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North Carolina Medical Journal 2020The technology landscape has rapidly evolved in recent years, with social media now playing a central role in the lives of youth. Social media has created both...
The technology landscape has rapidly evolved in recent years, with social media now playing a central role in the lives of youth. Social media has created both significant new challenges and exciting opportunities. Research is beginning to uncover how specific social media experiences may influence youth mental health.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Mental Health; Social Media
PubMed: 32132255
DOI: 10.18043/ncm.81.2.116 -
Annual Review of Public Health Apr 2020There is growing recognition in the fields of public health and mental health services research that the provision of clinical services to individuals is not a viable... (Review)
Review
There is growing recognition in the fields of public health and mental health services research that the provision of clinical services to individuals is not a viable approach to meeting the mental health needs of a population. Despite enthusiasm for the notion of population-based approaches to mental health, concrete guidance about what such approaches entail is lacking, and evidence of their effectiveness has not been integrated. Drawing from research and scholarship across multiple disciplines, this review provides a concrete definition of population-based approaches to mental health, situates these approaches within their historical context in the United States, and summarizes the nature of these approaches and their evidence. These approaches span three domains: () social, economic, and environmental policy interventions that can be implemented by legislators and public agency directors, () public health practice interventions that can be implemented by public health department officials, and () health care system interventions that can be implemented by hospital and health care system leaders.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Mental Health Services; Patient-Centered Care; United States
PubMed: 31905323
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094247 -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) Dec 2017There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other. We analyse the direct and indirect...
There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other. We analyse the direct and indirect effects of past mental health on present physical health and past physical health on present mental health using lifestyle choices and social capital in a mediation framework. We use data on 10,693 individuals aged 50 years and over from six waves (2002-2012) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Mental health is measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES) and physical health by the Activities of Daily Living (ADL). We find significant direct and indirect effects for both forms of health, with indirect effects explaining 10% of the effect of past mental health on physical health and 8% of the effect of past physical health on mental health. Physical activity is the largest contributor to the indirect effects. There are stronger indirect effects for males in mental health (9.9%) and for older age groups in mental health (13.6%) and in physical health (12.6%). Health policies aiming at changing physical and mental health need to consider not only the direct cross-effects but also the indirect cross-effects between mental health and physical health.
Topics: Aged; Female; Health Status; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; United Kingdom
PubMed: 29132081
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.008 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jan 2018Mental health problems in college and their associations with academic performance are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to investigate to what extent...
BACKGROUND
Mental health problems in college and their associations with academic performance are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to investigate to what extent mental health problems are associated with academic functioning.
METHODS
As part of the World Mental Health Surveys International College Student project, 12-month mental health problems among freshmen (N = 4921) was assessed in an e-survey of students at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium. The associations of mental health problems with academic functioning (expressed in terms of academic year percentage [or AYP] and grade point average [GPA]) were examined across academic departments.
RESULTS
Approximately one in three freshman reports mental health problems in the past year, with internalizing and externalizing problems both associated with reduced academic functioning (2.9-4.7% AYP reduction, corresponding to 0.2-0.3 GPA reduction). The association of externalizing problems with individual-level academic functioning was significantly higher in academic departments with comparatively low average academic functioning.
LIMITATIONS
Limited sample size precluded further investigation of interactions between department-level and student-level variables. No information was available on freshman secondary school academic performance.
CONCLUSIONS
Mental health problems are common in college freshman, and clearly associated with lower academic functioning. Additional research is needed to examine the potentially causal nature of this association, and, if so, whether interventions aimed at treating mental health problems might improve academic performance.
Topics: Achievement; Belgium; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Prevalence; Social Adjustment; Students; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 28802728
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.044 -
American Journal of Public Health Oct 2014We systematically reviewed 12 epidemiological studies to determine whether an association exists between diet quality and patterns and mental health in children and... (Review)
Review
We systematically reviewed 12 epidemiological studies to determine whether an association exists between diet quality and patterns and mental health in children and adolescents; 9 explored the relationship using diet as the exposure, and 3 used mental health as the exposure. We found evidence of a significant, cross-sectional relationship between unhealthy dietary patterns and poorer mental health in children and adolescents. We observed a consistent trend for the relationship between good-quality diet and better mental health and some evidence for the reverse. When including only the 7 studies deemed to be of high methodological quality, all but 1 of these trends remained. Findings highlight the potential importance of the relationship between dietary patterns or quality and mental health early in the life span.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Diet; Humans; Mental Health; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 25208008
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302110 -
Psychiatria Polska Jun 2017The authors propose a new approach to the definition of mental health, different than the definition proposed by the World Health Organization, which is established... (Review)
Review
The authors propose a new approach to the definition of mental health, different than the definition proposed by the World Health Organization, which is established around issues of person's well-being and productivity. It is supposed to reflect the complexity of human life experience.
Topics: Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Psychotropic Drugs; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 28866712
DOI: 10.12740/PP/74145 -
The International Journal of... Jan 2016Mental health issues in the workplace are a growing concern among organizations and policymakers, but it remains unclear what interventions are effective in preventing... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mental health issues in the workplace are a growing concern among organizations and policymakers, but it remains unclear what interventions are effective in preventing mental health problems and their associated organizational consequences. This synthesis reports on workplace mental health interventions that impact absenteeism, productivity and financial outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of evidence supporting mental health interventions as valuable to work outcomes.
METHODS
Databases were searched for systematic reviews between 2000 and 2012: Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and TRIP. Grey literature searches included health-evidence.ca, Rehab+, National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), and Institute for Work and Health. The assessment of articles for inclusion criteria and methodological quality was conducted independently by two or more researchers, with differences resolved through consensus.
RESULTS
The search resulted in 3363 titles, of which 3248 were excluded following title/abstract review, with 115 articles retrieved for full-text review. 14 articles finally met the inclusion criteria and are summarized in this synthesis.
CONCLUSION
There is moderate evidence for the effectiveness of workplace mental health interventions on improved workplace outcomes. Certain types of programs, such as those incorporating both mental and physical health interventions, multicomponent mental health and/or psychosocial interventions, and exposure in vivo containing interventions for particular anxiety disorders had a greater level of research evidence to support their effectiveness.
Topics: Absenteeism; Humans; Mental Health; Mental Health Services; Work; Workplace
PubMed: 26772593
DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2016.607 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Nov 2019Young people frequently make use of the internet as part of their day-to-day activities, and this has extended to their help-seeking behavior. Offline help-seeking is...
BACKGROUND
Young people frequently make use of the internet as part of their day-to-day activities, and this has extended to their help-seeking behavior. Offline help-seeking is known to be impeded by a number of barriers including stigma and a preference for self-reliance. Online help-seeking may offer an additional domain where young people can seek help for mental health difficulties without being encumbered by these same barriers.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic literature review was to examine young peoples' online help-seeking behaviors for mental health concerns. It aimed to summarize young peoples' experiences and identify benefits and limitations of online help-seeking for this age group. It also examined the theoretical perspectives that have been applied to understand online help-seeking.
METHODS
A systematic review of peer-reviewed research papers from the following major electronic databases was conducted: PsycINFO, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. The search was conducted in August 2017. The narrative synthesis approach to reviews was used to analyze the existing evidence to answer the review questions.
RESULTS
Overall, 28 studies were included. The most common method of data collection was through the use of surveys. Study quality was moderate to strong. Text-based query via an internet search engine was the most commonly identified help-seeking approach. Social media, government or charity websites, live chat, instant messaging, and online communities were also used. Key benefits included anonymity and privacy, immediacy, ease of access, inclusivity, the ability to connect with others and share experiences, and a greater sense of control over the help-seeking journey. Online help-seeking has the potential to meet the needs of those with a preference for self-reliance or act as a gateway to further help-seeking. Barriers to help-seeking included a lack of mental health literacy, concerns about privacy and confidentiality, and uncertainty about the trustworthiness of online resources. Until now, there has been limited development and use of theoretical models to guide research on online help-seeking.
CONCLUSIONS
Approaches to improving help-seeking by young people should consider the role of the internet and online resources as an adjunct to offline help-seeking. This review identifies opportunities and challenges in this space. It highlights the limited use of theoretical frameworks to help conceptualize online help-seeking. Self-determination theory and the help-seeking model provide promising starting points for the development of online help-seeking theories. This review discusses the use of these theories to conceptualize online help-seeking and identify key motivations and tensions that may arise when young people seek help online.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Help-Seeking Behavior; Humans; Internet; Male; Mental Health; Qualitative Research; Young Adult
PubMed: 31742562
DOI: 10.2196/13873 -
JAMA Network Open Jul 2024Excessive screen media use has been associated with poorer mental health among children and adolescents in several observational studies. However, experimental evidence... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE
Excessive screen media use has been associated with poorer mental health among children and adolescents in several observational studies. However, experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of a 2-week screen media reduction intervention on children's and adolescents' mental health.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This prespecified secondary analysis of a cluster randomized clinical trial with a 2-week follow-up included 89 families (with 181 children and adolescents) from 10 Danish municipalities in the region of Southern Denmark. All study procedures were carried out in the home of the participants. Enrollment began on June 6, 2019, and ended on March 30, 2021. This analysis was conducted between January 1 and November 30, 2023.
INTERVENTION
Families were randomly allocated to a screen media reduction group or a control group. The 2-week screen media reduction intervention was designed to ensure a high level of compliance to the reduction in leisure-time screen media use. Participants allocated to the intervention group had to reduce their leisure-time screen media use to 3 hours per week or less per person and hand over smartphones and tablets.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcome was the between-group mean difference in change in total behavioral difficulties, measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 2-week follow-up. Results were estimated using mixed-effects tobit regression models. Analyses were carried out as both intention to treat and complete case.
RESULTS
In the sample of 89 families including 181 children and adolescents (intervention group [45 families]: 86 children; mean [SD] age, 8.6 [2.7] years; 42 girls [49%]; control group [44 families]: 95 children; mean [SD] age, 9.5 [2.5] years; 57 girls [60%]), there was a statistically significant between-group mean difference in the total difficulties score, favoring the screen media reduction intervention (-1.67; 95% CI, -2.68 to -0.67; Cohen d, 0.53). The greatest improvements were observed for internalizing symptoms (emotional symptoms and peer problems; between-group mean difference, -1.03; 95% CI, -1.76 to -0.29) and prosocial behavior (between-group mean difference, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.39-1.30).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that a short-term reduction in leisure-time screen media use within families positively affected psychological symptoms of children and adolescents, particularly by mitigating internalizing behavioral issues and enhancing prosocial behavior. More research is needed to confirm whether these effects are sustainable in the long term.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04098913.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Child; Female; Male; Denmark; Screen Time; Mental Health
PubMed: 38995646
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19881 -
British Journal of Cancer Nov 2021Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the nature and prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress-related symptoms in the wake of a breast cancer diagnosis.
METHODS
Ten databases were searched between March and August 2020. Thirty-nine quantitative studies were meta-analysed.
RESULTS
The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms was 39% for non-specific distress (n = 13), 34% for anxiety (n = 19), 31% for post-traumatic stress (n = 7) and 20% for depression (n = 25). No studies reporting breast cancer patients' well-being in our specific time frame were found.
CONCLUSION
Mental health can be impacted in at least four domains following a diagnosis of breast cancer and such effects are commonplace. This study outlines a clear need for mitigating the impacts on mental health brought about by breast cancer diagnosis. CRD42020203990.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mental Health
PubMed: 34482373
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01542-3