Short Daily-Life Walking Bouts and Poor Self-Reported Health Predict the Onset of Depression in Community-Dwelling Older People: A 2-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess whether the amount and quality of daily-life walking obtained using wearable technology can predict depression onset over a 2-year period, independently of self-reported health status.DesignLongitudinal cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsThree-hundred twenty-two community-dwelling older people recruited in Sydney, Australia.MethodsParticipants were assessed at baseline on (1) depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire–9; (2) average weekly physical activity levels over the past month using the Incidental and Planned Activity Questionnaire, (3) clinical mobility tests (ie, short physical performance battery, timed up-and-go test, 6-m walk test); and (4) amount and quality of daily-life walking assessed with a trunk accelerometer (MoveMonitor, McRoberts) for 1 week. Participants were followed up for onset of depressive symptoms for 2 years at 6-monthly intervals.ResultsDaily-life walking (ie, gait intensity in the mediolateral axis, daily step counts, duration of longest walk) and self-rated health predicted the new onset of depressive symptoms at 2 years in univariable logistic regression models. In multivariable models containing a self-rated health measure, clinical mobility tests were not predictive of the onset of depressive symptoms. In contrast, a measure of daily-life walking (duration of longest walking bout) was identified as a significant predictor of depressive symptom onset [standardized odds ratio (SOR) 2.44, 95% CI 1.62-3.76] independent of self-rated health (SOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.16-1.96), with these 2 measures achieving a satisfactory prediction accuracy (area under the curve = 0.67, sensitivity: 0.78, specificity: 0.52).Conclusions and ImplicationsA risk algorithm based on daily-life walking bouts and self-reported health demonstrated good accuracy for the prediction of depression onset in older people over 2 years. Wearable sensor data compared favorably with clinical mobility screens and may add important independent information for screening for depression among older people.     

Coexistence of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Depressive Symptoms and Their Combined and Individual Effects on Onset of Disability in Older Adults: A Cohort Study

ObjectivesCoexistence of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms is common, and their combined effect on adverse events warrants investigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the individual and combined effect of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms on the onset of disability, which is a crucial outcome in older adults.DesignA 1-year cohort study.Setting and participants1251 community-dwelling older adults.MeasurementsThe number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites was measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale–15. Disability was self-reported as any difficulty in basic activities of daily living. Incidence of disability was defined as any difficulty in performing 1 or more tasks at the follow-up assessment, that was absent at baseline.ResultsOlder adults with more chronic musculoskeletal pain sites tend to have depressive symptoms at baseline (P for trend < .001). Compared to older adults without both chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms, older adults with both chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms have the higher risk for development of disability (adjusted odds ratio: 6.84, 95% confidence interval: 3.72 to 12.58), followed by older adults with chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain and without depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio: 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.35 to 3.37).Conclusions/ImplicationsSimultaneous assessment of both chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms may be useful for accurate prognosis and preventing disability in older adults.     

Shift work,work time control,and informal caregiving as risk factors for sleep disturbances in an ageing municipal workforce

Objectives:This study aimed to examine the contribution of shift work, work time control (WTC) and informal caregiving, separately and in combination, to sleep disturbances in ageing employees.Methods:Survey data were obtained from two prospective cohort studies with repeated measurements of working conditions, informal caregiving, and sleep disturbances. We used fixed-effect conditional logistic regression analysis to examine whether within-individual changes in shift work, WTC and informal caregiving were associated with changes in sleep. Secondary analyses included between-individuals comparison using standard logistic regression models. Results from the two cohorts were pooled using meta-analysis.Results:Low WTC and informal caregiving were associated with sleep disturbances in within-individual analyses [odds ratios (OR) ranging between 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.27) and 1.48 (95% CI 1.29–1.68)] and in between-individuals analyses [OR 1.14 (95% CI 1.03–1.26) to 1.33 (1.19–1.49)]. Shift work alone was not associated with sleep disturbances, but accumulated exposure to shift work, low WTC and informal caregiving was associated with higher risk of sleep disturbances (OR range 1.21–1.76). For some of the sleep outcomes, informal caregiving was related to a higher risk of sleep disturbances when WTC was low and a lower risk when WTC was high.Conclusions:Informal caregiving and low WTC are associated with risk of sleep disturbances among ageing employees. The findings also suggest that low WTC in combination with informal caregiving may increase the risk of sleep disturbances whereas high WTC may alleviate the adverse impact of informal caregiving on sleep.     

Psychosocial working characteristics before retirement and depressive symptoms across the retirement transition: a longitudinal latent class analysis

Objectives:Retirement is a major life transition. However, previous evidence on its mental health effects has been inconclusive. Whether retirement is desirable or not may depend on pre-retirement work characteristics. We investigated trajectories of depressive symptoms across retirement and how a number of psychosocial working characteristics influenced these trajectories.Methods:We included 1735 respondents from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH), retiring during 2008–2016 (mean retirement age 66 years). They had completed biennial questionnaires reporting job demands, decision authority, workplace social support, efforts, rewards, procedural justice and depressive symptoms. We applied group-based trajectory modelling to model trajectories of depressive symptoms across retirement. Multinomial logistic regression analyses estimated the associations between ­psychosocial working characteristics and depressive symptom trajectories.Results:We identified five depression trajectories. In four of them, depressive symptoms decreased slightly around retirement. In one, the symptom level was initially high, then decreased markedly across retirement. Perceptions of job demands, job strain, workplace social support, rewards, effort–reward imbalance and procedural justice were associated with the trajectories, while perceptions of decision authority and work efforts were only partly related to the trajectories.Conclusions:We observed a rather positive development of depressive symptoms across retirement in a sample of Swedish retirees. For a small group with poor psychosocial working characteristics, symptoms clearly decreased, which may indicate that a relief from poor working characteristics is associated with an improvement for some retirees. However, for other retirees poor working characteristics were associated with persistent symptoms, suggesting a long-term effect of these work stressors.     

Synergistic effects of intention and depression on action control: Longitudinal predictors of exercise after rehabilitation

ObjectivePhysical exercise is part of orthopedic and cardiac rehabilitation. Although intentions might be high, many patients fail to adopt or maintain exercise after discharge from rehabilitation because of self-regulatory failure. This might be due to depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study investigates whether depressive symptoms affect the translation of exercise intentions via action control into exercise.DesignAt the beginning of rehabilitation, intention, action control, depressive symptoms, and exercise behavior were assessed in 277 orthopedic and cardiac patients. Exercise was reassessed 6 weeks after discharge from rehabilitation.MethodsMediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. It was tested whether action control translates the effect of exercise intentions on subsequent behavior. In addition, it was examined whether this mediation was affected by levels of depressive symptoms.ResultsAction control worked as a mediator between exercise intentions and behavior. Moreover, levels of depressive symptoms moderated this mediation. The mediation effect only materialized within the subgroup of patients lower on depressive symptoms.ConclusionPatients with higher depressive symptoms may fail to use appropriate self-regulatory strategies for exercise. Future research should examine whether depressed individuals can benefit from action control interventions and identify which strategies are most beneficial for individuals with depressive symptoms.     

Soft Drink Consumption and Mental Health in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Examination

PurposePrevious studies showed associations between soft drink consumption and mental health problems in adolescents, but the direction of these effects is unknown. This study examines the hypotheses that soft drink consumption predicts aggression and depressive symptoms over time and that these mental health problems predict soft drink consumption.MethodsInterviews were conducted with 5,147 children and their caregivers from three sites at child ages 11, 13, and 16. At each time point, youth reported on their frequency of consuming soft drinks, aggressive behavior, and depressive symptoms. An autoregressive cross-lagged path model tested reciprocal relationships between soft drink consumption, aggressive behavior, and depressive symptoms over time.ResultsMore frequent consumption of soft drinks was associated with more aggressive behavior at each time point and depressive symptoms at ages 11 and 13 (r = .04 to .18, p ≤ .002). After adjusting for covariates and stability of each behavior over time, soft drink consumption at ages 11 and 13 predicted more aggressive behavior at the next time point (β = .08 and .06, p < .001). Aggressive behavior at age 13 also predicted more soft drink consumption at age 16 (β = .06, p = .002). Soft drink consumption at age 13 predicted fewer depressive symptoms (β = ?.04, p = .007), but depressive symptoms did not predict soft drink consumption.ConclusionsMore frequent consumption of soft drinks may contribute to aggressive behavior in adolescents over time; there is some support for reciprocal relationships. There is no evidence for soft drink consumption contributing to adolescents' depression. Future research should examine longitudinal effects over shorter intervals.     

World Trade Center disaster and sensitization to subsequent life stress: A longitudinal study of disaster responders

Purpose: The current study examined the role of World Trade Center (WTC) disaster exposure (hours spent working on the site, dust cloud exposure, and losing friend/loved one) in exacerbating the effects of post-disaster life stress on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and overall functioning among WTC responders.Method: Participants were 18,896 responders (8466 police officers and 10,430 non-traditional responders) participating in the WTC Health Program who completed an initial examination between July, 2002 and April, 2010 and were reassessed an average of two years later.Results: Among police responders, there was a significant interaction, such that the effect of post-disaster life stress on later PTSD symptoms and overall functioning was stronger among police responders who had greater WTC disaster exposure (β's = .029 and .054, respectively, for PTSD symptoms and overall functioning). This moderating effect was absent in non-traditional responders. Across both groups, post-disaster life stress also consistently was related to the dependent variables in a more robust manner than WTC exposure.Discussion: The present findings suggest that WTC exposure may compound post-disaster life stress, thereby resulting in a more chronic course of PTSD symptoms and reduced functioning among police responders.     

Is physical inactivity associated with depressive symptoms among adolescents with high screen time? Evidence from a developing country

BackgroundIncreasing levels of screen use and physical inactivity in developing countries may be deleterious for adolescent mental health. This study aimed to examine how physical inactivity is associated with concurrent depressive symptoms among adolescents with high recreational screen time in Bangladesh.MethodsA self-administered survey was conducted among 898 secondary school students of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. High screen-time was assessed using the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ), with a cut-off of >2 h/day. Scores ≥10 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD10) suggested depressive symptoms. The Three-Day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR) instrument was used to estimate physical activity, with those doing ≤60 min/day of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) classified as not meeting MVPA recommendations. Of the 599 adolescents who were determined to have high recreational screen time (>2 h/day), 505 completed the CESD10, and form the basis for this analysis.ResultsOf the adolescents with high recreational screen time, 32% did not meet MVPA recommendations and 25% reported depressive symptoms. Generalized estimating equations modelling on CESD scores showed that depressive symptoms were more prevalent among adolescents with high screen time who also did not meet MVPA recommendations (OR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.23–4.59), after adjusting for a set of confounders including sociodemographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors.ConclusionsAdolescents in Dhaka city with high recreational screen time and not meeting physical activity recommendations are also likely to have depressive symptoms. More research is needed to understand the causal directions of these relationships.     

自我污名对残障大学生抑郁的影响

目的 探讨自我污名与残障大学生抑郁情绪的因果关系及内在作用机制,为推动残障大学生心理健康发展提供参考。方法 于2021年10月(T1)和2022年4月(T2)使用整群抽样方法选取河北开放大学特殊教育学院4个专业291名肢体残疾大学生开展2次追踪测试,使用残联自我污名量表、领悟社会支持量表以及流调用抑郁自评量表进行线上问卷调查,建立以领悟社会支持为中介的交叉滞后模型。结果 残障大学生T1、T2时期抑郁平均得分为(43.51±8.26,46.82±9.13)分。交叉滞后模型结果显示,T1自我污名能够正向预测大学生T2抑郁(β=0.17,P<0.01)。跨群组分析表明,T1领悟社会支持在T1自我污名与T2残障大学生抑郁间发挥纵向中介作用;自我污名可正向预测大学生抑郁,女生(β=0.42)比男生(β=0.29)更强;领悟社会支持可负向预测抑郁,女生(β=-0.36)比男生(β=-0.19)更强(P值均<0.01)。结论 自我污名与残障大学生抑郁情绪间具有纵向因果关系,依照性别特征干预大学生领悟社会支持对调节抑郁情况具备一定实践意义。     

Physical and mental health symptoms among NYC transit workers seven and one-half months after the WTC attacks

BACKGROUND: On September 11, 2001, 600-800 New York City transit (NYCT) workers were working near the World Trade Center (WTC) Towers. After the disaster, employees reported physical and mental health symptoms related to the event. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-nine NYC transit employees were surveyed for mental and physical health symptoms 7(1/2) months after the WTC disaster. RESULTS: Workers in the dust cloud at the time of the WTC collapse had significantly higher risk of persistent lower respiratory (OR = 9.85; 95% CI: 2.24, 58.93) and mucous membrane (OR = 4.91; 95% CI: 1.53, 16.22) symptoms, depressive symptoms (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.51), and PTSD symptoms (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.003, 8.16) compared to those not exposed to the dust cloud. Additional WTC exposures and potential confounders were also analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical follow up for physical and psychological health conditions should be provided for public transportation workers in the event of a catastrophic event.     

Childhood disadvantage,cigarette smoking,and mental health: a mediation effect of social engagement

ABSTRACT

Drawing from a life course paradigm, this study explores the associations between childhood disadvantage, social engagement, cigarette smoking, and depressive symptoms. Data come from the three waves of Americans’ Changing Lives survey (N = 2348). This study examines whether childhood disadvantage (e.g. childhood parental divorce, serious parental marital problems, and family violence) has effects on later health and social relationships. Additionally, it looks at whether social engagement mediates the relationships between childhood disadvantage, cigarette use, and mental health. Regression results suggest that childhood adversities are associated with an increase in cigarette smoking, depressive symptoms, and a decrease in participation in religious organizations later in life. Moreover, poor social engagement (in this study, attending religious services) is mediated the relationship between childhood disadvantage, cigarette smoking, and mental health. These findings demonstrate the negative effects of childhood stressors on later health and well-being and suggest greater attention be given to early family history and social ties.     

The Differential Effects of Social Media on Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among the Younger and Older Adult Population in Hong Kong During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Population-Based Cross-sectional Survey Study

BackgroundSocial media has become a ubiquitous part of daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic isolation. However, the role of social media use in depression and suicidal ideation of the general public remains unclear. Related empirical studies were limited and reported inconsistent findings. Little is known about the potential underlying mechanisms that may illustrate the relationship between social media use and depression and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThis study tested the mediation effects of social loneliness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on the relationship between social media use and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, as well as the moderation effect of age on the mediation models.MethodsWe administered a population-based random telephone survey in May and June 2020, when infection control measures were being vigorously implemented in Hong Kong. A total of 1070 adults (658 social media users and 412 nonusers) completed the survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup SEM were conducted to test the mediation and moderation effects.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of probable depression was 11.6%; 1.6% had suicidal ideation in the past 2 weeks. Both moderated mediation models of depressive symptoms (χ²₆₂=335.3; P<.05; comparative fit index [CFI]=0.94; nonnormed fit index [NNFI]=0.92; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=0.06) and suicidal ideation (χ²₃₄=50.8; P<.05; CFI=0.99; NNFI=0.99; RMSEA=0.02) showed acceptable model fit. There was a significantly negative direct effect of social media use on depressive symptoms among older people (β=–.07; P=.04) but not among younger people (β=.04; P=.55). The indirect effect via PTSD symptoms was significantly positive among both younger people (β=.09; P=.02) and older people (β=.10; P=.01). The indirect effect via social loneliness was significant among older people (β=–.01; P=.04) but not among younger people (β=.01; P=.31). The direct effect of social media use on suicidal ideation was not statistically significant in either age group (P>.05). The indirect effects via PTSD symptoms were statistically significant among younger people (β=.02; P=.04) and older people (β=.03; P=.01). Social loneliness was not a significant mediator between social media use and suicidal ideation among either age group (P>.05).ConclusionsSocial media may be a “double-edged sword” for psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its roles vary across age groups. The mediators identified in this study can be addressed by psychological interventions to prevent severe mental health problems during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Association of long working hours with accidents and suicide mortality in Korea

Objectives:The deleterious health effects of long working hours have been previously investigated, but there is a dearth of studies on mortality resulting from accidents or suicide. This prospective study aims to examine the association between working hours and external-cause mortality (accidents and suicide) in Korea, a country with some of the longest working hours in the world.Methods:Employed workers (N=14 484) participating in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were matched with the Korea National Statistical Office’s death registry from 2007–2016 (person-years = 81 927.5 years, mean weighted follow-up duration = 5.7 years). Hazard ratios (HR) for accident (N=25) and suicide (N=27) mortality were estimated according to weekly working hours, with 35–44 hours per week as the reference.Results:Individuals working 45–52 hours per week had higher risk of total external cause mortality compared to those working 35–44 hours per week [HR 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–6.40], adjusting for sex, age, household income, education, occupation, and depressive symptoms. Among the external causes of death, suicide risk was higher (HR 3.89, 95% CI 1.06–14.29) for working 45–52 hours per week compared to working 35–44 hours per week. Working >52 hours per week also showed increased risk for suicide (HR 3.74, 95% CI 1.03–13.64). No statistically significant associations were found for accident mortality.Conclusions:Long working hours are associated with higher suicide mortality rates in Korea.     

To what extent does physical activity explain the associations between neighborhood environment and depressive symptoms in older adults living in an Asian metropolis?

PurposeThis study aimed to examine physical activity (PA) as a mediator of both neighborhood environment-depressive symptoms associations and the moderating effects of living arrangements on these associations.Methods909 Hong Kong Chinese older adults aged 65 + years and living in pre-selected communities stratified by walkability and socio-economic status participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Exposure variables were objectively-quantified neighborhood attributes. The outcome measure was presence of depressive symptoms. Scores on validated Chinese versions of international PA questionnaires were examined as mediators of environment-depressive symptoms associations and of the moderating effects of living arrangements (living alone vs. living with others) on these associations.ResultsNeighborhood connectivity, prevalence of public transport, and pedestrian infrastructure were positively related to depressive symptoms; and frequency of walking for transport was identified as a suppressor of these positive associations. Living arrangements moderated the associations of a considerable number of measures of access to destinations of daily living with depressive symptoms, and most of these moderating effects were partially mediated by frequency of walking for transport.ConclusionsUltra-dense, well-connected, pedestrian-friendly, destination-rich neighborhoods may contribute to lowering the risk of depressive symptoms in Hong Kong older adults by enabling them to frequently walk to local destinations of daily living and, thus, maintain their independence and bond with the community. These potential pathways of influence appear to be particularly important for older adults living alone. Future studies need to identify mechanisms other than PA that contribute to unexplained environment-depression relationships.     

Working time and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms: a longitudinal study among assembly line workers

This study followed assembly line workers during 7 months, comprising a 4-wk season holidays. The main purposes were to determine the potential effect of working time on the presence and intensity of upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms, as to verify the effect of 4 wk of job interruption in the upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms presence and intensity. Data was collected during 6 moments. Generalized estimating equations analyses were used. For the effect estimates, odds ratio with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were reported for each outcome/model. The upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms showed a significant increase (p=0.001), especially after the 4 wk off. In all data collection points there was a significant positive association between the upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and general health status (p<0.001). Considering symptoms’ intensity, significant relations were found (p<0.001). Work time had a negative effect on the work-related upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms over 7 months (OR 0.909, 95% CI 0.861–0.960, p=0.001). For the intensity of upper limb symptoms, the effect of time was also statistical significant (OR 0.115, 95% CI 1.031–1.220, p=0.008). A 4-wk job interruption did not show an immediately positive effect on upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms presence.     

The Protective Roles of Exercise and Maintenance of Daily Living Routines for Chinese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Quarantine Period

PurposeAdolescents are particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 quarantine periods and may be at risk for developing psychological distress symptoms that extend beyond a crisis, including depression. This study examined adolescents’ postquarantine depressive symptoms associated with pandemic stressors. The primary aim was to identify potential protective factors that may buffer the association between the presence of COVID-19 cases in adolescents’ communities and their postquarantine depressive symptoms.MethodsAdolescents from public schools were recruited from Zhengzhou city, Henan, China (N = 1,487, M_age=13.14 years, 50% girls). Adolescents reported the presence of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in their communities, their daily activities and routines during the 2-month quarantine period, and depressive symptoms after the quarantine period.ResultsThe presence of cases in adolescents’ communities during the quarantine contributed to more depressive symptoms in adolescents after the quarantine. This association was buffered by adolescents’ spending more time on physical activities and better maintenance of daily living routines during the quarantine period. The presence of community infection was also more strongly associated with depressive symptoms in older adolescents.ConclusionsThe presence of COVID-19 cases in communities contributed to adolescents’ poorer mental health, and the association was stronger for older adolescents. Spending time on physical activities and maintaining daily living routines during the quarantine appear to be practical strategies that can be used by adolescents to mitigate the association between pandemic stressors and their diminishing mental health.     

Psychopathology Symptoms are Associated with Prenatal Health Practices in Pregnant Women with Heavy Smoking Levels

Purpose

Smoking during pregnancy may be linked to other problematic prenatal health behaviors in women. We examined interrelationships among prenatal smoking, prenatal health behaviors and mental health. The objective of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to variations in prenatal health practices among women who smoke during pregnancy.

Methods

Birth mothers from an adoption study (N?=?912) were interviewed about prenatal smoking, health behaviors, and mental health symptoms at 5 months postpartum.

Results

One-quarter of participants (N?=?222) reported smoking 6 or more cigarettes daily for at least 1 trimester. For mothers who smoked more than 6 cigarettes daily, higher levels of antisocial behaviors (β?=????.14, p?=?.03) and depressive symptoms (β?=????.17, p?=?.03) were associated with less frequent prenatal folate use; antisocial behaviors and depressive symptoms were not associated for prenatal folate use among women who did not smoke more than 6 cigarettes daily. For mothers who did not smoke more than 6 cigarettes daily, more depressive symptoms were associated with fewer prenatal care visits (β?=?.12, p?=?.01). Antisocial behaviors and anxiety symptoms were not associated with prenatal care visits in either group of mothers.

Conclusions for Practice

Maternal antisocial behaviors and depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be markers for poorer adherence to recommendations for folate supplementation among women who smoke 6 or more cigarettes daily during pregnancy, independent of adequacy of prenatal care.

     

Musculoskeletal pain,depression, and stress among Latino manual laborers in North Carolina

The jobs of Latino manual laborers place their mental and physical health at risk. This study evaluates the associations among musculoskeletal pain, mental health, and work organization in Latino manual laborers. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers (n = 189) in North Carolina were interviewed for self-reported musculoskeletal pain, depressive symptoms, stress, work safety climate, and precarious job status. More nonfarmworkers than farmworkers had neck and shoulder pain, but they did not differ in other areas of musculoskeletal pain. Depressive symptoms had a significant association with neck and shoulder pain (p < .05). Precariousness had a significant association with back pain (p < .05). Farmworker participants had H-2A visas and were afforded some protection compared to nonfarmworker manual workers. Research is needed to improve policy that relieves pain and improves mental health for all Latino manual workers.     

Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms Among United States Adolescents

PurposeDepression is increasingly common among US adolescents; the extent to which social media exposure contributes to this increase remains controversial.MethodsWe used Monitoring the Future data from 8th and 10th grade students (n = 74,472), 2009–2017, to assess the relationship between daily social media use and depressive symptoms. Self-reported depressive symptom score (range: 4–20) was assessed continuously using a log-transformed outcome and at varying cut scores with logistic regression analyses. First, these outcomes were examined overall, comparing adolescents using social media daily to adolescents who were not. We then estimated predicted depressive symptom scores using 26 predictors in order to establish underlying depression risk. We partitioned students into depression risk quintiles to control for confounding due to underlying depression risk and examine heterogeneity in the association between social media use and depressive symptoms. Sensitivity analyses were used to test the robustness of results with different configurations of the predicted score model, and overall associations were examined in two-year groups to identify differences in effects.ResultsFor girls, in adjusted risk-stratified analysis, daily social media use was not associated with high (vs. low) depressive symptoms. For boys, results were inconsistent, suggesting a protective effect of daily social media use at some cut scores. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses, and any potential harmful effects appear to be limited to 2009–2010, limiting the evidence supporting social media as a current risk factor for depressive symptoms.ConclusionsAmong US adolescents, daily social media use is not a strong or consistent risk factor for depressive symptoms.     

Associations of social support and stress with postpartum maternal mental health symptoms: Main effects,moderation, and mediation

Poor maternal mental health during the postpartum period can have significant effects on the health of mothers, infants, and families. The findings from cross-sectional studies suggest that stress and social support are related to maternal mental health. This study contributes to the literature through the use of longitudinal data, and examines moderation and mediation among these factors. In 2012–2013, mothers completed surveys assessing stress, social support, and depressive and anxiety symptoms following birth (n = 125), and 3 months (n = 110) and 6 months (n = 99) after birth. The authors examined temporal associations, moderation, and mediation of social support on the relationship between stress and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms using modified Poisson regression models and the counterfactual approach to mediation. Current levels of stress and social support were associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, both independently and when considered together at multiple time points. Social support did not strongly moderate or mediate the relationships between stress and maternal mental health. Interventions to reduce current perceptions of stress and increase social support for mothers during the postpartum period may help improve maternal mental health symptoms. Efforts are needed to assess the current needs of mothers continuously.