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Comparing Complex Network and Latent Factor Models of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Title
Comparing Complex Network and Latent Factor Models of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Creator
Smetter, Joseph
Date
2019
Description
Research on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has produced several etiologicalmodels of SAD symptomatology, including a common cause model...
Show moreResearch on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has produced several etiologicalmodels of SAD symptomatology, including a common cause model that conceptualizessymptoms as the result of a single underlying disease process, and the Dual VulnerabilityModel (Young et al., 1991) which posits that psychological symptoms of depressionfollow the onset of vegetative symptoms (e.g. hypersomnia, increased appetite) inindividuals with a vulnerability to seasonal changes. Studies of the structure of SADsymptomatology have been limited in their ability to evaluate these models. This studyused exploratory factor analysis and network analysis to examine baseline winter SADsymptoms (using a modified BDI-II) in 177 adults participating in a randomizedcontrolled trial of light treatment and CBT for SAD (Rohan et al., 2015). The factoranalysis supported a four-factor model that included negative cognition/affect, loss ofvitality, dysregulation, and increases in weight/appetite. The complex network model ofSAD conceptualized the network as a system of interacting symptoms. Results of thenetwork model paralleled those of the factor analysis in producing four communities ofinter-correlated symptoms. In addition to the full symptom network, a directed acyclicgraph was constructed to model causal relations between symptoms. Results suggest thatvegetative symptoms (loss of vitality and appetite/weight) lead ultimately to cognitivesymptoms, with intermediate effects of dysregulation symptoms. This partially supportsthe Dual Vulnerability model. Findings from the factor analysis and the network analysisare compared, and their implications for and treatment of SAD is discussed.
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How Does Self-Stigma Influence Functionality in People with Serious Mental Illness? A Multiple Mediation Model of "Why-Try" Effect, Coping Resources, and Personal Recovery
Title
How Does Self-Stigma Influence Functionality in People with Serious Mental Illness? A Multiple Mediation Model of "Why-Try" Effect, Coping Resources, and Personal Recovery
Creator
Qin, Sang
Date
2022
Description
People with serious mental illness (SMI) face self-stigma effects that often undermine their functionality. Functionality herein refers to a...
Show morePeople with serious mental illness (SMI) face self-stigma effects that often undermine their functionality. Functionality herein refers to a person's execution of tasks (i.e., activities) and engagement in life situations (i.e., participation). This study used a path model to examine three mediating factors between self-stigma and functionality: The "why-try" effect, coping resources, and personal recovery. Specifically, the “why-try” effect was viewed as an extension of self-stigma harm that occurred when people suffered from a loss of self-esteem and self-efficacy. Coping resources were conceptualized as individuals’ strengths and the support they had to overcome negative stigma outcomes, particularly stigma stress. Endorsement of personal recovery, namely pursuing self-defined life goals despite illness—had a buffering effect reducing self-stigma. These three mediators were examined simultaneously using an archival dataset. Due to poor internal consistency, coping resources were eventually removed from the model; the subsequent, revised model achieved a good model fit. Results showed that people with SMI experiencing self-stigma were found to have an enhanced "why-try" effect as well as reduced personal recovery, leading to a decline in functionality. Implications of the results and future research directions are discussed.
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PARENTAL RELATIONSHIP FACTORS, ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS, AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ADHD
Title
PARENTAL RELATIONSHIP FACTORS, ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS, AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ADHD
Creator
Small, Eva E.
Date
2022
Description
Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at a higher risk for developing comorbid psychological conditions...
Show moreIndividuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at a higher risk for developing comorbid psychological conditions including depression and anxiety by the time they reach adulthood. While there has been some research on potentially beneficial aspects of parent-child relationships that can help to improve the mental health of pediatric populations with ADHD, less work has been done to assess the long-term influence of the parent -child relationship in adults with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to add to previous research by utilizing the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to investigate how parenting relationship and family factors (i.e., parental warmth, behavioral autonomy, family cohesion, and parental academic expectations) predict symptoms of stress and depression in adults with ADHD. Using data from Waves I, III, and IV of the Add Health study, analyses examined whether positive parenting relationship factors were related to levels of depression symptoms and stress in a sample of participants with self-reported ADHD (N = 316). Results indicated that higher levels of family cohesion experienced in adolescence were associated with lower depression symptoms reported in adulthood, thus suggesting that family cohesion is a beneficial for individuals with ADHD. Future research should continue to examine the role that child-relationship factors can have on long term mental health outcomes in individuals with ADHD
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Health and Well-Being Benefits of Different Types of Urban Green Spaces (UGS): A Cross-Sectional Study of Communities in Chicago, U.S.
Title
Health and Well-Being Benefits of Different Types of Urban Green Spaces (UGS): A Cross-Sectional Study of Communities in Chicago, U.S.
Creator
Kang, Liwen
Date
2023
Description
There are three main interrelated areas of focus in this doctoral research related tourban green spaces (UGS): general well-being, mental and...
Show moreThere are three main interrelated areas of focus in this doctoral research related tourban green spaces (UGS): general well-being, mental and physical health. In this study, these three different health aspects were analyzed separately. The data of these three health outcomes were collected from the Healthy Chicago Survey (HCS), an annual telephone survey that interviewed adults in Chicago, U.S., based on the randomly selected addresses.Urban green spaces have been associated with better health and well-being. Theyprovide sites for physical activity, buffer air and noise pollution, and alleviate thermal discomfort. Urban green spaces also promote social interaction and increase social cohesion. However, research is limited on the health benefits of different types of UGS exposure. This research aimed to reveal the associations between the provision of different UGS types and urban residents’ general, mental, and physical health in Chicago, the third-largest city in the U.S.Urban green spaces data were collected from the National Land Cover Database(NLCD), the Meter-Scale Urban Land Cover (MULC), and the Chicago Park District (CPD). Different types of UGS were obtained, namely 1) the percent tree canopy cover (TCC) from the first database; 2) the percentage of trees and the percentage of grass from the second database; and 3) the number of parks, park areas, percentage of park areas from the third database. Using hierarchical and logistic regression models that controlled for a range of confounding factors (age, gender, race, education level, employment status, and poverty level), this study assessed which type of UGS affects general well-being, mental health, and physical health, respectively. The results indicated that increased park area was significantly associated with better perceived general health; higher percent of TCC was significantly associated with a lower level of psychological distress (PD); and increased percentage of park areas and increased number of parks were associated with lower odds of being obese. Two micro-scaled on-site observations were conducted in the Avalon Park community and the Loop community to analyze some other UGS characteristics besides quantity and availability. Other characteristics of UGS, such as quality of facilities, attractiveness, and maintenance, are suggested to be taken into consideration for future studies. The study highlights that different UGS types have various impacts on general, mental, and physical health of urban residents. By providing scientific evidence, this study may help policymakers, urban planners, landscape architects, and other related professionals to make informed decisions on maximizing the health benefits of UGS and to achieve social equity. The findings of this study may be applied to other metropolitan cities.
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