PSYCHOSOCIAL DISTRESS

Psychosocial distress among adolescents



Psychosocial distress among adolescents

Summary of the study sample

This paper identifies factors associated with variation in psychosocial distress among adolescents in a relatively deprived and ethnically diverse inner city setting in London, UK. The research draws on literature which discusses whether neighbourhood socio-economic conditions are associated with mental health, as well as attributes of individual adolescents and their families. These data were linked with information about social and economic conditions in 'middle layer standard output areas' used for the population Census, having a mean total population of 3481 in the study area. Although the socio-economic disparities among small areas were not typical of those across the whole of the country, there were differences in levels of deprivation and crime, social fragmentation, and ethnic composition (Amato, 2001, 370).

Association of risk factors with psychological distress

Although several varieties of psychological distress have been investigated as potential risk factors for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease in community cohorts, and as risk factors for cardiac events, stroke, and mortality in patients with established coronary or cerebrovascular disease, depression is the variety of psychological distress that has received the most attention in all of these lines of research. Psychological distress, particularly in the form of depression, has a number of adverse effects in stroke patients. It impairs social functioning and quality of life and interferes with the recovery of motor and language functions. It may also be a risk factor for stroke and stroke-related mortality.

Although the association between psychological distress and CVD risk is well established, the intermediate mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Behavioural changes, such as increased smoking, reduced physical activity, and poor dietary habits may occur as an adaptation or coping response to psychological distress, thus are potentially important intermediate factors in disease processes. Psychosocial stress primarily activates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis and sympathetic nervous system, which can trigger pathophysiological mechanisms that include inflammation, hemostasis, and altered metabolic and cardiac autonomic control. The behavioural and pathophysiological processes that operate between psychological distress and CVD events provide the key to understanding and treating psychological distress that aims to reduce CVD risk. These variables can be thought of as the “causes of the cause” in clinical and research work that starts with the assumption that psychological distress can cause an increase in CVD risk (Rutter, 2006, 295).

Discussion and Analysis

Although the relationship between social support and psychological distress is well established, less is known about the effects of social demands. Family and friends can be great sources of support and nurturance; however, they can also place great demands on one's time, energy, and resources. In this article, we consider the association between social demands and psychological distress.

Drawing from research on the psychological consequences of care giving, we argue that excessive social demands can be psychologically distressing. Specifically, the demands considered here include when an individual perceives that too many people rely on her to listen to problems, to take care of children, to help with small ...