Mental health science最新文献

Cognitive impairment following COVID-19 infection is common and risk factors remain poorly understood. Sleep disturbance increases risk of cognitive impairment in the general population, and sleep disturbance is common after COVID-19. While prior literature has extensively explored the relationship between sleep and cognition, few studies have addressed the temporality of this association and how one may contribute to the other over time. This study assessed whether new sleep disturbance at 1-month is associated with risk of cognitive impairment at 6-months after COVID-19 hospitalization. English-speaking adults aged ≥ 18 years at the University of Washington Medical Center who survived to 1-month post-COVID-19 hospitalization were enrolled. Self-reported sleep disturbance, cognitive function, cognitive abilities, and fatigue severity at 1- and 6-months after discharge were assessed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short forms. Linear and logistic regression models analyzed associations of new sleep disturbance at 1-month with cognitive function, cognitive abilities, and fatigue severity outcomes at 6-months. Participants (n = 120) had mean age of 56.5 ± 15.7 years, and 35% developed new sleep disturbance at 1-month. Among those with versus without new sleep disturbance at 1-month, 74% versus 40%, 76% versus 37%, and 64% versus 50% developed significant worsening in cognitive function, cognitive abilities, and fatigue severity at 6 months, respectively. In this single-center observational cohort, new sleep disturbance at 1-month post-COVID-19 hospitalization was associated with subsequent significant worsening in cognitive function, cognitive abilities, and fatigue severity at 6-months. Thus, new sleep disturbance may be a risk factor for persistent neurocognitive impairment after COVID-19. Additional studies should validate these relationships and examine whether improving sleep quality may reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in these patients.

Suicide among Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ + ) youth constitutes a significant public health concern (Congressional Black Caucus 2019). Research shows 44% of Black LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide and 16% attempted suicide during the previous 12 months, compared to 37% and 11%, respectively, of White LGBTQ+ youth (The Trevor Project 2023). Black LGBTQ+ youth are 5.8 times more likely than Black cisgender heterosexual youth to report suicidal ideation and behavior (henceforth suicidality) (Mereish et al. 2019). Further, Black youth may underreport suicidality due to a lack of culturally valid suicide risk assessment tools (Francois et al. 2025), thus, rates may be higher than they appear using existing tools. Given this population's heightened risk for suicide, researchers must identify risk and protective factors associated with increasing and decreasing suicidality among Black LGBTQ+ youth using an intersectional lens (Price-Feeney et al. 2020).

Intersectionality represents a conceptual framework introduced by Black feminist scholars to understand and examine interlocking, structural-level systems of power and oppression (e.g., systems of heterosexism, cisgenderism, racism) as they collectively shape individuals’ lived experiences and patterns of health inequities (Abrams et al. 2020; Collins and Bilge 2020; Combahee River Collective 1977; Crenshaw 1989). Within an intersectionality framework, an intersectional methodological research approach considers distinct ways marginalized social positions work together relationally in connection with systems of power for different groups to understand and address health inequities among specific populations (Bowleg and Bauer 2016; Gardner et al. 2025; McCall 2005). For example, Black LGBTQ+ youth may experience multiple intersectional systems of oppression (e.g., racism and heterosexism/cisgenderism) and forms of discrimination (e.g., racist bigotry and homophobia/transphobia) that elevate their risk for suicide (Balsam et al. 2011; Opara et al. 2020). An intersectional approach also can demonstrate Black LGBTQ+ youth's capacity to become empowered by holding multiple minoritized social positions, feel strengthened to advocate for themselves and their communities, and experience identity harmony, self-acceptance, and empathy (Bowleg 2013; Ghabrial 2017, 2019; Ghabrial and Andersen 2023). Strengths-based intersectional research with Black LGBTQ+ youth can show how holding multiple minoritized positions may serve an adaptive role by allowing youth to shift identities and glean diverse external supports to better address their current needs (Pittinsky et al. 1999), mitigating suicide risk. Thus, to under

Improving Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is considered important to facilitate help-seeking for mental health problems. However, it is crucial to ascertain the true significance of increasing mental health knowledge (the central component of MHL) for prevention efforts. This systematic review analyses the direction and effect size of the correlations between knowledge and different facets of stigma (personal, perceived, self) and help-seeking (attitudes, intention, behavior), highlighting current research gaps. We conducted a PRISMA-based systematic analysis of quantitative cross-sectional and longitudinal data on the associations between mental health knowledge and mental health related stigma or help-seeking in Western populations. Peer-reviewed articles published since 1997 were retrieved via PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science, theses via DART-EUROPE, EBSCO-OpenDissertation and Google. The number of studies, types of outcomes, country, population, effect direction and size (median, range) are reported. We identified 47 studies on the association between knowledge and stigma, and 38 on its association with help-seeking. Knowledge showed a medium-sized association with personal stigma (Mdn r = −0.28; range = −0.54; −0.06) and attitudes towards help-seeking (Mdn r = 0.29; range = 0.04; 0.58) and a small association with self-stigma (Mdn r = −0.16; range = −0.39; −0.02), help-seeking intention (Mdn r = 0.15; range = −0.07; 0.40) and help-seeking behavior (Mdn r = 0.15; range = −0.04; 0.68). Knowledge was not consistently related to perceived stigma (Mdn r = −0.01; range = −0.29; 0.16). While the direction of the correlations meets our expectations, the only small to moderate effect sizes indicate that knowledge is relevant but not sufficient for reducing self-stigma and improving help-seeking. We identified several research gaps, such as a scarcity of studies with rigorous methodological standards and with older or clinical populations. We also propose including a broader range of potentially empowering variables in addition to knowledge in future studies.

Eating disorders in adolescents are increasing in prevalence in the US. This article details the distinction between disordered eating and eating disorders and the importance of detecting all disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. It explores factors contributing to the underdiagnosis of disordered eating behaviors. It describes the importance of disordered eating and eating disorder screening, outlines several of the most widely used screening tools, and addresses the applications and limitations of each. There is currently no brief screening tool for the diagnosis of both broad-spectrum eating disorders and sub-threshold disordered eating pathology in pediatric populations as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This article highlights the need for screening both disordered eating and eating disorders in the pediatric primary care setting. It explores possible solutions including a discussion of several new screening tools that have shown promise in specific populations. This article aims to serve as a call to action for the validation of such a screener in the general pediatric population.

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent, urgent public health problem. IPV exposure is associated with a significant risk of mental health problems for youth. African American women are disproportionately affected by IPV in the United States and African American youth suffer increased rates of adverse mental health outcomes as a result. Support for survivors of IPV and their children is increasingly taking the form of long-term rehousing programs. A child's home environment is a critical component of their daily functioning and has been established as a risk and/or protective factor in the development of mental health problems. Despite the importance of home environments for IPV-exposed children, little research has been conducted in this area. Our study leveraged a larger scale NICHD funded study (R01 HD102436-04; PI Sharp) to examine the quality of the home environment of N = 39 IPV-exposed mothers and their children in a rehousing program and its associations with youth mental health functioning. The Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME) was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to shed light on the potential impact of disparities on youth mental health. We also utilized an observational measure of racial socialization practices (the Africentric HOME) to examine its relevance in this context for a subset of African American mother−child dyads. We found that a greater overall quality of the home environment was strongly correlated with fewer child mental health problems and greater child prosocial behaviors, according to caregiver and child reports. The specific HOME subdomains of Encouragement of Maturity, Emotional Climate, Family Companionship, Family Integration, and Physical Environment demonstrated several significant associations with child mental health outcomes. Implications of these findings on disparities in youth mental health and potential considerations for IPV rehousing programs are discussed.

This study explored the relationship between maternal anxiety and breastfeeding practices among mothers in the Greater Accra Metropolis, Ghana, addressing a research gap in low- and middle-income countries. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to recruit 161 breastfeeding mothers aged 18–45 years with babies aged 1–24 months from postnatal welfare clinics through convenience sampling. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic information, maternal anxiety, and breastfeeding practices. Maternal anxiety was evaluated with the modified 12-item Postpartum-Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS), covering four domains: maternal competence and attachment, infant safety and welfare, practical infant care, and psychosocial adjustment to motherhood. Breastfeeding practices were assessed according to World Health Organization guidelines. The study found a high prevalence of maternal anxiety, with 88.8% of mothers experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and 11.2% reporting severe anxiety, particularly in domains related to infant safety and psychosocial adjustments. Breastfeeding practices varied with 81% of infants still being breastfed at the time of the interview, 76% of mothers initiating breastfeeding within the first hour postpartum, and 73% practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Statistical analyses, including Wilcoxon tests, revealed significant associations between elevated anxiety related to maternal competencies and delayed breastfeeding initiation (p = 0.04). Maternal anxiety related to infant safety and care was significantly correlated with exclusive breastfeeding practices (p = 0.013 and p = 0.030). These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions to address maternal anxiety during the perinatal period to promote optimal breastfeeding practices and improve maternal-infant health outcomes. Routine screening for anxiety and comprehensive support from healthcare providers are crucial, especially in resource-constrained settings. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of maternal anxiety on breastfeeding and child development across diverse socio-cultural contexts.

Improving youth mental health is a national priority in India, especially given the very high rates of youth suicide. Yet, mental health prevalence data in India are often incomplete. More culturally validated mental health measures are needed to inform prevention and intervention work. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-47) is a widely used measure of mental health globally, including in India, but it is yet to be culturally validated there. This study presents the second stage (of two) of the cultural validation of the RCADS-47 in a sample of Indian adolescents (n = 332; Mage = 14.81 years). Participants completed a revised version of the RCADS-47 (K-RCADS), alongside comparative measures. Psychometric testing for convergent and discriminant validity, alongside factor analysis, was conducted. The K-RCADS had good psychometric properties; high internal reliability (α = 0.89) and good construct validity when compared to measures of similar constructs (r = 0.51–0.69). Support was found for five of the six original RCADS factors. Findings suggest confidence in the rephrased RCADS-47 ability to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression among Indian adolescents, alongside highlighting the importance of culturally validating measures of mental health. Further research in this validation is also discussed.

Individuals worldwide share basic affective and cognitive abilities, and receive mental health diagnoses using similar scales. However, these measures have been predominantly developed and validated in Western contexts. Here, we compared British (N = 187; age 19–73 years) and Chinese participants (N = 194; age 19–60 years) on behavioral tasks of facial emotion recognition and sustained attention, evaluating affect and cognition, as well as mental health measures of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and impulsivity. Comparing British and Chinese populations is particularly important as they represent distinct cultural traditions in emotional expression, cognitive processing, and mental health conceptualization. We found that British participants were significantly better at recognizing emotions, especially negative ones; while Chinese participants showed higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms, driven primarily by the number-meaning item, the tendency to assign significance to numerical information. The groups showed negligible differences in sustained attention and other mental health measures. This study provides novel evidence that culture has a greater influence on affective abilities than cognitive ones, and highlights concerns about cultural biases in established mental health scales. However, these findings may not generalize beyond British and Chinese populations, which calls for broader cross-cultural research.

In response to the call for a research agenda to eliminate youth mental health disparities, this paper presents a purposive review of five areas of promise and concern for the amelioration of disparities in school settings: (1) mental health stigma, (2) behavioral health screening and referral disparities, (3) behavioral health treatment and outcome disparities, (4) socially and culturally responsive practices, and (5) alternatives to disparity-reproducing school discipline and carceral behavioral health systems. Each topic is placed in context with current advances in the study of multitiered systems of support (MTSS) frameworks, particularly the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) for integrating behavioral health personnel, expertise, and practice in schools, emphasizing the enormous opportunity and importance of school-based behavioral health systems research for youth mental health parity. Three approaches to research are highlighted with rationale for their likelihood to contribute to both youth mental health parity and to mutually beneficial research production, use, and participation in communities: Community-partnered research (such as community-based participatory research), research–practice partnerships, and research–policy partnerships. Recommendations are made for congruent research, training, and funding structures necessitated by these high impact approaches.

Maternal depressive symptoms are highly prevalent postpartum and have been shown to negatively impact maternal caregiving. The emotional response to infant crying has been shown to predict individual differences in the quality of caregiving behavior. Parental reflective functioning, that is, the ability to understand and reflect on the infant's mental states, may aid in understanding infant distress signals and thereby also regulating negative emotions in response to infant crying. Therefore, the first aim of the current study was to investigate differences in emotional responses to infant crying and parental reflective functioning in mothers with clinically relevant symptoms of depression compared to mothers without clinically relevant symptoms of depression and second to test whether an association between depressive symptoms and emotional responses to infant crying is mediated by parental reflective functioning. Mothers with infants between 1 and 12 months of age who participated in an online survey about the developing parent−infant relationship in Germany were included in the present study. Depressive symptoms, parental reflective functioning, and emotional responses to infant crying were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), and the My Emotions Questionnaire. A total of 25.1% (n = 148) of mothers reported clinically relevant depressive symptoms, whereas 74.9% (n = 441) reported no or only mild symptoms. Mothers with clinically relevant depressive symptoms showed increased emotional reactivity to infant crying and less optimal parental reflective functioning compared to mothers without clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Further, the association between maternal depressive symptoms and negative emotional responses like anxiety and frustration in response to infant crying was partly mediated by dimensions of parental reflective functioning. The findings indicate that the incorporation of parental reflective functioning in early parenting programs, particularly for mothers experiencing depressive symptoms or at risk for depression, may be a critical factor in promoting sensitive caregiving.