Mental health

About: Mental health is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 183794 publications have been published within this topic receiving 4340463 citations. The topic is also known as: mental wellbeing.

Clarifying the relationship between parenthood and depression.

Abstract: Unlike other major adult social roles in the United States, parenthood does not appear to confer a mental health advantage for individuals. However, while research has examined parental status differences in emotional well-being, relatively little is known about variations in emotional distress among parents. In this article, we clarify the relationship between parenthood and current symptoms of depression using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. The analyses provide support for our first hypothesis: Parenthood is not associated with enhanced mental health since there is no type of parent who reports less depression than nonparents. We also find support for our second hypothesis: Certain types of parenthood are associated with more depression than others. Additionally, although we find marital status differences in symptoms among parents, there are no gender differences in the association between parenthood and depression. We discuss the implications of our findings for ongoing theoretical debates about the advantages of social role involvement for mental health as well as the meaning of contemporary parenthood in the United States.

Life stress and health: Stressors and resources.

Abstract: In the life stress process social, psychological, and physiological environments simultaneously impinge on well-being. In this paper we focus on physical health as it is affected by two environmental elements: stress(or)es and resources. Data from a three-wave panel survey of a representative upstate New York community are examined by lagged causal relationships among these variables. The results show that (1) prior physiological conditions contribute directly to current physical symptoms, (2) stress and resource components of the psychological environment directly affect current physical symptoms, (3) social resources buffer both social stressors and psychological stress, whereas psychological resources buffer only psychological stress, and (4) psychological stress mediates the effects of prior social stressors and psychological resources. Clearly, stress is a complex process in which the three interacting environments affect well-being. Importantly, social resources play a buffering role relative to social and psychological stresses for physical well-being.

Discrimination, Symptoms of Depression, and Self-Rated Health Among African American Women in Detroit: Results From a Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract: Objectives. Our understanding of the relationships between perceived discrimination and health was limited by the cross-sectional design of most previous studies. We examined the longitudinal association of self-reported everyday discrimination with depressive symptoms and self-rated general health.Methods. Data came from 2 waves (1996 and 2001) of the Eastside Village Health Worker Partnership survey, a community-based participatory survey of African American women living on Detroit’s east side (n=343). We use longitudinal models to test the hypothesis that a change in everyday discrimination over time is associated with a change in self-reported symptoms of depression (positive) and on self-reported general health status (negative).Results. We found that a change over time in discrimination was significantly associated with a change over time in depressive symptoms (positive) (b=0.125; P<.001) and self-rated general health (negative) (b=−0.163; P<.05) independent of age, education, or income.Conclusions...

'I wouldn't want it on my CV or their records': medical students' experiences of help-seeking for mental health problems.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Medical education is reported to be demanding and stressful and previous work with doctors suggests that there is a resistance within the profession to help-seeking and an ad hoc approach to dealing with stress and distress. AIM: To explore the attitudes of medical students at the University of Manchester, UK to the causes of stress and to examine their views on help-seeking. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews, with analysis of the data using the technique of constant comparison. METHODS: Medical students at the University of Manchester were invited to participate in the study. Sampling made the research representative of medical students in terms of gender, ethnicity and UK/overseas students. Semistructured interviews, with open questions, were conducted and audio-taped with consent. The tapes were transcribed verbatim. The schedule was revised in the light of the emerging themes. RESULTS: Medical students recognised that studying medicine contributes to stress, as experienced in their undergraduate careers. Students reported that perceptions of stigma associated with mental illness, including stress, were prevalent in the student body and were perceived to continue throughout the medical profession. Avoidance of appropriate help-seeking behaviour starts early and is linked to perceived norms which dictate that experiencing a mental health problem may be viewed as a form of weakness and has implications for subsequent successful career progression. CONCLUSION: The preparation of medical students for life as doctors involves more than facilitation of the acquisition of knowledge and skills, so that new doctors can conform to the principals of professional conduct. Support and mentoring are required so that stress can be identified early and dealt with appropriately