Project description:This study was designed to investigate associations among five factor personality traits, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms and to examine the roles of personality and perceived stress in the relationship between gender and depressive symptoms. The participants (N = 3,950) were part of a cohort study for health screening and examination at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Personality was measured with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Perceived stress level was evaluated with a self-reported stress questionnaire developed for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A higher degree of neuroticism and lower degrees of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were significantly associated with greater perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Neuroticism and extraversion had significant direct and indirect effects (via stress as a mediator) on depressive symptoms in both genders. Agreeableness and conscientiousness had indirect effects on depression symptoms in both genders. Multiple mediation models were used to examine the mediational roles of each personality factor and perceived stress in the link between gender and depressive symptoms. Four of the personality factors (except openness) were significant mediators, along with stress, on the relationship between gender and depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that the links between personality factors and depressive symptoms are mediated by perceived stress. As such, personality is an important factor to consider when examining the link between gender and depression.
Project description:For women with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) trait symptoms, coping with childbearing and parenting could be associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Therefore, the possible relationship between OCPD trait symptoms and trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms was examined. A cohort of 1427 women was followed from late pregnancy until 12 months' postpartum. Trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms were determined using growth mixture modeling with five repeated assessments. Next, the relationship between OCPD trait symptoms and these trajectories was examined through multinomial regression. Three postpartum depressive symptom trajectories were identified: (1) low symptoms (92%), (2) increasing-decreasing symptoms (inverted u-shape) (5%), and (3) increasing symptoms (3%). OCPD trait symptoms were associated with a higher likelihood of the trajectories increasing-decreasing symptoms (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.14-1.39) and increasing symptoms (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.02-1.32), compared to reference trajectory (low symptoms), adjusted for age, educational level, unplanned pregnancy, previous depressive episode (s), and parity.
Project description:Purpose Evidence has shown that the Five precepts significantly affect the relationship between attachment and resilience; however, little is known whether observing the Five Precepts would help reduce depressive symptoms among those who experience risks. The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of the Five Precepts in the mediation model relationship among neuroticism, perceived stress, and depression. Patients and methods The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and data were collected from the end of 2019 to September 2022 in Thailand. In all, 644 general participants completed questionnaires on the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Depression Subscale, and the Five-Precept Subscale of the Inner Strength-based Inventory (SBI-PP). Mediation and moderation analyses with 5000 bootstrapping methods were used. Results Among all, 74.2% were female, and the mean age totalled 28.28 years (SD = 10.6). SBI-PP was shown to have a moderation effect on the relationship between NI, PSS and depressive symptoms. The moderating effect between SBI-PP and PSS was significant, whereas SBI-PP and NI was not. The index of moderated mediation from the Five Precepts was significant (b = -0.019 (95%CI -0.029, -0.009)). The moderated mediation model increased the percent variance explaining depressive symptoms to 47.6%, compared with 32.6% from the mediation model alone. Conclusion Observing the Five Precepts offers evidence that it buffers the effect of perceived stress on depression. People with high levels of observing the Five Precepts are less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Implications as well as possible future research are discussed.
Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the roles of physical activity (exercise) and sociodemographic factors in depressive symptoms among men and women in the United States.Data source2011 U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).Study designPatient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8) scores are aggregated and divided into five categories. An ordered switching probability model with binary endogenous physical activity is developed to accommodate ordinality of depression categories and ameliorate statistical biases due to endogeneity of physical activity.Principal findingsAverage treatment effects suggest physical activity ameliorates depressive symptoms among mildly and moderately depressed individuals, most notably among mildly depressed women. Gender differences exist in the roles of sociodemographic factors, with age, income, race, education, employment status, and recent mental health condition playing differentiated roles in affecting depressive symptoms.ConclusionsRegular physical activity reduces depressive symptoms among both men and women with mild to moderate depression, notably among women.
Project description:Obesity consistently predicts depression risk, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Body concerns are proposed as key. South Korean society is characterized by extremely high levels of explicit weight stigma, possibly the highest globally. Using cross-sectional Korean 2014 National Health Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, we test this proposition in a nationally representative sample of South Korean adults (N = 5,632). Depressive symptoms (outcome variable), was based on the PHQ-9. Weight status (predictor variable), was based on direct measures of height and weight converted to BMI. Weight concern was self-reported. Mediation analyses tested how weight concern mediated the influence of weight status on depressive symptoms for women and men. Current weight status influenced depressive symptoms in Korean adults, but not always directly. Concerns of being "fat" mediated that relationship. The effect increased significantly as BMI increased within "normal" and overweight/obese categories for women, and in overweight/obese categories for men. Even though women classified as underweight were significantly more depressed than those in other weight categories, there was no similar mediation effect related to weight concerns. For South Koreans, the stress of adhering to social norms and avoiding stigma related to body weight seems to explain the relationship between higher body weight and more depressive symptoms. Women are more vulnerable overall, but men are not immune. This study demonstrates that body concerns help explain why weight predicts depression, and more broadly supports the proposition that widespread weight-related stigma is a potentially major, if unrecognized, driver of population-level health disparities.
Project description:BackgroundDiscrimination is associated with depressive symptoms and other negative health effects, but little is known about the mental health risks of workplace gender discrimination. We aimed to investigate the association of workplace gender discrimination and depressive symptoms among employed women in South Korea.MethodsThe 6th wave (2016) survey datasets of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Family (KLoWF) were analyzed for 2,339 respondents who are identified as wage workers. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the short-form (10-item) Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Association of workplace gender discrimination and depressive symptoms was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounding variables including age, income satisfaction, education level, marital status, and currently diagnosed disease. We then measured the age effect using age stratification multivariate logistic regression model.ResultsWomen who experienced gender discrimination at workplace had higher odds of depressive symptoms regardless of the type of the discrimination including hiring, promotion, work assignments, paid wages, and firing. These associations were consistent in younger women below 40 years of age in regard to hiring, promotion, paid wages and firing, whereas inconsistent among older women above 40 years of age.LimitationsWe did not investigate the effect of workplace gender discrimination on depressive symptoms in a longitudinal manner.ConclusionsWorkplace gender discrimination was found to be significantly associated with depressive symptoms after adjustment for socio-demographic factors. Further, women under 40 years of age were especially vulnerable to workplace gender discrimination.
Project description:PurposeTransgender adolescents (TGAs) have high risk for experiencing mental health problems, but little is known about how aspects of gender identity relate to their mental health symptoms. Evidence from child and adult samples of transgender individuals indicates making progress in gender transition milestones and higher levels of congruence between gender identity and gender expression are related to fewer mental health problems. We examined associations between perceived transition progress, gender congruence, and mental health symptoms in a diverse, nationwide sample of TGAs.MethodsTGAs (n = 1,943) participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Perceived gender transition progress, gender congruence, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed. Path analysis was conducted to examine whether transition progress was related to mental health symptoms via higher levels of gender congruence.ResultsMost TGAs had undertaken at least one social transition step (98%), but only 11% had taken medical transition steps. Higher gender congruence was associated with lower mental health symptoms. Greater transition progress was associated with higher gender congruence, and perceived transition progress evidenced negative indirect associations with mental health symptoms. TGAs identifying with binary identities (transmasculine and transfeminine youth) reported lower levels of transition progress and gender congruence compared to other subgroups of TGAs.DiscussionHigher levels of perceived transition progress and gender congruence are related to lower mental health symptoms among TGAs. Mental health interventions tailored to the unique developmental needs of TGAs are needed given high risk for mental health problems within this population, and interventions addressing transition progress and gender congruence should be examined.
Project description:ImportanceConcerns about the mental health of youths going through gender identity transitions have received increased attention. There is a need for empirical evidence to understand how transitions in self-reported gender identity are associated with mental health.ObjectiveTo examine whether and how often youths changed self-reported gender identities in a longitudinal sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths, and whether trajectories of gender identity were associated with depressive symptoms.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study used data from 4 waves (every 9 months) of a longitudinal community-based study collected in 2 large cities in the US (1 in the Northeast and 1 in the Southwest) between November 2011 and June 2015. Eligible participants included youths who self-identified as SGM from community-based agencies and college groups for SGM youths. Data analysis occurred from September 2022 to June 2023.ExposureGender identity trajectories and gender identity variability.Main outcomes and measuresThe Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y) assessed depressive symptoms. Gender identity variability was measured as the number of times participants' gender identity changed. Hierarchical linear models investigated gender identity trajectories and whether gender identity variability was associated with depressive symptoms over time.ResultsAmong the 366 SGM youths included in the study (mean [SD] age, 18.61 [1.71] years; 181 [49.4%] assigned male at birth and 185 [50.6%] assigned female at birth), 4 gender identity trajectory groups were identified: (1) cisgender across all waves (274 participants ), (2) transgender or gender diverse (TGD) across all waves (32 participants), (3) initially cisgender but TGD by wave 4 (ie, cisgender to TGD [28 participants]), and (4) initially TGD but cisgender by wave 4 (ie, TGD to cisgender [32 participants]). One in 5 youths (18.3%) reported a different gender identity over a period of approximately 3.5 years; 28 youths varied gender identity more than twice. The cisgender to TGD group reported higher levels of depression compared with the cisgender group at baseline (Β = 4.66; SE = 2.10; P = .03), but there was no statistical difference once exposure to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender violence was taken into account (Β = 3.31; SE = 2.36; P = .16). Gender identity variability was not associated with within-person change in depressive symptoms (Β = 0.23; SE = 0.74; P = .75) or the level of depressive symptoms (Β = 2.43; SE = 2.51; P = .33).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that gender identity can evolve among SGM youths across time and that changes in gender identity are not associated with changes in depressive symptoms. Further longitudinal work should explore gender identity variability and adolescent and adult health.
Project description:Unhealthy lipid levels are among the leading controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease. To identify the psychological factors associated with dyslipidemia, this study investigates the personality correlates of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and triglycerides. A community-based sample (N=5532) from Sardinia, Italy, had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels assessed and completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire, the NEO-PI-R. All analyses controlled for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes. Low Conscientiousness and traits related to impulsivity were associated with lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglycerides. Compared to the lowest 10%, those who scored in top 10% on Impulsivity had a 2.5 times greater risk of exceeding the clinical threshold for elevated triglycerides (OR=2.51, CI=1.56-4.07). In addition, sex moderated the association between trait depression (a component of Neuroticism) and HDL cholesterol, such that trait depression was associated with lower levels of HDL cholesterol in women but not men. When considering the connection between personality and health, unhealthy lipid profiles may be one intermediate biomarker between personality and morbidity and mortality.
Project description:Momentary lapses in memory, perception, or action, known as cognitive failures, are relatively common. These lapses may reflect, in part, aspects of psychological functioning, such as personality traits. The present research addresses how Five Factor Model personality traits and facets are associated with cognitive failures, and whether these associations are accounted for by depressed affect. Participants (N=5,133; 50% female) who ranged in age from 18 to 91 completed an online survey that assessed their personality traits, cognitive failures, and depressed affect. Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive failures, whereas Conscientiousness and Agreeableness were associated with fewer failures, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Controlling for depressed affect reduced the associations in most cases by about 50%, but most relations were still apparent. Facet-level analyses provided a more detailed picture of how the traits are associated with cognitive failures. Subjective perceptions of lapses in cognition are associated with basic personality traits and may reflect, in part, processes related to those traits beyond depressed affect.