Mathew D. Gayman

The long-term impact of childhood abuse on internalizing disorders among older adults: The moderating role of self-esteem

Objectives: First, to determine if childhood experiences of abuse have an impact on internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders) among older adults. Second, we wish to determine if self-esteem plays a role in explaining the relationship between abuse and internalizing disorders. Method: First, we conducted an analysis on a population sample of participants aged 50 years or older (mean age = 67 years; SD = 10.3) assessed at two time points, three years apart (Wave 1, N = 1460; Wave 2, N = 1090). We examined the relationship between reports of childhood abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and internalizing disorders. Second, we determined the role self-esteem played in explaining the relationship. Results: We found that childhood experiences of abuse assessed at Wave 1 predicted the number of DSM-IV internalizing disorders occurring three years later. Demonstrating the specificity of self-esteem; we found self-esteem, but not emotional reliance, to moderate the relationship between abuse and internalizing disorders such that childhood abuse had more negative effects on those with low self-esteem compared to those with higher self-esteem. Contrary to prediction, self-esteem did not mediate the relationship between abuse and internalizing disorders. Conclusion: The negative effects of childhood abuse persist for many years, even into older adulthood. However, contrary to the findings in younger adults, self-esteem was not correlated with childhood abuse in older adults. Moreover, childhood abuse only had a negative effect on those who had low self-esteem. It may be through the process of lifespan development that some abused individuals come to separate out the effects of abuse from their self-concept.

Early Adolescent Family Experiences and Perceived Social Support in Young Adulthood.

Although the protective role of social support is well established in the health literature, antecedents of perceived social support are not well understood. Research on family experiential factors during early adolescence, an important psychosocial developmental period in the life course, represents a promising line of inquiry. Using a sample of young adults in Miami-Dade County, Florida (N = 1,267) involving longitudinal data spanning 8 years, we evaluated the importance of early adolescent family experiences (socioeconomic status, family structure, family support, family pride, parent derogation) on perceived family and friend support in young adulthood. Results indicated that early family experiences, especially negative experiences, were associated with lower perceived family and friend support in young adulthood. Moreover, these associations were independent of early childhood-adolescent behavioral disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct), psychological disorders (major depression, anxiety), substance use disorders, and lifetime social adversity. The importance of family experiences during early adolescence for later perceived social support is discussed.

Organizational climate, work stress, and depressive symptoms among probation and parole officers

While work environment and stress are important factors for mental health, no studies have assessed whether these factors contribute independently to the psychological well-being of probation and parole officers (PPOs). Using statewide survey data from 825 PPOs, we examine the association between depressive symptoms, work stress, and work environment (using the organizational climate measures of role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload and emotional exhaustion/burnout). Findings indicate that organizational climate and work stress are important predictors of emotional exhaustion/burnout, and that these factors have both indirect and independent associations with depressive symptomotology. Together, models including organizational climate and work stress account for two-thirds of the variability in burnout. Moreover, models incorporating exhaustion/burnout, work stress, and organizational climate account for nearly half of the variability in depressive symptoms. Organization climate measures and work stress contribute to depressive symptoms through their effect on emotional exhaustion/burnout. In addition, emotional exhaustion/burnout, role conflict, and work stress are all directly linked to levels of depressive symptoms. This study demonstrates that organizational climate and work stress contribute substantially to the well-being of PPOs and reveals the potential mental health consequences of working in community corrections.

Sexual Networks and HIV Risk of People with Severe Mental Illness in Institutional and Community-Based Care

This study examines the sexual networks and HIV risk of clients with severe mental illness in treatment in institutional and community care settings. Data were gathered through structured interviews with 401 clients at three community mental health centers and two state psychiatric hospitals. Results indicate that community clients are more likely than hospital patients to be currently sexually active and to engage in high-risk sexual behavior whereas hospitalized patients tend to have more transient sexual relationships with partners who also have a mental illness. These findings suggest that mental health treatment settings may be shaping the HIV epidemic among psychiatric patients because of the impact they have on the structure of clients’ sexual networks.

The mental health and psychosocial adjustment of Cuban immigrants in south Florida

Given documented variation in pre-migration and migration-related experiences, Cuban immigrants in the U.S. who arrived during or subsequent to 1980 may be disadvantaged in mental health and psychosocial adjustment relative to earlier arrivals. Using wave 1 of the Physical Challenge and Health study, we compare earlier and later arriving immigrants in levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem and test whether adversity and social support, acculturation-related factors, or pre-migration conditions account for any differences observed among a sample of adults living in South Florida (N = 191). Bivariate analyses reveal that later arrivals are relatively disadvantaged in anxiety and self-esteem and marginally so in depression. While later arrivals do not report more adversity in the U.S., they have lower levels of family support to cope with any adversity experienced. Later arrivals are also less likely to interview in English or to have a strong American identity, and they were more likely to have arrived as adults. Relative disadvantages in anxiety and self-esteem are best explained by indicators of acculturation and family support. Policies and programs that address acculturation difficulties and increase family support could improve the health and adjustment of these and similar immigrants.

Multiple Perceived Reasons for Major Discrimination and Depression

Although perceived discrimination is linked to poor mental health, little is known about the mental health significance of the number of perceived reasons for discrimination. Using survey data from a community-based sample of adults living in Miami, Florida (n = 1,944), this study tests whether those reporting multiple perceived reasons for major discriminating events are at increased risk for depression. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses reveal those reporting multiple reasons for major discrimination are at increased risk for lifetime major depression and subsequent depressive symptoms. While social support and mastery partially mediated the link between multiple perceived reasons for discrimination and subsequent depressive symptoms, this psychological risk was not fully explained by these coping resources. Together the findings underscore the psychological toxicity of perceived discrimination and the importance of considering multiple perceived reasons for discrimination as a risk factor for poor mental health.

Reciprocity Between Depressive Symptoms and Physical Limitations Pre- and Postretirement Exploring Racial Differences

Objectives: This study assesses (a) the reciprocity between mental and physical health pre- and postretirement, and (b) the extent to which these associations vary by race. Method: Data are from the 1994 to 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Results: Analyses based on structural equation modeling reveal that depression and physical health exert reciprocal effects for Whites pre- and postretirement. For Blacks preretirement, physical limitations predict changes in depression but there is no evidence of the reverse association. Further, the association between physical limitations and changes in depressive symptoms among Blacks is no longer significant after retirement. Discussion: The transition into retirement alleviates the translation of physical limitations into depressive symptoms for Blacks only. The findings underscore the relevance of retirement for reciprocity between mental and physical health and suggest that the health implications associated with this life course transition vary by race.

Trends in State Prison Admission of Offenders With Serious Mental Illness

OBJECTIVE This study examined whether the proportion as well as the number of prisoners with behavioral health disorders have increased in recent years. METHODS Among 41,440 persons admitted to Washington State prisons from 1998 through 2006, this study estimated numbers and proportions of behavioral health disorders diagnosed while persons were in the community or in prison. RESULTS There was a 44% increase in persons admitted with a diagnosed co-occurring substance use disorder between 1998 (N=477) and 2005 (N=686); this increase dropped to 27% by 2006 (N=604). Ratewise, increases in the annual proportion of persons admitted with co-occurring disorders were much smaller, ranging from approximately .2% to 2.6%. CONCLUSIONS The growth in the numbers of prisoners with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders was not due primarily to increases in admission base rates. Nevertheless, more treatment resources will be needed in prisons to meet growing mental health care needs, and more community-based resources will be needed to ensure continuity of treatment and successful community reentry.

SES and race-ethnic differences in the stress-buffering effects of coping resources among young adults

Objectives This study assesses socioeconomic status (SES) and race-ethnic differences in the extent to which coping resources (social support and self-esteem) buffer the negative impact of chronic stress on depressive symptoms. Design We analyze data from a large community-based sample of young adults (ages 18–23) living in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA (N = 1411). Results Study findings indicate that the stress-buffering effects of social support or self-esteem do not vary by SES. However, independent of SES and other study controls, non-Hispanic whites experience greater stress-buffering effects from social support than African-Americans and African-Americans experience greater stress-buffering effects from self-esteem than Cubans and Nicaraguans. Conclusion In light of these results, we conclude that a greater understanding of racial and ethnic differences in mental health requires close attention to cultural transmissions of coping strategies within groups, which may be partly responsible for these differences in buffering effects.

Effectiveness of the Direct Instruction Language for Learning Curriculum Among Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Many children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit difficulties with complex language and social communication. Direct Instruction (DI) is an empirically supported curriculum designed to teach complex language skills to children with and at risk of learning disabilities. Only recently, the effectiveness of DI has been evaluated among children with autism. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the DI Language for Learning curriculum among 18 children diagnosed with ASD. Immediate post-intervention language scores on curriculum post-tests were significantly higher than pre-intervention scores and remained significantly higher than pre-intervention scores up to 6 to 8 months following the intervention. Comparing language skills across groups, children already exposed to the intervention exhibited significantly higher language skills than their non-exposed waitlist counterparts.