Sex differences in depression among older adults: are older women more vulnerable than men in social risk factors? The case of open care centers for older people in Greece.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Carayanni V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5547401 | biostudies-other | 2012 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Similar Datasets
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-ranging consequences for general physical and mental health. Country-specific research reveals a general reduction in mental and physical well-being, due to measures undertaken to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease. However, research is yet to examine the impact of the pandemic on global psychological distress and its effects upon vulnerable groups. Exploration of the factors that potentially mediate the relationship between stress and mental health during this period is needed, to assist in undertaking concrete measures to mitigate psychological distress and support vulnerable groups. Therefore, this study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress globally, and identified factors that may exacerbate decline in mental health. N = 1653 participants (mean age 42.90 ± 13.63 years; 30.3% males) from 63 countries responded to the survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire and State Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Other measures included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Globally, consistently high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and poor sleep were observed regardless of number of COVID-19 cases. Over 70% of the respondents had greater than moderate levels of stress, with 59% meeting the criteria for clinically significant anxiety and 39% reporting moderate depressive symptoms. People with a prior mental health diagnosis experienced greater psychological distress. Poor sleep, lower levels of resilience, younger age and loneliness significantly mediated the links between stress and depression, and stress and anxiety. Age-based differences revealed that younger age-groups were more vulnerable to stress, depression and anxiety symptoms. Results show that these vulnerable individuals need more support. Age-specific interventions for modifiable factors that mediate the psychological distress need to urgently deployed to address the global mental health pandemic.
| S-EPMC7834119 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Sex differences in mortality vary over time and place as a function of social, health, and medical circumstances. The magnitude of these variations, and their response to large socioeconomic changes, suggest that biological differences cannot fully account for sex differences in survival. Drawing on a wide swath of mortality data across countries and over time, we develop a set of empiric observations with which any theory about excess male mortality and its correlates will have to contend. We show that as societies develop, M/F survival first declines and then increases, a "sex difference in mortality transition" embedded within the demographic and epidemiologic transitions. After the onset of this transition, cross-sectional variation in excess male mortality exhibits a consistent pattern of greater female resilience to mortality under socio-economic adversity. The causal mechanisms underlying these associations merit further research.
| S-EPMC5757782 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesCenter of Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) provides a snapshot of symptom severity at a single point in time. However, the best way of using CES-D to classify long-term depression is unclear.MethodTo identify long-term depression among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected 50+ year-old men who have sex with men (MSM) with at least 5 years of follow-up, we compared sensitivities and specificities of CES-D-based metrics (baseline CES-D; four consecutive CES-Ds; group-based trajectory models) thresholded at 16 and 20 to a clinician's evaluation of depression phenotype based on all available data including CES-D history, depression treatment history, drug use history, HIV disease factors, and demographic characteristics.ResultsA positive depressive phenotype prevalence was common among HIV-infected (prevalence = 33.1%) and HIV-uninfected MSM (prevalence = 23.2%). Compared to the depressive phenotype, trajectory models of CES-D≥20 provided highest specificities among HIV-infected (specificity = 99.9%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:99.4%-100.0%) and HIV-uninfected MSM (specificity = 99.0%, 95% CI:97.4%-99.7%). Highest sensitivities resulted from classifying baseline CES-D ≥ 16 among HIV-infected MSM (sensitivity = 75.0%, 95% CI:67.3%-81.7%) and four consecutive CES-Ds ≥ 16 among HIV-uninfected MSM (sensitivity = 81.0%, 95% CI:73.7%-87.0%).ConclusionChoice of method should vary, depending on importance of false positive or negative rate for long-term depression in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected MSM.
| S-EPMC6085148 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown high infection and mortality rates all over the world, and despite the global efforts, there is so far no specific therapy available for COVID-19. Interestingly, while the severity and mortality of COVID-19 are higher in males than in females, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this review, we explore sex-related differences that may be contributing factors to the observed male-biased mortality from COVID-19. Males are considered the weaker sex in aspects related to endurance and infection control. Studies show that viral RNA clearance is delayed in males with COVID-19. A recent study has indicated that the testis can harbor coronavirus, and consequently, males show delayed viral clearance. However, the role of testis involvement in COVID-19 severity and mortality needs further research. Males and females show a distinct difference in immune system responses with females eliciting stronger immune responses to pathogens. This difference in immune system responses may be a major contributing factor to viral load, disease severity, and mortality. In addition, differences in sex hormone milieus could also be a determinant of viral infections as estrogen has immunoenhancing effects while testosterone has immunosuppressive effects. The sex-specific severity of COVID-19 infections indicates that further research on understanding the sex differences is needed. Inclusion of both males and females in basic research and clinical trials is required to provide critical information on sex-related differences that may help to better understand disease outcome and therapy.
| S-EPMC7498997 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be at an increased risk of Violence, HIV transmission and Mental Disorders such as depression on top of many other bio-psycho-socio challenges they face as a result of their sexual orientation.MethodsWe recruited 345 MSM using a respondent driven sampling technique. Revised Conflict Tactic Scale, PHQ-9 and questions adapted from the TDHS 2010 were used to assess for violence, depression and HIV-risk behaviors respectively. Continuous and categorical variables were analyzed with student's t-test and chi-square test respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess for predictors of depression and HIV-risk behaviors. All tests were two sided and p < 0.05 was taken as significance level.ResultsOverall, 325 (94.2%) of participants experienced any form of violence, with emotional violence constituting the majority (90.1%), while physical and sexual violence were reported by 254 (73.6%) and 250 (72.5%) of participants respectively. Depressive symptoms were present in 245 (70.0%) and participants who experienced violence had a 3 times increased risk of depressive symptoms compared to their violence-free counterparts, p < 0.001. On the other hand, participants who experienced any form of violence displayed an over 11 times increased rate of depressive symptoms compared to their counterparts who were violence free, p < 0.001. Violence experience was found to be the strongest associated factor for depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe rates of violence, depressive symptoms and HIV risk behaviors amongst MSM are astoundingly high thus necessitating extensive interventions. In view of this, deliberate measures to deal with the reported high rates necessitate joint intervention efforts from the policy makers, health providers and community at large.
| S-EPMC5558659 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The association between sex hormones and sex hormone binding globin (SHBG) with vertebral fractures in men is not well studied. In these analyses, we determined whether sex hormones and SHBG were associated with greater likelihood of vertebral fractures in a prospective cohort study of community dwelling older men. We included data from participants in MrOS who had been randomly selected for hormone measurement (N=1463, including 1054 with follow-up data 4.6years later). Major outcomes included prevalent vertebral fracture (semi-quantitative grade≥2, N=140, 9.6%) and new or worsening vertebral fracture (change in SQ grade≥1, N=55, 5.2%). Odds ratios per SD decrease in sex hormones and per SD increase in SHBG were estimated with logistic regression adjusted for potentially confounding factors, including age, bone mineral density, and other sex hormones. Higher SHBG was associated with a greater likelihood of prevalent vertebral fractures (OR: 1.38 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.72). Total estradiol analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with prevalent vertebral fractures (OR per SD decrease: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.10). Men with total estradiol values ≤17pg/ml had a borderline higher likelihood of prevalent fracture than men with higher values (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.16). There was no association between total testosterone and prevalent fracture. In longitudinal analyses, SHBG (OR: 1.42 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.95) was associated with new or worsening vertebral fracture, but there was no association with total estradiol or total testosterone. In conclusion, higher SHBG (but not testosterone or estradiol) is an independent risk factor for vertebral fractures in older men.
| S-EPMC4755786 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundFemale fetuses are more vulnerable to high levels of maternal glucocorticoids. We examined whether exposure to prenatal maternal depression, a condition associated with high glucocorticoids, carries greater risk for depression at 12 and 18 years in girls.MethodsOur sample comprised 7959 mothers and children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children following imputation for missing data. Maternal depression was assessed pre-and post-natally, and offspring depression at ages 12 and 18. We used logistic regression models to examine the relationship between exposure to prenatal and postnatal depression and offspring depression at 18 and 12 and interactions with gender.ResultsThere was an interaction between prenatal depression and gender (P=0.027) and between postnatal depression and gender (P=0.027) for offspring depression at 18. Following adjustment in pre-natally depressed mothers, the odds ratio for offspring depression at 18 was 1.55 (95% c.i. 1.03-2.34) for girls and 0.54 (0.23-1.26) for boys. In post-natally depressed mothers, the odds ratio for offspring depression at 18 was 1.15 (0.70-1.89) in girls and 3.13 (1.52-6.45) in boys. However there was no evidence for interaction between prenatal or postnatal depression and gender (P=0.559 and 0.780 respectively) for offspring depression at 12.LimitationsAs expected with this large cohort spanning over 18 years, there was loss-to-follow-up.ConclusionsThis is the first evidence in humans that increased vulnerability of female fetuses to maternal stress responses during pregnancy persists into adolescence. One explanation for gender differences emerging later is more depressive symptomatology is attributed to heritable risk at 12, whereas biological processes involved in brain development at 18 may be influenced by foetal programming. If replicated, this study has potential to help understand intergenerational transmission of depression, a leading cause of morbidity worldwide.
| S-EPMC4650986 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIn Peru, as in the Americas overall, men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Most research focuses on practices between cisgender men, whereas many MSM report male and female partners, cisgender, transgender, or both.MethodsData for these analyses were from a treatment-as-prevention study in Lima (the Sabes study). We compared demographics and behaviors of MSM who reported cisgender women partners in the past 3 months (MSMW) and MSM who reported both cisgender and transgender women partners (MSMW-T) to MSM who reported only male partners (MSMO). We calculated HIV incidence in each group during 2-year follow-up.ResultsCompared with MSMO, MSMW and MSMW-T more often self-identify as heterosexual or bisexual and report insertive sex practices. MSMW reported condomless sex with cisgender women: vaginal (72%), anal sex (18%). One-third of MSMW reported condomless receptive anal sex with men in the past 3 months, with 24% of MSMW overall who reported both condomless receptive sex with men and condomless insertive vaginal or anal sex with cisgender women. Of these, 17% were HIV infected. HIV incidence did not differ significantly between groups.ConclusionMost MSMW and MSMW-T report bisexual or heterosexual orientation and prefer insertive sex. MSMW and MSMW-T (47% and 29%, respectively) engage in receptive anal intercourse. In both groups, the majority who engaged in condomless receptive sex with men (76% MSMW, 85% MSMW-T) also engaged in condomless vaginal and/or anal sex with women, indicating need for intervention.
| S-EPMC8605625 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Older subjects are more prone to develop systemic dehydration. Systemic dehydration has implications for vocal fold biology by affecting gene and protein expression. The interaction of hydration status and age has not been investigated in the context of vocal fold biology. We used comparative proteomics to analyze the vocal fold proteome of 6.5-month-old and over 3-year-old rabbits under water ad libitum or water volume restriction protocol.
Young and old rabbits (n= 22) were either euhydrated (water ad libitum) or dehydrated by water volume restriction. Dehydration was confirmed by body weight loss of -5.4% and -4.6% in young and old groups, respectively, and a 1.7-fold increase of kidney renin gene expression in the young rabbits. LC-MS/MS identified 2,286 proteins in the rabbit vocal folds of young and old rabbits combined. Of these, 177, 169, and 81 proteins were significantlyaffected by age, hydration status, or the interaction of both factors, respectively. Comparative proteomics revealed a higher number of proteins differentially regulated in the vocal folds of older dehydrated rabbits compared to older euhydrated, and when compared to younger rabbits, regardless of hydration status. These proteins are predominantly related to structural components of the extracellular matrix and muscle layer, suggesting a disturbance in the viscoelastic properties of aging vocal fold tissue, especially when subjected to systemic dehydration.
2022-06-17 | MSV000089683 | MassIVE
Project description:Understanding the dynamic nature of sex work is important for explaining the course of HIV epidemics. While health and development interventions targeting sex workers may alter the dynamics of the sex trade in particular localities, little has been done to explore how large-scale social and structural changes, such as economic recessions-outside of the bounds of organizational intervention-may reconfigure social norms and attitudes with regards to sex work. Zimbabwe's economic collapse in 2009, following a period (2000-2009) of economic decline, within a declining HIV epidemic, provides a unique opportunity to study community perceptions of the impact of socio-economic upheaval on the sex trade. We conducted focus group discussions with 122 community members in rural eastern Zimbabwe in January-February 2009. Groups were homogeneous by gender and occupation and included female sex workers, married women, and men who frequented bars. The focus groups elicited discussion around changes (comparing contemporaneous circumstances in 2009 to their memories of circumstances in 2000) in the demand for, and supply of, paid sex, and how sex workers and clients adapted to these changes, and with what implications for their health and well-being. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. The analysis revealed how changing economic conditions, combined with an increased awareness and fear of HIV-changing norms and local attitudes toward sex work-had altered the demand for commercial sex. In response, sex work dispersed from the bars into the wider community, requiring female sex workers to employ different tactics to attract clients. Hyperinflation meant that sex workers had to accept new forms of payment, including sex-on-credit and commodities. Further impacting the demand for commercial sex work was a poverty-driven increase in transactional sex. The economic upheaval in Zimbabwe effectively reorganized the market for sex by reducing previously dominant forms of commercial sex, while simultaneously providing new opportunities for women to exchange sex in less formal and more risky transactions. Efforts to measure and respond to the contribution of sex work to HIV transmission need to guard against unduly static definitions and consider the changing socioeconomic context and how this can cause shifts in behavior.
| S-EPMC5321466 | biostudies-other