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Bendau A, Petzold MB, Ströhle A, Plag J. Viral Transmission? A Longitudinal Study of Media Use and Its Relation to Mental Strain During the First 2 Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Behav Med 2024:10.1007/s12529-024-10293-3. [PMID: 38769221 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-024-10293-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In light of the dynamic COVID-19 pandemic, the exposure to pandemic-related media coverage may change over time and may be particularly relevant due to associations with psychopathological symptoms. The aims of the present study were to examine changes in media consumption over time and to analyze its prospective associations with psychological strain. METHOD The study uses a longitudinal observational design with ten periods of online data collection from March 2020 to April 2022 in an adult convenience sample (N = 8337) of the general population in Germany. RESULTS Our data revealed that the frequency and duration of pandemic-related media exposure as well as their subjective critical evaluation showed the highest levels at the beginning of the pandemic and peaked again in autumn 2020 and spring 2021. The primarily used media formats changed only slightly over time. The amount of media exposure at baseline was associated with more impairing pandemic-related anxiety 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years later. CONCLUSION Our results hint to potentially problematical and long-lasting associations of pandemic-related media consumption with mental strain. Our findings could serve as an orientation for recommendations, further research, and adequate interventions for a responsible dealing with media coverage. TRIAL REGISTRATION The authors have pre-registered this research at clinicaltrials.gov without an analysis plan; retrievable at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04331106 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Bendau
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | | | - Andreas Ströhle
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Plag
- Faculty of Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Stockner M, Plattner B, Innamorati M, Hofer A, Burian I, Fronthaler M, Giupponi G, Huber M, Macina C, Perwanger V, Pycha R, Schaller G, Conca A. How Mental Health and Suicidality Changed during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in the General and Psychiatric Population Illustrating Risk and Protective Factors. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:386. [PMID: 38785877 PMCID: PMC11117826 DOI: 10.3390/bs14050386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in psychological distress in the general population, but contrasting results have been shown regarding its impact on psychological symptoms in clinical and non-clinical samples. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to compare in a longitudinal design (September-November 2020 and February-April 2021) the mental health outcomes of a clinical and a control sample and to determine the implications of various risk and protective factors in this regard. A total of 234 participants from the general population and 80 psychiatric patients took part in the present online study using the following measurements: the Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL); Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS); Resilience Scale-13 (RS-13); and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale-Non-Illness (FACIT-Sp Non-Illness). The results show an overall decrease in active suicidal ideation as well as "peace", a subscale of spiritual well-being, as well as increases in passive suicidal activation in the clinical sample, which did not change in the control sample. Psychological symptoms did not significantly change in either group. Significant group effects show an increase in resilience in the clinical sample. Resilience and peace turned out to be protective factors for negative mental health outcomes. However, loneliness, which interestingly increased only in the control sample, was shown to be an overall potential risk factor. Our results highlight the complex implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health outcomes of different groups in the population, demonstrating the necessity of further research, specifically regarding the risk of active and passive suicidal activation. Highlighted protective factors are discussed in regards to spirituality (i.e., peace), which is not strictly related to religion but rather personal spirituality related to the meaning of situations of one's life, as well as in terms of mental health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Stockner
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Barbara Plattner
- Department of Psychiatry, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, General Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (B.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Marco Innamorati
- Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Alex Hofer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Iuliia Burian
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Merano, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39012 Merano, Italy
| | - Martin Fronthaler
- Therapy Center Bad Bachgart, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39037 Rodengo, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Giupponi
- Department of Psychiatry, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, General Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (B.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Markus Huber
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Brunico, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39031 Brunico, Italy
| | - Christian Macina
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Brunico, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39031 Brunico, Italy
| | - Verena Perwanger
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Merano, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39012 Merano, Italy
| | - Roger Pycha
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Bressanone, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39042 Bressanone, Italy
| | - Gerd Schaller
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Bressanone, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, 39042 Bressanone, Italy
| | - Andreas Conca
- Department of Psychiatry, Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, General Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (B.P.); (A.C.)
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Garrett C, Aghaei A, Aggarwal A, Qiao S. The Role of Social Media in the Experiences of COVID-19 Among Long-Hauler Women: Qualitative Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e50443. [PMID: 38652515 PMCID: PMC11042494 DOI: 10.2196/50443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extant literature suggests that women are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and at higher risk for developing long COVID. Due to pandemic mitigation recommendations, social media was relied upon for various aspects of daily life, likely with differences of usage between genders. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the role and functions of social media in the lives of long-hauler women. METHODS Participants were purposively snowball-sampled from an online health promotion intervention for long-hauler women with COVID-19 from March to June 2021. During this time, one-on-one, semistructured interviews were conducted online until data saturation was agreed to have been achieved (ie, 15 interviews). Interview transcripts and field notes were analyzed using an emergent, inductive approach. RESULTS In total, 15 women were enrolled. The main roles of social media included facilitating support group participation, experience sharing, interpersonal connections, and media consumption. Emergent themes demonstrated that participants rely on social media to fulfill needs of emotional support, social engagement, spirituality, health planning, information gathering, professional support, and recreationally for relaxation. As long-hauler women turn to social media to discuss symptom and health management as well as the intention to vaccinate, this study demonstrates both the associated benefits (ie, decreased isolation) and challenges (ie, misinformation, rumination, resentment, jealousy). CONCLUSIONS The public health implications of these findings support the development of gender-tailored health promotion interventions that leverage the benefits of social media, while mitigating the negative impacts, for women with long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camryn Garrett
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Atefeh Aghaei
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Abhishek Aggarwal
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Shan Qiao
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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Richardson L, Long E, Goodfellow C, Milicev J, Gardani M. Starting an undergraduate degree amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method egocentric network study on student loneliness. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297953. [PMID: 38306333 PMCID: PMC10836688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Students who began their undergraduate university studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic (the 'COVID cohort'), may have been particularly at risk for experiencing increased loneliness. This study employed an exploratory egocentric network and mixed-methods approach to investigate the links between social networks and loneliness in the COVID cohort. Of sixty-one respondents meeting inclusion criteria for the study, fifty-eight first-year undergraduate students from the September 2020 intake at a large Scottish University provided egocentric network data via an online survey, as well as responses to three open-ended questions which were aimed at generating qualitative data about participants' experiences of starting university in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate analyses suggest that having a larger social network, and higher satisfaction with that network, was associated with reduced loneliness. We additionally explored these associations in subsamples of students living on-campus and living off-campus. Our qualitative data adds valuable insight into the impact that pandemic-related social-distancing restrictions had on limiting students' opportunities for meeting their peers and forging meaningful social connections at university. Limitations of this study include a small sample size and an exploratory approach requiring further investigation and replication. However, in the context of universities continuing to use hybrid teaching models, this study provides useful initial insights, highlighting potential avenues for institutions to support students in developing social connections in the transition to higher education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Richardson
- Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Emily Long
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Claire Goodfellow
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Jelena Milicev
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Maria Gardani
- School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Rehman S, Rehman E, Awan A. Psychological dynamics of pandemic resilience: a tale of two cultures. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 17:2291509. [PMID: 38234996 PMCID: PMC10793633 DOI: 10.1080/20523211.2023.2291509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The present work endeavours to explore the experiences of university-level students from Pakistan and Nepal after the COVID-19 outbreak. A comprehensive electronic survey was carried out utilising a meticulous cluster sampling technique encompassing two distinct populations, i.e. Pakistan and Nepal, during the period extending from September 2022 to January 2023. A total of 2496 participants completed the questionnaire (Pakistani population: 55.45% and Nepalese population: 44.55%). We utilised the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), feeling of loneliness (UCLA), interdependent happy scale (IHS), and fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S). Notably, a significant intercultural disparity was observed, particularly concerning the level of COVID-19 fear which was higher among the Nepalese population. However, this particular variable did not demonstrate any significant associations with other variables, except for the social dimension of MHC-SF. There was a negative correlation observed between this variable and IHS within the Pakistani population. Irrespective of the varying degrees of apprehension towards COVID-19 within the two distinct cultural contexts, there exists a significant positive correlation between the assessed psychological assets and individual well-being, as well as the resumption of regular activities after the outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazia Rehman
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, Changsha, People’s Republic of China
| | - Erum Rehman
- Department of Mathematics, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Akhlaq Awan
- Department Pharmacy, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
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Sirola A, Nyrhinen J, Nuckols J, Wilska TA. Loot box purchasing and indebtedness: The role of psychosocial factors and problem gambling. Addict Behav Rep 2023; 18:100516. [PMID: 37915884 PMCID: PMC10616135 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Loot boxes are increasingly common random-reward monetization mechanisms in digital games. They are popular among gamblers and pose various risks due to their gambling-like nature, but little is known about psychosocial vulnerabilities and financial consequences of purchasing them. This article examined psychosocial associations with self-reported increase in loot box purchasing and indebtedness among past-year gamblers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional survey data were collected in April 2021 from Finnish, Swedish, and British past-year gamblers aged 18 to 75 (n = 2,022). Measures of loneliness, psychological resilience, and problem gambling were studied in relation to loot box purchasing and indebtedness. Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical technique. Results Loneliness was positively associated with self-reported increase in loot box purchasing. No evidence was found regarding the protective role of psychological resilience in loot box purchasing. Increased loot box purchasing was associated with problem gambling. Problem gambling mediated the relationship between loot box purchasing and indebtedness. Conclusions The findings bring valuable insight into the psychosocial vulnerabilities and financial consequences in loot box purchasing. Loot box purchasing can add to one's financial strain particularly among vulnerable individuals such as problem gamblers, making it crucial to regulate such monetization practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Sirola
- The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jussi Nyrhinen
- The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Julia Nuckols
- The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Terhi-Anna Wilska
- The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
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Kagan M, Zychlinski E, Greenblatt-Kimron L. The mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life among older adults. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37898970 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
A sense of community is known to be a protective factor for the well-being of older adults and meaning in life associated with positive mental outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a need to expand the knowledge of the role of a sense of community in meaning in life, particularly among older adults. Intending to broaden the empirical understanding from this perspective, the current study examined the mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life. Participants included 740 community dwelling Israeli older adults (M = 71.96; SD = 5.81). Participants completed questionnaires on a sense of community, optimism, loneliness, psychological distress, meaning in life, and sociodemographic characteristics. A positive association was found between a sense of community with optimism, and a negative association with loneliness. A negative association between optimism with psychological distress and a positive link between loneliness with psychological distress was found, while a higher level of psychological distress was associated with a lower level of meaning in life. Practitioners should focus interventions with older adults on developing a sense of community, with the aim to promote optimism and, at the same time, reduce loneliness and thus decrease psychological distress while strengthening meaning in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Kagan
- School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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8
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Ma J, Khan AR, Zhang HJ, Jun Z, Abonazel MR, Ahmad MS, Tageldin EM, Alzahran ARR. Exploring the potential impact of group identity on post-traumatic growth in the aftermath of Corona outbreak: function of social-emotional competence as a mediator. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1282462. [PMID: 37900048 PMCID: PMC10602683 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This research endeavors to examine the potential effects of human and societal interactions on individuals' post-traumatic growth in the aftermath of the Corona outbreak. To achieve the aforementioned objective, the current research investigates the correlations between post-traumatic growth and group identity, while also examining the potential mediating function of social-emotional competence. Methods A cross-sectional design included a representative sample of 2,637 high school students located in the capital territory of Pakistan using convenience sampling method. To explore the associations, correlation and mediation analyzes utilizing the group identification scale, the social-emotional competence scale, and the post-traumatic growth scale was performed with SPSS PROCESS 4 macro and AMOS. Results The findings demonstrated that group identification emerged as a substantial predictor substantially associated with post-traumatic growth. Moreover, the relationship linking group identification and post-traumatic growth was found to be partially moderated by social-emotional competence. Conclusion The phenomenon of group identification can exert influence on post-traumatic growth through both direct and mediating pathways, with the latter being essentially mediated by social-emotional competence. The aforementioned outcomes possess significant academic and practical implications concerning the promotion of post-traumatic growth and the improvement of psychological well-being after the Corona outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfu Ma
- Pakistan Studies Center, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ahsan Riaz Khan
- Department of Interventional and Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- National United Engineering Laboratory for Biomedical Material Modification, Branden Industrial Park, Qihe Economic and Development Zone, Dezhou, China
| | - Hai-Jun Zhang
- Department of Interventional and Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- National United Engineering Laboratory for Biomedical Material Modification, Branden Industrial Park, Qihe Economic and Development Zone, Dezhou, China
| | - Zhang Jun
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Mohamed R. Abonazel
- Department of Applied Statistics and Econometrics, Faculty of Graduate Studies for Statistical Research, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Elsayed M. Tageldin
- Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ali Rashash R. Alzahran
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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Maftei A, Măirean C. Put your phone down! Perceived phubbing, life satisfaction, and psychological distress: the mediating role of loneliness. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:332. [PMID: 37828557 PMCID: PMC10571372 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01359-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent literature highlights the need to explore phubbing, a worrying growing phenomenon, and the potential associated factors and outcomes. Thus, the present study focused on perceived phubbing and the potential associations with life satisfaction and psychological distress. Additionally, this study examined the mediating role of loneliness. The cross-sectional, web-based study involved 720 Romanian adults aged 18 to 77 (M = 24.12, SD = 8.80, 74% females) who completed self-reported scales measuring perceived phubbing, and life satisfaction. Results suggested positive associations between perceived phubbing, loneliness, and psychological distress. A significant negative association was also found between loneliness and life satisfaction. Further analyses suggested that loneliness partially mediated the link between perceived phubbing and life satisfaction and between perceived phubbing and psychological distress. The study highlights the significant role of perceived phubbing when discussing psychological distress and life satisfaction, underlining the need to address further the (mis)use of digital devices (e.g., smartphones) within interpersonal relationships, as well as the need to understand better the outcomes of such behaviors to shape effective interventions in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Maftei
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Department of Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Cornelia Măirean
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 3 Toma Cozma Street, Iasi, Romania
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Tamire M, Abegaz T, Abaya SW, Lisanwork L, Gizachew L, Abate E, Wang SH, Gebreyes W, Kumie A. Exploring Community Perceptions of COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Selected Cities of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1511. [PMID: 37896915 PMCID: PMC10610566 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been available and free of charge to the targeted population in Ethiopia, the vaccination rate was lower than needed to achieve herd immunity at community level. This study aimed to explore community perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy in selected cities of Ethiopia involving 70 in-depth interviews and 28 focused group discussions. The audio-taped data were transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach using the ATLAS.ti software version 8. The findings revealed that COVID-19 was perceived as evil and caused fear and frustration upon its emergence. The community initially used traditional remedies for its prevention but later transitioned to employing non-pharmaceutical interventions. The primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy were misinformation and misconceptions, such as connecting the vaccine with the mark of the beast, a lack of trust due to the multiple vaccine types, a shorter production timeline resulting in distrust of its effectiveness, and a fear of pain and side effects. Based on our findings, we recommend monitoring the use of social media and countering misinformation with the correct information and continuous public health campaigns. Further studies should be conducted to assess the types and magnitude of impacts from the myths and misconceptions on vaccination uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulugeta Tamire
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (T.A.); (S.W.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Teferi Abegaz
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (T.A.); (S.W.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Samson Wakuma Abaya
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (T.A.); (S.W.A.); (A.K.)
| | - Leuel Lisanwork
- Ohio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (L.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.)
| | - Lehageru Gizachew
- Ohio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (L.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.)
| | - Ebba Abate
- Ohio State Global One Health, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (L.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.)
| | - Shu-Hua Wang
- Global One Health Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.-H.W.); (W.G.)
- Infectious Disease Division, Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Wondwossen Gebreyes
- Global One Health Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.-H.W.); (W.G.)
- Infectious Diseases Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Abera Kumie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia; (T.A.); (S.W.A.); (A.K.)
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Karpov MV, Bartholmae MM, Levy BL, Roess AA, Renshaw KD, Sill JM, Dodani S. Exploring the influence of behavioral factors on depression and anxiety scores during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the Virginia statewide COVIDsmart longitudinal study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1749. [PMID: 37679746 PMCID: PMC10485957 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16614-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been growing concern about the declining mental health and healthy behaviors compared to pre-pandemic levels. Despite this, there is a lack of longitudinal studies that have examined the relationship between health behaviors and mental health during the pandemic. In response, the statewide COVIDsmart longitudinal study was launched. The study's main objective is to better understand the effects of the pandemic on mental health. Findings may provide a foundation for the identification of public health strategies to mitigate future negative impacts of the pandemic. METHODS Following online recruitment in spring of 2021, adults, ages 18 to 87, filled out social, mental, economic, occupational, and physical health questionnaires on the digital COVIDsmart platform at baseline and through six monthly follow-ups. Changes in the participant's four health behaviors (e.g., tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity, and social media use), along with sex, age, loneliness score, and reported social and economic (SE) hardships, were analyzed for within-between group associations with depression and anxiety scores using Mixed Models Repeated Measures. RESULTS In this study, of the 669 individuals who reported, the within-between group analysis indicated that younger adults (F = 23.81, p < 0.0001), loneliness (F = 234.60, p < 0.0001), SE hardships (F = 31.25, p < 0.0001), increased tobacco use (F = 3.05, p = 0.036), decreased physical activity (F = 6.88, p = 0.0002), and both positive and negative changes in social media use (F = 7.22, p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with worse depression scores. Additionally, females (F = 6.01, p = 0.015), younger adults (F = 32.30, p < 0.0001), loneliness (F = 154.59, p < 0.0001), SE hardships (F = 22.13, p < 0.0001), increased tobacco use (F = 4.87, p = 0.004), and both positive and negative changes in social media use (F = 3.51, p = 0.016) were significantly associated with worse anxiety scores. However, no significant changes were observed in the within-between group measurements of depression and anxiety scores over time (p > 0.05). Physical activity was not associated with anxiety nor was alcohol consumption with both depression and anxiety (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the longitudinal changes in behaviors within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings may facilitate the design of preventative population-based health approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matvey V Karpov
- Eastern Virginia Medical School-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Marilyn M Bartholmae
- Eastern Virginia Medical School-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute, Norfolk, VA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Brian L Levy
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Amira A Roess
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Keith D Renshaw
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Joshua M Sill
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Sunita Dodani
- Eastern Virginia Medical School-Sentara Healthcare Analytics and Delivery Science Institute, Norfolk, VA, USA.
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
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12
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Zhou X, Chen Y, Zhu L, An Z, Zhang J, Ge J. The Association Between Group Identity and Post-Traumatic Growth in the Post COVID-19 Era: The Mediating Effect of Social-Emotional Competence. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:2869-2882. [PMID: 37534300 PMCID: PMC10390763 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s419484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the impact of human-society relationships on individual post-traumatic growth (PTG) in the post COVID-19 era, this study examined the association between group identity (GI) and PTG, and explored the mediating role of social-emotional competence (SEC). Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 1203 high school students in an eastern region of China using the GI Scale, the SEC Scale, and the PTG Scale. We conducted correlation and mediation analyses using SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS software. Results The results indicated that GI was a significant positive predictor of PTG (β=0.219, p<0.001), and that the pathway between GI and PTG was partially mediated by SEC (Effect=0.074, 95% CI= [0.045,0.104]). Conclusion GI can have both direct and indirect effects on PTG, with the latter mediated by SEC. These findings hold important theoretical and practical implications for promoting PTG and enhancing mental health in the post COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhou
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifei Chen
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lidong Zhu
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenni An
- College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiahao Ge
- College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People’s Republic of China
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13
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Wang X, Huang W. Determining the role of music attitude and its precursors in stimulating the psychological wellbeing of immigrants during COVID quarantine - a moderated mediation approach. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1121180. [PMID: 37519375 PMCID: PMC10382205 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1121180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), the purpose of this study is to examine the role of music attitude and its essential precursors in stimulating the psychological wellbeing of immigrants in isolation (quarantine) during the COVID pandemic. This study employed quantitative methodology; an online survey was administered to collect sufficient data from 300 immigrants who traveled to China during the pandemic. Data were collected from five centralized quarantine centers situated in different cities in China. Additionally, the valid data set was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) via AMOS 24 and SPSS 24. The results indicate that potential predictors such as cognitive - music experience (MEX), environmental - social media peer influence (SPI), and cultural factors such as native music (NM) have a direct, significant, and positive effect on music attitude (MA), which further influences immigrants' psychological wellbeing (PW) during their quarantine period. Moreover, in the presence of the mediator (MA), the mediating relationships between MEX and PW, and NM and PW, are positive, significant, and regarded as partial mediation. However, the moderated mediation effects of music type (MT) on MEX-MA-PW and NM-MA-PW were found to be statistically not significant and unsupported. This study contributes to the literature on the effectiveness of individuals' music attitude and its associated outcomes, focusing on mental health care in lonely situations such as quarantine during the COVID pandemic. More importantly, this study has raised awareness about music, music attitude, and their beneficial outcomes, such as mental calmness and peacefulness for the general public, particularly during social distancing, isolation, and quarantine in the COVID pandemic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokang Wang
- College of Music and Dance, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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14
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Ahmed W, Das R, Vidal-Alaball J, Hardey MM, Fuster-Casanovas A. Analysing Twitter's Role in Combating the Magnetic Vaccine Conspiracy Theory Using Social Network Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e43497. [PMID: 36927550 PMCID: PMC10131940 DOI: 10.2196/43497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The popularity of the magnetic vaccine conspiracy theory, and others of a similar nature, creates challenges to promoting vaccines and disseminating accurate health information. OBJECTIVE Health conspiracy theories are gaining in popularity. The study's objective was to evaluate the Twitter social media network related to the magnetic vaccination conspiracy theory and to apply social capital theory to analyse the unique social structures of influential users. As a strategy for online public health surveillance, we employ social network analysis to identify the important opinion leaders sharing the conspiracy, the key websites, and the narratives. METHODS A total of 18,706 tweets were retrieved and analysed using social network analysis. Data were retrieved from June 01 to June 13 (2021) using the keyword 'vaccine magnetic'. Tweets were retrieved via a dedicated Twitter Application Programming Interface (API). More specifically, the Academic Track API was used, and the data were analysed using NodeXL Pro and Gephi. RESULTS There were a total of 22,762 connections between Twitter users within the dataset. The study found that the most influential user within the network consisted of a news account that was reporting on the conspiracy. There were also several other users that became influential such as an epidemiologist, a health economist, and a retired sports athlete who exerted their social capital within the network. CONCLUSIONS Our study finds that influential users were effective broadcasters against the conspiracy, and their reach extended beyond their own network of Twitter followers. We emphasise the need for trust in contact with influential users concerning health information, particularly in the context of widespread social uncertainty resulting from the pandemic, when public sentiment on social media may be unpredictable. The study highlights the potential of influential users to disrupt information flows of conspiracy theories due to their unique social capital. CLINICALTRIAL
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Josep Vidal-Alaball
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació InstitutUniversitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, C/ Pica d'Estats 13-15, Sant Fruitós de Bages, ES.,Health Promotion in Rural Areas Research Group, Gerència Territorial de la Catalunya Central, Institut Català de la Salut, Sant Fruitós de Bages, ES.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Vic, ES
| | | | - Aïna Fuster-Casanovas
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació InstitutUniversitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, C/ Pica d'Estats 13-15, Sant Fruitós de Bages, ES.,Health Promotion in Rural Areas Research Group, Gerència Territorial de la Catalunya Central, Institut Català de la Salut, Sant Fruitós de Bages, ES
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15
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Buodo G, Moretta T, Santucci VG, Chen S, Potenza MN. Using Social Media for Social Motives Moderates the Relationship between Post-Traumatic Symptoms during a COVID-19-Related Lockdown and Improvement of Distress after Lockdown. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13010053. [PMID: 36661625 PMCID: PMC9855109 DOI: 10.3390/bs13010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research reported inconsistent results on the relationship between social media (SM) use and psychological well-being, suggesting the importance of assessing possible moderators, e.g., motives for SM use. However, no longitudinal study has yet investigated whether, among people who use SM, specific motives for using SM may represent protective/risk factors for the development of psychological distress, especially after a stressful event. Our longitudinal study aimed at assessing the moderating role of motives for using SM (i.e., coping, conformity, enhancement, social motives) in the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic-related post-traumatic stress symptoms during the lockdown and changes in general distress after lockdown. At Time 1 (during the first lockdown in Italy), 660 participants responded to an online survey, reporting their post-traumatic symptoms, motives for using SM, and general distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms). At Time 2 (three months later, following lockdown), 117 participants volunteered to continue with the follow-up survey assessing general distress symptoms again. Results showed that among those who had experienced more severe post-traumatic symptoms at Time 1, using SM for social motives was associated with more improvement of general distress symptoms. No evidence was found of moderating effects of other motives for SM use. The findings suggest that social connections may have helped to cope with stress during forced confinement, and that SM use may be beneficial for mental health when motivated by maintaining social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Buodo
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8277476
| | - Tania Moretta
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Vieri Giuliano Santucci
- Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies (ISTC), National Research Council (CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Shubao Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT 06109, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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16
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Zhang X, Ren H, Gao L, Shia BC, Chen MC, Ye L, Wang R, Qin L. Identifying the predictors of severe psychological distress by auto-machine learning methods. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2023; 39:101258. [PMID: 37152204 PMCID: PMC10141788 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2023.101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Social stress in daily life and the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly impacted the mental health of the population. Early detection of a predisposition to severe psychological distress is essential for timely interventions. This paper analyzed 4036 samples participating in the 2019-2020 National Health Information Trends Survey (HINTS) and identified 57 candidate predictors of severe psychological distress based on univariate chi-square and t-test analyses. Five machine learning methods, namely logistic regression (LR), automatic generalized linear models (Auto-GLM), automatic random forests (Auto-Random Forests), automatic deep neural networks (Auto-Deep learning) and automatic gradient boosting machines (Auto-GBM), were employed to model synthetic minority oversampling technique-based (SMOTE) resampled data and identify predictors of severe psychological distress. Predictors were evaluated by odds ratios in logistic models and variable importance in the other models. Forty-seven variables were identified as significant predictors of severe psychological distress, including 13 sociodemographic variables and 34 variables related to individual lifestyle and behavioral habits. Among them, new potentially relevant variables related to an individual's level of concern and trust in cancer information, exposure to health care providers, and cancer screening and awareness are included. The performance of each model was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation. The optimal model performance-wise was Auto-GBM with an accuracy of 89.75%, a precision of 89.68%, a recall of 89.31%, an F1-score of 89.48% and an AUC of 95.57%. Significant predictors of severe psychological distress were identified in this study and the value of machine learning methods in predicting severe psychological distress is demonstrated, thereby enhancing pre-prediction and clinical decision-making of severe psychological distress problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Zhang
- School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Haoying Ren
- School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Gao
- School of Law, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Ben-Chang Shia
- Graduate Institute of Business Administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Artificial Intelligence Development Center, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Chen
- Graduate Institute of Business Administration, College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Artificial Intelligence Development Center, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Linglong Ye
- School of Public Affairs, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ruojia Wang
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Qin
- School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
- Dong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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17
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Lewis KC, Roche MJ, Brown F, Tillman JG. Intolerance of aloneness as a prospective predictor of suicidal ideation during COVID-19. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2023; 11:100469. [PMID: 36618605 PMCID: PMC9811853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social distancing has been essential in mitigating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Evidence regarding the impact of reduced social contact on mental health during the pandemic has been mixed, however, with studies suggesting that enduring personality traits and affect regulation impairments may together increase risk for suicidal distress during periods of lockdown. The present study utilized experience sampling and longitudinal follow-up methods to evaluate intolerance of aloneness (IA) as a predictor of suicidal ideation (SI) during the pandemic. Methods A general adult sample (n = 184) recruited online completed an 8-week experience sampling protocol via smartphone between April and September 2020. A subset of n = 69 participants completed a follow-up assessment of SI six months after the initial study period. Results IA was associated with suicidal ideation both at baseline and prospectively during the experience sampling period. Individuals with greater IA were more likely to report SI in the short-term context of reduced daily in-person social contact. Higher IA at baseline furthermore prospectively predicted the occurrence of SI during the 6-month follow-up period. Limitations The sample was relatively homogenous in terms of demographic characteristics and excluded individuals with limited access to communication technology. While statistical models accounted for current mental health treatment status, other factors that were not assessed (such as adverse events or psychiatric symptoms in non-treatment-seeking subjects) may have contributed to the development of SI. Conclusions Findings enhance understanding of how personality-based factors may contribute to suicide risk during periods of social distancing, informing both clinical treatment, risk assessment, and public health intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie C. Lewis
- Erikson Institute for Education and Research, Austen Riggs Center, 25 Main St, Stockbridge, MA, 01262, USA,Corresponding author at: Erikson Institute for Education, Research, and Advocacy, Austen Riggs Center, 25 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262, USA
| | - Michael J. Roche
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University, 700 South High St, West Chester, PA, 19383, USA
| | - Fiona Brown
- Erikson Institute for Education and Research, Austen Riggs Center, 25 Main St, Stockbridge, MA, 01262, USA
| | - Jane G. Tillman
- Erikson Institute for Education and Research, Austen Riggs Center, 25 Main St, Stockbridge, MA, 01262, USA
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18
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Oksanen A, Oksa R, Celuch M, Cvetkovic A, Savolainen I. COVID-19 Anxiety and Wellbeing at Work in Finland during 2020-2022: A 5-Wave Longitudinal Survey Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:680. [PMID: 36612998 PMCID: PMC9819787 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted workers globally during 2020-2022 and it has had major psychological implications for workers' wellbeing. This longitudinal study analyzed risk and protective factors predicting COVID-19 anxiety among workers in Finland. Longitudinal national sample of Finnish workers (n = 685) participated in a five-wave study conducted in 2020-2022, covering multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Our outcome measure was COVID-19 anxiety. Predictors were psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, and loneliness. Models also controlled for self-regulation; social support at work and remote working; and socio-demographic background factors. Both within-person and between-person effects were analyzed using multilevel hybrid regression models. COVID-19 anxiety varied between time points which is explained by changes in circumstances during the pandemic. Highest anxiety was expressed in the middle of the Delta variant surge and lockdown in spring 2021. Within-person changes in psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, self-regulation, and perceived loneliness were all associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Between-person results showed that distressed, exhausted, technostressed, and lonely workers expressed more anxiety than others. Remote workers reported higher anxiety over time than others. Those who had reported high self-regulation reported lower anxiety than others. Female gender and younger age were associated with higher anxiety. COVID-19 anxiety continues to be an important phenomenon with a magnitude of consequences on people and numerous industries. This study showed that general mental health and work stressors predict COVID-19 anxiety. Promoting social support and workers' self-regulation skills can be beneficial for overcoming anxiety during and after the pandemic.
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19
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Stubbs JM, Achat HM. Pandemic Loneliness in Healthcare Workers. Does It Predict Later Psychological Distress? Psychol Rep 2022:332941221139719. [PMID: 36413372 PMCID: PMC9692176 DOI: 10.1177/00332941221139719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Increased loneliness associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely reported, with healthcare workers at increased risk compared to the general population. Pre-pandemic research indicates that loneliness has long-term detrimental effects on mental well-being, but the effect of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 is not clear. We conducted an online survey of healthcare workers (HCWs) at a large teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia after the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. Over one-third experienced loneliness at the peak of the first wave. An observed association with high psychological distress in subsequent months was attenuated after adjusting for status of mental well-being during the peak and before the pandemic. Mental well-being during the peak of the pandemic and, to a lesser extent, mental well-being before the pandemic were the strongest predictors of later distress. Increased conflict at home was also predictive of later distress. The mental health of HCWs is an important consideration at any time and is especially so in the face of crises such as the current global pandemic. Strategies to enhance baseline mental well-being and bolster well-being during crisis situations should assist HCWs cope with unexpected stressors and reduce the associated detrimental psychological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M. Stubbs
- Epidemiology and Health Analytics, Western Sydney Local Health District, North Parramatta, NSW, Australia
| | - Helen M. Achat
- Epidemiology and Health Analytics, Western Sydney Local Health District, North Parramatta, NSW, Australia
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20
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Borawski D, Sojda M, Rychlewska K, Wajs T. Attached but Lonely: Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator and Moderator between Attachment Styles and Loneliness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14831. [PMID: 36429549 PMCID: PMC9690062 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of the presented research was to examine if emotional intelligence (EI) could be regarded as a mechanism mediating the relationship between attachment and loneliness. The authors also tested the moderating role of this variable, investigating whether EI was a protective factor against loneliness in insecurely attached individuals. (2) Methods: In two cross-sectional studies (N = 246 in Study 1 and N = 186 in Study 2), participants completed a set of questionnaires measuring attachment styles, trait emotional intelligence, and loneliness. (3) Results: Both studies revealed a consistent pattern of results, indicating a dual role of EI in the relationships between attachment styles and loneliness. Firstly, EI was a mediator between attachment and loneliness-both anxious and avoidant attachment were associated with a low level of EI, which in turn translated into increased loneliness. Secondly, EI moderated the relationship between anxious attachment and loneliness. It turned out that the strength of the positive relationship between anxious attachment and loneliness decreased with an increase in EI. (4) Conclusions: These results point to EI as an underlying mechanism between insecure attachment and loneliness. They also suggest that EI is an important psychological resource protecting anxiously attached individuals against a subjective sense of social isolation.
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21
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Pellegrino A, Stasi A, Bhatiasevi V. Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media use: A bibliometric analysis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1017506. [PMID: 36458122 PMCID: PMC9707397 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1017506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their increasing ubiquity in people's lives and incredible advantages in instantly interacting with others, social media's impact on subjective well-being is a source of concern worldwide and calls for up-to-date investigations of the role social media plays in mental health. Much research has discovered how habitual social media use may lead to addiction and negatively affect adolescents' school performance, social behavior, and interpersonal relationships. The present study was conducted to review the extant literature in the domain of social media and analyze global research productivity during 2013-2022. Bibliometric analysis was conducted on 501 articles that were extracted from the Scopus database using the keywords social media addiction and problematic social media use. The data were then uploaded to VOSviewer software to analyze citations, co-citations, and keyword co-occurrences. Volume, growth trajectory, geographic distribution of the literature, influential authors, intellectual structure of the literature, and the most prolific publishing sources were analyzed. The bibliometric analysis presented in this paper shows that the US, the UK, and Turkey accounted for 47% of the publications in this field. Most of the studies used quantitative methods in analyzing data and therefore aimed at testing relationships between variables. In addition, the findings in this study show that most analysis were cross-sectional. Studies were performed on undergraduate students between the ages of 19-25 on the use of two social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram. Limitations as well as research directions for future studies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandro Stasi
- Business Administration Division, Mahidol University International College, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Veera Bhatiasevi
- Business Administration Division, Mahidol University International College, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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22
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Tinella L, Tinterri A, Dipace A, Ladogana M, Loiodice I, Bosco A. Sociodemographic and Digital Education Factors Are Associated to General Health, Coping Strategies, and Academic Outcomes of Undergraduate Students during the Post-Pandemic Period. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2022; 12:1334-1348. [PMID: 36135231 PMCID: PMC9498009 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe12090093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly and forever changed the lives of many undergraduate students around the globe, forcing them to switch to online learning while undergoing social confinement within their homes. It is now well-established that this prolonged period of uncertainty impacted students’ well-being, health, and academic achievement. However, how student-related factors, such as coping strategies as well as sociodemographic, contextual, and technological variables, are linked to digital education factors is currently less understood. Using multiple regression analysis, this study investigates the results of an online questionnaire administered to students from two universities in southern Italy, differing in positioning and size, as well as policies and attitude towards digital learning. The results of this study show the positive effects of expertise with digital devices and university digital learning policies on students’ perceived general health. Conversely, isolation and lack of relational connectedness negatively impacted students’ health. Furthermore, this study highlights the role of different coping strategies, demonstrating that active forms of coping have a positive effect on students’ health, whereas avoidance strategies have the opposite effect. Taken together, this study provides crucial links between the many factors influencing students’ experience with online learning and health, and provides useful indications to promote the uptake of and adaptation to online learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Tinella
- Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Tinterri
- Department of Humanities, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Anna Dipace
- Department of Humanities, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
- Telematics University IUL, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Manuela Ladogana
- Department of Humanities, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
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23
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Hornstein EA, Eisenberger NI. Exploring the effect of loneliness on fear: Implications for the effect of COVID-19-induced social disconnection on anxiety. Behav Res Ther 2022; 153:104101. [PMID: 35490455 PMCID: PMC9013316 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in many disruptions to daily life, including an abrupt increase in social disconnection. As measures were put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, people across the globe began living in states of limited social contact, fostering feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Previous literature suggests that these increases in social disconnection can have profound effects on both physical and mental health, perhaps especially in the case of fear disorders. The combination of feeling disconnected from others and the high level of daily threat experienced due to COVID-19 created conditions under which dysfunctional and persistent fears were especially likely to develop. Building on current understanding of the harmful effects of social disconnection on well-being in general as well as specific implications for fear, here we present findings from three preliminary investigations that are the first to directly examine the effects of loneliness on how fears are learned and maintained. The Results of this work show that loneliness impairs the process by which fears are extinguished, which is central to both the regulation of fear and treatment of fear disorders, and provide insight into potential avenues to mitigate such effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Hornstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Naomi I Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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24
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Milicev J, Qualter P, Goodfellow C, Inchley J, Simpson SA, Leyland AH, Kharicha K, Long E. The prospective relationship between loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GESUNDHEITSWISSENSCHAFTEN = JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 31:1-15. [PMID: 35668719 PMCID: PMC9136554 DOI: 10.1007/s10389-022-01719-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim Mental wellbeing in the UK seems to have deteriorated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the rates of loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress taking longer to return to the pre-pandemic levels than elsewhere. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the interactions between these outcomes, or the factors that played a role in the rates of change. The current study aims to address this gap by simultaneously investigating changes in loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress in the UK from pre-pandemic levels to those between April and November 2020, while critically assessing the role of a range of social ecological influencing factors. Subject and Methods Longitudinal data from Understanding Society (N=3475) were used to explore the changes in loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress from pre-pandemic levels (2017-2019) through November 2020, the interactions between these outcomes, and the role of individual, social, community and geographic factors in the rates of change, using multivariate latent growth curve model. Results Loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress deteriorated minimally between April and November 2020, compared to the pre-pandemic levels (2017-2019), while the rate of change in each outcome influenced the rates of change in the other two. Key individual (age, gender, physical health), social (number of friends and similarity to them), and environmental (neighbourhood quality) variables influenced baseline scores and the rates of change. Conclusion Considering significant dynamic associations between loneliness, life satisfaction and psychological distress, we argue that interventions to tackle any one of the outcomes may have beneficial effects on others, while highlighting malleable factors and individual and community-level interventions to tackle loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Milicev
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
| | - Pamela Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
| | - Claire Goodfellow
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
| | - Joanna Inchley
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
| | - Sharon Anne Simpson
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
| | - Alastair H. Leyland
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
| | - Kalpa Kharicha
- Campaign to End Loneliness part of What Works Centre for Wellbeing, London, SW1H 9EA UK
| | - Emily Long
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G3 7HR UK
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Wang X, Ma Z, Wang C. A Longitudinal Study on the Addictive Behaviors of General Population before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105979. [PMID: 35627516 PMCID: PMC9141667 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
By using nationally representative longitudinal data, this study investigates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the addictive behaviors (smoking and drinking) of the general population in China. From the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2018 and 2020, we extract a sample of individuals over 16 years of age in China, consisting of 14,468 individuals and 28,936 observations. We decompose the sample into three age groups, that is, ages between 16 and 39, ages between 40 and 59 and ages above 60. The bootstrap method is used to estimate the confidence interval of the difference in the mean of addictive behaviors, and logit models are used in the regression analysis. Our results show that the COVID-19 pandemic reduces the smoking behavior of individuals above 40 years of age, and that it reduces the drinking behavior of individuals above 16 years of age. However, the pandemic increases the smoking behavior of individuals between 16 and 39 years of age. These results may be closely related to the characteristics of COVID-19 (that is, a respiratory system disease), the working and economic pressures of young Chinese and the role of drinking alcohol in building and maintaining social networks in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wang
- Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100006, China;
| | - Zaifei Ma
- School of Statistics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China;
| | - Chunan Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beihang Hangzhou Innovation Institute Yuhang, Hangzhou 310023, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Complex System Analysis and Management Decision, Beijing 100191, China
- Correspondence:
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