Beliefs and willingness towards participating in genetic testing for depression in low-income and racial/ethnic minority mothers at-risk.

PURPOSE: To identify mothers' salient normative, behavioral and control beliefs and willingness towards participating in genetic salivary testing for depression. DESIGN: A qualitative, descriptive design was employed. 41 multi-ethnic mothers completed surveys that underwent directed content analysis according to The Theory of Planned Behavior. Percentages and frequency counts were used to categorize responses and calculate willingness. FINDINGS: Salient beliefs included: Behavioral: Finding a cure/treatment for depression (29.3 %), Normative: Family would approve (46.3 %), and Church associates would disapprove (19.5 %). CONTROL: Lacking information/explanations (34.1 %) as barriers, convenient locations (24.4 %) as facilitators. Most mothers indicated a willingness to participate (90.2 %). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions should target families, emphasize benefits, explain purposes and procedures, and use community based participatory methods.

Using digital storytelling to understand service users' mental health recovery and address stigma among nursing students.

PURPOSE: Stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental illness from healthcare providers continues to be a problem affecting recovery in people with mental illness. The process of recovery was explored through digital stories created by service users, with support from nursing students. Stigmatized attitudes in nursing students and stigma resistance in service users were also investigated. DESIGN AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, pilot study in which service users/nursing student teams created digital stories. Surveys testing stigmatized attitudes and stigma resistance were employed. FINDINGS: Statistical significance was not found, however, qualitative analysis revealed recovery elements and greater appreciation of individuals with mental illness by the nursing students. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Digital story-telling assists service users in doing the internal work of making meaning from experience. Nursing students benefit from involvement in the activity.

The Effects of a Community-Based, Multicomponent, Depression Prevention Intervention in Mothers At-Risk.

The purpose of this study was to develop a 12-week multicomponent, depression prevention pilot intervention and evaluate its feasibility and preliminary effects on improving levels and correlates of depressive symptoms, including anger, self-esteem perceived stress, social support, and racism. A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods design and a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was employed. University faculty, students and community residents collaborated at a low-income housing complex in a low-resourced, urban community. Fifteen low-income, ethnic minority mothers ages 23-46 years completed the intervention and evaluation surveys. Eight mothers participated in a focus group. The intervention included social group-dance, health education, and socialization. t-Tests, sign-tests, and thematic analysis was employed. Mothers identified barriers and facilitators of program engagement. Depressive symptoms were significantly reduced (t(14) = 2.41, p = .030). Self-esteem (t(14) = 2.28, p = .039) and social support levels (M = 4.5, p = .035) were significantly increased. This multicomponent intervention is feasible. Preliminary efficacy evidence was mixed.

Gender differences in the relationship between prescription opioid misuse and depressive symptoms and suicidality among US High School Students.

BACKGROUND: Prescription opioid misuse and suicide among adolescents are significant health challenges. PURPOSE: This study investigated whether effects of prescription opioid misuse on depressive symptoms and suicidality are greater among female than male students. METHODS: Using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 14,765), this research estimated additive interactions using risk differences as well as multiplicative interactions using odds ratios. DISCUSSION: Results showed prescription opioid misuse was associated with significantly greater risks among females than males for depressive symptoms (31.1% vs. 20.8%), suicidal ideation (27.3% vs. 19.1%), suicide attempts (18.1% vs. 11.9%) and suicide attempts requiring treatment (8.5% vs. 4.4%). In contrast, multiplicative interactions using odds ratios were all nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Among students who misused prescription opioids, females compared to males had much higher average predicted margins of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide attempts requiring treatment. Screening for depression and suicidality among adolescents who misuse prescription opioids, and vice versa, is paramount.

Psychosocial Bullying Among Nurse Educators: Exploring Coping Strategies and Intent to Leave.

PURPOSE: To examine the incidence of workplace bullying among nurse educators and explore potential relationships between workplace bullying, professional demographics, coping strategies, and intent to leave. DESIGN: The investigator used a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design and Bronfenbrenner's Process-Person-Context-Time model to examine workplace bullying among nurse educators in the northeastern United States. METHODS: A web-based survey was utilized to collect data from a final sample of 470 nurse educators from nine states in the northeastern United States. The instruments included a demographic section, followed by the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI), and a three-item job intent turnover questionnaire. Descriptive and parametric statistics were generated for data analysis. FINDINGS: Forty-five percent (n = 212) of participants self-identified as targets of bullying in the workplace within the preceding 6 months. The most frequently reported negative acts encountered among the nurse educators surveyed were being excluded, having one's opinion ignored, and being exposed to an unmanageable workload. Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were identified between workplace bullying and coping strategies (r = .53: p < .01) and intent to leave (r = .58: p < .01) among nurse educators. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace bullying among nurse educators is a serious problem impacting the profession. Heightened awareness and diverse initiatives targeting workplace bullying can positively impact retention of qualified nurse educators. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings from this study may contribute to the development of strategies to mitigate the effects of psychosocial bullying and enhance retention of nurse educators.

Contributors to Depressed Mood in Black Single Mothers.

Participants: A convenience sample of 210 community dwelling Black single mothers ages 18 to 45, who reside in U.S. urban communities.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. Participants responded to an open-ended question that asked about reasons for depressed mood. A directed approach to content analysis was used to categorize the responses based on existing theoretical formulations and empirical findings about the causes of depression in women. Percentages and frequencies were used to describe the results of the analysis.Findings: A total of 319 usable responses were provided. Collectively and individually the most frequent responses were consistent with Social/Environmental factors such as lack of financial resources (n = 115; 36.05%), followed by Psychological factors such as general cognitive/emotional feelings of stress (n = 60; 18.81%), and parenting stressors or daily hassles (n = 40; 12.54%). Physiologic factors such as a having physiologic or medical conditions were reported less often (n = 14; 4.39%).Conclusions/Implications: Social/Environmental and Psychological factors contribute to depressed mood more often than Physiological factors in Black single mothers. Depression prevention efforts should target the social determinants of mental health in Black single mothers who should be connected with appropriate financial, psychological, educational and social service resources in the community.