Resources,stressors and psychological distress among older adults in Chennai,India

Scant information exists on the complex interaction between resources and stressors and their subsequent influence on the psychological distress of older adults in India. Within the framework of resource theory, the present study examined the various pathways through which resources and stressors influence psychological distress by testing four models – the independence model, the stress-suppression model, the counteractive model and the resource-deterioration model. The independence model posits that resources and stressors have a direct relationship with psychological distress. The stress-suppression model hypothesizes that stressors mediate the influence of resources on psychological distress. The counteractive model postulates that stressors mobilize resources, which in turn influence psychological distress. The resource-deterioration model states that stressors deplete resources and subsequently exacerbate distress. In the present study, resources include social support, religiosity and mastery; stressors include life events, abuse and health problems. Psychological distress was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and Geriatric Depression Scale. Interviews were conducted among 400 adults aged 65 years and above, randomly selected from the electoral list of urban Chennai, India. The battery of instruments was translated into Tamil (local language) by back-translation. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted to test the three models. The results supported the stress-suppressor model. Resources had an indirect, negative relationship with psychological distress, and stressors had a direct, positive effect on distress. As such there is a need to identify and strengthen the resources available to older adults in India.     

Green space and serious psychological distress among adults and teens: A population-based study in California

There has been mounting evidence for the beneficial effect of green space on mental health among adults, but studies on the same topics are lacking for teens in the US. This study aimed to fill in this research gap by utilizing data from California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011–2014. A total of 81,102 households (composed of 4538 teens and 81,102 adults) were retained for main analyses. Surrounding greenness was assessed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within varying buffers of home residence. Survey logistic regressions accounted for sampling weights and design were conducted to examine the effects of greenness on serious psychological distress (SPD), adjusted for major socio-demographic factors, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and co-respondent's psychological distress level within the same household. An inter-quartile increment of NDVI in 350 m buffer predicted decreased odds of SPDs by 36% in teens (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = [0.46, 0.91]). Mediation analyses revealed that this association remained almost unchanged even after adjusting for social cohesion. The NDVI-SPD association of adults was found to be significant only in the older group (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = [0.68, 0.95]). This study is one of the first population-based US studies extending the epidemiological evidence for benefits of green space on mental health from adults to teens.     

Health-related quality of life among adults with serious psychological distress and chronic medical conditions

Objective Determine the prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) among adults with and without chronic medical conditions and examine the association between SPD and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods Cross-sectional data from the 2005 Los Angeles County Health Survey were used to estimate prevalence of SPD. The association between SPD and HRQOL was evaluated using logistic regression and analysis of covariance, adjusting for sociodemographic variables and number of chronic conditions. Results SPD was significantly associated with younger age, lower income, being unemployed or disabled, being unmarried, fair or poor health, and having one or more chronic conditions. Adults with three or more chronic conditions were six times as likely to have SPD as those with no conditions. Adults with SPD reported significantly more unhealthy days (mental and physical) and activity limitation days than adults without SPD. The adjusted mean number of unhealthy days was highest among adults with SPD (23.3), followed by adults with depression (14.1), and diabetes (10.6). Conclusions SPD is associated with decreased HRQOL and presence of chronic medical conditions. Mental health should be routinely assessed when addressing health needs of individuals and communities. Persons with chronic diseases may benefit from targeted mental health screening and programs that employ treatment approaches that jointly manage physical and mental health and provide improved links and access to services.     

杭州市城区成年居民步行时间与建成环境主观感知的关联分析

目的 了解杭州市城区成年居民步行与建成环境主观感知之间的关系。方法 2012年采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法选取杭州市城区25~59岁居民开展面对面问卷调查。采用国际体力活动量表长版(IPAQ-L)和社区步行环境量表简版(NEWS-A)评价居民过去1周交通出行相关步行时间、休闲性步行时间以及建成环境主观感知。利用多因素logistic回归法分析步行与建成环境主观感知得分的关联性。结果 杭州市城区成年居民过去1周总体力活动得分M=2 766 met·min^-1·week^-1,平均1周休闲相关步行时间为90 min,平均1周交通相关步行时间则为100 min。控制年龄、BMI、婚姻状况、工作状态、文化程度、居住社区类型、总体力活动水平后,男性(OR=0.764,95%CI:0.588~0.992)和女性(OR=0.633,95%CI:0.481~0.833)的休闲性步行时间均与场所设施可及性维度得分呈负相关,女性休闲性步行时间还与住宅密度维度得分呈负相关(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.996~0.999),女性交通出行相关步行时间则与步行道/自行车道维度得分呈正相关(OR=1.537,95%CI:1.138~2.075)。男性交通出行相关步行时间与建成环境主观感知各维度得分的关联均无统计学意义。结论 可通过改善步行道/自行车道等建成环境促进成年居民的交通相关步行时间,开展成年人步行的环境干预时需要考虑性别差异。     

Participation among adults with disability: the role of the urban environment

Increasing attention is being paid to the importance of built environment characteristics for participation, especially among people with various levels of impairment or activity limitations. The purpose of this research was to examine the role of specific characteristics in the urban environment as they interact with underlying impairments and activity limitations to either promote or hinder participation in life situations. Using data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study (2001-2003) in the United States, we used logistic regression to examine the effect of built environment characteristics on three indicators of participation (interpersonal interaction, obtaining preventive health care, and voting) among adults age 45+ (N = 1225). We examined effects across two levels of spatial scale: the census tract and block group. One in five adults reported difficulty walking 2-3 blocks unaided, but their odds of engaging in regular interpersonal interaction was 45% higher when they lived in areas with higher residential security. For the thirty-six percent of adults who reported visual impairment, and the odds of obtaining preventive health care were over 20% lower when living in an area with heavy traffic. Residing in an area with a high proportion of streets in poor condition was associated with 60% lower odds of voting among those with underlying difficulty with mobility activities. Results varied across levels of spatial scale. Simple changes in urban built environments may facilitate the full participation of all persons in society.     

Likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines in rural and urban adults: cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to compare the odds of meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines among adults living in rural and urban areas of Canada.MethodsData from the 2017 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed using binomial logistic regression with a sample of 47,266 adults representing a survey-weighted total of 25,669,018. The odds of meeting PA guidelines were determined based on self-reported moderate-to-vigorous PA (<150 min per week or ≥150 min per week). Communities were categorized as urban or rural based on population size and density. Individual-level correlates included in the model were self-identified sex, age, body mass index, highest level of education, household income, perceived health, and sense of belonging to community.ResultsApproximately 56.6% of rural and 59.3% of urban adults reported meeting recommended PA levels when location was examined as a sole predictor. The best-fit model adjusted for all individual-level factors showed a significant sex × location interaction. Males in rural communities were more likely to report meeting PA guidelines (odds = 0.90 or 47.4%) than males in urban areas (odds = 0.78 or 43.8%), whereas females living in rural communities (odds = 0.58 or 36.7%) were less likely to report meeting PA guidelines than females in urban areas (odds = 0.65 or 39.4%).ConclusionThe association between rural-urban residence and meeting PA guidelines appears to be contingent on self-identified sex differences. Future work should explore how gender- and location-related variables interact to influence self-reported PA engagement.     

Relationship between psychological distress and the adherence to the Korean healthy eating index (KHEI): the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2013 and 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThis study examined the association of depressive symptoms, stress perception, and suicidal ideation with overall dietary quality using the newly developed Korean healthy eating index (KHEI).SUBJECTS/METHODSThis study included 9,607 adults (3,939 men and 5,668 women, ≥ 19 years) who participated in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 and 2015. The KHEI scores were calculated using the food frequency questionnaire data. Survey logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the association between psychiatric distress and dietary quality.RESULTSThe percentage of subjects with experience of depressive mood, higher stress perception, and suicidal ideation was 8.2%, 25.0%, and 3.7% in men and 15.4%, 27.3%, and 6.0% in women, respectively. The mean KHEI score was 61.5 ± 0.29 in men and 64.8 ± 0.24 in women (P < 0.001). The present study found a difference in the adherence to specific dietary components of the KHEI between sexes. Men experiencing depressive symptoms were less likely to eat meat, fish, eggs, and beans, while depressed women showed lower vegetable intake. Both men and women with suicidal ideation showed a lower intake of vegetables. The men with stress had a lower breakfast eating score than those without stress (7.21 vs. 6.77, P = 0.016). The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for depressive symptoms, stress perception, and the suicidal idea in women with the highest quartile of KHEI scores compared to the lowest quartile was 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.51–0.92), 0.73 (0.58–0.82), and 0.52 (0.33–0.82), respectively and significant dose-response associations were observed (P for trends < 0.05 for all). On the other hand, these associations were not observed in men after adjusting for the confounding variables (P for trends > 0.05 for all).CONCLUSIONSPoor adherence to dietary recommendations is associated with psychological distress, especially in women.     

Influences of income and employment on psychological distress and depression treatment in Japanese adults

Objectives  

Psychological distress is a health issue of critical importance, especially in people of working age in developed countries, including Japan. This study examined the relationships of income and employment arrangement with psychological distress and treatment of depression in a national sample of Japanese adults.     

Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study: housing and psychological distress among Pacific mothers

Objective: In a sample of Pacific mothers living in New Zealand, we examined: 1) maternal reports about seven specific major housing problems (too small, difficult to get to from the street, in poor condition, damp, cold, presence of pests, too expensive); and 2) associations between these housing problems and maternal psychological distress, adjusting for some maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: The Pacific Islands Families longitudinal study follows a cohort of Pacific children born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2000 and their parents. At the 14‐year phase, mothers (n=844) were asked about housing conditions and psychological distress. Results: Mothers who reported having any major housing problem, particularly the presence of pests and poor housing conditions, were significantly more likely to report psychological distress after adjusting for sociodemographic confounders. Conclusions: The impact of housing on mental health is complex and may be influenced by social, health and sociodemographic characteristics of Pacific mothers. Implications for public health: The finding that housing problems are significantly associated with psychological distress among Pacific mothers in New Zealand is an important finding. However, more in‐depth qualitative research is needed to provide a clearer understanding of the way housing problems affect mental health and to guide strategies that minimise this outcome for Pacific mothers.     

High psychological distress among school-going adolescents in Afghanistan: prevalence and correlates from a national survey

ABSTRACT

The aim of this investigation was to assess the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among adolescents Afghanistan. Cross-sectional 2014 ‘Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS)’ data included 2579 students that were representative of all students in Grades 7 to 11 in Afghanistan. The prevalence of single psychological distress was 28.4% and multiple psychological distress 27.7%. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, being female, ever cannabis and/or amphetamine use, bullying victimization and injury were associated with both single and multiple psychological distress. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, the experience of hunger, current tobacco use, secondary smoke, having been attacked, and truancy were positively and attending physical education classes was negatively associated with single and/or multiple psychological distress. High prevalence of psychological distress was observed and several risk factors identified that can facilitate intervention strategies.     

中国13～18岁儿童青少年体质水平及其与心理困扰的关联研究

目的描述2019年中国13～18岁儿童青少年的体质水平, 并且分析其与心理困扰之间的关联。方法使用2019年全国学生体质与健康调研数据, 研究对象为90 633名13～18岁汉族儿童青少年。按照《国家学生体质健康标准》(2014年修订)对测量的体质指标进行评价。根据凯斯勒心理困扰量表的得分对心理困扰程度进行判定:≤19、20～、25～、≥30分别表示无、轻度、中度、重度心理困扰, 中度和重度心理困扰合称高心理困扰。使用χ2检验比较性别差异, 采用Cochran-Armitage检验分析趋势, 建立混合效应模型中的无序多分类logistic回归模型分析体质水平与心理困扰程度的关联。结果 2019年中国13～18岁儿童青少年体质不及格率为17.2%;优良率为18.2%, 男生体质优良率(15.9%)低于女生(20.5%), 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。体质优良率随年龄的增加呈降低的趋势(趋势检验P<0.05)。2019年中国13～18岁儿童青少年高心理困扰率为39.3%, 男生高心理困扰率(37.0%)低于女生(41.6%), 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05), 且...     

中国9～18岁儿童青少年首次遗精/月经初潮与心理困扰的关联研究

目的分析中国9～18岁汉族儿童青少年首次遗精/月经初潮的发生与心理困扰情况的关联。方法使用2019年全国学生体质与健康调研数据, 共选取首次遗精/月经初潮和心理困扰情况记录资料完整的11～18岁男生54 438名和9～18岁女生76 376名。是否发生首次遗精/月经初潮由内科医生询问记录, 心理困扰程度根据凯斯勒心理困扰量表得分判定。使用χ2检验比较各年龄组心理困扰率和首次遗精/月经初潮发生率的差异、采用多因素logistic回归模型分层分析各年龄组男女生存在心理困扰与发生首次遗精/月经初潮的关联。结果 2019年中国男生8个年龄组首次遗精发生率为6.3%～96.5%, 女生10个年龄组月经初潮发生率为2.8%～99.0%, 男女生高心理困扰率分别为32.5%和32.7%。11～18岁男生中, 高心理困扰率随年龄增加而升高, 趋势检验P<0.001, 各年龄组已出现与未出现首次遗精者高心理困扰率差异无统计学意义。9～18岁女生中, 高心理困扰率随年龄增加而升高, 趋势检验P<0.001, 10岁及12岁已出现月经初潮组高心理困扰率高于未出现月经初潮组, 差异有统计学意义(均...     

Communication,support and psychosocial work environment affecting psychological distress among working women aged 20 to 39 years in Japan

When compared with their older counterparts, younger women are more likely to have depressive symptoms because they more often experience interrupted work history and a heavy childrearing burden. The purposes of the present study were 1) to investigate the possible association of psychosocial work environment with psychological distress and 2) to examine the way by which communication and support in the workplace affect to psychological distress among young women. We studied 198 women aged 20 to 39 yr in a cross-sectional study. The Kessler Scale-10 (K10 Scale) was used to examine psychological distress. In employees who experienced interpersonal conflict, those who had little or no conversations with their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 4.2), and those who received little or no support from their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 3.8) compared to those who had more frequent communication and received more support. Harmonious communication in the workplace can help prevent psychological distress among employees, which in turn may enable them to be satisfied with their work.     

Overweight/Obesity Prevalence among Under-Five Children and Risk Factors in India: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the National Family Health Survey (2015–2016)

The occurrence of overweight and obesity has increased in recent years in India. In this study, we investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of overweight/obesity among children aged 0–59 months in India. Using data from the 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4), the research sample included 176,255 children aged 0 to 59 months. Bivariate and multivariate techniques were used to analyze children’s risk factors for overweight/obesity. We identified that the prevalence of overweight/obesity among children aged 0–59 was 2.6% in India. The study findings reveal that factors such as child sex, age, birth weight, birth rank, maternal education, number of children, age at marriage, mother’s BMI, media exposure, social group, and dietary diversity score were most significantly correlated with childhood overweight and obesity in India. Furthermore, we found that male children (ARR: 1.08) aged between 0 and 11 months (ARR: 3.77) with low birth rank (ARR: 1.24), obese (ARR: 1.81) children whose mothers married after the age of 18 (ARR: 1.15), children who belong to a scheduled tribe family (ARR: 1.46), and children who consumed 7–9 food items (ARR: 1.22) were at highest risk of being overweight and obese. However, breastfeeding (ARR: 0.85) and Muslim families (ARR: 0.87) appeared to be protective factors with respect to childhood overweight and obesity in India. Pertinent public health programs, clinical follow-up, and awareness about sedentary lifestyles can help to reduce overweight/obesity risks in children.     

Psychological distress among marginalized women in the outskirts of Beirut: Determinants and association with health perception

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) and its determinants in under-privileged women in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. A cross-sectional survey of 1,869 ever-married women aged 15-59 was carried out. PD levels were determined using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (Appendix). Health status, living conditions, social support, and physical symptoms as reported by women were recorded. Logistic regression was used to test the independent effect of each variable on PD. 46.6% of women had PD. Psychologically distressed women had more children, less education, lower income, less social support, an uncomfortable relationship with their husband, participated in the labor force and were more likely to reside in a predominantly Moslem community. Reporting a health or living problem were significant predictors of PD. The presence of limb, back and stomach pain, and headache were associated with PD. Compared to similar populations in other countries, our sample had a high prevalence of mental distress.     

Urban built environments and trajectories of mobility disability: Findings from a national sample of community-dwelling American adults (1986–2001)

As people age, they become more dependent on their local communities, especially when they are no longer able to drive. Uneven or discontinuous sidewalks, heavy traffic, and inaccessible public transportation, are just some of the built environment characteristics that can create barriers for outdoor mobility in later adulthood. A small body of literature has been investigating the role of the built environment on disability, but has been limited to cross-sectional analyses. The purpose of this paper is to further advance this area of research by examining the role of the built environment on long-term trajectories of mobility disability in a national sample of American adults (age 45+) followed over a 15-year period. Using multilevel logistic growth curve models with nationally representative data from the Americans' Changing Lives Study (1986–2001), we find that trajectories of mobility disability are steeper in older age groups. Women and those with lower education had a higher odds of mobility disability over time. The presence of just one chronic health condition doubled the odds of mobility disability at each of the four study waves. Among older adults (age 75+), living in neighborhoods characterized by more motorized travel was associated with an odds ratio for mobility disability that was 1.5 times higher in any given year than for older adults living in environments that were more pedestrian friendly. These results suggest that the built environment can exacerbate mobility difficulties for older adults. When considering ways to minimize disability as the population ages, simple changes in the built environment may be easier to implement than efforts to change risk factors at the individual level.     

Self-Reported Olfactory Dysfunction and Diet Quality: Findings from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

We identified associations between self-reported olfactory dysfunction (OD) and dietary attributes in participants aged ≥40 years (n = 6,356) from the nationally representative 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The chemosensory questionnaire and 24-h dietary recalls were administered by trained interviewers. OD was defined as self-report of either smell problems in the last year, worse smell relative to age 25, or perceiving phantom odors. Dietary outcomes included Healthy Eating Index 2015 score (HEI) with adequacy and moderation components (higher scores indicated higher diet quality), dietary diversity, energy density, and intake of major food groups. Survey-weighted linear regression models estimated OD–diet associations, adjusting for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors. Adjusted mean difference (95% CI) between those with versus without OD, showed that adults with OD had significantly lower HEI moderation score (−0.67 (−1.22, −0.11)) and diets higher in energy density (0.06 (0.00, 0.11)), and percent energy from saturated fat (0.47 (0.12, 0.81)), total fat (0.96 (0.22, 1.70)), and added sugar (1.00 (0.33, 1.66)). Age and sex-stratified analyses showed that younger females (40–64 years) primarily accounted for the associations with diet quality and total/saturated fat intake. These findings inform dietary screening and recommendations for adults who report OD, including those experiencing transient or persistent smell loss with COVID-19.     

The impact of subjective and objective social status on psychological distress among men and women in Japan

From around 1990s, social disparity issues and their effects on mental health have been gaining increasing attention in Japanese society. Findings from previous studies on socioeconomic status (SES) and mental health in Japan are inconsistent. Subjective Social Status (SSS) has been proposed and tested as a stronger predictor of mental health than measures such as education, income and occupation in the UK and US, but this has not been tested enough in countries with a different social and cultural background such as Japan. In the present study, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 2006 among a nationally representative community-based random sample of residents in Japan aged 20–74 years. A total of 1237 participants completed the questionnaire, with the overall response rate of 61.9%. After excluding 42 respondents, data from 1195 respondents (574 men and 621 women) were analyzed. SSS, household income, and education level of respondents were measured using single-item questions. Those with a K6 score of 5 or greater were defined as having psychological distress. A multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of SSS, household income, and education on psychological distress. Among men, the prevalence of psychological distress, after adjusting for age and marital status, differed significantly across groups classified based on SSS, household income, and education. Among women, only SSS was significantly associated with psychological distress after adjusting for age and marital status. However, when all three variables were simultaneously entered into the model, SSS and household income were significantly associated with psychological distress, with the low SSS group having a higher odds ratio of psychological distress. In summary, SSS seems to be a stronger predictor of psychological distress among both men and women in the Japanese community than traditional measures of SES.     

Wave 1 results of the INTerventions,Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) cohort study: Examining spatio-temporal measures for urban environments and health

Built environment interventions have the potential to improve population health and reduce health inequities. The objective of this paper is to present the first wave of the INTErventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) cohort studies in Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Montreal, Canada. We examine how our cohorts compared to Canadian census data and present summary data for our outcomes of interest (physical activity, well-being, and social connectedness). We also compare location data and activity spaces from survey data, research-grade GPS and accelerometer devices, and a smartphone app, and compile measures of proximity to select built environment interventions.