Depressive Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women: Results from the MEDIS Study

Data regarding the factors associated with depressive symptoms are limited, especially in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent depressive symptoms were present in postmenopausal women, to explore characteristics associated with depressive symptoms and to determine if time since menopause was independently associated with depressive symptoms. Data collected within the Mediterranean Islands (MEDIS) Study, a health and nutrition survey of elderly people living on Mediterranean islands was used. A total of 851 postmenopausal women living in various Greek islands, Cyprus, and Malta participated in the study. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Age-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that a year’s increase in the time since menopause increased the likelihood of postmenopausal women having severe depressive symptoms by 3% (odds ratio [OR] per 1 year = 1.03, 95% CI 1.001–1.05). This positive association was also evident when other potential confounding factors (i.e, living conditions, financial status, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, smoking habits, and several clinical conditions) were also taken into account in multivariable analyses. Primary health care practitioners and public health care authorities could use the findings of this study to identify depressive symptoms early in postmenopausal women.     

The Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescent Mothers: Results from a 17-Year Longitudinal Study

The objective of the authors in this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of elevated depressive symptoms in a 17-year cohort study of 173 women who were unmarried, pregnant adolescents between June 1988 and January 1990. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between correlates and elevated depressive symptoms during five distinct developmental periods of the life course. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory depression subscale. The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms in adolescent mothers significantly increased over the 17 years of the study from 19.8% to 35.2%. In adjusted analyses, antenatal depressive symptoms were positively and significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms at every developmental period. Intimate partner violence was positively and significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms during all but one developmental period. Other significant correlates of elevated depressive symptoms included welfare receipt, smoking, and parity, all of which were significant at some, but not other, developmental periods. Antenatal depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence were positively and significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Given the public health consequences associated with maternal depression, clinical and community-based interventions should be developed to identify and to treat adolescent mothers at-risk for antenatal depression and intimate partner violence.     

Nutritional Risk Factors Associated with Vasomotor Symptoms in Women Aged 40–65 Years

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are the most common symptoms among menopausal women; these include hot flashes and night sweats, and palpitations often occur along with hot flashes. Some studies in Mexico reported that around 50% of women presented with VMS mainly in the menopausal transition. It has been proven that VMS are not only triggered by an estrogen deficiency, but also by nutritional risk factors. Evidence of an association between nutritional risk factors and VMS is limited in Mexican women. The aim of this study is to identify nutritional risk factors associated with VMS in women aged 40–65 years. This is a comparative cross-sectional study, undertaken in a retrospective way. A sample group (n = 406 women) was divided into four stages according to STRAW+10 (Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop): late reproductive, menopausal transition, early postmenopause, and late postmenopause. Hot flashes were present mainly in the early postmenopause stage (38.1%, p ≤ 0.001). Two or more VMS were reported in 23.2% of women in the menopausal transition stage and 29.3% in the early postmenopause stage (p < 0.001). The presence of VMS was associated with different nutritional risk factors (weight, fasting glucose levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, and tobacco use) in women living in the northeast of Mexico.     

Individual,Family, School,and Community Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: A Comparison of Risk Profiles for Substance Use and Depressive Symptoms

This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptoms and risk and protective factors identified for substance use. A questionnaire, developed to measure these factors in a young persons community, family, school, peer group, and individual characteristics for substance use, was used to assess associations with self-reported depressive symptoms. Data were provided by a representative sample of 8984 secondary school students in Victoria, Australia. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.5% (95% CI 9.2,12.0) for males and 21.7% (95% CI 20.3,23.7) for females. Depressive symptoms were associated with factors in all domains, with the strongest associations in the family domain. Strong relationships were found between the number of elevated risk and protective factors and depressive symptoms, maintained after adjusting for substance use. Patterns of associations were similar for users and nonsubstance users. The findings indicate that prevention programs targeting factors for substance use have the potential to impact on depression.     

育龄妇女细菌性阴道病患病现状及其影响因素

目的探讨农村地区已婚育龄妇女细菌性阴道病的患病现状及其危险因素,为制定干预措施提供参考依据。方法按经济水平分层整群随机抽样,对4个抽样点已婚育龄妇女进行细菌性阴道病流行病学调查。结果细菌性阴道病患病率为6.64%。主要的危险因素为无专用的洗澡盆、巾;经期不使用消毒卫生巾;不知道淋病、梅毒、艾滋病、阴道滴虫可以经性生活传播等。结论农村育龄妇女细菌性阴道病患病率高与文化水平低、卫生知识知晓率低及不良的卫生行为有关。     

Depressive Symptoms and Neurocognitive Performance Among HIV-Infected Women

The aims of this article were to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and neuropsychological performance in a sample of HIV-infected women, and to examine the contribution of demographic, HIV-related variables, and depressive symptoms to neurocognitive performance. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 103 HIV-infected women, recruited from February to December 2010, were assessed for depressive symptoms (with the Beck Depression Inventory) and neurocognitive performance (with the HIV Dementia Scale). Severe depressive symptoms were reported by 31.1% of the women. Findings indicated that severe levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with reduced cognitive functioning in HIV-infected women, particularly in domains of attention, psychomotor speed, and construction. Older age and low education level were significantly associated with neurocognitive impairment in univariate analyses. In the multivariate model, only depressive symptoms were significantly related to neurocognitive impairment. Compared to participants with none/minimal depressive symptoms, those with moderate and severe depressive symptoms had odds ratios for neurocognitive impairment of 5.03 (95% CI, 1.33–18.99) and 3.22 (95% CI, 1.15–9.06), respectively. These findings support continued investigation of the presence of neurocognitive impairment, particularly among women, and may help mental health providers with early detection, planning, and implementation of more effective interventions.     

受艾滋病影响的凉山州青少年抑郁症状影响因素及其交互作用分析

目的了解受艾滋病影响的凉山州青少年抑郁现状以及相关影响因素,探讨影响因素间的交互作用。方法2018-09选取艾滋病高流行区的凉山州4个县各1所学校为调查现场,使用简明抑郁症筛查量表(PHQ-2)、自制人口学特征及健康危险行为的调查问卷进行调查。非条件Logistic回归分析抑郁症状的影响因素及因素的相乘交互作用,并采用Andersson等编制Excel软件计算其相加交互作用。结果纳入1381名受艾滋病影响的凉山州青少年,其中,孤儿510人(36.93%),抑郁症状检出率(28.04%)高于非孤儿(21.47%)(P值<0.05)。logistic回归结果表明,孤儿(OR=1.459,95%CI:1.101~1.932)、女性(OR=1.711,95%CI:1.275~2.294)、总是不被喜欢(OR=6.272,95%CI:2.245~17.521)、饮酒(OR=1.482,95%CI:1.030~2.133)、与他人发生冲突(OR=1.456,95%CI:1.074~1.974)及自伤(OR=1.931,95%CI:1.451~2.571)的受艾滋病影响的青少年更易存在抑郁症状,自评很健康(OR=0.314,95%CI:0.119~0.824)则越不易抑郁。饮酒与自我伤害(RERI=1.576,AP=0.442,SI=2.590)对抑郁症状存在相加交互作用。结论孤儿抑郁发生率高,总是不被喜欢为抑郁最严重的影响因素,同时存在饮酒与自我伤害的行为会增加患抑郁症状风险,须重点关注此类受艾滋病影响青少年。     

Cross-Sectional Associations of Intakes of Starch and Sugars with Depressive Symptoms in Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Women: Three-Generation Study of Women on Diets and Health

The relationship between the intakes of saccharide subtypes and depressive symptoms is unclear in Asian countries. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate this association among 3963 young (age of 18 years) and 3826 middle-aged (mean age of 47.8 years) Japanese women. The intakes of starch, total sugars, free sugars, sucrose, lactose, glucose, and total fructose were assessed using a validated diet history questionnaire. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22.0% and 16.8% among young and middle-aged women, assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, higher starch intake was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in young women with an odds ratio (OR) of the fourth to the first quintiles of 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57, 0.99). Moreover, higher intakes of sugars (except for lactose) were associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in young women, with ORs (95% CI) of the fifth to the first quintiles ranging from 1.30 (0.995, 1.69) for glucose to 1.47 (1.12, 1.93) for sucrose. These associations were not observed in middle-aged women. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.     

103例癌症患者照料者抑郁症状的影响因素研究

目的通过测量癌症患者照料者的抑郁症状水平,以了解照料者的心理健康状况,探讨照料者抑郁症状的影响因素,为改善其心理健康状况提供依据。方法以流调用抑郁自评CES-D量表为测量工具,采用横断面调查方便抽样的方法,面对面结构化访谈收集调查问卷,对癌症患者家属的主要照料者的抑郁症状进行测量。结果癌症患者照料者中抑郁症状的发生率为47.57%。年龄、婚姻状况和照料者的关系对抑郁症状有显著性影响,健康影响是抑郁症状的危险因素,而睡眠时间和心理一致感是抑郁症状的保护性因素。结论癌症患者照料者抑郁症状的发生率较高,改善措施应当针对减轻护理工作量建立轮流护理的补偿机制以及增强照料者应对能力等措施。     

上海市某社区糖尿病病人视网膜病变患病率及相关危险因素分析

目的了解某社区糖尿病视网膜病变（DR）患病率及相关危险因素。方法对社区医生所管理的338名糖尿病患者开展流行病学调查、体格检查、实验室检测和眼科检查,了解DR患病率,运用Logistic回归分析DR危险因素。结果社区糖尿病病人DR患病率为10.80%。其中轻、中、重度非増期和增殖期患病率分别为8.14%、1.33%、0.59%和0.74%。空腹血糖、糖尿病合并高血压病程是糖尿病合并DR的独立危险因素。结论社区医生应进一步深入开展糖尿病病人的日常随访管理,尤其是要加强血糖和血压的监控,并开展管理效果评估,真正将各项防控措施落到实处。     

Spiritual Well-Being,Depressive Symptoms,and Immune Status Among Women Living with HIV/AIDS

Spirituality is a resource some HIV-positive women use to cope with HIV, and it also may have positive impact on physical health. This cross-sectional study examined associations of spiritual well-being, with depressive symptoms, and CD4 cell count and percentages among a non-random sample of 129 predominantly African-American HIV-positive women. Significant inverse associations were observed between depressive symptoms and spiritual well-being (r = ?.55, p = .0001), and its components, existential well-being (r = ?.62, p = .0001) and religious well-being (r = ?.36, p = .0001). Significant positive associations were observed between existential well-being and CD4 cell count (r = .19, p < .05) and also between spiritual well-being (r = .24, p < .05), religious well-being (r = .21, p < .05), and existential well-being (r = .22, p < .05) and CD4 cell percentages. In this sample of HIV-positive women, spiritual well-being, existential well-being, and religious well-being accounted for a significant amount of variance in depressive symptoms and CD4 cell percentages, above and beyond that explained by demographic variables, HIV medication adherence, and HIV viral load (log). Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with CD4 cell counts or percentages. A significant relationship was observed between spiritual/religious practices (prayer/meditation and reading spiritual/religious material) and depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to examine relationships between spirituality and mental and physical health among HIV-positive women.     

Factors Associated with Prenatal Smoking Among Black Women in Eastern North Carolina

Objectives: The objective of this research was to explore prenatal smoking behaviors among Black women attending prenatal clinics. Despite the racial disparities in poor pregnancy outcomes, and the well-known association of smoking with harmful outcomes, little research has been conducted about prenatal smoking among Black women. Methods: Women were enrolled in the study and interviewed at the time of the first prenatal visit. The interview contained items to assess prenatal smoking and cessation, depressive symptoms, demographic factors, and beliefs about smoking. Reports of smoking cessation were verified using urinary cotinine. Results: The sample consisted of 811 Black women. Fourteen percent of the women were self-reported smokers, 12.6% reported cessation and 73% were nonsmokers. Twenty percent of the self-reported quitters had elevated cotinine; when these women were reclassified, 17% of the women were smokers. Factors associated with smoking in logistic regression analysis included elevated maternal depressive symptoms (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6), maternal age 20 years or older (OR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.3), less than a high school education (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.8), unmarried/not living with a partner (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.0, 3.6), and allowing smoking in the home (OR = 5.5; 95% CI: 3.4, 8.6). Conclusions: The prevalence of maternal prenatal smoking was much higher among women in this sample than has been previously reported. The rate of nondisclosure of smoking among self-reported quitters was also high. Maternal behavioral (allowing smoking in the home) and psychosocial factors (depressive symptoms) were associated with prenatal smoking.     

Postnatal Quality of Life,Depressive Symptoms,and Social Support Among Women in Southern India

Evaluation of postnatal quality of life (QOL) has remained a poorly researched area in India. The present cross-sectional study assessed postnatal QOL, using the Mother Generated Index (MGI) and its associated risk factors, and was conducted during January–March 2013 among 274 mothers, 6–8 weeks postnatally. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to evaluate sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and social support. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and QOL using the MGI. The vast majority (90.1 percent) of respondents in our study had a primary MGI score <5, those with significantly higher prevalence of physical problems and psychological distress. A total of 39.8 percent of respondents were screened as having other (not major) depressive symptoms and 4.7 percent as having major depressive symptoms. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age (β = 0.033, p = .018) and socioeconomic status (β = 0.156, p < .001) were significantly positively associated with QOL, while increased depressive symptom scores (β = ?0.075, p < .001) were significantly negatively associated with QOL. A wide spectrum of QOL aspects were reported, including physical, emotional, social, and economic concerns by the mothers. Prevention, evaluation, and treatment of postnatal depressive symptoms and impaired QOL are warranted, taking into account the role of various biopsychosocial risk factors and specific concerns raised by the mothers.     

Prevalence of Respiratory Disease and Associated Factors in an Urban Area of Delhi

Objectives:

To study the prevalence of respiratory morbidity and its associated factors in urban Delhi.

Study Design and Setting:

A cross-sectional, house-to-house survey was conducted in an urban upper middle class locality.

Materials and Methods:

All the residents aged 18 years or more were administered a questionnaire to identify the major symptoms of chronic respiratory tract disease — chronic cough, chronic phlegm, dyspnea and wheezing. The prevalence of all these symptoms in different groups was calculated. Chi square test and logistic regression were applied to determine the significant factors.

Results:

A total of 3465 individuals were interviewed of which 1756 (50.68%) were males and 1709 (49.3%) were females. Only 9.05% of the men smoked. The overall prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and dyspnea was 2.0%, 1.2% and 3.4%, respectively. The prevalence of wheezing was 3.2%. All the symptoms increased with age (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in these symptoms between males and females. Less educated and retired individuals were more likely to have respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, dyspnea and wheezing was 5.8%, 2.9%, 9.9% and 8.7%, respectively, among smokers, which was significantly higher than that observed in nonsmokers. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age and smoking remained significant factors for occurrence of all the respiratory symptoms.     

Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Rural Bapedi Women in Sekhukhune Area,Limpopo Province,South Africa

The study investigated the prevalence of hypertension and identified risk factors in the Bapedi women of Sekhukhune area. Fifty (50) women diagnosed with hypertension and receiving treatment from local clinics were recruited. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used. Most participants were at the average age of 50.50 ± 7.93 years and weight of 81.17 ± 9.96 kg. Blood pressure measurements recorded were systolic blood pressure (SBP) 163 ± 22.41 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 91 ± 5.41 mmHg. An insignificant number of participants had smoking or drinking habits (0% and 2%, respectively). The largest group of women (46%) had primary level of education, 14% completed junior secondary education, 6% completed matric, and 2% had basic education. All women consumed cereal; a large number of women (50%) consumed oils and fats; 44% flesh meats; 30% fruits and vegetables; 26% tubers and roots; 22% organ meats; 10% fish, 10% eggs, and 8% milk. Results showed a high prevalence of hypertension in the Bapedi women in the Sekhukhune area. Changes in diet and lifestyle could significantly improve the health of most women in the area.     

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia in Nursing Home Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective

To review the prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in nursing homes.

Testing a Conceptual Model of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in the First Year

Postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) are likely to have a multifactorial etiology. The relationships among identified PPDS risk factors, however, remain inconclusive. A vulnerability-stress conceptualization of PPDS was tested with a sample of 144 U.S. mothers aged 18–46 years, who had given birth in the last 12 months. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Form A-17, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and Quality of Relationships Inventory were completed. The conceptual model and three alternative models were tested using structural equation modeling. A variation of the conceptual model yielded the best fit, χ² (98) = 133.541, p = .0099, Standardized Root Mean Residual (SRMR) = 0.071, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.050 (90% CI = 0.026–0.070), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.953, Comparative Fix Index (CFI) = 0.961. Dependency and partner conflict were positively related to PPDS, while maternal-efficacy was negatively related to PPDS. Dependency moderated the relationship between maternal-efficacy and PPDS, so that this relationship was stronger for mothers with higher dependency than for those with lower dependency. Dependency, partner conflict, and maternal-efficacy should be considered when building interventions that target the wellbeing of mothers in the first year after birth.     

Acculturation and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Immigrant Women

Depression is one of the most prevalent health problems for immigrants in the United States (U.S.) and it has been associated with the process of acculturation. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify subgroups of Korean immigrant women based on their Korean as well as American acculturation levels using cluster analysis and to determine whether these subgroups differ on depressive symptoms in 200 Korean immigrant women aged 20–64. Cluster analysis identified four as the most appropriate number of subgroups: they were designated as Korean cluster (45%), Marginalized cluster (26%), American cluster (22%), and Bicultural cluster (7%). Korean cluster had high scores on Korean acculturation and low American acculturation, Marginalized had low for both, American had high scores on American acculturation, low for Korean acculturation, and Bicultural had high scores for both. Women in the Marginalized subgroup reported significantly higher depression scores than women in the American and Korean clusters. It is important to identify immigrants who do not relate to either their heritage culture or the new host culture and address their mental health risk issues. This paper is based on the first author's dissertation research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. A part of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of Western Institute of Nursing, Portland, Oregon, April 2007. We thank Prof. Kathryn Lee for comments on earlier draft of this paper.     

Factors Associated with Risk of Perinatal Depressive Symptoms Among Puerto Rican Women with Hyperglycemia

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Rates of perinatal depression and pregnancy hyperglycemia are higher in Hispanic women as compared to non-Hispanic white women. In turn, depressive symptoms may...