Preliminary evidence: the stress-reducing effect of listening to water sounds depends on somatic complaints. A randomized trial

Background: Listening to natural sounds is applied in health contexts in order to induce relaxation. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is equally efficacious in all individuals or whether it depends on interindividual differences. Given that individuals differ in how they are impaired by somatic complaints, we investigated whether somatic complaints moderate the stress-reducing effect of listening to water sounds. Methods: Sixty healthy women (Mage = 25 years) were randomly allocated to 3 different conditions (listening to water sounds, a relaxing piece of music, or no auditory stimulus: n = 20 per condition) for 10 minutes before they were exposed to a standardized psychosocial stress task. Salivary cortisol was assessed before, during, and after the stress task. For binary logistic regression analyses, participants were divided into 2 groups: 1 group with a high salivary cortisol release and 1 group with low cortisol release. The Freiburg Complaints Inventory was used to assess occurrence of somatic complaints. Results: A significant moderating effect of somatic complaints on cortisol secretion was found in the group listening to water sounds (χ2(1) = 5.87, P < .015) but not in the other 2 groups, explaining 35.7% of the variance and correctly classifying 78.9% of the cases. Conclusion: The stress-reducing effect of listening to water sounds appears to depend on the occurrence of somatic complaints. This effect was not found in the music or silence condition. Individuals with somatic complaints may benefit from other, potentially more powerful forms of stress-reducing interventions, that is, combinations of visual and auditory stimuli

Clinical Ecopsychology: The Mental Health Impacts and Underlying Pathways of the Climate and Environmental Crisis

Humankind is confronted with progressing climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and/or destruction of the air, soil, water, and ecosystems. The climate and environmental crisis is probably one of the greatest challenges in the history of humankind. It not only poses a serious current and continuing threat to physical health, but is also an existing and growing hazard to the mental health of millions of people worldwide. This synergy of literature provides a current summary of the adverse mental health impacts of the climate and environmental crisis from the perspective of Clinical Psychology. Furthermore, it presents potential underlying processes, including biological, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social pathways. The existing data suggest that the climate and environmental crisis not only acts as a direct stressor, but can also exert a detrimental impact on the various pathways, with the potential to amplify an individual's biopsychosocial vulnerability to develop mental ill-health. This is a call for an increased investigation into this emerging research field of Clinical Ecopsychology by clinical psychologists and other researchers

Aging in the Aftermath of Adversity: Later-Life Impact of Institutional Child Abuse and Disclosure

Until the 1990’s in Ireland, many children in institutional care experienced abuse and neglect, with lasting negative effects, including trauma symptoms and psychopathology. While trauma disclosure can be important for recovery, findings are inconsistent and often lack consideration of wider social and interpersonal contexts. As survivors of this historical adversity enter later-life stages, research is needed on the long-term impact and to clarify the role of disclosure. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the later-life impact of institutional child abuse on health and well-being, and the role of trauma disclosure and socio-interpersonal contexts in an older adult sample. Qualitative semi-structured interviews (60-120 minutes) were conducted with 17 Irish older adults, aged 50-77 years (mean age=60.7 years), who experienced childhood institutional abuse. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using Framework Analysis. Themes for ‘childhood and related later-life adversity’ included detrimental perceptions and interactions, re-exposure and reminders, failure of system and society, and cycle of abuse. Disclosure themes included successful, unsuccessful, and non-disclosure, as well as evidence of socio-interpersonal interactions (e.g., non-disclosure influenced by shame or fear, compounded by socio-cultural values, (lack of) social acknowledgment, or the power of the church in society). Results suggest that childhood institutional abuse can have long-term negative impacts into later life, including social, psychological, physical health, and socio-economic aspects. Disclosure results emphasize the need to consider the complex social, cultural, and interpersonal contexts within which an individual is embedded. This may enhance understanding and facilitate targeted health and social care services for this older adult population

Mental health resilience in Swiss older adult survivors of child welfare-related maltreatment

Minors affected by child welfare practices in Switzerland during the last century had a high risk for exposure to childhood trauma and maltreatment. Several studies with this cohort demonstrated substantially higher levels of clinically-relevant psychopathology in older adult survivors in comparison to non-affected control individuals. However, these studies also revealed that not all affected individuals developed mental health disorders over their lifespan. To date, this mental health resilience in survivors of an advanced age is still insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the resilience profiles of older adults who were formerly affected by child welfare-related trauma and maltreatment (risk group, RG; n = 132; Mage = 71 years) and non-affected, age-matched controls (control group, CG; n = 125). Within the RG, approximately one-third of the individuals had no current or lifetime DSM-5 mental health disorders. In comparison to the survivors with a history of mental ill-health, these individuals were older, had a higher income, and expressed a higher subjective satisfaction with their socio-economic status. Furthermore, they reported less early-life physical abuse, and had lower levels of neuroticism, as well as empathy-related characteristics. In addition, they showed higher levels of self-esteem and trait resilience. Group differences between the RG and CG highlight the importance of considering past adversity in the understanding of mental health resilience in later life

Salutary mechanisms in the relationship between stress and health: The mediating and moderating roles of Sense of Coherence-Revised

While chronic and acute stress are often associated with negative health, the sense of coherence-revised (SOC-R) is proposed to facilitate coping with stress and promote health. However, research is lacking on the specific mechanisms. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate potential mediating and moderating mechanisms of SOC-R in the relationship between stress and health. Using a cross-sectional design, standardized questionnaires assessed SOC-R, acute (perceived) stress, early-life adversity (ELA; indicator for early-life chronic stress), mental and physical health, and satisfaction with life. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted with N = 531 Irish adults (mean age: 59.5 years; 58.4% female). Regarding acute (perceived) stress, results showed that SOC-R and its Manageability subscale significantly mediated the association between perceived stress and mental health, and satisfaction with life. SOC-R and its Manageability subscale also significantly moderated the association between perceived stress and mental health. Regarding ELA, the Manageability subscale significantly mediated the association between ELA and mental health, and satisfaction with life; and the Balance subscale significantly mediated the association between ELA and physical health. SOC-R may provide a useful focus for stress-related research, with future longitudinal studies needed to examine SOC-R as a long-term modulating pathway between stress and health

Early-life adversity and later-life mental health: a conditional process analysis of sense of coherence and resilience-related resources

Objective While early-life adversity can have negative effects on health and wellbeing that persist across the lifespan, some individuals show indications of resilience. Resilience can be understood as a dynamic coping process involving the mobilization of resources in response to adversity exposure. Sense of coherence—revised (SOC-R), an ability linked to health maintenance in the face of adversity, may be influential in this process. However, research is lacking on the mechanisms underpinning SOC-R and resilience-related resources and their impact on the (mental) health of individuals exposed to early-life adversity. Therefore, this study examined the role of SOC-R and selected resilience-related resources in the relationship between early-life adversity and later-life health and wellbeing. Method Participants were N = 531 Irish (older) adults (58.2% female, mean age = 59.5 years, range = 50–86 years). Standardized questionnaires assessed retrospective reports of early-life adversity, as well as current physical and mental health, satisfaction with life, SOC-R, and resilience-related resources (self-efficacy, optimism, social support). A multiple mediation analysis tested the indirect effects of the resources and a moderated mediation tested for conditional dependence on SOC-R. Results For mental health and satisfaction with life, significant partial mediations were found for all three resources. Only optimism showed a significant partial mediation for physical health. In the moderated mediation, SOC-R significantly moderated the associations between early-life adversity and self-efficacy (b = .06, t = 3.65, p = .001), optimism (b = .04, t = 2.60, p = .009), and social support (b = .08, t = 3.75, p &lt; .001). The indirect effects were larger at high rather than low SOC-R, indicating that the mediating effects of the resources were greater for individuals with a stronger SOC-R. Conclusion A strong SOC-R may have a beneficial influence on health and wellbeing by mitigating the detrimental effect of early-life adversity on the resources self-efficacy, optimism, and social support. Future avenues for research include the expanded assessment of resources and the potential role of SOC-R in successful ageing through the selection and adaptation of goals and resources into older age. SOC-R may represent a promising target for psychotherapeutic interventions promoting resilience in survivors of early-life adversity

Mental and Physical Health in Swiss Older Survivors of Enforced Child Welfare Practices

It is the purpose of child welfare practices to provide a protective environment for minors. However, welfare practices for children and adolescents have also been linked to a higher risk for maltreatment, trauma, and deprivation. Due to such early-life adversity, affected individuals often report a life course depicted by further trauma, socio-economic disadvantage, mental and physical ill-health. Examination of the long-term health correlates of enforced child welfare practices, as well as potential mediators, have previously been neglected in later life. It was therefore the purpose of these studies to examine the long-term correlates of enforced child welfare practices; the associated maltreatment, trauma, and deprivation; and the physical and mental health outcomes in Swiss older survivors (n=132, MAGE=71 years) and an age-matched control group (n=125). These studies further examined the mediating role of socio-economic factors (e.g., education, income), self-esteem, and self-compassion. Mental health was assessed with a structured clinical interview; physical health, self-esteem, and self-compassion with psychometric instruments. Survivors reported significantly more types and severity of childhood maltreatment, trauma, and deprivation than the control group. They also reported significantly more lifetime and current mental health disorders and more physical illnesses. Socio-economic factors and self-esteem, but not self-compassion, acted as significant mediators. Exposure to maltreatment, trauma, and deprivation in childhood and adolescence is linked to poorer mental and physical health in later life. Potential targets for intervention and health-protective measures include socio-economic factors and self-esteem, which were found to diminish the detrimental long-term impact of early-life adversity and disadvantage into later life

Caseness and comorbidity of probable (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda: the role of social determinants

Numerous studies have been conducted among survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi on the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, thus far, no studies provide information on the frequency of comorbidity of these disorders, the prevalence of the new trauma-related diagnostic disorder known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and the role of social determinants, such as age, sex, marital status, employment category, education, and location, in the occurrence of these disorders. The present study was conducted to address these gaps. Genocide survivors ( N = 261 participants; M = 46.30, SD = 11.95, females = 52.9%) took part in the study. They completed the International Trauma Questionnaire, the Public Health Depression Questionnaire, and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses, bivariate analyses with two-tailed chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to determine the prevalence of the above-mentioned disorders, comorbidity, and the associations between the social determinants and the assessed psychopathologies. Of the total sample, 47.1% presented with at least one of the assessed probable mental health disorders: 15.3% ( n = 40) met the criteria for probable post-traumatic stress disorder, 15.3% ( n = 40) for probable complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and 38.7% ( n = 101) for probable depression. Of the participants with probable post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, nearly half met the criteria for probable depression. Being married but not living with the partner was associated with probable complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and unemployment was associated with probable depression. Our findings suggest to clinicians and policymakers that they should consider comorbidity and social determinants in their interventions

Early-life adversity and later-life mental health: a conditional process analysis of sense of coherence and resilience-related resources

ObjectiveWhile early-life adversity can have negative effects on health and wellbeing that persist across the lifespan, some individuals show indications of resilience. Resilience can be understood as a dynamic coping process involving the mobilization of resources in response to adversity exposure. Sense of coherence—revised (SOC-R), an ability linked to health maintenance in the face of adversity, may be influential in this process. However, research is lacking on the mechanisms underpinning SOC-R and resilience-related resources and their impact on the (mental) health of individuals exposed to early-life adversity. Therefore, this study examined the role of SOC-R and selected resilience-related resources in the relationship between early-life adversity and later-life health and wellbeing.MethodParticipants were N = 531 Irish (older) adults (58.2% female, mean age = 59.5 years, range = 50–86 years). Standardized questionnaires assessed retrospective reports of early-life adversity, as well as current physical and mental health, satisfaction with life, SOC-R, and resilience-related resources (self-efficacy, optimism, social support). A multiple mediation analysis tested the indirect effects of the resources and a moderated mediation tested for conditional dependence on SOC-R.ResultsFor mental health and satisfaction with life, significant partial mediations were found for all three resources. Only optimism showed a significant partial mediation for physical health. In the moderated mediation, SOC-R significantly moderated the associations between early-life adversity and self-efficacy (b = .06, t = 3.65, p = .001), optimism (b = .04, t = 2.60, p = .009), and social support (b = .08, t = 3.75, p &lt; .001). The indirect effects were larger at high rather than low SOC-R, indicating that the mediating effects of the resources were greater for individuals with a stronger SOC-R.ConclusionA strong SOC-R may have a beneficial influence on health and wellbeing by mitigating the detrimental effect of early-life adversity on the resources self-efficacy, optimism, and social support. Future avenues for research include the expanded assessment of resources and the potential role of SOC-R in successful ageing through the selection and adaptation of goals and resources into older age. SOC-R may represent a promising target for psychotherapeutic interventions promoting resilience in survivors of early-life adversity