Mental Health and Prevention最新文献

{"title":"“It's the people that make the difference”: Understanding the significance of psychosocial support for professional athletes","authors":"Sam Lane","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explores the importance of psychosocial support within professional sporting organizations and its impact on athlete wellbeing.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seventeen participants, including current and retired athletes, coaches, and support staff from an Australian professional sporting organization, were interviewed as part of this study. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes related to psychosocial support and athlete wellbeing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings highlight the diverse roles that staff play in athletes' psychosocial support networks, with relational trust emerging as a crucial factor in promoting wellbeing and encouraging help-seeking behavior.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study recommends a holistic approach to athlete wellbeing, incorporating clear guidelines for staff on responding to athletes' help-seeking behaviors, along with sport-specific mental health literacy training to enhance the effectiveness of the support provided.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 200364"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parenting strategies to support adolescent mental health during a pandemic: A Delphi consensus study","authors":"Katie Q. Lin ,&nbsp;Mairead C. Cardamone-Breen ,&nbsp;Clare Nowell ,&nbsp;Anthony F. Jorm ,&nbsp;Marie B.H. Yap","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has had ongoing detrimental effects on mental health, especially for young people. Parents can play a crucial role in the prevention of youth depression and anxiety disorders. While parenting guidelines for reducing the risk of adolescent depression and anxiety have been developed, they needed to be adapted for the unique challenges brought by a pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This study employed the Delphi methodology to establish expert consensus on parenting strategies that are important for preventing adolescent depression or anxiety disorders during a pandemic. Through a literature search and panel recommendations, we identified 304 parenting recommendations. These were presented to an international panel of 35 experts in parenting and youth mental health, who rated the importance of these recommendations in preventing adolescent depression and anxiety over three survey rounds.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were 167 parenting strategies endorsed as important or essential in reducing adolescents' risk of developing depression or anxiety disorders during a pandemic by ≥90% of the panel. These strategies were written into a set of specific and actionable guidelines for parenting through the pandemic, and made freely available online for parents.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study adapted an original set of parenting guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by research evidence and/or international experts, which can be promoted in Western English-speaking communities to help parents protect their adolescents from depression and anxiety disorders during pandemic and post-pandemic times.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 200363"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whāia te iti kahurangi: Seeking perinatal mental health equity. Māori offer solutions for the health system","authors":"Cara Meredith ,&nbsp;Christina McKerchar ,&nbsp;Tracy Haitana ,&nbsp;Suzanne Pitama","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>In Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ), Māori experience significant perinatal health inequities. Perinatal mental health and maternal suicide are critical equity issues for Aotearoa, NZ's health system and require a systems level response. Health equity is mandated in Aotearoa, NZ, through Te Tiriti o Waitangi, however, Māori continue to face inequitable access to services, resources, and best practice perinatal healthcare. Qualitative data can enhance our understanding of a health system's impact and performance. The purpose of this paper is to utilise qualitative data to identify how Aotearoa, NZ's health system is performing, from the perspectives of Māori mothers and birthing parents experiencing perinatal mental illness.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>This qualitative research is grounded in Kaupapa Māori Research methodology. Kaupapa Māori Research methodology is an Indigenous research methodology that privileges the voices of Māori in the design and implementation of research. Semi structured interviews were undertaken with twenty Māori mothers/birthing parents with experience of perinatal mental illness. All participants had accessed a community perinatal mental health service within the previous 12 months.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Expert analysis from Māori mothers and birthing parents identified key recommendations relating to services, treatment, workforce, and communication and education. These recommendations were grouped into sub-themes encompassing options, access and barriers, and whānau. The recommendations encompassed participants’ perceptions of how the health system can enhance efficiency, improve health outcomes and achieve equity for Māori within the perinatal period.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>To achieve Māori health equity in the perinatal period, systemic and structural transformation of the perinatal health system is required. The recommendations identified by Māori mothers and birthing parents in this study can be applied at clinical, service, and system levels to remove the structural barriers faced by Māori in the perinatal health system and be utilised in the development of an equitable, early intervention and prevention focused perinatal mental health system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 200362"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142359506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are younger people more accurate at identifying mental health disorders, recommending help appropriately, and do they show lower mental health stigma than older people?","authors":"Joanne Clarkin,&nbsp;Caitlin Heywood,&nbsp;Lucy J. Robinson","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Mental health awareness initiatives and expansion in the concept breadth of mental health disorders have been suggested as potential contributors to the increased prevalence of mental disorders and help-seeking in younger people. Consistent with positive effects of mental health awareness campaigns, this study explored whether younger people show greater accuracy at recognising mental health disorders from written vignettes, lower mental health stigma and appropriate help-seeking recommendations.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Participants (<em>n</em> = 134 participants &lt;40 years and <em>n</em> = 105 participants ≥40 years of age) were randomised to see three vignettes (Schizophrenia, social anxiety and grief) depicting a ‘young’ character (in their 20 s) or an ‘older’ character (in their 50 s). After each vignette, they were asked whether the character had a mental health disorder, whether they should seek help and questions focused on mental health stigma. They were also asked questions about their own mental health.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Younger participants were more likely to identify a mental health problem and recommend help-seeking for social anxiety and grief than older participants. There were no differences for Schizophrenia. Younger people showed greater stigma towards the vignettes depicting Schizophrenia and social anxiety and rated their own mental health significantly worse than older participants.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Results are consistent with better sensitivity, but lower specificity in the recognition of mental disorders in younger people. Perceptions of whether distressing experiences are considered a mental health disorder that requires professional help (but not the severity of the experiences themselves) may be different in younger compared to older age groups.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"36 ","pages":"Article 200361"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000436/pdfft?md5=5013a34b355afc4d5029aa97c1ff737f&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000436-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142150151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing in moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients: A pre-post pilot-study","authors":"Anna J. Torner ,&nbsp;Anika Meißner ,&nbsp;Alicia Borchert ,&nbsp;Gisela Immich ,&nbsp;Kristian Folta-Schoofs","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200359","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200359","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Long/Post-COVID patients are in urgent need of specialized treatment. Forest bathing has shown to promote health and well-being, and thus may be an appropriate treatment option. This pilot study aimed to investigate both the feasibility of a two-week audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing intervention and pre-to-post symptom changes in Long/Post-COVID patients.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A repeated-measures design was employed to collect self-reported data on Long/Post-COVID symptoms, fatigue, well-being and stress-coping strategies from moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients (<em>N</em> = 46, <em>N</em> = 36 included; recruited through media) prior to and following participation in the forest bathing program. Pulse rate was monitored through smartwatches. Feasibility was assessed by analysis of dropout rates.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The dropout rate was 22 % due to physical and environmental conditions. We observed decreased overall Long/Post-COVID symptoms (<em>p</em> &lt; .001) and fatigue (<em>p</em> &lt; .001), increased well-being (<em>p</em> &lt; .001) and a more adaptive use of stress-coping strategies (<em>p</em> &lt; .01) over time. Participants` pulse rate fell within the normal range after a forest “walk” (<em>p</em> &lt; .001).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Our results suggest that further research on audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing is warranted, since this approach may offer a feasible and cost-effective method for the complementary treatment of moderate Long/Post-COVID.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000412/pdfft?md5=e98d2657ca68c67b6228305c5c264477&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000412-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142040958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How are we measuring resilience in children? A systematic review","authors":"Julia R. Hall ,&nbsp;Ben Deery ,&nbsp;Emma Sciberras ,&nbsp;Margaret Kern ,&nbsp;Jon Quach","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200351","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200351","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Resilience in children has received considerable interest from research bodies, policymakers, practitioners, and education bodies due to its potential impact on well-being, as well as physical and mental health. To support and cultivate resilience, appropriate measurement is important. However, numerous definitions and measures of resilience exist. To provide clarity, this paper offers a systematic review of measures used to assess resilience in children.</p><p>Systematic search conducted in Medline, ERIC, ProQuest Central, Scopus, PsychINFO, and Web of Science. Keywords included ‘resilien* and measure* and child*’. Eligible studies: assessed children aged 0–12 years, of all abilities; and, contained a measure to assess resilience, inclusive of parent, teacher, and/or child-report measures.</p><p>From 24,902 studies retrieved, 86 studies were included, identifying 54 measures for assessing resilience. 28 measures identified as proposing to measure resilience construct as their primary goal, whilst 27 were identified as proxy measures assessing constructs relating to resilience. Overall, 34 % of articles reported on both reliability and validity, with 20 % reporting neither of these.</p><p>While there is a range of measures used to assess resilience in children, there is a lack of consensus regarding what constructs and domains represent resilience. A large proportion had minimal or no psychometrics reported, highlighting the limitations of this area. This is an important starting point for consolidating how resilience is defined and measured within research.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200351"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000333/pdfft?md5=015aa46497c99a2f6cffa31cb218da1d&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000333-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141962949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"National mixed methods evaluation of Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid","authors":"Sanjana Bhakta,&nbsp;Elaine Tsao,&nbsp;Kathleen Stone","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an international, early intervention, public education program that teaches participants to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Until now, all evaluations on MHFA courses in the United States have been performed externally, which have limits in generalizability and the ability to address insights in a timely manner. Additionally, few evaluations have assessed the newest versions of MHFA courses. Therefore, this evaluation aimed to understand key outcomes and participant responses to Adult and Youth MHFA courses in a nationwide sample, spanning nearly a year of real-world implementation.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>An internal, mixed methods program evaluation was performed on the second edition of the in-person versions of Adult and Youth MHFA. Pre- and post-course evaluation data from 3,586 Adult and 2,314 Youth MHFA participants trained between October 2022 and July 2023 were used in this evaluation. Key quantitative constructs, such as mental health literacy, intentions to perform MHFA skills, and confidence to use MHFA skills, were analyzed using paired sample <em>t</em> tests. Rapid thematic analysis methods were used to analyze participants' qualitative responses to the course.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Significant increases in mental health literacy, intentions, and confidence were observed in both Adult and Youth MHFA participants from pre- to post-course. Qualitative analyses revealed key themes in participant responses, including the helpfulness of the activities, materials, and the MHFA action plan. Adjustments to materials, the length or pace of the course, and other specifics were noted as opportunities for improvement. These findings will be used to inform the future practice, implementation, and revisions of MHFA.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Completion of Adult or Youth MHFA by adults in the United States led to improvements in mental health literacy and intentions and confidence to assist someone in need. Both programs may benefit from implementation and content-related changes to enhance participant experience.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200358"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000400/pdfft?md5=aa4e694a18827fb38e8d5140135d056e&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000400-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141963463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimising Perinatal Mental Health: Implementation Framework for Integrating Interventions into Primary Healthcare Systems","authors":"Waqas Hameed ,&nbsp;Jaya Katiyar ,&nbsp;Bilal Iqbal Avan","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The high burden of perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions has spurred international efforts to integrate PMH services into primary healthcare (PHC). Despite the existence of evidence-based PMH interventions endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), there is lack of guidance frameworks for the effective and sustainable integration of these interventions into PHC systems to make them fair and responsive to women and infant needs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>We propose the \"Implementation Framework for Integration into the Primary Healthcare System\" (IF-IPHS) – a systematic approach to guide integration of PMH interventions into PHC settings.</p></div><div><h3>Approach and framework components</h3><p>Our approach is based on contemporary, empirically-derived frameworks and WHO guidelines on PMH, emphasising the significance of implementation science and health system thinking. The implementation framework for integration into the PHC system consists of two iterative phases: (I) <em>Adaptation</em>: involves modifying and pilot-testing of established PMH interventions to meet target population needs, guided by human-centred design. (II) <em>Adoption</em>: focuses on development of policies and resource allocation mechanisms through mobilization and stakeholder engagement for sustained integration of PMH intervention across all healthcare system components.</p></div><div><h3>Broader applicability</h3><p>The IF-IPHS is designed to assist and empower health system stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, practitioners, researchers, funders) in LMICs. It offers practical guidance for systematically integrating effective PMH interventions into PHC systems through context-specific adaption process and adoption strategies, taking a holistic approach beyond mere clinical and programmatic considerations. It can also serve as a flexible roadmap for integrating various health interventions beyond PMH within PHC systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200356"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000382/pdfft?md5=b690aa897e4ab702d86b2005f282c7b3&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000382-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141963038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measures of mental health literacy for supporting children and their psychometric properties: A systematic review","authors":"Megan Smith ,&nbsp;Rachel Smith ,&nbsp;Emily Habgood ,&nbsp;Jon Quach ,&nbsp;Simone Darling","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200357","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200357","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Unidentified childhood mental health difficulties increase the risk of mental disorder in adulthood. Improving mental health literacy for supporting children (MHLSC) of adults can improve early identification. There is limited use of validated measures to evaluate MHLSC programs. This systematic review aimed to identify measures of MHLSC, the components of MHLSC they assess, and their psychometric properties.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A research protocol was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022352615. A systematic review was conducted according to COSMIN guidelines. The review included studies published in peer reviewed journals, concerning development, adaptation, or validation of a measure of MHLSC associated with primary school children. Study identification was through a comprehensive literature search in Medline, PsychINFO and EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Web of Science, last conducted June 2024. The COSMIN risk of bias checklist was used, and each reported measurement property outcome was assessed against COMSIN criteria for good measurement properties. The COSMIN-modified GRADE approach was used to assess overall quality of evidence.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>From 399 records, Twelve studies from ten reports were included in the review, with ten self-report questionnaires identified. Studies were primarily conducted in the USA, with predominantly female populations. The quality of evidence for measurement property outcomes ranged from high to very low. Attitudinal components of MHLSC were assessed more frequently than knowledge components.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Findings indicate a lack of comprehensive and valid measures of MHLSC. There is a need for a comprehensive measure of MHLSC, including knowledge components, specific to children aged 5–12 years, to accurately assess MHLSC.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200357"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000394/pdfft?md5=8a95ffc162fa2b80532675068f249c9d&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000394-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141951913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"No beneficial associations between living with a pet and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large UK longitudinal sample","authors":"Christine E. Parsons ,&nbsp;Christoffer Landberger ,&nbsp;Kirstin L. Purves ,&nbsp;Katherine S. Young","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unprecedented interest in pet ownership, with many viewing pets as a coping strategy to mitigate isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. However, the evidence that pet ownership is associated with mental health benefits is not conclusive.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>6018 individuals in the UK completed online questionnaires from April 2020 and were recontacted at regular intervals for 12 months. We asked about pet ownership and pet adoption, and examined associations with depression, anxiety and anhedonia symptoms, and loneliness. We tested hypotheses related to dog ownership, exercise frequency and maintaining a daily structure, and the association between ownership and loneliness in individuals living alone.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Pet ownership was not associated with beneficial effects on any of the mental health outcomes at the first assessment or longitudinally. Instead, associations were in the unexpected direction, with owners generally having slightly worse mental health symptoms and loneliness. Dog owners were more likely to report exercising daily or nearly every day (40 %), relative to individuals with no pets (35 %), but were not more likely to maintain a daily schedule. Among individuals living alone, both cat and dog owners were less lonely than non-owners, but effect sizes were small. Initial levels of depression, anxiety, anhedonia or loneliness did not predict subsequent pet adoption.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Our findings challenge the narrative around the beneficial associations between pet ownership and mental health, a probable driver of the “pandemic puppies” phenomenon. The benefits found, for exercise in dog owners and loneliness in pet owners living alone, were marginal.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 200354"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657024000369/pdfft?md5=8fd78d30836b92271a5594a51f34262f&pid=1-s2.0-S2212657024000369-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141838839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}