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AbstractObjectiveParticipantsMethodsResultsConclusionsIn this study, we examine social support and sense of belonging as protective factors against depression and anxiety among undergraduates with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a growing population at heightened risk for mental health problems.Our sample of 170 undergraduates (ages 18–25) attending a large public university in the southwestern US was comprised of predominantly female-identified (69%), South Asian (45%), junior and senior (78%), full time (97%) students.Students self-reported ACEs, perceived social support, sense of school belonging, and depression and anxiety symptoms in fall 2022.Controlling for age, higher ACEs and lower social support and belonging predicted more severe depression and anxiety. Higher ACEs only significantly predicted higher depression severity when support and belonging were low. Interactions predicting anxiety were nonsignificant.Findings highlight social support and belonging as potential intervention targets for reducing mental health risk among students with ACEs or other traumatic experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand how COVID-19 affected social connection, barriers to connection, and generated ideas for creating pro-connection activities and spaces. The approach was guided by design principles and included generative interviews and a group workshop with young people aged 16–24 years. COVID-19 allowed young people to recognize the importance of face-to-face and incidental social contacts and appreciate deeper connections to friends, family, and community. Young people identified barriers and enablers to forming quality social connection as confidence, the time and effort taken to build meaningful friendships, mental health, and cultural identity. Programmes that overtly tackle social connection were considered unappealing and usually reach only those who are already engaged. Instead, social connection is a by-product of other activities that take a 'mild structure, low pressure' approach and focus on strengths and interests. Activities and spaces must be free and easy to access and involve multiple engagements over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incredible rise of internet and smart technologies in the previous few decades has transformed communication and networking between people in most societies worldwide. Social media has emerged as one of the marvels of the internet age and millions of people regularly use a number of social media applications for various purposes. While it has many benefits in increasing social connectedness and easing communication, social media also has a number of negative consequences as evidenced by recent studies. Excessive social media use can be detrimental to younger age groups and also females according to a number of research studies. In this short review, the research evidence on the negative effects of social media use on women was examined and the most salient points were discussed in the context of the transforming digital landscape. There is sound evidence that social media use fosters social comparison among young girls/women and this can lead to issues in body image, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Gender differences are inherent in internet and social media use among the two sexes right since childhood., The growing realization of the negative consequences of social media posits a reconsideration of the extent to which technologies are integrated into our daily lives. The review also discusses the implications of the research evidence for parents, school administrators, professionals, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 impact has adversely affected the well-being and mental health of individuals in the world including job satisfaction. Yet, there is a shortage of evidence regarding the underlying mechanism of change. Building on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study aimed to investigate whether resilience and social connectedness mediated the association of COVID-19 impact with job satisfaction in a large sample of mental health professionals. Participants included 763 Turkish mental health professionals (87.81% females) aged 24-65 years (Mage = 28.24 years, SD = 4.48), who completed the measures of COVID-19 impact, resilience, social connectedness, and job satisfaction. The results showed that COVID-19's impact was significantly related to resilience, social connectedness, and job satisfaction. The results also indicated that resilience and social connectedness fully mediated the association between COVID-19 impact and job satisfaction. These findings are useful given the shortage of intervention efforts aimed at the COVID-19 impact. Future interventions focusing on minimizing the COVID-19 impact and related outcomes may benefit from resilience and social connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social isolation and loneliness pose significant challenges to individual well-being and public health. Conversational AI agents have emerged as a promising tool for addressing social isolation by providing personalized support and companionship to isolated individuals. This study aims to investigate the role of conversational AI agents in providing support and social care for isolated individuals. It seeks to understand the effectiveness of these agents in mitigating loneliness, enhancing social connectedness, and improving overall well-being. While previous research has explored the use of technology for combating social isolation, this study focuses specifically on conversational AI agents and their unique capabilities in delivering personalized and empathetic support to isolated individuals. The research framework encompasses a mixed methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the experiences and perceptions of isolated individuals interacting with conversational AI agents. Preliminary findings suggest that conversational AI agents hold promise in providing meaningful support and companionship to isolated individuals. Qualitative analysis reveals themes related to the perceived usefulness, ease of use, and emotional connection facilitated by these agents. Quantitative analysis indicates correlations between factors such as age, gender, and the effectiveness of conversational AI agents in addressing social isolation. This study underscores the potential of conversational AI agents in alleviating social isolation and loneliness among isolated individuals. These agents assist in improving general well-being and social connectivity by offering individualized assistance and companionship. The findings guide academics, practitioners, and policymakers who want to use technology to combat social isolation and enhance mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found significant links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and worsened mental health outcomes in adulthood but has largely neglected the specific developmental period of the transition to college. The current study examined whether social factors (connectedness, integration, and support) moderated the links between ACEs and mental health. Participants (N = 129, Mage = 18.6) were first-year undergraduates who completed an anonymous online survey study. ACEs were found to significantly correlate with stress, anxiety, and depression. Of the three social factors, only social connectedness had a buffering effect on the association between ACEs with anxiety and depression. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses illuminated participant psychosocial challenges relating to difficulty with relationships, social avoidance, lack of trust, social comparison, and feelings of exclusion and loneliness. The current research highlights the key role of social connectedness in the psychosocial well-being of college students vulnerable to distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief essay considers how US xenophobia and racism function through autopoetic rhetoric. It examines the self-regenerating story that designates Asian American migrants as always-foreign, forever-threats, and never enough. While the analysis centers the experiences of second-generation Asian Americans, it has broader applications for examining how controlling narratives infiltrate law and policy, and it argues for the centrality of rhetorical studies in disrupting harmful mythologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health technology is changing the way consumers engage with health professionals and their own well-being. Although digital solutions often focus on supplementing physical care, some have potential as an alternative to offline engagements. This research considers how such phygital experiences can promote well-being and social connectedness. Specifically, we explore how online mental health apps help men to engage in well-being discourses, conversations that they would feel unable to have or uneasy about having without the anonymity of the online setting. However, unlike other phygital products, this app can hinder ongoing offline therapy and even deter some men from seeking professional medical help. Data are drawn from an online peer-support forum and interviews with men struggling with mental illness and mental health advocates. The manuscript concludes by recognising the imperative for research furthering understanding of consumption practices associated with poor mental health and marketing practices that promote mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and purpose Persons enduring serious mental illness (SMI) and living in supported housing facilities often receive inadequate care, which can negatively impact their health outcomes. To address these challenges, it is crucial to prioritize interventions that promote personal recovery and address the unique needs of this group. When developing effective, equitable, and relevant interventions, it is essential to consider the experiences of persons with an SMI. By incorporating their perspectives, we can enhance the understanding, and thereby, the design and implementation of activity- and recovery-oriented interventions that promote health, quality of life, and social connectedness in this vulnerable population. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the stories of participants partaking in Everyday Life Rehabilitation and how they make sense of their engagements in everyday life activities and their recovery processes. Methods Applying a narrative analysis, this study explores the stories of seven individuals with an SMI residing in Swedish supported housing facilities, participating in the Everyday Life Rehabilitation (ELR) program during six months, and how they retrospectively make meaning of their engagement in everyday life activities and recovery processes. Findings The participants' stories about their rehabilitation and personal recovery pathways elucidate how the inherent power of the activity, as well as the support the participants received to get started and succeed, had a significant impact on their self-identity, confidence, motivation, mattering, life prospects, and vitality. The participants valued the transparent steps along the process, weekly meetings, the signals, beliefs, and feedback communicated throughout, and the persistent, adaptive, and yet supporting approach in their personal progress. Significance This study underscores the need for interventions that prioritize meaningful activities and are sensitive to the complexity of the personal recovery process, especially in supported housing facilities. Future research should further explore effective strategies and mechanisms to promote personal recovery and to reduce the stigma associated with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is linked to negative mental health outcomes like depression and social anxiety. However, it is unclear how loneliness and these conditions are connected. This study aims to address two questions: (a) Are there pathways connecting loneliness to these conditions? (b) What symptoms play a role in these pathways? Using network analyses, the study examined a representative sample of 962 adults from the UK (mean age = 46, females = 492). The network analysis revealed four dimensions: depression, social anxiety and two dimensions for loneliness (isolation and social connectedness). Two distinct pathways were identified for the transmission of symptoms between loneliness, social anxiety and depression. The depression‐isolation pathway involved a node representing the perceived loss of social connections. The social anxiety‐social connectedness pathway was characterised by intimate interaction contexts. These findings suggest that loneliness is associated with different symptom pathways, potentially contributing to comorbidity between loneliness, social anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a consensus that adolescents' participation in organized leisure‐time activities (OLTAs) is pro‐developmental and beneficial for youth mental health. While enjoyment in OLTA is commonly regarded as positive, the role of obligation in the context of adolescents' OLTA has been scarcely researched. The present study investigated how these theoretically contradictory experiences (enjoyment and/or obligation) in OLTA participation relate to adolescents' wellbeing and incidence of psychological complaints accounting for their possible co‐occurrence. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 14,128 eleven–fifteen‐year‐old adolescents (49.7% girls) drawn from the Czech 2021/2022 Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children cross‐sectional study was used. A series of multivariate regression analyses assessed how perceptions of obligation and enjoyment in OLTA related to wellbeing and occurrence of psychological complaints. A person‐centered approach derived groups of respondents on the basis of their perceptions of obligation and enjoyment. Results: Regression analyses, controlled for sociodemographic and family environment factors, and dimensions of OLTA participation, indicated that adolescents enjoying their OLTA displayed more favourable mental wellbeing reports. In contrast, perceptions of obligation were only weakly associated with more frequent psychological complaints and not at all with wellbeing, unless adolescents also reported the lack of enjoyment. Conclusions: Enjoyment in OLTA plays a pivotal role in the association between OLTA participation and mental health, whereas the role of obligation is far less pronounced. In fact, if adolescents do not enjoy their participation, but feel obliged to participate, their self‐assessed mental wellbeing is comparable to their peers not participating in OLTA at all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyslexia, a neurocognitive difference characterised by poor word‐reading, is associated with elevated risk for internalising (e.g., anxiety) and externalising (e.g., aggression) mental health concerns, the reasons are largely unknown. We took a neurodiversity perspective and explored whether school‐connectedness mediated these associations. A total of 283 primary school children (87 with dyslexia) and their caregivers (95.4% mothers) completed a battery of well‐validated connectedness and mental health measures. Two mediation models (one for child‐report and one for caregiver‐report) tested direct and indirect effects of dyslexia on anxiety, depression and conduct problems via several domains of school‐connectedness. After controlling for gender and neurodevelopmental conditions other than dyslexia, there were no direct effects of dyslexia on child‐ or caregiver‐reported internalising symptoms or child‐reported conduct problems. Dyslexia was associated with child and caregiver reported anxiety, depression and conduct problems via low levels of school (but not teacher, friend or peer) connectedness. Findings highlight school‐connectedness as an important intervention target for the mental health of children with dyslexia. Future research is needed to test associations between dyslexia, school‐connectedness and mental health over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, social media has brought about numerous benefits, including higher levels of social connectedness, potential positive interactions, and greater access to information. Nonetheless, the excessive use of social media can lead to negative health outcomes, such as social anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, reduced sleep quality, and higher perceived stress. It has been argued that boredom and loneliness may be mediating factors between social media misuse and negative mental health effects, above all among youth and adolescents. Likewise, exposure to graphic imagery or misinformation on social media may also have deleterious implications for mental health. Taken together, this suggests a need for targeted studies on the relationship between social media and mental health, as well as the development of educational interventions for adolescents to share knowledge about the safe use of such tools. Mental health professionals should be adequately trained in identifying risk factors and treating the negative health outcomes that may result from social media. Specific strategies and guidelines should be adopted by social media companies aligned with international evidence from health agencies and experts in e-mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the role of leisure, arts and creative activities in cultivating health and wellbeing across different contexts. Leisure sports have historically been considered beneficial for achieving health, and similar focus has recently been placed on arts and creativity. Recent research into the role of arts and creative engagement for wellbeing highlights the benefits of these modes of engagement on emotional wellbeing and social connectedness. In this article, we examine the ways arts, creative and leisure practices and mental health converge, co-exist and collide. We draw on feminist leisure studies scholarship and Sarah Ahmed’s work on emotion to discuss insights from our research into the everyday experiences of people living with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). We utilise qualitative methods to investigate people’s experiences of meaningful leisure practices and the dynamics between leisure practices and living well with the distress. We explore how leisure activities initiate complex processes of discovery and production of meanings, identity and wellbeing. Our discussion emphasises that leisure practices contribute to producing everyday forms of self-care and provide transformative space for self-discovery yet are simultaneously inseparable from the politics of living with mental distress while navigating accumulated effects of distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2014 IOM report "Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records" described three subdomains of social relationships that affect patient health and well-being. However, most social risk screeners currently assess only one subdomain, frequency of social connections. We are proposing a three-item Brief Social Connectedness (SC) screener that additionally assesses risks in social/emotional support and loneliness/social isolation subdomains. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we used data from a 2021 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) social risk survey for 2244 members ages 35–85 years. The survey included three validated questions that covered the SC subdomains (frequencies of social contacts with people they care about, feeling lonely/socially isolated, and getting enough social/emotional support). Variables representing moderate/high versus low risk were created for each subdomain. We used weighted data for bivariate analyses and modified log-Poisson regression models that adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity to examine cross-sectional associations among the three subdomain risks, as well as with two structural SC risks, living alone and not being in a committed relationship. We then used modified log-Poisson regression models to study cross-sectional associations of these five SC variables with three single-item self-report measures of emotional health. Results: In regression models that included all five SC variables, loneliness/social isolation and social/emotional support risks were significantly associated with all three emotional health measures, while frequency of social contacts, living alone, and no committed relationship were not. However, low frequency of social contacts and no committed relationship significantly increased risk of often feeling lonely/socially isolated and lacking in social/emotional support. Conclusions: A three-item social connectedness screener that assessed risks of loneliness/social isolation, inadequate social/emotional support, and low frequency of social contacts provided more comprehensive information about emotional health risks than social connection frequency alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine first-generation Korean immigrants' migratory grief in relation to cultural, social, and mental health variables. We examined (a) how behavioral and value acculturation and enculturation as well as mainstream and ethnic connectedness predicted migratory grief and (b) how mainstream and ethnic connectedness moderated the relationships of migratory grief and mental health outcomes (i.e., depression, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect). Method: Data were collected from 188 self-identified first-generation Korean immigrant adults (N = 188, Mage = 43.63, SD = 12.18) and were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Age and behavioral enculturation positively predicted migratory grief, while European American values and mainstream connectedness negatively predicted migratory grief. Migratory grief and mainstream and ethnic connectedness had significant main effects on mental health, but social connectedness did not moderate the relationships between migratory grief and mental health. Conclusion: Acculturation, enculturation, and social connectedness were significant predictors of first-generation Korean immigrants' migratory grief. Additionally, migratory grief and social connectedness significantly predicted mental health. We discussed implications for research and practice. Public Significance Statement: Several factors such as age, acculturation, and a sense of connection to communities were associated with first-generation Korean immigrants' experiences of migratory grief—distress related to losses experienced in migration. Additionally, migratory grief and connection to communities were important to mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data collection is an integral part of government agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), for reporting program outcomes and accountability. SAMHSA-funded community behavioral health programs have been evaluated by the National Outcome Measures (NOMs) since 2007. NOMs collects data on important aspects of client health including but not limited to mental health symptoms, functioning, and social connectedness through interviews with clients. Since its inception, NOMs has gone through a number of revisions. The most recent revision in 2021 has significant implications for program evaluation and research. This commentary provides an overview of the history of the NOMs followed by a review and critique of the recent changes with a particular attention to revisions in how responses are recorded. Implications of the NOMs are discussed with respect to its utility in evaluation, practice, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing COVID19 pandemic is having detrimental effects on the mental and emotional well-being of many adults and children. It is relevant therefore to explore the combination of personal strengths and attributes that can help an individual develop resilience to such stress. Little is known about how psychological strength assets such as social connectedness, grit, hope, life meaning, and life satisfaction are inter-related, and if certain factors play a central role. This study involved a sample of 1,405 school-aged children in Hong Kong (50% female) from seven schools that participated in an online survey of psychological strengths. Data were analyzed by constructing a psychological network that found strength factors are inter-connected, and that 'school connectedness' and 'agency thinking' are central to the network. The information gained can be of value in any schools that are planning to provide strength-based interventions to help students maintain their psychological well-being during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique pressures of a surgical career put surgeons at particular risk of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Surgeons have previously been shown to have a high prevalence of psychological distress. This study aimed to systematically review the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons, and to identify factors that can modify the risk of anxiety and depression in surgeons. A 10-year systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines to identify citations related to the keywords "anxiety" OR "depression" AND "surgeon" in PubMed/Medline and ScienceDirect databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to produce a final list of citations. Thirty-one citations were included with a total of 11,399 participants. The median percentage of anxiety in surgeons was 20 with a range of 54.6%. While the median percentage of depression was 24 with a range of 59%. Risk factors associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression include female gender, younger age, concurrent burnout, and occupational concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective factors include institutional support and a sense of social belonging. There was a high prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons over the past decade. It is imperative to develop strategies to mitigate the effect of anxiety and depression in surgeons. • There is a considerable prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst surgeons • Surgeons' psychological distress can be reflected on patient's safety • Factors associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression were studied • Protective factors include institutional support and a sense of social belonging • It is vital to develop strategies to address the impact of anxiety and depression [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examined profiles of social connectedness among early adolescents in grade 7 before the COVID‐19 pandemic was declared (Winter 2020), and in grade 8 during the second Wave of the pandemic (Winter 2021). Method: Linked data from 1753 early adolescents (49% female) from British Columbia, Canada who completed the Middle Years Development Instrument survey in grades 7 and 8 were used. Participants reported on life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and connectedness with peers and adults at home, school and in the community. We used Latent Profile Analysis to identify connectedness profiles at both time points, and Latent Transition Analysis to examine transitions in connectedness profiles over time. Multiple regression analyses examined the associations between profile membership in grade 7 and mental well‐being in grade 8, and the associations between transitions in profile membership (i.e., increase vs. decrease in connectedness over time) and mental well‐being. Results: Connectedness in multiple domains in grade 7 was related to significantly higher levels of mental well‐being in grade 8, controlling for demographics, well‐being in grade 7, and COVID‐related mental health worries. Well‐being was highest when students felt highly connected in all domains and lowest when they felt lower levels of connection. Increases in connectedness were associated with improvements in mental well‐being and decreases with a decline in well‐being over time. Conclusions: Experiencing connectedness with peers and adults is critical for the mental well‐being in early adolescence. Providing opportunities to connect is important in the context of major societal challenges such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: The study evaluates the role of connectedness and coping strategies in mental health model. Subject or material and methods: The sample included a total of 81 adult participants aged 19-57 years (M=28.02), of whom 76,5% were female. More than half of participants live in the biggest cities in Poland, including capital city (61,73%). The online semi-structured questionnaire included sections concerning several areas: sociodemographic data, mental health symptoms (DASS-21), nature connectedness (CNS), social connectedness (SCS-R), coping strategies (Mini-COPE). Results: The analysis examined how depression, stress, anxiety, and coping mechanisms are related to the nature and social connectedness. Obtained results shown: (1) significant negative relationship of social connectedness with severity of stress (r = - .41; BCa 95% CI), anxiety (r = - .40; BCa 95% CI) and depression (r = - .50; BCa 95% CI); (2) significant negative relationship of nature connectedness with anxiety level (r = - .22; BCa 95% CI) and symptoms of depression (r = - .26; BCa 95% CI). Furthermore, the results showed a significant relationships of social connectedness/nature connectedness and adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Discussion: Recent studies have shown the mental health is broad concept and both nature and social connectedness seems to be one of important factors affecting it. The stronger both nature and social connectedness we can observe the clear tendency to using positive, adaptive coping strategies. Conclusions: As this research seems to indicate that prevention should include strengthening both social and nature connectedness, the implications of these findings may be useful for mental health care planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we will provide a rationale for a web-assisted acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approach to loneliness among older adults, drawing upon theories from the literature on adult development and aging, emotion regulation, and loneliness. The intervention program was developed using the principles of ACT, which is a cognitive behavioral approach and unified model of human behavior change and psychological growth. The ACT intervention focuses on developing nonjudgmental present-focused awareness of internal experiences (thoughts, emotions, and memories) through strategies such as acceptance and mindfulness rather than directly modifying or removing them per se. The ACT intervention appears well-suited to assist older adults in coping with the challenges of aging, as the focus is on an individual's willingness to sit with internal experiences out of one's control (ie, acceptance), stepping back from negative or critical thoughts and developing greater kindness toward oneself (ie, defusion), discerning what is most important to one's true self (ie, values), and building larger patterns of effective action based on such values (ie, committed action). The ACT intervention was developed as a resource for older adults who are socially isolated or having difficulty with social connectedness. Eight modules comprise the web-assisted ACT intervention program, which includes reading materials, video clips, and activities. Each module is followed by a summary, a homework assignment, a short quiz to assess learning, and a moderated discussion with a coach. The intervention program begins with reconnecting participants with their values. The goal of the ACT intervention program is to foster flexibility in a participant's behavior so they can behave consistently with their chosen values, rather than becoming locked into a pattern of behavior that is driven by avoiding distress or discomfort. The ACT intervention approach is both novel and innovative, as it is based on ACT and leverages a behavioral health web platform that is flexible and inclusive in its design. The ACT intervention aims to help older adults become more socially connected, less lonely, and more satisfied with their relationships with other people. The emphasis that ACT places on values and living life in accordance with one's values renders it an approach ideally suited to older adults. Finally, recommendations for future research regarding this approach to addressing loneliness among older adults is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Social disconnectedness and isolation are risk factors for poor mental health. Community-based friendship group interventions have been designed to increase an individual’s social capital and consequently their mental wellbeing. Structured and unstructured friendship groups reflect two distinct approaches to friendship group interventions. Methods: This meta-analysis investigated whether structured or unstructured community friendship groups are more effective for mental health and social capital outcomes. A systematic search of quantitative studies was conducted across seven databases and study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Eight studies (2 unstructured and 6 structured friendship groups) were included in the review, published between 2005 and 2020. Results: Structured friendship groups had a small significant effect on reducing participant depression symptoms. There was not enough available data to compare the effectiveness of structured and unstructured groups for mental health outcomes. There was substantial heterogeneity between studies to calculate pooled effect sizes for any social capital outcomes. Data synthesis indicated mixed reviews for social capital outcomes, likely due to the large heterogeneity and limited studies. Discussion: This meta-analysis provides limited support for positive mental health outcomes following structured community-based friendship group interventions. There is a need for additional research as a large research gap remains, particularly for unstructured friendship groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older people can experience health and social challenges such as loneliness, depression, and lack of social connectedness. One initiative that has been trialed to address these challenges is reminiscence programs. These programs can include music, art, photographs, sports, and general discussion to stimulate memories. This review aimed to systematically search for literature that explored the impact and experience of reminiscence programs for older people living in the community for the purposes of informing community programming. The PICOS framework was used to develop the review parameters and search strategy. Qualitative and quantitative research focused on community-based reminiscence programs were included. Commercially produced databases and grey literature were searched. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program qualitative critical appraisal tool and McMaster quantitative critical appraisal tool were used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Quantitative data were descriptively synthesized, and qualitative data were thematically analyzed, with each reported separately. Twenty-seven studies were included in the review. All quantitative studies (n = 17) provided clear information regarding the purpose, sample size, and justification. The measures adopted were reliable and valid. All studies reported clear data collection/analysis information and statistically significant findings. All qualitative studies (n = 10) clearly articulated a purpose with nine clearly describing recruitment, data collection, and researcher relationship. Synthesis of quantitative data demonstrated positive findings through a reduction in depression, anxiety, and loneliness and improvements in quality of life and mastery. These findings were supported and broadened by qualitative findings with three key themes identified: program processes, program ingredients, and program benefits. Providing opportunities for older adults to come together to tell stories about their past experiences may positively contribute to social outcomes. As reminiscence programs gain popularity, their implementation in practice should be underpinned by clear and reproducible practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared social connectedness patterns and examined the relationships between objective or subjective social connectedness and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among community dwelling adults in South Korea. An identical online survey was administered at two time points, in 2019 prior to the onset and again in 2021. Objective (network diversity and network size) and subjective (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) social connectedness were measured along with positive and negative indices of mental health (depression, suicidal behavior, happiness, and life satisfaction). The results indicated that among social connectedness indices perceived burdensomeness were significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior period, while network size was smaller. Subjective social connectedness was associated with all aspects of mental health consequences, either positive or negative. Among objective social connectedness, only network diversity was significantly associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction, and objective social connectedness was not associated with depression and suicidal behavior. These associations did not differ across the two time periods. The findings, both before and during the pandemic, indicated that network diversity is an important factor for positive indices of mental health and that efforts to increase subjective social connectedness are needed to decrease the risk of depression and suicidal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with epilepsy are at a much greater risk of developing depression than the general population (Butler et al., 2019). We sought to understand the relationship between epilepsy, social connectedness, and depression. Specifically, we examined the degree to which an individual’s sense of connection to their friends and family predicts depressive symptoms among those with and without epilepsy. We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health Wave IV dataset, which included 5,114 individuals aged 24–32. Seventy-one of the participants in this sample reported an epilepsy diagnosis, and we randomly selected 71 participants without epilepsy from the dataset to serve as controls. We used stepwise multiple regression analyses to examine the extent to which epilepsy, friend connectedness, and family connectedness predicted depression, F(3, 76) = 7.51, p < .001, R² = .23. Epilepsy significantly predicted depression, β = .81, p < .001. Friend connectedness was also a significant predictor of depression, β = –.23, p = .03, but family connectedness was not, β = –.11, p = .30. This pattern of results seems to hold for participants with and without epilepsy. We conclude that friend connectedness is an important factor to consider when working with individuals with epilepsy who experience depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to fully understand the factors that contribute to depression in those with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies report that LGBTQ + people have experienced high levels of mental health problems during COVID-19-related social distancing. Given the well-established association between social isolation and mental health, the main aim of the current study was to investigate differences in mental health and (perceived) social isolation and social support in LGBTQ + individuals compared to heterosexual, cisgender people and to explore whether the hypothesized higher mental health burden in LGBTQ + individuals is (partly) mediated by (perceived) social isolation or social support. Methods: N = 531 participants indicating belonging to the LGBTQ + community and N = 1826 not identifying as LGBTQ + participated in a cross-sectional online survey during the initial COVID-19-related lockdown in Germany. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depression, anxiety, suicidality, loneliness and social support. Further, perceived social isolation and face-to-face communication during the lockdown were assessed. Results: LGBTQ + people had higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thought, were lonelier and experienced less social support than non-LGBTQ + identifying individuals. Mediation analysis showed that the higher levels of mental health burden in LGBTQ + people were (partly) mediated by reduced social connectedness. Further face-to-face contact positively affected mental health by reducing feelings of loneliness. Conclusion: Given the high impact of loneliness on mental health, governmental actions should be taken to promote social connectedness particularly among LGBTQ + identifying individuals to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not exacerbate the health inequalities that already exist between LGBTQ+-identifying and heterosexual, cisgender people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Calls have been made to rethink the mental health support currently available for young people. This study aims to help re-focus and reduce the inaccessibility of mental health services by offering an adapted version of a theoretically-driven, evidence-based, guided psychosocial intervention known as 'Groups 4 Health' (G4H). To date, the G4H intervention has mainly been trialled in Australia, with promising positive effects on social connection, mental health and well-being. The present study examines the feasibility of running a randomised controlled trial when delivering the G4H intervention for young people in the UK. Methods: The TOGETHER study is a feasibility randomised controlled trial of an adapted version of the G4H intervention. Participants are aged 16–25, currently experiencing mental health difficulties and recruited from mental health services. The target sample size is 30, with 15 in each trial arm. Participants are randomly allocated to either G4H plus treatment as usual, or treatment as usual alone. The primary outcomes of interest are the feasibility of recruitment, randomisation, data collection and retention to the study at 10 and 14 week follow up, as well as the acceptability, and accessibility of the study protocol and G4H intervention. Discussion: The results of this study will indicate if further optimisation is required to improve the feasibility, acceptability and accessibility of the intervention and study protocol procedures as perceived by end users and practitioners. This offers a significant opportunity to support the local and national demand for accessible, innovative, and effective psychosocial youth mental health support. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN12505807). Registration date: 11/04/2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheltering-in-place (SIP) was a crucial intervention for managing the COVID-19 pandemic and may be implemented in future public health crises but, unfortunately, had vast unintended mental health consequences. Interventions to decrease depression and anxiety often rely on creating routines with multiple sources of positive reinforcement and social connectedness. SIP obliterated daily routines and thus, may have led to increased isolation, depression, and anxiety. Interventions to support effective coping may help prevent and manage these outcomes. An automated text messaging intervention encouraging the use of evidence-based skills reinforced during therapy is a promising solution. The current manuscript describes our pilot study of Healthy@Home: an empirically based text intervention augmenting youth mental health services implemented during the initial months of COVID-19 SIP. We discuss the advantages and challenges of implementing a text intervention and present findings on engagement and acceptability from 14 adolescents over the course of participation in a 60-day pilot text-messaging intervention study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (gbMSM). We explored factors associated with improvements in mental health symptoms among gbMSM with abnormal depression and anxiety scores over a period of four years, in Vancouver, Canada. Sexually active gbMSM ≥16 years of age were recruited using respondent-driven sampling from February 2012 to February 2015. Participants completed a computer-assisted questionnaire which included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and psychometric scales to measure loneliness, self-esteem and social connectedness, every 6 months until July 2019. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess factors associated with normal/borderline HADS scores (<11) following a previous abnormal score (≥11) for each of anxiety and depression subscales. We recruited 694 participants, of whom 580 had at least one follow-up visit. Across all visits, 43.6 % of participants ever had abnormal anxiety scores and 16.2 % ever had abnormal depression scores. Among those with abnormal anxiety scores, 34.9 % of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in anxiety scores. Among those with abnormal depression scores 51.0 % of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in depression scores. Reductions in anxiety scores were associated with increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness and the number of gbMSM seen/spoken to in the previous month. Reductions in depression scores were associated with increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness and having a regular partner. Improvements in mental health symptoms were frequently observed. Social connectedness was related with improved anxiety and depression symptoms. Interventions to improve social connectedness may help to improve mental health for gbMSM. • Among GBM with abnormal anxiety scores, we found that in 35% of follow-up visits, participants had reductions in scores • Improved anxiety was associated with higher self-esteem, reduced emotional loneliness and more interactions with other GBM • Not having told a male parent or guardian one's sexual orientation was also associated with improved anxiety scores • Among the 94 GBM with abnormal depression scores, 51.0% of follow-up visits demonstrated reductions in scores • Improved depression scores were associated with higher self-esteem, reduced social loneliness and having a regular partner • Results suggest that fostering social connectedness contributes significantly to improvements in mental health symptoms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect people who have had previous experiences of psychosis – either positively or negatively. A research gap exists in looking at qualitative experiences of the pandemic. In the present study, we address the research gap in those who self-identified as having psychosis via Reddit discussion forum posts, collecting data from a popular online community. Sixty-five posts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Five overarching themes were identifie; declining mental health, changed psychosis experiences, personal coping experiences, social connectedness and disconnectedness, and COVID-19 as a metaphor. The data show that there are varied experiences associated with the pandemic. People who have experiences of psychosis do not only have vulnerabilities but may also perceive themselves as having strengths that allow them to cope better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant youth and emerging adults (MYEA), ages 15 to 29, who recently migrated to the United States are vulnerable to experiencing chronic loneliness related to discrimination, social isolation, and stigma. Yet, there is limited intervention research on detecting, mitigating, and addressing the effects of chronic loneliness for MYEA. This study examined community-based providers' perspectives on the effects of social isolation and loneliness on MYEA, and the availability of social and mental health services for this population. This qualitative study utilized focus groups involving 18 providers serving MYEA in the New York metropolitan area. Data analysis involved double-coding by pairs of trained research team members to generate thematic codes. The main recurrent emerging themes were: (1) the importance of social-emotional wellbeing of MYEA; (2) the ways in which the experience of migration itself facilitated social isolation for MYEA; (3) the barriers to supportive services for mitigating chronic loneliness from an organizational perspective; and (4) the tensions between professional mandates and protections for migrant youth clients. Future intervention strategies, from an organizational perspective, must work through interorganizational partnerships building upon community assets to increase social connectedness to support migrant youth's social-emotional wellbeing through the transition to adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived mental health benefits of organized sports participation in socially vulnerable children and the underlying mechanisms contributing to these benefits among boys participating in the sports-based Icehearts programme, as reported by the parents. Focus group interviews (n = 5) were conducted among parents (n = 28) of boys participating in the programme. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The mental health benefits of organized sports participation were related to increased self-esteem, self-confidence, emotional self-regulation, prosocial behaviour and courage as well as better mood. The perceived mechanisms contributing to these benefits were related to the following themes: skills through sports, the coach, social connectedness and the opportunity for recreational activities. Few challenges and potential pitfalls in implementing sports-based programmes targeted at socially vulnerable children were identified. The findings highlight the importance of role, skills and mindset of the coach leading the sport activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arts and cultural engagement activities have long been found to support wellbeing within the general population. In particular, community arts and cultural involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic have been an invaluable source of mental health and wellbeing support for many individuals across the globe. The initial move to remote engagement following the first United Kingdom lockdown demonstrated the importance of hybrid provisions, with isolated and vulnerable individuals finding online provisions important for wellbeing. With restrictions on movement and service access in the United Kingdom having gradually eased from March 2021, it is now important to explore how individuals navigated the ability to engage with either remote or in-person provisions. The current study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on arts and cultural engagement during periods of restrictions and initial easings on movement within the Liverpool City Region. Method: The study consisted of two waves of qualitative interviews within a broader longitudinal study. Twelve interviews were conducted during wave 1, which aimed to capture data during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period and the initial easing of restrictions. Eight of these participants were interviewed again for wave 2, which aimed to capture data during the winter 2020 lockdown period. Results: Framework analysis revealed three overarching themes: (1) The Importance of Arts and Culture for Personal Enrichment, (2) Belongingness through Socialization, and (3) Transitioning and Adjusting Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. Discussion: Findings presented in the current study provide further evidence of the value of arts and cultural activities in supporting wellbeing. Specifically, the current data emphasize the value of arts and cultural engagement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly during times of national restriction. Furthermore, the current study demonstrated that remote engagement provided important wellbeing support throughout the pandemic in a way that protected against mental health consequences, but with limitations on feelings of social connectedness within online environments. Amidst continuing risks from the COVID-19 virus and feelings of uncertainty, this study highlights the importance of hybrid provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metaverse is gaining traction in the general population and has become a priority of the technological industry. Defined as persistent virtual worlds that exist in virtual or augmented reality, the metaverse proposes to afford a range of activities of daily life, from socializing and relaxing to gaming, shopping, and working. Because of its scope, its projected popularity, and its immersivity, the metaverse may pose unique opportunities and risks for mental health. In this viewpoint article, we integrate existing evidence on the mental health impacts of video games, social media, and virtual reality to anticipate how the metaverse could influence mental health. We outline 2 categories of mechanisms related to mental health: experiences or behaviors afforded by the metaverse and experiences or behaviors displaced by it. The metaverse may benefit mental health by affording control (over an avatar and its virtual environment), cognitive activation, physical activity, social connections, and a sense of autonomy and competence. However, repetitive rewarding experiences may lead to addiction-like behaviors, and high engagement in virtual worlds may facilitate and perpetuate the avoidance of challenges in the offline environment. Further, time spent in virtual worlds may displace (reduce) other determinants of mental health, such as sleep rhythms and offline social capital. Importantly, individuals will differ in their uses of and psychological responses to the metaverse, resulting in heterogeneous impacts on their mental health. Their technological motivations, developmental stage, sociodemographic context, and prior mental health problems are some of the factors that may modify and frame the positive and negative effects of the metaverse on their mental health. In conclusion, as the metaverse is being scaffolded by the industry and by its users, there is a window of opportunity for researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience to coproduce knowledge on its possible impacts on mental health and illness, with the hope of influencing policy-making, technological development, and counseling of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social connectedness decreases human mortality, improves cancer survival, cardiovascular health, and body mass, results in better-controlled glucose levels, and strengthens mental health. However, few public health studies have leveraged large social media data sets to classify user network structure and geographic reach rather than the sole use of social media platforms. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the association between population-level digital social connectedness and reach and depression in the population across geographies of the United States. Methods: Our study used an ecological assessment of aggregated, cross-sectional population measures of social connectedness, and self-reported depression across all counties in the United States. This study included all 3142 counties in the contiguous United States. We used measures obtained between 2018 and 2020 for adult residents in the study area. The study's main exposure of interest is the Social Connectedness Index (SCI), a pair-wise composite index describing the "strength of connectedness between 2 geographic areas as represented by Facebook friendship ties." This measure describes the density and geographical reach of average county residents' social network using Facebook friendships and can differentiate between local and long-distance Facebook connections. The study's outcome of interest is self-reported depressive disorder as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: On average, 21% (21/100) of all adult residents in the United States reported a depressive disorder. Depression frequency was the lowest for counties in the Northeast (18.6%) and was highest for southern counties (22.4%). Social networks in northeastern counties involved moderately local connections (SCI 5-10 the 20th percentile for n=70, 36% of counties), whereas social networks in Midwest, southern, and western counties contained mostly local connections (SCI 1-2 the 20th percentile for n=598, 56.7%, n=401, 28.2%, and n=159, 38.4%, respectively). As the quantity and distance that social connections span (ie, SCI) increased, the prevalence of depressive disorders decreased by 0.3% (SE 0.1%) per rank. Conclusions: Social connectedness and depression showed, after adjusting for confounding factors such as income, education, cohabitation, natural resources, employment categories, accessibility, and urbanicity, that a greater social connectedness score is associated with a decreased prevalence of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-sectional studies have found a relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety in young people. However, few longitudinal studies using representative data and mediation analysis have been conducted to understand the causal pathways of this relationship. Objective: This study aims to examine the longitudinal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health and the role of self-esteem and social connectedness as potential mediators. Methods: The sample included 3228 participants who were 10- to 15-year-olds from Understanding Society (2009-2019), a UK longitudinal household survey. The number of hours spent on social media was measured on a 5-point scale from "none" to "7 or more hours" at the ages of 12-13 years. Self-esteem and social connectedness (number of friends and happiness with friendships) were measured at the ages of 13-14 years. Mental health problems measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were assessed at the ages of 14-15 years. Covariates included demographic and household variables. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between social media use and mental health. We used path analysis with structural equation modeling to investigate the mediation pathways. Results: In adjusted analysis, there was a nonsignificant linear trend showing that more time spent on social media was related to poorer mental health 2 years later (n=2603, β=.21, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.84; P =.52). In an unadjusted path analysis, 68% of the effect of social media use on mental health was mediated by self-esteem (indirect effect, n=2569, β=.70, 95% CI 0.15-1.30; P =.02). This effect was attenuated in the adjusted analysis, and it was found that self-esteem was no longer a significant mediator (indirect effect, n=2316, β=.24, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.66; P =.22). We did not find evidence that the association between social media and mental health was mediated by social connectedness. Similar results were found in imputed data. Conclusions: There was little evidence to suggest that more time spent on social media was associated with later mental health problems in UK adolescents. This study shows the importance of longitudinal studies to examine this relationship and suggests that prevention strategies and interventions to improve mental health associated with social media use could consider the role of factors like self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Homeland and belongingness is always a matter of debate when it comes to community group that have either suffered exile or either suffered from a situation of war; Kashmir being itself a subject for which a war had breakout between to post-colonized powers, created it a hot spot for stories of prejudices; the people of Kashmir being exposed to wars and political fight remained in misery, but the question yet remain of homeland and belongingness; the people who left Kashmir in fear like surviving Jews in holocaust were they capable to feel the belongingness in their new homeland; rightly this is the question that the research contest to answer; secondary data approach uncovers, that it's not one's ethnicity or social identity that make one an outcast but it is rather their mental makeup that makes a person believe-- in short, it is schizophrenic mind of a human that makes one believe that one an outcast in the society; a proper metal nurturing is necessary to feel that one belongs to place or one is at home; there is magnificent of parents mental health in shaping home for the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open dialogue (OD) is a person-centred social network model of crisis and continuing mental healthcare, which promotes agency and long-term recovery in mental illness. Peer support workers who have lived experience of mental illness play a key role in OD in the UK, as they enhance shared understanding of mental health crisis as part of the OD model and provide a sense of belonging and social inclusion. These elements are in alignment with the shared decision making (SDM) approach in mental health, which focuses on person-centred communication in treatment decision-making. The previously documented benefits of peer-led SDM include increased engagement with services, symptom reduction, increased employment opportunities, and reduced utilization of mental and general health services. While the contribution of peer support and SDM principles to OD has been acknowledged, there is only a small body of literature surrounding this development, and little guidance on how peer support can enhance treatment decision-making and other aspects of OD. This viewpoint, which was co-authored by people with lived experience of mental illness, clinicians, and researchers, discusses practical implications and recommendations for research and training for the provision of a co-produced OD model grounded in peer support and SDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized controlled trial examined the impact of The Connection Project, an experiential, relationship‐focused intervention designed to improve school belongingness and decrease symptoms of depression and loneliness among new college students. Participants were 438 first‐year and transfer students (232 treatment, 206 waitlist‐control) at a medium‐sized, 4years, predominantly White public university in the Southeastern United States. At postintervention, the treatment group reported significant relative increases in school belonging and significant relative reductions in levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms in comparison to waitlist‐controls. Program effects were stronger for students from marginalized racial or ethnic backgrounds, students from lower socioeconomic status households, and transfer students. Results are interpreted as suggesting the utility of experiential, peer‐support prevention programming to promote college students' well‐being, particularly college students who hold identities that are traditionally disadvantaged in this context. Highlights: Participants report reduced depression and loneliness relative to waitlist‐controls.Participants report increased belongingness at their school, even when remote.Program benefits are strongest for marginalized students, most at‐risk for disconnection.Experiential programming and supportive peer relationships promote college students' well‐being.Prevention programming may be a first line to reducing burden on college mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide attempt survivors are at high risk of re-attempts and suicide death. Previous research has shown that service users' experiences of post-attempt care are related to future treatment engagement and re-attempts. In-depth understanding of how current services meet service users' needs in the period immediately following a suicide attempt is thus imperative for the development of more effective tertiary prevention practices in real-life health care systems. Method: In this qualitative study, Finnish suicide attempt survivors' experiences of and perspectives on mental health services were explored through a semi-structured interview. Participants were seven female and seven male service users interviewed 3–6 months after the index suicide attempt. A conventional content analysis of these service user interviews is presented. Results: Participants' experiences of care ranged from helping to hindering recovery. Seven key aspects of services were described as helpful when present and hindering when absent. These included (1) meeting the service user as worthy of help, (2) supporting the exploration of personal meanings, (3) supporting the exploration of suicidality, (4) psychological continuity and predictability, (5) offering a responsive partnership in navigating recovery, (6) inviting service user involvement in medication decisions, and (7) accounting for service users' relational context. Conclusions: Current health care services are inconsistent in meeting suicide attempt survivors' subjective needs, leaving clear room for improvement in tertiary suicide prevention. To be perceived as meaningful by service users, services should strive to offer opportunities for both biomedical, psychological, and social interventions, with responsivity to individual needs and preferences. A focus on the social aspects of recovery (e.g., offering support to loved ones affected by the suicidal incident; facilitating peer support and social belonging) was most often found to be lacking in current services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groups 4 Health (G4H) is a group psychotherapy program that targets social group disconnection. An emerging evidence base supports its efficacy in reducing loneliness, depression, and social anxiety. However, to date there has been no formal analysis of its acceptability to clients and therapists, nor an investigation of its feasibility for wider implementation. This input from end users is crucial to ensure the program's wider suitability and to contribute to its improvement. This study drew data from three clinical trials, including 266 G4H clients and 68 G4H therapists. From the Phase III trial only, additional data were available from 90 clients in a dose-controlled cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) comparison group, and focus groups/interviews with 6 therapists and 13 clients. Client satisfaction was high, with all average ratings >7/10, significantly exceeding the CBT comparison group. Therapist satisfaction with each module was >5/7. Retention was >80%. Homework completion was high, with <10% of clients saying that they had not attempted the homework. Therapists and clients both emphasized the benefits arising from G4H, and the contribution of the group context itself as a vehicle to achieve positive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Young adults aged 18–25 whose parents have a mental illness or substance use problem can be vulnerable to multiple difficulties in adulthood. There are, however, few available interventions designed for this group. This study evaluated a 6 week online intervention (mi. spot; mental illness: supported, preventative, online, targeted) specifically designed for this population. The intervention aims to improve mental health and wellbeing. Methods: Forty‐one young people, recruited from the community, participated in a two‐arm parallel randomized controlled trial where participants were randomized to mi. spot (n = 22) or a wait list control group (n = 19). They were assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at six weeks post intervention with measures covering depression, anxiety and stress, wellbeing, coping, general self‐efficacy, help seeking and social connectedness. Results: Intervention participants reported significantly improved psychological wellbeing, coping, general self‐efficacy, and a reduction in anxiety. Participants in the control group reported significant improvements in emotional wellbeing and help seeking and a reduction in self‐blame. Conclusion: This pilot controlled trial supported previous findings and shows preliminary evidence that mi.spot is effective for young adults who grew up with parents who have a mental illness or substance use problem. A large‐scale, randomized controlled trial with a diverse group of young people is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health and epidemiologic research have established that social connectedness promotes overall health. Yet there have been no recent reviews of findings from research examining social connectedness as a determinant of mental health. The goal of this review was to evaluate recent longitudinal research probing the effects of social connectedness on depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses in the general population. A scoping review was performed of PubMed and PsychInfo databases from January 2015 to December 2021 following PRISMA-ScR guidelines using a defined search strategy. The search yielded 66 unique studies. In research with other than pregnant women, 83% (19 of 23) studies reported that social support benefited symptoms of depression with the remaining 17% (5 of 23) reporting minimal or no evidence that lower levels of social support predict depression at follow-up. In research with pregnant women, 83% (24 of 29 studies) found that low social support increased postpartum depressive symptoms. Among 8 of 9 studies that focused on loneliness, feeling lonely at baseline was related to adverse outcomes at follow-up including higher risks of major depressive disorder, depressive symptom severity, generalized anxiety disorder, and lower levels of physical activity. In 5 of 8 reports, smaller social network size predicted depressive symptoms or disorder at follow-up. In summary, most recent relevant longitudinal studies have demonstrated that social connectedness protects adults in the general population from depressive symptoms and disorders. The results, which were largely consistent across settings, exposure measures, and populations, support efforts to improve clinical detection of high-risk patients, including adults with low social support and elevated loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital peer support is an increasingly used form of mental health support for young people. However, there is a need for more research on the impact of digital peer support and why it has an impact. Objective: The aim of this research is to examine young people's experiences of using a digital peer support tool: MeeToo. After the time of writing, MeeToo has changed their name to Tellmi. MeeToo is an anonymous, fully moderated peer support tool for young people aged 11-25 years. There were two research questions: (1) What impacts did using MeeToo have on young people? (2) Why did using MeeToo have these impacts on young people? Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted. It involved secondary analysis of routinely collected feedback questionnaires, which were completed at two time points (T1 and T2) 2-3 months apart. Questionnaires asked about young people's (N=876) experience of using MeeToo, mental health empowerment, and well-being. Primary data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 young people. Results: Overall, 398 (45.4%) of 876 young people completed the T1 questionnaire, 559 (63.8%) completed the T2 questionnaire, and 81 (9.2%) completed both. Descriptive statistics from the cross-sectional analysis of the questionnaires identified a range of positive impacts of using MeeToo, which included making it easier to talk about difficult things, being part of a supportive community, providing new ways to help oneself, feeling better, and feeling less alone. Subgroup analysis (paired-sample t test) of 58 young females who had completed both T1 and T2 questionnaires showed a small but statistically significant increase in levels of patient activation, one of the subscales of the mental health empowerment scale: time 1 mean=1.83 (95% CI 1.72-1.95), time 2 mean=2.00 (95% CI 1.89-2.11), t59=2.15, and P=.04. Anonymity and the MeeToo sense of community were identified from interviews as possible reasons for why using MeeToo had these impacts. Anonymity helped to create a safe space in which users could express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences freely without the fear of being judged by others. The MeeToo sense of community was described as a valuable form of social connectedness, which in turn had a positive impact on young people's mental health and made them feel less isolated and alone. Conclusions: The findings of this research showed a range of positive impacts and possible processes for young people using MeeToo. Future research is needed to examine how these impacts and processes can be sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is broad evidence that social connectedness is a significant factor contributing to mental health and wellbeing. Research on first responders in Australia has demonstrated that social connectedness moderates various aspects of psychological health. For first responders, social connectedness exerts a protective influence on the harmful effects of trauma exposure, such as psychological distress in the form of anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and increased suicide risk. Furthermore, first responders' social support, team cohesion, engagement with workplace support programs and work-life balance are all associated with higher resilience. The research also identified barriers to seeking help among first responders who may be struggling. These included poor mental health literacy, stigma and delayed help-seeking due to a lack of confidence in psychological treatments.1 These barriers increase the potential for mental health issues to develop into larger and debilitating problems that adversely affect workplace functioning and people's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in the United States has exacerbated a number of mental health conditions and problems related to prolonged social isolation. While COVID‐19 has led to greater loneliness and a lack of social connectedness, little is known about who are the most affected and how they are impacted. Therefore, we performed a Latent Class Analysis using items from two scales – the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Social Connectedness Scale – to characterize different experiences of loneliness and connectedness, examine their relationship with mental health and substance use symptoms, including depression, anxiety, drinking, and drug use. Methods: Data were drawn from an anonymous one‐time online survey examining the mental health of 1008 young adults (18–35 years old) during COVID‐19. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to observe and identify classes based on responses to loneliness and connectedness scale items, and to examine the existence of subgroups among this young adult population. Results: We identified a 4‐class model of loneliness and connectedness: (1) Lonely and Disconnected – highest probabilities in items of loneliness and disconnectedness, (2) Moderately Lonely and Disconnected – adaptive levels of some isolation and disconnection during COVID‐19, (3) Ambivalent Feelings – displaying negative responses in particular to negatively‐worded items while simultaneously affirming positively worded items, and (4) Connected and Not Lonely – lowest probabilities in items of loneliness and disconnectedness. Conclusion: Key findings include (1) the delineation of classes by levels of loneliness and connectedness showcasing differential mental health and substance use symptoms, (2) the utility of item‐level evaluation with LCA in determining specific classes of people in need of outreach and intervention, and (3) the promise of social connection to bolster resilience in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal and preventative interventions are advocated via the curriculum and pedagogy to help overcome the increasing prevalence of poor mental health among university students. To date, the literature in this field is overall of poor quality and cannot be synthesised for meta-analysis, due to poor reporting of methodology and results, lack of control conditions, and mixed outcomes across studies. This study examines the effectiveness of curriculum-embedded interventions on student wellbeing at university. A non-randomised design compared four curriculum-embedded interventions with matched controls from the same cohort (Psychology, English, Nursing, International Politics). To increase power, a meta-analytic approach combined the conditions to examine improvements in student wellbeing, social connectedness, loneliness, students flourishing, self-compassion, burnout, self-esteem, and learning approach. There were non-significant improvements in the intervention versus control conditions across all outcomes. There is no strong support for curriculum-embedded interventions improving student wellbeing at university. Despite improvements in study design and reporting, the sample size was still a challenge. More studies of high quality need to be conducted to provide evidence to guide teaching staff in supporting student wellbeing in the curriculum. Qualitative research is required to fully understand students' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]