Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41913468›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2026

Modifiable psychosocial factors associated with psychological distress, depression, anxiety and self-rated health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

Subash Thapa, Julaine Allan, Santosh Giri, Hazel Dalton, Kedir Y Ahmed, Jamie Newman, Peter Gibbs, Damien Little, Phillip Naden

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Subash ThapaRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1182-8511
Julaine AllanRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Santosh GiriRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5186-7814
Hazel DaltonRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Kedir Y AhmedRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Jamie NewmanOrange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS), Orange, NSW, Australia.
Peter GibbsRegional Enterprise Development Institute (REDI.E), Dubbo, NSW, Australia.
Damien LittleRural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Phillip NadenCoonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS), Coonamble, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo examine mediators and modifiable psychosocial factors associated with psychological distress, depression, anxiety and self-rated health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter respectfully referred to as 'Indigenous Australians') aged ≥18 years.

methodsThis was a cross-sectional study based on the analysis of the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey dataset (

resultsOur results showed that Indigenous Australians with higher levels of perceived social support were less likely to have psychological distress (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.56), depression (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.67), anxiety (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.65) and low self-rated health (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.82). Similarly, those with a high level of mastery were less likely to have psychological distress (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.19), depression (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.28), anxiety (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.36), and low self-rated health (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.50). Perceived social support mediated 33.7% of the association between removal from the natural family and psychological distress, 14.6% of the association between discrimination and psychological distress, 20.3% of the association between discrimination and depression, 14.8% of the association between discrimination and anxiety and 16.6% of the association between discrimination and low self-rated health. Both perceived social support and mastery mediated the association between physical harm and psychological distress, depression and anxiety.

conclusionsWe believe that community-driven psychosocial programs that enhance social support, self-efficacy and cultural connection may significantly improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of Indigenous Australians.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionPsychological DistressSocial SupportStress, PsychologicalAdolescentAdultAustraliaAustralian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth StatusHealth SurveysHumansMaleMiddle AgeddepressionIndigenous Australiansmental healthpsychosocial wellbeingsocial support

Identifiers

PMID41913468
PMCPMC13122552

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.