Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health

Association of different emotional support status with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that emotional status affect physical health. We aimed to investigate the association of different emotional support sources with morbidity or mortality of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective-cohort analysis using data in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004. 6183 participants were included and categorized into significant others support group (SOG, n = 2999) and experientially similar others support group (ESG, n = 3184) according to self-report questionnaire. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to eliminate group difference. Pearson's Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and generalized linear model were used to calculate and estimate associations between mortality, CVDs morbidity and emotional support sources.

RESULTS

Participants receiving more support from experientially similar others had significant lower morbidity of myocardial infarction (MI, OR = 0.86) and all-cause mortality (OR = 0.81) after PSM compared to SOG. Subgroup analysis after PSM also showed that more emotional support from experientially similar others can significantly reduce all-cause mortality, especially in women and people over 60 years old.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective-cohort analysis and limited sample size.

CONCLUSION

Compared with participants receiving more emotional support from family members, receiving more emotional support from other relative, neighbors, co-workers, church and club members, professionals and friends significantly reduced all-cause mortality as well as MI morbidity.

The impact of sexual abuse in childhood on adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury behavior: A moderated mediation model

OBJECTIVE

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a well-established risk factor for a range of psychological and behavioral issues, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), making it a critical area of research for understanding adolescent mental health. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms underlying their relationship remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to explore the relationship between CSA and NSSI behavior, as well as the mediating role of social avoidance and the moderating role of perceived family support.

METHOD

1737 Chinese adolescents with a mean age of 14.86 years (SD = 1.65) from hospitals' psychiatric departments in nine provinces of China were recruited to complete surveys on CSA experiences, NSSI behavior, and social support.

RESULTS

The results suggested that the effect of CSA on adolescent NSSI behavior was mediated by social avoidance, and the effect of CSA on social avoidance and NSSI behavior varied by the level of perceived family support. CSA led to social avoidance and increased risk for NSSI behavior. Higher levels of perceived family support had a protective effect, which reduced the motives of social avoidance and NSSI behavior.

CONCLUSION

These findings revealed the risk of CSA and emphasized the role of social avoidance as an NSSI motive and the protective role of perceived family support for adolescents experiencing CSA. The clinical implications emphasize the need for interventions targeting family support and alternative coping strategies in the Chinese context. Additionally, future research should explore the complexity of intra- and extra-familial abuse and the roles of peer and professional support.

Technology for sustainable living: The impact of digital inclusion on the health of China's elderly living alone

Enhancing elderly health has become an important measure for coping with population ageing and building a healthy China. Among them, older adults living alone seem to suffer from greater loneliness and psychological stress. We analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015, 2018, and 2020, and carried out an empirical investigation into the impact of digital inclusion on the health of elderly individuals living alone, using two-way fixed effects models and two-stage least squares. The findings suggest that digital inclusion could positively impact the health of older people living alone. Specifically, for a one-standard-deviation increase in digital inclusion, the depression scale score decreases by 0.48 (α = -0.21, p < 0.01); the cognitive function score increases by 0.27(α = 0.12, p < 0.01); the instrumental activities of daily living score would decrease by 0.11 (α = -0.05, p < 0.01). An increase of 1 in the digital inclusion score decreases the self-rated health score by 0.02 (α = -0.02, p < 0.01). It can significantly enhance the health status of elderly people who live alone through mechanisms of improving life satisfaction, increasing the utilization of preventive health care services, and promoting social participation. Subsequent analyses identified varying effects of digital inclusion on older adults living alone, influenced by their income and education levels. In particular, digital inclusion substantially enhanced instrument activities of daily living among the aged who lived alone and with higher income and educational backgrounds. However it had no significant effect on older people living alone with lower incomes and educational backgrounds. The insights from this study could be invaluable for policymakers in promoting broader adoption of digital technologies among older adults living alone.

Longitudinal analysis of lifetime stressors and depression: Exploring intersectionality and tailoring social support for better mental health in a community population cohort

AIMS

Health inequalities studies need to understand how individuals simultaneously defined by several socioeconomic factors differ from others when facing a series of stressors across the lifespan in the risk of major depression (MD). Theoretical efforts, as well as empirical studies, have suggested a pertinent role of social support in mental health outcomes. However, little is known about which forms of social support would alleviate the negative impact of MD vulnerability in self-rated mental health (SRMH) across different socioeconomic groups. We investigated 1) differential associations between lifetime stressors and MD across social groups and 2) explored diverse social support forms mediating the associations between MD vulnerability and SRMH.

METHODS

Data analyzed were from a large longitudinal population-based cohort. Multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy was used to articulate MD vulnerability in different social groups defined by ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). Genetic predispositions were also included in the modeling process. These social groups were then regrouped based on their vulnerability level of MD. Mediation analyses were then applied to identify which social support forms mediate the effect of MD vulnerability on SRMH.

RESULTS

Higher levels of stressors were associated with higher risks of MD, and their associations varied by different social groups. The social groups (White men with medium SES or White women with high SES) had the lowest predicted incidence of MD, whereas White women with low SES reported the highest predicted incidence of MD. Two social support forms (guidance and opportunity for nurturance) significantly mediated the indirect paths between MD vulnerability and SRMH.

CONCLUSIONS

By applying an intersectional lens, the present study provides a novel quantitative instrument for documenting the associations of stress and depression in various social identities. The findings of the study suggest more focused intervention programs and strategies for risk reduction should focus on identified characteristics and pay particular attention to the combined effect of lifetime stressors and discovered social identities.

Examining maternal social perceptions and stress responses during pregnancy

Pregnant women are sensitive to the emotions and cues present in social interactions. They may exhibit heightened stress responses when support is lacking in a harmonious environment. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction of family harmony and social support and its association with stress responses among pregnant women. A total of 556 pregnant women were recruited to participate in this study. Psychological stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 (PSS-10). We assessed their perceived levels of family harmony (Family Harmony Scale-5: FHS-5) and social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; MSPSS). They also provided blood samples for measurement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a marker of inflammation. Moderation analysis was conducted with estimation of regression coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals. After adjusting for covariates, the interaction of family harmony and social support in association with IL-6 levels was significant (β = -0.23, p = .045); however, its association with psychological stress was not significant. Specifically, the lack of support within a harmonious family environment was linked to elevated levels of IL-6 in pregnant women (β = 0.26, p = .023). Social interactions lacking supportive gestures have the potential to exacerbate inflammatory responses in pregnant women. Findings underscore the importance of supportive social interactions in promoting the mental well-being of pregnant women.

Processes and Manifestations of Digital Resilience: Video and Textual Insights From Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Minority stressors harm sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). This may be mitigated by promotive and protective factors and processes that manifest resilient coping. SGMY increasingly interact with information communication technologies (ICTs) to meet psychological needs, yet research often problematizes youths' ICT use, inhibiting understanding about ICTs' potential resilience-enhancing utilities. This study analyzes text and video responses of 609 SGMY aged 14 to 29 residing in Canada or the United States to an open-ended survey question about the benefits of using ICTs. Constructivist grounded theory integrating multimodal coding was used to analyze the data, producing a framework of digital resilience-digital processes and actions that generate positive growth-with four themes: Regulating Emotions and Curating Microsystems; Learning and Integrating; Advocating and Leading; and Cultivating Relationships and Communities of Care. Implications for clinical practice, survey innovation, and application of findings in fostering affirming digital microsystems for SGMY are discussed.

Effect of insomnia on anxiety and depression: Mediation of cognitive failures and moderated mediation of neuroticism

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has had an ongoing impact on the public's mental health that requires long-term attention. Exploring the relationship between mental health indicators would aid in identifying solutions to improve public mental health.

AIM

To investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia and explore the relationship among neuroticism, cognitive failures, and mental health.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in December 2023 using an online platform to recruit adult participants. The neuroticism, subjective cognitive function, and mental health of the participants were assessed using the neuroticism subscale of the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, cognitive failures questionnaire, generalized anxiety disorder-7, patient health questionnaire-9, and insomnia severity index. Pearson's correlation analysis, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and structural equation model were used to examine the relationship between mental health indicators.

RESULTS

A total of 1011 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 343 were completed by male (33.93%) respondents and 668 were completed by female (66.07%) respondents. The rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia were 41.3%, 44.6%, and 36.3%, respectively, most cases of which were mild. Among the mental health indicators, there were significant differences by age and between those with siblings and those who were only children. Neuroticism and cognitive failures were significantly positively correlated with mental health indicators. Further moderated mediation analysis showed that cognitive failures mediated the relationship between insomnia and anxiety and between insomnia and depression, with neuroticism moderating the first half of this pathway and the effect being greater in the low-neuroticism group.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive failures and neuroticism play important roles in mental health. Therefore, enhancing subjective cognitive function and regulating emotional stability may contribute to the improvement of mental health.

Early parent-child separation and adolescent depressive symptoms: the mediating role of self-perceived pleasure in social interactions

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among adolescents with a history of parent-child separation. This study investigates whether self-perceived pleasure in social interactions mediates the relationship between early parent-child separation and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

1250 teenagers (mean age = 12.95 years, SD = 1.55; 54.6% male) completed self-report surveys assessing early parent-child separation, self-perceived pleasure in social interactions, and depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis was conducted using the bootstrap method.

RESULTS

Early parent-child separation increased the risk for depressive symptoms in adolescents by 1.743 times (95% CI, 1.348-2.253). Self-perceived pleasure in social interaction partially mediated the association between early parent-child separation and adolescent depressive symptoms, after adjusting for age and gender (β = 0.095; 95%CI, 0.032-0.168). The mediating effect was significant and accounted for 19.87% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the impact of self-perceived pleasure from social interactions on adolescent depressive symptoms. Improving perceived pleasure from social interactions may help reduce the negative effects of parent-child separation on depressive symptoms.

The mediating and moderating role of social support on the relationship between psychological well-being and burdensomeness among elderly with chronic illness: community nursing perspective

The increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses among the elderly affects their physical and psychological well-being, contributing to emotional burdens and feelings of burdensomeness. This study aims to investigate the mediating and moderating role of social support in the relationship between psychological well-being and burdensomeness among elderly individuals with chronic illnesses. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, involving 311 participants aged 60 and older, recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected using validated instruments via structured interviews conducted from June to August 2024. The results indicate that perceived burdensomeness has a strong negative effect on psychological well-being (r = -0.654). Social support significantly mediates this relationship, with higher social support associated with lower burdensomeness (β = -0.646) and improved psychological well-being (β = 0.318). Strengthening social support networks can mitigate feelings of burdensomeness and promote mental health, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for older adults facing chronic health challenges.

The impact of teacher support on school adaptation among Chinese urban adolescents: a moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

The issue of school adaptation among urban adolescents has received increasing attention. Previous research has primarily focused on Chinese rural and mobile adolescents, exploring the impact of factors such as teacher support, resilience, and left-behind status on their academic achievement. However, there has been relatively limited research on urban adolescents in this regard.

METHODS

In line with the study's objectives, this study selected parent and student questionnaires from the CEPS (2013-2014) and CEPS (2014-2015) datasets for a matched analysis. This process resulted in a final sample of 2502 urban adolescents aged 13 to 15. The key variables examined included teacher academic support, teacher emotional support, teacher relationship support, resilience, school adaptation, and left-behind status. To investigate these relationships, we employed structural equation modeling to explore how resilience mediates the impact of teacher support on school adaptation among urban adolescents. Additionally, we examined whether left-behind status moderates this mediation process.

RESULTS

The findings reveal that teacher support directly affects the school adaptation of urban adolescents and also indirectly influences it through the mediating role of resilience. Additionally, the left-behind status significantly moderates the direct effect of teacher relationship support on school adaptation among urban adolescents, but it does not similarly affect the direct impact of teacher academic support and emotional support.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing teacher support can effectively enhance the resilience of urban adolescents, leading to improved school adaptation. For left-behind adolescents, strengthening the quality of teacher-student relationships is particularly crucial for their school adaptation. Moreover, providing all students with consistent emotional support is essential, as it positively influences school adaptation regardless of their left-behind status.

The presence of meaning in parenthood and parental self-efficacy: a serial mediation model from social support to parent-child relationships

BACKGROUND

Parenting today is characterized by numerous challenges and stressors. As a well-researched contextual factor for parenting, social support may help parents reduce parenting stress and adopt more positive parenting practices. However, the direct and indirect pathways linking social support to parenting outcomes remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether and how the association between social support and parent-child relationships was mediated by the presence of meaning in parenthood and parental self-efficacy.

METHODS

As part of a parent education project, a total of 1,242 Chinese parents (87.2% female) participated in questionnaire surveys conducted by this cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 26.0 and PROCESS Macro v4.1 for correlation analysis and serial mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the presence of meaning in parenthood and parental self-efficacy mediated the association between social support and parent-child relationships, both individually and serially. Furthermore, the mediating effect of the presence of meaning in parenthood was significantly greater than that of parental self-efficacy, as well as the serial mediating effect of the presence of meaning in parenthood and parental self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support is positively associated with parent-child relationships, both directly and indirectly, via the presence of meaning in parenthood and parental self-efficacy. Future research could employ the serial mediation model to explore the effects of social support on the well-being of parents and children. Additionally, future practice may prioritize the presence of meaning in parenthood as a crucial outcome indicator for parenting interventions.

Navigating the Criminal Justice System: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence on the Experiences of Homicide Covictims

Homicide is considered a crime against the state rather than the covictims, which impacts criminal justice system (CJS) processes and can lead to secondary victimization. This review explores the experience of covictims (i.e., family members) engaging with the CJS. Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and were identified through searching six bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Health Management Information Consortium, CINAHL, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, and Social Science Citation Index) and supplementary searches. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Thematic synthesis resulted in three themes: (a) information and meaningful inclusion, (b) who is the justice system for?, and (c) relating to victims as people. These themes highlight concerns regarding the marginalization of covictims within the CJS and suggest ways to enhance processes to avoid further marginalizing and traumatizing covictims.

The predictive effect of social support on new Chinese mothers' positive affect levels: Does the postpartum time period matter?

Timely intervention is essential to build resilience and foster positive emotional experiences as mothers navigate the challenges of motherhood. To support specific interventions, this study examined the mediating effect of maternal role adaptation on the relationship between perceived social support and new mothers' positive affect, as well as the moderating effect of the postpartum months in this relationship. The predictive effect of perceived social support on positive affect in the postpartum period remains unknown, particularly within specific time windows. To clarify this, mothers from the outpatient department of a large public children's hospital in Shanghai, China, were surveyed in June and July 2019. A total of 498 mothers who had given birth in the last year completed the survey. They reported postpartum months and sociodemographic information and completed the maternal social support scale, the positive and negative affect scale, and the maternal role adaptation scale. The results indicated that social support positively correlated with maternal role adaptation and positive affect. Maternal role adaptation was a mediator between social support and positive affect, after controlling age, years of marriage, employment status, household income, education, and birth number. Postpartum months moderated the mediating effect of maternal role adaptation on positive affect. This effect was only for mothers with babies six months old or less. The results point to specific time windows for the predictive role of social support in improving positive affect. Clinical interventions to improve positive affect during postpartum should pay attention to the "golden period" before the baby's sixth month.

The influence of credits and stigmas in volunteering on depression, the modulating effects of volunteer personality and motivation

Depression is a common mental health issue affecting volunteers, which directly impacts the quality of services they provide. This study investigates the unique aspects of volunteer depression and analyzes the roles of volunteer credits, stigmatization, personality traits, and motivations in influencing depression levels. Data were collected from a survey of 822 volunteers from the Red Cross in Hubei Province, China. The results indicate that higher volunteer credits significantly reduced depression scores, while increased stigmatization was associated with higher depression levels. Personality traits such as agreeableness and conscientiousness helped mitigate the negative effects of stigmatization, while openness exacerbated its impact. Furthermore, volunteers driven by understanding and value expression were more susceptible to the adverse effects of stigmatization. The findings highlight the importance of improving volunteer mental health by enhancing team trust and reducing stigmatization. Although the large sample size strengthens the study, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Overall, the study underscores the importance of understanding personality traits and motivations in developing effective volunteer support measures, thereby enhancing service quality and community well-being.

Influence of symptom burden on social alienation in lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: the chain mediating effect of perceived social support and positive psychological capital

BACKGROUND

Social alienation is prevalent among lung cancer (LC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. Although previous research has established an association between social alienation and symptom burden, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain not fully understood.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to select 378 LC patients undergoing chemotherapy from September 2022 to December 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Guangzhou, China. Data collection was conducted using a proprietary Sociodemographic Information Questionnaire, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), Social Alienation Questionnaire, Perceptions of Social Support (PSS) Questionnaire, and Positive Psychological Capital (PPC) Questionnaire. To analyze chain-mediated effects, the PROCESS v3.3 Model 6 SPSS macro software was employed.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that the burden of symptoms significantly exacerbates social alienation, as evidenced in the mediation effects model (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.031, 0.092). Furthermore, the burden of symptoms indirectly diminishes PSS (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.019, 0.057) and PPC (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.002, 0.020). It is crucial to note that both PSS and PPC significantly mediate the relationship between symptom burden and social alienation, as evidenced (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.001, 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of symptom burden on social alienation is moderated through PSS and PPC, manifesting both directly and indirectly. Moreover, the influence of PPC tends to mitigate the mediating role of PSS. Clinical interventions aimed at bolstering PSS and augmenting PPC may potentially alleviate social alienation and enhance the quality of life for patients undergoing chemotherapy for LC.

A Study of the Connection Between Health Insurance Literacy and Health Status: Evidence from the US Healthcare Reform Monitoring Survey

This study examines the relationship between health insurance literacy, as indicated by confidence in comprehending health insurance terms, and health status using cross-sectional data from 8 waves of the Health Reform Monitoring Survey (HRMS), covering 61,895 individuals from 2013 to 2017. An ordered logistic regression model was employed with self-rated health status on a five-point Likert scale as the dependent variable and the score of confidence in understanding health insurance terms as the primary independent variable. The model adjusts for variables such as access to care, insurance status, concerns about affordability leading to missed care, household size, family income, employment, education, race, marital status, and gender. Results suggest a positive association between higher confidence in understanding health insurance and superior health statuses. These findings underscore the significance of improving health insurance literacy and advocating for potential policy interventions to enhance public understanding of health insurance benefits and coverage options.

The Meaning of Social Support for Mental Health Service-Users: The Case Managers' Perspective

This study sought to understand the unique types of social support salient to mental health service-users from the perspective of case managers. The sample consisted of case managers working in county mental health agencies in the southwest and west coast. Data was gathered from three focus groups and analyzed using NVivo 10 and Consensual Qualitative Research. Six themes were described including relational support, consistency support, validation and affirmation support, social connection support, day-to-day living support and vocational support. While the social support domains described in this study share conceptual underpinnings with traditional conceptualizations of support, our findings reveal unique types of support from the perspective of case managers. Findings from this study offer an important perspective-case managers-to the extant body of research investigating the meaning of social support for people with lived mental health experiences. Of particular interest is the finding that relational support, affirmative and validation support, and consistency support are salient case manager functions.

I'll be there for you: The effects of exercise engagement on social support provision within undergraduate students' personal networks

Objective: To use social network analysis to examine exercise participation relative to health and wellness support provision within students' networks. Participants: 513 undergraduates from a large private university completed online surveys. Methods: Multilevel modeling assessed exercise engagement at the individual and dyadic level and support provision from network members. Results: More support was perceived by first and second-year students and individuals who reported more exercise engagement. Significant others, roommates, siblings, female network members, and those who exercised often provided greater support. Greater support was reported when both the participant and their social tie were involved in the campus group-exercise program. Conclusion: This study suggests individual and dyadic-level exercise was related to undergraduates feeling more supported. Findings support campus group exercise programs as opportunities to create reciprocal supportive ties for college students. Future research could further explore ways exercise and social support, particularly in group settings, affect health and well-being.

Social support, fear of cancer recurrence and sleep quality in breast cancer: A moderated network analysis

PURPOSE

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) contributes to sleep problems and social support is a buffering factor in the literature. However, the moderating effect of social support between FCR and sleep quality is unclear.

METHODS

The moderating role of social support was examined in a cohort of 460 breast cancer patients from the 2024 Be Resilient to Breast Cancer (BRBC) program from a microscopic perspective using moderated network analysis, and then assessed macroscopically by Johnson-Neyman and response surface analysis. The Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, Perceived Social Support Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale were employed in this study.

RESULTS

Social support significantly moderated the relationship between general anxiety and sleep efficiency. General anxiety was positively correlated with sleep efficiency at high levels of social support (t = 3.774, P < 0.001). Patients with high social support and low FCR experienced better sleep (F = 6.166, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our study deepens the understanding of the association between FCR, social support, and sleep quality, and emphasizes social support as a positive strategy for cancer patients to improve their physical and mental health.

A randomized feasibility trial of Managing Your Health: a self-management and peer mentoring intervention for young adult survivors of childhood cancer

OBJECTIVE

Although childhood cancer survivors require lifelong "risk-based" follow-up care, most adult survivors do not receive such care, and many are lost during the transition from pediatric to adult follow-up care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the "Managing Your Health" self-management and peer mentoring intervention to improve transition readiness and self-management skills among young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

METHODS

Survivors of childhood cancer ages 18-25 years were randomized 1:1 to the Managing Your Health intervention (six video/phone calls with a peer mentor, another young adult survivor, and five online educational modules) or usual care. Feasibility was measured through enrollment rates, retention rates, and engagement and satisfaction with the intervention. Participants completed measures of transition readiness, self-efficacy, and perceived support at baseline and 2-, 6-, and 12-months post-enrollment.

RESULTS

A total of 50 participants (Mage = 21.1 years; 60% male) enrolled (32% of the total pool was contacted; 76% of those were screened; 94% of those screening eligible enrolled). Twenty-two (88%) of the 25 intervention participants completed the peer mentor calls. On average, participants completed 96% of the online modules, often closely timed to peer mentor calls. Participants indicated high satisfaction and acceptability of the intervention and suggested some improvements to the online modules.

CONCLUSIONS

Managing Your Health was feasible and acceptable to young adult survivors and mentors. Peer mentors appeared to serve as supportive accountability agents encouraging engagement with the online modules. Additional refinements will be made to the intervention prior to efficacy testing.

Institutional, neighborhood, and life stressors on loneliness among older adults

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is a public health epidemic in the United States (US), with older adults being vulnerable to experiencing loneliness. Predictors of loneliness are less understood among racial/ethnic groups of US older adults, and few studies have included perceived institutional discrimination (PID), stressful life events (SLE), and perceived neighborhood characteristics (PNC) as antecedent stressors of loneliness in diverse older adult samples. Our study assessed the relationship between these stressors and loneliness among specific racial/ethnic groups of older adults.

METHODS

We used the Health and Retirement Study data (n = 9,904) to examine whether PID, SLE, and PNC were associated with loneliness. Loneliness was measured using the 11-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. PID included unfairly not hired for a job, unfairly prevented from moving into a neighborhood, and unfairly treated by the police. SLE included moving to a worse neighborhood/residence, being robbed or burglarized, and unemployed/looking for a job. PNC were measured as discohesion and disorder. Lagged multivariate linear regression models regressed loneliness (2014/2016 HRS waves) on PID, SLE and PNC (2010/2012 HRS waves) measured as cumulative totals and individual items. Models were stratified by Black (BOAs), Hispanic/Latinx (HOAs), and White (WOAs) older adults.

RESULTS

Cumulative totals of PID, SLE, and neighborhood discohesion were associated with loneliness among BOAs while only discohesion was associated with loneliness among HOAs. Cumulative totals for PID, SLE, and PNC were associated with loneliness among WOAs. Individual stressors predicting loneliness for BOAs were moving to a worse residence and being robbed/burglarized. For HOAs, being prevented from moving to a neighborhood was associated with greater loneliness while being robbed/burglarized was associated with less loneliness. Individual stressors predicting greater loneliness for WOAs were being unfairly not hired for a job, receiving unfair treatment during police encounters, and moving to a worse residence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study finds racial/ethnic variation in psychosocial stressors predicting loneliness four years later. Nevertheless, neighborhood discohesion was the most salient stressor and was associated with greater loneliness across all racial/ethnic groups. Future research and interventions should consider the differing stress appraisal processes across groups and to support the development of resources and policies to ameliorate loneliness among diverse older adults.

Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics

Research shows heterogeneity in experiences of social contact and social networks in autistic adults. In this study, we aim to identify clusters of social support networks and investigate associations of clusters with mastery, quality of life, and autism characteristics. Autistic adults (N = 381; 45.7% female) aged between 30 and 90 years completed questionnaires on social support characteristics, mastery, autism characteristics, and quality of life. A two-step cluster analysis was used to identify clusters based on social support network items. The cluster analysis revealed three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 238) with two or more close persons, sometimes including a romantic partner; Cluster 2 (n = 102) with solely a romantic partner as close person; and Cluster 3 (n = 41) without any close persons. Level of emotional support was the most important clustering indicator. People in Cluster 3 reported lower quality of life regarding social relationships and mastery, autism characteristics, and other quality of life scales were similar across clusters. Absence or presence of close persons significantly impacts quality of life regarding social relationships in autistic adults, which highlights the importance of addressing (satisfaction with) social support. In order to enhance quality of life, offering social network interventions to increase social support seems especially relevant for autistic people belonging to Cluster 3.

Patterns of Social Support and LGBTQ + Community Involvement Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Australia and Their Effect on HIV-Related Outcomes: A Latent Class Analysis

Peer support from social networks of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) has been recognised as a critical driver of engagement with HIV prevention. Using data from an online cross-sectional survey of 1,032 GBMSM aged 18 or over in Australia, a latent class analysis was conducted to categorise participants based on social support, LGBTQ + community involvement, and social engagement with gay men and LGBTQ + people. Comparisons between classes were assessed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression. Participants were allocated into four classes: 'Gay men focused' (n = 293, 28.4%) with high levels of support from gay men, 'High and diverse' (n = 75, 7.3%) with high support from people with a range of gender and sexual identities, 'Moderate overall' (n = 177, 17.2%) who reported some support from all sources, and 'Low overall' (n = 487, 47.2%) who had low support. Lifetime HIV testing was lower in the 'Low overall' (78.0%) and 'Moderate overall' (81.9%) classes compared to the 'Gay men focused' (96.9%) and 'High and diverse' (93.3%) groups. Among non-HIV-positive participants (n = 971), lifetime PrEP use was lower in the 'Low overall' (28.9%) than the 'Gay men focused' group (56.2%) but similar in the 'High and diverse' (59.7%) and 'Moderate overall' (37.5%) groups. Greater levels of social engagement with gay men and LGBTQ + people were associated with higher levels of HIV testing and PrEP use. Interventions are needed to reach GBM who are less engaged with GBMSM networks or LGBTQ + communities.

Longitudinal associations between informal caring, social network, and psychological distress among adolescents and young adults: modelling within-person effects

BACKGROUND

Informal caring is associated with mental health deterioration among young people and impacts their help-seeking ability. Social network can provide social support and mitigate the impact of informal care. However, young carers may avoid identification and withdraw from social networks. Evidence regarding the reciprocal associations between caring, social network, and mental health is scarce. We aimed to investigate the directionality and specificity of the associations among the three factors in young people.

METHODS

This study used three consecutive assessment data (2021-2023; T0-T2) from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey. We included 5539 young persons aged ≤ 25 years and 25,445 adults aged 26-59 years. Social network was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Caring status was retrospectively reported at T2. We employed a random intercept cross-lagged model to detect within-person prospective associations between informal caring, social network, and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Young persons showed significant directional relationships from increased social network and psychological distress at T0 to increased likelihood of caring at T1 (standardised coefficient: 0.131 and 0.176, respectively; 95% confidence interval, 0.015-0.247 and 0.071-0.282, respectively). Adults aged 26-59 years showed a reverse relationship from caring to increased psychological distress both from T0 to T1 (0.061, 0.009-0.112) and from T1 to T2 (0.042, 0.000-0.084).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased psychological distress and social network preceded the onset of informal caring among young persons. Incorporating psychological distress assessment may benefit the early identification of and support for young carers. The long-term interplay between social networking and informal caring needs further clarification.

Enhancing social functioning using multi-user, immersive virtual reality

Rates of loneliness and other forms of social disconnection have been increasing worldwide. Prior studies have suggested that brief behavioral interventions can teach skills that may improve social functioning and connection but, currently, access to such interventions is limited. One previously untested approach for addressing this gap is to teach these skills using immersive, multi-user virtual reality (VR). To measure the feasibility of this approach, 33 young adults experiencing social discomfort were enrolled in a study of a VR-based application called Reconnecting with Ourselves and Others in virtual Meetings (ROOM), which delivered a previously validated, mindfulness-based intervention. Satisfaction ratings, qualitative feedback, and quantitative measures of aspects of social functioning, including social comfort, interpersonal distance, and facial affect recognition, were collected from participants. All of the participants attended more than half of the sessions and 90.3% found ROOM to be beneficial and useful. In addition, comfort with others in the real world (p = 0.02) and facial affect recognition accuracy (p = 0.02) significantly increased, while interpersonal distances remained unchanged, following ROOM. An immersive, multi-user VR intervention may represent one feasible, scalable approach for disseminating skills that can improve social functioning and connection. Trial registration Clinicaltrial.org # NCT06360562.

Undiagnosed: Relational characteristics of mental health pre-diagnostic self-labeling

Mental health self-labeling has garnered significant attention among journalists and physicians. One question is the extent to which self-labeling behavior is transmitted through social relationships. Yet, no study to date has examined the relationship between peer networks and mental health self-labeling. Drawing from prior research on social relationships and mental health, and using longitudinal data of college students from the NetHealth study (n = 402), this article examines how perceived support and actual social connections influence a student's likelihood of self-labeling. Evidence suggests that, conditional on distress severity, students reporting significant family social support are less likely to self-label with a mental illness. In addition, greater contact with others who self-label in local text and phone communication networks predicts self-labeling. Overall, both perceptions and observed social relationships play a role in mental illness self-labeling.

Problematic social media use in 3D? Relationships between traditional social media use, social virtual reality (VR) use, and mental health

This research expanded on prior work exploring the relationship between social media use, social support, and mental health by including the usage of social virtual reality (VR). In Study 1 (undergraduate students; n = 448) we examined divergent relationships between problematic social media use (e.g., Facebook, TikTok), total use, and users' mental health indicators (e.g., depression, anxiety, social isolation). To determine whether problematic social media use patterns extended to immersive 3-D environments, we sampled active social VR users (e.g., Rec Room) in Study 2 (n = 464). Problematic social VR use was related to decreased real-life social support (β = -.62, 95%CI [-.80, -.44]), but not to VR social support (β = -.06, 95%CI [-.25, .14]). Conversely, the amount of social VR use was only related to increased social VR (β = .06, 95%CI [.04, .15]) but not to real-life social support (β = -.02, 95%CI [-.05, .04]). Study 2 also revealed a finding that may be unique to the 3-D immersive environment: the amount of social VR use facilitated better mental health for VR users, but only through stronger perceived social support on social VR but not in real life. This result highlights the potential of immersive media to promote mental well-being by facilitating engaging and meaningful social interactions.

The power of emotion regulation: how managing sadness influences depression and anxiety?

BACKGROUND

Emotions are a fundamental part of life and play a critical role in shaping individuals' experiences Effectively regulating emotions in socially appropriate ways is essential for navigating life successfully. This study investigated the impact of seven sadness regulation strategies on depression and anxiety and examined the mediating role of ER in the relationship between sadness regulation and depression and anxiety.

METHOD

A cross-sectional design was employed with 350 participants (144 men, 206 women) aged 18 to 35.

RESULTS

Regression analyses showed that sadness regulation strategies significantly predict both depression and anxiety. For depression, the model explained 18.6% of the variance (F (7,342) = 11.140, p < 0.001), with cognitive reappraisal, religious coping, and seeking support negatively associated, while rumination was positively associated. For anxiety, the model explained 19% of the variance (F(7,342) = 11.484, p < 0.001), with rumination and substance use linked to lower anxiety levels, while other strategies showed no significant associations. Mediation analyses highlighted emotion regulation critical role, with sadness regulation influencing depression indirectly through ER (β = -0.024, 95% CI [-0.040, -0.009]) and accounting for 3.6% of the variance. Sadness regulation also had a direct (β = -0.037, p < 0.001) and indirect effect on anxiety through emotion regulation, explaining 6.1% of the variance.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the importance of adaptive sadness and emotion regulation strategies in mitigating depression and anxiety, offering valuable insights for therapeutic interventions.

Partner phubbing and relational aggression in romantic relationships among young adults in China: the roles of social support and gender

Introduction

Phubbing may have significant interpersonal consequences. This study examines the association between partner phubbing and relational aggression, the mediation effect of social support, and the moderation effect of gender among young Chinese adults.

Method

A total of 772 young adults currently in a romantic relationship participated in an online survey that assessed their partner phubbing, relational aggression, and social support (i.e., ideal support, actual support, and discrepancy between ideal and actual support).

Results

The results show that partner phubbing was positively and significantly correlated with relational aggression for males and females, respectively. Actual support and support discrepancy partially mediated the relationship between partner phubbing and relational aggression among all participants. Regarding gender difference, actual support and support discrepancy partially mediated the relationship between partner phubbing and relational aggression in females but were not significant mediators for males.

Discussion

These findings suggest that partner phubbing had a significant effect on relational aggression in romantic relationships for both male and female participants. Social support may play a significant role between partner phubbing and relational aggression in females only. Tailored interventions for partner phubbing to prevent negative interpersonal consequences are warranted.

Exploring the correlations between social support, resilience, well-being, and mental health variables among youth in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir

BACKGROUND

The border areas of Jammu and Kashmir have long been affected by conflict, potentially impacting the mental health of youth. Understanding the relationships between social health factors and mental health outcomes in these regions is crucial for developing effective interventions.

AIM

This study aims to investigate the correlations between social health factors (social support, resilience, and well-being) and mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) among youth living in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

METHODS

A sample of 300 individuals aged 18 to 25 years was recruited, with 150 participants from the Line of Control (LoC) border in Rajouri district and 150 from the International Border (IB) in Jammu district. Participants completed six standardized measures: the Resilience Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Pearson Correlation was computed with statistical significance at p < .05.

RESULTS

Significant positive correlations were found between social support, resilience, and well-being in both IB and LoC groups. Depression was positively correlated with anxiety in both groups. However, stress was positively correlated with depression and anxiety only in the LoC group.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the importance of social health factors in maintaining mental well-being among youth in conflict-affected regions. The study suggests that interventions targeting social support, resilience, and well-being may effectively promote mental health in these areas. Additionally, the results underscore the need for context-specific approaches in addressing mental health challenges in different conflict-affected environments.

Does social support improve self-management among rural hypertensive patients? An empirical analysis based on generalized propensity score matching

Background

This study aimed to examine the causal effect between perceived social support and self-management in rural patients with hypertension and to provide a basis for improving self-management.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1,091 rural hypertensive patients in Shanxi Province was conducted from March through June 2022 to analyze the factors influencing social support as well as the causal effects of social support and self-management using generalized propensity score matching.

Results

Rural hypertensive patients had a low level of social support (social support score = 0.632 ± 0.178). Social support had a significant and inverted U-shaped relationship with self-management; with increasing social support levels, the levels of self-management first rose and then declined, with an inflexion point of 0.774. Social support had significant negative correlations with sex, age, number of child, living status (i.e., living alone or living with others), disease duration, family economic status, and decision-making power, and positive correlations with having a spouse and having medical insurance.

Conclusion

Greater emphasis should be placed on the older adult, individuals living alone, those without spouses, only children, economically disadvantaged populations, and uninsured individuals to enhance the social support they received and ultimately improve their self-management of hypertension. Furthermore, establishing social support systems that are congruent with rural relational networks is crucial for promoting effective hypertension self-management.

Unravelling the complexity of the relationship between social support sources and loneliness: A mixed-methods study with older adults

Loneliness is an increasingly significant social and public health issue in contemporary societies. The available evidence suggests that social support is one of the key psychosocial processes for the reduction and prevention of loneliness. This study investigated the role played by sources of social support in the experience of social and emotional loneliness, identifying seven sources of support split between family (spouse/partner, children, grandchildren, siblings) and non-family (friends, neighbours). The study population comprised people aged 65 years and over living in Spain, with a partner (without cohabiting children), alone or in a nursing home. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining data from a survey involving 887 participants (quantitative phase) and data from semi-structured interviews with 30 older adults (qualitative phase). The relationship between the various sources and loneliness was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) for the survey data and thematic analysis for the qualitative information. The results from both phases of the study suggest different association dynamics between sources of social support and the social and emotional dimensions of loneliness. Lower levels of emotional loneliness were related to support from the following sources: spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings and friends. Lower levels of social loneliness were related to support from the following sources: spouse, grandchildren, siblings and friends. In contrast, greater levels of emotional loneliness were related to support from neighbours and greater levels of social loneliness were related to support from children. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the association between social support and loneliness and suggest that interventions aimed at reducing loneliness could be more effectively targeted by considering the specific effects of support derived from different sources.

Receiving financial support and its association with late-age depression: The mediating role of social engagement

OBJECTIVES

Researchers have long been concerned with the association between family financial support and depression in older adults. However, it remains unclear whether social engagement influences the relationship between depression and financial support in later life. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between receiving financial support from family and others and depression among Indian older adults and to also explore the mediating effect of social engagement on this relationship.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India Wave 1 (2017-2018) was used for the empirical analysis. A total sample of 30,210 older adults aged 60 years and above were selected for the study. The study employs bivariate and binary logistic regression analysis. Further Karlson-Holm-Breen method was adopted for mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The adjusted prevalence of depression among older adults who did not receive financial support from family or others was nearly 33.8 % (men: 29.8 %, women: 37.4 %), compared to 29.9 % for those who received support (men: 27.6 %, women: 32 %). Older adults who received financial support had 21 % lower odds of depression (AoR: 0.79; 95 % CI: 0.73, 0.84) than those who did not. Additionally, the association between depression and receiving financial support was mediated by social engagement (17.3 %) with the mediating effect being higher among older women (29.3 %) than older men (13.5 %).

CONCLUSION

The study advances that although financial support plays a significant role in reducing depressive symptoms in older adults, social engagement also serves as an important mediator in this relationship. Enhancing opportunities for social engagement may amplify the protective effects of financial support, offering a more comprehensive approach to addressing mental health challenges among aging populations in India.

Childhood poverty, social support, immigration background and adolescent health and life satisfaction: A population-based longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

This study examined whether poverty (neighborhood and household) was associated with future health or life satisfaction outcomes and whether the association operated through social support (adult support at home, adult support at school, peer belonging), or differed by the immigration background (nonimmigrant family or immigrant family) of the family.

METHODS

This study utilized a retrospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort that included self-reported survey data from the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) completed by children at age 9 and age 12, linked to administrative records. Participants included 5906 children in British Columbia, Canada. Neighborhood and household poverty were observed at age 8. Social support from adults and peers was self-reported at age 9. Outcomes (overall health; life satisfaction) were self-reported at age 12. Adjusted multi-level multiple linear regression analyses and parallel mediation analyses were utilized. The interaction between poverty exposure and immigration background was also examined.

RESULTS

Exposure to either poverty type was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and overall health at age 12, though household poverty appeared to be associated with lower outcomes in comparison to neighborhood poverty. The indirect effects of poverty on outcomes appeared to operate primarily through adult support at home and peer belonging. Children in immigrant families had a larger negative association between neighborhood poverty and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Household poverty had a larger negative association to outcomes in comparison to neighborhood poverty. The association of poverty to outcomes differed by immigration background and operated partially through adult support at home and peer belonging.

Influencing factors of subjective well-being trajectory based on the group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM): Results from a healthy aging cohort study in Ma'anshan

AIM

This study aimed to explore the trajectory and predictors of subjective well-being (SWB).

METHODS

Elderly in Ma'anshan were followed up for 5 years. SWB was measured using the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH). GBTM was used to group the trajectories of SWB, and multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors of the different trajectories.

RESULTS

2495 adults aged ≥60 years completed the survey. Four SWB trajectories were identified: low score ascending group [130(5.2 %)], high score decline group [316(14.7 %)], high score stable group [1827(73.2 %)], moderate score fluctuation group [172(6.9 %)]. With the high score stable group as the reference, social support, depressive symptoms and self-reported health were predictors of SWB for all the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The SWB of the elderly has different developmental trajectories. Nursing staff may be carry out intervention on SWB of the elderly from social support, reducing depression and improving physical health.

Dirty Environment, Dark Mood: Exploring the Link Between Perceived Environmental Pollution and Depression Risk

To explore the impact of perceived environmental pollution on individual depression risk and the mechanisms involved, particularly the mediating roles of health level and life confidence. Ordinary least squares, Ologit, and Oprobit models were employed to analyze data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies to test the hypothesized relations outlined above. The findings indicate that perceived environmental pollution significantly increases depression risk (β = 0.052, p < 0.01). Both health level and life confidence serve as mediators in this relationship, forming a serial mediation mechanism. This study reveals the negative impact of perceived environmental pollution on mental health. It emphasizes the importance of improving public health levels and life confidence and provides an evidence base for related policies.

The mediating role of family cohesion in the relationship between death anxiety and readiness toward advance care planning among Chinese community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the mediating role of family cohesion in the relationship between death anxiety and readiness toward advance care planning (ACP).

METHODS

This study included 965 Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Pearson correlation coefficient was conducted to assess the relationship between readiness toward ACP, death anxiety, and family cohesion. Structural equation model was used to examine the study hypothetical model.

RESULTS

965 valid questionnaires were collected. Death anxiety is significantly related to the readiness toward ACP (r = -0.437, P < 0.01) and family cohesion (r = -0.444, P < 0.01), and family cohesion exhibited a positive correlation with readiness toward ACP (r = 0.499, P < 0.01). Family cohesion partially mediated the effect of death anxiety on readiness toward ACP, accounting for 35.94 % of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Family cohesion mediates the relationship between death anxiety and readiness toward ACP. Healthcare professionals should implement measures to alleviate death anxiety and promote family cohesion in older adults, thereby enhancing their readiness toward ACP.

From Isolation to Social (and Psychedelic) Integration: A Sociology of Collective Effervescence and Therapeutic Community in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

There is a disparity between contemporary scientific investigations into psychedelic phenomena and their 20th-century counterparts, notably the lack of examination of psychedelic experiences within group settings. Whereas early research studies from the 1950s to the 1970s explored communal settings in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), today's resurgence of scholarship in the field primarily considers individualised, often clinical, settings. Consequently, there is an absence of empirical research and theoretical innovation on collective psychedelic contexts, for example, how social connectedness occurs relationally and what its impacts are. This paper addresses this gap by revisiting and applying Emile Durkheim's theory of "collective effervescence." By analysing interview data from participants of a group-based weeklong PAT retreat and supplementing it with ethnographic data, this study highlights the usefulness of incorporating sociological theory to examine and explain the social dynamics and therapeutic outcomes of collective psychedelic experiences. In doing so, this research study contributes to bridging the divide between psychedelic science, psychedelic studies and the social sciences by offering sociological insight into the transformative yet hitherto neglected potential of group-based psychedelic events for therapeutic benefits.

Social predictors of psychological well-being and symptoms of college students

OBJECTIVE

Limited research exists on the simultaneous effects of family functioning, social competence, and social support on the well-being and depression, anxiety, and stress of college students and the power of these effects. We examined these predictors in two models to determine each variable's impact on students' mental health.

PARTICIPANTS

From October 2018 to November 2018, 726 students from 18 institutions of varying sizes across the United States participated in an online survey.

METHODS

Stratified random sampling with institution size and setting as the strata; descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to test study hypotheses.

RESULTS

Variables predicted mental well-being and symptoms across both models, with social competence being the largest predictor, followed by perceived social support and family functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Practitioners should consider the impact of social influences on student mental health and design interventions to strengthen social competence and support.

Differential Costs of Raising Grandchildren on Older Mother-Adult Child Relations in Black and White Families

Drawing from theories of affect, role strain and stress processes, we studied the impact of raising grandchildren on older mothers' relationships with the adult offspring whose children they raised, with particular attention to how these patterns differ by race and ethnicity. We used mixed-methods data collected from 531 older mothers regarding their relationships with 1935 of their adult children as part of the Within-Family Differences Study. Multilevel regression analyses showed that raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child closeness in Black families; however, in White families, raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child conflict. Qualitative analyses revealed that these differences could be explained by the tendency of Black grandmothers to emphasize positive aspects of raising grandchildren, compared to White grandmothers, who viewed raising grandchildren as demanding and who described their exchanges with their adult children as unequal. Overall, our findings reflect racial and ethnic differences in intergenerational solidarity.

The relationship between perceived family support and subclinical positive symptoms of psychosis among Black college students

AIM

Black individuals in the Unites States endure compounded and unique experiences of discrimination and structural racism that may not be as overtly evident in other countries. These distinctive forms of discrimination and racism can impact the mental health of Black individuals in the Unites States, in this case, their risk for psychosis. Adolescence and early adulthood are vulnerable periods in life where mental illness typically begins to manifest. Understanding the factors contributing to an increased likelihood of specific mental illnesses, such as psychosis, among youth in these vulnerable periods can inform intervention development. This is particularly important for those from minoritized backgrounds Unites States; this group is especially important to study given that Black American youth tend to experience higher psychosis rates and different symptom presentations than non-Black groups.

METHODS

This study examined the associations between perceived family support, a critical environmental factor known to be associated with full-psychosis, and attenuated positive symptoms and distress levels in a sample of 155 Black students from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Participants completed the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief that assessed psychosis risk and the Family Environment Scale that assessed three dimensions of family support (family cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Positive symptom intensity (r = .30, p < .001) and distress (r = .34, p < .001) were significantly associated with higher family conflict for Black individuals in the Unites States. The findings inform novel intervention targets for psychoeducation and family therapy that have potential to reduce psychosis risk.

Improving Black Maternal Health: Early Implementation Findings from California's Black Infant Health Program

INTRODUCTION

This paper reviews the scientific basis and reports initial implementation results of California's Black Infant Health Program, a statewide group-based program with complementary one-on-one life planning to improve maternal and infant health among Black mothers and birthing persons.

METHODS

Descriptive analyses were conducted at the participant and group session level using program evaluation data from the initial three years of program implementation to examine participation rates, rates of service delivery, and participants perceptions of the program.

RESULTS

From 2015 to 2018, 3332 Black birthing persons received group and/or life planning and 386 10-session prenatal group series were initiated with an average of 5.9 participants per series. Most sessions delivered all required activities (86.1%) and met requirements for providing food (84.5%), transportation support (72.2%), and childcare (55.4%). More than 90% of responding participants agreed or strongly agreed that BIH helped them manage stress (94.5%), set (97.4%) and achieve (92.9%) goals, and build stronger social connections (94.5%).

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

The program was developed in response to evolving scientific knowledge regarding racism as the root cause of health disparities for Black birthing people. Focusing on six interwoven strategies for improving maternal and infant health outcomes, the program is supported by current scientific knowledge and can be feasibly implemented at a level consistent with similar evidence-based models.

Exploring the Acceptability of a Peer-Delivered Mental Health Intervention to Support Young Adults With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

BACKGROUND

Young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities lack access to mental health supports. Peer-delivered services may fill this gap. We adapted a theory-driven and evidence-based peer mentoring intervention for virtual-delivery and investigated its acceptability and participants' preliminary response.

METHODS

Twelve young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities participated in the 16-week intervention and completed outcome measures at pre-mentoring, post-mentoring and 1-month follow-up. To evaluate acceptability, participants completed interviews and a survey. Preliminary response was measured with the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children and PROMIS short forms (Self-efficacy for Managing Emotions, Anxiety, and Physical Stress).

RESULTS

Participants felt emotionally supported, increased self-understanding, and learned to use coping strategies. Participants reported improvements in alexithymia, self-efficacy for managing emotions and anxiety; no changes were observed for physical stress symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants were satisfied with peer mentoring and data suggest it may have promise to support development of skills that support mental health outcomes.

Positive association between Internet use and mental health among adults aged ≥50 years in 23 countries

The Internet is increasingly important in addressing age-related mental health challenges. We used linear mixed models and meta-analyses to examine the association between Internet use and mental health among 87,559 adults aged ≥50 years from 23 countries. Internet use was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (pooled average marginal effect (AME), -0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.12 to -0.07), higher life satisfaction (pooled AME, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.10) and better self-reported health (pooled AME, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.17). For two countries (the USA and England) with genetic data available, positive associations between Internet use and mental health were observed across three genetic risk categories. For three countries (the USA, England and China), a higher frequency of Internet use was related to better mental health. Our findings are relevant to public health policies and practices in promoting mental health in later life through the Internet, especially in countries with limited Internet access and mental health services.

The association between social support and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can arise following childbirth. Despite a growing body of research on postpartum mental health, the relationship between social support and postpartum PTSD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between social support and postpartum PTSD.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Guangdong province of China between November 2022 and April 2023. Eligible mothers were assessed for social support using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) at three days postpartum and for PTSD using the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) at 42 days postpartum. The association between social support and postpartum PTSD was analyzed using multiple linear and log-binomial regression, with adjustments for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Forty-six of 560 (8.2%) mothers developed PTSD within 42 days postpartum. Scores for subjective support (β=-0.319, P < 0.001), objective support (β=-0.327, P < 0.001), support availability (β=-0.285, P < 0.001), and overall social support score (β=-0.428, P < 0.001) were inversely associated with PTSD scores. Compared to mothers in the 1st quartile of the overall social support score, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles had adjusted relative risks of 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.74), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.09-0.45), and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.03-0.33), respectively, of developing PTSD. An inverse linear trend in the risk of PTSD was observed with increasing social support (P-trend < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Social support may have a protective effect against postpartum PTSD, with practical implications for interventions targeting various dimensions of support.

Association between social engagement decline and cognitive function changes: mediating effect of depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline is a significant public health problem worldwide, but little is known about social engagement's impact on cognitive changes over time. This study aimed to explore the relationship between social engagement decline and cognitive function change in Chinese adults, and to analyze the effect of changes in depressive symptoms on this relationship.

METHODS

Participants were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Multiple linear regression was conducted to determine the association between social engagement decline and cognitive function changes, and a three-step method was used to test the mediating role of changes in depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

During the four-year follow-up, participants' overall cognitive function decreased by an average of 0.41 points (3.0%). The decline in social engagement was significantly associated with subsequent poorer global cognitive function (Model 1: β = - 0.060, P =.005; Model 2: β = - 0.056, P =.009), and changes in depressive symptoms partially mediated this effect, accounting for 15.3% of the total effect in Model 1 and 13.8% in Model 2. Model 1 adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, and Model 2 adjusted for health-related factors based on Model 1.

CONCLUSION

When developing programs for cognitive improvement in middle-aged and older adults, measures to enhance social engagement should be considered. This may not only reduce depressive symptoms but also help to minimize cognitive decline.

Using a Social Network Approach to Characterize Oral Health Behavior Social Support Among Mexican-Origin Young Adults

Using a social network approach, we characterize who Mexican-origin young adults perceive as social support sources for oral health behaviors and provide additional validity evidence for Oral Health Behavior Social Support Scales (OHBSS). From April to September 2022, we gathered social network data from 62 Mexican-origin adults (21-40 years old) through Zoom interviews about their perceived received social support for three oral health behaviors (toothbrushing, flossing, and obtaining dental care) from three potential sources of support (family, health providers, and others/friends). Overall, we found similar results across all three oral health behaviors. We also found evidence for convergent and discriminant validity of OHBSS scales using social network measures. Implications of findings are discussed.

Relationships between resilience, perceived social support, and mental health in military personnel: a cross-lagged analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the growing application of the Dual-factor model of mental health (DFM), there is a paucity of research on military personnel. Additionally, existing cross-sectional studies indicate that resilience and perceived social support are associated with military mental health, but the lack of cross-lagged studies precludes researchers from making causal interpretations. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal relationship between resilience, perceived social support, negative dimension of mental health (depressive symptom), and positive dimension (life satisfaction) among military personnel using cross-lagged analysis.

METHODS

A total of 215 military personnel were investigated longitudinally over a 12-week, two-phase period. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 Item (PHQ-9), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were employed to measure their resilience, perceived social support, depression symptoms, and life satisfaction, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlations between the aforementioned variables, and a paired t-test was employed to ascertain whether the variables changed over time. A cross-lagged panel analysis was employed to explore cross-lagged relationships between these variables in military personnel.

RESULTS

All participants in this study were male. At Time 1, the mean age of all participants was 22.98 years (SD = 2.99), and the mean scores for the CD-RISC, PSSS, PHQ-9, and SWLS were 71.61 (SD = 14.86), 68.60 (SD = 10.22), 1.74 (SD = 2.89), and 28.08 (SD = 5.51), respectively. Cross-lagged analysis showed that prior resilience significantly predicted later depression symptoms (β = -0.19, p = 0.028) and life satisfaction (β = 0.17, p = 0.038). Prior perceived social support significantly predicted later life satisfaction (β = 0.15, p = 0.040) but not depression symptoms (β = -0.04, p = 0.652). Prior depression symptoms significantly predicted later life satisfaction (β = -0.26, p < 0.001), and prior life satisfaction also predicted later depression symptoms (β = -0.23, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The negative and positive dimensions of military mental health can interact with each other. Moreover, enhancing resilience and perceived social support may be a novel perspective for improving the mental health of military personnel.

The mediating effect of sleep quality on the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms among Chinese nurses during the omicron outbreak

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased depressive symptoms and diminished sleep quality among nurses. This study explores the relationships among social support, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak, with a focus on the mediating role of sleep quality.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 2140 nurses was conducted from August to September 2022. The participants completed the Social Support Rating Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data were analyzed via serial multiple mediation analysis with the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms affected an estimated 40.4% of the participants, with 69.2% reporting poor sleep quality. The present study revealed a significant negative correlation between social support and sleep quality and depressive symptoms (r = -0.229, p < 0.001; r = -0.322, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, a substantial positive correlation was observed between sleep quality and depressive symptoms (r = 0.514, p < 0.001). Additionally, social support had a significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms through sleep quality (standardized effect = -0.0535, 95% CI = [-0.0648, -0.0424]). Sleep quality was found to mediate the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms in all subgroups, with variations based on years of experience, education levels, and hospital type.

CONCLUSION

Depressive symptoms were inversely associated with social support, which was moderated by sleep quality. Interventions targeting social support provision and sleep quality promotion are suggested for managing depressive symptoms among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring the moderated mediation of stress and media use: Social support's impact on anxiety among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic - Insights from a large-scale cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among the older adults, explore whether stress mediated the association between social support and anxiety symptoms, and investigate whether media use moderated the direct or indirect effects within the mediation model.

METHODS

Questionnaires and scales were employed to collect data from 1143 individuals aged 60 years and older across 120 cities in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected information encompassed sociodemographic characteristics, social support, anxiety, stress, and media use. Bivariate correlations were then used to analyze the relationships among the study variables. Finally, the mediation and moderated mediation models were examined using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40.1 % of Chinese elderly experienced anxiety. Social support exhibited a negative correlation with anxiety. And, media use positively influenced both stress and anxiety. Stress partially mediated the relationship between social support and anxiety, with a mediation effect of 50.95 %. Notably, media use moderated the association between social support and anxiety, serving as both an indirect mediator (path a: Social support - Stress: B = 0.071, 95 % CI: 0.022, 0.120) and a direct mediator (path c': Social support - Anxiety: B = -0.066, 95 % CI: -0.111, -0.022).

LIMITATIONS

This study used a cross-sectional design, which restricts the ability to infer causal relationships.

CONCLUSION

Social support is proven to be a potent alleviator of anxiety among the elderly. Stress partially mediated this relationship, while the indirect and direct impact of this mediation was influenced by media use.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This study underscores the heightened anxiety prevalence among Chinese elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the critical role of social support in mitigating these effects. It discovers that while stress acts as a mediator, media use serves as a significant moderator in this dynamic. These findings advocate for the necessity of bolstering social support networks and encouraging prudent media use to effectively manage anxiety and stress among the elderly, particularly in challenging times like a pandemic.