Murray Weeks

Introduction Alors que des données probantes montrent que certains travailleurs de première ligne et travailleurs essentiels ont augmenté leur consommation d’alcool pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, cette question n’a pas été étudiée au Canada. Méthodologie À l’aide des données de l’Enquête sur la COVID-19 et la santé mentale (ECSM) de 2020, nous avons calculé la prévalence pondérée de la consommation autodéclarée accrue d’alcool et de la forte consommation épisodique d’alcool et les intervalles de confiance à 95 % correspondants pour trois groupes de population : travailleurs de première ligne, travailleurs essentiels et travailleurs autres que de première ligne ou essentiels. Nous avons effectué une analyse de régression logistique pour étudier les associations entre les déterminants sociaux de la santé, la santé mentale et la consommation d’alcool pour chaque groupe. Résultats La prévalence de la consommation accrue d’alcool et celle de la forte consommation épisodique d’alcool au cours du dernier mois ne différaient pas entre les travailleurs de première ligne, les travailleurs essentiels et les autres travailleurs. Au sein des trois groupes, les personnes ne s’identifiant pas comme appartenant à un groupe racisé avaient des probabilités supérieures dans les deux résultats. Le fait d’avoir obtenu un résultat positif au dépistage du trouble d’anxiété généralisée ou du trouble de l’humeur était significativement associé à une consommation accrue d’alcool chez les trois groupes. Chez les travailleurs de première ligne et les travailleurs essentiels, les personnes de genre féminin étaient beaucoup moins susceptibles que celles de genre masculin de faire état d’une forte consommation épisodique d’alcool. Chez les travailleurs essentiels seulement, on a établi une association significative entre le fait de vivre dans une région rurale et une probabilité moindre de consommation accrue d’alcool, ainsi qu’une association significative entre le fait d’avoir obtenu un résultat positif au dépistage du trouble de stress post-traumatique et une probabilité plus élevée de forte consommation épisodique d’alcool. Chez les travailleurs de première ligne seulement, on a établi une association significative entre le fait de vivre dans une région rurale et une probabilité moindre de forte consommation épisodique d’alcool. Conclusion Même si les travailleurs de première ligne et les travailleurs essentiels ne se sont pas révélés plus susceptibles de faire état d’une consommation accrue d’alcool et d’une forte consommation épisodique d’alcool que les autres travailleurs, des différences ont été établies dans les facteurs associés à la consommation d’alcool. Ces résultats montrent l’importance d’analyser chaque groupe séparément pour obtenir des données aptes à orienter les stratégies ciblées de prévention.

Introduction There is evidence that some frontline and essential workers have increased their alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this has not been examined in Canada. Methods Using the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health 2020, weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of self-reported increased alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking were calculated for each of the population groups: frontline workers, essential workers, and nonfrontline or essential workers (NFEW). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between social determinants of health, mental health and alcohol use for each group. Results The prevalence of increased alcohol consumption and past-month heavy episodic drinking did not differ across frontline workers, essential workers and NFEW. For the three groups, nonracialized group members had significantly higher odds for both outcomes. Screening positive for either generalized anxiety disorder or mood disorder was significa...

Introduction Increased alcohol and cannabis consumption and related harms have been reported since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing evidence shows that substance use and related harms differ by gender. Yet, no Canadian study has applied a gendered lens to alcohol and cannabis consumption use during this time. Our objectives were to (1) provide gender-specific prevalence estimates of self-reported increased alcohol and cannabis use; and (2) examine gender-specific associations between sociodemographic and mental health variables and alcohol and cannabis use. Methods Using data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, we calculated nationally representative, gender-specific prevalence estimates and disaggregated them by sociodemographic and mental health variables. Four logistic regression models were used to assess the likelihood of self-reported increased alcohol and cannabis use. Results The prevalence of self-reported increase in alcohol use (16.2% women; 15....

Introduction Depuis le début de la pandémie de COVID 19, de nombreuses études à l’échelle mondiale ont fait état d’une détérioration de la santé mentale. Toutefois, la plupart de ces études sont de qualité faible ou moyenne, et bon nombre d’entre elles s’appuient sur des échantillons de commodité ou utilisent des mesures de la santé mentale à faible validité, voire les deux. Par conséquent, il est difficile d’en tirer des conclusions. Méthodologie L’Enquête sur la COVID 19 et la santé mentale (ECSM) de 2020 et l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC) (2015-2019) ont toutes les deux utilisé le Questionnaire en 9 points sur la santé du patient pour dépister le trouble dépressif majeur (TDM) chez les adultes de 18 ans et plus. On a comparé la prévalence du TDM dans l’ECSM et dans l’ESCC. Dans l’ECSM, on a étudié les facteurs de risque de TDM et les facteurs de protection par analyses bivariées à l’aide de régressions logistiques. Résultats Selon les données de l...

Shy children display wariness in unfamiliar social situations and often experience feelings of social anxiety. This study explored the potential mediating role of cognitive biases in the link between shyness and social anxiety in early adolescence. In particular, we focused on judgments of the probability and cost of negative social situations (i.e., judgment biases). Six hundred eighty-six early adolescents aged 10 to 14 years ([Formula: see text] = 11.58, SD = 1.13) completed measures of shyness, judgment biases, and social anxiety. Among the results, shyness, judgment biases, and social anxiety were positively interassociated. Shyness and judgment biases significantly predicted social anxiety. Moreover, elevated judgments of both the probability and cost of negative social situations partially mediated the relation between shyness and social anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of the conceptual pathway from shyness to social anxiety, as well as implications for intervention p...

BackgroundThe aetiology of depression is multifactorial, with biological, cognitive and environmental factors across the life course influencing risk of a depressive episode. There is inconsistent evidence linking early life development and later depression. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between low birthweight (LBW), infant neurodevelopment, and acute and chronic stress as components in pathways to depression in adulthood.MethodThe sample included 4627 members of the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD; the 1946 British birth cohort). Weight at birth, age of developmental milestones, economic deprivation in early childhood, acute stressors in childhood and adulthood, and socio-economic status (SES) in adulthood were assessed for their direct and indirect effects on adolescent (ages 13 and 15 years) and adult (ages 36, 43 and 53 years) measures of depressive symptoms in a structural equation modelling (SEM) framework. A structural equation model ...

... and the Preference for Solitude 67 two early observational studies (Jennings, 1975; Rubin, 1982) and the theo-retical writings ... the right “cir-cumstances,” children (even young children) do make distinctions between different types of socially withdrawn peers (Galanaki, 2004). ...

More than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel have deployed in support of the mission in Afghanistan since 2002. Over the same period, the CAF strengthened its mental health system. This article explores the effect of these events on the prevalence of past-year mental disorders over the period 2002-2013. The data sources were 2 highly comparable population-based mental health surveys of CAF Regular Force personnel done in 2002 and 2013 (n = 5155 and 6996, respectively). Data were collected via in-person interviews with Statistics Canada personnel using the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess past-year disorders. In 2013, 16.5% had 1 or more of the 6 past-year disorders assessed in the survey, with the most common conditions being major depressive episode (MDE), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which affected 8.0%, 5.3%, and 4.7%, respectively. The prevalence of PTSD, GAD, and pan...

Objective Alcohol use is a known risk factor for suicidality, yet this relationship has not been explored during the pandemic in Canada. As a growing body of evidence demonstrates the negative impact of COVID-19 on alcohol consumption and associated harms in Canada, there is a need to examine this more closely. Methods Using the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health 2020, we compared the prevalence of suicide ideation among: (1) individuals who reported an increase in alcohol consumption vs those who reported a decrease/no change, and (2) individuals who reported past month heavy episodic drinking vs those who did not. We compared overall unadjusted odds ratios and across a number of sociodemographic and mental health variables. All estimates were weighted to ensure they were nationally representative. Results The prevalence and likelihood of suicide ideation were significantly higher among people who reported increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic (4.9% vs 2.0%; OR = 2.6,...

Introduction Since the outbreak of COVID-19, numerous studies from around the world have reported declines in mental health. However, most of these studies were of low-to-moderate quality and many were based on convenience samples or used mental health measures with low validity, or both. Consequently, it has been difficult to draw conclusions. Methods Both the 2020 Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (2015–2019) used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to screen for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults aged 18 or older. The prevalence of MDD was compared between the SCMH and the CCHS. Risk and protective factors for MDD in the SCMH were examined using bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Results Based on SCMH data, 15.2% (95% CI: 14.2–16.2) of Canadians screened positive for MDD. The prevalence of MDD was more than two times higher in the SCMH (during COVID-19) than in the CCHS (predating COVID-19). In bivariate ana...

Background Military personnel may be exposed to hazardous substances or environments, making health surveillance critical. However, surveillance is frequently handicapped by long lag times between exposure(s) and outcomes, which often manifest post-military release and are often not recorded. Aims To describe the burden of mortality in still serving and released Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. MethodsThe Canadian Forces Cancer and Mortality Study II (CF CAMS II) is an interdepartmental record linkage study using CAF pay data and Statistics Canada cancer and mortality data. The cohort included all Regular Force and class C Reservist men and women who first enrolled in the CAF between 1976 and 2012, inclusive. The anonymized linked data included death data, including cause and location of death. All-cause mortality (ACM) and International Classification of Disease (ICD)-10 chapter-level mortality (CLM) were quantified using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), with the Canadia...

Background: Military personnel may have potential exposures to carcinogens during their military careers. However, the generalizability of causal evidence between occupational exposures and cancer outcomes in military personnel is limited. This study aims to describe the epidemiology cause–specific cancer mortality in still serving and released Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel recruited between 1976 and 2012. Methods: Data came from the Canadian Forces Cancer and Mortality Study II (CF CAMS II), a record-linkage study of approximately 228,685 CAF Regular Force personnel and Reservists. Sex-stratified standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated for each neoplasm subcategory, with the Canadian general population (CGP) as the reference. Results: Approximately 1,450 deaths were attributable to neoplasms. Cancer mortality was lower in both men and women with military service (SMR = 0.77 and 0.78, respectively) versus CGP. Females had a significantly lower risk of breast canc...

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to examine associations between trajectories of childhood neighbourhood social cohesion and adolescent mental health and behaviour.MethodThis study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a nationally representative sample of Canadian children. The sample included 5577 children aged 0–3 years in 1994–1995, prospectively followed until age 12–15 years. Parental perceived neighbourhood cohesion was assessed every 2 years. Latent growth class modelling was used to identify trajectories of neighbourhood cohesion. Mental health and behavioural outcomes were self-reported at age 12–15 years. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between neighbourhood cohesion trajectories and outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsFive distinct trajectories were identified: ‘stable low’ (4.2%); ‘moderate increasing’ (9.1%); ‘stable moderate’ (68.5%); ‘high falling’ (8.9%); and ‘stable high’ (9.3%). Relati...

We examined risk factors for suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) in the absence of depression during adolescence. Using 6,788 adolescents from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), we identified participants with "no recent history of depression." We then tested the effects of risk factors at age 14-15 on suicidal behaviors at age 16-17. Absence of recent depression history negatively predicted both suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. However, among those with no history of depression, substance use and the presence of a chronic illness both increased the risk of suicidal behaviors. Suicidal behavior in adolescents in the absence of depression history may be explained by factors such as substance use and chronic illness.

This study sought to compare the prevalence and impacts of mental illness-related stigma among Canadian Armed Forces personnel and Canadian civilians. Data were from two highly comparable, population-based, cross-sectional surveys of Canadian military personnel and Canadian civilians: the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey (N=6,696) and the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (N=25,113), respectively. Perceived stigma was assessed among those who reported care seeking for a mental health problem in the past 12 months. Follow-up questions assessed the impact of stigma in various domains. Modified Poisson regression and linear regression were used to examine population differences (military versus civilian) in terms of care seeking, stigma, and stigma impact, with adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and the need for care. Military personnel were significantly more likely than civilians to have perceived stigma (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR]=1.70, 9...

Exposure to adverse social environments has been associated with psychotic and depressive symptoms in adolescence in cross-sectional studies, but the longitudinal relation is unclear. This study examined whether longitudinal trajectories of exposure to adverse social environments across childhood are associated with psychotic experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Data on participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used to estimate longitudinal trajectories of childhood exposure to neighborhood cohesion (NC), discord (ND), and stress (NS) using latent class growth modeling. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between these trajectories and psychotic experiences and depressive symptoms at 13 and 18 years of age, adjusting for maternal psychopathology, participant sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and area-level deprivation. A dose-response association was observed between higher NS and the odds...

Objectives: The initial goal was to validate the use of a self-report measure of disability in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The main goal was to document the extent of disability in personnel with and without mental disorders. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey; the sample included 6700 Regular Forces personnel. Disability was measured with the 12-item version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS-2); established cut points were used to demarcate severe, moderate, minimal, and no disability. The following recent (past-year) and remote (lifetime but not past-year) disorders were assessed with diagnostic interviews: posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder. Results: The WHODAS-2 showed good internal consistency (α = 0.89) and a 1-factor structure. Most personnel had no disability (59.2%) or minimal disability (30.8%). ...

The fetal programming hypothesis posits that in utero exposure to stress can alter prenatal brain development and lifelong stress response. However, human studies linking objective prenatal stressors to offspring mental illness, especially depression, are rare. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between mothers' exposure to prenatal stressful life events (SLEs) and offspring depression. The sample comprised 10,569 members of a prospective population-based cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Mothers reported on the occurrence and impact of 42 prenatal SLEs. Offspring depressive symptoms were assessed using a computerized version of the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R) at age 17 to 18, as well as 13 self-report statements from the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) at 6 time points from ages 10 to 11 to 18 to 19. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms ...

This study examined longitudinal pathways through three domains of adaptation from ages 4-5 to 14-15 (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and academic competence) towards depressive symptoms at age 16-17. Participants were 6425 Canadian children followed bi-annually as part of the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth. Within-domain (i.e., stability) effects were moderate in strength. We found longitudinal cross-domain effects across one time point (i.e., one-lag cascades) between internalizing and externalizing in early childhood (positive associations), and between academic competence and externalizing in later childhood and adolescence (negative associations). We also found cascade effects over multiple time points (i.e., multi-lag cascades); lower academic competence at age 4-5 and greater internalizing at age 6-7 predicted greater age 12-13 externalizing, and greater age 6-7 externalizing predicted greater age 16-17 depression. Important pathways towards...

The goal of this study was to explore the socioemotional adjustment of unsociable (versus shy) children in middle childhood. The participants in this study were 186 children aged 6–8 years (Mage = 7.59 years, SD = .31). Multisource assessment was employed, including maternal ratings, teacher ratings, and individual child interviews. Results provided some of the first evidence to suggest that unsociability can be distinguished from shyness in middle childhood. Shy children evidenced more internalizing problems, peer difficulties, and loneliness as compared to unsociable and nonwithdrawn comparison children. In contrast, aside from a greater tendency to play alone, unsociable children did not differ from nonwithdrawn comparison peers. However, a gender difference emerged, with unsociable boys appearing to be more prone to experiencing difficulties with peers. Results are discussed in terms of the assessment, meaning, and implications of different forms of social withdrawal in middle c...

To assess how much the association between migraine and depression may be explained by various measures of stress. National Population Health Survey is a prospective cohort study representative of the Canadian population. Eight years of follow-up time were used in the present analyses. Canadian adult population ages 18-64. 9288 participants. Incident migraine and major depression. Adjusting for sex and age, depression was predictive of incident migraine (HR: 1.62; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.53) and migraine was predictive of incident depression (HR: 1.55; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.08). However, adjusting for each assessed stressor (childhood trauma, recent marital problems, recent unemployment, recent household financial problems, work stress, chronic stress and change in social support) decreased this association, with chronic stress being a particularly strong predictor of outcomes. When adjusting for all stressors simultaneously, both associations were largely attenuated (depression-migraine HR: 1....

To assess the risk of on-screen death of important characters in children's animated films versus dramatic films for adults. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with Cox regression comparing time to first on-screen death. Authors' television screens, with and without popcorn. Important characters in 45 top grossing children's animated films and a comparison…

Studies suggest that childhood trauma is linked to both depression and heavy drinking in adulthood, and may create a lifelong vulnerability to stress. Few studies have explored the effects of stress sensitization on the development of depression or heavy drinking among those who have experienced traumatic childhood events. This study aimed to determine the effect of childhood trauma on the odds of experiencing depression or heavy drinking in the face of an adult life stressor, using a large population-based Canadian cohort. A total of 3,930 participants were included from the National Population Health Survey. The associations among childhood trauma, recent stress and depression/heavy drinking from 1994/1995 to 2008/2009 were explored using logistic regression, as were interactions between childhood trauma and recent stress. A generalized linear mixed model was used to determine the effects of childhood trauma and stressful events on depression/heavy drinking. Analyses were stratified by sex. Childhood trauma significantly increased the odds of becoming depressed (following 1 event: OR = 1.66; 95%CI 1.01, 2.71; 2+ events, OR = 3.89; 95%CI 2.44, 6.22) and drinking heavily (2+ events: OR = 1.79; 95%CI 1.03, 3.13). Recent stressful events were associated with depression, but not heavy drinking. While most interaction terms were not significant, in 2004/2005 the association between recent stress and depression was stronger in those who reported childhood trauma compared to those with no childhood trauma. Childhood trauma increases risk for both depression and heavy drinking. Trauma may moderate the effect of stress on depression; the relationship among trauma, stress and heavy drinking is less clear.

This study sought to identify factors protective against the onset or recurrence of depression in early adulthood, and to describe their interactions with stressors during this transitional period. 1137 members of Canada's National Population Health Survey were followed from ages 12 to 17 in 1994/95 and contacted every two years until 2008/09. Protective factors measured at age 16/17 included social support, physical activity, mastery, self-esteem, and education level. General linear mixed models were used to examine the relationship between the protective factors and five assessments of depression, including interactions between protective factors and four types of stress: stressful life events, and work, financial, and personal stress. High mastery in adolescence had a significant protective effect against depression in early adulthood. Participants with high social support in adolescence were significantly less likely to become depressed after experiencing work or financial stress, compared to those with low social support. Those who were physically active in adolescence were less likely to become depressed after experiencing work stress, and higher overall education level reduced depression risk following personal stress or major life events. Social support and physical activity may be ideal targets for school-based depression interventions during a potentially stressful transitional period.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between the BIS, BAS, and socio-emotional functioning in childhood. Participants were 368 children (181 boys) ranging in age from 9 to 13 years (M-age = 10.16, SD = .95). Children provided self-report assessments of BIS/BAS sensitivity, indices of internalizing problems (e.g., depression, social anxiety, loneliness), and perceptions of their peer relations. Parents also rated child internalizing and externalizing problems. Results from confirmatory factor-analysis suggested that the three-factor solution for the BAS (typically reported in adult samples) provided a better fit of the data than a one-factor (typically employed in previous studies with children). Moreover, BAS subscales were associated differentially with different indices of socio-emotional functioning. Support for the joint subsystems hypothesis was also found, with specific BAS subscales serving as moderators of the relations between the BIS and socio-emotional functioning. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The goal of the present study was to explore the moderating role of teacher—child relationships in the relation between shyness and socio-emotional adjustment in early elementary school. Participants were n = 169 grade 1 children (Mage = 76.93 mos, SD = 3.86). Shortly after the start of the school year (September), parents completed an assessment of their child’s shyness. In January/February teachers completed the Student—Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS; Pianta, 2001). At the end of the school year (May/June), child adjustment was assessed by both child and teacher reports. Among the results, shyness and negative teacher—child relationships (i.e., dependent, conflictual) were related to socio-emotional difficulties, whereas close teacher—child relationships were associated with indices of positive adjustment. However, several interaction effects were also observed, with teacher—child relationships moderating the relations between shyness and adjustment. The pattern of results sugge...

ABSTRACT The goal of the present study was to explore attitudes and responses to different forms of social withdrawal in China and Canada. Participants in this study were children in early elementary school in the People’s Republic of China (n = 213; 113 boys, 100 girls, Mage = 6.11 years) and Canada (n = 162; 60 boys, 102 girls, Mage = 6.20 years). Children were presented with hypothetical vignettes describing the behaviours of shy, unsociable, and socially competent peers and responded to questions designed to assess their perceptions, attitudes, and responses. Results indicated that Chinese and Canadian children differed in their responses, particularly with regard to hypothetical unsociable peers. These findings shed some additional light on possible cross-cultural differences in the meaning and implications of different forms of social withdrawal.

Previous research examining the development of anxious and depressive symptoms (i.e., internalizing symptoms) from childhood to adolescence has often assumed that trajectories of these symptoms do not vary across individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify distinct trajectories of internalizing symptoms from childhood to adolescence, and to identify risk factors for membership in these trajectory groups. In particular, we sought to identify risk factors associated with early appearing (i.e., child onset) symptoms versus symptoms that increase in adolescence (i.e., adolescent onset). Drawing on longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, latent class growth modeling (LCGM) was used to identify distinct trajectories of internalizing symptoms for 6,337 individuals, from age 4-5 to 14-15. Multinomial regression was used to examine potential early-life risk factors for membership in a particular trajectory group. Five trajectories were identified as follows: "low stable" (68%; reference group), "adolescent onset" (10%), "moderate stable" (12%), "high childhood" (6%), and "high stable" (4%). Membership in the "adolescent onset" group was predicted by child gender (greater odds for girls), stressful life events, hostile parenting, aggression, and hyperactivity. Membership in the "high stable" and "high…