeing and knowledge of recovery. Structured interviews were conducted to understand carers' perceived needs. Descriptive statistical and qualitative thematic analysis were used. Findings show that carers experienced social isolation and psychological distress, had multiple diverse needs and had a reasonably good understanding of recovery. Six themes were identified: i) obtaining information in own language; ii) attaining emotional support from support groups; iii) needing respite services to cope with caregiving responsibilities; iv) involvement in planning of treatment and care; v) migration process influencing caregiving, and; vi) cultural and transcultural factors influencing caregiving experience. Findings indicate that some carers might be experiencing some level of culturally unsafe practices in mainstream mental health services. Implications for support groups and mental health services are discussed.
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Hui VKY, Wong CYF, Ma EKY, Ho FYY, Chan CS. Treating depression with a smartphone-delivered self-help cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: study protocol for a parallel group randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:843. [PMID: 33036655 PMCID: PMC7545384 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04778-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depression is a major public health concern. Emerging research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is effective in treating individuals with comorbid insomnia and depression. Traditional face-to-face CBT-I encounters many obstacles related to feasibility, accessibility, and help-seeking stigma. CBT-I delivered via smartphone application could be a potential solution. This paper reports a protocol designed to evaluate the efficacy of a self-help smartphone-based CBT-I, using a waitlist group as control, for people with major depression and insomnia. Methods A two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial is conducted in a target sample of 285 non-suicidal Hong Kong Chinese older than 17 years of age with major depression and insomnia. Participants complete an online rapid screening, followed by a telephone diagnostic interview. Those who meet the eligibility criteria are randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to receive either CBT-I immediately or to a waitlist control condition. The CBT-I consists of six weekly modules and is delivered through a smartphone application proACT-S. This smartphone app has been pilot tested and revamped to improve user experience. An online randomized algorithm is used to perform randomization to ensure allocation concealment. The primary outcomes are changes over the measurement points in sleep quality, insomnia severity, and depression severity. The secondary outcomes include changes over the measurement points in anxiety, subjective health, treatment expectancy, and acceptability of treatment. Assessments are administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-week follow-up. The recruitment is completed. Important adverse events, if any, are documented. Multilevel linear mixed model based on intention-to-treat principle will be conducted to examine the efficacy of the CBT-I intervention. Discussion It is expected that proACT-S is an efficacious brief sleep-focused self-help treatment for people with major depression and insomnia. If proven efficacious, due to its self-help nature, proACT-S may be applicable as a community-based early intervention, thereby reducing the burden of the public healthcare system in Hong Kong. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04228146. Retrospectively registered on 14 January 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Ka-Ying Hui
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Christy Yim-Fan Wong
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Ka-Yiu Ma
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
| | - Fiona Yan-Yee Ho
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Christian S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
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Yeshua M, Zohar AH, Berkovich L. "Silence! The body is speaking" - a correlational study of personality, perfectionism, and self-compassion as risk and protective factors for psychosomatic symptoms distress. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2018; 24:229-240. [PMID: 30427205 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1546016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined the role of personality traits on psychosomatic distress (PD) and tested the hypothesis that the association between perfectionism and PD would be moderated by self-compassion. One hundred and seventy-three community volunteers, of whom 24.9% were men, mean age 31.52 ± 13.29, reported online on the DS14, a measure of Type D personality, on the TCI-140, a measure of temperament and character, on the Frost multidimensional perfectionism scale, on the short form of the self-compassion scale and on the SOMS-7 for psychosomatic symptoms. We defined psychosomatic distress as the product of the symptom count and severity rating score of the SOMS-7. The hierarchical linear regression model that included all the personality variables as well as the interaction term between self-compassion and perfectionism accounted for 25% of the variance in PD. The interaction between perfectionism and self-compassion entered into the model in the last block was highly protective. High self-compassion moderated the effect of perfectionism on PD. Our finding correspond with the notion that personality can enhance PD but can also mitigate it. Protective personality traits, such as self-compassion, might be good targets for psychological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maor Yeshua
- a Department of Behavioral Sciences , Ruppin Academic Center , Emek Hefer , Israel
| | - Ada H Zohar
- a Department of Behavioral Sciences , Ruppin Academic Center , Emek Hefer , Israel.,b Clinical Psychology Graduate Program , Ruppin Academic Center , Emek Hefer , Israel
| | - Lee Berkovich
- a Department of Behavioral Sciences , Ruppin Academic Center , Emek Hefer , Israel
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Ifeagwazi CM, Egberi HE, Chukwuorji JC. Emotional reactivity and blood pressure elevations: anxiety as a mediator. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2017; 23:585-592. [PMID: 29105504 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2017.1400670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
There is a strong link between emotional reactivity and hypertension, yet little research to date has examined mediators of this relationship. Ourstudy investigated the mediating roleof anxiety on the relationship between emotional reactivity and blood pressure elevations. Participants were226 hypertensive patients (93 men and 133 women, Mean age = 53.09, SD = 13.88 years), purposivelydrawn from the General Outpatient Department in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, , Nigeria. . Measures for data collection were Emotional Reactivity Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Mercury Sphygmomanometer. Hayes PROCESS macro for SPSS which uses a regression-based, path-analytical framework, was employed in analysing the data. Results showed that emotional reactivity was positively associated with blood pressure elevations. Anxiety was positively associated with blood pressure elevations. Anxiety also fully mediated the relationship between emotional reactivity and blood pressure elevations, even after adjusting for the control variables (e.g., age, family history of hypertension, and educational status). The finding suggests that being less emotionally reactive is associated with a decrease in disabling influences of anxiety, thereby contributing to lower levels of mean arterial blood pressure. The findings may be helpful in improving prevention, control and management of hypertension in healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Eleh Egberi
- a Department of Psychology , University of Nigeria , Nsukka , Nigeria
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Mental health and health-related quality of life of Chinese college students who were the victims of dating violence. Qual Life Res 2016; 26:945-957. [PMID: 27660071 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-016-1413-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the study is to evaluate the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Chinese college students who were the victims of dating violence. METHODS Six hundred and fifty-two subjects were included in the data analysis. Subjects completed a structured questionnaire containing the Woman Abuse Screening tool, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the 10-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS Analysis by independent t test suggested that victims of dating violence had more severe depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms and poorer HRQOL than non-victims. Multiple linear regression models found that more severe dating violence victimization was associated with more severe depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms. The mediation analysis found that after simultaneously controlling for the degree of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, the direct effect between dating violence severity and HRQOL, as measured by overall HRQOL and the global health, physical and environment domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, was statistically insignificant, supporting a full-mediation model. The relationship between dating violence severity and the social domain of HRQOL was partially mediated by the degree of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms. CONCLUSION Victims of dating violence had poorer mental health and HRQOL than non-victims. The study findings affirm the importance of assessing depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms in victims and the need to improve their depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms to diminish the negative effects of dating violence, which are apparent in their HRQOL.
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The Mediating Role of Mental Adjustment in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Hematological Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142913. [PMID: 26587991 PMCID: PMC4666411 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depression is a particularly common psychological disorder that affects cancer patients. Diagnosed with hematological malignancies constitute a serious unpredictable and uncontrollable medical stress situation and patients are susceptible to suffer from depressive symptoms. The aims of the study were to explore the correlation between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in patients with hematological malignancies, and assess the mediating role of mental adjustment between these variables. Methods A single center, cross-sectional study was performed by convenience sampling between July 2013 and April 2014 in a hospital of China. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Mini-Mental Adjustment Scale, as well as questions about demographic and clinical factors was distributed to 300 hematological cancer patients. Completed questionnaires were received from 227 inpatients. Results The results showed that perceived stress was positively correlated with depressive symptoms. The mental adjustment significantly mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Among hematological cancer patients perceived stress may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms, whereas positive coping style might be protective against depressive symptoms. Results showed that medical managers could support the development of mental adjustment in the patients to alleviate psychological disorders.
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Anxiety and insomnia as modifiable risk factors for somatic symptoms in Chinese: a general population-based study. Qual Life Res 2015; 24:2493-8. [PMID: 25860657 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-0984-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims at investigating the stressors that increased the risk of somatic symptoms in the general Chinese population. METHODS Chinese participants (n = 202) were recruited in a population-based household survey. Somatic symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15, while potential stressors that increased the risk of somatic symptoms were measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index and ENRICHD Social Support Instrument. RESULTS Structured multiphase regression modeling showed that female gender (estimated coefficient = 1.47, 95 % CI .7-2.24, p < .001), history of childhood adversities (estimated coefficient = .41, 95 % CI .06-.76, p = .023), employed (estimated coefficient = .87, 95 % CI .003-1.74, p = .049), a high level of anxiety (estimated coefficient = .26, 95 % CI .17-.36, p < .001) and severe insomnia (estimated coefficient = .11, 95 % CI .04-.18, p = .003) are significant stressors for increasing the risks of somatic symptoms in the Chinese population. CONCLUSION Physical and psychological symptoms are intertwined. It was recommended that reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality would be helpful to reduce somatic symptoms. These findings help in early identification and treatment of Chinese adults with persisting somatization.
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