People versus machines: The impact of being in an automatable job on Australian worker’s mental health and life satisfaction

This study explores the effect on mental health and life satisfaction of working in an automatable job. We utilise an Australian panel dataset (HILDA), and take a fixed effects linear regression approach, to relate a person being in automatable work to proxies of their wellbeing. Overall, we find evidence that automatable work has a small, detrimental impact on the mental health and life satisfaction of workers within some industries, particularly those with higher levels of job automation risk, such as manufacturing. Furthermore, we find no strong trends to suggest that any particular demographic group is disproportionately impacted across industries. These findings are robust to a variety of specifications. We also find evidence of adaptation to these effects after one-year tenure on the job, indicating a limited role for firm policy.     

SEASON OF BIRTH AND SMOKING: FINDINGS FROM THE NORTHERN FINLAND 1966 BIRTH COHORT

A season of birth effect in addictive disorders has scarcely been studied. As smoking is known to be a highly addictive behavior, we examined whether there exists an association between season of birth and smoking habits among the general population in the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort (NFBC, n?=?8,319). The birth month of each cohort member was categorized into one of the four seasons: spring (March–May), summer (June–August), autumn (September–November), or winter (December–February). Smoking habits of the cohort members were assessed by a postal questionnaire at the age of 31 yrs. Those who reported that they regularly smoked 11 or more cigarettes/day were regarded as heavy smokers. The association between season of birth and smoking was assessed with a logistic regression analysis: first, after controlling for early pregnancy-related and perinatal characteristics (Model 1) and second, after controlling for cohort members' hospital-treated psychiatric disorders, suicide attempts, adult educational level, and marital status (Model 2). Compared to males born in winter, the likelihood for heavy daily smoking was significantly increased, up to 1.3-fold, among males born in the autumn in both logistic regression models. However, among females the likelihood for heavy smoking was statistically significantly elevated among those born during any season other than winter. Season of birth may modify the development of dopaminergic or other neurotransmitter systems divergently among males and females. Altered expression of dopaminergic genes due to environmental climatic factors could explain the association between season of birth and heavy smoking. (Author correspondence: kaisa.riala@oulu.fi).     

The K-factor,Covitality, and personality

We present a psychometric test of life history theory as applied to human individual differences using MIDUS survey data (Brim et al. 2000). Twenty scales measuring cognitive and behavioral dimensions theoretically related to life history strategy were constructed using items from the MIDUS survey. These scales were used to construct a single common factor, the K-factor, which accounted for 70% of the reliable variance. The scales used included measures of personal, familial, and social function. A second common factor, Covitality, was constructed from scales for physical and mental health. Finally, a single general factor, Personality, was constructed from scales for the “Big Five” factors of personality. The K-factor, covitality factor, and general personality factor correlated significantly with each other, supporting the prediction that high K predicts high somatic effort and also manifests in behavioral display. Thus, a single higher-order common factor, the Super-K factor, was constructed that consisted of the K-factor, covitality factor, and personality factor.     

离退休老干部心理健康调查

目的：了解离退休老干部的心理健康情况,解决离退休老干部心理疾病,提高老干部生活质量,为更好的老干部保健提供依据。方法：采用症状自评量表（SCL-90）对海军某干休所146名离退休老干部心理健康情况进行调查评估,并进行统计学分析。结果：与中国成人常模比较,离退休老干部的总体心理健康水平偏低（P〈0．05）。离退休老干部躯体化、强迫、抑郁和焦虑因子明显高于全国常模,其他因子之间无统计学差异。离退休男干部的躯体化、强迫、抑郁和焦虑因子得分低于离退休女干部。结论：离退休老干部存在着不同的心理问题,需要重视其心理健康。我们可以采取心理教育和疏导、丰富老干部日常生活以及药物治疗、心理治疗等多种措施．预防和治疗老干部心理问题。     

Priorities for mental health research in Europe: A survey among national stakeholders' associations within the ROAMER project

Within the ROAMER project, funded by the European Commission, a survey was conducted with national associations/organizations of psychiatrists, other mental health professionals, users and/or carers, and psychiatric trainees in the 27 countries of the European Union, aiming to explore their views about priorities for mental health research in Europe. One hundred and eight associations/organizations returned the questionnaire. The five most frequently selected research priorities were early detection and management of mental disorders, quality of mental health services, prevention of mental disorders, rehabilitation and social inclusion, and new medications for mental disorders. All these areas, except the last one, were among the top ten research priorities according to all categories of stakeholders, along with stigma and discrimination. These results seem to support the recent argument that some rebalancing in favor of psychosocial and health service studies may be needed in psychiatric research.     

Mental patients in prisons

Mental conditions usually affect cognitive, emotional and volitional aspects and functions of the personality, which are also functions of interest in law, as they are essential at the time of adjudicating guilt, labeling the accused a criminal, and proffering a sentence. A relationship between mental illness and criminality has, thus, been described and given as one of the reasons for the large number of mental patients in prisons. Whether this relationship is one of causality or one that flows through many other variables is a matter of debate, but there is no debating that prisons have become a de facto part, and an important one, of mental health systems in many countries. This paper deals with the issue of the relationship and provides estimates of prevalence of mental patients in prisons culled from many studies in different countries. It also provides some direction for the management of mental patients as they crowd correctional systems.     

某军校学员心理健康情况调查分析

目的：了解军校学员心理健康状况,为军校心理辅导工作提供理论依据,提高军校教育管理水平,有效预防学员在校期间由于压力、情绪等因素造成的心理问题。方法：使用DXC-6型多项群体心理测评仪,对某军校不同年级1332名学员进行卡特尔16种人格个性因素测验。结果：①1332名被测试学员16PF得分总体呈现”五高三低”。②不同年级的学员在16PF多项因子上得分有差异（P〈0．05）。研究生在C、M、O等因子得分明显高于大三学员,而在A、F、H等得分明显低于大三学员（P〈0．05）;研究生在C因子得分明显高于大四学员（P〈0．05）,F、G、Y2因子得分明显低于大四学员（P〈0．05）,而在A、M、O、H这些因子的得分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;大三学员在A、H、X2等得分明显高于大四学员,而在M、O、Q1等得分明显低于大四学员（P〈0．05）。结论：军校学员的整体心理健康水平良好;本科学员（尤其是大三学员）的心理健康水平明显优于研究生;大三的学员在乐群性、敢为性、实验性、忧虑性等方面优于大四学员,和大四学员相比,大三学员更喜欢探索新生事物。     

糖尿病患者睡眠质量与心理健康的相关性研究

目的:探讨糖尿病患者睡眠质量与其心理健康状况的关系.方法:应用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)和症状自评量(SCL-90)对唐山市200名糖尿病患者进行问卷调查.结果:(1)不同睡眠质量的糖尿病患者在健康状况的各因子得分和总分均有非常显著差异(P＜0.001).(2)除了睡眠质量和睡眠效率,糖尿病患者睡眠质量各成分得分及总分与健康状况各子量表得分和总分绝大多数呈显著的正相关(P＜0.01).结论:糖尿病患者的睡眠质量对其健康状况有显著影响,睡眠质量越差,其健康水平越低.提高糖尿病患者的睡眠质量有助于改善他们健康状况.     

Barriers in the mind: promoting an economic case for mental health in low- and middle-income countries

In recent years, policy makers in high-income countries have placed an increasing emphasis on the value of maintaining good mental health, recognizing the contribution that this makes to quality of life, whilst ever more mindful of the socio-economic consequences of poor mental health. The picture in many other parts of the world is much less encouraging; policy attention and resources are still directed largely at communicable diseases. We reflect on some of the challenges faced in these countries and outline the role that economic evidence could play in strengthening the policy case for investment in mental health. Clearly this should include assessment of the economic impact of strategies implemented outside, as well as within the health sector. The ways in which mental health services are delivered is also of critical importance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have long been shown to be key stakeholders in the funding, coordination and delivery of these services in high-income countries. Their role in low- and middle-income countries, where infrastructure and policy focus on mental health are more limited, can be even more vital in overcoming some of the barriers to the development of mental health policy and practice.     

国际功能、残疾和健康分类理念下的作业训练对脑卒中患者认知功能、心理状态和生活质量的影响

目的:探讨国际功能、残疾和健康分类(ICF)理念下的作业训练对脑卒中患者认知功能、心理状态和生活质量的影响。方法:选取我院2018年1月~2020年1月收治的脑卒中患者140例,根据随机数字表法,分成观察组(n=70)、对照组(n=70)。对照组行常规作业训练,观察组采用基于ICF理念下的作业训练。两组均观察3个月,分别在干预前、干预3个月后,经蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MOCA)评价两组认知功能的变化。经抑郁自评量表(SDS)、焦虑自评量表(SAS)分析患者的焦虑、抑郁情况。经Fugl-Meyer运动功能评定量表(FMA)、功能综合评定量表(FCA)评估患者运动功能、综合功能。利用健康状态调查量表(SF-36)评估两组生活质量。结果:两组干预后MOCA评分高于干预前,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。两组干预后SDS、SAS评分低于干预前,且观察组低于对照组(P<0.05)。两组干预后FMA、FCA评分高于干预前,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。两组干预后SF-36各维度评分均高于干预前,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:基于ICF理念下的作业训练能进一步改善脑卒中患者的认知功能以及心理状态,且有利于提升运动功能与综合功能,改善生活质量。     

Metal Music and Mental Health in France

Although numerous authors have associated metal music with social problems such as suicide, self-destruction and Satanism, few studies have been undertaken to examine the mental health of fans of heavy metal music. This study attempts to determine if there is a link between mental health and the enjoyment of this type of music in France. The researchers surveyed 333 fans of metal music. Their mental health was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a widely used instrument that measures anxiety and depression. The scores of the sample of metal music fans were then compared to the scores that reveal possible, probable, or severe mental disorders. Qualifying variables included age, gender, status, education, motivation and participation in metal music culture. The results indicated that fans of metal music are mainly young adults (median age = 22.67, SD = 5.29) and tend to be male (87.85 percent). As a whole, metal music fans have levels of anxiety and depression that are similar to and lower than levels in the general population. Specifically, <5 percent of metal music fans surveyed showed pathological symptoms. Subjects that scored higher levels of anxiety and depression were those that had literary and/or arts backgrounds rather than scientific backgrounds, that wrote metal music lyrics, that consumed alcohol and that engaged in the body modification practice of scarification. This study suggests that opponents of metal music should re-examine the basis for their criticism. More scholarly research is needed to better understand the effects of metal music on fans and on society.     

Too unwell to trust? The effect of mental health on social trust in Europe

Social trust is often thought to be adversely affected by mental health problems. However, rigorous causal evidence required to substantiate this thought is scarce. Here I examine the causal effect of individuals’ mental health on social trust using data from the European Social Survey. Estimating the causal effect, however, is a formidable task since the relationship between mental health and social trust is endogenous due to reverse causality and unmeasured confounding. I circumvent these difficulties by using a recently developed econometric technique that does not rely on valid exclusion restriction for identification. I find strong evidence that mental ill health has a significant negative effect on social trust. Further, I provide suggestive evidence which shows that the adverse effect of mental ill health on social trust arises due to reductions in individuals’ level of optimism and hope, and participation in social networks caused by mental ill health. Overall, the results suggest that for achieving a durable increase in social trust – which often is one of the fundamental objectives of policy makers – interventions to promote mental health of individuals could be extremely useful.     

The mental health clinic: a new model

The role of psychiatrists into public mental health clinics has been hampered by a perceived restriction of the psychiatrist''s role to prescribing and sign-ing forms, limiting opportunities to engage in the kind of integrated care that attracted many physicians to this specialty. We propose a revision of the current model in a direction that maximizes the expertise of this specialist as well as other clinicians in the health care team. The basic unit would consist of a psychiatrist (with adequate background both in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy), an internist and four clinical psychotherapists, who may provide evidence-based treatment after the initial evaluation of the psychiatrist. Its functioning would emphasize repeated assessments, sequential combi-nation of treatments, and close coordination of team members. Re-invigorating the role of the psychiatrist in the context of a team in which role assign-ments are clear could result in better outcomes and enhanced recruitment of psychiatrists into the public sector.     

The oral health‐related quality of life in edentulous patients treated with Conventional complete dentures

Objective: To compare the oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) between patients with both maxillary and mandibular complete denture and those with either the maxillary or the mandibular complete denture. Background: Satisfaction of denture wearers can be estimated using the OHRQoL questionnaires like the OHIP‐EDENT and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Methods: Two questionnaires were used to compare the OHRQoL between edentulous patients who had conventional removable complete denture on both jaws and those who had on either one of the jaws. Result: The age of the participants ranged from 42 to 75 years, with the mean age of 58 ± 8.12 years. The mean OHIP‐EDENT scores were significantly high among those who wore conventional dentures in both jaws (54.12 ± 5.21), compared with the participants who only had denture either on upper or lower jaw (46.52 ± 7.35). It was noticed that the mean GOHAI score was significantly lower (p < 0.05) among participants who had conventional denture on both upper and lower jaw (28.25 ± 3.67), as compared to those who had conventional denture only on one arch (35.12 ± 2.11). Conclusion: Patients with complete dentures in both jaw (Group I) were less satisfied than patients with single complete denture (Group II). The result obtained in this study shows dissatisfaction with conventional dentures among edentulous patients.