Environmental risk and protective factors of adolescents’ and youths’ mental health: differences between parents’ appraisal and self-reports

Purpose

We investigated the effect of parents’ mental health, life events, and home life (among other factors) on adolescents’/youths’ mental health, whether such an effect varies when several variables are assessed jointly, and also whether the informant source of the mental health problem modifies the estimations.

Methods

We studied a representative sample of 454 Spanish adolescents/youths studied longitudinally (2 assessments, 3 years apart). We considered factors associated with adolescents’/youths’ mental health (conduct, emotional, and hyperactivity scores [SDQ]): risk factors (parents’ mental health and life events) and mediators (social and financial support). Structural equation modeling was applied. We constructed two models: (a) with parents’ SDQ responses and (b) with self-reported SDQ responses (in a subsample of N = 260).

Results

Model fit was adequate for parents’ appraisal. Parents’ mental health (p < 0.05) and undesirable life events (p < 0.05) were the most important risk factors. The same model showed poorer fit when self-reported measures were used. Home life exerted a stronger protective effect on adolescents’/youths’ mental health when reported by adolescents/youths. The negative effect of parents’ mental health was significantly protected by home life in emotional [?0.14 (0.07)] and hyperactivity scores [?0.2 (0.08)].

Conclusions

Even in the presence of other factors, parents’ mental health has an important effect on adolescents’/youths’ mental health. Good levels of home life are protective, especially when adolescents’/youths’ mental health is self-reported.     

Consumption of fish and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been described as ‘one of the most disabling and burdensome health conditions worldwide’ and is responsible for approximately 70% of dementia in the elderly. Based on the current prevalence of AD, an aging world population and the associated projected health care requirements, it is estimated that by 2050, the prevalence of AD will reach 104 million with around 43% requiring ongoing health care. If the onset of AD can be reduced by as little as one year, the prevalence could be reduced by 10%. There is substantial commonality in research findings to date around the positive influence of seafood consumption in reducing the risk of dementia and AD. Emerging concern about the sustainability of global fisheries supports the recommendation of selective consumption of sustainable wild caught and increased emphasis on production of farmed fish supplies to meet consumption needs.     

Parents’ Perceptions of Water Safety and Quality

Every day parents make choices about the source of water their families consume. There are many contributing factors which could affect decisions about water consumption including taste, smell, color, safety, cost, and convenience. However, few studies have investigated what parents with young children think about water quality and safety in the US and how this affects the choices they are making. This study aimed to describe the perceptions of parents with regard to water quality and safety and to compare bottled water and tap water use, as well as to examine motivation for water choices. We conducted an online questionnaire to survey parents living in Pennsylvania about water quality and safety, and preference for bottled versus tap water. Parents were recruited through child care centers, and 143 surveys were returned. The survey results showed high overall scores for perception of tap water quality and safety, and a preference for tap water over bottled water. We found that parents were concerned for the environmental impact that buying bottled water may have but were also concerned about potential contamination of tap water by natural gas drilling processes and nuclear power plants. These findings regarding parental concerns are critical to inform pediatric health care providers, water sellers, and suppliers in order that they may provide parents with the necessary information to make educated choices for their families.     

Obstetricians and gynecologists’ perceptions and use of nicotine replacement therapy

The objective of this study was to assess Ohio obstetricians/gynecologists’ perceptions and use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with pregnant smokers. A three-wave mailing procedure was used and 154 responded (44%) to a valid and reliable 36-item questionnaire regarding: Stage of Change in using NRT, perceptions of prescribing NRT, confidence in using NRT, barriers to prescribing NRT, and use of 5 A’s counseling steps. One-fourth (26%) prescribed NRT to pregnant smokers. One-third (32%) perceived NRT as safe, yet few (14%) perceived it as effective. Respondents were most likely to prescribe NRT if the patient requested it (44%). Those most likely to prescribe NRT were more likely to: perceive use of NRT in pregnancy as safe (OR = 20.0); perceive NRT as effective in pregnancy (OR = 4.3); have high confidence in their ability to effectively prescribe NRT (OR = 3.86); and believed most or some of their colleagues prescribed NRT to pregnant smokers (OR = 6.7). The majority did not prescribe NRT possibly because few respondents received cigarette smoking cessation training in medical school or their residencies. Significant revisions in professional training and more continuing medical education are needed regarding smoking cessation and use of NRT.James H. Price is a Professor of Public Health and Timothy R. Jordan is an Assistant Professor of Public Health both at the University of Toledo, Department of Public Health, Toledo, OH 43606. Joseph A. Dake is an Assistant Professor of Health Education at Wayne State University, Division of Health, Detroit, MI 48202.     

Stroke survivors’ and relatives’ negotiation of relational and activity changes: A qualitative study

Objective: This study explores stroke survivors’ and relatives’ negotiation of relational and activity change in their interrelated long-term meaning-making processes of everyday life and what it means for the experience of progress and well-being. Material and methods: Repeated retrospective in-depth interviews were conducted with both the stroke survivor and relatives. A Critical Psychological Perspective gives the frame of reference to study more closely what is going on in and across particular contexts in family members’ ongoing social practices. Results: An asymmetric problematic relationship can develop among the participants in the context of family life. However, the analysis identifies six beneficial relational and activity changes, which contribute to a reciprocal, balanced repositioning, and help the family move in a more positive direction. The repositioning processes facilitate a new transformation of family we-ness, which is important for the participants’ experience of process and well-being. The comprehensive family work that has to be done is about managing the imbalance of everyday life, upholding separate activities outside the family sphere and dealing with the fact that peripheral others become more peripheral. Conclusion: The study addresses some arguments for taking a family-centred perspective in occupational therapy practice, as well as in a stroke rehabilitation service in general.     

Adolescents’ and Adults’ Experiences of Being Surveyed About Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review of Harms,Benefits, and Regrets

The neuroscience and psychological literatures suggest that talking about previous violence and abuse may not only be beneficial, as previously believed, but may also be associated with risks. Thus, studies on such topics introduce ethical questions regarding the risk–benefit ratio of sensitive research. We performed a systematic review of participants’ experiences related to sensitive research and compared consequent harms, benefits, and regrets among victims and nonvictims of abuse. Thirty studies were included (4 adolescent and 26 adult studies). In adolescent studies, 3% to 37% of participants (median: 6%) reported harms, but none of these studies measured benefits or regrets. Among adults, 4% to 50% (median: 25%) reported harms, 23% to 100% (median: 92%) reported benefits, and 1% to 6% (median: 2%) reported regrets. Our results suggest that the risk–benefit ratio related to sensitive research is not unfavorable, but there are gaps in the evidence among adolescents.Sensitive research topics include those that are highly private and potentially psychologically traumatic. Substance use, sexual practices, violence and abuse, death, accidents, combat (including war), and natural disasters might all be considered sensitive research topics. Since the 1930s and 1940s, research has increasingly focused on sensitive topics, predominantly owing to the epidemics of illicit drug use, AIDS, and teenage pregnancies.1,2 There is a clear scientific rationale for research on sensitive topics to generate accurate information about prevalence, risk and protective factors, and intervention strategies. The self-reports of research participants are one of the most efficient data collection methods to gather such information.In the clinical arena of trauma-related disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), earlier approaches of debriefing and “talking through” traumatic experiences were thought to be helpful intervention strategies to manage trauma and reduce risk. More recent evidence, however, suggests that such approaches may be harmful and may lead to retraumatization.3 The past decade has also seen an emerging neuroscience literature focusing on memory consolidation and reconsolidation; this literature suggests that reliving a memory might strengthen the memory trace.4 Taken together, psychological and neuroscience evidence suggests that there may be both risks and benefits of trauma-based clinical work.There has also been a debate in research settings as to whether recalling and answering questions about past trauma or abuse has negative or positive consequences for study participants.5–10 Some argue that asking about abuse might be upsetting, harmful, and stigmatizing and may lead to retraumatization; that survivors might not be emotionally stable enough to assess risk or seek help; and that researchers have an obligation to protect survivors from questions about their experiences. In contrast, others suggest that disclosure in the context of research participation may be followed by emotional relief, that participants identify such disclosure as beneficial, and that most participants do not regret or negatively appraise their research experience.11–18 Furthermore, it has been suggested that the emotional distress experienced by participants involved in sensitive research is an indicator of emotional engagement with a research project rather than an indicator of harm.5Given this debate, it is important to examine the literature regarding harms, benefits, and regrets in the context of sensitive research. A key consideration is differences between those with previous exposure to violence and abuse (victimization or perpetration) and those who have not been exposed. Another consideration is whether responses to research differ by gender. Females might be more vulnerable to the harms of research participation because prevailing norms supporting gender power inequities and male violence against women and girls may limit the accessibility of support during and after participation. Responses to participation may also be age dependent. In particular, adolescents who are exposed to abuse might be particularly vulnerable because they may need more support than adults during and after the research, and such support may be less accessible to them.Given the uncertainty regarding the risks, benefits, and risk-to-benefit ratio of participating in sensitive research, we conducted a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies investigating adolescents’ and adults’ experiences of participating in studies that included sensitive questions regarding violence and abuse (including intimate partner violence [IPV]) victimization and perpetration. We compared the consequent harms, benefits, and regrets among individuals who had been victims and perpetrators of violence or abuse with those of individuals who had not been victims or perpetrators. Furthermore, we investigated whether there were gender and age differences in the reporting of harms and benefits of research experience. Our goal was to produce evidence to guide researchers and ethics committees in avoiding underprotection or overprotection of human participants in research on violence and abuse.     

Canadian parents and children’s knowledge of ADHD

The present study examined attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) knowledge of children with ADHD and their parents. Given the important role that parents play in advocating for their children, a better understanding of their knowledge of ADHD is critical. Additionally, understanding what children with ADHD themselves know about the disorder may provide insight into how best to support this vulnerable population. As such, 29 children with ADHD and their parents completed questionnaires measuring their ADHD knowledge across 3 areas: ADHD symptoms, treatment and general knowledge. Results found parents to be most knowledgeable in the area of ADHD symptoms and least in general information. Encouragingly, children with ADHD were found to have generally good knowledge regarding ADHD and, more importantly, reported positive attitudes regarding receiving help from their parents and teachers to manage their ADHD symptoms. These results have implications for individuals providing ADHD education to parents and children and, more specifically, may provide insight into specific areas of misconception.     

Professional experience and ergonomic aspects of midwives’ work

Objectives

The most frequent manner of attending childbirth imposes on midwives assuming poor body position affecting the musculoskeletal system. Long professional experience does not mitigate the negative effects. The adopted movement habit, as well as the type, number and frequency of actions influence the body posture. The aim of the study was to identify ergonomic threats of basic occupational midwives activities and how particular spinal segments arrangements while attending childbirth using the same technique in senior midwives differ from those of junior ones. It was also checked whether pain influences the working position assumed by midwives.

Materials and Methods

Examinations were conducted in 95 midwives aged 21?C50 (X = 29.25±9.34): 51 graduates of BSc midwifery who worked 680 h in delivery rooms during obligatory practical classes and apprenticeship and 44 senior midwives with professional experience of 7?C27 years (X = 14.84±5.98). The study was threefold. The spinal alignment while performing work activities associated with attending childbirth was assessed using the OWAS system and the SonoSens Monitor, the center of gravity projection on basal plane ?? using the AccuGait AMTI stabilometric platform. The measurements were taken during a simulation of attending childbirth (on examination model). A survey was conducted aimed at identifying spinal pain.

Results

Midwives?? working postures require unnatural body alignments. Postural instability in the working position and no maximal usage of basal plane were observed. The work overload may afflict the musculoskeletal system, which was confirmed by different pain discomforts in 67.3% of the examinees.

Conclusions

Spinal alignment while attending childbirth is individually differentiated and in every case non-ergonomic. Identifying explicitly spinal overloads is difficult, but the most prevalent ones affect lumbar and cervical regions altogether. Spinal pain is frequently noted, both in junior and senior midwives, and is characteristic for midwives working in maximal movement ranges.     

Individuals’ Knowledge and Practices of the Cold Chain

This study aims to identify the influence of education on the practices and knowledge of consumers to protect or maintain the cold chain in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Data were gathered by using a questionnaire. Participants were 700 randomly selected volunteering adults. The majority of the participants had a university degree (69.0%) and did not know the definition of cold chain but had some knowledge about it, and differences existed between primary school and university graduates. The scores of consumers’ attitudes to maintain cold chain were determined to increase in parallel with education level. The rate of people knowing refrigerator temperature, the coldest part of refrigerator, and controlling whether shops correctly store the products was highest in university graduates. Adults were observed to believe that shop assistants were responsible for maintaining a cold chain. However, the actual importance of consumers in this process reveals the importance of education for individuals.     

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on lactating mothers’ energy intake and BMI,and infants’ growth

Abstract

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 80 lactating mothers were randomly divided into two groups to receive daily supplement of synbiotic (n?=?40) or a placebo (n?=?40) for 30 days. Information on dietary intake was collected and anthropometric measurements were taken using standard calibrated instruments. Data analysis was carried out using nutritionist IV, SPSS and Epi Info software. Synbiotic supplementation resulted in a slight increase in mean energy intake while, in the placebo group, maternal energy intake decreased significantly (p?<?0.023). Although maternal weight and BMI increased slightly in the supplemented group, these two parameters decreased significantly in the placebo group (p?<?0.01). Also, infants’ weight gain in the synbiotic group was significantly higher than the placebo group after the intervention (p?<?0.044). Synbiotics may prevent weight loss in lactating mothers and result in weight gain in infants. Further experiments are required to study these effects in undernourished lactating mothers and their infants.     

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of Chinese Preschoolers’ Caregivers’ Feeding Behavior Scale

BackgroundCaregivers’ feeding behavior plays a crucial role in the development of overweight and obesity in preschoolers. However, to date, there is no broadly accepted scale or questionnaire for assessing preschoolers’ caregivers’ feeding behavior in China.ObjectiveTo develop a scale that can be used to assess preschoolers’ caregivers’ feeding behavior in China and to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the scale’s reliability, validity, and discriminative ability.DesignThe scale was created through a literature review and qualitative interviews with the target population. Items were reviewed by 50 caregivers of preschoolers and 10 experienced pediatricians, and 95 items were selected to form a draft scale. The draft scale underwent three rounds of investigation, and the results from these evaluations were used to select items that formed the final scale.Participants/settingThree groups of caregivers (n=175, 400, and 912) were sampled and stratified from urban and suburban kindergartens in the cities of Jinan and Xi’an between March 2016 and October 2017 to participate in evaluations of the draft scale. From these caregiver groups, 146, 362, and 768 participants completed valid questionnaires, respectively, which were used in the scale’s evaluation.Primary outcome measuresThe general demographic data of the participants and scores of each item in the scale were the primary outcome measures.Statistical analyses performedExploratory factor analysis and variability analysis were used to evaluate the draft scale, based on data from two rounds of investigation. The structure of the scale was explored through confirmatory factor analysis, and its reliability, construct validity, and discriminative ability were evaluated based on data from a third round of investigation.ResultsThe Chinese Preschoolers’ Caregivers’ Feeding Behavior Scale (CPCFBS) consisted of 35 items and seven dimensions; the total cumulative variance contribution rate was 58.6%; the Cronbach’s α coefficient was .91; the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.89; and the test–retest reliability coefficient was 0.85. The age and weight status of the children and the caregivers’ age and education levels, as well as family incomes and child-caregiver relationships, were correlated with feeding behavior.ConclusionsThe CPCFBS appeared to have good reliability and construct validity in specific Chinese populations. Future studies are needed to confirm existing findings in different Chinese populations with larger sample sizes.     

Nurses’ and physicians’ attitudes about women abuse: The effects of gender and professional role

The apathy encountered by battered women when they seek help from medical and other professions has been attributed to patriarchal norms and victim‐blaming. Because of their place in the medical hierarchy this study hypothesized that: a) nurses would have more sympathetic attitudes toward battered women than physicians; and b) professional roles and not gender would explain the differences. The findings supported the first but not the second hypothesis. Nurses were less likely to believe that wife‐beating is justified and that victims are responsible for the abuse. Women, regardless of profession, were more sympathetic than men. Nurses and physicians with the most liberal attitudes about women's roles were least likely to blame victims. Those with the most intensive training on the topic held victims less responsible and were more willing to help them.     

The Associations of Parents’ and Children’s Anxiety Sensitivity with Child Anxiety and Somatic-Hypochondriac Symptoms

Background

The clinical relevance of Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) is well established, as well as the association between parents’ and children’s AS. However, there is little data data on the indirect relation between parents’ AS and children’s anxiety and somatic-hypochondriac symptoms through children’s AS, and the few findings available are inconsistent.

Objective

The study examined, in a community sample, whether children’s AS was associated to their anxiety and somatic-hypochondriac symptoms, and tested whether children’s AS mediated the link between parents’ AS and children’s anxiety and somatic-hypochondriac symptoms.

Methods

A total of 392 children and one of their parents completed a battery of questionnaires.

Results

Children’s AS mediated the links between parents’ AS and children’s anxiety and somatic-hypochondriac symptoms. These pathways were moderated by the child’s age, in that they were significant for older children (ages 11–17 years old), but not for younger ones (ages 8–10 years old).

Conclusions

The findings advance understanding of how parental AS might be implicated in children’s AS and clinical symptoms.

     

Nurses’ sense of coherence and their work related patterns of behaviour

Objectives  

This paper is a report on the relationship between a sense of coherence (and its components) and work related patterns of behaviour in the group of nurses.