Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide-related risk among college students: A cross-sectional analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to suicide-related risks among college students during a stressful life event, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model, data from 808 college students were analyzed, revealing key interactions and predictive insights into suicide-related risk. Results indicated that preexisting depression emerged as the most significant risk factor, followed by anxiety, discrimination, stress, and younger age. These findings emphasize the importance of preventive measures targeting depression and anxiety to enhance college students' mental health and well-being. The study's implications extend to informing future research, practical interventions, and policy-making efforts addressing suicide-related risk among college students.

Buffering Effects of Social Support and Parental Monitoring on Suicide.

A number of studies have examined the direct effects of social support, depression, and parental monitoring on suicide ideation. However, less is known about the mediation and moderation effects of social support, depression, and parental monitoring on suicide ideation among adolescents. To determine how suicide ideation is associated with an adolescent's social support, depression, and parental monitoring, authors analyzed data drawn from the 2016 wave of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The total sample consisted of 14,272 participants, ages 12 to 17; 51.1 percent were male and 48.9 percent female. By using the PROCESS macro, the authors tested the mediation effect of depression between social support and suicide ideation moderated by parental monitoring. Depression mediated the correlation between social support and suicide ideation. Parental monitoring moderated the mediation effect of depression between social support and suicide ideation. These findings provide specific directions to develop and culturally tailor effective suicide intervention programs for adolescents with histories of depression to reduce their suicidal behavior.

Using a classification tree modeling approach to predict cigarette use among adolescents in the United States.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to screen pertinent variables to identify ordered relations that provide easily interpretable and accurate predictions of the probability of cigarette use among adolescents using a classification tree modeling approach. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a national sample of 3717 U.S. adolescents aged between 12 and 20 years old from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Results: The results indicated that age was the most influential variable, followed by depression, race/ethnicity, family income, gender, and alcohol abuse and dependence. Additionally, several interaction emerged that identified higher and lower cigarette use profiles: youth who were between 18 and 20 years old and self-identified as non-Hispanic White, Native American/Alaska Native, and "Other" racial/ethnic group and African American, Asian, and Latinx adolescents, with depressive symptoms were at higher risk of cigarette use; while youth who reported lower family incomes, were 16-17 years old, who identified as African American, Asian, and Latinx, were also likely to report lower use of cigarettes when they reported lower depressive symptom scores. Discussion: These results are discussed relative to practice implications.

The Effects of Occupational Stress, Work-Centrality, Self-Efficacy, and Job Satisfaction on Intent to Quit Among Long-Term Care Workers in Korea.

A large and growing population of elderly Koreans with chronic conditions necessitates an increase in long-term care. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of occupational stress, work-centrality, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction on intent to leave among long-term care workers in Korea. We tested the hypothesized structural equation model predicting the intention to quit among long-term care workers in Korea. Survey data were collected from 532 long-term care workers in Seoul, Korea. Results showed that occupational stress was positively associated with intention to leave the job. The study also identified several possible mediators (self-efficacy, work-centrality, job satisfaction) in the relationship between stress and intent to quit. Evidence-based stress management interventions are suggested to help the workers better cope with stressors. Mentoring programs should also be considered for new workers.

Dissecting Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Asian American Elders: A Classification and Regression Tree Approach.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a growing public health challenge, particularly with an aging population. While extensive research has explored the relationships between AD, socio-demographic factors, and cardiovascular risk factors, a notable gap exists in understanding these connections within the Asian American elderly population. Objective: This study aims to address this gap by employing the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) approach to investigate the intricate interplay of socio-demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, sleep patterns, prior antidepressant use, and AD among Asian American elders. Methods: Data from the 2017 Uniform Data Set, provided by the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, were analyzed, focusing on a sample of Asian American elders (n = 4,343). The analysis utilized the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) approach. Results: CART analysis identified critical factors, including levels of independence, specific age thresholds (73.5 and 84.5 years), apnea, antidepressant use, and body mass index, as significantly associated with AD risk. Conclusions: These findings have far-reaching implications for future research, particularly in examining the roles of gender, cultural nuances, socio-demographic factors, and cardiovascular risk elements in AD within the Asian American elderly population. Such insights can inform tailored interventions, improved healthcare access, and culturally sensitive policies to address the complex challenges posed by AD in this community.

Mask wearing and self-harming thoughts among international students in the United States during COVID-19: The moderating role of discrimination.

Objective: This study examined associations among discrimination, mask-wearing behavior, and self-harming thoughts among international students in the United States during COVID-19. Participants: Undergraduate and graduate international students enrolled in universities during the 2020 summer semester participated in the online survey (N = 103). Methods: Perceived discrimination, mask-wearing behavior, and self-harming thoughts during COVID-19 were assessed by self-reports. Multivariable logistic regressions examined the association among discrimination, mask-wearing behavior, and self-harming thoughts and explored the potential moderation effect of discrimination on the association between mask-wearing and self-harming thoughts. Results: 18.6% of participants reported self-harming thoughts. Increased discrimination was significantly associated with increased odds of self-harming thoughts. Discrimination significantly moderated the association between mask wearing and self-harming thoughts. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of increased availability of culturally appropriate mental health services for international students and the need for increased advocacy to decrease discrimination against international students in the current societal context.

The hidden minority: Discrimination and mental health among international students in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.

International students in the US occupy a precarious position at the intersection of immigration policy and global education mobility, one made more challenging by the disparate impact of COVID-19 on college students' mental health. Few studies, however, have explored the pandemic's effects on mental well-being among the international student population in the US. Our study aims to provide initial empirical evidence on the mental health status of these students, with a specific focus on discrimination, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. We propose a mediation framework and estimate the mediating effects of loneliness and anxiety in the relationships between discrimination and depression in a sample of US-based international students (N = 103). We collected cross-sectional data from July to August 2020, using a 50-item online survey instrument with three open-ended questions. Mediation analyses using PROCESS Macro were used to analyse quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Findings showed that higher levels of discrimination were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness. Higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, which in turn led to high levels of depressive symptoms. Our study contributes to understanding the needs and capacities of international students in the wake of COVID-19 and simultaneously provides pragmatic program and policy implications for inclusive higher education environments and the overall health and well-being of this crucial US student population.

Social Activity, School-Related Activity, and Anti-Substance Use Media Messages on Adolescent Tobacco and Alcohol Use.

In this article, we present the effects of three hypothesized protective factors: social activities, school-related activities, and anti-substance use media messages on adolescent tobacco and alcohol use. Data were drawn from the "Monitoring the Future" (MTF) research project, which was conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. The sample included 2,551 twelfth-grade students. The results of the structural equation model showed that exposure to media anti-drug messages had an indirect negative effect on tobacco and alcohol use through school-related activity and social activity. The results suggest that comprehensive ecological interventions encompassing media, family, and school can increase on the preventive effects of adolescent's substance use.

An Ecological Approach to Understanding Youth Violence: The Mediating Role of Substance Use.

The authors tested an ecological model that posits mediating variables (substance use and mental health) in the association between ecological factors (family closeness, school closeness, and peer closeness) and youth violence in a sample of 4,783 adolescents. Model including substance use present significantly less total effect between ecological factors and youth violence than do models without substance use. Additional probing of significant mediation effect using the Sobel test was performed and suggested that substance use did function as a mediator in the hypothesized path. Considerations of adolescent violence should recognize the possible role of ecological factors and how their influence may vary by substance use.

Typologies of Peer Victimization, Depression, and Alcohol Use among High School Youth in the United States: Measuring Gender Differences.

Using the data from 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, our study explored gender differences in the typologies of peer victimization and alcohol use mediated by depression among adolescents. Results showed a significant association between peer victimization types with depression and alcohol use among both male and female students. Results also showed stark gender differences in school victimization, cyber-bullying victimization, sexual-dating violence, and depression on alcohol use. Findings provide implications for policies and programs that examine various forms of peer victimization, mental health, and alcohol use through a gendered lens, critical to acknowledging gendered differences in victimization and behavior of adolescents.

Risk Factors and Mediators of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of Korean adolescents have suicidal ideations and it is more prevalent among adolescents than any other age group in Korea. AIMS: This study was conducted to attain a better understanding of the contributing factors to suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents. METHOD: We recruited 569 high school students in Grades 10 and 11 in Pyeongtaek, Korea. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation was used to measure suicidal ideation as the outcome variable. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the School Related Stress Scale, the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questions were used to measure thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, bullying, and previous suicidal behaviors, respectively. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The findings suggest that perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, and previous suicidal behaviors have significant direct effects on suicidal ideation. Hopelessness fully mediated the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal ideation, and partially mediated between perceived burdensomeness, school-related stress, and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: These findings provide more specific directions for a multidimensional suicide prevention program in order to be successful in reducing suicide rates among Korean adolescents.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Suicide Among Homeless Adults.

This study explored the role of mental health and substance abuse problems on the suicidal ideation and suicide attempts of 156 homeless adults. The logistic regression results indicated that homeless adults with anxiety were significantly more likely than those without anxiety to have both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Also, homeless adults with drug abuse were significantly more likely than those without drug abuse to have suicidal ideation. The study suggests that to reduce the suicide of the homeless, case managers need to screen mental health and substance abuse issues and to provide appropriate treatment services at homeless shelters.

Ecological Factors of Being Bullied Among Adolescents: a Classification and Regression Tree Approach.

Being bullied is a well-recognized trauma for adolescents. Bullying can best be understood through an ecological framework since bullying or being bullied involves risk factors at multiple contextual levels. The purpose of the study was to identify the risk and protective factors that best differentiate groups along with the outcome variable of interest (being bullied) using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. The study used the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) data collected from a nationally representative sample of students in grades six through ten during the 2005-2006 school years. This study identified that for adolescents 12 and younger, lower parental support is a critical risk factor associated with bullying and among those 13 to 14 with lower parent support, adolescent with higher academic pressure reported experiencing more bullying. For the older group of adolescents (aged 15 and older), school related factors were identified to increase the risk level of being bullied. There was a critical age (15 years old) for implementing victimization interventions to reduce the damage from being bullied. Service providers working with adolescents aged 14 and less should focus more on family-oriented intervention and those working with adolescents aged 15 and more should offer peer- or school-related interventions.

Youth-Family, Youth-School Relationship, and Depression.

This study sought to examine the association between adolescents' relationship with family and school and depressive symptoms across ethnic/racial groups (White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian), and to test potentially unique explanatory power in youth-family relationship versus youth-school relationship, in a sample of 4,783 adolescents. Depressive symptoms were assessed with a 19-item, modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The results indicated that youth-family relationship and youth-school relationship were significant predictors of adolescent depression. However, the findings of the study indicated that unique contributions by youth-family relationship and youth-school relationship were different by racial/ethnic groups. These findings elucidate protective factors for adolescent depression and highlight the importance of cultural context of each racial/ethnic group.

Ethnic enclave resources and predictors of depression among Arizona's Korean immigrant elders.

This is the first study examining predictors of depression among Arizona's Korean immigrant elders not residing in ethnic enclaves. A snowball sample of 120 elders, aged 64 and over, completed the study interview. The proportion of respondents reporting depression was 38.1%, higher than the incidence reported among counterparts in New York City's immigrant ethnic enclaves. Multiple regression analyses (R2=.44) indicate that English language proficiency had the most powerful effect on explaining depression. Discussion centers on why programs aimed at reducing language barriers among socially isolated immigrant elders need to be a first priority in service provision.

Needs of family caregivers caring for stroke patients: based on the rehabilitation treatment phase and the treatment setting.

The objective of the study was to identify the needs of family members across rehabilitation treatment phases and treatment settings. Participants were 123 family caregivers in rehabilitation settings in South Korea that replied to the survey. The needs were measured by the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ) and the t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze collected data. In the comparison of two rehabilitation phases, the family caregivers caring for their patients in the acute rehabilitation phase perceived the need for health information as more important than those in the postacute phase. In addition, the family caregivers caring for patients in the acute rehabilitation phase were less satisfied with community network support and family support than those in the postacute phase. In the comparison of treatment settings, family caregivers caring for their patients in outpatient clinic services showed the lowest satisfaction of their needs in four areas (health information, emotional support, instrumental support, and professional support) compared with those in inpatient facilities or day hospitals. Findings are discussed within the context of the empirical and theoretical literature and implications for social work practice are considered.