Browsing by Subject "Social Support"
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Item Increases in social support co-occur with decreases in depressive symptoms and substance use problems among adults in permanent supportive housing: an 18-month longitudinal study(BioMed Central Ltd., 2021-01-06) Tan, Zhengqi; Mun, Eun-Young; Nguyen, Uyen-Sa D.T.; Walters, Scott T.BACKGROUND: Social support is a well-known protective factor against depressive symptoms and substance use problems, but very few studies have examined its protective effects among residents of permanent supportive housing (PSH), a housing program for people with a history of chronic homelessness. We utilized unconditional latent growth curve models (LGCMs) and parallel process growth models to describe univariate trajectories of social support, depressive symptoms, and substance use problems and to examine their longitudinal associations in a large sample of adults residing in PSH. METHODS: Participants were 653 adult PSH residents in North Texas (56% female; 57% Black; mean age: 51 years) who participated in a monthly health coaching program from 2014 to 2017. Their health behaviors were assessed at baseline and tracked every six months at three follow-up visits. RESULTS: Unconditional LGCMs indicated that over time, social support increased, whereas depressive symptoms and substance use problems decreased. However, their rates of change slowed over time. Further, in parallel process growth models, we found that at baseline, individuals with greater social support tended to have less severe depressive symptoms and substance use problems (coefficients: - 0.67, p < 0.01; - 0.52, p < 0.01, respectively). Individuals with a faster increase in social support tended to have steeper rates of reduction in both depressive symptoms (coefficient: - 0.99, p < 0.01) and substance use problems (coefficient: - 0.98, p < 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that plausibly, increases in social support, though slowing over time, still positively impact depressive symptoms and substance use problems among PSH residents. Future PSH programs could emphasize social support as an early component as it may contribute to clients' overall health.Item Lifestyle Factors and Depressive Symptoms Among Permanent Supportive Housing Residents(2020-05) Holmes, Esther J.; Walters, Scott T.Background: Depression is prevalent among low-income populations. Many lifestyle factors may influence depressive symptoms, including vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use, social support, and satisfaction with leisure activities. However, the influence of lifestyle factors on depressive symptoms among permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents is unclear. In addition, it is unclear if PSH residents with depressive symptoms are interested in working on lifestyle factors. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted among 420 PSH residents participating in a technology-assisted health coaching program. Three timepoints were included, corresponding with the screening/baseline, six-month, and twelve-month assessment visits. The independent variables were total vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use, social support, and satisfaction with leisure activities. The dependent variable was depressive symptoms, measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Covariates were race, sex, age, and visit. In addition, social support was examined as a potential effect modifier. Participants' interest in working on health areas was evaluated as well. Results: Moderate alcohol consumption predicted lower depressive symptoms compared with heavy alcohol consumption (b=-1.54, p=0.01). Additionally, the difference in depressive symptoms between non-consumers and heavy consumers of alcohol approached statistical significance with non-consumers of alcohol having less depressive symptoms than heavy consumers of alcohol (b = -.76, p = .07). High compared with low satisfaction with leisure activities (b=-0.83, p<0.0001) and high compared with low social support (b=-1.86, p<.0001) predicted lower depressive symptoms. Tobacco use was a marginally statistically significant predictor of depressive symptoms (b=0.92, p=0.05). Total vegetable and fruit intake and physical activity were not statistically significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Social support was not a statistically significant modifier of the effect of lifestyle factors on depressive symptoms. Participants with moderate, moderately severe, and severe depressive symptoms were most interested in working on diet, exercise, and substance use and least interested in working on social support and recreation/leisure activities. Conclusions: Alcohol use, tobacco use, social support, and satisfaction with leisure activities may influence depressive symptoms among PSH residents. However, participants may not be interested in working on social support and satisfaction with leisure activities. An ecological approach may be necessary to influence social support and satisfaction with leisure activities among PSH residents. Lifestyle interventions designed to reduce depressive symptoms among PSH residents should aim to increase PSH residents' social support and satisfaction with leisure activities.Item POPULATION-BASED RATES AND CORRELATES OF SELF-REPORTED FREQUENT MENTAL DISTRESS IN DIFFERENT SOCIO-GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENTS IN TEXAS(2013-04-12) Akinboro, OladimejiPurpose: Background: Frequent mental distress (FMD) is an indicator of poor mental health used in health-related quality of life surveillance. FMD is defined as reporting at least 14 days of mental ill-health in the prior 30-day period. Objectives: 1. To examine FMD rates in different sociogeographical populations in Texas 2. To evaluate the population-based correlates of FMD 3. To assess the use of medication for mental health problems among individuals with FMD Methods: At least 385 adults each from six counties in Texas (N=2,330), selected using probability-based dual-frame random digit dialing, were surveyed via computer-assisted telephone interviews between September and November 2012. The sampled counties were Hale (rural northwest); Lubbock (urban northwest); McLennan (urban central); Jim Wells (rural south); Willacy (rural south); and Webb (urban south). A forward stepwise procedure (entry criterion: p Results: FMD prevalence ranged from 4.5% (95% CI: 2.35, 6.57) in Lubbock county to 11.1% (95% CI: 5.36, 16.90) in McLennan. Lower odds of FMD were seen in Hispanics (vs.) non-Hispanic whites (OR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.62); the elderly (e65 years) vs. 18-44 year-olds (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.77); and males vs. females (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.93). Higher odds of FMD were seen with inability to work vs. employed (OR=8.38; 95% CI=4.03, 17.43); and rarely/never having social support vs. most times/always (OR=4.59, 95% CI: 2.22, 9.51). 41.2% (95% CI: 27.40%, 55.00%) of those with FMD were on medication for mental health or emotional problems. Conclusions: FMD rates may vary across sociogeographic environments in Texas. Strengthening the social support systems for those with FMD holds promise for addressing the burden of poor mental health if the nature of association between social support and FMD can be clearly elucidated. A low medication usage rate among those with FMD suggests a need for increased clinical surveillance, and treatment for mental and emotional problems.