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Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2019) | Viewed by 32617

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Prof. Julie Turner-Cobb

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Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK
Interests: stress reactivity; chronic stress; social support; psychoendocrine effects; child health; lifecourse issues in health and illness

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The influence of intergenerational factors on health is gaining increasing interest, particularly as scientific understanding of the psychological and physiological processes and mechanisms involved has advanced. Transactions between a person and their environment are central to health outcomes across the life course, from prenatal exposure to psychosocial stressors through to accumulated lifetime stress associated with a range of chronic health conditions. Research that utilizes these findings in the form of interventions offers the promise of improving health and well-being across generations. In this Special Issue of the International Journal of Research and Public Health, we invite empirical research papers, reviews, methodological reviews, brief reports, and commentaries that contribute to understanding of intergenerational effects on health, with a focus on the role of psychosocial factors. We welcome studies and reviews that have the potential to change health and clinical care and health policy, as well as those that examine mechanisms of health outcome for children through to adults and older populations. In particular, we invite findings from a variety of methodologies, including qualitative analysis as well as quantitative assessment and mixed methods research.

Prof. Julie Turner-Cobb
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Intergenerational effects of stress on health
Endocrine synchrony
Prenatal influences on child health
Familial transmission of health disparities
Social relationships
Later life effects of childhood exposure to stress
Developmental influences on stress reactivity
Health behaviours
Epigenetic effects on health outcome
Mid-life health outcomes
Interventions to promote health

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the University Classroom on Managing the Socio-Educational Well-being: A Global Study

by Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar, Luis Ortiz Jiménez, Adoración Sánchez Ayala and Emilio Abad-Segura

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030931 - 3 Feb 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6637

Abstract

The university learning classroom, in addition to a space for activities and architectural object, has a direct impact on the academic motivation, well-being and social relationships of the students. Thus, the link between the university classroom and the management of the socio-educational well-being of the student, in accordance with the principles of well-being theory, is a challenge that the current university must manage. The progress of worldwide research on this topic has been studied during the period 2004–2018. For this aim, a bibliometric study of 1982 articles has been applied. The results provide data of the scientific productivity of the journals, authors, institutions and countries that contribute to this research. The evidence reveals growing interest, especially in the last six years. The main category is Social Sciences. The most productive journals are Computers and Education, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, and Theory into Practice. The author with most articles is Reddy, from Rutgers University. The most productive institution is the University of Virginia. The United States is the country with most academic publications, citations and with most international collaborations in its works. Worldwide research has followed an increasing trend, with optimum publication levels in latest years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

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16 pages, 875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Child Mental Health Following Brief Relationship Enhancement and Co-Parenting Interventions During the Transition to Parenthood

by Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen, Gerald F. Giesbrecht, Joshua W. Madsen, Anna MacKinnon, Yunying Le and Brian Doss

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030766 - 25 Jan 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4336

Abstract

The transition to parenthood has been identified as a significant relationship stressor. Many couples report declines in relationship satisfaction and difficulty with individual stress and co-parenting—problems that have been associated with both child temperament as well as emotional and behavioral problems. Several parenting and relationship interventions have been developed to buffer against these difficulties. In the current study, we report secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial of brief (6-h) interventions that focused on improving either relationship satisfaction or co-parenting, delivered during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. In this trial, 90 opposite-sex couples (180 participants), who were pregnant with their first child, and were assessed as being at high risk for declines in relationship satisfaction, were randomized to receive either (1) a relationship intervention, (2) a co-parenting intervention, or (3) an information control. At 12 months postpartum, couples who received either the relationship or co-parenting intervention rated their infants as having lower negative emotionality and as having fewer externalizing symptoms compared to the information-only control. Lower externalizing symptoms at 12 months were, in turn, associated with reduced externalizing symptoms at 24 months postpartum. Whereas, lower ratings of child negative emotionality at 12 months were associated with reduced internalizing symptoms at 24 months postpartum. These results indicate that brief relationship or co-parenting interventions delivered during the transition to parenthood have secondary benefits for child mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

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13 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parental Attachment, Adult-Child Romantic Attachment, and Marital Satisfaction: An Examination of Cultural Context in Taiwanese and Thai Heterosexual Couples

by Ching-Yu Huang, Skultip Sirikantraporn, Nipat Bock Pichayayothin and Julie M. Turner-Cobb

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030692 - 21 Jan 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5240

Abstract

Relationship dynamics between married couples can differ considerably, with varying impacts on relationship satisfaction. However, very limited research attention has been paid to how intergenerational attachment, relating to an individual’s perception of his/her own and that of his/her parents’ attachment, can affect marital dynamics within different cultural contexts. The current study examined associations between married heterosexual couples’ romantic attachment, perception of parental attachment, and marital satisfaction in 100 Thai couples (M age = 45.59 years, SD = 10.86) and 73 Taiwanese couples (M age = 39.55 years, SD = 9.13). Results revealed that romantic attachment anxiety was negatively associated with marital satisfaction in the Taiwanese couples; in the Thai couples, neither romantic attachment anxiety nor avoidance was associated with marital satisfaction. Husbands reported higher romantic attachment anxiety than their wives in Taiwan, but this was not observed in the Thai couples. Taiwanese wives reported higher scores on their perceived parental attachment avoidance than did their husbands; whereas the reverse trend was observed in the Thai couples. These findings highlight the need to consider intergenerational aspects of attachment in cultural contexts, and they have important implications for practitioners working with couples from Asian cultural backgrounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

16 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Anxiety and Depression in Polish Primary Parental Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Compared to a Control Group, as well as Identification of Selected Predictors

by Barbara Gugała, Beata Penar-Zadarko, Danuta Pięciak-Kotlarz, Katarzyna Wardak, Aneta Lewicka-Chomont, Magdalena Futyma-Ziaja and Józef Opara

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4173; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214173 - 29 Oct 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4233

Abstract

Background: Taking care of a child with Cerebral Palsy (CP) may be linked with adverse effects in the parents’ physical and mental health. The causes of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with childcare are still not fully understood. Aim: To assess the intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms in parents of children with CP compared to a control group and to identify selected mental health predictors. Design and Methods: Data were collected from 301 respondents, including 190 parents of children with CP (study group) and 111 parents taking care of children developing normally (control group). Intensity of anxiety and depression was rated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scale. Gross Motor Function Classification System for Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Berlin Support Social Scales (BSSS) scales and a specially designed questionnaire were used to assess the predictors. The investigated variables included the children’s and the parents’ characteristics, as well as environmental factors. The analyses applied Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, M(SD) as well as multiple regression. Results: The level of anxiety and depression was clearly higher in the parents of children with CP–the mean levels of anxiety and depression in the study group and the controls amounted to 8.1 vs. 4.7 and 6.8 vs. 3.7, respectively. The factors associated with intensity of anxiety and depression in the parents of children with CP included lack of social support, mainly perceived and received support, unsatisfying parental health status, poor economic status of the family, as well as difficult living conditions, sense of coherence, loneliness, the parent’s gender, and the child’s intellectual disability. Conclusions: Identification of significant anxiety and depression predictors, understood as modifiable factors, should be considered in determining and planning comprehensive support for a child with CP and his/her primary parental caregiver. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

15 pages, 503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Disparity in Mental Health Between Two Generations of Internal Migrants (IMs) in China: Evidence from A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

by Wen Chen, Qi Zhang, Andre M.N. Renzaho and Li Ling

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142608 - 22 Jul 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3977

Abstract

Background: Internal migrants (IMs) are a large, vulnerable population in China and are mostly driven by national economic reform. IMs who were born before and after 1980, when the general social and economic reform began to appear in China, are considered to be two separate generations. The generational differences in mental health across IMs remain undocumented. In this study, the intergenerational disparity in IMs’ mental health, using data from a national cross-sectional study, was assessed. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the “National Internal Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey 2014” were used. IMs were divided into the “old” or “new” generation, based on their date of birth (before 1980 vs. from 1980 onwards). Mental health includes psychological distress, which was measured using the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6), and perceived stress, which was measured with the Perceived Stress Scales (PSS-4). Two-level Generalized Linear Mixed Models were performed so as to assess the generation gap and associated factors of each group’s mental health. IM demographics, migration characteristics, and social integration indicators were controlled for when assessing the intergenerational disparity in mental health. Results: A total of 15,999 IMs from eight different cities participated in the survey. New generation migrants accounted for 61.5% (9838/15,999) of the total sample. After controlling for participants’ characteristics, new generation migrants had higher psychological distress scores (β_ad = 0.084, 95% CI: (0.026,0.193) and higher perceived stress scores (β_ad = 0.118, 95% CI: 0.029, 0.207) than the older generation. For both generations, factors associated with good mental health included high levels of social integration, personal autonomy, and life satisfaction, as well as self-rated good physical health. For the new generation, the mental health of urban-to-urban IMs (β_ad = 0.201, 95%CI: 0.009, 0.410) for the K6, β_ad = 0.241, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.409 for the PSS-4), IMs with a longer migration duration (β_ad = 0.002, 95% CI: (0.000, 0.003) for the PSS-4) and IMs with a higher annual income (β_ad = 0.124, 95% CI: (0.029, 0.218) for the K6) was significantly poorer than their counterparts. Conclusions: New-generation migrants’ mental health is worse compared to older IMs. An array of services for addressing these generation-specific needs may facilitate the promotion of mental health among IMs in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

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20 pages, 908 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Children’s DAT1 Polymorphism Moderates the Relationship Between Parents’ Psychological Profiles, Children’s DAT Methylation, and Their Emotional/Behavioral Functioning in a Normative Sample

by Silvia Cimino, Luca Cerniglia, Giulia Ballarotto, Eleonora Marzilli, Esterina Pascale, Claudio D’Addario, Walter Adriani, Angelo Giovanni Icro Maremmani and Renata Tambelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142567 - 18 Jul 2019

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3622

Abstract

Parental psychopathological risk is considered as one of the most crucial features associated with epigenetic modifications in offspring, which in turn are thought to be related to their emotional/behavioral profiles. The dopamine active transporter (DAT) gene is suggested to play a significant role in affective/behavioral regulation. On the basis of the previous literature, we aimed at verifying whether children’s DAT1 polymorphisms moderated the relationship between parents’ psychological profiles, children’s emotional/behavioral functioning, and DAT1 methylation in a normative sample of 79 families with school-age children (Ntot = 237). Children’s biological samples were collected through buccal swabs, while Symptom Check-List-90 item Revised, Adult Self Report, and Child Behavior Check-List/6–18 was administered to assess parental and children’s psychological functioning. We found that higher maternal externalizing problems predicted the following: higher levels of children’s DAT1 methylation at M1, but only among children with 10/10 genotype; higher levels of methylation at M2 among children with 10/10 genotype; while lower levels for children with a 9-repeat allele. There was also a positive relationship between fathers’ externalizing problems and children’s externalizing problems, only for children with a 9-repeat allele. Our findings support emerging evidence of the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping children’ emotional/behavioral functioning, contributing to the knowledge of risk variables for a child’s development and psychological well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

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Review

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15 pages, 833 KiB

Open AccessReview

The ‘Merry-Go-Round’ of Habitual Relapse: A Qualitative Study of Relapse in Electronic Gaming Machine Problem Gambling

by Jane Oakes, Rene Pols and Sharon Lawn

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(16), 2858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162858 - 10 Aug 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4067

Abstract

Background: Our understanding of gambling relapse is limited despite the damaging consequences affecting many aspects of the gambler’s life. Paradoxically, regardless of these negative consequences problem gamblers (PGs) continue to relapse, seemingly unable to stop this cycle of harm. This paper addresses the phenomenon of repeated gambling relapse shedding some insights into why gamblers continue to relapse. Methods: The study comprised of (n = 54) participants purposefully selected who participated in either 1 of 5 focus groups (n = 35) or in-depth interviews (n = 19). The new knowledge obtained was from PGs, significant others, and workers with direct experience of gambling relapse. Interview recordings were analysed using thematic, textual analysis. Results: The avoidance of negative emotions from the consequences of the destructive behaviour associated with repeated relapse leads to a hopeless “merry-go-round”. Once on this “merry go round”, relapse becomes a habitual way of life where behaviour change and learning from the devastation of a gambling relapse is challenging. Exiting this cycle means PGs must face the consequences of their gambling which for many is overwhelming, and relapse is a way to avoid despair. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into relapse which has implications for gamblers seeking treatment, assessment and treatment “drop-outs”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intergenerational Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Health)

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