<p> The purpose of the current study was to address the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) status and psychological distress within the adolescent population. Data was acquired from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011-2012, a state-wide phone survey which addresses health issues among the resident population. The present study used data from 2,1 04 California adolescents, utilizing variables relating to demographics, general health condition, and mental health.</p><p> Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between BMI and psychological distress, with overweight adolescents experiencing more distress and depression than their underweight/healthy weight counterparts. Gender and perceived general health condition were both significantly related to distress, with females and those of poor perceived general health condition experiencing greater psychological distress, regardless of weight status. This study has implications for social work policy and practice, especially in work with youth and families.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to explore the association between adolescent characteristics, community factors and mental health. This was achieved by completing a quantitative study analyzing secondary data obtained from a mental health agency in Orange County, California, and an online database, City-Data.com. The results rendered a statistically significant relationship between age and those who had the presenting problem of depression, relational problems, and poor coping. A statistically significant relationship between females and poor coping was also revealed. The most interesting finding, however, was the statistically significant relationship between presenting problems in relation to their community factors. Both poverty levels and educational attainment less than high school among the residents in the communities where these adolescents live were associated with depression and relational problems. The findings of this study are beneficial in identifyirig the need for further research regarding the relationship between educational attainment and mental health.</p>

<p> The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of university students with disabilities and the factors that contribute to or deter them from accessing Disabled Student Services. The sample was based on availability and convenience and consisted of 36 students. A self-administered survey was used.</p><p> The results indicated that students tended to seek services to access accommodations and to learn more about services that can help them succeed. They tended to delay seeking services in order to have a fresh start in college and due to their fear of stigma. Individuals with mental health disabilities were less likely than other students to report self-determination and support and more likely to experience stigma.</p><p> Social workers can play a vital role in assisting students with disabilities in identifying their specific barriers and in assisting them to access programs and services in a postsecondary education setting.</p>

<p> This action research study examined the impact of participation in an appreciative inquiry (AI) intervention on social service workers' level of compassion fatigue. Five workers plus two of their managers took part in the study. A 6-hour AI intervention was held and participants completed pre- and post-tests of the Professional Quality of Life Scale to measure their compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout. A focus group also was held to gather qualitative data about the impact of the intervention. Results indicated that the intervention was highly valuable for strengthening working relationships, underscoring the positives in otherwise emotionally difficult work, and learning how to avoid or reduce compassion fatigue. Based on these findings, periodic AI interventions are advised to reduce social service workers' compassion fatigue by sharing their experiences and focusing on the positive. Future research should eliminate the limitations of the present study by expanding the sample and gathering multiple forms of data.</p>

<p> Sexual minorities often face challenges. Many of those challenges include discrimination and self-hatred or internalized homophobia which may impede or cause conflict in the formation of their sexual identity. Those who are questioning their sexual identity may abuse or misuse drugs to avoid confrontation and discrimination, admittance of their identity, and as a coping mechanism. Treatment of a substance use disorder is typically through an organization, facility, or agency, while those working with sexual minorities in formulating their sexual identities are predominantly LGBTQ centers or county funded LGBTQ support programs. Many programs do not address both issues at the same time and location, though one may affect the other. An outpatient program that integrates the treatment of substance abuse and self-identity in sexual minorities is one possible means of bridging this gap. To meet this need, the author created an outpatient training program that provides information about the treatment of substance use disorders, identity formation within sexual minorities, and a potential relapse model. This program was reviewed by a panel of six experts who are licensed or registered mental health clinicians and 10 professional reviewers who were comprised of graduate students working toward their degree or licensure. Overall, results from both the expert review and professional review indicated that the outpatient training program is an appropriate medium to be integrated in organizations, facilities, or agencies. </p>

<p> The public use version of the National Comorbidity Survey &ndash; Replication (NCS-R) dataset was used (N = 995) to investigate risk factors for recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) that are evident before recovery from the first major depressive episode (MDE) by comparing persons diagnosed with MDD who experienced a single MDE to persons with recurrent MDD. </p><p> Multiple logistic regression analyses assessed the independent risk of recurrent MDD for each of the following risk factors: an early age of onset (&lt;30 years old), absence of a life stress trigger, chronic first episode, childhood parental loss, parental maltreatment, parental depression, comorbid anxiety disorder, and comorbid substance disorder. The relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) assessed the risk of recurrent MDD associated with the interaction of an early onset with three childhood-based vulnerabilities: a) parental depression, b) parental loss, and c) parental maltreatment. </p><p> There was a statistically significant risk of recurrent MDD found for the following risk factors: early onset, stress trigger absent, childhood parental loss, parental maltreatment, parental depression, and anxiety disorder; marginally significant results suggested an increased risk of recurrent MDD for substance disorder. There was a significant increased risk found for the interaction of an early onset with parental depression and similar non-significant trends were found for the interactions of early onset with parental loss and early onset with parental maltreatment. </p><p> An early onset, the absence of a life stress trigger, and the presence of parental loss, parental maltreatment, parental depression, a comorbid anxiety disorder, and a comorbid substance disorder each confer greater risk of recurrent MDD among persons that have not yet recovered from their first lifetime MDE. The presence of an early onset combined with a childhood-based vulnerability such as parental depression, parental loss, or parental maltreatment, indicate an especially high risk of recurrent MDD. These findings may inform the development of a screening tool to assess risk for recurrent MDD and early intervention to prevent recurrent MDD. Future research should employ a longitudinal research design to replicate and expand upon these findings.</p>

<p> This thesis investigated the relationship between social support and current life satisfaction in combat theatre veterans aged 50 and older. This study addressed a lack of research-based literature on this topic. The participants of this study (<i>n</i>=31) served in active duty in a theatre of war. Social support was measured using a researcher constructed questionnaire, The Veterans Perceived Social Support Questionnaire. Life Satisfaction was measured using Diener's (1985) Satisfaction with Life Scale. No significant relationship was found between social support and life satisfaction for this group. However, veterans who engaged in social activities a few times per month or more frequently reported higher current life satisfaction, than those who endorsed very minimal social activity.</p><p> Gerontologists can use this information to educate facilitators of veterans' groups about how to increase the frequency of social activities, which could lead to an increase in life satisfaction.</p>

Objective. To evaluate access to dental care for individuals with Down syndrome living with their families, as compared to those not living with families. Methods. A cross-sectional, observational study design was used. Data were collected through a questionnaire sent to the 2327 members of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between place of residence and a variety of indicators of access to dental care. Result. In the multivariate stage of analysis, after adjusting for possible confounders, significant association between place of residence and two dependent variables, indicated that individuals with DS living with their families had approximately twice the odds for ever had a filling, (95% CI, 1.0-3.8), and they had approximately one third odds for ever had extractions, compared to individuals with DS living elsewhere (95% CI, 0.1-0.7). Conclusion. These observations suggest that Canadians with DS living at home receiving different dental care compared to those living elsewhere.

Most elderly persons with dementia are cared for at home, usually by a spouse or adult child. The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an excess of psychological and physical health problems among family caregivers of elderly persons with dementia. Data were obtained by interview from close family members of dementia patients, and from a comparison group made up of close family members of patients undergoing cataract surgery. Caregivers had significantly higher levels of depression and physical symptoms than noncaregivers. The association between caregiving and the outcome variables was stronger among subjects who were married to the patient than among those who were the patient's child. Furthermore, greater behavioral disturbance in the patient was associated with higher levels of morbidity in the caregiver. The results suggest that caregivers might benefit from careful monitoring of their health status, and from greater access to specialized support services.

Background. Because there have been few studies examining resilience associated with postnatal (PN) depression, this study aimed at formulating and testing a theory-based model integrating both traditional resilience paradigms and non-traditional factors including existential beliefs about life, motherhood and religion. Method. Study hypotheses addressed prediction of PN depression, stress and resilience, and the confounding influence of negative affectivity (neuroticism). Study variables included PN depression (Edinburgh PN Depression Scale, EPDS), stress, neuroticism, self-esteem, mother's distress and ambivalence, purpose/meaning, religious belief, parity, age, marital and social status. They were assessed with standardized self-report instruments and, following a pilot, administered to a probability sample of women four months postpartum in a one-wave, community, postal survey. Because the overall response rate was so low (49%) only the Europeans were included in the study (N = 225; response-rate = 78%). Statistical hypothesis-testing included linear and logistical multivariate model-twilding techniques, and principal components analysis. Results. Sixteen percent scored in the major depression range (EPDS > 12), and 14% in the minor depression range. Depression was associated with stress, neuroticism, purpose/meaning, mother's distress and (marginally) religious belief, but not with self-esteem, mother's ambivalence, age, parity or social class. Although neuroticism was strongly associated with depression, and also overlapped with most psycho-social variables, nonetheless stress, purpose/meaning, and mother's distress maintained significant relationships with depression after neuroticism was statistically controlled. Stress was associated in part with the perception of losing one's freedom in the motherhood role (neuroticism controlled). When resilience was defined as high stress coupled with low depression, it was associated with low levels of neuroticism and mother's distress. When resilience was defined in terms of high levels of maternal satisfaction, it was associated with high purpose and low ambivalence. Principal components analyses revealed that (1) stress scores reflected two dimensions suggestive of distress and self-efficacy; and (2) depression, stress, neuroticism, self-esteem and purpose were markers for the same underlying component, whereas mother's distress and ambivalence were markers for another (unrelated) component. Conclusion. This study underlines the relevance of temperament, self-efficacy, self-transcendence, existential beliefs and motherhood-related cogniitions to the understanding of PN depression and stress. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.