Mental health status of people isolated due to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Predictors of nursing students' stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Hispanic-serving University in South Texas: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

In nursing education, there have been several studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of nursing students to cope while in nursing school.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The goal of this study is to assess undergraduate nursing students' support mechanisms as predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic within a Hispanic-serving institution in South Texas.

METHODS

Across-sectional design was used in this study. An online survey using self-reported questionnaires was used to gather data from an undergraduate nursing student cohort during the Fall 2021 semester. Linear regression was used to identify the predictors of student mental health.

RESULTS

Higher resilience and spiritual well-being were associated with reduced perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Higher family functioning was associated with reduced perceived stress, and student employment as a salaried worker in a healthcare facility was associated with reduced depression. Finally, recovering from a symptomatic COVID-19 infection was associated with increased perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect on nursing students' mental health, exacerbated by the transition to virtual learning. Fostering resilience and spiritual well-being in addition to targeted faculty support to nursing students that recovered from COVID-19 may promote improved mental health in a pandemic context, for nursing students immersed in the predominantly Hispanic-American culture of South Texas.

The Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary School Children of Health Professionals

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals had to spend much of their time working in hospitals, which may have caused psychological distress to their children. This study was in the form of a case study pattern, one of the qualitative research methods aimed to identify the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the primary school children of health professionals. Its sample consisted of health professionals (n = 60) and their children (n = 60), who were all at primary school. Data were collected from the parents using a questionnaire, and from the children by asking them to create drawings and explain them. Descriptive and content analysis were carried out. The findings were grouped under the headings of "Spatial and Social Effects on the Child's Daily Life," "Effects on the Child's Emotions," and "Effects on the Parent From the Child's Perspective." It is recommended that interventions to maintain the psychosocial well-being of children be planned.

The impact of mental health and psychological stressors on menstrual cycle modulation: exploring the influence of age and hormonal contraceptives

Stress, infections, and psychological and social well-being can affect the reproductive system. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can disrupt ovarian cyclicity. Estrogens can modulate stress responsiveness and mood. Thus, understanding this interaction and how it modulates the menstrual cycle is crucial for women's reproductive health.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of a stressor, a period of the Covid-19 pandemic when there were no vaccines available yet, on the psychological state of women aged 18 to 45 years; as well as the influence of mental health on the menstrual cycle, considering the influence of age and hormonal contraceptives.

METHOD

Online questionnaire using the Google Forms platform was used.

RESULTS

There is a high prevalence of the onset of new psychosocial symptoms. Moreover, most women reported some type of change in their menstrual cycles. The women who were using hormonal contraceptives demonstrated a higher frequency of spotting and menstrual color alterations, while women without hormonal contraceptives demonstrated a higher frequency of cycle duration and menstrual odor alterations. Women without hormonal contraceptives were more susceptible to the development of psychosocial symptoms. Younger adult women were more affected by menstrual changes and psychosocial symptoms. Close to 90% of women who reported several psychosocial symptoms had changes in their menstrual cycles.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest the impact of stressors, such as a period of the pandemic, on mental health and menstrual cycles, and younger adult women can be more susceptible. This reflects the relationship between mental and reproductive health.

The impact of self-isolation on psychological wellbeing in adults and how to reduce it: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise evidence on the impact of self-isolation at home on the psychological and emotional wellbeing of adults in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022378140). We searched Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, and grey literature. Wellbeing included adverse mental health outcomes and adaptive wellbeing. We followed PRISMA and synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines. We extracted data on the impact of self-isolation on wellbeing, and factors associated with and interventions targeting wellbeing during self-isolation.

RESULTS

Thirty-six studies were included. The mode quality rating was 'high-risk'. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were most investigated. Evidence for an impact of self-isolation on wellbeing was often inconsistent in quantitative studies, although qualitative studies consistently reported a negative impact. People with pre-existing mental and physical health needs reported increased symptoms of mental ill health during self-isolation. Studies reported modifiable stressors that have been reported in previous infectious disease contexts, such as inadequate support, poor coping strategies, inadequate and conflicting information, and highlighted the importance of regular contact from trusted healthcare professionals. Interventions targeting psychological wellbeing were rare and evaluative studies of these had high or very high risk of bias.

CONCLUSION

When implementing self-isolation directives, public health officials should prioritise support for individuals who have pre-existing mental or physical health needs, lack support, or who are facing significant life stressors. Focus should be directed toward interventions that address loneliness, worries, and misinformation, whilst monitoring and identifying individuals in need of additional support.

Acute stress exposure in healthy oil and gas field workers and early post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: A lesson from the COVID-19 crisis

INTRODUCTION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the oil and gas industry had to adopt coping strategies. These changes might contribute to early increased mental health issues among workers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors to early post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among healthy Indonesian oil and gas field workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021. We investigated healthy field employees working during the pandemic. Data on the subjects' PTSD symptoms were collected using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) Version.

RESULTS

A total of 1542 completed forms were analyzed. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 44.8%, with 9.1% of very severe forms. Independent factors associated with PTSD symptoms were female gender (p = .013, OR 1.72 [95% CI 1.12-2.63]), change in work system (p = .006, OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.09-1.71]), increased workload (p < .001, OR 2.10 [95% CI 1.63-2.71]), and decreased income (p = .041, OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.02-2.05]).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 crisis and its impact on working conditions were significant stressors that contributed to a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms among oil and gas company workers. Therefore, implementing well-being programs is essential during acute challenges that lead to changes in work systems.

Patient's psychological experiences during and after recovery from COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 is a transmissible and infectious disease with symptoms similar to pneumonia, ranging from moderate to severe. This study investigated the psychological experiences of patients both during their illness and after their recovery.

METHODS

The study employed purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews to gather insights from 13 COVID-19 survivors (7 women and 6 men). Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 62 years.

RESULTS

The analysis identified seven main themes of psychological experiences during the illness, each with several sub-themes. Key themes included denial of the disease, uncertainty about the illness, and psychological distress, which had sub-themes of depression and stress. Other themes included death anxiety, perceived social stigma (with loneliness as a sub-theme), exposure to infection (with restrictions as a sub-theme), and coping strategies (which encompassed active coping and avoidant coping). For experiences post-recovery, two main themes emerged, with eight sub-themes. The first was post-traumatic growth, which included attachment to God, acceptance of death, gratitude (toward God), trust in interpersonal relationships, gratitude toward people, and the significance of life. The second theme was delayed resilience, which involved recovery from insomnia and post-COVID psychological distress.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that surviving COVID-19 involves significant psychological challenges both during the illness and after recovery. These insights are valuable for psychologists and counselors in addressing the emotional and mental health needs of COVID-19 patients.

Psychological distress and the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of personality and coping strategies

Personality traits and coping strategies significantly predict predisposition to psychopathology. This study aimed to examine the predictive role of coping strategies in psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Portuguese individuals, considering personality and sociodemographic variables. Data were collected using Google Forms from 2402 individuals (86.8% women; mean age ± SD = 36.80 ± 11.80) between March and June 2020, found primarily through Facebook. The evaluation instruments included the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), NEO Five-Factor Inventory, and Brief-COPE. Younger adults, females, single individuals, and those with lower education experienced higher distress. Neuroticism was strongly associated with all dimensions of psychological distress and the overall BSI. Maladaptive coping strategies (self-distraction, denial, self-blame, behavioral disengagement) were positively correlated with distress, whereas agreeableness and positive reframing were negatively correlated. Regression analysis showed that gender, age, education, and psychiatric diagnosis predicted 12% of distress; adding neuroticism increased prediction to 34% and coping strategies to 37%, with self-blame among coping strategies being the strongest predictor. Personality traits and coping strategies were significant predictors of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for interventions that target neuroticism and maladaptive coping strategies to improve mental health outcomes during public crises.

Depression in the COVID-19 endemic era: Analysis of online self-disclosures by young South Koreans

Although COVID-19 has been declared endemic in South Korea, there are economic and psychosocial after-effects. One of these is the prevalence of depression. Depressed adolescents and young adults struggle with insecurity, loneliness, and lack of confidence due to the life limitations imposed during the pandemic. Young South Koreans experienced deterioration in mental health because of the recurrence of mass infections. To address professionals' concerns about the lingering effects of COVID-19 on youth mental health, we text-mined young South Koreans' online posts about depression during the pandemic and the endemic phases-from February 2020 to May 2023. We used a total of 1,740 selected posts (raw data publicly available on https://github.com/kimalexis1129/PLOS_endemic_depression.git) to explore the situational triggers, additional factors, and by-products of depression that have persisted during the endemic era. We used Latent Dirichlet allocation and Dirichlet-multinomial regression topic modeling methods in conjunction with sentiment analysis and mean comparison. The results showed that the pandemic and endemic topic models shared similarities, but emerging topics showed extended adversities such as adolescents' vulnerability to eating disorders and young adults' tendency to self-isolate. Comparisons between the levels of positive and negative affect during the pandemic and endemic eras revealed no significant changes in mood. We discussed the results in comparison with SARS and MERS precedents and from general and cultural perspectives.

Psychosocial Impact of Quarantines: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Background: Quarantine is one of the most effective strategies to control outbreaks of communicable diseases. Individuals under isolation or quarantine experience both physical and mental effects. Therefore, given its widespread implementation around the world, it is pertinent to analyze this effect on physical and mental health. The psychosocial impact model, which divides four dimensions into two main points, exposure or protection and positive or negative responses, was used to analyze the psychosocial impact of quarantine. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the psychosocial impact of people exposed to or protected from quarantine. Methods: We conducted a search for primary articles in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we meta-analyzed five of them. Results: Quarantined individuals were more likely to experience anxiety (K = 4; OR = 2.62) and depressive symptoms (K = 6; OR = 1.61) compared to those who did not undergo quarantine. Researchers discuss a twofold increase in the probability of anxiety or depression among those in quarantine. As a result, advancing interventions that reduce this impact is critical for both health and the global economy. Conclusions: In terms of economic variables, the non-moderation of GDP per capita and the moderation of the GINI index stand out, demonstrating that countries must move toward policies that promote the reconstruction of more resilient and inclusive societies.

Psychological responses and factors associated with depression and anxiety in entry personnel under quarantine during pandemic in China

Background

The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted critical concerns surrounding mental health. Social isolation measures, such as the quarantine of incoming travelers, are essential public health strategies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. However, quarantine can lead to adverse psychological outcomes, including feelings of confinement, boredom, perceived scarcity of supplies and information, financial hardship, and social stigma. This study aims to assess the mental states of quarantined individuals, investigate the factors affecting their mental well-being, and examine their coping mechanisms, with the objective of providing recommendations to enhance mental health in anticipation of future outbreaks, such as Disease X.

Methods

We surveyed 327 individuals in quarantine from September 22, 2020 to January 9, 2021, collecting general demographic data and information related to COVID-19. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales, respectively, while stress coping was evaluated with a simplified version of the Cope scale. We analyzed the relationships between independent variables and mental health outcomes.

Results

Among the individuals undergoing entry quarantine, 27.8% reported symptoms of depression, and 20.5% reported symptoms of anxiety. Students were more likely to experience depression compared to those with permanent jobs or no occupation. Significant risk factors for both depression and anxiety included pre-existing health conditions, lack of medical insurance, concerns about shortages of daily necessities during quarantine, and high scores for "guilt and self-blame." Additionally, participants who worried about the impact of the epidemic on their studies or work, and those with high scores for "denial," were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms. On the other hand, participants who were concerned about potential rejection or discrimination from the outside world after quarantine were more prone to anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

Attention should be paid to the negative psychological reactions of the entry quarantined personnel, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, those without medical insurance, and students studying abroad. Accurate and effective epidemic dynamic information and preventive and control measures can be provided to the public to prevent fear and stigma against quarantined personnel.

Quality of sleep after COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional study in the Southern Italy

Introduction

This study investigated the quality of sleep in a sample of individuals from Southern Italy after the major waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of evaluating how sleep patterns changed.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2022 and January 2023 and involved adults who had a COVID-19 infection, who were invited to complete a self-administered online questionnaire.

Results

A total of 408 individuals participated in the survey. Overall, 66.4% had a reduction in social relations; 72.1% had an increase in the use of social media; and 86%, 77.2%, and 71.1% reported an extremely severe level of anxiety, stress, and depression, respectively. Almost all of the respondents had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (PSQI) ≥5, indicating poor sleep quality. Subjects with a severe or extremely severe depression score, a severe or extremely severe stress score, who had a job, and who had someone close who died because of a COVID-19 infection were more likely to have a high PSQI global score. The use of sleep medication in the past months was significantly higher in those who were older, who had a job, who had a COVID-19 infection in the first and second waves, who had someone close who died from COVID-19, and who did not have changes in social relationships during the pandemic. Moreover, participants with severe or extremely severe depression scores, with severe or extremely severe stress scores, who were women, and who were older had troubles staying awake while engaging in social activities during the past month.

Conclusion

The results bring to light the high prevalence of poor sleep quality among individuals who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Future research is needed to understand whether these disturbances are still present in the endemic period and whether it is necessary to investigate further determinants that have affected and/or are affecting sleep quality.

Mediating effects of insomnia and resilience on COVID-19-related post-traumatic stress disorder and quality of life in adolescents

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impaired the quality of life (QoL) for many due to its extensive impacts. However, few studies have addressed the specific impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study considered the impact of COVID-19-related PTSD on the QoL of adolescents in China, the mediating effects of insomnia, and the moderating effects of resilience. Participants included 50,666 adolescents aged 12-18 years selected using a comprehensive sampling method. We performed data collection from January 8th to January 18th, 2023, using the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Ten-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Screening for and Promotion of Health-related QoL in Children and Adolescents Questionnaire for data collection. Male adolescents exhibited significantly lower levels of PTSD and insomnia compared to females and scored significantly higher in psychological resilience and overall QoL. Insomnia played a mediating role between PTSD and QoL. Psychological resilience moderated the impact of COVID-19-related stress on adolescents' QoL through its influence on insomnia. PTSD resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic affects the QoL of adolescents through the presence of insomnia. Psychological resilience plays a moderating role in this process. Cultivating psychological resilience in adolescents can effectively enhance their ability to cope with the impacts of sudden public events.

COVID-19: ramifications of the pandemic on mental health and substance abuse

Objective

To explore the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mental Health and Substance Use.

Patients and methods

Relevant literature examining the correlation between COVID-19 and mental health/substance use was reviewed, and findings were summarized.

Results

Specific mechanisms regarding COVID-19's effects on the brain are unclear, but preliminary studies and biomarkers have been suggested in the literature. Numerous studies demonstrated COVID-19 has immediate and lingering neuropsychiatric impacts on affected patients. Psychiatric disorders and substance abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to biological and psychosocial factors, with a significant burden on individuals and societies worldwide, particularly in the United States.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has shown us that underlying causes of mental health and substance abuse problems are more complicated than we have appreciated. Neuroinflammation and psychosocial stresses impact mental health and substance use. These factors need to be explored further for a better understanding and intervention.

Depressive Disorder and Trimalleolar Fractures: An Analysis of Outcomes and Costs

INTRODUCTION

Studies have suggested a strong association between depression and poor outcomes following various orthopaedic surgeries. However, depression's impact on complications following open reduction/internal fixation (ORIF) of trimalleolar fractures has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether depression is associated with higher rates of readmissions and medical complications following ORIF of trimalleolar fractures.

METHODS

A database query from January, 2020, through March, 2021, identifying adults who underwent trimalleolar ORIF generated 50 154 patients. Those with depression were matched 1:1 to controls without depression by age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anxiety, and other prominent comorbidities. Primary endpoints compared 90-day all-cause readmissions and medical complications. Odds ratios (ORs) of the effect of depression on readmissions and medical complications were calculated.

RESULTS

Patients with depression who underwent ORIF of trimalleolar fractures had significantly higher odds of being readmitted within 90 days of the initial procedure (OR: 1.37; P < .0001). Ninety-day odds of developing medical complications were significantly higher (OR: 4.61; P < .0001) in patients with depression compared with patients within the control group.

CONCLUSION

Patients with depression undergoing trimalleolar ORIF face an increased risk of readmission and multiple postoperative complications. Orthopaedic surgeons should factor depression into their preoperative evaluation, given the already high burden of complications following ORIF of trimalleolar fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III: Retrospective cohort study.

Lived experiences of COVID-19 patients admitted in isolation wards of healthcare centers in Peshawar, Pakistan: A phenomenological perspective

The emergence of COVID-19 caused a significant global threat, affecting populations worldwide. Its impact extended beyond just physical health, as it inflicted severe damage and challenges to individuals' well-being, leading to a deterioration in mental health. The lived experiences of patients hold a paramount position to explore and understand their perception of care which can ultimately strengthen the health system's delivery domain. This study explores the lived experiences of patients in the isolation ward, their recovery, and the quality of care being provided in the hospital and its effects on their mental health.

Study design

A phenomenological qualitative study using in-depth interviews.

Methods

We conducted 11 in-depth interviews of COVID-19 patients admitted to the isolation ward of the public hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan. Participants who stayed for a minimum of 10 days in an isolation ward were included in this study. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo 12 software and generated five themes through inductive analysis.

Results

Five themes emerged from the participants' lived experiences: Heading towards the hospital, Health Care Quality, Impact on Mental Health, Recovering from COVID-19 and Back on one's feet. These included all the positive and negative lived experiences. Socio-environmental factors along with their experiences of the disease itself and with the healthcare providers guided their reaction which was important conciliators in their experiences during the pandemic.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, the environment of isolation had a major influence on the mental well-being of the individuals involved. Considering the important role of the ward environment in shaping patient experiences and outcomes prompts a reevaluation of healthcare practices and policies. By addressing these factors healthcare systems can strive for greater effectiveness, resilience, and compassion in managing the pandemic's impact on patient care.

Critical appraisal of how COVID-19 infection and imposed lockdowns have impacted gastroesophageal reflux: A review

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.

Course of child social-emotional and sleep symptoms, parental distress and pandemic-related stressors during COVID-19

Research on the longitudinal courses of child social-emotional symptoms and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic within societies would be of key value for promoting child well-being in global crises. We characterized the course of children's social-emotional and sleep symptoms before and throughout the pandemic in a Finnish longitudinal cohort of 1825 5- to 9-year-old children (46% girls) with four follow-up points during the pandemic from up to 695 participants (spring 2020-summer 2021). Second, we examined the role of parental distress and COVID-related stressful events in child symptoms. Child total and behavioral symptoms increased in spring 2020 but decreased thereafter and remained stable throughout the rest of the follow-up. Sleep symptoms decreased in spring 2020 and remained stable thereafter. Parental distress was linked with higher child social-emotional and sleep symptoms. The cross-sectional associations between COVID-related stressors and child symptoms were partially mediated by parental distress. The findings propose that children can be protected from the long-term adverse influences of the pandemic, and parental well-being likely plays a mediating role between pandemic-related stressors and child well-being. Further research focusing on the societal and resilience factors underlying family and child responses to the pandemic is warranted.

Social support and suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian healthcare workers: a longitudinal assessment of an online repeated cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

The risk of suicide is higher among health care workers than other workers. This study investigated the association between social support and suicidal ideation and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian health care workers.

METHODS

This study used data from 10,885 respondents to the first (time point 1 - between May and June of 2020) and second (time point 2 - between December 2020 and February 2021) cross-sectional online surveys about mental health and quality of life among Brazilian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relationship between social support as the independent variable (time point 1) and suicidal ideation and behavior as the outcomes (time point 2) was investigated through logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Greater social support was associated with a significantly lower risk of reporting suicidal ideation and behavior in the month prior to follow-up assessment (adjusted OR: 0.71, 95%CI 0.66-0.76 and adjusted OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.54-0.68, respectively). These associations were independent of sex, age, feelings of loneliness, and self-reported psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSION

Social support is associated with a lower risk of suicidality among health care workers, and its protective role appears more closely related to suicidal behavior.

Joint developmental trajectories of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among Chinese children during COVID-19

BACKGROUND

In early 2020, Chinese children started to demonstrate severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) caused by lockdown and self-isolation (measures taken at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic).

OBJECTIVES

Concerning the significant impact of the pandemic on children's physical and mental development, the study aimed to explore children's depression and PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protective effects of family resilience on the trajectories.

METHODS

883 children participated and completed three waves of online follow-up questionnaires. The latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) analysis was used to explore the trajectories of children's depression and PTSS based on the individual approach.

RESULTS

Two types of depression trajectories were identified and defined as the resilient group (83.01 %) and the recovery group (16.99 %); Two types of PTSS trajectories were identified and defined as the resilient group (71.12 %) and the recovery group (28.88 %); Two types of the joint trajectories of depression and PTSS were identified and defined as the resilient group (83.47 %) and the chronic group (16.53 %). The results indicated that maintaining a positive outlook (a dimension of family resilience) was the potential predictor of PTSS trajectories.

CONCLUSION

The trajectories of depression and PTSS among Chinese children during the COVID-19 pandemic were heterogeneous, and there were similar evolving subtypes. Family resilience could be a critical protective factor for children and families.

Pandemic stressors and mental health indicators in eight countries

PURPOSE

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacted a significant physical, financial, social, and emotional toll on populations throughout the world. This study aimed to document the association between pandemic stressors and mental health during the pandemic across countries that differ in cultural, geographic, economic, and demographic factors.

METHODS

We administered an online survey randomly in Brazil, China, Germany, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the United States from September 2020 to November 2020. This survey included questions on Covid-19-related stressors as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Primary Care PTSD Checklist to screen for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, respectively. We performed bivariable and multivariable regression analyses to assess the prevalence and odds ratios of overall depression symptoms and probable PTSD and in relation to stressors across countries.

RESULTS

Among 8754 respondents, 28.9% (95% CI 27.5-30.0%) experienced depression symptoms, and 5.1% (95% CI 4.5-6.0%) experienced probable PTSD. The highest prevalence of depression symptoms was in Egypt (41.3%, 95% CI 37.6-45.0%) and lowest in the United States (24.9%, 95% CI 22.3-27.7%). The highest prevalence of probable PTSD was in Brazil (7.3%, 95% CI 5.6-9.4%) and the lowest in China (1.2%, 95% CI 0.7-2.0%). Overall, experiencing six or more Covid-19-related stressors was associated with both depression symptoms (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.46-2.48) and probable PTSD (OR 13.8, 95% CI 9.66-19.6).

CONCLUSION

The association between pandemic related stressors and the burden of adverse mental health indicators early in the Covid-19 pandemic transcended geographic, economic, cultural, and demographic differences between countries. The short-term and long-term impacts of the pandemic on mental health should be incorporated in efforts to tackle the consequences of Covid-19.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on self-reported levels of depression during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic among Canadian adults

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 related risk factors on self-reported increases in depression among Canadian adults during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. We aim to investigate the interactive effects of stressors, including social isolation, financial stress, and fear of catching COVID-19, on mental health outcomes. Our study aims to provide insights for the development of prevention and intervention strategies to address the mental health effects of the pandemic by examining the psychological changes attributable to the pandemic and its impact.

METHODS

This study used data collected from the Mental Health Research Canada online survey during the third wave of COVID-19 (April 20-28, 2021). The study examined the impact of COVID-19 related factors, including social isolation, financial concerns, fear of catching COVID-19, and concerns about paying bills, on self-reported increases in depression. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine these associations, with adjustments made for potential confounding variables. All statistical analysis was performed using SAS V9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

RESULTS

Participants reporting social isolation, financial concerns, and fear of catching COVID-19 were more likely to report increased depression. An interaction was observed between concerns for paying bills and catching COVID-19 in relation to depression (p = 0.0085). In other words, the effect of concerns about paying bills on depression was stronger for individuals who also had a fear of catching COVID-19, and vice versa. Young adults, females, patients with pre-existing depression, and residents of certain provinces reported higher levels of depression during COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our study underscores the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly among certain demographic groups. It emphasizes the need for depression screening and increased support for mental health during the pandemic, with a focus on mitigating financial burdens and reducing negative psychological impacts of social isolation. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between different stressors and the need to consider this when designing interventions to support mental health during times of crisis.

The influence of novel coronavirus pneumonia on chronic disease management of asthma-a narrative review

Background and Objective

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken a huge global toll on all fronts, creating new challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. For chronic management of asthma, on the one hand, the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may affect the asthma disease itself; on the other hand, in order to control the spread of the pandemic, forced isolation, mask-wearing and various disinfection measures also have an impact on the condition and medication of asthma patients. This article reviews the changes in chronic asthma management under the COVID-19 pandemic to provide reference for chronic disease management of asthma after the pandemic and for various public health emergencies in the future.

Methods

Online searching of literature was performed. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE were searched.

Key Content and Findings

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the world, and has also brought new challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and chronic disease management. On the one hand, the existence of the 2019 novel coronavirus directly affects the asthma disease itself, on the other hand, due to the particularity of the asthma disease itself, different levels of isolation and controls can cause patients with different degrees of medical difficulties; in addition, the application of various disinfectants in the environment also increases the risk of acute attacks of asthma patients, as well as mask-wearing, vaccination, anxiety about the disease, panic, etc., all of which have posed various degrees of impact on the condition and psychology of asthma patients.

Conclusions

The pandemic of COVID-19 has brought many difficulties to the chronic disease management of asthma, and has had a certain impact on the disease control of asthma patients. In the era with overflowing information, internet hospital is the current trend, and there is a long way to go for effectively penetrating medical resources virtually via the internet into chronic disease management of asthma.

Psychological Distress Associated with Enforced Hospital Isolation Due to COVID-19 during the "Flatten the Curve" Phase in Morocco: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: although much research has highlighted the mental health challenges faced by patients in hospital isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, data from low-middle-income countries, including Morocco, are lacking. The main objective of this study was to assess the psychological distress of patients undergoing enforced hospital isolation during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study between 1 April and 1 May 2020, among patients hospitalized in isolation for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 at the Ibn Sina University Hospital of Rabat, Morocco. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Binary logistic regression was performed to identify variables associated with anxiety and depression, with a cutoff of ≥8 used for both scales to create dichotomous variables. (3) Results: among 200 patients, 42.5% and 43% scored above the cut-off points for anxiety and depression, respectively. Multiple logistic regression identified female gender, a higher education level, a longer duration of isolation, and a poor understanding of the reasons for isolation as significant factors associated with anxiety. Conversely, female gender, chronic disease, a longer duration of isolation, and a poor understanding of the reasons for isolation were factors significantly associated with depression. (4) Conclusions: our study underscores high rates of anxiety and depression among patients forced into hospital isolation during the initial phase of COVID-19 in Morocco. We identified several factors associated with patients experiencing psychological distress that may inform future discussions on mental health and psychiatric crisis management.

The mental burden of stay-at-home order extensions during COVID-19

This study evaluates the psychological impact of stay-at-home extension orders during COVID-19 and its relationship with individuals' expectations on the duration of the extensions. An online survey was administered to 1259 US adult residents to measure symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and stress induced by different stay-at-home order extensions using hypothetical length scenarios. We find that individuals exposed to two 2-week order extensions exhibit higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to those exposed to a single 4-week extension. We also find that subjects with longer expected extensions exhibit more signs of psychological damage than those with shorter expected extensions. Furthermore, we find that the negative psychological consequences of providing two shorter extensions is observed only among subjects with extension expectations of four weeks or less. Our results demonstrate that people's expectations affect the level of psychological damage caused by lockdown mandates. Our findings suggest that whenever lockdown extensions are necessary, reduced psychological distress may be possible by implementing a one-time restriction, rather than extending multiple smaller extensions perhaps due to manipulation of personal expectations.

Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown in Lebanon: Risk factors and daily life difficulties in a multiple-crises setting

INTRODUCTION

Research from around the world shows important differences in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on mental health. This study examined the extent of mental health challenges (depressive and anxiety symptoms and daily life difficulties) and their associations with pandemic- and response-related factors during the first lockdown in Lebanon, which happened amid a severe economic crisis and socio-political turmoil.

METHODS

Data come from a cross-sectional internet-based survey (May-June 2020). Association of depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)) with outbreak-related worries and knowledge, information sources, and confidence and satisfaction in response measures were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic and socioeconomic indicators.

RESULTS

Among 510 participants (mean age 36.1±11.3; 69.4% women), 32.3% had elevated depressive and 27.3% had elevated anxiety symptoms; younger age, unemployment, loss of employment, and lower income were related to more mental health symptoms. Most prevalent daily life challenges were feelings of uncertainty (74.5%) and financial (52.2%) and emotional (42.2%) difficulties; these and all other daily life difficulties (work-related, caregiving, and online learning) were significantly higher among participants with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. Higher outbreak-related worries were associated with higher depressive (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.20,1.53) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.30,1.67). Higher pandemic-related knowledge, reliance on and trust in local health agencies and professionals' information, and satisfaction and confidence regarding governmental and health institutions' response were all related to lower mental health symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Results show that mental health burden in Lebanon during the first lockdown (when the COVID-19 outbreak was still minimal) is among the highest reported worldwide and highlight elevated emotional and financial tolls and widespread impact on daily life. In this high-burden and multiple-challenges context, results suggest an important role for the healthcare body, knowledge, and trust in the institutions managing the response.

Assessing depression and anxiety among young adults after epidemics and pandemics: a cross-sectional study in Anyang, China

It has been well established that pandemics affect mental health, yet few studies have been conducted in China regarding this issue following COVID-19's gradual decline and the recent H1N1 influenza outbreak. In response to this research gap, this investigation explores the risk factors linked to depression and anxiety symptoms among young adults in this specific setting. Data were collected via an online cross-sectional survey of 385 young adults living in Anyang city, Henan Province, China, between June 15 and July 21, 2023. Respondents were assessed for anxiety and depression symptoms using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales. Additionally, to examine the factors that influenced the study, we utilized an ordered logit regression model. Results revealed depression and anxiety prevalence rates of 33.3% and 21.6%, respectively. Several factors were found to increase the likelihood of depression and anxiety among young adults, including gender, age, education status, marital status, and attitudes towards epidemics. Participants' concerns about pandemics and viruses had a significant negative impact relationship on depression levels. Women report moderate to severe anxiety more frequently than men. An evident correlation can be observed between the educational attainment level and the influence of depression and anxiety.

Compliance with measures among actors and lessons learnt in the management of COVID-19 institutional quarantine in Uganda

Introduction

To support COVID-19 containment measures, several countries implemented quarantine protocols. This study determined the level of compliance to COVID-19 quarantine measures, associated factors, and lessons learnt in institutional quarantine management in Uganda.

Methods

This concurrent mixed methods study involved a cross-sectional survey among individuals who were in institutional quarantine and interviews with key informants, who were reached mostly through phone calls. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analysis were conducted to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data were analysed thematically with the aid of Atlas ti 7.

Results

Compliance with quarantine measures at the individual level was moderate at 65.4 %. Factors associated with high compliance with measures were: older age (above 40 years) [APR = 1.30 (95 % CI: 1.04-1.63)], spending 14-15 days in quarantine [APR = 1.39 (95 % CI: 1.00-1.92)] and reporting a high Ministry of Health compliance [APR = 1.33 (CI: 1.11-1.58)]. The positive factors included the availability of guidelines, inspection of facilities and training of personnel. The challenges were related to long turnaround time for results and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Conclusion

Efforts to improve training, supervision and inspection of facilities, and provision of adequate PPE would improve compliance with quarantine measures.

Socio-economic factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms among adolescents and young people during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

This study assessed the association between sociodemographic factors and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among 18-24-year-olds during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a secondary analysis of data from 4508 individuals collected through an online survey conducted between June and January 2021. PTSS was measured as a dependent variable using the checklist for post-traumatic stress disorder in civilians. Age, birth sex, sexual, level of education, access to emotional and social support, and emotional distress were the independent variables. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the associations between the dependent and independent variables while controlling for the country related confounding variables. Females (AOR:2.023), sexual minority individuals (AOR:1.868), those who did not disclose their sexual identify (AOR:1.476), those with poor access to emotional and social support (AOR:4.699) and individuals with no formal education (AOR:13.908), and only primary level education (AOR:4.521) had higher odds of PTSS. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of PTSS during the pandemic and suggests the importance of promoting access of young people, especially females, sexual minority individuals and those with low educational status, to emotional/social support to mitigate the probability of PTSS, especially among sexual minority individuals.

Relationship between health literacy and generalized anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan province, Iran

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.

Challenges associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related self-quarantine in Ghana: lessons for future self-quarantine interventions

Introduction

self-quarantine was one of the key public health interventions in halting the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana. Despite its success, self-quarantine was bridled with challenges across the country, including in the Eastern Region. Consequently, it was pertinent to ascertain these challenges to inform future self-quarantine interventions in the region and the country. The study aimed to ascertain challenges faced by COVID-19 self-quarantined persons in the Eastern Region of Ghana to inform future policies on self-quarantine in the region and the country in general.

Methods

thirty-five (35) participants were interviewed in both Twi and English. Following the thematic content analysis approach, Atlas. ti software was used to analyse the data. Relevant quotes were extracted from the transcripts to back the various sub-themes in presenting the results.

Results

three global themes emerged from the analyses: socio-economic challenges of self-quarantine (lack of access to essential goods and services, loss of income, and poor housing conditions), health-related challenges (sedentary lifestyle, non-supply of essential personal protective equipment such as face masks, development of oedema and weight gain), and psychological challenges (loneliness, boredom, and anxiety).

Conclusion

COVID-19-related challenges self-quarantined persons faced in the Eastern Region of Ghana were multifaceted, ranging from socio-economic, and health to psychological ones. Consequently, emergency preparedness for future pandemic control using self-quarantine as a tool should bring on board various stakeholders to ensure challenges identified in this study are holistically addressed and do not recur.

Assessment of psychological distress as a function of positive psychological variables during the COVID-19 pandemic: A university longitudinal study

Objective: To examine changes in psychological distress of college students as a function of demographic and psychological variables over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Subjects were recruited from a large public university in Northeast Ohio using electronic surveys administered at three time points in 2020. Methods: Demographics, positive psychological metrics (flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience) and psychological distress were collected and a mixed linear model was run to estimate their effect on change in distress. Results: Psychological distress did not change significantly across time. Females experienced more psychological distress than males. Higher levels of flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience were associated with less distress overall. Conclusions: Although psychological distress did not change across observed time, previous data suggests heightened psychological distress that remained elevated across observed time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive psychological variables were shown to mitigate psychological distress, and the relationship was stable over time.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of adults with mental health conditions in the UK: a qualitative interview study

BACKGROUND

People with mental health conditions have been identified as particularly vulnerable to poor mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, why this population have faced these adverse effects, how they have experienced them and how they have coped remains under-explored.

AIMS

To explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of people with existing mental health conditions, and to identify coping strategies for positive mental health.

METHODS

Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 22 people with mental health conditions. Participants were purposively recruited via social media, study newsletters and third sector mental health organisations. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants were aged 23-70 (mean age 43), predominantly female (59.1%) and of white ethnicity (68.2%). Fifty percent were unable to work due to illness and the most frequently reported mental health condition was depression. Five pandemic-related factors contributed to deteriorating mental health: (i) feeling safe but isolated at home; (ii) disruption to mental health services; (iii) cancelled plans and changed routines; (iv) uncertainty and lack of control; (v) rolling media coverage. Five coping strategies were identified for maintaining mental health: (i) previous experience of adversity; (ii) social comparison and accountability; (iii) engaging in hobbies and activities; (iv) staying connected with others; (v) perceived social support.

CONCLUSIONS

Challenges were identified as a direct result of the pandemic and people with severe mental illnesses were particularly negatively affected. However, some found this period a time of respite, drew upon reserves of resilience and adapted their coping strategies to maintain positive well-being.

Factors Associated With Psychological Distress of Individuals With COVID-19 Isolating at Home: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study

The purpose of the current study was to clarify the effects of illness perceptions, coping styles, and social support on psychological distress of individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolating at home. A cross-sectional study was performed in a state hospital in Turkey with 112 individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Data were collected online using self-report scales between June 8, 2020, and December 25, 2020. Regression models were used to determine predictors of psychological distress. Significant predictors were cognitive and emotional illness representations, self-blame, and positive reinterpretation coping methods. Health care providers should consider individuals' illness perceptions and coping methods and their effect on psychological distress when providing in-home and follow-up care. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(12), 27-36.].

A longitudinal study on depression and anxiety in college students during the first 106-days of the lengthy Argentinean quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The Argentinean quarantine is among the strictest and longest quarantines in the world. To determine if a worsening pattern on mental health would emerge with a prolonged quarantine duration, a longitudinal analysis pertaining to the lengthy mandatory Argentinean quarantine was conducted.

AIM

To examine depression and anxiety changes in college students, as a function of quarantine duration, demographic and health-related factors, during successive time cuts of the lengthy mandatory quarantine in Argentina.

METHODS

We used a longitudinal design, N = 1492 college students. For the first measurement, successive samplings were carried out across quarantine sub-periods of up to 106-days duration. The follow-up was one month later.

RESULTS

Particularly women, young, and having a history of mental disorder and suicidal behavior, were more depressed and anxious under mandatory restrictive quarantine conditions. Repeated measures of both depression and anxiety scores remained constantly high during the more restrictive quarantine sub-periods of up to 13 and 53-days duration, and decreased during the less restrictive quarantine sub-period of up to 106-days duration, but with small effect sizes (0.10-0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Restrictive quarantine has negative effects on mental health outcomes. Partial spontaneous remissions of depression and anxiety symptoms may be expected with further quarantine relaxations.

Reflections on the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a serious threat to global healthcare and economy. In order to curb its spread, China adopted the dynamic zero-COVID policy, aiming to diagnose and isolate cases and close contacts as soon as possible. However, there is a controversy about the impact of isolation measures on social order, including the economy, personal employment and public mental health. Therefore, this review discusses and analyzes in detail the advantages and challenges of implementing dynamic zero-COVID policy. Although this public health policy might cause a shock to the economy in the short term, China still achieved a continued healthy economic performance with stable unemployment and strong export growth. Moreover, the rates of infection and mortality in China were lower than those in the United States and the European Union. However, due to the high transmissibility and low pathogenicity of the Omicron variant and prolonged lockdown-induced psychological damage, people questioned the effectiveness and necessity of this policy. Now that China has adjusted its policy in a timely manner, but many problems still remain unsolved. Some practical suggestions in terms of mental health, vaccine development, drugs supply, and economic recovery are put forward at the end of our paper to minimize negative impacts and provide a reference for future efforts.

A Case Study on Community Treatment Center for Response to COVID-19 in Korea: Focusing on Surge Capacity 4S Component Analysis and Social Well-Being Perspective

In March, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea, the first Community Treatment Center (CTC), which is a motel-type Alternate Care Site (ACS) for mild and asymptomatic patients, was opened. This is a case study of the first Community treatment center prepared to respond to COVID-19. One of the researchers worked as a medical doctor in one of the CTCs operated by the Korean government. The CTC's eight medical staff members were interviewed in-depth one-on-one. Then the data obtained from observation, collection, and interview were triangulated. In this study, it was identified based on the 4S factor that evaluates the surge capacity to meet the medical needs of CTC. And how the CTC was operated from a medical and social welfare perspective and what problems appeared to patients during the operation were analyzed. Three dormitories of a national training center were used as the CTC. Each patient used a room equipped with a toilet, a shower, and a washbasin. Medical staff and government officials with various backgrounds were dispatched. Telemedicine was also used to prevent the spread of infection. The CTC made a significant contribution to both medical and social welfare fields. It provided patients psychological stability in a comfortable environment. But some patients had psychological problems and difficulties involving work and family care. Various efforts in conjunction with participation from social workers are required to reduce these problems.

Assessing parents' and children's psychological well-being and its associated factors during the COVID-19 lockdown in a Tunisian-North African population

BACKGROUND

The rapidly emerging Coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the world yielding in significant changes in almost every aspect of daily life. While primary research of the epidemic COVID-19 has focused on the psychological impact on the general population and health professionals, no survey of the pandemic-resulting containment on parents and their children has been yet addressed in the Tunisian-North African population. This study aimed to assess the psychological profile of parents and youth in Tunisia during a period of COVID 19 lockdown, and to identify associated factors to parental anxiety symptoms.

METHODS

This is an analytical cross-sectional study composed of a total of 538 adults including 464 mothers and 74 fathers. Parents of children aged less than 18 years completed an online survey (Google Forms) on the Psychological Impact of Confinement which includes the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), and the infantile trait-anxiety scale. The survey was initiated in May 2020 on a population of the Tunisian-North African citizens and lasted for more than 6 weeks.

RESULTS

The median GAD-7 score was 11 corresponding to a moderate anxiety with 27.8% reporting severe anxiety. The median PBA score was 31 corresponding to a moderate risk of burnout, with 19.5% being affected. The children's anxiety scores were associated with their parents' anxiety ratings with 24% of the children reported signs of moderate anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic affected parental and their children' psychological behavior due to a direct social isolation and distancing. Pediatricians need to be alerted on this issue and future measures are essential to avoid parental emotional burnout and anxiety disorder in similar situations.

Computer vision syndrome among students during remote learning periods: harnessing digital solutions for clear vision

Aim

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among children and adolescents in Qatar during the period of remote learning and explore the associated factors and discuss some digital health remedies that might reduce the risk.

Methods

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study between June and August 2022 by collecting data via telephone interviews with parents of selected students utilizing the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q).

Results

We completed 1,546 interviews. The mean age of the students was (11 ± 2), male: female ratio was almost 1:1. About one quarter (368, 23.8%) of parents reported a previous diagnosis of visual disturbances among their children with over 88% of them wearing eyeglasses or medical contact lenses. The prevalence of CVS in our sample was about 8% (95%CI: 6.8-9.6). Mother's employment, having positive history of visual disturbances, and excess screen time were found to be significant predictors of CVS.

Conclusion

Health care providers in collaboration with teachers should provide parents with evidence-based strategies to prevent or minimize the digital eye strain among students. In the landscape of remote learning, the implementation of digital remedies emerges as a proactive approach to mitigate the risk of digital eye strain.

The workload change and depression among emergency medical staff after the open policy during COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey in Shandong, China

Introduction

In the middle of December 2022, the Chinese government adjusted the lockdown policy on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a large number of infected patients flooded into the emergency department. The emergency medical staff encountered significant working and mental stress while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate the workload change, and the prevalence and associated factors for depression symptoms among emergency medical staff after the policy adjustment.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of emergency medical staff who fought against COVID-19 in Shandong Province during January 16 to 31, 2023. The respondents' sociodemographic and work information were collected, and they were asked to complete the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) then. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the potential associated factors for major depression.

Results

Nine hundred and sixteen emergency medical personnel from 108 hospitals responded to this survey. The respondents' weekly working hours (53.65 ± 17.36 vs 49.68 ± 14.84) and monthly night shifts (7.25 ± 3.85 vs 6.80 ± 3.77) increased after the open policy. About 54.3% of the respondents scored more than 10 points on the PHQ-9 standardized test, which is associated with depressive symptoms. In univariate analysis, being doctors, living with family members aged ≤16 or ≥ 65 years old, COVID-19 infection and increased weekly working hours after the open policy were significantly associated with a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 points. In the multivariate analysis, only increased weekly working hours showed significant association with scoring ≥10 points.

Conclusion

Emergency medical staff' workload had increased after the open policy announcement, which was strongly associated with a higher PHQ-9 scores, indicating a very high risk for major depression. Emergency medical staff working as doctors or with an intermediate title from grade-A tertiary hospitals had higher PHQ-9 scores, while COVID-19 infection and weekly working hours of 60 or more after the open policy were associated with higher PHQ-9 scores for those from grade-B tertiary hospitals. Hospital administrators should reinforce the importance of targeted emergency medical staff support during future outbreaks.

Parents' perceptions of their children's mental health during COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

OBJECTIVE

This study examined several factors affecting the perception of Canadian parents about their children's mental health during COVID-19. The contribution of this research included fresh evidence from examining the demographic and sociological factors influencing children's well-being during COVID-19 using the Canadian context.

METHODS

We used a cross-sectional dataset from Statistics Canada titled Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians - Parenting during the Pandemic (2020). We relied on an ordered logit model and computed the respective odds ratios.

RESULTS

Our results showed that parents with a university degree and those working from home are less concerned about their children's mental health. Nonetheless, having a disabled child, belonging to a minority, having children aged six-to fourteen-years old, and having lost a job or experienced a drop in working hours increased parents' worry. Additionally, having worries about being connected with family and friends, being concerned about work-life balance, feeling lonely at home, and waiting for the reopening of childcare services all increased the likelihood of parents' anxiety about their child's mental health. When running the analysis by province, we saw that being an immigrant and belonging to a minority increased parents' worry only in Ontario and British Columbia.

CONCLUSIONS

Policymakers are encouraged to foster working-from-home practices as working from home has been linked to less worry about child mental health, mainly among mothers, as indicated in our gender heterogeneity analysis. In addition, it is advised that families with a disabled child, and families belonging to a minority received additional support. Lastly, policymakers are advised to consider the social cost of preventive measures and incorporate this into any future preventative policymaking as the social impact variables were robust across all models.

The relationship between COVID-19, depressive disorder, and anxiety: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Background

Previous clinical studies have found that negative mental states such as depression and anxiety are closely related to COVID-19 infection. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the relationship between depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 infection.

Methods

Our data were based on publicly available GWAS databases. The COVID-19 samples were obtained from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (HGI). The depression samples were obtained from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). The anxiety samples were derived from the Finngen database. We used inverse-variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analysis method, with weighted median, MR Egger, and multivariate MRI adjustment.

Results

There was no causal effect of different COVID-19 infection statuses on depression and anxiety as determined by MR analysis. In addition, in the reverse MR analysis, we found a significant causal effect of anxiety on severe symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The results of the MR Egger regression, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were consistent with the IVW method. Based on sensitivity analyses, horizontal pleiotropy was unlikely to influence the final results.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that anxiety is a risk factor for severe symptoms following COVID-19 infection. However, the mechanism of interaction between the two needs further investigation.

Mental health of South Korean adolescents in the COVID-19 Era: Web-based survey focused on suicide-related factors

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted many aspects of life. Measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., school lockdowns, remote and hybrid classes, group and outdoor activity restrictions, and social distancing in the classroom and meal time) could have led to adolescents to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Such mental health impacts could increase the risk of suicidal ideation in this population. Moreover, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, although the total number of suicide deaths in South Korea decreased in 2021, the suicide rate of those aged 10-29 years increased. One factor affecting the result is adolescent mental health by COVID-19. This study examines the mental health status of South Korean adolescents amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and identifies and analyzes predictors of suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts.

METHODS

The study used data from 54,948 adolescents who participated in the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Based on their responses to suicide-related questions, the sample was divided into a healthy group, suicide-ideation group, suicide-planning group, and suicide-attempt group. The descriptive statistics of these groups were then analyzed. An analysis of covariance, post-hoc tests, and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed on the four groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 6.9% of the participants reported suicidal ideation, 2.2% reported planning suicide, and 1.9% reported attempting suicide in the previous 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

During the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, there is a strong need for various individualized programs that identify and intervene to support adolescents at risk of suicide by accurately assessing their mental health risk factors, such as stress, sadness and despair, loneliness, and generalized anxiety disorder. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop and distribute a mental health and well-being curriculum, strengthen suicide prevention programs and support services, expand mental health diagnostic tests, and school-based mental health programs.

Psychological withdrawal and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

The first objective was to track temporal changes in participants' mental health during the 2020 lockdown in Spain. Second, we tested whether age moderated the association between the use of psychological withdrawal and mental health over time. Design: Participants (N = 396, 74% women) completed three waves of a web-based survey during the lockdown. Age mean was 40.11 (sd = 12.66).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants answered a set of sociodemographic data, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the Measures of Affect Regulation Scale (MARS).

RESULTS

Disruptions and withdrawal were associated with more mental health symptoms (between 39% and 41% mental distress). Growth models showed that social dysfunction increased over time while dysphoric symptoms decreased. The use of withdrawal aggravated social dysfunction symptoms. Young people who use more withdrawal experienced more social dysfunction and dysphoria over time than those who used less withdrawal strategies.

CONCLUSION

The differential trends in social dysfunction versus dysphoria symptoms suggest an adaptation process after the initial stress of the lockdown. Older age was correlated with less mental health problems and reflects age related improvements in emotional regulation.

How Can We Deal with Psychosocial Issues in an Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreak? Lessons from a Qualitative Study for the MERS Outbreak in Korea

BACKGROUND

The 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus outbreak in Korea led to profound emotional and social burdens, especially in patients and health care professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Focus group interviews were conducted with 2 patients, 1 family member and 6 health care professionals about psychological distress related to MERS in 2017 and analyzed the interview data using the consensual qualitative research method.

RESULTS

Four domains and 17 core ideas were identified within three interview groups, including psychological distress during the outbreak, problems regarding the response to the outbreak, positive experiences, and future directions for enhancing intervention to improve mental health and prevent psychosocial problems during the outbreak. Psychological consequences were affected by the characteristics of the emerging infectious disease and the structure and process of institutional or governmental response to the MERS outbreak. Mental health services and psychosocial support reduced the negative impact on psychological distress.

CONCLUSION

The MERS outbreak in 2015 gave rise to emotional and social injuries to patients and health care professionals, some of which can be long-lasting constraints in their lives. Preparedness in a society's response to a pandemic considering mental health in related parties can minimize negative psychological consequences and enhance resilience at the individual and society levels.

The Triple "S" Impact of COVID-19: Nationwide Evidence of the Impact of the Stress Associated With Restrictive Measures on Substance Use, Sleep, and Social Connectedness in Qatar

OBJECTIVES

Countries worldwide implemented social and movement restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Unfortunately, such restrictions have adversely impacted people's lifestyles. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19-related restrictive measures on substance use, sleep, and social connectedness in Qatar's population.

METHODS

A web-based survey was conducted between January 2021 and February 2021 targeting adults ≥18 years of age who were residing in Qatar between March and August 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 1408 participants completed the survey. Of tobacco users in our sample, 36% reported increased tobacco use since the start of home confinement, while 41.6% of alcohol users reported decreased alcohol use. Concerning sleep, 46.1% reported an increase in average sleep duration per day (0.77 h mean increase, 95% CI: 0.66-0.88, P<0.001), and a third of participants reported poorer sleep quality. Of the participants, 39.6% felt socially disconnected. Perceived stress was found to be an independent predictor for increased use of tobacco, deterioration in sleep quality, and increased sleep duration during home confinement.

CONCLUSIONS

Restrictive measures related to COVID-19 resulted in both positive and negative impacts on the lifestyle of Qatar's population. Emphasis should be placed on encouraging people to adopt healthy strategies for coping with various stressors that arise during future home confinement measures. It is also necessary to address the persistence of adverse consequences in the postpandemic era.

Assessing Mental Health Outcomes in Quarantine Centres: A Cross-Sectional Study during COVID-19 in Malaysia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, persons under surveillance (PUS) were isolated in quarantine centres instead of at home. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the mental health issues experienced by these persons. This study aimed to assess mental health outcomes and associated factors among PUS and frontline workers at quarantine centres. This study conducted an analysis of secondary data from a cross-sectional survey carried out by the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS). The MHPSS employed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to evaluate mental health outcomes across 49 quarantine centres in Malaysia. The study included a total of 4577 respondents. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 0.9%, 11.4%, and 10.2%, respectively. Frontline workers and being part of the younger age group were found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Other factors associated with mental health issues were being female, staying at an institution-type centre, and a longer duration of the stay or work at the centre. In conclusion, assessing the mental health status and its associated factors among quarantine centre occupants is crucial for developing future strategies to safeguard their mental well-being.

Mental health status and related influencing factors in patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019) has resulted in a significant number of diagnosed patients requiring treatment in designated hospitals. However, limited evidence exists regarding the prevalence of mental health problems and associated psychological factors in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia among COVID-19 patients, as well as explored the associations between these mental health problems and psychological factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 COVID-19 patients in a designated shelter hospital. Online measures were used to assess anxiety, depression, insomnia, social support, coping styles, and emotional regulation. Data were analyzed to determine the prevalence rates of mental health problems and examine the associations between these problems and the psychological factors.

RESULTS

The results revealed high prevalence rates of anxiety (21.80%), depression (49.0%), and insomnia (63.70%) among COVID-19 patients. Objective social support scores and positive coping style scores were significantly associated with lower levels of anxiety, depression, and insomnia, respectively. Conversely, high negative coping style scores, higher education level, and self-perceived illness severity, were significantly related to higher levels of anxiety, depression, or insomnia symptoms. Emotional regulation scores did not show a significant association with any of the examined mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have implications for guiding psychological interventions tailored to COVID-19 patients in future outbreaks. By targeting social support and promoting adaptive coping strategies, psychological interventions can address the psychological distress experienced by COVID-19 patients.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers (HCWs) in Sindh Province of Pakistan

BACKGROUND

In Pakistan, the COVID-19 outbreak posed a significant challenge for healthcare workers in the country's public hospitals. The HCWs faced several problems in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore this study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the medical staff at the public hospital in Sindh Province, Pakistan.

METHODS

In this study, a qualitative exploratory design was used. Semi-Structure interviews (SSI) were conducted by using an open-indeed questionnaire (OIQ) for data collection. An inductive approach was used for theoretical data analysis. A total of 320 HCWs participated to complete the criteria of the study from 10 different public hospitals.

RESULTS

The study result showed the Sindh public hospital's insufficient infrastructure, lack of health protective equipment, shortages of isolation rooms and beds, and emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic caused HCWs to experience physical and psychological weariness, sleep disturbance, mental stress, and fear of infection.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that public hospitals' insufficient infrastructure, furniture, emergency wards, and safety equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly damaged HCWs' physical and psychological health, generating fear of infection and sleep disturbance. Additionally, Sindh healthcare workers' fear of illness and isolation may impair family connections.

The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and posttraumatic growth of Korean college students: a mixed method study examining the moderating role of coping flexibility and sense of community

Introduction

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to complex psychological problems, it is important to examine the effect of coping flexibility and sense of community, because relying solely on specific coping strategies is ineffective, and the pandemic necessitates social cooperation.

Methods

This study was divided into two parts. The first study used a quantitative research method(i.e., structural equation modeling) to test if coping flexibility and sense of community moderated the impact of COVID-19-related concerns on mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety) and posttraumatic growth among Korean college students. The second study used a qualitative research method for an in-depth examination of how Korean college students coped with the COVID-19 pandemic and if they achieved any positive change or growth. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic represents a situation distinct from what people have previously encountered, Study II was designed to examine the experiences of individuals during this exceptional period.

Results

In the first study (Study I), coping flexibility was found to increase the impact of COVID-19-related concerns and difficulties on depression and anxiety. Conversely, a sense of community reduced the consequences of these overwhelming worries on depression and anxiety, while also expanding the impact of COVID-19-related disorders on posttraumatic growth. In the second study (Study II), the findings showed that the participants experienced various psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety, and distress in other aspects of their life, including disruptions in interpersonal relationships and college life. Nonetheless, the participants made efforts to cope with such difficulties and overcome the challenges together with the community. In fact, the pandemic improved their coping skills and expanded their value system and worldview.

Conclusion

The study findings suggest that given the unique situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, a sense of community protected the mental well-being of Korean college students and facilitated their growth. This study emphasizes the necessity of promoting SOC to effectively cope with disaster situations.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among people with disabilities during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of individuals across various populations. People with disabilities (PWDs) are particularly vulnerable to these effects, yet there is a lack of studies investigating the mental health of PWDs in Bangladesh. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among PWDs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

METHODS

Data was collected through interviews with 391 PWDs between December 2020 and February 2021. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and scores from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were obtained. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between psychological measures and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence was found to be 65.7% for depression, 78.5% for anxiety, and 61.4% for stress, respectively. Several factors were identified as associated with these mental health issues, including gender (male), marital status (being married), low education levels, multiple impairments, comorbid medical illnesses, poor sleep quality, rural residency, hearing disability, disability onset later in life, and testing positive for COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence was found to be 65.7% for depression, 78.5% for anxiety, and 61.4% for stress, respectively. Several factors were identified as associated with these mental health issues, including gender (male), marital status (being married), low education levels, multiple impairments, comorbid medical illnesses, poor sleep quality, rural residency, hearing disability, disability onset later in life, and testing positive for COVID-19.