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Vavassori M, Donzelli G. Impact of COVID-19 restrictive measures during lockdown period on eating disorders: An umbrella review. Nutrition 2024; 124:112463. [PMID: 38749229 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2024.112463] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/17/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked or amplified many mental health problems. The aim of this study was to compile evidence from existing systematic reviews to provide an overall assessment of the impact of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on people affected by eating disorders (EDs). PubMed and Scopus were searched up to August 16, 2023. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were selected using the PRISMA 2020 statement. The quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Eleven studies were included in this umbrella review. Six main categories emerged from the studies described in the review: dietary changes and psychopathological effects showed an overall worsening of symptomatology; in studies concerning the impact of isolation and restrictive measures, it was found that social distancing was associated with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression; limited access to direct care was found and therapeutic changes were made; the influence of mass media negatively impacted people with ED; several studies reported positive findings regarding symptomatology; finally, studies regarding 'impact on vulnerable populations showed that vulnerable people are more at risk of reporting body image distortion and eating disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted most of the population with ED leading to a worsening of specific symptomatology. In addition, this worsening of the condition may be caused by limited access to care and treatment, changes in routine, or to the negative influence of the media.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriele Donzelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology of the National Research Council (CNR-IFC), Pisa, Italy
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Çunkuş Köktaş N, Keskin G, Taşdemir Yiğitoğlu G. Evaluation of Internet Addiction and Relational Variables Among Nursing Students in Turkey During the COVID-19 Pandemic. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2024; 51:388-399. [PMID: 38345029 DOI: 10.1177/10901981241230497] [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] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
It is known that individuals use the internet more to escape from the psychological problems they encounter in daily life during the pandemic. Besides, it is also known that individuals with personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion might be prone to internet addiction due to poor communication skills. It is important to determine the relationship between the internet usage characteristics and the mental state of nursing students so that students can provide better quality health services in their education and professional processes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction and personality traits, stress, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms among nursing students during the pandemic. This study includes 528 nursing students. The Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT), the Vancouver Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used for data collection between August and October 2021. It was found that there was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the students' YIAT mean scores and the EPI neuroticism sub-dimension, VOCI all sub-dimensions, and PSS mean scores (p < .05). In addition, the mean scores of the PSS and EPI were predictors of the YIAT total score (R = .550, R2 = .233, p < .05). Considering these results, it is necessary to prevent the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of individuals. Psychological counseling can be offered to provide protective factors during the pandemic period.
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Sugaya N, Yamamoto T, Uchiumi C. A 2-year longitudinal study examining the change in psychosocial factors under the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Sci Data 2024; 11:544. [PMID: 38806489 PMCID: PMC11133338 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03125-2] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
To examine changes in individuals' psychosocial variables (e.g., psychological distress, social isolation, and alcohol use) during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a two-year longitudinal survey was conducted at approximately one-year intervals between May 2020 and May 2022, after the first COVID-19-related state of emergency was announced in Japan. The online survey was conducted on May 11-12, 2020 (Phase 1), June 14-20, 2021 (Phase 2), and May 13-30, 2022 (Phase 3). The survey in Phase 1 was conducted during the first emergency declaration period, the survey in Phase 2 was conducted during the third emergency declaration period, and the survey in Phase 3 was conducted at a time when there was no state of emergency but many COVID-19 positive cases. Notably, 3,892 participants responded to all three surveys. In addition to psychosocial inventories often used worldwide, survey items included lifestyle and stress management indicators related to COVID-19 and various sociodemographic items including occupation (e.g., healthcare workers) or income, history of medical treatment for mental problems, severe physical illnesses, and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagisa Sugaya
- Occupational Stress and Health Management Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.
| | - Chigusa Uchiumi
- Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
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Camaioni M, Scarpelli S, Alfonsi V, Gorgoni M, Calzolari R, De Bartolo M, Mangiaruga A, Couyoumdjian A, De Gennaro L. How COVID-19 Affected Sleep Talking Episodes, Sleep and Dreams? Brain Sci 2024; 14:486. [PMID: 38790464 PMCID: PMC11119596 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic increased symptoms of stress and anxiety and induced changes in sleep quality, dream activity, and parasomnia episodes. It has been shown that stressful factors and/or bad sleep habits can affect parasomnia behaviors. However, investigations on how COVID-19 has affected sleep, dreams, and episode frequency in parasomnias are rare. The current study focuses on the impact of the pandemic on a specific parasomnia characterized by speech production (sleep talking, ST). METHODS We selected 27 participants with frequent ST episodes (STs) during the pandemic and compared them with 27 participants with frequent STs from a previous study conducted during a pre-pandemic period. All participants performed home monitoring through sleep logs and recorded their nocturnal STs for one week. RESULTS We observed a higher frequency of STs in the pandemic group. Moreover, STs were related to the emotional intensity of dreams, independent of the pandemic condition. The pandemic was associated with lower bizarreness of dreams in the pandemic group. There were no differences in sleep variables between the two groups. CONCLUSION Overall, these results suggest a stressful effect of COVID-19 on the frequency of STs. Both the pandemic and the frequency of STs affect qualitative characteristics of dreams in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Camaioni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Serena Scarpelli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Valentina Alfonsi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Maurizio Gorgoni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossana Calzolari
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Mina De Bartolo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Anastasia Mangiaruga
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Couyoumdjian
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.); (V.A.); (M.G.); (M.D.B.); (A.C.)
- Body and Action Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
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Al-Momani H, Aolymat I, Al Haj Mahmoud S. Critical appraisal of how COVID-19 infection and imposed lockdowns have impacted gastroesophageal reflux: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38074. [PMID: 38728518 PMCID: PMC11081575 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038074] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous literature has demonstrated that COronaVIrus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) impacts an individual gastrointestinal tract (GIT), causing symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus RNA has been discovered in the stool of infected individuals in earlier research. It was discovered that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus was significantly expressed in the GIT, indicating that the virus can also infect the digestive system. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 functions as the viral receptor. The chronic illness known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is typified by frequent reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. By triggering the sensitized esophageal-bronchial neuronal circuit or aspirating into the airways (microaspiration), GER exacerbates respiratory diseases. Aspiration is a well-known risk to be considered when treating patients in intensive care units. Strong genetic correlations have been identified between COVID-19 infection and GERD susceptibility, suggesting a shared genetic basis for both conditions. Nonetheless, even though GERD, extraesophageal reflex, and COVID-19 have a number of significant risk factors and exhibit similar symptoms, the relationship between these illnesses has not yet been examined in depth. This review is the first of its kind to critically examine the association between the COVID-19 epidemic and GER and its associated diseases. The key objective of this work is to promote the creation of prevention plans, treatment plans, and guidelines while also enhancing and optimizing our understanding of the relationship between COVID-19 and GERs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafez Al-Momani
- Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Iman Aolymat
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Sameer Al Haj Mahmoud
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
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Keleynikov M, Cohen N, Benatov J. Maternal distress during the COVID-19 outbreak: A socio-ecological perspective. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302266. [PMID: 38701039 PMCID: PMC11068201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302266] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mothers faced an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other populations. However, there is little data on the factors that placed mothers at increased risk of distress. AIMS The present study explored a range of individual, familial, and environmental factors associated with psychological distress in mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD This repeated cross-sectional study was composed of a convenience sample of mothers who completed an online survey that included a demographic questionnaire, an emotion regulation questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale. The survey was administered during the second and third lockdowns in Israel in 2020-2021. RESULTS The study included 575 mothers (M age = 39). The findings of a hierarchical regression indicated that individual-level factors, composed of age and emotion regulation tendencies predicted psychological distress. The family-level factors of household income and number of children in the family also predicted distress. In terms of environmental-level factors, COVID-19-related media consumption and school status (open or closed) were also significant predictors of psychological distress. Importantly, the results showed that the most important predictors of psychological distress in mothers during the COVID-19 outbreak were school closures, household income, and the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the intersection of individual, familial, and environmental factors in mothers' mental health during crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mor Keleynikov
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Cohen
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Joy Benatov
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Shiratori Y, Ogawa T, Ota M, Sodeyama N, Arai T, Tachikawa H. Comparison of Depressive Symptoms between International and Domestic Students in a Japanese University: Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic. Brain Sci 2024; 14:447. [PMID: 38790426 PMCID: PMC11118855 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant lifestyle changes and uncertainties, triggering a secondary wave of mental health issues in society. University students are especially susceptible to mental disorders. International students are considered more vulnerable due to limited emotional and financial support from their families and difficulties accessing community support. Hence, we conducted a longitudinal analysis to compare depressive symptoms among international students before and during the pandemic. METHODS Data from depression screenings conducted at the University of Tsukuba in 2019 and 2020 were utilized. We included all students enrolled in 2019 who underwent health check-ups in both 2019 and 2020. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), enabling a comparison of item scores between domestic and international students. Psychopathological network analysis was employed to examine relationships among the items. RESULTS Prior to the pandemic, international students generally exhibited relatively good mental health compared with domestic students. During the 2020 pandemic, no significant difference was observed, but international students tended to demonstrate better mental health. However, network analysis revealed intergroup variations in the relationships among PHQ-9 items, with concentration problems and suicidal thoughts being more prominent among international students. CONCLUSION This study's findings suggest that young people studying abroad experience mental health crises similar to their domestic counterparts. Nevertheless, the patterns of these crises may differ between the two groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Shiratori
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- University Health Center, University of Tsukuba Japan, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ogawa
- Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry, 654 Asahi, Kasama 309-1717, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Miho Ota
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- University Health Center, University of Tsukuba Japan, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Noriko Sodeyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- University Health Center, University of Tsukuba Japan, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tetsuaki Arai
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tachikawa
- University Health Center, University of Tsukuba Japan, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
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WANG J, HU L, ZHANG T, LIU J, YU C, ZHAO N, QI J, LIU L. Prevalence and predictors of prenatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multistage observational study in Beijing, China. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298314. [PMID: 38662750 PMCID: PMC11045078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE While growing psychological health issues among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic have been clearly validated, most research was conducted in countries with relatively lax quarantine measures. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of prenatal depression among pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in Beijing, the region with a stringent response policy in China. We also explore predictors of prenatal depression throughout the outbreak. METHODS We investigated prenatal depression among 742 pregnant women who received antenatal checkups in Beijing from March 28, 2019 to May 07, 2021 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and associative demographic, pregnancy-related, and psychosocial characteristics were measured. The phase was divided into pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in light of the trajectory of COVID-19. Pearson's Chi-square test was used after the examination of confounders homogeneity. The bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore predictors. RESULTS The pooled prevalence of prenatal depression was 11.9% throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates at different phases were 10.6%, 15.2%, and 11.1% respectively and no significant difference was observed. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that history of mental illness, number of boy-preference from both pregnant women and husband's family, social support, occupation, and living space were independent predictors of prenatal depression in Beijing. CONCLUSION Our data suggested that the impact of this pandemic on prenatal depression in Beijing appears to be not significant, which will strengthen confidence in adhering to current policy for decision-makers and provide important guidance for the development of major outbreak control and management policies in the future. Our findings may also provide a more efficient measure to identify high-risk pregnant women for professionals and help raise gender equity awareness of pregnant women and their husbands' families. Future studies should focus on the value of targeted care and family relations on the mental health of pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin WANG
- Institution of Hospital Management, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Aviation Psychology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Libin HU
- Institution of Hospital Management, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi ZHANG
- Institution of Hospital Management, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia LIU
- Department of Aviation Psychology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan YU
- Department of Aviation Psychology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ningxin ZHAO
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianlin QI
- Department of Aviation Psychology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua LIU
- Institution of Hospital Management, Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Lotzin A, Stahlmann K, Acquarini E, Ajdukovic D, Ajdukovic M, Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous X, Ardino V, Bondjers K, Bragesjö M, Böttche M, Dragan M, Figueiredo-Braga M, Gelezelyte O, Grajewski P, Javakhishvili JD, Kazlauskas E, Lenferink L, Lioupi C, Lueger-Schuster B, Mooren T, Sales L, Tsiskarishvili L, Novakovic IZ, Schäfer I. A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2318944. [PMID: 38644753 PMCID: PMC11036902 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder.Objective: We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment.Method: The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included N = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression.Results: The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure.Conclusions: We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annett Lotzin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Stahlmann
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Dean Ajdukovic
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Ajdukovic
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | - Kristina Bondjers
- National Centre for Disaster Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- National Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Bragesjö
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Böttche
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Margarida Figueiredo-Braga
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Trauma Observatory, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Odeta Gelezelyte
- Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | | | - Evaldas Kazlauskas
- Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Lonneke Lenferink
- Department of Psychology, Health, & Technology, Faculty of Behavioural, Management, and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Chrysanthi Lioupi
- Psychology Program, School of Ηumanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Brigitte Lueger-Schuster
- Unit of Psychotraumatology, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Trudy Mooren
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Luisa Sales
- Trauma Observatory, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Unit of Psychiatry, Hospital Militar, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Irina Zrnic Novakovic
- Unit of Psychotraumatology, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingo Schäfer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - ADJUST Study Consortium
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Kovačić Petrović Z, Peraica T, Blažev M, Tomašić L, Kozarić-Kovačić D. Use of psychoactive substances and alcohol during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: Croatian experience. J Addict Dis 2024; 42:91-102. [PMID: 36444870 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2145076] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Increased prevalence and severity of both substance and behavioral addictions are among the most harmful consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak. To determine the sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19-related stressors, and stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that may predict the use and changes in the use of psychoactive substances (PS) during the first three COVID-19 waves in Croatia. The cross-sectional online survey included 1,118 adult participants (220 men and 898 women; mean age: 35.1 [SD = 12.3] years; age range: 18-78) from general adult population. Sociodemographic data were collected, and ad-hoc developed questionnaires on COVID-19-related stressors, PS use before and during the pandemic, CAGE Alcohol Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale, and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale were applied. The PS use increased in 31% of participants. The use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, cannabinoids, and anxiolytics showed the greatest increase in the last year (tobacco 7.1%; caffeine 5.8%; alcohol 6.4%; cannabinoids 2.5%; and anxiolytics 3.9%). Alcohol consumption during the pandemic increased in 16.8% of participants who consumed alcohol before the pandemic, with 4.5% of them reporting problematic alcohol use (PAU). The tested model demonstrated relatively good model-data fit and significantly predicted 11.8% increase in the use of PS and 9.8% of PAU. Being married or in a relationship and severe anxiety and depression symptoms predicted increased use of PS and PAU, while higher education level and ever being diagnosed with COVID-19 predicted only increased use of PS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zrnka Kovačić Petrović
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Addiction, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tina Peraica
- Department of Psychiatry, Referral Center for Stress-related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Mirta Blažev
- Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lea Tomašić
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
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Friza M, Syahrul S, Mawarpury M. Mental health analysis and resilience psychological factors during pandemic among port health 0fficers: A study in Sabang, Indonesia. NARRA J 2024; 4:e212. [PMID: 38798845 PMCID: PMC11125397 DOI: 10.52225/narra.v4i1.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of health workers worldwide. Many studies examined the mental health of the frontline health workers in hospitals, but similar research on health workers at the port entries has yet to be found. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health issue and its associated factors and to determine the psychological resilience factors of port health workers in Sabang, Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective mixed-method study was conducted among 38 port health officers. Total sampling included those working from January 2020 to March 2023. The information on age, gender, qualification, working time and working place of the respondents were collected and the mental health was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). The correlation and association between the socio-demographic data and mental health were tested with Spearman and chi-squared tests, respectively. The qualitative study on psychological resilience factors were performed with interviews and analyzed with NVivo. This study indicated that 47.4% of port health officers experienced depression, 63.1% anxiety and 50.0% stress. Age and working time significantly affected the mental health. Age correlated positively and significantly with anxiety (p<0.0001) and stress (p<0.0001), while working time significantly affected the anxiety (p=0.003). The psychological resilience factors identified were spirituality, positive emotions, official support, and personal well-being that helped the workers taking away learn lessons. In conclusion, mental health issues are high among frontline workers during the pandemic highlighting the importance of the prevention measures to ensure the work performance among employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisarah Friza
- Master Program in Disaster Science, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- Technical Implementation Unit Sabang, Ministry of Health, Sabang, Indonesia
| | - Syahrul Syahrul
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
| | - Marty Mawarpury
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
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Savvopoulou N, Asimakopoulos K, Gourzis P, Jelastopulu E. Exploring the Psychological Impact of Quarantine: An Investigation into Eating Patterns, Emotions, and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece. Cureus 2024; 16:e58411. [PMID: 38756319 PMCID: PMC11098525 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The implementation of quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges linked to adverse psychological effects, notably affecting individuals' eating patterns. This study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of individuals during lockdowns compared across sex, age, and income levels, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, as well as loneliness, on these patterns. METHODS A cross-sectional online study was conducted with 450 participants (aged 18-74 years old). One questionnaire about demographics, the Demographic Questionnaire, and three validated self-report scales (Eating Attitudes Test, comprising the Dieting, Bulimia, and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control subscales, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale) were employed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were collected between April and May 2021, primarily through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The survey questionnaire was shared via these platforms and users could answer if they wanted. Also, they were asked to send the questionnaire to their close contacts. Additionally, the survey questionnaire was distributed face-to-face to 80 participants. The statistical analyses included linear regression and mediation analyses. RESULTS Abnormal eating patterns (e.g. eating behaviors that tend to have signs of diet such as constant avoidance of fattening foods, the individual's involvement with becoming leaner, extreme control or preoccupation with food, overeating and purging methods) were identified in 25% of the 450 participants participated in this survey, aged 18-74 years. Moderate levels of negative/positive emotions and loneliness were predominantly reported. Female sex was significantly associated with abnormal eating patterns (p=0.010), particularly dietary behaviors (p=0.029). Negative emotions (p=0.032) and loneliness (p=0.001) emerged as predictive factors for overall eating patterns and bulimic behaviors. Negative emotions exhibited a direct correlation with eating patterns, while loneliness played a significant mediating role (p=0.032). Furthermore, the association between negative emotions and bulimia was partially mediated by loneliness (p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the pivotal roles of negative emotions and loneliness in shaping eating patterns during quarantine. Multilevel public health interventions are needed to address the negative effects of quarantine and pandemics in general. Screening tests for mental health in the school and job environments could highlight the need for shaping interventions, such as counseling, group empowerment, and family support in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating behaviors and mental health in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolia Savvopoulou
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, GRC
| | | | - Philippos Gourzis
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, GRC
| | - Eleni Jelastopulu
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, GRC
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13
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Pierotti L, Cooper J, James C, Cassels K, Gara E, Denholm R, Wood R. Can computer simulation support strategic service planning? Modelling a large integrated mental health system on recovery from COVID-19. Int J Ment Health Syst 2024; 18:12. [PMID: 38448987 PMCID: PMC10918932 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-024-00623-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 has had a significant impact on people's mental health and mental health services. During the first year of the pandemic, existing demand was not fully met while new demand was generated, resulting in large numbers of people requiring support. To support mental health services to recover without being overwhelmed, it was important to know where services will experience increased pressure, and what strategies could be implemented to mitigate this. METHODS We implemented a computer simulation model of patient flow through an integrated mental health service in Southwest England covering General Practice (GP), community-based 'talking therapies' (IAPT), acute hospital care, and specialist care settings. The model was calibrated on data from 1 April 2019 to 1 April 2021. Model parameters included patient demand, service-level length of stay, and probabilities of transitioning to other care settings. We used the model to compare 'do nothing' (baseline) scenarios to 'what if' (mitigation) scenarios, including increasing capacity and reducing length of stay, for two future demand trajectories from 1 April 2021 onwards. RESULTS The results from the simulation model suggest that, without mitigation, the impact of COVID-19 will be an increase in pressure on GP and specialist community based services by 50% and 50-100% respectively. Simulating the impact of possible mitigation strategies, results show that increasing capacity in lower-acuity services, such as GP, causes a shift in demand to other parts of the mental health system while decreasing length of stay in higher acuity services is insufficient to mitigate the impact of increased demand. CONCLUSION In capturing the interrelation of patient flow related dynamics between various mental health care settings, we demonstrate the value of computer simulation for assessing the impact of interventions on system flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Pierotti
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Jennifer Cooper
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Charlotte James
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, UK National Health Service, Bristol, UK
| | - Kenah Cassels
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, UK National Health Service, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma Gara
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, UK National Health Service, Bristol, UK
| | - Rachel Denholm
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- HDR UK Southwest, Bristol, UK
| | - Richard Wood
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, UK National Health Service, Bristol, UK
- HDR UK Southwest, Bristol, UK
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14
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Liu L, Kapralov M, Ashton M. Plant-derived compounds as potential leads for new drug development targeting COVID-19. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1522-1554. [PMID: 38281731 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8105] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19, which was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, is a respiratory illness caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although some patients infected with COVID-19 can remain asymptomatic, most experience a range of symptoms that can be mild to severe. Common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste or smell and muscle aches. In severe cases, complications can arise including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure and even death, particularly in older adults or individuals with underlying health conditions. Treatments for COVID-19 include remdesivir, which has been authorised for emergency use in some countries, and dexamethasone, a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation in severe cases. Biological drugs including monoclonal antibodies, such as casirivimab and imdevimab, have also been authorised for emergency use in certain situations. While these treatments have improved the outcome for many patients, there is still an urgent need for new treatments. Medicinal plants have long served as a valuable source of new drug leads and may serve as a valuable resource in the development of COVID-19 treatments due to their broad-spectrum antiviral activity. To date, various medicinal plant extracts have been studied for their cellular and molecular interactions, with some demonstrating anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro. This review explores the evaluation and potential therapeutic applications of these plants against SARS-CoV-2. This review summarises the latest evidence on the activity of different plant extracts and their isolated bioactive compounds against SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on the application of plant-derived compounds in animal models and in human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxiu Liu
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Maxim Kapralov
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Mark Ashton
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
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15
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Sanphiboon T, Buathong N, Chootong R. Mental health and resilience quotient of patients in primary care units during the widespread COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand: a cross-sectional study. Biopsychosoc Med 2024; 18:7. [PMID: 38413937 PMCID: PMC10898006 DOI: 10.1186/s13030-023-00298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impacted both the physical and mental health of individuals. The resilience quotient (RQ) is an important factor that decreases mental health problems. This study aimed to explore mental health problems and RQ in patients who visit Primary Care Units (PCU). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on participants aged 18 to 60 years who visited the PCU of Songklanagarind Hospital from May 1, 2022, to June 31, 2022. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on baseline characteristics and the Primary Care Assessment, Personal Resource Questionnaire, satisfaction with life scale, Thai RQ, PHQ-9, and GAD-7, and the results were analyzed by descriptive, logistic regression, and Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS Among the 216 participants, 72.2% were female, and the median age was 39 (24,51) years old. Most of them had normal RQ levels (61.1%). Of these, 4.2% and 12.1% exhibited moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety, respectively. This study found that sex (OOR 1.93; 95% CI 1.01-3.74), age (OOR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06), moderate and high social support levels (OOR 9.51; 95% CI 3.36-28.85), and a high life satisfaction level (OOR 4.67; 95%CI 1.75-13.25) were associated with RQ. Moreover, the results showed that ≥ 3 times visiting PCU (β 1.73; 95% CI 0.39-3.08), BMI (β 0.13; 95% CI 0.04-0.23) and experiencing stressful events (β 2.34; 95% CI 1.32-3.36) were positively associated with depression. Finally, experiencing stressful events (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.09-15.47) significantly affected anxiety, however, moderate and high life satisfaction levels acted as a protective factor against anxiety (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.54 and OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.16, respectively). CONCLUSION Although there were a few patients with moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety, most of them had normal RQ levels. However, there were some patients with low RQ levels which correlated to a high risk of psychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety. Healthcare providers should focus on interventions that enhance resilience in both proactive and defensive strategies to reduce negative mental problems during these formidable times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanyalak Sanphiboon
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
| | - Napakkawat Buathong
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.
| | - Rattanaporn Chootong
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.
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Schmit A, Schurr T, Frajo-Apor B, Pardeller S, Plattner B, Tutzer F, Conca A, Fronthaler M, Haring C, Holzner B, Huber M, Marksteiner J, Miller C, Perwanger V, Pycha R, Schmidt M, Sperner-Unterweger B, Hofer A. Long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal investigation among individuals with and without mental health disorders. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1304491. [PMID: 38426004 PMCID: PMC10902045 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1304491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Over the past years, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in daily routines. Although the pandemic has affected almost everyone, it has been particularly challenging for people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress in individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders (MHD) compared to the general population. In addition, possible gender-specific differences were investigated. Methods 123 patients with pre-existing MHD and 343 control subjects from Austria and Italy participated in three online surveys that had been conducted after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (t0), during the second lockdown in both countries (t1), and one year thereafter (t2). Participants completed standardized questionnaires on psychological distress (Brief-Symptom-Checklist), resilience (Resilience Scale), and extraversion (Big Five Inventory). A mediation model was employed to test the primary hypothesis. Possible gender-specific differences were analyzed using a moderated mediation model. Results The prevalence of psychological distress was consistently higher in patients compared to controls (t0: 37.3% vs. 13.2%, t1: 38.2% vs 11.7%, t2: 37.4% vs. 13.1%). This between-group difference in psychological distress at the first follow-up was fully mediated by baseline resilience scores (65.4% of the total effect). During the second-follow up, extraversion accounted for 18% of the total effect, whereas resilience slightly decreased to 56% of the total effect. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model. Conclusion Next to showing that people with MHD were particularly affected by the pandemic, these findings indicate that higher degrees of resilience and extraversion are related to less long-term psychological distress. Our findings stress the relevance of strengthening resilience and extraversion and to provide mental health support in times of crises, both to patients with MHD and the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Schmit
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timo Schurr
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Beatrice Frajo-Apor
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Silvia Pardeller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Barbara Plattner
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Franziska Tutzer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Conca
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Martin Fronthaler
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Therapy Center Bad Bachgart, Rodengo, Italy
| | - Christian Haring
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy B, State Hospital Hall in Tyrol, Hall in Tyrol, Austria
| | - Bernhard Holzner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Markus Huber
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Brunico, Brunico, Italy
| | - Josef Marksteiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy A, State Hospital Hall in Tyrol, Hall in Tyrol, Austria
| | - Carl Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, County Hospital Kufstein, Kufstein, Austria
| | - Verena Perwanger
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy
| | - Roger Pycha
- Sanitary Agency of South Tyrol, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Bressanone, Bressanone, Italy
| | - Martin Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry, County Hospital Lienz, Lienz, Austria
| | - Barbara Sperner-Unterweger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry II, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alex Hofer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Mushtaq A, Khan MA. Social isolation, loneliness, and mental health among older adults during COVID-19: a scoping review. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2024; 67:143-156. [PMID: 37501381 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2023.2237076] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 continues to have detrimental effects worldwide, especially on vulnerable populations. The burden of mental health concerns and psychological well-being resulting from social isolation and loneliness induced by COVID-19 are increasingly recognized in old age. The aim is to determine the extent of social isolation and loneliness among older adults, the methodologies used, the effect on mental health during COVID-19, and review intervention strategies and lifestyle changes to improve the current situation through the recommendations of the studies included. The articles published on PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases from December 2019 to December 2021 with the following keywords ("Older Adults" "Social Isolation," "Loneliness," "Mental Health," "COVID-19") in English were included. Older adults have faced a serious burden of social isolation and adverse mental health effects during COVID-19. Anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia are the major mental health concerns among older adults worldwide. It is suggested that spousal support and social networks, adaptive organizational change, and a responsive public sector are critical in reducing the obstacles to older adults. COVID-19 resilience among the aging population can be remarkable if adequately cared for with senior-friendly pandemic-related intervention strategies, policies and legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiman Mushtaq
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohd Arif Khan
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
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18
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Krishnan C, Singh S, Baba MM. Effect of work from home and employee mental health through mediating role of workaholism and work-family balance. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024; 70:144-156. [PMID: 37712681 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231196741] [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] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current global outbreak caused by COVID-19 has produced a unique situation with severe health and financial consequences. The fast and quick global impact called for an immediate response. A key public health action was the decision to amend the law to allow employees to work from home (WFH) whenever it was possible. In response to public health restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19, organizations quickly switched to WFH without fully comprehending the effects of continued WFH on mental and physical health. Working from anywhere and at any time has made the separation between business and personal life more difficult. These modifications may cause employees' workdays to be longer and to experience greater work-life conflict. Overwork and work addiction provide a greater risk to the public's health and can harm various facets of mental and physical health, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. There hasn't been much research on the underlying processes that link workaholism to poor mental health, especially among Indian academics. PURPOSE There is a rise in the number of people who are worried about their mental health in academic settings. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether academicians in India can potentially have a healthy work-family balance, which may mitigate the negative impacts of workaholism and poor mental health especially due to the Work from Home system. METHODOLOGY A population-based study was conducted on academicians (n = 456) at private and public universities in Delhi NCR, India. Workaholism, work-family balance, and mental health difficulties were all measured using self-reported scales in the study. By using path analysis, the proposed mediation model was evaluated. The survey responses had an accuracy rate of 80%. Based on the conceptual research framework, PLS-SEM path modeling is used to find the causal connection between the indicators and latent components. FINDINGS The findings indicated that workaholism has been associated with mental health in two different ways: directly and through work-family balance. The path analysis found a statistically significant relationship between work from home and mental health through workaholism and work-family balance. Increased levels of anxiety, depression, stress, headaches, exhaustion, and reduced job satisfaction were some of the mental health consequences of Work from Home. PRACTICAL IMPLICATION This study provides real-world guidance to human resource managers on how to prioritize composite-level interventions at all levels of the university to create highly satisfied employees, provide a good working environment, and improve employees' mental health. ORIGINALITY/VALUE Many researches have been done on the relationship between work-from-home and employee mental health, but relatively few have looked at how work-life balance and workaholism play a role in how work-from-home affects employees' mental health. This study fills a need in the academic and practitioner literature by investigating the relationship between work-from-home from home and employee mental health as well as the mediating function of work-family balance and workaholism with regard to Indian higher education institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Krishnan
- Symbiosis Center for Management Studies, Noida; Symbiosis International Deemed University, Pune, India
| | - Shailender Singh
- Symbiosis Center for Management Studies, Noida; Symbiosis International Deemed University, Pune, India
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19
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Raymond K, Chen WH, Bracher M, Foster A, Lovley A, Saucier C, Jackson K, McDermott EJ. A concept elicitation study to understand the relationship between sleep and pain in rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. Qual Life Res 2024; 33:373-385. [PMID: 37889386 PMCID: PMC10850285 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03524-9] [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] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This qualitative study (GSK study: 213635) was designed to better understand sleep disturbance as experienced by individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and the relationship between sleep disturbance and pain and other aspects of the disease and disease activity. METHODS Sixty-minute, one-on-one, concept elicitation interviews were conducted with 30 participants (15 with RA and 15 with axSpA) from the US. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed to explore themes related to pain and sleep disturbance, and relationships among those themes. RESULTS Pain was a prominent driver of sleep disturbance; 12 participants with RA (80%) and 14 with axSpA (93%) reported that pain impacted their ability to fall asleep, while all 15 with RA (100%) and 14 with axSpA (93%) reported that pain impacted their ability to stay asleep. Two-thirds of participants with RA (67%) or axSpA (60%) described a bi-directional relationship, whereby pain worsened sleep disturbance and sleep disturbance further aggravated pain. Factors other than pain, such as fatigue and emotional health, were also reported as important contributors to sleep disturbance (RA: n = 12/15, 80%; axSpA: n = 14/15, 93%). Participants with RA or axSpA described complex interconnections between fatigue, emotional health, pain, and sleep, often labeling these relationships as "vicious cycles". Notably, half of all participants reported sleep disturbance occurring without pain or other understood causes. CONCLUSION These perspectives collected from people with RA or axSpA suggest that reducing sleep disruption directly may offer clinically relevant benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wen-Hung Chen
- GSK, Global Value Evidence and Outcomes, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Building 4, 4th floor, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA.
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Armando LG, Baroetto Parisi R, Rolando C, Esiliato M, Vinciguerra V, Bertiond C, Diarassouba A, Cena C, Miglio G. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Use of Antidepressants by Young Adults in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte (Italy). PHARMACY 2024; 12:21. [PMID: 38392928 PMCID: PMC10892218 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The association between younger age and poorer mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has been documented. Whether these changes were associated with a change in antidepressant (AD) use is not well understood. This study aimed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AD use by young adults in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte (Italy). The impact of the pandemic on the weekly prevalence of AD users was assessed using interrupted time-series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average models. A total of 1071 subjects (18-22 years with ≥1 AD dispensation) were included in the study. The observed prevalence was lower than the predicted value for several weeks after the introduction of the lockdown. However, it was consistently higher than the predicted values from week 134. The maximum difference between observed and predicted values (25 subjects per 10,000 young adults) was found at week 170. Changes in AD use were observed in both genders and were more pronounced for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In conclusion, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young adults is likely to be significant in the coming years, which may place a future burden on pharmaceutical public health and community health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Greta Armando
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy;
| | - Raffaella Baroetto Parisi
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Cristina Rolando
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Mariangela Esiliato
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Valeria Vinciguerra
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Cecilia Bertiond
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Abdoulaye Diarassouba
- Struttura Complessa Farmacia Territoriale ASL TO4, Regione Piemonte, Via Po 11, 10034 Chivasso, Italy; (R.B.P.); (C.R.); (M.E.); (V.V.); (C.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Clara Cena
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Miglio
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy;
- Competence Centre for Scientific Computing, University of Turin, Corso Svizzera 185, 10149 Turin, Italy
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Dadgarinejad A, Nazarihermoshi N, Hematichegeni N, Jazaiery M, Yousefishad S, Mohammadian H, Sayyah M, Dastoorpoor M, Cheraghi M. Relationship between health literacy and generalized anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan province, Iran. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1294562. [PMID: 38282836 PMCID: PMC10811604 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1294562] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, many changes occurred in various cultural, social, and economic fields, leading to the creation of psychological effects, especially anxiety, in the community. Fear and anxiety about emerging diseases (COVID-19) and less participation in preventive behaviors reduce individual resistance and ultimately lower one's quality of life. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy and generalized anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan province, Iran. Methods This was a descriptive-analytical (cross-sectional) study conducted among participants aged 18-65 in Khuzestan province during the years 2020-2021 through online sampling. Due to the prevalence of COVID-19 and the impossibility of face-to-face communication, the questionnaire was designed on the Porseline Survey website and the questionnaire link was provided to participants through WhatsApp and Telegram. The data collection tool includes the Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire, which includes 33 items, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, which has 7 items based on a Likert scale. Data analysis was performed using STATA14 software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests at a significant level less than 0.05. Results The mean (standard deviation) score for health literacy was 52.9 ± 9.3 and for generalized anxiety disorder was 5.2 ± 3.1. A significant negative correlation was found between the mean of anxiety disorder and health literacy (p < 0.05). The frequency of health literacy in individuals included 427 (37.8%) with inadequate health literacy, 628 (55.6%) with marginal health literacy, and 75 (6.6%) with sufficient health literacy. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean of generalized anxiety disorder among individuals with different levels of health literacy (p < 0.05). Conclusion As the level of health literacy increases, the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder caused by fear of COVID-19 decreases. Therefore, increasing awareness and health literacy about this virus, its transmission, and prevention methods is very effective in managing anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19. Paying attention to the issue of health literacy and generalized anxiety disorder, and promoting preventive behaviors can be effective tools for planners, health officials, and policymakers to promote health literacy for any type of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Dadgarinejad
- School of Dentistry, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Nargess Nazarihermoshi
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Hematichegeni
- School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahta Jazaiery
- School of Dentistry, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Shabnam Yousefishad
- Department of Public Health, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hashem Mohammadian
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sayyah
- Department of Psychiatry, Educational Development Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Dastoorpoor
- Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maria Cheraghi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Public Health, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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22
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Jeong KH, Ryu JH, Lee S, Kim S. Changes in depression trends during and after the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in Korea. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e14. [PMID: 38390249 PMCID: PMC10882186 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.90] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to complement the previous studies conducted within a short period of time by examining the long-term trends in depression levels of older adults through a longitudinal study that includes the period following the onset of COVID-19. For analysis, this study used the data from the 12th (2017) through 16th (2021) Korea Welfare Panel Study, and 2,716 data of older adults 65 years and older were included. Variables included gender, age, equalized annual income (USD $), education background, residential area, living alone and disability status. As a result, two types of changes in depression were identified: the 'rapidly rising' type and the 'steadily increasing'. We found that the lower the equalized annual income, women, the lower the education, living in urban and living alone showed a higher likelihood of belonging to the 'rapidly rising' type. The result suggests that those at risk of depression are at much higher risk during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also necessary to provide timely and effective guidelines to prevent depression in older adults when implementing policies in response to an outbreak of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Hyoung Jeong
- Department of Social Welfare, Semyung University, Jecheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyun Ryu
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Social Welfare Policy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoyoon Lee
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Social Welfare Policy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunghee Kim
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Social Welfare Policy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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23
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Della Casa V, Gubello A, Malmquist A, Mezzalira S, Bonato M, Simonelli A, Gatta M, Miscioscia M. Minority Stress, Self-Awareness, and Coping Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Italian Transgender Young Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:132. [PMID: 38255021 PMCID: PMC10815491 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020132] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The security measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 emergency have caused complex consequences. The aim of the present study is to examine the repercussions of the pandemic on individuals belonging to gender identity minority groups, who have experienced heightened levels of stress in comparison to the general population. METHODS Online interviews with 12 transgender participants who resided in Italy during the pandemic were conducted and subsequently analyzed following the thematic analysis methodology. RESULTS The majority of the participants reported an increase in stress levels primarily attributed to the lack of acceptance and support within their familial environments, obstacles encountered in accessing specialized healthcare services, and a lack of support from the broader LGBTQ+ community. Despite these challenges, several participants developed effective coping strategies and a subset of them also benefited from multiple resilience factors, including familial support and assistance from mental health professionals. CONCLUSIONS The outcomes of the present study indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic, while fostering certain protective factors within this population, has also given rise to new and critical mental health concerns. These findings hold significant implications for professionals working with transgender populations, highlighting the necessity of addressing these emerging mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Della Casa
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 12, 35131 Padua, Italy; (V.D.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessio Gubello
- DéFaSy, Faculty of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Language and Speech Therapy, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Anna Malmquist
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linkoping University, Campus Valla, I-Huset, 3, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden;
| | - Selene Mezzalira
- School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, Via Nazario Sauro, 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
| | - Marina Bonato
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 12, 35131 Padua, Italy; (V.D.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessandra Simonelli
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Michela Gatta
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Marina Miscioscia
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padua, Italy;
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy;
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24
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Shaheen A, Hamdan K, Allari R, Al-Bashaireh AM, Smadi AA, Amre H, Albqoor MA. Differences in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Relation to Changes in Living Conditions, Work Conditions, and Daily Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan. SAGE Open Nurs 2024; 10:23779608241254221. [PMID: 38746074 PMCID: PMC11092552 DOI: 10.1177/23779608241254221] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with numerous changes in daily life conditions that could affect the psychological response of individuals worldwide. Objective The study aimed to describe and examine differences in depression, anxiety, and stress in relation to living conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional design was used. Purposive snowball sampling was employed to include 642 participants. Arabic versions of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data. Results The total mean scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were 12.26 (SD = 10.53), 9.04 (SD = 9.34), and 13.49 (SD = 10.72), respectively. Of the study sample, 122 (19.5%), 139 (22.2%), and 99 (15.9%) had severe to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, and stress in relation to age, chronic diseases, and house size. Conclusion The findings showed an increased prevalence of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health practitioners need to recognize the impact of pandemics on youth, females, low-income populations, and individuals with chronic diseases. Preventive mental health services among these populations, such as screening and counseling, would help reduce the health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Shaheen
- Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Khaldoun Hamdan
- Department of Acute and Chronic Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Rabia Allari
- Department of Acute and Chronic Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad M. Al-Bashaireh
- Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Huda Amre
- The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Maha Alkaid Albqoor
- Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Al Hinai M, Al Belushi ZI, Al Shidhani AS, Al Kiyumi MH. The Quality of Life of Urban Omani People During the COVID-19 Pandemic in A'Seeb Wilayat: A Cross-sectional Study. Oman Med J 2024; 39:e594. [PMID: 38623538 PMCID: PMC11016751 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2024.51] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives COVID-19 is an emergent disease with significant global concern, which might have a negative effect on quality of life. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of people (with or without COVID-19) attending primary health centers in A'Seeb Wilayat in Muscat, Oman. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected primary health centers in A'Seeb Wilayat from 17 July 2021 to 31 January 2022. All Omani men and women, aged ≥ 18 years, regardless of their COVID-19 infection status, who were able to read and use online questionnaire, were included. The consecutive sampling method was applied. An online self-administered and validated Arabic version of the Short Form-12 was used to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical quality of life. Results A total of 701 participants were included with a mean age of 25.3 years. Two-thirds of the participants (n = 473, 67.5%) reported being physically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (score of ≤ 50) and more than half (n = 392, 55.9%) had been mentally affected (score of ≤ 42). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between physical impact and educational level, low family income, chronic diseases, and alcohol consumption. Gender, young age, being single, low income, and chronic diseases were significant risk factors for mental impact. Conclusions Physical and mental impacts are very common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several risk factors were identified. Public health programs need to be implemented to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al Hinai
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | | | - Asma Said Al Shidhani
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Maisa Hamed Al Kiyumi
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
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Yang L, Kandasamy K, Na L, Zhang W, Wang P. Perceived and Experienced Anti-Chinese Discrimination and Its Associated Psychological Impacts Among Chinese Canadians During the Wave 2 of the COVID-19 Pandemic. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2024; 29:108-125. [PMID: 36336783 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2142947] [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: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The current study examined the sociodemographic factors associated with perceived and experienced anti-Chinese discrimination and discrimination as a predictor of psychological distress and loneliness among Chinese Canadians. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in early 2021 with a sample of 899 Chinese Canadians (i.e., immigrants, citizens, visitors, and international students) during the Wave 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, anti-Chinese discrimination was generally associated with younger age and poor financial or health status. Christianity/Catholicism believers were less likely to report perceived discrimination, whereas being married/partnered and living with family reduced the incidences of experienced discrimination. Most importantly, hierarchical linear regression models showed that both perceived and experienced discrimination predicted higher psychological distress (βs = 4.90-7.57, ps ≤ .001) and loneliness (βs = .89-1.73, ps ≤ .003), before and after controlling for all related sociodemographic covariates. Additionally, older age, higher education, better financial or health status could all buffer psychological distress, whereas living with family or in a house and better financial or health status could mitigate feeling of loneliness. The results suggested that discrimination has a robust detrimental impact on mental health conditions among Chinese Canadians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Yang
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kesaan Kandasamy
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ling Na
- Department of Population Health, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Weiguo Zhang
- Department of Sociology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Peizhong Wang
- Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Alrjoub W, Alarjeh G, Ammar K, Shamieh A, Harding R, Booth C, Sullivan R, Al-ruzzieh M, Mansour A, Shamieh O. Stress, resilience, and moral distress among health care providers in oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1288483. [PMID: 38192554 PMCID: PMC10773806 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1288483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus pandemic has potential implications for stress levels and resilience among oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs). This study aims to assess perceived stress, resilience, and moral distress levels among oncology HCPs in Jordan during the pandemic and identify associated risk factors. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among oncology HCPs in Jordan using three validated tools: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RSIC), and Moral Distress Thermometer (MDT). Seven items were used to assess sources of stress. Results A total of 965 participants enrolled with a 74% response rate. The participants' ages ranged from 20 to 74 (mean = 32.74, SD = 5.197), with 79.1% males, 45.1% were physicians, 32.6% were public hospital workers, 57.1% were married, and 56.6% had children below 18 years. Findings indicated moderate perceived stress (Mean = 15.87, SD = 5.861), low resilience (Mean = 29.18, SD = 5.197), and high moral distress (Mean = 4.72, SD = 2.564). Females, unmarried individuals, and younger age groups exhibited higher PSS (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, and P<0.001) and lower resilience (p = 0.024, p = 0.034, and p = 0.001). Not having children below 18 years correlated with higher perceived stress (P < 0.001). In linear regression analysis, age and gender emerged as significant predictors of both perceived stress and resilience. Female participants reported stress related to the risk of contracting COVID-19 (p = 0.001), transmitting it to others (p = 0.017), social isolation (P < 0.001), and having children at home due to school closures (p = 0.000). A cohort of 239 participants repeated the survey within a two-month interval, revealed a statistically significant decrease in the CD-RISC scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion Oncology HCPs in Jordan experienced moderate stress, high moral distress, and poor resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors may negatively affect the quality of oncology care. Urgent measures are necessary to support HCPs in coping with unforeseen circumstances in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Alrjoub
- Centre for Palliative and Cancer Care in Conflict (CPCCC), King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
| | - Ghadeer Alarjeh
- Centre for Palliative and Cancer Care in Conflict (CPCCC), King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
| | - Khawlah Ammar
- Centre of Research Shared Resources, King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Booth
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Richard Sullivan
- Institute of Cancer Policy, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Asem Mansour
- Director General’s Office, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan
| | - Omar Shamieh
- Centre for Palliative and Cancer Care in Conflict (CPCCC), King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
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Wollast R, Lacourse É, Mageau GA, Pelletier-Dumas M, Dorfman A, Dupéré V, Lina JM, Stolle D, de la Sablonnière R. Trajectories of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A person-oriented multi-trajectory approach. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292522. [PMID: 38109431 PMCID: PMC10727429 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has produced unprecedented changes in the lives of many people. Although research has documented associations between concerns related to COVID-19 and poor mental health indicators, fewer studies have focused on positive factors that could help people better cope with this stressful social context. To fill this gap, the present research investigated the trajectories of self-compassion facets in times of dramatic social change. Using a longitudinal research design, we described the trajectories of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness during the first eight months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a representative sample of Canadian adults (N = 3617). Relying on a multi-trajectory group-based approach, we identified clusters of individuals following persistently low (4.0%), moderate-low (39.3%), moderate-high (46.7%), and high (10.0%) levels of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Interestingly, we found that compassionate self-responding trajectories were mainly stable over time with minor fluctuations for some groups of individuals, in line with the epidemiological situation. In terms of covariates, we observed that older women were more likely to follow trajectories of high compassionate self-responding, as compared to the other age and gender groups. In terms of mental health indicators, we demonstrated that trajectory groups with high levels of compassionate self-responding were associated with greater life satisfaction, more happiness, better sleep quality, higher sleep quantity, and fewer negative emotions, as compared to lower trajectory groups. The results supported the idea that self-compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic could have favored better mental health indicators and could possibly be promoted as a psychological intervention in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Wollast
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Éric Lacourse
- Department of Sociology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Anna Dorfman
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Véronique Dupéré
- School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Marc Lina
- École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dietlind Stolle
- Department of Political Science and Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Greenan E, Tynan G, Collins D, Murphy CC, Flood M, Ní Gabhann‐Dromgoole J. Beyond dry eye: The greater extent of Sjögren's systemic disease symptoms, the impact of COVID-19 and perceptions towards telemedicine identified through a patient co-designed study. Health Expect 2023; 26:2252-2263. [PMID: 37470291 PMCID: PMC10632657 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13823] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sjögren's ('SHOW-grins') is a chronic debilitating autoimmune disease characterised by dry eyes and dry mouth, secondary to reduced exocrine function of both the lacrimal and salivary glands. The persistent, severe and serious systemic complications of Sjögren's are poorly understood and often unappreciated, resulting in significant morbidity and treatment burden. This study aimed to explore the experiences of those living with Sjögren's, specifically access to healthcare and attitude towards telemedicine. Additionally, we sought to collect information regarding the impact of the pandemic on their quality of life (QoL). METHODS One hundred and ninety-four individuals attended an Irish Sjögren's Webinar. Attendees were invited to participate in two online surveys after the webinar. The first survey gathered information related to demographics, disease and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of bespoke items and validated questionnaires (EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index [ESSPRI], COVID-19 Impact on Quality of Life [COV19-QoL]) was used. The second survey consisted of a shortened Telehealth Usability Questionnaire. Both were prepared in collaboration with a patient advocate. RESULTS Survey 1: n = 76; response rate = 39.2%. Thirty-one respondents (41.4%) to survey 1 reported a delay of ≥5 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Dry mouth was the most common symptom experienced (76.8%, n = 63), followed by dry eye (74.4%, n = 61), fatigue (57.3%, n = 47) and joint pain (53.7%, n = 44), but a range of other symptoms were also reported. COV19-QoL results indicated that the pandemic had a detrimental effect on participants' overall QoL (4.0 ± 1.0) and physical health (4.0 ± 0.8) in particular. COV19-QoL and ESSPRI scores were moderately correlated (0.36, p = .002). Over 70% of respondents had a medical appointment cancelled, delayed or rescheduled (n = 60). Survey 2: n = 57; response rate = 29.4%. Those that had interacted with telemedicine reported largely positive experiences with the virtual model. CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of the range of symptoms experienced by patients with Sjögren's beyond those of sicca (dry eye and dry mouth) and fatigue. COVID-19 has negatively influenced the self-reported health and well-being of those with Sjögren's, particularly those with higher symptom scores. It is vital that optimised telemedicine models are implemented to ensure continuity in the provision of healthcare for those with chronic illness such as Sjögren's and in preparation for possible future pandemics. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION A group of people living with Sjögren's co-designed the structure and content of the webinar where the survey was shared. A public and patient involvement (PPI) contributor also collaborated in the selection of questionnaires used in the study, ensuring that the questions asked would best reflect the priorities of patients. They contributed to the writing of this manuscript as co-authors. Additionally, the research team and Sjögren's patients who contributed to this work have gone on to establish Sjögren's Research Ireland, a collaboration between patient advocates, researchers and PPI facilitators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Greenan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesRCSI, University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- Department of OphthalmologyRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- Royal Victoria Eye and Ear HospitalDublinIreland
| | | | | | - Conor C. Murphy
- Department of OphthalmologyRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- Royal Victoria Eye and Ear HospitalDublinIreland
| | - Michelle Flood
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesRCSI, University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- RCSI PPI Ignite NetworkRCSI, University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
| | - Joan Ní Gabhann‐Dromgoole
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesRCSI, University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- Department of OphthalmologyRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
- RCSI PPI Ignite NetworkRCSI, University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublinIreland
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Urriza-Trejo S, Hurtazo H, Palacios J, Cruz-Soto M. The Association of Insomnia and Stress on Cardiovascular Risk Factors during COVID-19 Confinement in the Mexican Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7135. [PMID: 38063565 PMCID: PMC10706477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20237135] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
During the pandemic confinement, the WHO changed the term "social distancing" to "physical distancing", to help people deal with the lack of social contact. As a result, there was an increase in mental health problems, including insomnia and stress, with a negative impact on cardiovascular health. The objective of this research was to identify the association between insomnia and stress and cardiovascular risk (CVR) during the pandemic in a sample of the general population in Mexico; the participants were chosen using the non-probabilistic method. The data were obtained from an online questionnaire about medical histories focused on cardiovascular risk, according to the Official Mexican Standards and Regulations for patients' clinical records, NOM-004-SSA3-2012, along with an index for the severity of insomnia, measured with a seven-item guide, and an instrument to measure stress. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics for several different variables: sociodemographics, stress, insomnia, and cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular risk was compared to insomnia and stress variables, which led to statistically significant differences and correlations between the variables. Participants were divided into four groups with respect to CVR, from low to very high CVR. This research demonstrated that women were more susceptible to stress and cardiovascular risk. However, stress was a more major indicator of CVR than insomnia, but in the high and very high CVR groups, insomnia contributed along with stress; coping strategies reduced the risk in the high CVR group but did not function as expected with respect to reducing risk in the very high CVR group. These findings suggest that sleep patterns and mental health alterations present during the pandemic may persist even when the pandemic was declared as having ended and may contribute to increases in cardiovascular risk in the long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martha Cruz-Soto
- Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Campus Querétaro, Universidad del Valle de México, Boulevard Juriquilla No. 1000 A, Delegación Santa Rosa Jáuregui, Querétaro 76230, Mexico; (S.U.-T.); (H.H.); (J.P.)
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Sumner J, Chen M, En AMSS, Xun VLW, Neo SH, Lim YW. Mental health and resilience after the covid-19 pandemic: a multi-ethnic longitudinal survey. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2340. [PMID: 38007456 PMCID: PMC10676608 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17230-1] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Longitudinal work on the impact of COVID-19 on population mental health and resilience beyond the first year of the pandemic is lacking. We aimed to understand how mental health and resilience evolved during the pandemic (2020) and two years later (2022) in a multi-ethnic Singaporean population. In addition, we assessed what characteristics were associated with mental health and resilience scores. METHODS We surveyed and analysed two balanced panel samples up to four times between 30th April 2020 and 11th July 2022. One panel assessed psychological distress (Kessler-10) and well-being (short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale) n = 313, and one panel assessed resilience (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale©) n = 583. A linear panel regression model with random effects assessed the temporal patterns for psychological distress, well-being, and resilience. RESULTS Mean psychological distress scores (Kessler-10) were relatively stable over time and were not statistically significantly worse than baseline at any follow-up. Well-being scores improved over time and were significantly better than baseline by the third survey (22nd Jul-18th Aug 2020) (0.54 p = 0.007, Cohen's d 0.12). Scores had worsened by the last survey (27th June-11th July 2022) but were not significantly different from baseline 0.20 p = 0.30. Resilience scores declined over time. Scores at both follow-ups (14th Aug- 4th Sep 2020 and 27th June-11th July 2022) were statistically significantly lower than baseline: -1.69 p < 0.001 (Cohen's d 0.25) and -0.96 p = 0.006 (Cohen's d 0.14), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our study joins a body of work measuring the longitudinal effects of COVID-19 on population mental health and resilience. While, the magnitude of the effect related to resilience decline is small, our findings indicate that particular attention should be given to ongoing population surveillance, with the aim of maintaining good health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Sumner
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Medical Affairs - Research Innovation & Enterprise, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore, 159964, Singapore.
| | - Mark Chen
- National Centre of Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Sin Hui Neo
- Medical Affairs - Research Innovation & Enterprise, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore, 159964, Singapore
| | - Yee Wei Lim
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Medical Affairs - Research Innovation & Enterprise, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore, 159964, Singapore
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Lanzara R, Conti C, Rosa I, Pawłowski T, Malecka M, Rymaszewska J, Porcelli P, Stein B, Waller C, Müller MM. Changes in hospital staff' mental health during the Covid‑19 pandemic: Longitudinal results from the international COPE-CORONA study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285296. [PMID: 37972086 PMCID: PMC10653404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This longitudinal study aimed to explore anxiety and depressive symptoms, individual resources, and job demands in a multi-country sample of 612 healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two online surveys were distributed to HCWs in seven countries (Germany, Andorra, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Iran) during the first (May-October 2020, T1) and the second (February-April 2021, T2) phase of the pandemic, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, contact with COVID-19 patients, anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-compassion, sense of coherence, social support, risk perception, and health and safety at the workplace. HCWs reported a significant increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms. HCWs with high depressive or anxiety symptoms at T1 and T2 reported a history of mental illness and lower self-compassion and sense of coherence over time. Risk perception, self-compassion, sense of coherence, and social support were strong independent predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms at T2, even after controlling for baseline depressive or anxiety symptoms and sociodemographic variables. These findings pointed out that HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak experienced a high burden of psychological distress. The mental health and resilience of HCWs should be supported during disease outbreaks by instituting workplace interventions for psychological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lanzara
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ilenia Rosa
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Tomasz Pawłowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Monika Malecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Piero Porcelli
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Barbara Stein
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Markus M Müller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
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Kalanj K, Ćurković M, Peček M, Orešković S, Orbanić A, Marshall R. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute mental health admissions in Croatia. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1231796. [PMID: 38026363 PMCID: PMC10679393 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1231796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pandemic of COVID-19 had a profound impact on our community and healthcare system. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric care in Croatia by comparing the number of acute psychiatric cases before coronavirus disease (2017-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2022). Materials and methods The paper is a retrospective, comparative analyzes of the hospital admission rate in Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) classes related to mental diseases, and organic mental disorders caused by alcohol and drug use. This study used DRG data from all acute hospitals in Croatia accredited to provide mental health care services and relevant publicly available data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). All hospital admissions for acute psychiatric patients in Croatia were tracked during both periods under study. Results During the pandemic, the average number of all such cases decreased by 28% in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and by 11% in specialist psychiatric hospitals. It was also found that during COVID-19, there was a decrease in case numbers in DRG classes related to major affective disorders and anxiety, alcohol, and drug intoxication (31, 48, 34 and 45%, respectively). However, the same period saw an increase in hospital activity for eating disorders and for involuntary admissions related to schizophrenia and paranoia (30, 34 and 39% respectively). There were no changes in the admission rate for cases related to opioid use. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in both a steep decrease in the overall number of psychiatric cases inpatient treatment at mental health facilities and their DRG casemix. Increasing our understanding of how pandemics and isolation affect demand for psychiatric care will help us better plan for future crises and provide more targeted care to this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kalanj
- Department of Medical Oncology, Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Ćurković
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirta Peček
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stjepan Orešković
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Rick Marshall
- Epidemiologist and Independent Consultant in Health System Funding Models, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS, Australia
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Pavlidou E, Papadopoulou SK, Antasouras G, Vorvolakos T, Alexatou O, Tsourouflis G, Angelakou EP, Serdari A, Grammatikopoulou MG, Psara E, Vadikolias K, Dakanalis A, Lefantzis N, Giaginis C. Association of COVID-19 Infection with Sociodemographic, Anthropometric and Lifestyle Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Older Adults' Population Aged over 65 Years Old. Diseases 2023; 11:165. [PMID: 37987276 PMCID: PMC10660554 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11040165] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unfavorable disruptions to daily living routines by exerting deleterious effects on several aspects of human mental and physical health and quality of life worldwide. The purpose of the current survey is to explore the potential association of COVID-19 infection with multiple sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS This is a cross-sectional survey including 5197 older adults aged over 65 years old from 10 geographically diverse regions of Greece. Relevant questionnaires were used to record study the population sociodemographic factor, while anthropometric parameters were also measured. Validated questionnaires were also applied to assess several lifestyle factors such as depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive status, sleep quality, health-related quality of life, physical activity levels, and Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence. RESULTS In multivariate regression analysis, COVID-19 infection was significantly, independently related with urban residence (p = 0.0107), regular smoking (p = 0.0218), overweight status and obesity (p = 0.0036), as well as abdominal obesity (p = 0.0008), higher risk of depression (p = 0.0027), anxiety (p = 0.0045), stress (p = 0.0038), inadequate sleep quality (p = 0.0108), lower physical activity levels (p = 0.0012), reduced MD compliance (p = 0.0009), and poor health-related quality of life (p = 0.0002). In univariate analysis, older adults' age (p = 0.0001), male gender (p = 0.0015), living alone (p = 0.0023), lower educational and economic level (p = 0.0175 and p = 0.0294, respectively), and cognition decline (p = 0.0032) were also related with the presence of COVID-19 infection; however, these associations were considerably attenuated at a non-significant level by adjustment for several confounders in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS This is one of the few available studies supporting evidence that COVID-19 infection may be associated with diverse sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors in an older adults' population in Greece. This study highlights the strong demand to provide psychological and nutritional counselling and support to older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in order to ameliorate disease symptoms and severity, emphasizing the adaptation of healthy dietary and lifestyle habits as preventing and supplementary therapeutic factors against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Pavlidou
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Sousana K. Papadopoulou
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Antasouras
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Theofanis Vorvolakos
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandoupoli, Greece;
| | - Olga Alexatou
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Gerasimos Tsourouflis
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Exakousti-Petroula Angelakou
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Aspasia Serdari
- Department of Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, Greece;
| | - Maria G. Grammatikopoulou
- Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Evmorfia Psara
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Konstantinos Vadikolias
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupoli, Greece;
| | - Antonios Dakanalis
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy;
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, Via Cadore 38, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Nikolaos Lefantzis
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School, Attikon Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Constantinos Giaginis
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Greece; (E.P.); (G.A.); (O.A.); (E.-P.A.); (E.P.); (C.G.)
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Giusti L, Mammarella S, Del Vecchio S, Salza A, Casacchia M, Roncone R. Deepening Depression in Women Balancing Work-Life Responsibilities and Caregiving during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Gender-Specific Face-to-Face Street Interviews Conducted in Italy. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:892. [PMID: 37998639 PMCID: PMC10668961 DOI: 10.3390/bs13110892] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, quality of life, and family functioning in a sample of the general female population, exploring difficulties encountered in managing family and work responsibilities and burden of care when taking care of a loved one. This study was, moreover, aimed at investigating factors capable of influencing severe depressive symptomatology in the context of socio-demographics, traumatic events, individual vulnerability, and family functioning. METHOD The sampling method used in this research was non-probability sampling. The survey took place during a Hospital Open Weekend (8-10 October 2021) organized by the National Gender Observatory on Women's Health "Fondazione Onda" on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day. RESULTS A total of 211 women were interviewed (mean age = 35.6, 53% living alone, more than 15% with financial difficulties, 47% exposed to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake). More than 50% of the sample reported a higher complexity in managing their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their previous routine, with no statistically significant differences between working women and non-workers, although the latter obtained higher scores for depressive symptomatology and poorer quality of life. Compared to non-caregivers, female caregivers (22.3%) in charge of the care of loved ones affected by physical (10.9%) or psychiatric disabilities (11.4%) complained of a poorer quality of life, especially in general health perception (p = 0.002), physical function (p = 0.011), role limitations related to physical problems (p = 0.017), bodily pain (p = 0.015), mental health (p = 0.004), and social functioning (p = 0.007). Women caring for people affected by mental disorders seemed to experience a more significant worsening in vitality (p = 0.003) and social functioning (p = 0.005). Approximately 20% of the total sample reported severe depressive symptomatology. Previous access to mental health services (O.R. 10.923; p = 0.000), a low level of education (O.R. 5.410; p = 0.021), and difficulties in management of everyday lives during the COVID-19 pandemic (O.R. 3.598; p = 0.045) were found to be the main variables predictive of severe depressive psychopathology. Old age, good problem-solving skills, and ability to pursue personal goals were identified as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the need for support amongst emotionally vulnerable women with pre-existing mental health conditions, partly reflecting the cumulative effects of traumas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Giusti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Silvia Mammarella
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Sasha Del Vecchio
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Anna Salza
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimo Casacchia
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Rita Roncone
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (L.G.); (S.M.); (S.D.V.); (A.S.); (M.C.)
- University Unit for Rehabilitation Treatment, Early Interventions in Mental Health, S. Salvatore Hospital, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
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Mahat-Shamir M, Zychlinski E, Kagan M. Psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative perspective. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293189. [PMID: 37883473 PMCID: PMC10602244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293189] [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: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Informed by socio-ecological psychology and the conservation of resources model, the present study proposes an integrative perspective on the association between psychological distress and a constellation of factors, during the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel. Our sample, comprised of 991 adult participants, was measured for psychological distress, locus of control (internal/ external), resilience, loneliness, social support, dimensions of citizens' trust in government organizations (perceived competence, benevolence, and integrity), and demographic characteristics. The findings showed that women, non-religious people, and the unemployed reported higher levels of psychological distress. Internal locus of control, resilience, social support, and the extent to which citizens perceive government organizations as benevolent were negatively associated with psychological distress. Self-reported loneliness and external locus of control positively predicted the level of respondent psychological distress. No association was detected between age, competence and integrity and psychological distress. An overview of the research findings indicates that individuals with greater resources were less likely to suffer from psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak. These findings call upon mental health care practitioners to help as well as to enable clients to attain resources in order to lower their levels of psychological distress. Policies developed by policymakers during periods of acute crisis should consider the specific needs and vulnerabilities of certain population groups, including women and the unemployed who may be more susceptible to psychological distress. It is also important for policymakers to be aware that the perception of democratic governments as benevolent can serve as a buffer against psychological distress during times of crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maya Kagan
- School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Werdecker C, Bals R. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and quality of life of patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Respir Res 2023; 24:258. [PMID: 37880685 PMCID: PMC10601099 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02553-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder characterized by mutations in the SERPINA1 gene, primarily affecting the lungs and liver. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the susceptibility of individuals with AATD to COVID-19 and whether patients with rare lung disease might experience increased stress-related symptoms and mental health challenges. This study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of individuals living with AATD. METHODS The study enrolled participants from the German registry for individuals with AATD. Questionnaires were sent to the 1250 participants, and a total of 358 patients were included in the analysis. The primary objective was to examine the influence of sociodemographic and disease-related factors on the occurrence of stress-related symptoms. This was accomplished through correlation and regression analyses. We also investigated the role of baseline quality of life (QoL), as measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), as a mediator of this relationship. RESULTS Stress-related symptoms were predicted by young age, female gender, psychological disorders, and a history of exacerbations of lung disease, as determined by multiple regression analysis. QoL as measured by the SGRQ mediated the relationship between poor lung function, stress, and a decline in overall well-being. CONCLUSION The presented data demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects the psychological well-being of patients with rare diseases, leading to increased levels of anxiety and stress. Disease-related factors can exacerbate stress manifestations, especially when compounded by sociodemographic and contextual factors. Thus, our study emphasizes the crucial role of taking these factors into account when managing individuals with AATD in pandemic situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherina Werdecker
- Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Allergology and Critical Care Medicine, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Robert Bals
- Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Allergology and Critical Care Medicine, Saarland University, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
- Molecular Therapies for Lung Disease, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland - HIPS, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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Volpato E, Banfi P, Pagnini F. The Interaction Between Asthma, Emotions, and Expectations in the Time of COVID-19. J Asthma Allergy 2023; 16:1157-1175. [PMID: 37881179 PMCID: PMC10596046 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s418840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The main aim was to gain insight into the experience of adult people with a diagnosis of at least 6-months of mild or moderate persistent asthma according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and their emotions, beliefs, and expectations during the first wave of COVID-19. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) were carried out by phone involving 31 people (mean age=58.2; SD=16.2). Interviews were audio recording, transcribed verbatim and analysed through thematic analysis. Results Five superordinate themes and themes were dedicated to illness (symptoms of asthma; difficulties related to COVID-19), experienced emotions (lockdown period; medical changes; emotions COVID-19 related), beliefs (about asthma; about COVID-19), expectations (related to asthma; related to COVID-19) and behaviours (to protect; risk taken; adherence; contacts with General Practitioners; support). The prevalence of emotions such as fear, worry and anxiety emerged in the participants' narratives. All are accompanied by a preference for action and problem solving. A sense of protection, connection to self and other, and commitment to life were revealed as central concepts for enhancing well-being even at a time of deterring. Discussion The common threads of the presence of uncertainty and vulnerability open the outlook of a treatment that ensures greater continuity and ownership of care in the patient, preserving the sense of self-efficacy even in times of greater instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Volpato
- Department of Psychology, Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Banfi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Pagnini
- Department of Psychology, Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Lai S, Lu L, Shen C, Yan A, Lei Y, Zhou Z, Wang Y. Income loss and subsequent poor psychological well-being among the Chinese population during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:219. [PMID: 37848883 PMCID: PMC10583462 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02022-1] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had major ramifications for health and the economy at both the individual and collective levels. This study examined exogenous negative changes in household income and their implications on psychological well-being (PWB) among the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Data were drawn from the early China COVID-19 Survey, a cross-sectional anonymous online survey administered to the general population in China. Self-reported PWB was measured using a 5-point Likert scale with five questions related to the participants' recent psychological state. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was employed to examine whether income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with poor psychological health. RESULTS This study included 8,428 adults, of which 90% had suffered from a moderate or severe loss of household income due to the early COVID-19 pandemic. Those who had experienced moderate or severe loss of income scored significantly lower on psychological well-being than those who did not experience income loss (19.96 or 18.07 vs. 21.46; P < 0.001); after controlling for confounders, income loss was negatively associated with PWB scores (moderate income loss: B = - 0.603, P < 0.001; severe income loss: B = - 1.261, P < 0.001). An interaction effect existed between the degree of income loss and pre-pandemic income groups. Specifically, participants in the middle-income group who had suffered severe income loss scored the lowest on PWB (B = - 1.529, P < 0.001). There was also a main effect on income loss, such that participants with varying degrees of income loss differed across five dimensions, including anhedonia, sleep problems, irritability or anger, difficulty with concentration, and repeated disturbing dreams related to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Income loss during the pandemic has had detrimental consequences on psychological well-being, and the magnitude of the impact of income loss on psychological well-being varied according to previous income levels. Future policy efforts should be directed toward improving the psychological well-being of the economically vulnerable and helping them recover from lost income in the shortest time possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Lai
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li Lu
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chi Shen
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Alice Yan
- Division of Research Patient Care Services, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yanjun Lei
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhongliang Zhou
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Youfa Wang
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.
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Calderón Alfaro FA, Li YM, Okely J. Symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people in El Salvador: Associations with peer and family relationships, artistic activities and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord 2023; 339:838-846. [PMID: 37481127 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.024] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known regarding the correlates of mental health, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in lower income countries. Using data from almost the entire population of graduating high school students in El Salvador, we examine the associations between depression and anxiety symptoms and potentially protective factors including peer and family relationships, health behaviours and artistic leisure activities. METHODS Data comes from the AVANZO survey conducted in El Salvador with 42,314 graduating high school students aged 15-21 in November 2020. Participants completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale and Socioemotional Skills Scale. Using a structural equation modelling framework, we tested the associations between these variables and whether these associations varied by sex. RESULTS Participants who experienced more positive family relationships reported fewer symptoms of depression (β = -0.304, p < .001) and anxiety (β = -0.103, p < .001). Similar results were found between health behaviours and symptoms of depression (β = -0.398, p < .001), and anxiety (β = -0.312, p < .001). Peer relationships were non-significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Associations were similar for boys and girls. LIMITATIONS Students undertook the mental health survey as part of an academic test, which might have increased mental stress. The Socioemotional Skills Scales is newly developed, and results are cross-sectional. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide insight into the experiences of an understudied population during the pandemic and identify positive family relationships and health behaviours as important correlates of mental health during this time.
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Cancela A, González-Noriega M, Visiers A. Fear of COVID-19: the mediation role between the COVID-19 diagnosis and KAP in Spanish university students. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1909. [PMID: 37789262 PMCID: PMC10546735 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16777-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although health public services recommend prevention strategies for COVID-19 some of these recommendations have not been taken seriously by young people. Understanding why some people comply with these recommendations and others do not seem to be crucial in helping public health services to predict behavior and compliance with rules, especially for young people. Previous studies suggest that knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are useful to assess compliance with the preventive measures and public health policies. Being afraid has also been found to correlate with more engagement with preventive measures. This study aims to assess the KAP and fear of COVID-19 of Spanish university students and to understand the relation between diagnosis, KAP and the level of fear. METHOD Participants of this cross-sectional study were 598 college students (69.4% women) from different Spanish Universities. Data were collected for a month using an online questionnaire through Sphinx iQ2. RESULTS Levels of KAP among Spanish students were satisfactory and results suggest the presence of fear among them. More importantly, fear of COVID-19 mediated the impact of the diagnosis on the KAP. CONCLUSIONS Feeling fear seems to be the mechanism underlying the relationship between diagnosis and KAP. Diagnosis is associated with KAP when the diagnosis it is accompanied by measures of fear. KAP, diagnosis, or perceived fear of COVID must be taken together in consideration for health interventions and public health campaigns design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cancela
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Villanueva, c/ Costa Brava, 6, Madrid, 28034, Spain.
| | - Mar González-Noriega
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Villanueva, c/ Costa Brava, 6, Madrid, 28034, Spain
| | - Ana Visiers
- Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Santander, Spain
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Pakenham KI, Landi G, Cattivelli R, Grandi S, Tossani E. Identification of psychological flexibility and inflexibility profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:2225-2250. [PMID: 37192495 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23536] [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: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave and lockdown adversely affected the lives of people in diverse ways. AIMS This study used a person-centered approach to identify patterns of engagement in the 12 psychological flexibility (PF) and inflexibility (PI) processes to manage the first COVID-19 wave and lockdown hardships. MATERIALS & METHODS A total of 1035 Italian adults completed an online survey. RESULTS Latent profile analyses conducted on the 12 PI/PF processes measured by the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory identified five profiles; three reflected gradations of high to low PF with corresponding inverse levels of PI, while two represented more complex relationships between PI and PF. After controlling for relevant socio-demographic and COVID-19/lockdown factors, the five profiles differed in mental health (depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 distress). Essentially a gradient of progressive decreases in all PI processes (except experiential avoidance) corresponded with increments in mental health across all profiles. Two profiles, which evidenced the highest levels of mental health (highly flexible and moderately flexible profiles), also had the greatest proportion of the sample 56.42% (n = 584), and the highest levels of PF and experiential avoidance. DISCUSSION Findings from this and similar studies suggest intersecting complex relationships among the PI/PF processes that are likely to shift in response to changing contexts. We suggest this network of relationships is better represented by a three-dimensional PF/PI hexaflex than a simplistic two-dimensional depiction of the model. CONCLUSION Distinguishing different PF/PI profiles identified groups most at risk for the adverse mental health impacts of the pandemic and exposed variations in the mental health protective and risk roles of PF and PI processes, respectively, that can inform ACT-based mental health promotion interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth I Pakenham
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Giulia Landi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics (head Prof. Silvana Grandi), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Roberto Cattivelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics (head Prof. Silvana Grandi), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Silvana Grandi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics (head Prof. Silvana Grandi), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Eliana Tossani
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics (head Prof. Silvana Grandi), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
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Vuelvas-Olmos CR, Sánchez-Vidaña DI, Cortés-Álvarez NY. Gender-Based Analysis of the Association Between Mental Health, Sleep Quality, Aggression, and Physical Activity Among University Students During the COVID-19 Outbreak. Psychol Rep 2023; 126:2212-2236. [PMID: 35437090 PMCID: PMC9019504 DOI: 10.1177/00332941221086209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and negative psychological effects among general population. However, university students are particularly vulnerable in terms of mental health. The present study evaluated the association between mental health, quality of sleep, aggression, and physical activity in university students in Mexico after 1 year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, including a gender-sensitive analysis. Participants (935 university students) completed an online questionnaire which collected information regarding demographic data, psychological distress (IES-R scale), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), aggressiveness Buss-Perry Aggressive Questionnaire, sleep quality (PSQI) and physical activity (IPAQ-S). Findings showed that female students showed significantly higher scores in psychological distress, anxiety, stress scores and sleep quality, as compared to male students. By contrast, male students showed significantly higher scores on aggressiveness than female students. In addition, on physical activity, females performed significantly higher MET-min/week on moderate and high levels. Finally, liner regression model accounted for approximately 73.5% of the variance in DASS-21 scores, with the body mass index, IES-R, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and IPAQ subscales, emerging as significant individual (positive) predictors. Therefore, the pandemic affected female and male students differently. Female students reported more psychological distress, anxiety, and stress while male students reported higher aggressiveness. The differences observed may be due to physiological differences, the response to stress, and differences in sensitivity to life events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nadia Yanet Cortés-Álvarez
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
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Koca E, Yıldırım M, Söğütlü L, Geçer E, Yıldırım ÜT, Çakır MO, Erdemoğlu E, Takır HB, Koca S. Psychological state and predictors of psychiatric morbidity in COVID-19 patients six weeks after discharge. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2023; 46:14-20. [PMID: 37813498 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2023.07.003] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
To be able to detect possible psychological distress and long-term deterioration caused by COVID-19, following the patient, who has recovered, is crucial. Therefore, this study (i); aims to examine the ongoing fear-loss of control, the rate of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder levels following the 6th week after discharge; (ii) to examine the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on anxiety, and depression and (iii) within the same context to reveal the developmental markers of psychiatric morbidity and the risk group. The study includes 180 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. Sociodemographic Data Form, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised were used in the current study. High rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were reported by the inpatients, as more than one-third scored above the anxiety and depression cut-off scores of borderline abnormal and abnormal. Also, 37.22 % of the participants reported the likely presence of PTSD symptoms. Anxiety and depression were significantly positively related to the symptoms of PTSD. The results suggest that there is psychiatric morbidity in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and that especially posttraumatic stress poses a risk for other psychopathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Koca
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Türkiye
| | - Murat Yıldırım
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Fırat Mahallesi Yeni Üniversite Caddesi No: 2 AE/1 04100 Merkez, Ağrı - Türkiye.
| | - Lütfiye Söğütlü
- Department of Psychology, University of Health Sciences, Türkiye
| | - Ekmel Geçer
- Department of Psychology, Marmara University, Türkiye
| | | | | | | | | | - Sinan Koca
- Department of Medicine, Medeniyet University, Türkiye
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Yardeni M, Shaked OZ, Pienik R, Ben-Ami M, Stern E, Golan H, Waldman D, Gothelf D, Modan-Moses D. Impact of COVID-19 on Lifestyle Habits and Emotional State of Childhood Cancer Survivors and Their Parents. Nutrients 2023; 15:3932. [PMID: 37764717 PMCID: PMC10537817 DOI: 10.3390/nu15183932] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures affected the physical and emotional state of children and parents worldwide. Survivors of childhood cancer may be particularly vulnerable to these effects. We aimed to evaluate the lifestyle habits and emotional states of childhood cancer survivors and their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS Lifestyle habits and emotional distress were assessed in 43 childhood cancer survivors (aged 8-21 years) and their parents before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, using the PROMIS anxiety and depression modules and the "Mabat Youth" questionnaire. RESULTS Most parents (80.5%) reported eating more family meals during home confinement compared to their usual routine. Patients' physical activity levels did not change significantly during confinement, leisure-related screen time nearly doubled (p < 0.001), and sleep duration increased (p = 0.006). Anxiety levels of children (p = 0.045) and parents (p = 0.02) increased during confinement compared to pre-pandemic levels, with no significant changes in depression levels. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to concerns regarding lifestyle habits during the COVID-19 lockdown, eating behaviors of childhood cancer survivors improved, sleep duration increased, and physical activity remained unchanged. Still, screen time increased significantly. Parents of childhood cancer survivors reported higher anxiety levels for themselves and their children during home confinement. Our findings may assist medical and psycho-social teams in guiding parents of cancer survivors during similar circumstances in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Yardeni
- Division of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (H.G.)
| | - Omer Zvi Shaked
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (O.Z.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Reut Pienik
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (O.Z.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Michal Ben-Ami
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (O.Z.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Eve Stern
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (O.Z.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Hana Golan
- Division of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (H.G.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
| | - Dalia Waldman
- Division of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (H.G.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
| | - Doron Gothelf
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- The Child Psychiatry Division, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Dalit Modan-Moses
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel; (O.Z.S.); (E.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
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Turchi GP, Bassi D, Cavarzan M, Camellini T, Moro C, Orrù L. Intervening on Global Emergencies: The Value of Human Interactions for People's Health. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:735. [PMID: 37754013 PMCID: PMC10525546 DOI: 10.3390/bs13090735] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Literature about global emergencies and their impact on people's health underlines the need to improve the social cohesion of human community and the availability of tools to support people and foster community interactions. This paper illustrates research aimed at describing and measuring human interactions in the Veneto community and its changing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 50,000 text occurrences from social media and newspapers about these topics were analyzed between December 2021 and January 2022. People present themselves as members of different teams, pursuing conflicting aims, and attributing the decision-making responsibility of emergencies management exclusively to governments, without considering themselves as active parts of the community. This delegation process on citizens' behalf can affect their health: by taking minor responsibility in handling the repercussions of these events on the community and by arguing over the most effective way to deal with them, they risk freezing and waiting for action by third parties, thus leaving mutual interactions and the promotion of their own health at a standstill. Local institutions can use these data to shape prevention policies to manage the community's emergencies and use them as opportunities to promote public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Piero Turchi
- Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology Department, University of Padova, 35139 Padua, Italy; (D.B.); (M.C.); (T.C.); (C.M.); (L.O.)
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Mishyiev V, Mykhaylov B, Grinevich E, Omelyanovich V, Kaafarani A. The COVID-19 pandemic: new challenges for the mental health protection system. POSTEPY PSYCHIATRII NEUROLOGII 2023; 32:138-146. [PMID: 38034508 PMCID: PMC10683054 DOI: 10.5114/ppn.2023.132119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The comparative investigation of the scientific research materials and systematization of the latest data on the epidemiological state, pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, risk factors, and psychopathological consequences of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the population is needed for the further targeted development of treatment and rehabilitation measures. Views The COVID-19 pandemic has been increasingly viewed through the lens of serious global mental health issues. This article analyzes the results of original research and publications data on the etiopathogenesis, neuropsychiatric features, and risk factors of mental disorders associated with the pandemic. The study was carried out within the scope of the scientific research work of the Department of General, Children's Forensic Psychiatry, and Narcology of the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine. Its title was "Development of a multimodal system of restorative therapy and medical and psychological rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19, based on the study of leading pathogenetic mechanisms" (state registration number 0121U114707). Conclusions Despite the recent rapid increase in the number of sources in the literature devoted to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, several questions remain unresolved. This especially applies to disorders in the mental sphere, concerning clinical phenomenology, features of emotional and cognitive disturbances, personal response, levels of social functioning and the quality of life of patients who have suffered from COVID-19. The data obtained can serve as the basis for the further development of a multimodal model of hierarchical structural-functional pathogenetic links of mental disorders, as well as a target-oriented system of restorative therapy and medical-psychological rehabilitation of patients who have suffered from COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viacheslav Mishyiev
- Department of General, Children’s, Forensic Psychiatry, and Narcology, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Borys Mykhaylov
- Department of General, Children’s, Forensic Psychiatry, and Narcology, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Eugenia Grinevich
- Department of General, Children’s, Forensic Psychiatry, and Narcology, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Vitaliy Omelyanovich
- Department of General, Children’s, Forensic Psychiatry, and Narcology, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Abbas Kaafarani
- Kharkov Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kharkov, Ukraine
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Berglund AM, Raugh IM, Macdonald KI, James SH, Bartolomeo LA, Knippenberg AR, Strauss GP. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hallucinations and delusions in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis and outpatients with schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1329-1338. [PMID: 36680609 PMCID: PMC9862234 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01551-8] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has had detrimental effects on mental health in the general population, the impact on those with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders has received relatively little attention. Assessing pandemic-related changes in positive symptoms is particularly critical to inform treatment protocols and determine whether fluctuations in hallucinations and delusions are related to telehealth utilization and treatment adherence. In the current longitudinal study, we evaluated changes in the frequency of hallucinations and delusions and distress resulting from them across three-time points. Participants included: (1) outpatients with chronic schizophrenia (SZ: n = 32) and healthy controls (CN: n = 31); (2) individuals at clinically high risk for psychosis (CHR: n = 25) and CN (n = 30). A series of questionnaires were administered to assess hallucination and delusion severity, medication adherence, telehealth utilization, and protective factors during the pandemic. While there were no significant increases in the frequency of hallucinations and delusions in SZ and CHR, distress increased from pre-pandemic to early pandemic in both groups and then decreased at the third time point. Additionally, changes in positive symptom severity in SZ were related to psychiatric medication adherence. Findings suggest that positive symptoms are a critical treatment target during the pandemic and that ongoing medication services will be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysia M Berglund
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ian M Raugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kelsey I Macdonald
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Sydney H James
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lisa A Bartolomeo
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Anna R Knippenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Gregory P Strauss
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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García-Carpintero Blas E, Gómez-Moreno C, Moreno-Gomez-Toledano R, Ayuso-Del-Olmo H, Rodrigo-Guijarro E, Polo-Martínez S, Manso Perea C, Vélez-Vélez E. Help! Caring for People With Mental Health Problems in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study. J Emerg Nurs 2023; 49:765-775. [PMID: 37269252 PMCID: PMC10237324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.04.007] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION After coronavirus disease 2019, there has been an increase in patients in the emergency department with mental health conditions. They are usually received by professionals who are not specialized in mental health. This study aimed to describe nursing staff's experiences in the emergency department, in the care they provide to people with mental health problems who often feel stigmatized by society and also in health care settings. METHODS This is a descriptive qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The participants were nurses from the Spanish Health Service from the emergency department of the Community of Madrid hospitals. Recruitment was performed by convenience sampling snowball sampling until data satruation was met. Data were collected through semistructured interviews conducted during January and February 2022. RESULTS The exhaustive and detailed analysis of the nurses' interviews made it possible to extract 3 main categories-health care, psychiatric patient, and work environment-with 10 subcategories. DISCUSSION The main study findings were the need to train emergency nurses to be prepared to care for people who experience mental health concerns including bias education and the need for implementation of standardized protocols. Emergency nurses never doubted their ability to care for people experiencing mental health disorders. Still, they recognized that they needed specialized professionals' support at certain critical moments.
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50
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Stewart GR, Leoni M, Charlton RA, Pickard HR, Happé F. A Qualitative Study of Autistic Adults' Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdowns. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2023; 5:311-324. [PMID: 37663440 PMCID: PMC10468551 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Autistic people experience higher rates of most mental health conditions and report more difficulties with change than nonautistic people. As such, the periods of national stay-at-home orders (known in the United Kingdom as a "lockdown") endured since the beginning of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic in March 2020 may have been particularly challenging for autistic people. Aim This study explored autistic adults' experience of quality of life and well-being during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (specifically March to August 2020) using open-text responses from an online survey. Methods In total, 79 autistic adults from the United Kingdom (aged 21-75 years) took part. Participants completed an online survey, including open-text questions on how various factors influencing quality of life, such as social interactions, general health, well-being, and sensory experiences, were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the first set of national lockdowns that occurred between March and August 2020. Results Thematic analysis created four key themes, each illustrated by several subthemes. These four themes explore (1) health, (2) social changes, (3) support provisions, and (4) adopting new routines. Many participants discussed the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the first set of national lockdowns had on their health and expressed concerns regarding the transition out of periods of lockdown, including readjusting to new rules, going back to in-person interactions, and reacclimatizing to high-stimulation sensory environments. However, several participants reported positive experiences of the periods of lockdown, such as reduced commuting, more control over sensory environments, and more time to pursue personal interests and self-care. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of giving autistic individuals the support they need to transition back to "normality" as COVID-19 becomes endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin R. Stewart
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marguerite Leoni
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca A. Charlton
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah R. Pickard
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Happé
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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