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Fan X, Ning K, Ma TSW, Aung Y, Tun HM, Thin Zaw PP, Flores FP, Chow MSC, Leung CMC, Lun P, Chang WC, Leung GM, Ni MY. Post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety during the 2021 Myanmar conflict: a nationwide population-based survey. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024; 26:100396. [PMID: 38617087 PMCID: PMC11007429 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Background The UN warns that Myanmar faces the 'triple crises' of mass conflict, uncontrolled COVID-19, and economic collapse. Therefore, we aimed to assess the population mental health burden, healthcare needs, and the associated risk factors in Myanmar. Methods We established a nationwide random sample and recruited 1038 adults via random digit dialling from July 3-Aug 9, 2021, during the ongoing conflict since Feb 1, 2021, and surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version. Probable depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2. We calculated population attributable fractions for probable mental disorders using multivariable logistic regression models. Based on the mental health burden and healthcare-seeking patterns, we projected the need for mental health services. Findings During the 'triple crises', a third of adults in Myanmar (34.9%, 95% CI 32.0-37.7) reported a probable mental disorder. Prevalence of probable PTSD, depression, and anxiety were 8.1% (6.6-9.7), 14.3% (12.0-16.6), and 22.2% (19.7-24.7), respectively. We estimated that up to 79.9% (43.8-97.9) of probable PTSD was attributable to political stress. This corresponds to 2.1 million (1.1-3.2 million) fewer adults with probable PTSD if political stress was removed from the population. The mental health burden could translate into roughly 5.9 million adults seeking mental health services. Interpretation The mental health burden in Myanmar is substantial, and population mental health might only be restored when the three crises have ended. An accelerated peace process is critical to protecting Myanmar's population mental health. Funding This research was supported the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. HKU 17606122) and the Michele Tansella Award.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Fan
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ke Ning
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tiffany SW. Ma
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yadanar Aung
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Hein Min Tun
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Francis P. Flores
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mathew SC. Chow
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Candi MC. Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Phyllis Lun
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gabriel M. Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Y. Ni
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Ho GWK, Chan KL, Karatzias T, Hyland P, Fung HW, Shevlin M. Prevalence and validity of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD: A population-based survey of Hong Kong adults. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 96:104045. [PMID: 38643682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The present study aimed to report the prevalence of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) in the general adult Hong Kong population, and examine the validity of the Chinese International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). This descriptive cross-sectional population-based telephone survey included a representative sample of 1070 non-institutionalized permanent Hong Kong residents ages 18-64 years. Participants provided responses to the Chinese version of the ITQ, and measures of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), depression, anxiety, and stress. Based on the diagnostic algorithm of the ITQ, 5.9% of the sample screened positive for either CPTSD or PTSD, with CPTSD (4.2%) being more common that PTSD (1.7%). Results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated the first-order correlated 6-factor model to be the best fitting solution. Symptom cluster summed scores were all positively and significantly correlated with all criterion variables. This investigation established the prevalence rates of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD using a general adult population sample in Hong Kong. The Chinese ITQ demonstrated sound factorial validity and concurrent validity. Future research can further characterize ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in subgroups using the Chinese ITQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace W K Ho
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR China.
| | - Ko Ling Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Thanos Karatzias
- School of Health & Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Hyland
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Ireland
| | - Hong Wang Fung
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, United Kingdom
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Mak BSW, Zhang D, Powell CLYM, Leung MKW, Lo HHM, Yang X, Yip BHK, Lee EKP, Xu Z, Wong SYS. Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for Chinese adults with PTSD symptoms: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:400. [PMID: 38812001 PMCID: PMC11134912 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05840-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emerging evidence supports mindfulness as a potential psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with subthreshold PTSD experience significant impairment in their daily life and functioning due to PTSD symptoms, despite not meeting the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD in DSM-5. Mindfulness skills, including non-judgmental acceptance, attentional control and openness to experiences may help alleviate PTSD symptoms by targeting characteristics such as intensified memory processing, dysregulated hyperarousal, avoidance, and thought suppression. This trial aims to test the effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) when compared to an active control. METHOD AND ANALYSIS This 1:1 randomised controlled trial will enroll 160 participants with PTSD symptoms in 2 arms (MBCT vs. Seeking Safety), with both interventions consisting of 8 weekly sessions lasting 2 h each week and led by certified instructors. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and 3 months post-intervention (T2), with the primary outcome being PTSD symptoms measured by the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) at T1. Secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety, attention, experimental avoidance, rumination, mindfulness, and coping skills. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed. Mediation analysis will investigate whether attention, experimental avoidance, and rumination mediate the effect of mindfulness on PTSD symptoms. DISCUSSION The proposed study will assess the effectiveness of MBCT in improving PTSD symptoms. The findings are anticipated to have implications for various areas of healthcare and contribute to the enhancement of existing intervention guidelines for PTSD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR2200061863.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dexing Zhang
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Maria Kwan Wa Leung
- Department of Family Medicine & Primary Health Care, New Territories East Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - Herman Hay Ming Lo
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xue Yang
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Benjamin Hon Kei Yip
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eric Kam Pui Lee
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zijun Xu
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Samuel Yeung Shan Wong
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Nam Chan JK, Chang DHH, Fung VSC, Ching Chui EM, Wong CSM, Chu RST, So YK, Chan JMT, Chung AKK, Lee KCK, Cheng CPW, Lo HKY, Law CW, Chan WC, Chang WC. Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety and trauma-like symptoms in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:372. [PMID: 38760703 PMCID: PMC11100058 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05815-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric patients are susceptible to adverse mental health outcome during COVID-19 pandemic, but its associated factors are understudied. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to comprehensively examine prevalence and correlates of psychological distress, in terms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms, among Chinese adult psychiatric outpatients amidst the peak of fifth COVID-19 wave in Hong-Kong. METHODS A total of 415 patients (comprising 246 patients with common-mental-disorders [CMD] and 169 with severe-mental-disorders [SMD]) and 399 demographically-matched controls without mental disorders were assessed with self-rated questionnaires between 28-March and 8-April-2022, encompassing illness profile, mental health symptoms, psychosocial measures (loneliness, resilience, coping styles) and COVID-19 related factors. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine variables associated with moderate-to-severe depressive, anxiety and PTSD-like symptoms among psychiatric patients. RESULTS Our results showed that CMD patients had the greatest psychological distress relative to SMD patients and controls. Approximately 40-55% CMD patients and 25% SMD patients exhibited moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety and PTSD-like symptoms. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that female gender, lower educational attainment, single marital status, being housewife, more severe insomnia, psychotic-like symptoms and cognitive complaints, self-harm behavior, lower resilience, avoidance coping, never contracting COVID-19 infection, greater fear of contagion, and longer exposure to pandemic-related information were independently associated with depression, anxiety and/or PTSD-like symptoms in psychiatric patients. CONCLUSIONS Our results affirm increased vulnerability of psychiatric patients toward psychological distress during pandemic. An array of identified correlates facilitates early detection of high-risk psychiatric patients for targeted strategies to minimize pandemic-related negative psychological impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Kwun Nam Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Don Ho Hin Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vivian Shi Cheng Fung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Corine Sau Man Wong
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ryan Sai Ting Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuen Kiu So
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jacob Man Tik Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Albert Kar Kin Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Krystal Chi Kei Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Calvin Pak Wing Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Heidi Ka Ying Lo
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wing Law
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai Chi Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
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Ryan SC, Sugg MM, Runkle JD, Wertis L, Singh D, Green S. Short-term changes in mental health help-seeking behaviors following exposure to multiple social stressors and a natural disaster. Soc Sci Med 2024; 348:116843. [PMID: 38603916 PMCID: PMC11134597 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116843] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
In 2020, unprecedented circumstances led to significant mental health consequences. Individuals faced mental health stressors that extended beyond the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including widespread social unrest following the murder of George Floyd, an intense hurricane season in the Atlantic, and the politically divisive 2020 election. The objective of this analysis was to consider changes in help-seeking behavior following exposure to multiple social stressors and a natural disaster. Data from Crisis Text Line (CTL), a national text-based mental health crisis counseling service, was used to determine how help-seeking behavior changed in the wake of each event. Wilcoxon rank sum tests assessed changes in help-seeking behavior for each event in 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models examined if changes in crisis conversation volumes following each event differed. Higher median conversation volumes noted for the COVID-19 pandemic (+1 to +5 conversations), Hurricane Laura (+1 to +7 conversations) and the 2020 Election (+1 to +26 conversations). ARIMA models show substantial increases in help-seeking behavior following the declaration of a national emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic (+4.3 to +38.2%) and following the 2020 election (+3 to +24.44%). Our analysis found that the mental health response following social stressors may be distinct from natural events, especially when natural disasters occur in the context of multiple social stressors. This analysis adds to the growing body of literature considering the mental health impact of exposure to multiple co-occurring societal stressors, like police violence and a global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia C Ryan
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone NC, 28607, USA.
| | - Margaret M Sugg
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone NC, 28607, USA
| | - Jennifer D Runkle
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, 27695, USA
| | - Luke Wertis
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone NC, 28607, USA
| | - Devyani Singh
- Data Team, Crisis Text Line, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Shannon Green
- Data Team, Crisis Text Line, New York City, New York, USA
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Chan VKY, Chai Y, Chan SSM, Luo H, Jit M, Knapp M, Bishai DM, Ni MY, Wong ICK, Li X. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on depression incidence and healthcare service use among patients with depression: an interrupted time-series analysis from a 9-year population-based study. BMC Med 2024; 22:169. [PMID: 38644506 PMCID: PMC11034087 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03386-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression burden focused on the earlier pandemic phase specific to lockdowns, but the longer-term impact of the pandemic is less well-studied. In this population-based cohort study, we examined the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on depression incidence and healthcare service use among patients with depression. METHODS Using the territory-wide electronic medical records in Hong Kong, we identified all patients aged ≥ 10 years with new diagnoses of depression from 2014 to 2022. We performed an interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis to examine changes in incidence of medically attended depression before and during the pandemic. We then divided all patients into nine cohorts based on year of depression incidence and studied their initial and ongoing service use patterns until the end of 2022. We applied generalized linear modeling to compare the rates of healthcare service use in the year of diagnosis between patients newly diagnosed before and during the pandemic. A separate ITS analysis explored the pandemic impact on the ongoing service use among prevalent patients with depression. RESULTS We found an immediate increase in depression incidence (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10-1.33, p < 0.001) in the population after the pandemic began with non-significant slope change, suggesting a sustained effect until the end of 2022. Subgroup analysis showed that the increases in incidence were significant among adults and the older population, but not adolescents. Depression patients newly diagnosed during the pandemic used 11% fewer resources than the pre-pandemic patients in the first diagnosis year. Pre-existing depression patients also had an immediate decrease of 16% in overall all-cause service use since the pandemic, with a positive slope change indicating a gradual rebound over a 3-year period. CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, service provision for depression was suboptimal in the face of increased demand generated by the increasing depression incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings indicate the need to improve mental health resource planning preparedness for future public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Kin Yi Chan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi Chai
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sandra Sau Man Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mark Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Martin Knapp
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - David Makram Bishai
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Yuxuan Ni
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ian Chi Kei Wong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Aston University, London, UK.
- Advanced Data Analytics for Medical Science (ADAMS) Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Advanced Data Analytics for Medical Science (ADAMS) Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Agrest M, Tapia-Muñoz T, Encina-Zúñiga E, Vidal-Zamora I, Ardila-Gómez S, Alvarado R, Leiderman EA, Reavley N. Development of mental health first-aid guidelines for a person after a potentially traumatic event: A Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:291. [PMID: 38632577 PMCID: PMC11025165 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to potentially traumatic events increases the risk of a person developing a mental disorder. Training community members to offer support to a person during and after a traumatic situation may help lower this risk. This study reports on the cultural adaptation of Australian mental health first aid guidelines for individuals exposed to a potentially traumatic event to the Chilean and Argentinian context. METHODS A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with two panels of experts, one of people with lived experience of trauma (either their own or as a carer; n = 26) and another one of health professionals (n = 41). A total of 158 items, drawn from guidelines developed by Australian experts in 2019, were translated to Spanish and evaluated in a two-round survey process. The panellists were asked to rate each item on a five-point Likert scale; statements were included in the final guidelines if 80% of both panels endorsed the item as "essential" or "important". RESULTS Consensus was achieved on 142 statements over two survey rounds. A total of 102 statements were included from the English-language guidelines, and 40 locally generated statements were accepted in the second round. Local experts endorsed a larger number of items compared to their counterparts in Australia and emphasised the importance of acknowledging the first aider's limitations, both personally and as part of their helping role. Additional items about working as a team with other first responders and considering helping the person's significant others were endorsed by the local panellists. CONCLUSIONS The study showed a high level of acceptance of the original actions suggested for inclusion in the guidelines for Australia, but also a significant number of new statements that highlight the importance of the adaptation process. Further research on the dissemination of these guidelines into a Mental Health First Aid training course for Chile and Argentina is still required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Agrest
- Proyecto Suma. Güemes 4130 (1425), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Facultad de Psicología, Instituto de Investigaciones, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Thamara Tapia-Muñoz
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Esteban Encina-Zúñiga
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Isidora Vidal-Zamora
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sara Ardila-Gómez
- Facultad de Psicología, Instituto de Investigaciones, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rubén Alvarado
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Eduardo A Leiderman
- Departamento de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicola Reavley
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Chan VKY, Leung MYM, Chan SSM, Yang D, Knapp M, Luo H, Craig D, Chen Y, Bishai DM, Wong GHY, Lum TYS, Chan EWY, Wong ICK, Li X. Projecting the 10-year costs of care and mortality burden of depression until 2032: a Markov modelling study developed from real-world data. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2024; 45:101026. [PMID: 38352243 PMCID: PMC10862399 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Based on real-world data, we developed a 10-year prediction model to estimate the burden among patients with depression from the public healthcare system payer's perspective to inform early resource planning in Hong Kong. Methods We developed a Markov cohort model with yearly cycles specifically capturing the pathway of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and comorbidity development along the disease course. Projected from 2023 to 2032, primary outcomes included costs of all-cause and psychiatric care, and secondary outcomes were all-cause deaths, years of life lived, and quality-adjusted life-years. Using the territory-wide electronic medical records, we identified 25,190 patients aged ≥10 years with newly diagnosed depression from 2014 to 2016 with follow-up until 2020 to observe the real-world time-to-event pattern, based on which costs and time-varying transition inputs were derived using negative binomial modelling and parametric survival analysis. We applied the model as both closed cohort, which studied a fixed cohort of incident patients in 2023, and open cohort, which introduced incident patients by year from 2014 to 2032. Utilities and annual new patients were from published sources. Findings With 9217 new patients in 2023, our closed cohort model projected the 10-year cumulative costs of all-cause and psychiatric care to reach US$309.0 million and US$58.3 million, respectively, with 899 deaths (case fatality rate: 9.8%) by 2032. In our open cohort model, 55,849-57,896 active prevalent cases would cost more than US$322.3 million and US$60.7 million, respectively, with more than 943 deaths annually from 2023 to 2032. Fewer than 20% of cases would live with TRD or comorbidities but contribute 31-54% of the costs. The greatest collective burden would occur in women aged above 40, but men aged above 65 and below 25 with medical history would have the highest costs per patient-year. The key cost drivers were relevant to the early disease stages. Interpretation A limited proportion of patients would develop TRD and comorbidities but contribute to a high proportion of costs, which necessitates appropriate attention and resource allocation. Our projection also demonstrates the application of real-world data to model long-term costs and mortality, which aid policymakers anticipate foreseeable burden and undertake budget planning to prepare for the care need in alternative scenarios. Funding Research Impact Fund from the University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council with matching fund from the Hong Kong Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (R7007-22).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Kin Yi Chan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man Yee Mallory Leung
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sandra Sau Man Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Deliang Yang
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Martin Knapp
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dawn Craig
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Yingyao Chen
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, China
| | - David Makram Bishai
- Division of Health Economics, Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gloria Hoi Yan Wong
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Terry Yat Sang Lum
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Esther Wai Yin Chan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ian Chi Kei Wong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Department of Policy and Practice, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D4H), Hong Kong SAR, China
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9
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Rosell J, Vergés A, Miranda-Castillo C. El papel del ocio y entretenimiento digital en la salud mental de personas mayores en contextos de crisis social: el caso del estallido social en Chile. Glob Health Promot 2024:17579759241232867. [PMID: 38517115 DOI: 10.1177/17579759241232867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Javiera Rosell
- Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Care Research (MICARE), Santiago, Chile
- Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford, Reino Unido
| | - Alvaro Vergés
- Universidad de los Andes, Chile, Escuela de Psicología, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- Núcleo Milenio para Mejorar la Salud Mental de Adolescentes y Jóvenes (Imhay), Chile
| | - Claudia Miranda-Castillo
- Millennium Institute for Care Research (MICARE), Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto Milenio para la Investigación en Depresión y Personalidad (MIDAP), Chile
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10
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Chan W, Cheang C. Seizing pandemic lessons: a call to reinvent public health and healthcare policy planning in post-COVID-19 Hong Kong. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1378148. [PMID: 38560440 PMCID: PMC10978786 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1378148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chonin Cheang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China
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Qiu AH, Tay D, Watson B. Metaphorical language and psychopathological symptoms: a case study of trauma victims' metaphor use. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:57. [PMID: 38303003 PMCID: PMC10835999 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01492-w] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While clinical diagnosis of mental health issues focuses on factual details represented by literal language (e.g., the onset and process of the triggering event and duration of symptom), the relationship between metaphorical language and psychopathological experiences remains an intriguing question. Focusing on psychological trauma triggered by the 2019-2020 Hong Kong social unrest, this study explored the correlations between trauma victims' quantitative metaphor usage patterns and their experience of specific Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) symptoms. METHODS Forty-six individuals with trauma exposure within 28 days were recruited through convenience sampling. Each completed a 20- to 30-minute semi-structured interview and filled out the Chinese version of the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ; 1). Metaphors in the interviews were identified using the discourse dynamic approach (2), and clinically interesting categories related to trauma and emotion expression, as revealed by previous literature, were sorted out. Standardized frequencies of the categories were correlated with participants' SASRQ scores of five major ASD symptoms, and the correlational patterns were interpreted from a discourse analytic perspective. RESULTS The study reveals how metaphor usage patterns can reflect the speakers' differentiated experiences of psychopathological symptoms. Compared with individuals who experienced less trauma, those more disturbed by the re-experiencing symptom were more inclined to use emotion-related metaphors and to metaphorize about the self and the self-society relationship. Individuals who experienced more severe anxiety and hyperarousal showed a heightened awareness of self-related issues and diminished attention to others. Those who suffered from more severe impairment in functioning produced more metaphors in the negative valence. Dissociation and avoidance, which were less experientially salient and intense than the others, were not significantly correlated with metaphor usage patterns. CONCLUSION This study establishes symptom-level metaphor usage patterns as a previously overlooked but interesting avenue in trauma evaluation, treatment, and research. While the study is confined to a single context, it nevertheless reveals the potential for metaphor research findings to be incorporated as useful materials in psychology education and therapist training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Han Qiu
- Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science, Faculty of Humanities, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Dennis Tay
- International Research Centre for the Advancement of Health Communication, Department of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bernadette Watson
- International Research Centre for the Advancement of Health Communication, Department of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
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12
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Okun S, Ayalon L. Political activism and wellbeing among older adults in Israel. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38279203 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2299959] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aging process is characterized by encountering challenging situations and losses that may influence the subjective wellbeing of older adults. This study investigates the influence of the political-social crisis that unfolded in Israel in 2023 on the wellbeing of senior citizens. Additionally, it explores whether their participation in protests has contributed to their wellbeing. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted interviews with 30 older adults who were actively engaged in the protest movement against the judicial overhaul. Our sampling approach was designed to encompass a diverse range of factors, including various age groups beyond 65 years, prior involvement in protest activities, geographical distribution, religious involvement, professional backgrounds, and differing political viewpoints. RESULTS Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed three key findings: (1) The participants reported feeling fear and anxiety due to the conflict, leading to a decrease in their wellbeing. (2) Participating in protests uplifted their spirits and provided social support, resulting in improved emotional and social wellbeing. (3) When asked about their perception of the crisis in the future, the participants expressed mixed views: Some were cautiously optimistic and others profoundly pessimistic, while the sentiments of some participants fluctuated. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS This qualitative study indicates the negative impact of political-social crisis on older adults' wellbeing, as well as the limited contribution of political activism to its improvement. Equally important, the research highlights the need for stakeholders in aging and gerontology to prioritize promoting older adults' mental health regularly and during political crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Okun
- School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Liat Ayalon
- School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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El Khoury-Malhame M, Bou Malhab S, Chaaya R, Sfeir M, El Khoury S. Coping during socio-political uncertainty. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1267603. [PMID: 38318483 PMCID: PMC10839968 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1267603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Well-being of young adults is known to be compromised in times of significant changes, such as economic and political turmoil. This study focuses on university students in Lebanon during one of the most prominent social unrests of its modern history to determine potential understudied protective factors that would predict the youth capacity to strive. Methods A sample of 489 university students were asked to fill an online survey including standardized questionnaires of wellbeing (WEMWBS), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (HAM-A), intolerance of uncertainty (IUS-12), coping (Brief COPE) in addition to demographics and questions about their attitudes and future perspectives. Results We found increased rates of mental distress, predominantly in women, with around 80% of the sample being highly intolerant to the uncertainty climate. Results unsurprisingly show that well-being negatively correlated with anxiety, depression and intolerance of uncertainty. Overall, mental distress was found to mediate the relation between uncertainty and wellbeing, and the relation between maladaptive coping and wellbeing. Students who were intolerant of uncertainty and who used maladaptive coping strategies were more likely develop anxiety and depression and subsequently report poorer wellbeing. Conversely, having adaptive strategies was directly linked to higher well-being. Discussion In spite of increased distress, some university students managed to preserve their well-being within a climate of severe socio-political uprise. These findings suggest that modifying subjective experience of events and using soft skillset could alleviate young adults' emotional distress in unstable societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam El Khoury-Malhame
- Department of Social and Education Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sandrella Bou Malhab
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Institut National de Sante Publique d’Epidemiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie, Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Roni Chaaya
- Department of Social and Education Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Michel Sfeir
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Samar El Khoury
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon
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14
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Lo CKM, Chen Q, Chen M, Chan KL, Ip P. Changes in, and factors associated with family functioning: results of four cross-sectional household surveys from 2011 to 2017 in Hong Kong. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:160. [PMID: 38212752 PMCID: PMC10785327 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17643-6] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has well-documented that family functioning is an important predictor of individuals' physical and mental health. However, relatively little research has explored family functioning at the family and population levels, such as changes in family functioning across years and whether predictors of family functioning differ across different family structures. Understanding of the changes in family functioning across years and factors promoting family functioning will inform the development of preventive measures to enhance family health and resilience. Objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the changes in family functioning across a 6-year study period and (2) to study protective factors associated with family functioning and the extent to which the factors are the same or different across different family structures. METHOD The study involved secondary data analysis of the biannual Family Survey carried out by the Family Council, an advisory body to the Hong Kong government. A series of ANOVA and regression analyses were conducted using data of four population-based cross-sectional household surveys conducted in Hong Kong in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. RESULTS There were some fluctuations in overall family functioning scores across the study period, but no significant difference was found between the scores in 2011 and 2017. Different predictors of family functioning were found for different family types, and frequent family communication was a common protective factor for most family types, including never married, married/cohabiting with children, and married/cohabiting with no children. CONCLUSION The study is among the first to examine changes in family functioning at the population level. Monitoring and addressing family functioning may help tackle various social problems and future public health crises. Interventions to promote family functioning should address both common and different protective factors of different family types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Kin Ming Lo
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiqi Chen
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mengtong Chen
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ko Ling Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Patrick Ip
- Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Hamama-Raz Y, Leshem E, Ben-Ezra M. Differences in mental indicators and state-hope related to the level of engagement in social unrest: Israel 2023. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1284211. [PMID: 38249372 PMCID: PMC10796500 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1284211] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study examined the interplay between engagement in social unrest, mental indicators, state-hope and demographic variables. In addition, mental indicators and state-hope were compared in line with levels of engagement in social unrest. Methods In a cross-sectional study, conducted from March 23 to April 10, 2023, 2031 Israelis were recruited via a survey company. Participants completed self-report questionnaires to assess engagement in social unrest, anxiety, social unrest related distress, state-hope and demographic variables. Results Participants with higher engagement in social unrest, who opposed the law reform, were prone to higher levels of social unrest related distress, anxiety, and lower levels of state-hope compared to those not engaged in social unrest activities or those who supported the law reform. Conclusions Concerns regarding unmet mental health needs, during and following social unrest, regardless of the engagement level, should be actively addressed by mental health professionals and health policy makers.
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Duarte F, Jiménez-Molina Á. Exploring the impact of social protest on mental health: A study of the 2019 "Social Uprising" in Chile. Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116392. [PMID: 38006846 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Socio-political conflicts, especially if accompanied by violent events, can affect the mental health of the population. This study aimed to estimate the causal effect of social protest-related violence on depressive symptoms during the 2019 social uprising in Chile. We collected population-representative data from a nationwide longitudinal survey (n = 2918), the fourth wave of which took place during the months of the social uprising in Chile (November 2019 and March 2020). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, while violence related to social protest was measured as the perception of destruction at the neighbourhood level. To assess the casual relationship between destruction perception and depressive symptoms, we utilized an instrumental variable regression model. Our analysis controlled for relevant sociodemographic factors, participation in social protest, and history of mental health treatment. Results showed that perceived neighbourhood destruction during the 2019 social uprising significantly increased PHQ-9 score by 3.702 points, prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms by 18.7%, and likelihood of having a Subthreshold or Major Depressive Episode by 15.2% (p < 0.01). The impact of perceived destruction on depressive symptoms varies by gender, with a significant effect found in men (an increase in depression indicators of 5.769 points, 26.8% and 23.0%, respectively, p < 0.05) but not in women. Stratified regression models by age demonstrate a positive association between the perception of neighbourhood destruction and depressive symptoms across all age groups, with a stronger effect observed among young adults. We found a casual effect of violence related to social protest on depressive symptoms. These findings have implications for the planning of social policies aimed at protecting the mental well-being of the population in times of increasing socio-political turmoil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián Duarte
- Faculty of Economics and Business, Department of Economics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Álvaro Jiménez-Molina
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile; Faculty of Psychology and Humanities, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile; Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, Chile; Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay), Santiago, Chile.
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17
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Suen YN, Leung CM, Wan YS, Chan KT, Wong MTH, Hui CLM, Chan KWS, Lee EHM, Chen EYH. Evaluation of a Low-Intensity Online Intervention (LiON) for Reducing Distress and Mental Health Symptoms in Young People. J Adolesc Health 2024; 74:89-97. [PMID: 37815770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Enhancing young people's mental health is crucial given that most adult mental disorders develop before age 24 years. However, it is unclear whether low-intensity interventions delivered online can be effective. This study aimed to provide preliminary evidence on whether a low-intensity online intervention (LiON) can effectively lower young people's distress levels and mental health symptoms. METHODS We compared the preintervention and postintervention changes in distress level and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms in 137 young people aged 15-24 years who used the LiON service with the three-month changes in a 1:1 propensity score-matched control group of community young people who did not use the service. They participated in one of the following modules for the first time: (1) sleep and relaxation, (2) stress-coping, and (3) problem-solving. RESULTS Participants who received LiON intervention (mean age 22.88 [standard deviation 3.67] years, 65.7% female) showed significantly greater reductions in distress level (Cohen's f2: 0.079), as well as the severity of depressive symptoms (Cohen's f2: 0.056) and anxiety symptoms (Cohen's f2: 0.044) compared to the control group. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that the LiON intervention has the potential to effectively reduce distress and mental health symptoms in young people. Future research should aim to confirm these findings through randomized controlled trials and explore the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Nam Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Chung Ming Leung
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yau Sum Wan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kai Tai Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | | | - Kit Wa Sherry Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Edwin Ho Ming Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric Yu Hai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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18
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Lo HKY, Chan JKN, Yip EWC, Chui EMC, Fung VSC, Wong CSM, Chu RST, So YK, Chan JMT, Chung AKK, Lee KCK, Cheng CPW, Law CW, Chan WC, Chang WC. The prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 77:4-11. [PMID: 37660441 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
People with mental disorders have increased risk of psychological distress during COVID-19. However, there is limited research comprehensively examining factors associated with suicidal ideation, the strongest predictor of suicidal behavior, among psychiatric patients amidst pandemic. We investigated prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in 407 Chinese psychiatric outpatients (diagnosed with mood, anxiety or schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) aged 18-64 years during the peak of fifth COVID-19 wave in Hong Kong between 28 March and 8 April, 2022, based on a comprehensive array of variables encompassing socio-demographics, illness profile, psychopathological symptoms, psychological measures and pandemic-related factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine correlates of suicidal ideation. Results showed that 128 (31.4%) participants exhibited suicidal ideation. Univariate analyses revealed that being unemployed or full-time student, more severe depressive, anxiety, PTSD-like, insomnia and psychotic symptoms, higher levels of loneliness, avoidant-coping, greater pandemic-related stress burden and distress by social-distancing measures were related to suicidal ideation. Conversely, participants with higher monthly household-income, better quality-of-life, and greater resilience were less likely to have suicidal ideation. Notably, only depressive symptom severity was retained in final multivariate model as a factor significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Hence, we observed that approximately one-third of Chinese psychiatric patients experienced suicidal ideation during fifth pandemic wave. Our findings underscore the influence of depressive symptoms being above and beyond that of other psychopathological symptoms, psychological and pandemic-related variables on suicidal ideation. Longitudinal research is required to clarify suicidal ideation trajectories and predictors of persistent suicidal ideation across pandemic and post-pandemic periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Ka Ying Lo
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joe Kwun Nam Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Vivian Shi Cheng Fung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Corine Sau Man Wong
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ryan Sai Ting Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yuen Kiu So
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jacob Man Tik Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Albert Kar Kin Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Krystal Chi Kei Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Calvin Pak Wing Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Wing Law
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
| | - Wai Chi Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Ma CF, Chien WT, Luo H, Bressington D, Chen EYH, Chan SKW. Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Coronavirus Disease 2019, and Social Unrest on Adult Psychiatric Admissions in Hong Kong: A Comparative Population-Based Study. J Nerv Ment Dis 2023; 211:968-973. [PMID: 38015187 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT In Hong Kong, two infectious disease outbreaks occurred in 2003 (SARS) and 2020 (COVID-19), and a large-scale social unrest happened in 2019. These were stressful societal events that influenced the mental well-being of the public. We aimed to explore the impact of these events on psychiatric admissions in Hong Kong. Socioeconomic and population-based psychiatric hospital admission data were retrieved from the government and Hospital Authority. Negative binomial time-series regression analysis was applied and we found overall significant reductions of psychiatric admissions during both the SARS and COVID-19 periods (-7.4% to -16.8%). Particularly, the admissions for unipolar disorders (-16.2% to -39.7%) and neuroses (-20.9% to -31.9%) were greatly reduced during the infection outbreaks. But an increase of admissions for schizophrenia (12.0%) was seen during the social unrest period. These findings support introducing early and targeted community mental health care strategies to the vulnerable people during the stressful societal events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wai Tong Chien
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Daniel Bressington
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Australia
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Levi-Belz Y, Groweiss Y, Blank C. Moral injury and its mental health consequences among protesters: findings from Israel's civil protest against the government's judicial reform. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2283306. [PMID: 37994789 PMCID: PMC10993812 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2283306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Government actions and participating in protracted-duration protests against it affect protesters' mental health, leading to high distress levels, such as posttraumatic and depressive symptoms. Aside from exposure to violence and other issues, protest participation can pose unique challenges to the protesters as they may be exposed to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs), such as the betrayal of leaders they once trusted. This study's primary objective was to examine the extent of psychological difficulties among civilians participating in long-duration protests in Israel. More specifically, the study aimed to understand the contribution of exposure to protest-related PMIEs to psychological difficulties such as posttraumatic and depressive symptoms.Method: Participants comprised 4036 Israelis who were actively involved in the unfolding civil protest movement against the government-led judicial overhaul between January 2023 and August 2023. The protesters completed validated self-report questionnaires that included measures of PMIE exposure, PTSD and depressive symptoms.Results: About half (44.3%) of the sample met the criteria for self-report diagnosis of major depression and 10.6% for PTSD. Most of the protesters indicated their exposure to at least one moral injury event, with 63.9% reporting exposure to PMIE-Betrayal. Protesters exposed to PMIEs reported significantly higher levels of both PTSD and depression than non-PMIE-exposed protesters. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, beyond demographics and protest-related characteristics such as exposure to violence, PMIE dimensions significantly contributed to both PTSD and depression levels.Conclusions: The findings highlight the mental burden of protesters during the civil protests against the judicial overhaul in Israel. More central to the present research, the findings highlight the critical contribution of PMIEs exposure to this burden. Clinicians treating protesters coping with depression and PTSD following the civil actions should attend to their exposure to PMIEs, which may relate to the deleterious psychological effects among protesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Levi-Belz
- The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
| | - Yoav Groweiss
- The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
| | - Carmel Blank
- The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
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Wong SM, Chen EY, Suen Y, Wong CS, Chang W, Chan SK, McGorry PD, Morgan C, van Os J, McDaid D, Jones PB, Lam T, Lam LC, Lee EH, Tang EY, Ip CH, Ho WW, McGhee SM, Sham P, Hui CL. Prevalence, time trends, and correlates of major depressive episode and other psychiatric conditions among young people amid major social unrest and COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a representative epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2023; 40:100881. [PMID: 37654623 PMCID: PMC10465929 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Hong Kong is among the many populations that has experienced the combined impacts of social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite concerns about further deteriorations in youth mental health globally, few epidemiological studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of major depressive episode (MDE) and other major psychiatric disorders across periods of population-level changes using diagnostic interviews. Methods We conducted a territory-wide household-based epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022 targeting young people aged 15-24 years. MDE, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), and bipolar disorder (BD) were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Screening Scales in 3340 young people. Psychotic disorders were assessed by experienced psychiatrists according to the DSM. Help-seeking patterns were also explored. Findings 16.6% had any mental disorder (13.7% 12-month MDE, 2.3% BD, 2.1% GAD, 1.0% PD, 0.6% psychotic disorder). The prevalence of MDE increased from 13.2% during period 1 (May 2019-June 2020) to 18.1% during period 2 (July-December 2020), followed by 14.0% during period 3 (January-June 2021) and 13.2% during period 4 (July 2021-June 2022). Different stressors uniquely contributed to MDE across periods: social unrest-related stressors during period 1, COVID-19 stressors during period 2, and personal stressors during periods 3-4. Lower resilience, loneliness, frequent nightmares, and childhood adversity were consistently associated with MDE. Compared to other conditions, those with MDE showed the lowest service utilisation rate (16.7%). Perceiving services to "cost too much" and "talked to friends or relatives instead" were among the major reasons for not seeking help. MDE was also significantly associated with poorer functioning and health-related quality of life. Interpretation MDE can be sensitive to population-level changes, although its persistently elevated prevalence across the study period is of concern. Efforts to mitigate their impacts on youth mental health alongside personal risk factors are needed. Further work is required to increase the availability and acceptability of youth-targeted mental health services. Funding Food and Health Bureau (HKSAR Government).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M.Y. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric Y.H. Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Y.N. Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Corine S.M. Wong
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - W.C. Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sherry K.W. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick D. McGorry
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig Morgan
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - David McDaid
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom
| | - Peter B. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - T.H. Lam
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Linda C.W. Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Edwin H.M. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric Y.H. Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Charlie H. Ip
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Winky W.K. Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sarah M. McGhee
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - P.C. Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Christy L.M. Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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22
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Lun P, Ning K, Wang Y, Ma TSW, Flores FP, Xiao X, Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Tian L, Tsang TK, Leung K, Wu JT, Cowling BJ, Leung GM, Ni MY. COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness and Reasons for Vaccine Refusal. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2337909. [PMID: 37856125 PMCID: PMC10587797 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.37909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hong Kong was held as an exemplar for pandemic response until it recorded the world's highest daily COVID-19 mortality, which was likely due to vaccine refusal. To prevent this high mortality in future pandemics, information on underlying reasons for vaccine refusal is necessary. Objectives To track the evolution of COVID-19 vaccination willingness and uptake from before vaccine rollout to mass vaccination, to examine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine refusal and compare with data from Singapore, and to assess the population attributable fraction for vaccine refusal. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from randomly sampled participants from 14 waves of population-based studies in Hong Kong (February 2020 to May 2022) and 2 waves of population-based studies in Singapore (May 2020 to June 2021 and October 2021 to January 2022), and a population-wide registry of COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Data were analyzed from February 23, 2021, to May 30, 2022. Exposures Trust in COVID-19 vaccine information sources (ie, health authorities, physicians, traditional media, and social media); COVID-19 vaccine confidence on effectiveness, safety, and importance; COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions on safety and high-risk groups; political views; and COVID-19 policies (ie, workplace vaccine mandates and vaccine pass). Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were the weighted prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination willingness over the pandemic, adjusted incidence rate ratios, and population attributable fractions of COVID-19 vaccine refusal. A secondary outcome was change in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Results The study included 28 007 interviews from 20 waves of longitudinal data, with 1114 participants in the most recent wave (median [range] age, 54.2 years [20-92] years; 571 [51.3%] female). Four factors-mistrust in health authorities, low vaccine confidence, vaccine misconceptions, and political views-could jointly account for 82.2% (95% CI, 62.3%-100.0%) of vaccine refusal in adults aged 18 to 59 years and 69.3% (95% CI, 47.2%-91.4%) of vaccine refusal in adults aged 60 years and older. Workplace vaccine mandates were associated with 62.2% (95% CI, 9.9%-139.2%) increases in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments, and the Hong Kong vaccine pass was associated with 124.8% (95% CI, 65.9%-204.6%) increases in daily COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that trust in health authorities was fundamental to overcoming vaccine hesitancy. As such, engendering trust in health care professionals, experts, and public health agencies should be incorporated into pandemic preparedness and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Lun
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ke Ning
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yishan Wang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Tiffany S. W. Ma
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Francis P. Flores
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Mythily Subramaniam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Linwei Tian
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Tim K. Tsang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kathy Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Joseph T. Wu
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Benjamin J. Cowling
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Gabriel M. Leung
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Michael Y. Ni
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Urban System Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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23
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Wnuk A, Oleksy T, Gambin M, Woźniak-Prus M, Łyś A, Holas P. Collective action mitigates the negative effects of COVID-19 threat and anti-abortion restrictions on mental health. Soc Sci Med 2023; 335:116225. [PMID: 37729820 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116225] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives in many different domains, forcing people to adapt to countrywide lockdowns, school shutdowns, and business closures. The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted also in deterioration of mental health. At the same time, political conflicts and social inequalities was reinforced and many people engaged in demonstrations to fight for their rights. This study examines whether collective acting for an important cause during the pandemic might mitigate the impact of both political tension related to anti-abortion restrictions and COVID-19 threats on mental health. METHODS We conducted a two-wave study with a representative sample of the Polish population, investigating the effect of participating in Polish pro-choice demonstrations on depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS Participating in protests attenuated the negative effects of COVID-19 threat and anti-abortion restrictions on mental health. Moreover, we found that the feeling of solidarity with other demonstrators and sense of agency derived from such demonstrations led to lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION The results of the study indicate that participating in meaningful and value-oriented collective action may serve as a buffer against the detrimental effects of social and health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wnuk
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Oleksy
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Gambin
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | - Agnieszka Łyś
- Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Szamarzewskiego 89/AB, 60 - 568, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Paweł Holas
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland.
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24
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Wong SMY, Chen EYH. Significance of timely responses to mental health crises during unprecedented societal and global changes using an agile, empathic and user-centred digital approach: lessons from the Hong Kong experience. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e013540. [PMID: 37612035 PMCID: PMC10450124 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Ming Yin Wong
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Yu Hai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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25
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Wong SMY, Ip CH, Hui CLM, Suen YN, Wong CSM, Chang WC, Chan SKW, Lee EHM, Lui SSY, Chan KT, Wong MTH, Chen EYH. Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours in a representative epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong: the significance of suicide-related rumination, family functioning, and ongoing population-level stressors. Psychol Med 2023; 53:4603-4613. [PMID: 35650661 PMCID: PMC10388322 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722001519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young people are most vulnerable to suicidal behaviours but least likely to seek help. A more elaborate study of the intrinsic and extrinsic correlates of suicidal ideation and behaviours particularly amid ongoing population-level stressors and the identification of less stigmatising markers in representative youth populations is essential. METHODS Participants (n = 2540, aged 15-25) were consecutively recruited from an ongoing large-scale household-based epidemiological youth mental health study in Hong Kong between September 2019 and 2021. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt were assessed, alongside suicide-related rumination, hopelessness and neuroticism, personal and population-level stressors, family functioning, cognitive ability, lifetime non-suicidal self-harm, 12-month major depressive disorder (MDD), and alcohol use. RESULTS The 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation, ideation-only (no plan or attempt), plan, and attempt was 20.0, 15.4, 4.6, and 1.3%, respectively. Importantly, multivariable logistic regression findings revealed that suicide-related rumination was the only factor associated with all four suicidal outcomes (all p < 0.01). Among those with suicidal ideation (two-stage approach), intrinsic factors, including suicide-related rumination, poorer cognitive ability, and 12-month MDE, were specifically associated with suicide plan, while extrinsic factors, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stressors, poorer family functioning, and personal life stressors, as well as non-suicidal self-harm, were specifically associated with suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS Suicide-related rumination, population-level COVID-19 stressors, and poorer family functioning may be important less-stigmatising markers for youth suicidal risks. The respective roles played by not only intrinsic but also extrinsic factors in suicide plan and attempt using a two-stage approach should be considered in future preventative intervention work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Y. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Charlie H. Ip
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Christy L. M. Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Y. N. Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Corine S. M. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - W. C. Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sherry K. W. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Edwin H. M. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon S. Y. Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - K. T. Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael T. H. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Y. H. Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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26
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Wong SM, Chen EY, Suen YN, Ho W, Chan SK, Lee EH, Chan KT, Lui SS, Wong MT, Hui CL. Increased psychological distress among young people before and during the fifth wave of COVID-19 after two years of pandemic in Hong Kong: a 6-month longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:433. [PMID: 37322448 PMCID: PMC10267546 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04933-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite over two years of COVID-19 worldwide, the outbreak of the Omicron variant has given rise to an unprecedented surge of infection with diverse lockdown measures implemented globally. Whether the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19 could further affect mental health in the population after nearly two years of the pandemic remains to be addressed. Furthermore, whether changes in smartphone overuse behaviours and physical activity - both of which are particularly relevant to young people - would together contribute to changes in distress symptoms during this wave of COVID-19 was also examined. METHODS A total of 248 young people from an ongoing household-based epidemiological study in Hong Kong who completed their baseline assessments prior to the Omicron variant outbreak, i.e., fifth wave of COVID-19 (July-November 2021), were invited for a 6-month follow-up study during this wave of infection (January-April 2022) (mean age = 19.7 years, SD = 2.7; 58.9% females). At both time points, levels of global distress symptoms, perceived stress, smartphone overuse, frequency of engagement in vigorous physical activity, and other potential risk and protective factors were assessed. RESULTS The proportion of young people presenting moderate-to-severe distress (6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥ 5) significantly increased from 45.6 to 54.4% during the fifth wave of COVID-19 (p < 0.010). Significantly increased levels of smartphone overuse and reduced days of vigorous physical activity were also observed during the fifth wave. Notably, increased smartphone overuse and reduced physical activity both additively and interactively contributed to elevated distress at 6 months, even after accounting for demographic characteristics, psychiatric history, childhood adversity, as well as baseline distress symptoms, resilience, and recent personal stressors. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19, specifically the Omicron outbreak, can further aggravate mental distress even after a protracted period of the pandemic. Awareness of the dynamic nature of COVID-19 is necessitated to address the pressing mental health needs of populations. Supporting young people in healthier patterns of smartphone use and physical activity can be helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie My Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Yh Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
| | - Y N Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Winky Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sherry Kw Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Edwin Hm Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - K T Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon Sy Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael Th Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Christy Lm Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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27
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Nooraeen S, Croarkin PE. Protest suicide: considerations for psychiatrists and psychologists. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1213420. [PMID: 37398601 PMCID: PMC10308011 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1213420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
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28
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Lau NS, Cheung RYM, Lai CKS, Lau AYT, Fung MC. Effects of mindfulness on stress, life satisfaction, and savoring beliefs among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1118288. [PMID: 37255518 PMCID: PMC10226523 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1118288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescents all over the world are vulnerable in facing developmental challenges. Recent studies have evidenced that the unexpected interruptions of school learning during the COVID-19 pandemic have raised concerns about the well-being of adolescents. This present study sought to investigate the relationship between mindfulness, stress, savoring beliefs, and satisfaction of life among adolescents in Hong Kong during COVID-19. A total of 240 Hong Kong Chinese adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age (M = 15.60; SD = 0.70) from schools with different religious backgrounds completed an online survey. Findings from hierarchical linear regression indicated that statistically, mindfulness negatively predicted stress and positively predicted life satisfaction and savoring beliefs. Students with faiths did not show any significant differences in mindfulness and other variables in this study from students without faiths. In terms of implications, these findings provide positive evidence that mindfulness may be an important aspect for interventions designed to enhance life satisfaction and savoring beliefs, and reduce stress of adolescents over challenging times. Overall, this study suggests youth service providers to develop effective strategies in schools and communities for further promoting wellbeing and resilience of adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngar-sze Lau
- Department of Educational Administration and Policy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rebecca Y. M. Cheung
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Cheuk Ki Stephanie Lai
- Department of Special Education and Counseling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Abby Yan Tung Lau
- Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man Ching Fung
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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29
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Fong TCT, Ho RTH, Yip PSF. Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 among Hong Kong young adults in 2021: Associations with meaning in life and suicidal ideation. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1138755. [PMID: 36970263 PMCID: PMC10033692 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1138755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundYoung adults in Hong Kong are subject to elevated psychological distress given the societal stressors such as civil unrest and COVID-19 pandemic and suicide is a leading cause of death among them. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a brief measure of psychological distress and its associations with meaning in life and suicidal ideation (SI) in young adults.Materials and methodsA mobile survey recruited a large and random sample of 1,472 young adults (Mean age = 26.3 years, 51.8% males) in Hong Kong in 2021. The participants completed the PHQ-4 and Meaning in Life Questionnaire–short form (MLQ-SF) for presence of meaning in life (MIL), SI, COVID-19 impact, and exposure to suicide. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of PHQ-4 and MLQ-SF across gender, age, and distress subgroups. Multigroup structural equation model evaluated and compared the direct and indirect effects of latent MIL factor on SI via latent PHQ-4 factor across distress groups.ResultsBoth MIL and PHQ-4 supported a 1-factor model with good composite reliability (Ω = 0.80–0.86) and strong factor loadings (λ = 0.65–0.88). Both factors showed scalar invariance across gender, age, and distress groups. MIL showed significant and negative indirect effects (αβ = −0.196, 95% CI = −0.254 to −0.144) on SI via PHQ-4. PHQ-4 showed a stronger mediating role between MIL and SI in the distress group (Δ = −0.146, 95% CI = −0.252 to −0.049) than the non-distress group. Higher MIL predicted higher likelihoods of help-seeking (Odds ratios = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.14–1.88).ConclusionThe present results support adequate psychometric properties in terms of factorial validity, reliability, convergent validity, and measurement invariance for the PHQ-4 in young adults in Hong Kong. The PHQ-4 demonstrated a substantial mediating role in the relationship between meaning in life and SI in the distress group. These findings support clinical relevance for using the PHQ-4 as a brief and valid measure of psychological distress in the Chinese context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted C. T. Fong
- Centre on Behavioral Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rainbow T. H. Ho
- Centre on Behavioral Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Paul S. F. Yip
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Paul S. F. Yip,
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Zhang T, Liu H, Lu Y, Wang Q. The Nexus of Sports-Based Development and Education of Mental Health and Physical Fitness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3737. [PMID: 36834432 PMCID: PMC9967856 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043737] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Physical inactivity has increased globally, particularly in developed nations. A high proportion of the human population is unable to meet the physical activity recommendation of the World Health Organisation due to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and other medical conditions. Non-communicable diseases and mental health problems are becoming more prevalent, particularly in low and middle-income nations. This study aimed to determine the effectivenessof a mentorship programmeon university students' mental health and physical fitness. The intervention comprised the effects of sports-based development and education on physical fitness and mental health. A total of 196 and 234 students from two universities were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. The primary outcomes were engagement in physical activities (number of push-ups for 1 min, the strength of hand grip (kg), and the Jump test while standing (cm)), body fat proportion and psychological resilience, self-efficacy, and relationship with family and schoolmates. Participants in the control group had access to a web-based health education game, whereas the intervention group wassubjected to intensive interventional activities for one month based on the eight principles of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare the physical and mental components between the intervention and control groups. Relative to baseline, all the physical health components (push-ups, sit-ups, and jump tests), psychological resilience, relationship with family members, and self-efficacy increased significantly in the intervention compared to the control group. Body fat composition was significantly reduced in the intervention when compared tothe control group. In conclusion, the mentorship programme effectively improved the participants' physical and psychological health and could be developed further for application in a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiejun Zhang
- Sports Ministry, Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou 450011, China
| | - Huarong Liu
- School of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Sports Teaching and Research Section, Wuhan University of Communications, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Qinglei Wang
- Faculty of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
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Tao TJ, Liang L, Liu H, Hobfoll SE, Hou WK, Bonanno GA. The interrelations between psychological outcome trajectories and resource changes amid large-scale disasters: A growth mixture modeling analysis. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:57. [PMID: 36792591 PMCID: PMC9930711 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently little is known about the interrelations between changes in psychiatric symptoms and changes in resources (personal, social, financial) amid large-scale disasters. This study investigated trajectories of psychiatric symptoms and their relationships with different patterns of changes in personal, social, and financial resources between 2020 and 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A population-representative sample (N = 1333) was recruited to complete self-report instruments at the pandemic's acute phase (February-July 2020, T1), and again at 1-year (March-August 2021, T2) and 1.5-year (September 2021-February 2022, T3) follow-ups. Respondents reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy, perceived social support, and financial capacity. Growth mixture modeling (GMM) identified four trajectories of depressive and anxiety symptoms: resilience (72.39-74.19%), recovery (8.40-11.93%), delayed distress (7.20-7.35%), and chronic distress (8.33-10.20%). Four patterns were demonstrated in resource changes: persistent high resources (40.89-47.64%), resource gain (12.08-15.60%), resource loss (6.30-10.43%), and persistent low resources (28.73-36.61%). Loss and gain in financial resources characterized chronic distress and resilience, respectively. Loss in personal resources characterized delayed distress, whereas loss or no gain in social resources was related to chronic/delayed distress. Respondents in resilience were also more likely to have persistent high resources while those with delayed/chronic distress were more likely to have persistent low resources. These results provide an initial evidence base for advancing current understanding on trajectories of resilience and psychopathology in the context of resource changes during and after large-scale disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Junchen Tao
- grid.419993.f0000 0004 1799 6254Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Li Liang
- grid.419993.f0000 0004 1799 6254Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huinan Liu
- grid.419993.f0000 0004 1799 6254Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China ,grid.419993.f0000 0004 1799 6254Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stevan E. Hobfoll
- STAR Consultants-STress, Anxiety and Resilience, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Wai Kai Hou
- Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - George A. Bonanno
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 USA
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Monitoring socioeconomic inequalities in health in Hong Kong: insights and lessons from the UK and Australia. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2023; 31:100636. [PMID: 36879790 PMCID: PMC9985041 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In many developed countries such as the UK and Australia, addressing socioeconomic inequalities in health is a priority in their policy agenda, with well-established practices and authorities to collect and link selected health and social indicators for long-term monitoring. Nonetheless, the monitoring of socioeconomic inequalities in health in Hong Kong remains in a piecemeal manner. Also, the common international practice to monitor inequalities at area level appears to be unsuitable in Hong Kong due to its small, compact, and highly interconnected built environment that limits the variation of neighbourhood deprivation level. To enhance inequality monitoring in Hong Kong, we aim to draw reference and lesson from the UK and Australia to explore the feasible steps forward regarding collection of health indicators and contextually appropriate equity stratifiers with strong implication on policy actions, and discuss potential strategies to promote the public awareness and motivations for a more comprehensive inequality monitoring system.
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A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness meditation versus exercise in Parkinson's disease during social unrest. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:7. [PMID: 36681670 PMCID: PMC9862216 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00452-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical practice guidelines support resilience training and exercise for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the effects of a modified mindfulness meditation program versus stretching and resistance training exercise (SRTE) in patients with mild-to-moderate PD. A total of 126 potential participants were enrolled via convenience sampling, of which 68 eligible participants were randomized 1:1 to receive eight weekly 90-min sessions of mindfulness meditation or SRTE. Compared to the SRTE group, generalized estimating equation analyses revealed that the mindfulness group had significantly better improvement in outcomes, particularly for improving depressive symptoms (d, -1.66; 95% CI, -3.31 to -0.02) at week 8 and maintaining emotional non-reactivity at week 20 (d, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.59 to 3.56). Both groups demonstrated significant immediate, small-moderate effects on cognition (effect size [d] = 0.36-0.37, p = 0.006-0.011). Compared with the SRTE, mindfulness meditation appeared to be a feasible and promising strategy for managing depressive symptoms and maintaining emotional stability, with comparable benefits on cognitive performance. To combat the psychospiritual and cognitive sequelae of social unrest and COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of mindfulness training into motor-oriented PD rehabilitation protocols is recommended to strengthen the resilience and minimize the psycho-cognitive comorbidities among patients with mild-to-moderate PD.Trial Registration: HKU Clinical Trials Registry identifier: HKUCTR-2681.
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Yang K, Zhu J, Yang L, Lin Y, Huang X, Li Y. Analysis of network public opinion on COVID-19 epidemic based on the WSR theory. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1104031. [PMID: 36711404 PMCID: PMC9880161 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1104031] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To obtain the influencing factors of public opinion reactions and to construct a basic framework of the factors causing the occurrence of online public opinion in the epidemic area. Methods The hot news comments on microblogs during the epidemic in Shanghai were collected and analyzed with qualitative analysis, grounded theory, and the "Wuli-Shili-Renli" (WSR) methodology as an auxiliary method. Results (1) Three core categories of the Wuli system, the Shili system, and the Renli system, 15 main categories, and 86 categories that influence the development of network public opinion are obtained. (2) WSR Elements Framework Of Network Public Opinion (WSR-EFONPO) is established. (3) The WSR-EFONPO is explained. Conclusion The framework of factors for the occurrence of network public opinion is proposed, and the development process of network public opinion under COVID-19 is sorted out, which is of great theoretical value in guiding the public in the epidemic area to form reasonable behavior.
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da Costa S, Páez D, Martí-González M, Díaz V, Bouchat P. Social movements and collective behavior: an integration of meta-analysis and systematic review of social psychology studies. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1096877. [PMID: 37151317 PMCID: PMC10162496 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1096877] [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: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The impact of social movements (SMs) and collective behavior (CB) supports the relevance of approaching this phenomenon from social psychology. Several systematic reviews (10) and meta-analyses (6) have been carried out in the 21st century, but there is a lack of integration. Aim This study seeks to review the patterns of CB and corroborate the psychosocial factors that explain participation in CB and SMs, as well as the long-term psychological effects of participating in them. Method A systematic search was carried out in the databases Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Willey Online Library, EBSCO, and JSTOR for articles dated between 1969 and 2022. We searched for meta-analyses and systematic reviews that empirically evaluated social movements and collective behavior. Of the 494 initial records, after scanning and eligibility phases, 16 meta-analyses and systematic reviews were analyzed in the present work. Results The evidence reviewed shows that participation in collective gatherings and CB are common. A cross-cultural survey suggests that collective gatherings are mostly of a leisure type, to a lesser extent religious and sporting, and to an even lesser extent, demonstrations and large religious rites. World Value surveys found that one to three persons out of 10 participate in protests or CB related to SMs and four out of 10 movements achieved some kind of success. Studies challenged that CBs were characterized by unanimity of beliefs, identification and behavior, generalized excitement, as well as mass panic and riot after catastrophes. Only two out of 10 CB are violent. Meta-analysis and systematic reviews confirm that participation in CB and SMs was associated with (a) intergroup conflict and realistic threat (r = 0.30); (b) positive attitudes, expectations, or agreement with goals or collective motive (r = 0.44); (c) cognitive fraternal relative deprivation (r = 0.25); (d) collective efficacy (r = 0.36); (e) collective identity (r = 0.34); (f) emotions and affective relative deprivation (r = 0.35); (g) moral conviction and threat to moral (r = 0.29); and (h) disagreement with system justification belief (r = -0.26). Participation in successful CB and SMs provokes positive changes in emotions, social identity and social relationships, values and beliefs, and empowerment, as well as negative effects such as depression, stress, burnout, and disempowerment related to the failures of SMs. Conclusion Studies confirm the importance of explanatory factors for SMs, with data from various cultural regions. There is a lack of systematic studies of CB as well as meta-analyses and more culturally diverse studies of the effects of participation in them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia da Costa
- Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
- *Correspondence: Silvia da Costa
| | - Dario Páez
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, University of Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
- Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Andrés Bello University, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariacarla Martí-González
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Education, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Virginia Díaz
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, University of Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Pierre Bouchat
- Laboratoire Perseus, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
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Liang L, Bonanno GA, Hougen C, Hobfoll SE, Hou WK. Everyday life experiences for evaluating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2238584. [PMID: 37650243 PMCID: PMC10472851 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2238584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous research has highlighted the importance of regularizing daily routines for maintaining mental health. Little is known about whether and how regularity of daily routines is associated with reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.Objective: We aimed to examine the associations between regularity of daily routines and PTSD symptoms in two studies (N = 796).Method: In Study 1, prospective data were analysed with the latent change score model to investigate the association between sustainment of regular daily routines and change in PTSD symptoms over time amid massive civil unrest in Hong Kong in 2019. Study 2 used vignette as a quasi-experimental method to assess the ability of maintaining regular daily routines in face of a major stressor, and tested its associations with PTSD symptoms.Results: In Study 1, increased regularity of diverse daily routines was inversely associated with increased PTSD symptoms amid the civil unrest in Hong Kong (β = -.427 to -.224, 95% confidence intervals [-.543 to -.359, -.310 to -.090], p values < .01). In Study 2, a greater ability to maintain regular daily routines during stress was associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms (β = -.285 to -.096, 95% confidence intervals [-.379 to -.189, -.190 to -.003], p values < .05).Conclusions: Our findings suggest the benefit of considering diverse everyday activities in evaluating PTSD symptoms in both clinical and subclinical populations. Interventions with the direct focus on the role of daily living could promote psychological resilience during and after potentially traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liang
- Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - George A. Bonanno
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Clint Hougen
- Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stevan E. Hobfoll
- STAR Consultants – STress, Anxiety and Resilience, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Wai Kai Hou
- Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
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Shek DTL, Zhu X, Dou D, Li X. National Security Law Education in Hong Kong: Qualitative Evaluation Based on the Perspective of the Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:553. [PMID: 36612880 PMCID: PMC9819333 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we adopted a qualitative evaluation approach to understand the subjective views of the students on a program on law abidance leadership education covering the Hong Kong National Security Law. The program involves a 3 h lecture and 7 h of self-study on topics surrounding national security. To evaluate the program, we adopted a general qualitative research design to collect data via focus groups using a semi-structured interview guide. Researchers with a doctoral degree and qualitative research experiences conducted six focus groups involving 52 randomly selected students, with 6 to 12 participants per group. Results showed high inter-rater reliability in the thematic analyses. With reference to the questions in the semi-structured interviews, several observations could be highlighted. First, students had different views on different aspects of the lecture, including content, arrangement, lecture notes and assessment. Second, students generally had positive views of teachers' interaction with students and their teaching performance. Third, students had positive learning experiences and they perceived benefits and value of the program. Fourth, despite the positive comments of the students, some students proposed suggestions for improvement. Finally, the program was not seen as brainwashing by the students. Together with evaluation findings based on four other evaluation studies, the triangulated findings suggest that this program promoted the knowledge about law abidance leadership in the students and nurtured their positive attitudes towards law abidance.
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Fenn N, Sacco A, Monahan K, Robbins M, Pearson-Merkowitz S. Examining the relationship between civic engagement and mental health in young adults: a systematic review of the literature. JOURNAL OF YOUTH STUDIES 2022; 27:558-587. [PMID: 38706784 PMCID: PMC11068018 DOI: 10.1080/13676261.2022.2156779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Researchers have examined civic engagement as a health promotion tool among older adults and adolescents, yet less is known about its mental health implications for young adults. This systematic review identified 53 articles on civic engagement and well-being in young adults. Five key themes emerged: (1) varying associations between type of civic engagement and well-being, (2) duration and frequency of civic behaviors, (3) directionality in the civic-to-well-being pathway, (4) mediation and moderation factors affecting the civic-to-well-being pathway, and (5) civic engagement as a tool for coping with adversity or systemic oppression. Civic engagement demonstrates a heterogeneous relationship to well-being; future research should focus on the explanatory pathways for positive, negative, and null correlations particularly among historically marginalized young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Fenn
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Allegra Sacco
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Kathleen Monahan
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Mark Robbins
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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Yeung CY, Men YV, Caine ED, Yip PSF. The differential impacts of social deprivation and social fragmentation on suicides: A lesson from Hong Kong. Soc Sci Med 2022; 315:115524. [PMID: 36413859 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115524] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Little research has conducted to examine the association between social deprivation and social fragmentation, overall and method-specific suicide risk, and how these associations may change over time. This study investigated the association between social deprivation and social fragmentation with overall and method-specific suicide in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2018. METHODS Suicide death data of each small tertiary planning unit (STPU) was obtained from the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. Socio-economic characteristics in STPU level were obtained from Census and Bi-census. Exploratory principal component analysis was used to construct the social deprivation (SDI) and social fragmentation indices (SFI) based on the socio-economic characteristics. Bayesian hierarchical modelling was conducted to explore the association between SDI and SFI with overall and method-specific suicide over time, controlling for population density and male-to-female ratio. RESULTS Higher risk of suicide was generally observed around Kowloon Peninsula and some parts in the Northern, Northwestern and Southwestern areas depending on methods. The effect of SDI and SFI on suicide risk varied by years and methods. In 2014-2018, for every 10% increase in SDI, the suicide risk for overall, jumping, hanging, and charcoal burning elevated by 22% (95%Crl = 10%-37%), 26% (95%Crl = 12%-41%), 31% (95%Crl = 14%-51%), and 21% (95%Crl = 4%-42%) respectively. CONCLUSION Spatial variations and effects of SDI and SFI on overall and method-specific suicide risks varied by different periods. SDI was observed to be a stronger factor in the recent years. Situations should be monitored, and interventions should be implemented and adjusted accordingly to the changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Yui Yeung
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Yu Vera Men
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eric D Caine
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Paul Siu Fai Yip
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Fung HW, Wong ENM, Lam SKK, Chien WT, Hung SL, Ross CA, Cloitre M. Prevalence and sociocultural correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder and complex PTSD among Chinese community health service users in Hong Kong. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2022:207640221141018. [PMID: 36457219 DOI: 10.1177/00207640221141018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a newly recognized trauma disorder in ICD-11. Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of CPTSD in primary care settings. Its cultural aspects also remained minimally explored. This study investigated the prevalence and sociocultural correlates of PTSD and complex PTSD among Chinese community health service users in Hong Kong. METHODS This study investigated ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a sample of adults (N = 376) who had recently received services from Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners in Hong Kong. Traditional Chinese medicine service is part of primary care services in Chinese societies. Participants completed self-report measures of CPTSD, trauma exposure, perceived family support, perceived caregiver's Chinese traditionality/modernity, participation (social activities and occupational productivity), depression and pain. RESULTS The past-month prevalence of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD was 5.6% and 18.4%, respectively, in our sample. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs revealed that participants with CPTSD were younger and reported more trauma, lower family support, lower levels of social participation and productivity, more depressive symptoms and pain, and more social welfare and mental health service usages than those without PTSD. We found that perceived caregiver's Chinese modernity (e.g. egalitarianism) was negatively correlated with CPTSD symptoms. Apart from age, non-betrayal trauma had the strongest association with classical PTSD symptoms, while betrayal trauma and perceived family support had the strongest association with disturbances in self-organization symptoms. CONCLUSION This study provides the first data regarding the prevalence and correlates of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD among community health service users in Hong Kong. PTSD and CPTSD are common but often unrecognized mental health problems which are associated with more impairments and more service needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang Fung
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Emily Nga Man Wong
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, North Point, Hong Kong
| | - Stanley Kam Ki Lam
- Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Wai Tong Chien
- Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Suet Lin Hung
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Colin A Ross
- The Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Marylene Cloitre
- National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.,Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA
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Rath AA, Lau EH, Schooling CM. The impact of the minimum wage on suicide rates in Hong Kong. Soc Sci Med 2022; 314:115236. [PMID: 36308889 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115236] [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: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Increases in minimum wages have been associated with reductions in suicide rates in the United States, but little evidence is available for Asia where social and contextual factors, as well as drivers of suicide, may be different. We investigated the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage in Hong Kong in May 2011 on suicide rates using an interrupted time series design for the period January 2006 to December 2016. We investigated both immediate and gradual changes in monthly suicide rates after the introduction of the minimum wage taking into account secular trends. We conducted stratified analyses by age and gender. In total 9396 suicides were recorded in Hong Kong during the 11-year study period. Introduction of the minimum wage was associated with an immediate decrease of 13.0% in the monthly suicide rate (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4%-19.9%, P = 0.001). There was an immediate decrease of 15.8% in older working aged (25-64 years) men (95% CI: 4.2%-25.9%, P = 0.009). Point estimates of immediate effect for other subgroups were also in a negative direction, but were not statistically significant. There was no evidence of a gradual effect on suicide rates at the population level or by subgroup other than a small increase in younger working aged men. We estimate that 633 suicides were prevented by the minimum wage legislation for the period from May 2011 to December 2016, the majority in older working aged men. Our results provide new evidence that, similar to findings in Western settings, minimum wages may help to reduce suicide in Asia, particularly for working age men. Our study highlights the importance of examining the health impacts of government economic policy and suggests minimum wages may provide policy makers with an upstream population-based strategy to reduce suicide rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail A Rath
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (AAR, EHYL and CMS), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, United States.
| | - Eric Hy Lau
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (AAR, EHYL and CMS), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, United States
| | - C Mary Schooling
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (AAR, EHYL and CMS), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, United States
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Wong TY, Fang Z, Yu YT, Cheung C, Hui CLM, Elvevåg B, De Deyne S, Sham PC, Chen EYH. Discovering the structure and organization of a free Cantonese emotion-label word association graph to understand mental lexicons of emotions. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19581. [PMID: 36380119 PMCID: PMC9666539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23995-z] [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] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotions are not necessarily universal across different languages and cultures. Mental lexicons of emotions depend strongly on contextual factors, such as language and culture. The Chinese language has unique linguistic properties that are different from other languages. As a main variant of Chinese, Cantonese has some emotional expressions that are only used by Cantonese speakers. Previous work on Chinese emotional vocabularies focused primarily on Mandarin. However, little is known about Cantonese emotion vocabularies. This is important since both language variants might have distinct emotional expressions, despite sharing the same writing system. To explore the structure and organization of Cantonese-label emotion words, we selected 79 highly representative emotion cue words from an ongoing large-scale Cantonese word association study (SWOW-HK). We aimed to identify the categories of these emotion words and non-emotion words that related to emotion concepts. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to generate word clusters and investigate the underlying emotion dimensions. As the cluster quality was low in hierarchical clustering, we further constructed an emotion graph using a network approach to explore how emotions are organized in the Cantonese mental lexicon. With the support of emotion knowledge, the emotion graph defined more distinct emotion categories. The identified network communities covered basic emotions such as love, happiness, and sadness. Our results demonstrate that mental lexicon graphs constructed from free associations of Cantonese emotion-label words can reveal fine categories of emotions and their relevant concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yat Wong
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Zhiqian Fang
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yat To Yu
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Charlton Cheung
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Christy L. M. Hui
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Brita Elvevåg
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Simon De Deyne
- grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XSchool of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pak Chung Sham
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eric Y. H. Chen
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Cheung T, Cheng CPW, Fong TKH, Sharew NT, Anders RL, Xiang YT, Lam SC. Psychological impact on healthcare workers, general population and affected individuals of SARS and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1004558. [PMID: 36407973 PMCID: PMC9673757 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1004558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Any infectious disease outbreak may lead to a negative detrimental psychological impact on individuals and the community at large, however; there was no systematic review nor meta-analysis that examined the relationship between the psychological/mental health impact of SARS and COVID-19 outbreak in Asia. Methods and design A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases from 1/1/2000 to 1/6/2020. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we analyzed the psychological impact on confirmed/suspected cases, healthcare workers and the general public during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemics. Primary outcomes included prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, aggression, sleeping problems and psychological symptoms. Result Twenty-three eligible studies (N = 27,325) were included. Random effect model was used to analyze the data using STATA. Of these studies, 11 were related to the SARS outbreak and 12 related to COVID-19 outbreaks. The overall prevalence rate of anxiety during SARS and COVID-19 was 37.8% (95% CI: 21.1-54.5, P < 0.001, I2 = 96.9%) and 34.8% (95% CI: 29.1-40.4), respectively. For depression, the overall prevalence rate during SARS and COVID-19 was 30.9% (95% CI: 18.6-43.1, P < 0.001, I2 = 97.3%) and 32.4% (95% CI: 19.8-45.0, P < 0.001, I2 = 99.8%), respectively. The overall prevalence rate of stress was 9.4% (95% CI: -0.4 -19.2, P = 0.015, I2 = 83.3%) and 54.1% (95% CI: 35.7-72.6, P < 0.001, I2 = 98.8%) during SARS and COVID-19, respectively. The overall prevalence of PTSD was 15.1% (95% CI: 8.2-22.0, P < 0.001) during SARS epidemic, calculated by random-effects model (P < 0.05), with significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 93.5%). Conclusion The SARS and COVID-19 epidemics have brought about high levels of psychological distress to individuals. Psychological interventions and contingent digital mental health platform should be promptly established nationwide for continuous surveillance of the increasing prevalence of negative psychological symptoms. Health policymakers and mental health experts should jointly collaborate to provide timely, contingent mental health treatment and psychological support to those in need to reduce the global disease burden. Systematic review registration CRD42020182787, identifier PROSPER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teris Cheung
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Calvin Pak Wing Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tommy Kwan Hin Fong
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Robert L. Anders
- School of Nursing, University of Texas at EI Paso, EI Paso, TX, United States
| | - Yu Tao Xiang
- Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Simon Ching Lam
- School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,*Correspondence: Simon Ching Lam ;
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Guo N, Tsun Luk T, Wu Y, Lai AYK, Li Y, Cheung DYT, Wong JYH, Fong DYT, Wang MP. Between- and within-person associations of mobile gaming time and total screen time with sleep problems in young adults: Daily assessment study. Addict Behav 2022; 134:107408. [PMID: 35717890 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore associations of screen time (total, mobile gaming) with sleep problems in Chinese young adults. METHODS This was a 4-week daily morning (completion rate = 82.1%, 909/1107) and evening (completion rate = 92.4%, 1061/1148) assessment study in 41 university students (22 female, mean age = 22.3 [SD 4.2] years). Short sleep duration < 7 h, difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, and any of these three insomnia symptoms were self-reported in the morning. Mobile gaming time was self-reported in the evening, whilst total screen time was objectively tracked. Bayesian multilevel mixed-effects modeling disaggregated between- and within-person associations. RESULTS Between person, longer mobile gaming time predicted short sleep duration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.90, 95% CI 1.39, 2.69), any insomnia symptoms (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.20, 2.11), difficulty initiating sleep (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI 1.51, 6.24), and difficulty maintaining sleep (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.18, 3.74). Short sleep duration (adjusted b = 0.99, 95% CI 0.05, 1.95), any insomnia symptoms (adjusted b = 1.19, 95% CI 0.24, 1.94), and difficulty initiating sleep (adjusted b = 1.72, 95% CI 0.11, 3.19) reversely increased mobile gaming time. Within person, any insomnia symptoms (adjusted b = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04, 0.31) and early morning awakening (adjusted b = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08, 0.48) increased next-day mobile gaming time. Total screen time was not associated with sleep problems both between and within person. CONCLUSIONS Bidirectional between-person associations of mobile gaming time with short sleep duration and insomnia symptoms informed multiple-health-behavior-change interventions. Unidirectional within-person associations of insomnia symptoms with next-day mobile gaming time informed just-in-time adaptive interventions addressing daily variations in insomnia symptoms. [250/250 word limits].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyuan Guo
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tzu Tsun Luk
- School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yongda Wu
- School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yajie Li
- School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | - Man Ping Wang
- School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Hui LL, Nelson EAS, Deng HB, Leung TY, Ho CH, Chong JSC, Fung GPG, Hui J, Lam HS. The view of Hong Kong parents on secondary use of dried blood spots in newborn screening program. BMC Med Ethics 2022; 23:105. [PMID: 36319979 PMCID: PMC9628108 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-022-00839-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Residual dried blood spots (rDBS) from newborn screening programmes represent a valuable resource for medical research, from basic sciences, through clinical to public health. In Hong Kong, there is no legislation for biobanking. Parents’ view on the retention and use of residual newborn blood samples could be cultural-specific and is important to consider for biobanking of rDBS. Objective To study the views and concerns on long-term storage and secondary use of rDBS from newborn screening programmes among Hong Kong Chinese parents. Methods A mixed-method approach was used to study the views and concerns on long-term storage and secondary use of rDBS from newborn screening programmes among Hong Kong Chinese parents of children 0–3 years or expecting parents through focus groups (8 groups; 33 participants) and a survey (n = 1012, 85% mothers) designed with insights obtained from the focus groups. We used framework analysis to summarise the themes as supportive factors, concerns and critical arguments for retention and secondary use of rDBS from focus group discussion. We used multiple logistic regression to assess factors associated with support for retention and secondary use of rDBS in the survey. Results Both in focus groups and survey, majority of parents were not aware of the potential secondary use of rDBS. Overall secondary use of rDBS in medical research was well accepted by a large proportion of Hong Kong parents, even if all potential future research could not be specified in a broad consent. However parents were concerned about potential risks of biobanking rDBS including leaking of data and mis-use of genetic information. Parents wanted to be asked for permission before rDBS are stored and mainly did not accept an “opt-out” approach. The survey showed that parents born in mainland China, compared to Hong Kong born parents, had lower awareness of newborn screening but higher support in biobanking rDBS. Higher education was associated with support in rDBS biobanking only among fathers. Conclusion Long-term storage and secondary use of rDBS from newborn screening for biomedical research and a broad consent for biobanking of rDBS are generally acceptable to Hong Kong parents given their autonomy is respected and their privacy is protected, highlighting the importance of an accountable governance and a transparent access policy for rDBS biobanks.
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Affiliation(s)
- L L Hui
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - E A S Nelson
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - H B Deng
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - T Y Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - C H Ho
- Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - J S C Chong
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - G P G Fung
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - J Hui
- Private paediatrician, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - H S Lam
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Low assets predict persistent depression through living difficulties amid large-scale disasters: A cohort study. J Affect Disord 2022; 315:282-290. [PMID: 35872246 PMCID: PMC9304334 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In face of large-scale disasters, persons with fewer assets are at greater risk of persistent poorer mental health than persons with more assets. Everyday daily routine disruptions and financial hardship could mediate this association. METHODS This prospective population-representative study in Hong Kong aimed to investigate the relation between assets during the acute phase of COVID-19 (February-August 2020, T1) and persistent probable depression from T1 to March-August 2021 (T2), as well as the mediating effects of daily routine disruptions and financial hardship on the assets-depression association. RESULTS Low assets at T1 prospectively related to persistent probable depression from T1 to T2. Primary routine disruptions (i.e., healthy eating and sleep) at T1 and financial hardship at T2 were found to fully mediate the association between T1 assets and persistent probable depression. LIMITATIONS Persistent probable depression reported on the PHQ-9 should be further verified with clinical diagnoses/interviews. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by a global economic downturn. Persons who have fewer assets could be at greater risk of depression during this period. Our findings suggest a need to provide behavioral and financial assistance to persons with fewer assets in the short run and a need to ensure that everyone has adequate assets to mitigate the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the long run.
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Ayinde OO, Atere OP, Ibeawuchi U, Bello T, Ogunkoya A, Asafa O, Abdulmalik J. Aftermath of anti-police protests in Nigeria: Burden and predictors of psychiatric morbidity among protesters and non-protesters. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022; 56:1306-1319. [PMID: 34581195 DOI: 10.1177/00048674211049332] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anti-police (#EndSARS) protests took place in October 2020 across several Nigerian cities, resulting in deaths, injuries and loss of property, but the psychological sequelae of these protests have not been studied. METHOD In a cross-sectional online survey, we collected data on psychiatric morbidity and potential risk factors from 426 Nigerian social media users, who self-identified as participants or non-participants in a recent anti-police protest. RESULTS We found elevated rates of psychiatric morbidity, with worse outcomes for protesters compared to non-protesters (psychological distress [44.2% vs 29.8%], depression [26.0% vs 14.9%], anxiety [51.0% vs 29.8%], post-traumatic stress disorder [7.4% vs 1.8%], current substance use [11.2% vs 4.5%] and suicidal ideation [7.1% vs 4.4%], respectively). After adjusting for the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and previous mental health diagnosis, the predictors of poor mental health among non-protesters were being unmarried (odds ratio = 7.4, p = 0.01) and low resilience (odds ratio range = 4.1-5.4, p < 0.03) while for the protesters, the predictors were low resilience (odds ratio range = 2.9-4.7, p < 0.01), being from Northern Nigeria (odds ratio = 4.7, p < 0.01) or residing in Northern Nigeria (odds ratio = 2.8, p = 0.03), being under-/unemployed (odds ratio range = 2.1-2.5, p < 0.04), holding the view that the protest was caused by the state of the economy (odds ratio = 2.0, p = 0.01), belief that the protest had a direct negative impact on the protester (odds ratio = 2.3, p = 0.04) and willingness to participate in future protests (odds ratio = 4.13, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION We conclude that participating in the #EndSARS protest was associated with significant psychiatric morbidity. There is need to recognise and address the mental health sequelae of collective actions, and invest in programmes that build resilience and address socio-political determinants of mental health, especially with a focus on youth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ugonna Ibeawuchi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Toyin Bello
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental health, Neurosciences, and Substance abuse, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Jibril Abdulmalik
- Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Gagnon-Sanschagrin P, Schein J, Urganus A, Serra E, Liang Y, Musingarimi P, Cloutier M, Guérin A, Davis LL. Identifying individuals with undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder in a large United States civilian population - a machine learning approach. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:630. [PMID: 36171558 PMCID: PMC9519190 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The proportion of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that remain undiagnosed may be substantial. Without an accurate diagnosis, these patients may lack PTSD-targeted treatments and experience adverse health outcomes. This study used a machine learning approach to identify and describe civilian patients likely to have undiagnosed PTSD in the US commercial population. METHODS The IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Subset (10/01/2015-12/31/2018) was used. A random forest machine learning model was developed and trained to differentiate between patients with and without PTSD using non-trauma-based features. The model was applied to patients for whom PTSD status could not be confirmed to identify individuals likely and unlikely to have undiagnosed PTSD. Patient characteristics, symptoms and complications potentially related to PTSD, treatments received, healthcare costs, and healthcare resource utilization were described separately for patients with PTSD (Actual Positive PTSD cohort), patients likely to have PTSD (Likely PTSD cohort), and patients without PTSD (Without PTSD cohort). RESULTS A total of 44,342 patients were classified in the Actual Positive PTSD cohort, 5683 in the Likely PTSD cohort, and 2,074,471 in the Without PTSD cohort. While several symptoms/comorbidities were similar between the Actual Positive and Likely PTSD cohorts, others, including depression and anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts/actions, and substance use, were more common in the Likely PTSD cohort, suggesting that certain symptoms may be exacerbated among those without a formal diagnosis. Mean per-patient-per-6-month healthcare costs were similar between the Actual Positive and Likely PTSD cohorts ($11,156 and $11,723) and were higher than those of the Without PTSD cohort ($3616); however, cost drivers differed between cohorts, with the Likely PTSD cohort experiencing more inpatient admissions and less outpatient visits than the Actual Positive PTSD cohort. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the lack of a PTSD diagnosis and targeted management of PTSD may result in a greater burden among undiagnosed patients and highlights the need for increased awareness of PTSD in clinical practice and among the civilian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Gagnon-Sanschagrin
- Analysis Group, Inc., 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada.
| | - Jeff Schein
- grid.419943.20000 0004 0459 5953Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., 508 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
| | - Annette Urganus
- grid.419796.4Lundbeck LLC, 6 Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015 USA
| | - Elizabeth Serra
- Analysis Group, Inc., 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC H3B 0G7 Canada
| | - Yawen Liang
- Analysis Group, Inc., 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC H3B 0G7 Canada
| | - Primrose Musingarimi
- grid.424580.f0000 0004 0476 7612H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Cloutier
- Analysis Group, Inc., 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC H3B 0G7 Canada
| | - Annie Guérin
- Analysis Group, Inc., 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC H3B 0G7 Canada
| | - Lori L. Davis
- grid.416817.d0000 0001 0240 3901Research Service, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3701 Loop Rd East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 USA ,grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine, 1720 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233 USA
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Lai DWL, Liu EHS, Yan ECW, Li JJ, Lee VWP. Exposure to socio-political unrest and wellbeing of older people in Hong Kong. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:768. [PMID: 36151516 PMCID: PMC9502941 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03433-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The social unrest in the second half of 2019 in Hong Kong came with conflicts, confrontations, and violence which affected almost everyone in the city. The destruction and disruption of the urban facilities have undoubtedly had a significant impact on the lives and mental well-being of the public, and the older people are even more vulnerable. This study examined the impacts of the social unrest on the wellbeing of older people, an area that was seldomly addressed in the public discourse and literature. METHODS Narrative interviews were conducted to capture older people's lived experiences and ways of making sense of the unrest in Hong Kong. A total of 63 participants aged 60 and above was recruited through personal networks of the research team, and referrals by participants who took part in the interviews. Qualitative semi-structure interviews was conducted one on one via telephone. RESULTS Thirty-three male and 30 female participants took part in the interview. The number of participants from different risk zones affected by political unrest was comparable. Three themes were generated. Participants experienced challenges during the social unrest, including disturbance to family and social life, reduced incomes which affect quality of life, and difficulties in socializing with friends and accessing medical services. The social unrest caused emotional disturbance, giving rise to feelings of panic, fear, insomnia, depression, annoyance, and anger. Participants reported different coping strategies, ranging from moving to other places, to avoiding going to risky areas and watching news. CONCLUSION Social unrest brings emotional distress to older people. In many cases, older people cope with challenges in different ways, whether active or passive. Social workers and other professionals should give more support to older people to encourage them to overcome their difficulties. The stakeholders' awareness of the problem and mental health promotion is required to alleviate the multiple layers of negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W L Lai
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 1325, 13/F Academic and Administration Building, Baptist University Road Campus, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Emma H S Liu
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 1325, 13/F Academic and Administration Building, Baptist University Road Campus, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Elsie C W Yan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung How, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jessica J Li
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent W P Lee
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
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50
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Chung GKK, Chan YH, Chan SM, Chen JK, Wong H, Chung RYN. The impact of trust in government on pandemic management on the compliance with voluntary COVID-19 vaccination policy among adolescents after social unrest in Hong Kong. Front Public Health 2022; 10:992895. [PMID: 36660556 PMCID: PMC9843607 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.992895] [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: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The launch of COVID-19 vaccines among students provides an opportunity to re-open schools safely. Nonetheless, under the voluntary vaccination policy, the lack of trust in government since the unprecedented massive social unrest in Hong Kong may hinder the vaccination progress. This study aims to assess the impact of trust in government regarding pandemic management on the willingness, uptake, and intention of COVID-19 vaccination among students in Hong Kong. Methods Based on maximum variation sampling of 12 secondary schools of diverse socioeconomic background, 1,020 students aged 14-16 years completed an online survey between September and October 2021. Results 59.2% of the sample received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 25.2% showed willingness of vaccination, 44.7% of the unvaccinated intended to receive the vaccine, whereas 13.4% were trustful to the government regarding pandemic management. Results from multivariable logistic regressions showed independent associations of trust with greater vaccination uptake [aOR = 1.63 (95% CI = 1.06-2.52), compared to distrust], willingness [aOR = 12.40 (7.72-19.93)], and intention [aOR = 4.49 (2.06-9.75)]. However, the impact of trust on vaccine uptake reversed [aOR = 0.53 (0.32-0.87)] after additional adjustment for the willingness of vaccination. Conclusion Students with higher trust in government regarding pandemic management tended to have greater vaccination willingness and hence uptake; nonetheless, given the same level of willingness, distrust might have facilitated a faster adoption of vaccination as a self-initiated protective behavior. As the level of trust is generally low among secondary school students in Hong Kong, rebuilding trust during adolescence is of importance for better preparedness of the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Ka-Ki Chung
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yat-Hang Chan
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Ming Chan
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, The City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ji-Kang Chen
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hung Wong
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Roger Yat-Nork Chung
- CUHK Institute of Health Equity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK Centre for Bioethics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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