0000000000638072
AUTHOR
Garcia Ashdown-franks
showing 4 related works from this author
Handgrip strength and depression among 34,129 adults aged 50 years and older in six low- and middle-income countries
2019
Introduction: Handgrip strength is a simple and inexpensive marker of health and mortality risk. It presents an ideal risk-stratifying method for use in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). There are, however, no population-based studies investigating the associations between handgrip strength and depression in LMICs. We aimed to assess these associations among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults using nationally representative data from six LMICs. Method: Cross-sectional data on individuals aged ≥ 50 years from the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health were analyzed. Depression was based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Weak…
Cannabis use and physical activity among 89,777 adolescents aged 12-15 years from 21 low- and middle-income countries
2019
Background: Cannabis legalization and use are increasing globally, however, little is known about associations between cannabis use and other health behaviors, such as physical activity (PA). Importantly, the extent to which cannabis use is associated with PA in adolescents is yet to be explored in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where there may be unique sociodemographic and environmental characteristics compared with high-income countries. Therefore, this study examined the association between PA and cannabis use among adolescents in 21 LMICs using data from the 2010–2016 Global School-based Student Health Survey. Methods: A multivariable logistic regression analysis was perform…
Sedentary behavior and perceived stress among adults aged ≥50 years in six low- and middle-income countries.
2018
Background:\ud Sedentary behavior and perceived stress are both negatively associated with physical and mental health. Little is known about the association between sedentary behavior and \ud perceived stress, and there is a particular paucity of data on people aged ≥50 years from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). \ud Methods:\ud We analyzed cross-sectional, community-based data from 34,129 individuals aged ≥50 years [mean age 62.4 (SD=16.0) years, 52% females] from six LMICs. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and time spent sedentary per day was self-reported. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for important socio economi…
A meta-review of “lifestyle psychiatry”: the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders
2020
There is increasing academic and clinical interest in how "lifestyle factors" traditionally associated with physical health may also relate to mental health and psychological well-being. In response, international and national health bodies are producing guidelines to address health behaviors in the prevention and treatment of mental illness. However, the current evidence for the causal role of lifestyle factors in the onset and prognosis of mental disorders is unclear. We performed a systematic meta-review of the top-tier evidence examining how physical activity, sleep, dietary patterns and tobacco smoking impact on the risk and treatment outcomes across a range of mental disorders. Result…