Dyadic adjustment,sexuality and psychological distress in older couples

The following study gives results on the association between psychological distress and sexual and marital aspects from the Quebec Health Survey of Older Couples (Enquête sur la santé des aînés au Québec/Volet Couple). In this study, 508 francophone couples (508 women, 508 men), aged 65 years old and over, answered several questionnaires about psychological distress (e.g. Psychological Distress Index) and marital (e.g. Dyadic adjustment scale) and sexual aspects of their life (e.g. Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index). Participants answered general questions at home in the presence of an interviewer and they answered to specific questionnaires about their sexuality and marital life on a computer to ensure confidentiality. Results indicate that dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction and gender predict psychological distress and explain 14.2% of the variance of psychological distress among older couples. The same predictor variables were found in men and women considered separately. Moreover, participants with low marital functioning show more than twice as much psychological distress and poorer sexual functioning.     

Marital support,psychological distress,and disability among community-dwelling older couples: A longitudinal study

Little is known about the relationship between marital support, psychological distress and disability among older couples. Overall, it appears that functional status (the presence or absence of disability) has a major effect on psychological distress. The aim of this study is to explore longitudinally the relationship between functional status, marital support and psychological distress. This study was carried out over a period of 18 months using a representative sample of 394 community-dwelling couples, aged 65 and over. The following instruments were used: the Perceived Supportive Spouse Behaviors Questionnaire, the Index of Psychological Distress and a structured interview designed to measure disability. A dyadic longitudinal design was used to test the mediating effect of marital support on the relationship between disability and psychological distress in older couples. Dyadic data analyses with structural equation modeling were performed. The results indicate that neither positive nor negative marital support has any mediating effect on the relationship between functional status and psychological distress. However, it also indicates that negative marital support of men and women is related to their level of psychological distress. Moreover, both men and women react to even a slight decrease in their functional autonomy with an increase in psychological distress.     

Predicting longitudinal patterns of psychological distress in older husband caregivers: further analysis of existing data

Further analysis of existing data from a previous longitudinal study of older husband caregivers sought to determine whether primary objective and subjective stressors drawn from Pearlin's model of caregiving could predict three patterns of psychological distress observed in the sample over 1 year: (a) stable high (n = 115), (b) stable low (n = 44), and (c) rising (n = 46). Results of discriminant function analyses show that subjective stressors (level of role overload, role captivity and relational deprivation) at baseline, distinguish the stable low group of husbands from the stable-high. The results suggest that there is considerable stability over time. Many husband caregivers report high-psychological distress and need help, whereas there is a need of preventive interventions to keep psychological distress low. Implications for singular interventions that target specific factors according to group membership are discussed.     

The interactive effect of subjective age and subjective distance-to-death on psychological distress of older adults

Objectives: Subjective age refers to how young or old people experience themselves to be, while subjective distance-to-death reflects how far or close they experience themselves to be from their death. The present study examined whether subjective age and subjective distance-to-death interact in predicting psychological distress.

Method: A sample of 1073 community-dwelling older adults at the age range of 50–86 (M = 58.1, SD = 5.3) evaluated their subjective age, subjective distance-to-death, psychological distress, and rated several measures of physical health.

Results: After controlling for background characteristics and physical health indices, perceiving death as far and reporting younger subjective age predicted lower psychological distress. The combination of feeling close to death and older subjective age was related to the highest ratings of psychological distress. Moreover, the effect of subjective distance-to-death on psychological distress was mitigated by younger subjective age.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of an integrative view of two time perspectives – one that focuses on time since birth and another that concerns time left till death – to psychological distress of older adults.     

Serum cholesterol and psychological distress in hospitalized depressed patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between total serum cholesterol and various psychosocial variables in depressed in-patients. METHOD: One hundred and eighty-six patients had their total fasting serum cholesterol assessed following admission; psychiatric diagnoses were obtained with the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID) interview. Psychopathology was measured with a clinician rated scale [Montgomery and Asberg Depressive Rating Scale (MADRS)] and a self-rating scale [Symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90)]. RESULTS: Univariate analyses showed lower total serum cholesterol levels being correlated with higher scores in several psychopathological areas. Multivariate analyses indicated that male gender, lower age and higher MADRS scores were the most predictive variables for lower cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: The data suggest, in this depressed population, an association between serum cholesterol and depressive symptoms. What is the cause and what is its effect is not possible to say from this cross-sectional study.     

Comparison of health-related quality of life and associated psychological factors between younger and older patients with established rheumatic disorders

Objectives: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between younger and older patients with established rheumatic disorders and to assess the relative impact of a number of psychosocial parameters on HRQOL.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 320 patients (245 < 65 and 75 ≥ 65 years old, response rate: 74.9%) with various rheumatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, 168; systemic lupus, 56; scleroderma, 56; and Sjogren's syndrome, 40) attending a follow-up clinic, HRQOL was assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF. Functional limitations (Health Assessment Questionnaire), psychological distress (Symptom Distress Checklist-90-R), defense mechanisms (Defense Style Questionnaire and Life Style Index), sense of coherence, and interpersonal difficulties (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-40) were also assessed.

Results: Older patients presented more impaired physical HRQOL (p = 0.018) and social relationships HRQOL (p = 0.041) independent of disease type, education, and pain. Functional limitations were more prominent in the older group (p = 0.030). Pain, functional limitations, and psychological distress were independently associated with physical HRQOL in both groups. Psychological distress was the only common independent correlate of social relationships HRQOL. Personality factors were significant correlates of physical and social relationships HRQOLs only in the younger group, while the impact of pain in physical HRQOL was greater for younger than older patients, as shown by a moderator analysis.

Conclusion: Older patients with rheumatic diseases experience more impaired HRQOL than the younger ones, and the management and prevention of functional limitations and psychological distress should be a priority, since they are strongly associated with HRQOL. Pain also warrants attention in all age groups, but especially in younger patients. Personality factors impact on HRQOL in younger patients, and this might be relevant to psychological interventions.     

Predictors of psychological distress in caregivers of older persons with wet age-related macular degeneration

Objectives: Several studies have investigated the biopsychosocial impacts of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in regards to the older patient, little is known about the impacts associated with caring for individuals with AMD. We aimed to determine the predictors of subjective caregiver distress and other negative outcomes associated with caring for someone with advanced AMD.

Methods: Cross-sectional, self-complete survey involving 500 caregivers of persons with advanced AMD. Respondents were identified from the Macular Disease Foundation of Australia client database. Logistic regression tested the independent effects of care recipient and caregiver characteristics on study outcomes, including: caregiver psychological well-being, participation in recreational/social activities and retirement plans.

Results: Around one third of caregivers self-reported a high level of care recipient dependence. Over one in two caregivers reported a negative state of mind. Comorbid chronic illnesses in the care recipient were associated with the caregiver reporting psychological distress, multivariable-adjusted odds ratio, OR, 1.45 (95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.14–1.86). If the care recipient was highly dependent on the caregiver, there was 99% greater likelihood of caregiver distress, OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.01–3.93). Comorbid chronic conditions in the care recipient was associated with 49% and 31% higher odds of the caregiver reporting disruption to other areas of their life and retirement plans related to the caregiving experience, respectively.

Conclusions: A high prevalence of caregiver distress related to caring for persons with advanced AMD was observed. Level of dependence on the caregiver and presence of comorbid chronic illnesses were independent predictors of the caregiver experiencing psychological distress.     

Social support buffers young men's resilient coping to psychological distress

Aim

Social support and resilient coping can aid mental health. The aim of this study was to examine age effects of social support on men's resilient coping for psychological distress.

Methods

The sample consisted of 434 help-seeking Canadian men who completed standardized measures. Regression analyses tested a moderated moderation model, controlling for COVID-19 pandemic impact.

Results

Greater resilient coping was associated with lower psychological distress and this relationship was moderated by social support. Higher levels of social support had a significant positive effect on men's resilient coping for psychological distress. Findings indicated that younger men (18–24 years) were most positively buffered by social support.

Conclusions

Social support appears to be particularly important for young men's coping response to psychological distress. This is an important finding in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where social support networks have been challenged. Community-based and clinical programs and initiatives that proactively target young men's development of social connections and robust supportive networks, while bolstering their individual resilient coping skills, are likely to provide protections from psychological distress.     

Social rejection by peers: a risk factor for psychological distress

Aims: The study examined the relationship between social rejection by peers, personal resources (potency and perceived social support) and psychological distress among Israeli adolescents. Methods: Five hundred and eleven adolescents aged 12–17 (high‐school students from two rural Israeli schools) completed self‐report questionnaires consisting of the following measures: peer rejection (PR; ranged from having been ignored, cursed, assaulted, bullied, to having been physically attacked), posttraumatic symptoms (PTS), social avoidance, depression symptoms, potency and perceived social support. Results: Thirty‐five percent of the students reported experiencing some kind of social rejection (SR). One‐way ANOVA and stepwise linear regression tests showed that those who experienced SR had higher levels of depression, PTS symptoms, and social avoidance compared to those who had no such history. In addition, personal resources, potency in particular was found to mediate the distress. Conclusions: Findings indicated that adolescents who reported experiencing peer rejection had higher levels of psychological distress. In addition, the lower the personal resources were, the higher the levels of psychological distress. Potency buffered the level of distress resulting from social rejection by peers. Compared to boys, rejected girls had lower potency levels.     

Drinking, smoking, and psychological distress in middle and late life

A limited number of studies have examined the co-occurrence of alcohol use and smoking and their mental health effects in middle and late life. In this study, using the 2008 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, the characteristics of individuals aged 50 and older who abstained from both substances, who used both substances, and who used one or the other substance were examined. Then, the main and interaction effects of drinking and smoking on psychological distress were analyzed. Findings show that smoker-nondrinkers are the most disadvantaged group in terms of sociodemographic and health characteristics, while drinker-nonsmokers are the most advantaged group. When sociodemographic, health, and other factors were controlled, no direct effects of drinking or interaction effect of drinking and smoking were detected for either gender. However, heavy smoking (6+ cigarettes on a typical smoking day) was significantly associated with an elevated level of psychological distress among women. The findings highlight the vulnerability of heavy smoking middle-aged and older women. These women are the most psychologically distressed and may need interventions designed to help them quit smoking, reduce or quit drinking, and alleviate psychological distress.     

Psychological distress and its correlates in older care-dependent persons living at home

Objectives: This study examined psychological distress in older people receiving home nursing care. The influence of risk factors and personal resources on their perceived psychological distress was also examined. Method: A linear regression analysis was applied in a cross-sectional sample of 214 patients aged 75 years and older. Psychological distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The independent variables were sex, education, age, living arrangement, household composition, reported illnesses, Barthel ADL Index, self-rated health, Subjective Health Complaints, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Sense of Coherence and Revised Social Provision Scale.

Results: Of the 214 participants, 23 (10.7%) reported experiencing psychological distress using a cutoff point of 4 or more on a GHQ case score. Sense of coherence, education and subjective health complaints were the only factors that were significantly related to psychological distress in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The general level of psychological distress was low. Low psychological distress was related to an inner strength conceptualized as sense of coherence. Commonly reported risk factors such as sex, household composition and perceived social support, and objective measures of somatic and mental health and bodily dysfunctions were not related to psychological distress. Suggested reasons for this are greater acceptance of bodily and functional shortcomings and of changes related to goal achievement in old age, according to the model of selective optimization with compensation.     

Factors impacting on psychological distress and recovery after the 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake, Japan: community-based study

Aim: This study was undertaken 5 months after the 2004 Niigata–Chuetsu earthquake in Japan to assess factors that impacted on psychological distress and its recovery. Methods: Three thousand and twenty‐six adult victims who lived in temporary shelter and in seriously damaged areas were evaluated by questionnaire. The questionnaire queried subject profile, degree of house damage, health status, and psychological distress using a 5‐point scale before, immediately and 5 months after the earthquake. Results: Immediately after the earthquake, 59.3% of the subjects had psychological distress. At 5 months after the earthquake, however, this percentage decreased to 21.8%. The psychological distress immediately after the earthquake was significantly serious in victims who: (i) were female; (ii) felt stronger fear of the earthquake and the aftershocks; (iii) lived at home or office after the earthquake; and (iv) were injured due to the earthquake or suffered from sickness after the earthquake. In contrast, the factors impairing psychological recovery 5 months after the earthquake were as follows: (i) being with unfamiliar member(s) during the night after the earthquake; (ii) serious house damage; (iii) living in temporary shelter or at a relative's home after the earthquake; and (iv) physical illness after the earthquake. Conclusion: Despite differences between disasters, these results were consistent with those in some previous studies and may be useful for long‐term mental care support.     

Pacific Islands families study: intimate partner stressors and psychological distress among pacific adults

Although there has been increased research about the nature and predictors of sexual problems, relatively little is known about sexual health and well-being among minority ethnic groups across the world. This study explored stressful intimate relationship events that made a significant impact on psychological distress among Pacific adults living in New Zealand. The Pacific Islands Families (PIF) study is a longitudinal investigation of Pacific children born in New Zealand, and their parents. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and intimate partner stress items were used to assess the relationship between these stressful events and psychological distress among Pacific mothers and fathers (n = 3963 interviews with 2114 individuals). For both men and women, the most significant partner stress associated with psychological distress was problems with sex. These findings show how stressful events around sexuality and intimate relationships affect Pacific psychological well-being. These intimate issues need to be considered when designing intervention and treatment programmes that are adaptive for long-term family stability and sexual well-being. The relationship between culture, sexuality, and psychological distress needs further investigation. Using a qualitative methodology would provide a more intensive exploration of the role that cultural context plays in intimate relationships and sexuality in Pacific adults.     

Associations between type A behaviour pattern and psychological distress

Objective To investigate the relationships between type A behaviour pattern (TABP) and psychological distress measured in middle aged men participating in two surveys 28 years apart. Design and subjects Men residing in Oslo and born in 1923–1952 (all men aged 40–49 years and 7% of those aged 20–39 years—30,016 altogether) were invited to a cardiovascular screening in 1972/1973—asking about risk factors, symptoms and diseases. All the 17,972 participants were also asked questions about TABP (two items) and psychological distress (one item). Of the original invited cohort, those who still lived in Oslo or its vicinity in 2000 were invited to a new health examination carried through by similar procedures. Among other questions the participants answered ten items about psychological distress (Hopkins Symptoms Checklist: HSCL-10). Altogether 7,393 men participated in both surveys. Results In 1972/1973 almost 57% of those participating twice considered themselves as a person who stresses himself and chooses high speed and at the same time denied that they rather preferred a tranquil and quiet life—a combination of answeres defined as type A behavior pattern. The corresponding TABP in 2000, when most of the men were retired, was 27%. A confirmatory factor analyses based on questions asked in 2000, verified that the HSCL/distress items reflected one underlying latent factor, and that this was a different factor than the one reflected in the two TABP items. The cross-sectional association between TABP and distress in 1972/1973 was highly significant (P < 0.001)—the odds ratio for psychological distress adjusted for background variables was 2.23 (95% confidence interval 1.98, 2.50). The corresponding association in 2000 showed a higher mean HSCL-10 score and a higher proportion with HSCL-score ≥1.85 in men with TABP compared with men without (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), but the odds ratio in 2000 was lower than the result 28-years earlier. When those reporting psychological distress in 1972/1973 were excluded, TABP in 1972/1973 predicted psychological distress (HSCL-10) in the follow-up survey when adjusted for background variables (P < 0.05) using structural equation modelling. Conclusion Type A behaviour pattern and psychological distress reflect two different latent factors. TABP seems to be associated with psychological distress, both cross-sectionally and prospectively. This knowledge permits early detection of individuals who have a higher probability of experiencing psychological distress over a considerable period of time.