Dataset Information

Social interactions, experiences with adverse life events and depressive symptoms in individuals with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Knowledge about the high rates of depression in people with visual impairment (VI) remains unclear. The study aimed to examine whether depressive symptoms in people with VI were associated with social isolation, perceived social support and lifetime exposure to bullying, physical abuse or sexual abuse.

Methods

An anonymous telephone survey was conducted from January to May 2017 in an age-stratified sample of adults with VI who were members of the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. Participants were asked questions about social isolation, perceived social support, and past experiences with bullying and abuse. Depressive symptoms were measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). We calculated unadjusted and full-adjusted exponentiated beta-values (Exp(?)) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using generalized linear models.

Results

Overall, 736 (61%) adults participated in the study. The mean depression scores were 5.24 (SD: 5.3, range: 0-27), 4.61 for men and 5.77 for women. Results from the full-adjusted model showed higher levels of depressive symptoms among participants who reported social isolation (Exp(?): 1.89, 95% CI: 1.63-2.20), lower levels of perceived social support (Exp(?): 1.55, 95% CI: 1.31-1.83), and past experiences of abuse (Exp(?): 1.41, 95% CI: 1.17-1.70). The strength of the associations between past exposure to bullying or abuse and depressive symptoms was similar for those with low and high levels of support.

Conclusion

Social isolation, perceived support and experiences of adverse events appear to be independently associated with depressive symptoms. Thus, social integration may be appropriate for the promotion of mental health among people with VI.

SUBMITTER: Brunes A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7216619 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Social interactions, experiences with adverse life events and depressive symptoms in individuals with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study.

Brunes Audun A Heir Trond T

BMC psychiatry 20200512 1

<h4>Background</h4>Knowledge about the high rates of depression in people with visual impairment (VI) remains unclear. The study aimed to examine whether depressive symptoms in people with VI were associated with social isolation, perceived social support and lifetime exposure to bullying, physical abuse or sexual abuse.<h4>Methods</h4>An anonymous telephone survey was conducted from January to May 2017 in an age-stratified sample of adults with VI who were members of the Norwegian Association o ...[more]

PMID: 32398122

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Project description:PurposeTo examine the relationship between experiences of discrimination, institutional responses to seminal race events, and depressive symptoms among Black medical students.MethodThis study collected data from a convenience sample of Black U.S. medical students via an anonymous electronic questionnaire in August 2020 that was distributed through the Student National Medical Association and Organization of Student Representatives listservs and an author's social media accounts. It included questions on demographics, institutional responses to seminal race events, experiences of discrimination, and symptoms of depression. Path models were used to examine the relationship between experiences of discrimination, institutional responses to seminal race events, and depressive symptoms among Black medical students.ResultsOf the 750 students completing the survey, 733 (97.7%) were Black. Experiences of discrimination and a lack of institutional responses to seminal race events were associated with more depressive symptoms (b = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.26; P < .001 and b = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.20; P = .01). After controlling for gender and clinical diagnosis of depression or anxiety before medical school, there was a relationship between experiences of discrimination and institutional responses to seminal race events such that students who reported more experiences of discrimination were more likely to report that their institution did not respond to seminal race events (b = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.48; P < .001). Experiences of discrimination moderated the relationship between institutional responses to seminal race events and depressive symptoms (i.e., the relationship between a lack of institutional responses to seminal race events and depressive symptoms was stronger among students who reported more frequent experiences of discrimination).ConclusionsInstitutions dedicated to supporting Black medical student wellness must be diligent in cultivating a culture intolerant of discrimination and deft in their responses to seminal race events in the larger culture.

Dataset Information

Social interactions, experiences with adverse life events and depressive symptoms in individuals with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Social interactions, experiences with adverse life events and depressive symptoms in individuals with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study.

Similar Datasets

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