Psychological Distress and Related Factors in Female College Students

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the psychological distress in Spanish college women and analyzed it in relation to sociodemographic and academic factors. Participants and Methods: The authors selected a stratified random sampling of 1,043 college women (average age of 22.2 years). Sociodemographic and academic information were collected, and psychological distress was assessed with the Symptom Checklist-90–Revised. Results: This sample of college women scored the highest on the depression dimension and the lowest on the phobic anxiety dimension. The sample scored higher than women of the general population on the dimensions of obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and on the Global Severity Index. Scores in the sample significantly differed based on age, relationship status, financial independence, year of study, and area of study. Conclusion: The results indicated an elevated level of psychological distress among college women, and therefore college health services need to devote more attention to their mental health.     

Cocaine Abusing Women Who Report Sexual Abuse: Implications for Treatment

ABSTRACT

Four hundred seventy-three substance-abusing women were assessed for histories of sexual abuse. The results of bivariate analysis indicated that Sexual Abuse Survivors (SAS) had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. A greater number of SAS reported histories of emotional and physical abuse. They also had greater severity on ASI scales of alcohol, drug, medical, and family/social difficulty. Logistic regression analysis indicated that women who were survivors of sexual abuse were more likely to have histories of emotional and physical abuse, higher levels of addiction severity, and more family members who used drugs. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.     

Perineal Neurophysiological Assessment in 23 Patients Suffering from Persistent Genital Arousal Disorders: Evidence of Pudendal Neuropathy?

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a rare condition. Our aim was to study whether or not the pudendal nerve is involved in PGAD, by means of electromyographic (EMG) testing. Methods: Twenty-three women who fulfilled the five criteria of PGAD were included in this study. After an in-depth interview and routine investigations, a perineal EMG assessment was performed. Concentric needle electromyography (EMG) testing with motor unit potential analysis of the pelvic floor muscles (bulbocavernosus muscle and striated external anal sphincter), study of the sacral reflex latency (SRL), and measurement of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) were performed. Results: Perineal ENMG demonstrated neurogenic changes in 14 (60.8%) of the patients. Denervation was found in all 14 patients with abnormal electrophysiological findings. Among them, 12 (85.7%) had altered PTNML and/or SRL. PTNML was delayed on the anal branch in 9 out of 14 (bilateral in 5 cases) and on the perineal branch in 9 out of 14 (bilateral in 6 cases). Conclusions: This study shows that pudendal neuropathy is frequent among women suffering from PGAD. However, due to the lack of a control group, involvement of pudendal neuropathy in the pathogenesis of PGAD remains unclear.     

Psychiatric Symptoms and Same-Sex Sexual Attraction and Behavior in Light of Childhood Gender Atypical Behavior and Parental Relationships

This study explores the relation between the level of current symptoms of depression and anxiety and recalled childhood gender atypical behavior (GAB), and quality of relationships with parents among men and women who reported same-sex sexual attraction or engaged in same-sex sexual behavior and men and women who did not. Matched pairs, 79 men (n = 158) and 148 women (n = 296), with equal levels of GAB were created of Finnish participants with either same-sex sexual attraction or behavior and participants without. The measures used were retrospective questionnaires. Ratings of maternal and paternal over-control and coldness differed as a function of same-sex sexual attraction or behavior. Childhood GAB was correlated with negative ratings of parental relationships. Both same-sex sexual attraction or behavior and a history of childhood GAB affected the reported levels of current depression and anxiety. Only gender typical participants with no same-sex sexual attraction or behavior reported significantly lower levels of symptoms. The findings suggest that childhood GAB is related to later distress both among hetero- and homosexual individuals. The elevated level of psychological distress among homosexual individuals, reported in several studies, might—to some extent—be caused by their generally higher levels of childhood GAB as opposed to a homosexual orientation per se.     

Anxiety and depression among college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Cross-informant,sex, and subtype differences

Objective: This study examined symptoms of anxiety and depression among college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants: Data were collected between March 2011 and March 2016 from 150 college students with ADHD and 150 college students without ADHD. Method: Participants with ADHD were compared to a sex- and ethnicity-matched control group. For the ADHD group, parent and self-report of anxiety and depression were also compared. Results: College students with ADHD self-reported significantly higher anxiety and depressive symptoms than did students without ADHD. Scores on parent-report measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms were significantly higher than scores on self-report measures. Significant sex differences were found for participants with ADHD, with females showing higher depressive and anxiety symptoms than males. Parent-reported anxiety symptoms were higher for those with inattentive type ADHD compared to combined type ADHD. Conclusion: The current study highlights the importance of multi-informant assessment in ADHD evaluations for college-aged adults.     

The “Aging Males’ Symptoms” (AMS) Scale assesses depression and anxiety

Abstract

Objective: Emotional distress may be associated with severe aging symptoms. This study aimed to investigate aging symptoms in male psychiatric outpatients and their relationship with anxiety and depression.

Method: About 176 male psychiatric outpatients aged 40–80?years were enrolled into this single-center cross-sectional study, and completed self-reported questionnaires including “Aging Males’ Symptoms” (AMS) scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Result: Age was correlated with less anxiety (r?=??0.23), less psychological (r?=??0.16) and more sexual symptoms (r?=?0.31). After controlling demographic variables, the partial correlation coefficients of HADS and AMS scores ranged from 0.30 to 0.73. Four groups were defined by HADS: control (C; n?=?103), depression (D; n?=?18), anxiety (A; n?=?26) and mixed anxiety and depression (M; n?=?29). The M group had the most severe aging symptoms, and the C group the least. The A group had more psychological and less sexual symptoms than the D group. “Impaired sexual potency” was the only aging symptom in males not significantly different among the four groups.

Conclusions: Anxiety and depression was associated with more severe aging symptoms in male psychiatric outpatients. Sexual dysfunction could be regarded as the core manifestation to differentiate aging symptoms from syndromal emotional distress.     

A Review of Lesbian Depression and Anxiety

SUMMARY

The Surgeon General's first report on mental health identified depression and anxiety as significant mental health issues that disproportionately affect women. Research indicates that lesbians experience depression at rates that parallel those of the general female population, suggesting that depression is an important mental health issue for lesbians. Given the high rate of comorbidity between depression and anxiety disorders, it is likely that many depressed lesbians have struggled with problems related to anxiety as well. This paper reviews literature pertaining to lesbians and depression including incidence rates, risk factors, suicidality and treatment approaches, and stress and anxiety that may also contribute to the experience of depression among lesbians.     

Efficacy of a group intervention for adult women survivors of sexual abuse

This study evaluates the effects of a group intervention for women sexually abused in childhood or adulthood. The sample consisted of 41 women involved in a group intervention based on a feminist approach offered by help centers for sexual assault victims in Quebec and 11 women in a wait-list comparison group. Results reveal that the group intervention reduced psychological distress and consequences associated with sexual abuse and that gains were maintained at three-month follow- up. Analyses of potential factors related to differential gains indicated that abuse-related variables and concurrent individual interventions were not linked to outcomes. Exploratory analyses suggested that women experiencing severe physical partner violence showed greater gains with respect to self-blame/stigmatization, sexual anxiety, and anxiety related to assertiveness.     

Emotional Well-Being Factors Associated with Sexual Dysfunction in Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES—Australia

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes is a chronic health condition that requires daily self-management activities to prevent or delay the onset of serious long-term complications. The two main types of diabetes are Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although both differ in their etiology, they share similar challenges of self-management of blood glucose levels, which, if are persistently high over time can lead to serious long-term complications. Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common complication of both types of diabetes and affects both men and women. Although the physical aspects of SD are established, less is known about the emotional factors that may also impact SD in adults with diabetes. This study explored the emotional well-being factors associated with SD among 3,338 men and women with T1D and T2D. Methods: The relationships between self-reported SD and depressive and anxiety symptoms, and diabetes-specific distress, were examined using logistic regression modelling. Results: SD was associated with depressive symptoms (all sub-groups), anxiety (men/T2D; women/T1D/T2D), and diabetes-specific distress (women/T1D/T2D). Diabetes-specific distress was significantly higher in those with T2D who believed their SD was caused by their diabetes. Conclusions: SD impacts both men and women with T1D/T2D and is associated with emotional distress. Evaluation of SD and emotional problems should form part of routine clinical assessment.     

Persistent Complications of Child Sexual Abuse: Sexually Compulsive Behaviors,Attachment, and Emotions

ABSTRACT

Child sexual abuse has the potential to cause distress for the victim across the lifespan. Romantic relationships may be particularly difficult for victims of child sexual abuse. This retrospective study examined differences in adult romantic attachment, sexually compulsive behaviors, and emotion regulation by history of child sexual abuse in a large, nonclinical sample. Those with a history of child sexual abuse reported more attachment anxiety in romantic relationships and engaged in more sexually compulsive behaviors. Overall, males displayed more sexually compulsive behaviors than females regardless of history of sexual abuse. Males with a history of sexual abuse displayed the greatest number of sexually compulsive behaviors. Surprisingly, no differences were observed in emotion regulation or attachment avoidant behaviors by history of child sexual abuse. Future research should seek to replicate current findings and examine emotion regulation difficulties experienced as a result of trauma.     

Psychological Symptoms in a Sample of Latino Abused Children

SUMMARY

This study compared Latino children who were victims of child abuse with similar children who were not abused on measures of depression, anxiety, behavior problems, and dissociation. Abused children were found to have higher levels of symptoms on the majority of symptom measures. There were differences in the evaluation of distress levels on the self report versus parent/guardian report measures. Mean scores of the abused children on the self report measures were not in the clinical range, although a substantial number of children had high levels of distress. In contrast, the results of the parent/guardian measures revealed mean scores in the clinical range of problems. Implications for research and practice are included.     

Children's Psychological Response to Parental Victimization

Abstract

This study found that African American children, 6 through 12 years of age, whose parents had been victims of community violence (i.e., gunshot or stabbing) experienced distress symptoms differently, depending on their gender. In the authors' previous work (Dulmus & Wodarski, 2000), children, age 6-12, whose parents were victims of community violence (e.g., gunshot, stabbing), and whose victimization the children did not witness, were found to be experiencing distress symptoms related to their parents' victimization. The purpose of this current study was to do further analysis to examine children's psychological response to parental victimization by gender. Results indicated that all children in the study were experiencing symptoms in the borderline clinical range as measured by the total score on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), with females having a mean score of 39.5 and males having a mean score of 38. The differences that were found by gender were in children's expression of symptoms; with females experiencing more internalizing symptoms (i.e., withdrawn, somatic complaints, anxiety, depression) and males experiencing more externalizing symptoms (i.e., aggression, delinquent behaviors). Such results support feminist theory, which suggests that girls and boys respond differently to stimuli because of gender differences related to socialization. Such distinctions may be clinically useful when choosing approaches to behavioral interventions.     

No Evidence for Long-Term Causal Associations Between Symptoms of Premature Ejaculation and Symptoms of Anxiety,Depression, and Sexual Distress in a Large,Population-Based Longitudinal Sample

Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common male sexual complaints, but its etiology is unclear. Psychological problems, such as symptoms of anxiety and depression, have traditionally been seen as causal or maintaining etiological components of PE, and previous cross-sectional studies have found weak positive associations between them. The aim of the present study was to test possible causal pathways over time between PE and symptoms of the psychological problems anxiety, depression, and sexual distress. A sample of 985 male Finnish twins and brothers of twins completed a questionnaire in 2006 and 2012. Significant bivariate correlations were found both within and across time between PE and the psychological problems. When fitting structural equation models to test hypothesized causal pathways, symptoms of anxiety and sexual distress at the first measurement time point did not predict future PE. Likewise, PE symptoms at the first measurement did not predict increments or decrements in anxiety, sexual distress, or depression later on. These null findings regarding hypothesized associations may partly be explained by the relatively long time between measurements, or that the measures possibly did not capture the aspects of anxiety that are related to PE.     

Coping and Adjustment in Male and Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of childhood sexual abuse for male and female survivors, characteristics of the abuse experience, current coping strategies, and current psychological adjustment. Nineteen male and 59 female adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, recruited from both local and national support groups, completed a background questionnaire, dispositional coping inventories measuring current and retrospective abuse-specific coping styles, and measures of current psychological adjustment. In response to sexual abuse experienced during childhood, avoidance coping emerged as the most frequently used strategy by both sexes. Although there were no gender differences in current use of problem-focused and avoidance strategies, males related more use of acceptance whereas females utilized more emotion-focused coping. In general* females reported significantly greater trauma-related distress than males, including higher levels of anxiety, depression, and post-trauma symptoms.     

Sexual Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Diseases of Lesbians

ABSTRACT

The Boston Lesbian Health Project surveyed 1633 lesbians about their health status, health related behaviors and health problems. This paper reports on those parts of the questionnaire that dealt with sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases. The sample was predominantly monogamous, but few had been in their present relationship for more than five years. Sexual practices were similar to those reported in previous studies of lesbians and to those reported in a study of heterosexual women. Sexually transmitted diseases were rare in women who had never had sex with a male partner. The majority of the sample did report a history of male sexual partners and therefore are at risk for abnormal pap smears and other sexually transmitted diseases.     

Depression,anxiety, and tobacco use: Overlapping impediments to sleep in a national sample of college students

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To examine how tobacco use and depression/anxiety disorders are related to disturbed sleep in college students. Participants: 85,138 undergraduate respondents (66.3% female, 74.5% white, non-Hispanic, ages 18–25) from the Spring 2011 American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II database. Methods: Multivariate analyses of tobacco use (none, intermediate, daily) and mental health (diagnosed and/or symptomatic depression or anxiety) were used to predict sleep disturbance. Results: Daily tobacco use was associated with more sleep problems than binge drinking, illegal drug use, obesity, gender, and working >20 hours/week. Students with depression or anxiety reported more sleep disturbances than individuals without either disorder, and tobacco use in this population was associated with the most sleep problems. Conclusions: Tobacco use and depression/anxiety disorders are both independently associated with more sleep problems in college students. Students with depression and/or anxiety are more likely to be daily tobacco users, which likely exacerbates their sleep problems.     

Building Trauma Informed Practice: Appreciating the Impact of Trauma in the Lives of Women with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the lifetime interpersonal abuse experienced by a substance abuse treatment sample of 1,955 women with co-occurring disorders. Substantial rates of intimate and community-based interpersonal abuse and other life stressors are documented. Regression analysis shows that while trauma severity is significantly related to trauma distress, its impact on psychological symptom distress and drug severity is quite modest. The implementation of a trauma informed approach featuring trauma-specific treatment, service integration and consumer empowerment is described as a promising practice model for assisting women seeking help in substance abuse treatment programs.     

Some Correlates of Emotional Well-Being Among New England College Students

Abstract

In a questionnaire survey of New England college students, a large number of undergraduate men and women reported problems related to their personal, social, or academic adjustment. Given a list of 22 items described as “common concerns or feelings experienced by college students,” respondents were asked to rate the extent to which each item had been a problem for them in the past year. Most students (86%) reported having very much or somewhat of a problem with one or more items on the list. Pressure to do well in school, problems with weight control, anxiety, poor concentration and depression were among the most commonly reported concerns. The prevalence of these self-reported concerns and problems was found to be significantly associated with the respondents' sex, their perceptions of their health status, and academic standing.     

Ethnic Differences in Symptom Presentation of Sexually Abused Girls

ABSTRACT

Although researchers have begun to examine the issue of ethnic and cultural factors in childhood sexual abuse (CSA), relatively little has been done to look at possible ethnic and cultural differences in psychological symptoms related to CSA. This study investigated the relationship between ethnicity and symptom presentation among Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian sexually abused girls. The study examined the relationship between ethnicity and depression, ethnicity and post-trauma intrusive symptoms, and ethnicity and post-trauma avoidance symptoms. Results indicated that African American girls had significantly higher levels of post-trauma avoidance symptoms than Hispanic girls, but not Caucasian girls. No significant differences were found between ethnic groups for depression or intrusive symptoms.