Background: Perceived discrimination has been linked to worse mental health. However, little is known about this association in the countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU). Aim: To address this deficit, this study examined the link between perceived discrimination and psychological distress in nine fSU countries. Methods: Data were analyzed from 18,000 adults aged ⩾18 years obtained during the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) survey undertaken in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine in 2010 and 2011. A single-item measure was used to assess discrimination. Psychological distress was measured with a 12-item scale. Logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis were used to examine associations. Results: After adjusting for all potential confounders, when using none/little discrimination as the reference category, moderate and strong discrimination were associated with significantly increased odds for psychological distress in the total population and in men and women separately with odds ratios ranging from 1.93 to 2.64. Meta-analysis based on country-wise estimates showed that the level of between-country heterogeneity was negligible. Conclusion: Perceived discrimination is associated with psychological distress in countries throughout the fSU. Quantitative and qualitative research is now warranted to determine its specific forms and impact on population health in individual fSU countries.
Background: Religiousness and psychotic experiences have been related, though findings have been mixed, with little attention paid to specific religious affiliations and religious importance. Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021), which was an online survey administered at 140 college campuses across the United States. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between religiousness (affiliation and importance) and 12-month psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Results: Only Christian religious affiliation was associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences (aOR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.84), while Non-Christian religious affiliation (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.50) and Multiple religious affiliation s were associated with greater odds (aOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.42). Overall, increased religious importance was associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences (aOR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94–0.99). After stratifying by affiliation, religious importance was only associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences among people who identified as Other Christian, Mormon, and Other World Religion. Religious importance was associated with greater odds of psychotic experiences among Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Nothing in Particular, and Multiple Religions. Conclusion: Religious affiliation and importance had varying associations with psychotic experiences, depending on type of religious affiliation. More research is needed to explore the modifying effects of religiousness. Responsiveness to religious beliefs and practices may be critical when assessing risk for psychosis.
In: Child abuse & neglect: the international journal ; official journal of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Band 103, S. 104400
In: Yasuma , N , Narita , Z , Sasaki , N , Obikane , E , Sekiya , J , Inagawa , T , Nakajima , A , Yamada , Y , Yamazaki , R , Matsunaga , A , Saito , T , Watanabe , K , Imamura , K , Kawakami , N & Nishi , D 2019 , ' Psychological intervention for universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women : protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis ' , Systematic Reviews , vol. 8 , no. 1 , 297 , pp. 297 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1238-7
BACKGROUND: Prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression is crucial, given its high prevalence and severe consequences. Although several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the effects of psychological interventions on the population at risk for perinatal depression, few studies have focused on universal prevention and none have focused specifically on universal prevention in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of psychological interventions with a universal prevention focus on perinatal depression during pregnancy by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis based on both the latest articles and a broader literature search. METHODS: The literature search will be conducted using the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PubMed and PsycINFO, from inception onwards. Randomized controlled trials that examined the association between psychological interventions and universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted following a priori defined methods in the protocol. DISCUSSION: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis will have both clinical and political importance in the context of perinatal mental health. In addition, this study will promote future studies and clarify the direction of research on universal prevention of perinatal depression. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019118041.