Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: Gender differences matter

COVID-19 anxiety and associated factors among university students in Bangladesh

Cross-sectional data were collected from 787 Bangladeshi students ages 18 to 27 years, to assess dysfunctional COVID-19 anxiety using the Coronavirus anxiety Scale or CAS and to identify factors influencing their anxiety. Results indicated that 53% of the respondents attained CAS scores in the clinical range. Women reported a significantly higher anxiety than men. Additionally, not having a steady family income, having poor physical health, having relatives or acquaintances infected with COVID-19, and being highly worried about becoming infected were associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Psychosocial interventions should be adopted to mitigate the anxiety of these high-risk groups and to deter harmful behavior during this emergency.

Pre- and Post-Pandemic (COVID-19) Mental Health of International Students: Data from a Longitudinal Study

Purpose

International students are highly vulnerable to the risk of mental health worsening before and during the pandemic (COVID-19). This study investigated international students' mental health pre- and post-pandemic (COVID-19).

Methods

It is a longitudinal study, and data were collected online, pre-pandemic (N = 470) and during the pandemic (N = 420). Using a random sampling technique, a self-administered questionnaire was used to measure mental health, including depression and anxiety.

Results

Findings show that international students' mental health was good in pre-pandemic. Meanwhile, international students were found to be more depressed and anxious during the pandemic. Findings also investigated that in the pre-pandemic phase, young students' and mainly females' mental health was worsened.

Conclusion

This study concluded that students' mental problems are alarming, so the university should provide psychological services for the student's mental health. Post-pandemic is leaving long-lasting psychological effects and will require further investigation.

Insomnia mediates the effect of perceived stress on emotional symptoms during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

The outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significant effects on stress, emotion and sleep in the general public. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived stress and emotional symptoms during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and to further determine whether insomnia could serve as a mediator in this relationship. A total of 1178 ordinary citizens living in mainland China conducted anonymous online surveys. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were used to estimate perceived stress, insomnia, depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Of the 1171 valid respondents from 132 cities in China, 46.6 % and 33.0 % showed symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Perceived stress and insomnia independently predicted the prevalence of emotional symptoms and were positively correlated with the severity of these emotional symptoms. The mediation analyses further revealed a partial mediation effect of insomnia on the relationship between perceived stress and emotional symptoms during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Our findings can be used to formulate early psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups, specifically those with insomnia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extreme work environment and career commitment of nurses: empirical evidence from Egypt and Peru

Purpose

This paper aim to analyse the motives behind the commitment of nurses to their profession despite their intense job duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical sample comprises of 35 semi-structured interviews with public sector hospital nurses in under-researched contexts of Egypt and Peru.

Findings

Three types of motives were found to play a critical role in nurses’ commitment to their profession despite the difficulties associated with extreme work conditions. These factors include cultural (religious values, governmental coercion), contextual (limited education, organisational support) and personal (good nurse identity, submissive nature) dimensions.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the pioneering works to link existing literature streams on career commitment, extreme jobs, extreme context and management under disruptions (particularly COVID-19) by analysing these aspects in the under-researched Peruvian and Egyptian contexts.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women's Mental Helath in Turkey and What these Effects Suggest

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected societies and individuals in all aspects, including mental and physical health. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of COVID 19 pandemic on anxiety and depression levels and related factors in women. Methods: As a descriptive cross-sectional study, it was conducted with a total of 728 women between December 2020 and March 2021. Data were collected by Google survey using the descriptive information form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Having concerns about own health had a strong effect on coronavirus-related anxiety (p<0.001, η2 = 0.037) and the anxiety dimension of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (p<0.001, η2 = 0.098). Marital relationships had a strong effect on HADS depression dimension scores (p<0.001, η2 = 0.067). Conclusion: The younger women, those who had problematic marital relationship and those who were exposed to domestic violence had higher anxiety and depression scores. Relevant measures should be taken to reduce the concerns of more risky groups, especially women, in the health system and should be considered in future planning on this subject.

Intensive Neurofeedback Protocol: An Alpha Training to Improve Sleep Quality and Stress Modulation in Health Care Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Pilot Study

Objective

health care workers (HCWs) represent a vulnerable group in the COVID-19 pandemic, given the exposure to greater risk and higher levels of work-related stress. Neurofeedback (NF) has shown to be effective in the treatment of stress-related symptoms. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an alpha-increase NF protocol for the treatment of acute stress symptoms in HCWs exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

eighteen medical doctors on duty during the COVID-19 health emergency underwent an intensive NF alpha-increase protocol. The mean alpha wave values were recorded at the beginning (T0) and at the last day of stimulation (T1). Rapid Stress Assessment: Italian version; Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Brief-COPE were administered as psychometric assessment.

Results

a significant increase in alpha wave values and a significant reduction of the PSQI scores from T0 to T1 were found.

Conclusions

NF alpha-increase protocol showed promising results in terms of stress modulation, sleep quality improvement, and safety in a pilot sample of HCWs.

Covid-19 Effects on Psychological Outcomes: How Do Gender Responses Differ?

The study aims at understanding the relationships between the fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress, wellbeing, and life satisfaction. The study also analyses the role of gender on the relationship of fear of COVID-19 with these study variables. For this, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 1125 participants in India, comprising 638 men and 487 women. Structural equation model was used to analyse the data. It was found that the fear of COVID-19 is positively related to perceived stress and negatively related to wellbeing and life satisfaction. It was also found that, these relationships are stronger among women than among men. The study shows the importance of psychiatric assessment during pandemic times and alerts policy makers and society in general, to take measures for ensuring mental health among people during times of crisis. Future studies can include longitudinal research for a comprehensive understanding of the psychological impacts of the pandemic.

Psychotic-like experiences during COVID-19 lockdown among adolescents: Prevalence, risk and protective factors

OBJECTIVE

Although plenty of evidence has shown the huge negative impact of COVID-19 on individuals' mental health conditions, little is known about its impact on the psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the general population. We aim to explore the prevalence of PLEs and relevant influential factors among adolescents during COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

A total of 3234 students completed one online survey between April to May 2020. PLEs were assessed using the 15-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15). Resilience, social support, childhood trauma, and a series of socio-demographic factors were also evaluated.

RESULTS

In this sample, 51.4 % adolescents reported having at least one PLE, while 11.6 % experienced PLEs frequently during COVID-19 lockdown. Senior high school students showed more frequent PLEs than college students (p < 0.001). Female gender (OR = 1.77), history of mental disorders (OR = 3.07) or chronic physical illness (OR = 2.04), having relatives or friends being infected with COVID-19 (OR = 3.12), longer daily exposure to media coverage of the COVID-19 (OR = 1.60), and more childhood trauma (OR = 1.54-3.49) were correlated with more frequent PLEs, while higher resilience (OR = 0.35-0.54) and more perceived social support (OR = 0.63-0.72) were associated with decreased odds for frequent PLEs. Additionally, there were several differences among the influential factors between senior high school and college students.

CONCLUSIONS

PLEs were relatively common among Chinese adolescents, with higher prevalence among senior high school students during COVID-19 lockdown. Adolescents with specific characteristics should receive more attention in the development of intervention measures in mental health during pandemic lockdown.

Gendered Consequences of COVID-19 Among Professional Tennis Players

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of travelling, working, and participating in public events. To test whether there were gendered differences in the response to COVID-19, we examine the behavior of male and female professional tennis players. We use data from major tennis tournaments which included a rather large number of athletes withdrawing from play. After controlling for past performance, wealth, and other relevant player attributes, we find that female tennis players were more likely to withdraw. This suggests that high-earning women may have greater risk aversion, especially related to COVID-19, than their male counterparts. Importantly, women were more risk-averse when it comes to international travel.

Post-traumatic stress among COVID-19 survivors: A descriptive study of hospitalized first-wave survivors

Introduction

The coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 1 induces a severe respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 1 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome infection, increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates were described.

Methods

This single-centred, prospective study aimed to evaluate the rates of PTSD in patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19. Inclusion criteria were COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) or in a standard unit with at least 2 L/min oxygen. Six months post-hospitalization, subjects were assessed for PTSD using a validated screening tool, the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist-5 (PCL-5).

Results

A total of 40 patients were included. No demographic differences between the ICU and non-ICU groups were found. The mean PCL-5 score for the population was 8.85±10. The mean PCL-5 score was 6.7±8 in the ICU group and 10.5±11 in the non-ICU group (P=0.27). We screened one patient with a positive PCL-5 score and one with a possible PCL-5 cluster score. Nine patients had a PCL-5 score of up to 15. Seven patients reported no symptoms. Seven patients accepted a psychological follow-up: one for PTSD, three for possible PTSD and three for other psychological problems.

Discussion

The PCL-5 tool can be used by lung physicians during consultations to identify patients for whom follow-up mental health assessment and treatment for PTSD are warranted.

Conclusion

Lung physicians should be aware of the risk of PTSD in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and ensure appropriate screening and follow-up care.

COVID-19-Related Stressors and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms in a Northeast US Sample

Research has linked specific COVID-19-related stressors to the mental health burden, yet most previous studies have examined only a limited number of stressors and have paid little attention to their clinical significance. This study tested the hypothesis that individuals who reported greater COVID-19-related stressors would be more likely to have elevated levels of anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and serious psychological distress.

METHODS

An online survey was administered to a convenience sample from 18 June to 19 July 2020, in US states that were most affected by COVID-19 infections and deaths at the time. Individuals who were 18 or older and residents of five Northeast US states were eligible to participate (N = 1079). In preregistered analyses, we used logistic regression models to test the associations of COVID-19 stressors with symptoms on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and K6, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates.

RESULTS

COVID-19-related stressors (i.e., essential worker status, worry about COVID-19 infection, knowing someone hospitalized by COVID-19, having children under 14 at home, loneliness, barriers to environmental rewards, food insecurity, loss of employment) were associated with meeting thresholds (i.e., positive screening) for anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and/or serious psychological distress. Loneliness and barriers to environmental rewards were associated with all mental health outcomes.

LIMITATIONS

We used a non-probability sample and cannot assume temporal precedence of stressors with regard to development of mental health symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings link specific stressors to the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leveraging Campus Landscapes for Public Health: A Pilot Study to Understand the Psychological Effects of Urban Sheep Grazing on College Campuses

Since the 1980s, college students in the U.S. have self-reported a decline in their physical and emotional health. With these conditions compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and its physical distancing restrictions, higher education institutions have an increased responsibility to establish strategic interventions and health-promoting programs for their students. Research collaborations between public health professionals and environmental designers have highlighted the benefits of environmental factors, such as wildlife, street trees, and public parks, on mental health. This pilot project aims to build upon the transdisciplinary dialogue between ecology, design, and public health by examining the social benefits of grazing lawnscape management, which is the practice of using herbivorous livestock to manage turfgrass areas. Through the design of an accessible central campus grazing space for a flock of 25 sheep and use of online questionnaires, a smartphone-based single-item survey, and open-ended feedback given via social media, the UC Davis Sheepmower Project addresses three primary questions: (1) Are there differences in self-reported stress levels and well-being between people who did not watch grazing sheep (no sheepmower group) compared with those who did watch grazing sheep (sheepmower group)? (2) Does holding sheep grazing events create opportunities for education about well-being and engagement with the campus community? (3) Can this type of urban grazing installation ultimately contribute to the overall identity of a college campus? Web-based questionnaire results indicate there is no significant difference in self-reported stress levels between the two groups; however, the moment-in-time smartphone-based single item question suggests that the presence of sheep provides temporary, noticeable relief and enhanced mood for those who observe the animals. Reflections posted on social media suggested that participants found the sheep grazing events fostered feelings of community and placemaking within the campus identity. However, the questionnaire sample indicated the grazing events did not have a significant effect on participants' sense of place or overall campus identity. This transdisciplinary effort breaks down traditionally siloed approaches to human and environmental health and is an example of a whole-systems approach to developing innovative solutions and encouraging applied collective action.

Causal Model Analysis of the Effect of Formalism, Fear of Infection, COVID-19 Stress on Firefighters' Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Insomnia

As the front line of epidemic prevention, firefighters are responsible for the transportation of infected cases. Firefighters are under a lot of stress from the new COVID-19, especially the fear that they may contract the virus at work and spread the virus to their families. In particular, the framework of this study incorporates Riggs' formalism variables. When firefighters think that the epidemic prevention regulations are inconsistent with the actual epidemic prevention, it will increase their work pressure on COVID-19. In this study, firefighters from all over Taiwan were used as the respondents, and a total of 453 respondents were obtained. This study uses confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the established hypotheses. The findings confirm that formalism, fear of self and family infection are positively influencing COVID-19 stress. COVID-19 stress positively affects PTSD and insomnia. COVID-19 stress negatively affects problem-focused strategies. Problem-focused strategies negatively affect post-traumatic stress disorder.

Psychological Distress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Protective Role of Hope

The COVID-19 outbreak and the worldwide lockdown measures had an impact on the global mental health and psychological well-being of the general population. Several studies attempted to investigate the protective and risk factors for psychological distress related to the pandemic. However, to date, little is known about the role of hope in this context. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between hope and psychological distress related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the general population. The sample consisted of 504 Pakistani people who completed cross-sectionally the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) and the Adult Hope Scale (AHS). Bivariate Pearson correlation analysis was run to measure the relationship between hope and psychological distress; hierarchical regression analysis was run to investigate the association between demographics and hope with psychological distress. Higher levels of hope predicted lower levels of psychological distress. Being female, being older, lower level of education, urban residence, being married and living in nuclear family systems were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. The study highlights the protective role of hope on psychological distress related to COVID-19, contributing to knowledge on factors promoting positive mental health during emergency times and providing useful information for implementing effective public health policies and programmes.

COVID-19 infection: Positive mental health, psychological vulnerability and sex: Cross-sectional study

Since mid-March 2020, a state of emergency was decreed in Portugal due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, consequently, measures were implemented to protect public health, such as social isolation, which will certainly have a notable impact on the mental health of the population, especially in the most vulnerable groups. Positive Mental Health (PMH) is essential to deal with adversity, in this case with the pandemic, and to live better and with greater satisfaction. We consider it relevant to investigate how PMH was used as a resource to deal with the pandemic, depending on the level of vulnerability and sex. A, cross-sectional study was carried out whose the aim was to evaluate the levels of PMH and psychological vulnerability in people with COVOD-19 infection and analyze the association between PMH and psychological vulnerability among men and women.

METHODS

The instruments used were a sociodemographic characterization questionnaire, the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire, and the Psychological Vulnerability Scale (PVS), that were sent and filled out online. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was carried out.

RESULTS

After analyzing the results, it was found that approximately 50.4% of the respondents (n = 387) had global PMH values that place them in quartile 50. There was also a statistically significant difference between female and male PMH, with women showing greater psychological vulnerability and lower overall PMH.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the women present a greater psychological vulnerability and a lower level of PMH when compared to men.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Considering the study's statistically significant results, when we talk about mental health, we should always consider the sex variable as a vulnerability factor, in a pandemic or non-pandemic phase.

Psychological Correlates of Health anxiety in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Online Study in Iran

Current models suggest health anxiety as a fundamental variable associated with fear and anxiety related to COVID-19. The investigation was carried out in separate two studies on the Iranian population. The first study aims to test the COVID-19 Anxiety Inventory (N = 202). The findings indicate a two-factor structure of the scale. Participants (N = 1638) completed the online survey anonymously in the second study, including the COVID-19 Anxiety Inventory, Short Health Anxiety Inventory, The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Body Vigilance Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21, and Contamination Cognitions Scale. Results showed that health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance would significantly contribute to fears of contracting COVID-19. Moreover, the findings support a central role of intolerance of uncertainty in predicting COVID-19 anxiety. The study results provided both theoretical and practical implications for understanding psychosocial predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors

This study evaluated COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors (CITRB). From March to May 2020, 1,118 Chinese high school students, college students, psychiatric outpatients, and community members completed a survey assessing CITRB, generalized anxiety, depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pandemic-related disruptions. Overall, participants reported mild to moderate CITRB, although certain thoughts/behaviors were more frequently endorsed, such as repeatedly telling others to take precautions against COVID-19 and checking COVID-19-related news. Being male, younger, a health-care worker, or in isolation/quarantine was associated with CITRB severity in community members. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, depression, somatic symptoms, and anxiety were associated with CITRB severity, although only obsessive-compulsive symptoms were uniquely associated with CITRB. This study provided evidence for the construct of CITRB, which may help mental health providers identify the nature and sources of COVID-19-related distress for some individuals as well as serve as a framework for evaluating obsessive-compulsive symptoms specific to large-scale crises.

The Relationship Between Social Interaction and Anxiety Regarding COVID-19 in Japanese Older Adults

While previous studies suggest that women have higher anxiety than men regarding COVID-19, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study tries to explain the mechanisms by gender difference in social interaction based on a theory of social amplification of risk framework (SARF). We surveyed older adults in Japan regarding their anxiety regarding COVID-19, as well as the frequencies of their direct and indirect social interaction in July 2020 (N = 1,587, aged 78-99 years). To explore the way in which gender and anxiety regarding COVID-19 were mediated by these two types of social interactions, MODEL4 of SPSS's Process MACRO was applied to the data. We found that older women interacted more directly and indirectly with others than did older men. And, direct social interaction was negatively and related, but indirect social interaction was positively related to older adults' anxiety regarding COVID-19. Furthermore, direct social interaction was related to older women's low anxiety regarding COVID-19, whereas indirect social interaction was related to older women's high anxiety regarding COVID-19. The findings of our study suggest that the degree of anxiety regarding COVID-19 among older women may be dependent upon the types of social interaction they have with others.

The influencing factors of health-related quality of life of the general population of Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 is a global challenge that negatively affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the general population. The current study aimed to evaluate HRQoL and its associated factors among the Iranian general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected in 2021 using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) and EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS) questionnaires through an online survey. Participants were recruited via social media from the Fars province. The multiple binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors influencing participants' HRQoL. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, the t-test, ANOVA, and the chi-square test were used. All tests were conducted at a significance level of 5% using Stata 14.2 and SPSS 16. A total of 1,198 participants were involved in this cross-sectional study. The mean age of participants was 33.3 (SD:10.2), and more than half were women (55.6%). The mean EQ-5D-3L index value and EQ-VAS of the respondents were 0.80 and 77.53, respectively. The maximum scores of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-VAS in the present study were 1 and 100, respectively. The most frequently reported problems were anxiety/depression (A/D) (53.7%), followed by pain/discomfort (P/D) (44.2%). Logistic regression models showed that the odds of reporting problems on the A/D dimension increased significantly with supplementary insurance, including concern about getting COVID-19, hypertension, and asthma, by 35% (OR = 1.35; P = 0.03), 2% (OR = 1.02; P = 0.02), 83% (OR = 1.83; P = 0.02), and 6.52 times (OR = 6.52; P = 0.01), respectively. The odds of having problems on the A/D dimension were significantly lower among male respondents, those in the housewives + students category, and employed individuals by 54% (OR = 0.46; P = 0.04), 38% (OR = 0.62; P = 0.02) and 41% (OR = 0.59; P = 0.03), respectively. Moreover, the odds of reporting a problem on the P/D dimension decreased significantly in those belonging in a lower age group and with people who were not worried about getting COVID-19 by 71% (OR = 0.29; P = 0.03) and 65% (OR = 0.35; P = 0.01), respectively. The findings of this study could be helpful for policy-making and economic evaluations. A significant percentage of participants (53.7%) experienced psychological problems during the pandemic. Therefore, effective interventions to improve the quality of life of these vulnerable groups in society are essential.

Exposure, perceived risk, and psychological distress among general population during the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, China

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic that has been going on since the end of 2019 impacts people on both the physical and psychological levels. However, the psychological status, especially its underlying psychosocial mechanisms among the general population in Wuhan, the earliest epicenter and hardest-hit city in China during the pandemic, has not been well investigated. This study aimed to examine the relationships between exposures, perceived risk, and psychological distress among the general population in Wuhan during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

Data were from a cross-sectional online survey conducted from 20 February to 4 March 2020. Final analyses included 4,234 Wuhan respondents. A 5-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist was adopted to assess respondents' psychological distress.

Results

It was found that nervousness, fear, and worry were the most common symptoms among Wuhan residents during the lockdown. Exposure within a close physical distance, exposure within the social network, and perceived risk are significantly positively related to respondents' psychological distress. Moreover, perceived risk mediated the effects of exposures on respondents' psychological condition.

Discussion

These findings conduce to identify the populations at higher risk of suffering psychological disturbance during the pandemic and are expected to inform the policymakers and mental health professionals to monitor and improve the perception of risk among the target population by appropriate interventions.

Risk factor analysis of omicron patients with mental health problems in the Fangcang shelter hospital based on psychiatric drug intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUNDS

The widespread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak impacted the mental health of infected patients admitted to Fangcang shelter hospital a large-scale, temporary structure converted from existing public venues to isolate patients with mild or moderate symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of the infected patients from a new pharmacological perspective based on psychiatric drug consumption rather than questionnaires for the first time.

METHODS

We summarised the medical information and analysed the prevalence proportion, characteristics, and the related risk factors of omicron variants infected patients in the Fangcang Shelter Hospital of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from 9 April 2022 to 31 May 2022.

RESULTS

In this study, 6,218 individuals at 3.57% of all admitted patients in the Fangcang shelter were collected suffering from mental health problems in severe conditions including schizophrenia, depression, insomnia, and anxiety who needed psychiatric drug intervention. In the group, 97.44% experienced their first prescription of psychiatric drugs and had no diagnosed historical psychiatric diseases. Further analysis indicated that female sex, no vaccination, older age, longer hospitalization time, and more comorbidities were independent risk factors for the drug-intervened patients.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to analyse the mental health problems of omicron variants infected patients hospitalised in Fangcang shelter hospitals. The research demonstrated the necessity of potential mental and psychological service development in Fangcang shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic and other public emergency responses.

Junior doctors' wellbeing at peak and post-peak pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals has been significant. The aim of this study was to explore the mental state and wellbeing of UK junior doctors at different phases of the initial outbreak.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of UK-based junior doctors' perceptions of threat and support during and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Levels of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and use of coping mechanisms were explored through a Google questionnaire.

RESULTS

196 participants were included in this study (93 in period A and 103 in period B). Junior doctors reported feeling increased risk (p=0.001) and increased fear of contracting the virus (p<0.001) during period A. Increased levels of severe anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score >15) along with increased cases level of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score >10) were reported for both periods. Junior doctors described suffering more frequently with flashbacks (p=0.006) and nightmares (p=0.024) in comparison with senior colleagues during period A. During period A, 21.4% of participants felt isolated at work (p<0.001), whereas 13% reported being easily annoyed on a daily basis, 11.7% reported very low morale (p<0.001) and 66% were not aware of any psychological support being available. The use of exercise, peer support and mindfulness apps increased during period B (p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare systems need to urgently establish robust psychological support mechanisms and infrastructure to protect junior doctors and provide institutional resilience against the adverse consequences of the long physical and mental battle with COVID-19.

Sleep disturbance during COVID-19: Correlates and predictive ability for mental health symptomatology in a Canadian online sample

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbance is associated with mental health symptomatology, but this impact is understudied during COVID-19. The aims of this study are to: 1) examine correlates of sleep disturbance, and 2) examine the longitudinal relationship between sleep disturbance and mental health symptoms 6 months later, during the pandemic.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from COVID-19 Survey Canada conducted between May 2020 (T1) and November 2021 (T2) (n = 489). We examined COVID-related baseline correlates of sleep disturbance at T1, and used multivariable regressions to examine the relationship between T1 sleep disturbance and T2 post-traumatic stress (PTS), health anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depressive symptoms, controlling for baseline mental health symptoms and sociodemographics.

RESULTS

Females, ages 30-49, and those with an annual household income <$50,000, showed a higher prevalence of clinically significant sleep disturbance. After adjustment, compared to those without sleep disturbance at baseline, those with sleep disturbance showed a significant increase in PTS symptoms at 6 months (b = 11.80, 95% CI = [8.21-15.38], p < 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

Results are not nationally representative. Data may be subject to response biases due to self-report methods and we are unable to determine causality.

CONCLUSION

Being able to predict adverse mental health implications of sleep disturbance will help clinicians be equipped to target future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as any future potential pandemics or traumas. This study emphasizes the importance of screening individuals for sleep disturbance.

Associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions in adolescents during home confinement: Mediating role of social support and sleep quality

Background

Prolonged periods of sedentary behaviour, for instance, engendered by home confinement in Shenzhen city, has led to negative mental health consequences, especially in adolescents. Previous research suggests, in general, that sedentary behavior can increase negative emotions. However, the specific mechanism driving the relationship between sedentary behavior and negative emotions is still relatively unclear. Social support and sleep quality might partly explain the effect of sedentary behavior on negative emotions. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions, and to investigate if social support and sleep quality mediate such a relationship.

Method

During home confinement due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant outbreak, 1179 middle and high school students in Shenzhen were invited to voluntarily complete an e-questionnaire, including the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data from 1065 participants were included in the analysis.

Results

We observed significant sex-related and demografic-related differences in emotional (e.g., anxiety, stress and social support) and other outcome variables (e.g., sitting duration and PSQI score). Furthermore, sedentary behavior, social support, and sleep quality were associated with negative emotions (p < .01), even after controlling for sex, age, only-child case, body mass index, and metabolic equivalent level. In addition, social support and sleep quality partially mediated the association between sedentary behavior and negative emotions.

Conclusion

The findings of the current study suggest that social support and sleep quality partially mediate the relationship between sedentary behavior and negative emotions in middle and high school students during home confinement in Shenzhen city.

Mental Disorders and Level of Resilience in Eight High-Altitude Cities of Peru during the Second Pandemic Wave: A Multicenter Population-Based Study

COVID-19 has led us to take preventive measures, such as social isolation, to reduce the high transmissibility of the disease. This could have affected the mental health of various population groups and the development of resilience as a mitigator. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 700 participants from eight cities. The dependent variables were depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The independent variable was resilience. Generalized logistic regressions were used to identify the associations between the variables. The population consisted mostly of university students (65.0%); the rest of the population was distributed among workers of public or private institutions, housewives, and others (35.0%). High prevalences of anxiety (72.7%), depression (64.1%), and PTSD (15.1%) were found, as well as a median (interquartile range) resilience score of 24 points was determined. Factors associated with a high prevalence of PTSD were having lost employment and having a family member who died from COVID-19. For depression, associated factors were severe food insecurity and hypersomnia. For anxiety, associated factors were were having a deceased family member with COVID-19 and mild food insecurity. Our results show that, during the pandemic, the general population had a higher prevalence of mental disorders. In addition, anxiety was the most prevalent of the dependent variables. Special attention should be paid to the factors influencing the development of mental disorders and mental health prevention and promotion programs should be established.

The effect of COVID-19 restrictions on sleep quality of university students and variables predicting sleep quality

BACKGROUND/AIM

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a long period of stress for people worldwide and has significantly affected sleep duration. The pandemic revealed new stress factors that are likely to affect sleep. Uncertainty is a factor that leads to anxiety and depression, which affects sleep. It should also be noted that reductions in sleep quality rather than sleep duration are associated with negative consequences on mental health. This study aims to investigate online that how this situation affected university students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research, with a descriptive study design, was conducted in Turkey between June 01, 2021 and July 30, 2021. The sample included 604 people who accepted voluntary participation, chosen by the random selection method. In the study, sociodemographic information form, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), morningness-eveningness questionnaire scale (MEQ Scale), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) were used as data collection tools. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between the scales. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the role of morningness-eveningness, anxiety, depression, and insomnia severity on sleep quality.

RESULTS

Sleep quality was negatively correlated with morningness-eveningness scores (r = -0.32, P < 0.01), and positively and significantly related with anxiety (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), depression (r = 0.40, P < 0.01) and insomnia severity (r = 0.55, P < 0.01). According to regression coefficients, while anxiety (β = 0.041, P < 0.001) and insomnia severity scores (β = 0.226, P < 0.001) positively predicted sleep quality, depression did not predict it significantly (β = 0.009, P > 0.05). A significant difference was found in sleep quality according to morning, evening, and intermediate types (F = 27.401, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Events related to the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with reduced sleep quality in connection with increasing negative moods. Considering the importance of sleep for a healthy life, efforts should be made to raise awareness about this issue and to provide psychological help to affected individuals.

A retrospective study investigating the anxiety and depression level of novel coronavirus Omicron patients in 2022

INTRODUCTION

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 continues to spread widely, not only causing physical disorders in patients but also impairing mental health, bringing a heavy burden on global public health. This study aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant in Shanghai.

METHODS/DESIGN

This study aimed to retrospectively analyze 2000 patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Data from patients assessed with demographic information, anxiety and depressive symptoms were collected using a questionnaire. Clinical and laboratory data were collected using electronic medical system. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Clinical information and laboratory indicators included age, sex, blood pressure, blood glucose, basic disease, time of diagnosis onset, duration of hospitalization, vaccination status of novel coronavirus disease 2019, and virus-negative conversion time.

DISCUSSION

This study will provide evidence-based suggestions for early psychological intervention in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant.

Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19 Disease Specific to Women: Exploratory Research

This study was designed to explore COVID-19 in a biopsychosocial model, taking into account the different mental and social consequences of the disease in women and men. A sociodemographic questionnaire containing anthropometric data, socioeconomic data, lifestyle data, health status before COVID-19, course of COVID-19, symptoms, and complications after COVID-19 was administered to 83 women and 64 men to investigate their mental health (MH) and quality of life (QoL). The Hospital Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression (HADS-D) Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) were adopted. Abnormal results in HADS-D and HADS-A were obtained in 33 (39.8%) women and 10 (15.6%) men and in 26 (31.3%) women and 14 (21.9%) men, respectively. Women experienced a lower level of QoL than men. The prolonged duration of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with increased anxiety in women during recovery. Good self-reported health before COVID-19 in women was associated with reduced QoL. Women had more symptoms of COVID-19 than men, and they experienced neurological complications more often. The presence of neurological complications in women appears to be associated with increased perceived anxiety and reduced QoL. This is an exploratory study whose results can influence future research with larger and more diverse samples.

Finding a Secure Place in the Home during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Pattern-Oriented Analysis

In challenging times, home is frequently the primary basis of environmental self-regulation processes, individual and relational coping, and well-being. This study aimed to identify multiple types of security experiences at home during the first lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from 757 Hungarian adults who completed the online, modified form of the Emotional Map of the Home Interview method in 2020 after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants imagined their homes, chose the place of security in their homes and rated their personal experiences (i.e., experiences of agency, communion, self-recovery, and distress) related to these places. Latent profile analysis of personal experiences revealed four types of relational-environmental self-regulation in secure places: "security in active self-recovery," "security in detachment," "security in doing and feeling good enough," and "security in stress and compensation." Profile membership was predicted by age, gender, and indices of psychological support and well-being. Results suggest that finding psychological security in the home is a multifaceted phenomenon that may be partly affected by the perception of the broader social-ecological context. Identifying subpopulations vulnerable to the challenges of the pandemic may help researchers and practitioners provide better support in times of local and global crises.

Incidence rate and distinctive characteristics of first episode psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter observational study

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of people around the world. However, its impact on first-episode psychosis (FEP) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate (IR) and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients who developed FEP during the nine-month period following the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain and to compare these data to the corresponding period in the previous year. We included all patients (n = 220) treated for the first time during these two time periods at three FEP programs in Spain. The IR was 0.42/100,000 person-years during the pandemic vs. 0.54/100,000 in the prior year (p = 0.057). Compared to prior year, women accounted for a significantly higher proportion of FEP patients (46.3% vs. 28%; p = 0.005) during the COVID-19 period. This association was significant on the logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, female: 2.12 [confidence interval 1.17-3.82]; p = 0.014). These data reveal a non-significant trend towards a lower incidence of FEP during the pandemic period. Female sex was associated with a greater risk of developing FEP during the pandemic period, perhaps due to differences between males and females in the susceptibility and expression of psychosis. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of stress-related disorders.

Mental healthcare-seeking behavior of women in Bangladesh: content analysis of a social media platform

BACKGROUND

Mental health remains a highly stigmatized area of healthcare, and people often conceal their concerns rather than seek assistance or treatment. The Women Support Initiative Forum (WSIF) is a social media platform established in 2018 to provide expert and peer-led psychosocial support services to women of all ages in Bangladesh. The anonymous nature of the forum means that mental health concerns can be aired without fear of identification.

METHOD

A content analysis was conducted on the anonymous posts retrieved from the WSIF platform between 8^th March 2020 and 7^th July 2022. Around 1457 posts were initially selected for analysis which was reduced to 1006 after removing duplicates and non-relevant posts, such as queries about the addresses of the doctors and other non-mental health-related issues. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted using an inductive approach.

RESULT

The 1006 posts generated four themes and nine sub-themes. All the women mentioned mental health symptoms (n = 1006; 100%). Most also mentioned reasons for seeking mental healthcare (n = 818; 81.31%), healthcare-seeking behavior (n = 667; 66.30%), and barriers to seeking mental healthcare (n = 552; 54.87%). The majority of women described symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety-like symptoms, which were aggregated under common mental health conditions. Mental health symptoms were ascribed to various external influences, including marital relationship, intrafamilial abuse, and insecurities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A large proportion of posts were related to women seeking information about mental healthcare services and service providers (psychologists or psychiatrists). The analysis found that most women did not obtain mental healthcare services despite their externalized mental health symptoms. The posts identified clear barriers to women accessing mental health services, including low mental health literacy, the stigma associated with mental healthcare-seeking behavior, and the poor availability of mental health care services.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that raising mass awareness and designing culturally acceptable evidence-based interventions with multisectoral collaborations are crucial to ensuring better mental healthcare coverage for women in Bangladesh.

The relationship between mental health and violence toward women during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has a number of psychological consequences for societies, especially women. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between mental health and violence toward women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.This study was conducted on during late October to November 2020 (N = 400). Demographic information questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire(GHQ-12) and violence toward women inventory(VTWI) were used.The results showed that violence was higher among employed women. Also, the results showed that VTW was higher in women with 3 children, high school degree, family income under 3 million and women over 40 years old. Findings showed that the mean mental health of women at the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate (15.14 ± 8.8). Also, with increasing psychological and economic violence, their mental health decreases. Therefore, it is suggested that policy makers and planners, apart from the physical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, pay attention to its psychological dimension, especially for women, and try to allocate funds to maintain and promote mental health and family.

An Exploratory Mixed-method Descriptive Analysis of Youth Coping during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Quebec

This study presents an exploratory mixed-method descriptive analysis of psychological distress, challenges encountered and coping strategies of youth during the first wave of COVID-19. A total of 4 914 Quebec youth, aged 14 to 25 recruited through social media completed an online survey on the impact of the pandemic on their daily life, psychological distress and post-traumatic growth. They were also invited to answer two open-ended questions regarding the difficulties they experienced and their coping strategies. Overall, 26.6% of youth showed serious psychological distress and 20.3% displayed probable PTSD symptoms related to the COVID-19. Comparative analyses revealed that youth identifying as gender and sexual minorities were more vulnerable to distress during the first wave of the pandemic. While few sociodemographic variables distinguish youth reporting post-traumatic growth from those who do not, the former group was more likely to seek and receive social support. Qualitative data highlighted difficulties that were common to many respondents including lack of social contacts, the lockdown itself, and problems related to disruptions of educational and academic activities. Youth also mentioned three main strategies they used to cope: maintaining social contacts, engaging in leisure activities and physical exercise. While many youths have encountered compelling challenges during the lockdown of the first wave of COVID-19, some report having relied on efficient coping strategies to deal with the situation. Support services should be implemented to help the youth cope with the pandemic while considering their diverse needs.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Urban Residents-Evidence from China

Based on a nationwide micro-survey in China from 2018 to 2021, this paper empirically estimates the causal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Chinese residents, by exploiting the distribution of the outflow population from Wuhan as an instrumental variable (IV). Our findings suggest that for every 10% increase in the cumulative confirmed cases, the number of mentally unhealthy days reported by urban residents in the past 30 days will increase by 2.19, an increase of 46.90% compared with the mean value. The impact is more significant among females, people aged 30 or above, and private-sector employees. Further evidence highlights the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents' expectations of future income and confidence in macroeconomic development, both of which we interpret as mechanisms related to economic concerns. In addition, application of the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) strategy revealed that the negative impact still exists two years post-pandemic, but it has been dramatically alleviated since the initial stage.

Factors Associated with Self-Reported Post/Long-COVID-A Real-World Data Study

Evidence suggests that Post/Long-COVID (PLC) is associated with a reduced health-related quality of life, however little knowledge exists on the risk factors that contribute to PLC. The objective of this prospective real-world data study was to evaluate factors associated with PLC using national online survey data. Adjusted multivariable regression analyses were performed using the software R. Between 14 April and 15 June 2021, 99 registered individuals reported to have suffered from PLC symptoms and the most common PLC symptoms reported were fatigue, dyspnoea, decreased strength, hyposmia, and memory loss. The odds of individuals suffering from COVID-19-associated anxiety, hyposmia, or heart palpitations developing PLC were eight times (OR 8.28, 95% CI 1.43−47.85, p < 0.01), five times (OR 4.74, 95% CI 1.59−14.12, p < 0.005), or three times (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.72−3.99, p < 0.01) higher, respectively, than of those who had not experienced these symptoms. Individuals who experienced fatigue while having COVID-19 were seven times more likely to develop PLC fatigue than those who had not (OR 6.52, 95% CI: 4.29−9.91, p < 0.0001). Our findings revealed that 13% of the individuals who had previously suffered from COVID-19 subsequently reported having PLC. Furthermore, COVID-19-associated anxiety, hyposmia, heart palpitations, and fatigue were, among others, significant determinants for the development of PLC symptoms. Hyposmia has not previously been reported as an independent predictive factor for PLC. We suggest closely monitoring patients with COVID-19-induced fatigue, heart palpitations, and anxiety, as these symptoms may be predictors of PLC symptoms, including fatigue.

Mapping post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and quality of life among residents of Wuhan, China after the COVID-19 outbreak: A network perspective

OBJECTIVES

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak may have a long-term impact on mental health in the general population. This study examined inter-relationships between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and quality of life (QOL) in Wuhan residents after the COVID-19 outbreak using network approach.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 25 and June 18, 2020. PTSS and QOL were measured using Chinese versions of the Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - brief version, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 2598 participants were included. A network analysis revealed "Avoiding reminders", "Feeling emotionally numb", "Avoiding thoughts", "Hypervigilance", and "Reliving experiences" as the most central (influential) nodes in PTSS network models both before and after controlling for covariates. The connection between "Avoiding thoughts" and "Avoiding reminders" had the strongest edge. Three symptom communities were detected and can be summarized as "re-experiencing and avoidance", "negative changes in thinking and mood", and "hyperarousal". The bridge symptoms connecting PTSS and QOL were "Sleep disturbances", "Irritability", and "Loss of interest".

LIMITATIONS

Limitations included the cross-sectional study design, self-report measures in data collection, and lack of follow-ups beyond the initial phase of the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

PTSS were common among Wuhan residents even after the initial COVID-19 outbreak had passed. Attention should be paid to lingering symptoms of avoiding reminders, emotional numbness, avoiding thoughts, hypervigilance, and reliving experiences in treating PTSS related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mental health impact on healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a U.S. cross-sectional survey study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health and well-being of health care workers (HCWs). This study examined mental health outcomes and COVID-related stress impacts among a diverse sample of ambulatory HCWs, including clinicians and support staff, as well as the associations between mental health outcomes and work impairments in this population. Detailing these results can help in designing interventions to alleviate this burden.

Methods

“The Health Care Worker Stress Survey” was administered to ambulatory care providers and support staff at three multispecialty care delivery organizations as part of an online, cross-sectional study conducted between June 8, 2020, and July 13, 2020.

Results

The greatest stress impact reported by HCWs was the uncertainty regarding when the COVID-19 outbreak would be under control, while the least reported concern was about self-dying from COVID-19. Differences in COVID-19 stress impacts were observed by age, gender, and occupational risk factors. Approximately 50% of participants reported more than a minimal level of anxiety, including 22.5% who indicated moderate to severe levels of anxiety. Higher levels of anxiety were observed with younger ages and female gender, while occupational roles with increased exposure risk did not report higher levels of anxiety. Roughly two-thirds of the sample reported less than good sleep quality and one-third to one-half of the sample reported other sleep related problems that differed by age and gender. Role limitations due to emotional health correlated with COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and sleep problems.

Conclusions

Using established, validated measures, we quantified mental health outcomes within a diverse sample of ambulatory care HCWs during the pandemic. Younger and female HCWs reported greater anxiety burden; HCWs with higher occupational risk of COVID exposure did not report higher levels of anxiety. Notable proportions of HCWs reported sleep and work impairments. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, it is difficult to attribute these patterns to the pandemic. These results underscore the depth and extent of mental health outcomes in HCWs in ambulatory settings and raise important questions on new interventions to relieve that burden. Further research is needed to study specific interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of HCWs.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities: Essential Workers, Mental Health, and the Coronavirus Pandemic

Evidence is emerging of the pandemic disproportionately impacting communities of color. This study investigates mental health distress among essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic across race and ethnicity. We evaluate individual responses to the patient health questionnaire and general anxiety disorder questionnaire using a unique, nationally representative data set. Our findings suggest that essential healthcare workers reported the highest rates of mental health distress at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. However, when evaluated across race and ethnicity, we find that Black essential healthcare workers disproportionately report symptoms of anxiety; while, Hispanic essential healthcare workers disproportionately report symptoms of depression. Additionally, we find that being a Black or Hispanic essential nonhealthcare worker is associated with higher levels of distress related to anxiety and depression. These findings highlight the additional dimensions to which Black and Hispanic Americans may be disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, it calls into question how the essential worker classification, compounded by US unemployment policies, is potentially amplifying the mental health distress experienced by workers.

Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of adolescent dissociative symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences between the prevalence and impact factors of adolescent dissociative symptoms (ADSs) by using sex-stratification during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A school-based, two-center cross-sectional study was conducted in Hangzhou City, China, between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022. The sample included 1,916 adolescents aged 13-18 years that were randomly selected using a multiphase, stratified, cluster sampling technique. A two-stage assessment procedure was used to find out the ADSs. We used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the impact factors of ADSs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adolescent dissociative scores (t = 4.88, P < 0.001) and positive ADSs rate (Chi-square = 15.76, P < 0.001) in males were higher than in females. Gender-stratified, stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the conflict relationship of teacher-student [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.10], family expressiveness (AOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.98), family conflict (AOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.27), family organization (AOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99), and family cohesion (AOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.99) were linked to ADSs only in males, while individual psychological states of somatic complaint (AOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08) and paranoid ideation (AOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.19) were associated with female ADSs only. The ADSs seemed to be prevalent in Hangzhou City, studied during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of dissociative symptoms seem to be significant among adolescents. Thus, gender-specific intervention programs against ADSs should be considered as reducing this risk.

A Machine Learning-Based Risk Prediction Model for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global public panic, leading to severe mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to establish a risk prediction model of PTSD based on a machine learning algorithm to provide a basis for the extensive assessment and prediction of the PTSD risk status in adults during a pandemic. Materials and Methods: Model indexes were screened based on the cognitive-phenomenological-transactional (CPT) theoretical model. During the study period (1 March to 15 March 2020), 2067 Chinese residents were recruited using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Socio-demographic characteristics, PTSD, depression, anxiety, social support, general self-efficacy, coping style, and other indicators were collected in order to establish a neural network model to predict and evaluate the risk of PTSD. Results: The research findings showed that 368 of the 2067 participants (17.8%) developed PTSD. The model correctly predicted 90.0% (262) of the outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and their associated area under the ROC curve (AUC) values suggested that the prediction model possessed an accurate discrimination ability. In addition, depression, anxiety, age, coping style, whether the participants had seen a doctor during the COVID-19 quarantine period, and self-efficacy were important indexes. Conclusions: The high prediction accuracy of the model, constructed based on a machine learning algorithm, indicates its applicability in screening the public mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic quickly and effectively. This model could also predict and identify high-risk groups early to prevent the worsening of PTSD symptoms.

Burnout syndrome among frontline doctors of secondary and tertiary care hospitals of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had a high workload and were exposed to multiple psychosocial stressors. However, a knowledge gap exists about the levels of burnout among Bangladeshi frontline doctors during this COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigated burnout syndrome (BOS) among frontline doctors in two public secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved frontline doctors working at two hospitals treating COVID-19 and non-COVID patients from June to August 2020. A self-administered questionnaire that included Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was used to capture demographic and workplace environment information. ANOVA and t-test were used to determine the statistical differences in the mean values of the three dimensions of MBI-HSS. Scores for three domains of burnout: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA) were calculated. Post-hoc analysis was done to identify the significant pair-wise differences when the ANOVA test result was significant. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the influence of factors associated with BOS.

RESULTS

A total of 185 frontline doctors were invited to participate by convenience sampling, and 168 responded. The response rate was 90.81%. The overall prevalence of BOS was 55.4% (93/168) (95% CI: 47.5% to 63.0%). Moderate to high levels of EE was found in 95.8% of the participants. High DP and reduced PA were observed in 98.2% and 97% of participants. Younger age (25-29 years), being female, and working as a medical officer were independently associated with high levels of burnout in all three domains. EE was significantly higher in females (P = 0.011). DP was significantly higher in medical officers, those at earlier job periods, and those working more than 8 hours per day.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 outbreak, BOS was common among Bangladeshi frontline doctors. Females, medical officers, and younger doctors tended to be more susceptible to BOS. Less BOS was experienced when working in the non-COVID ward than in the mixed ward.

Pre- and post-COVID-19: The impact of the pandemic and stock market psychology on the growth and sustainability of consumer goods industries

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and stock market psychology on investor investment decisions in different business units operating in the Shandong stock market. The sample size of the study consists of 5,000 individuals from six different business units. The study used the event study statistical technique to analyze the market reaction to newly released information from the stock market perspective to assess whether the number of COVID-19 positive cases impacted it. With a Z score value of 40.345 and a P-value of 0.000, the Wilcoxon test indicated that stock prices before and after the pandemic were quite different. The test showed a positive relationship between the pandemic and the stock market. Further, the results indicated that COVID-19 and stock market psychology had a significant positive impact on investor investment decisions in cosmetic and beauty, consumer household, textiles and apparel, and consumer electronics industries; however, in the sporting and consumer appliance industries, it had an insignificant negative impact. This study serves to guide investors to make suitable changes in their stock market trading practices to counter these challenges to increase their required rate of return from their specific stock market investment. The findings have important insights for various stakeholders including governments, regulatory bodies, practitioners, academia, industry, and researchers.

Anxiety and depression in the post-pandemic era: concerns about viral mutation and re-outbreak

BACKGROUND

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has been raging for more than 20 months, putting significant strain on public health systems around the world. Despite the fact that the pandemic has been effectively managed in certain countries, regional outbreaks and viral mutations continue to pose a threat to people's lives. The likelihood of post-pandemic changes in people's psychological situations warrants more investigation.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted in the context of another outbreak in Zhangjiajie, China, respondents (infected patients, healthy population) were required to complete self-administered questions and standardized questionnaires, including the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ).

MEASURES

We conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey of infected patients (excluding critically ill patients) in the confirmed COVID-19 ward of Zhangjiajie City People's Hospital's East Hospital from August 14 to 24, 2021, and used convenience sampling to survey medical staff and the general public to assess the psychological reactions of different populations during the delta variant outbreak pandemic. Differences in anxiety and depression severity were compared between groups, with logistic regression models constructed to explore potential factors associated with scoring clinical significant levels of depression and/or anxiety.

RESULTS

There is no significant difference (p value = 0.228) between anxiety and depression in patients (n = 53), general public (n = 97), medical personnel (n = 103), and support workers (n = 65). Females reported higher scores on the GAD-7 and the BIPQ, reduced communication with family and friends appeared to be a risk factor for clinically significant anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant differences in anxiety and depression across populations explored in this study, but females had higher anxiety and illness perception than males, and effective communication may help improve mental health.

Stress, anxiety, and depression in times of COVID-19: Gender, individual quarantine, pandemic duration and employment

Objectives

This study explores the inter-relationship between emotional distress in adults and gender, quarantine experiences, pandemic duration, and employment.

Methods

An online cross-sectional online survey comprised 943 Israelis. The link to the survey was distributed via different personal and academic social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter). The survey was administered using the online survey portal Google Forms. Participants addressed questions about their socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, family status, employment, and quarantine experiences) and ranked their levels of stress, anxiety, and depression using the Hebrew version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-DASS-21.

Results

The majority of the respondents (72%) were women, 39% experienced quarantine, and 55% were unemployed. About 42% experienced a short-term pandemic (one lockdown), and the rest experienced a continuous pandemic (two lockdowns). The MANCOVA results, controlling for family status, indicated that women and unemployed participants reported higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels than men and employed participants. Participants who experienced individual quarantine reported higher anxiety and depression. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between gender, employment, and pandemic duration. The experience of individual quarantine intensified the stress, anxiety, and depression for both employed and unemployed women. Conversely, the quarantine intensified stress, anxiety, and depression only for unemployed men, whereas the quarantine did not affect stress, anxiety, and depression among employed men.

Conclusions

Employment is a critical factor regarding men's emotional state during such stressful situations as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, individual quarantine and long-term pandemics are associated with opposite outcomes regarding individual mental health. The individual quarantine is associated with increased anxiety and depression, while a long-term, continuous pandemic is associated with decreased stress.

Worry and fear during the COVID-19 epidemic normalization: Analyzing prevalence and risk factors among 182,991 high school students in China

It is worth paying attention to the level of worry and fear of students during the normalization of the epidemic. We conducted the cross-sectional study that included 182,991 high school students using an online survey to assess worry and fear levels and its influencing factors in three cities in Henan Province, China, from May 21 to May 27, 2021. Worry and fear levels were measured using a five-item Likert-type scale. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors. Approximately 65.42% of students reported being high worry about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, and about 41.44% of students reported being high fear about the COVID-19 epidemic. In addition, compared with female, male had lower odds of suffering from a high worry, and compared with senior high school students, junior high school students were more likely to suffer from a high worry. Students lived in rural had highest odds increased likelihood of high worry. Similar results in fear levels. During the normalization period of the COVID-19 epidemic, many students have high levels of worry and fear. This study has implications for potential influencers of worry and fear levels in follow-up work.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s intersectional impact on work life, home life and wellbeing: an exploratory mixed-methods analysis of Georgia women’s experiences during the pandemic

Background

Women have been especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This exploratory study aimed to characterize women’s adverse experiences related to their work, home lives, and wellbeing during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and to describe demographic differences of those lived experiences.

Methods

Using the validated Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory, we collected data from reproductive-aged women in the state of Georgia about their exposure to adverse events during the pandemic. A latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify subgroups of women reporting similar adverse experiences and describe their sociodemographic characteristics. An optional open-ended question yielded qualitative data that were analyzed thematically and merged with subgroup findings. Data were collected from September 2020 to January 2021.

Results

423 individuals aged 18–49 completed the survey with 314 (74.2%) providing qualitative responses. The LCA yielded 4 subgroups: (1) a “low exposure” subgroup (n = 123, 29.1%) with relatively low probability of adverse experiences across domains (e.g. financial insecurity, health challenges, barriers to access to healthcare, intimate partner violence (IPV)); (2) a “high exposure” subgroup (n = 46, 10.9%) with high probability of experiencing multiple adversities across domains including the loss of loved ones to COVID-19; (3) a “caregiving stress” subgroup (n = 104, 24.6%) with high probability of experiencing challenges with home and work life including increased partner conflict; and (4) a “mental health changes” subgroup (n = 150, 35.5%) characterized by relatively low probability of adverse experiences but high probability of negative changes in mental health and lifestyle. Individuals in subgroups 1 and 4, which had low probabilities of adverse experiences, were significantly more likely to be non-Hispanic white. Individuals in subgroup 2 were more likely to identify with a sexual or racial/ethnic minority population. Inductive coding of qualitative data yielded themes such as stress, mental health, financial impact, and adaptation/resilience, providing context for pandemic-related adversity.

Conclusion

Though many individuals in our sample experienced hardship, minority populations were unequally impacted by pandemic-related adversity in work life, home life, and wellbeing. Recovery and future emergency preparedness efforts in Georgia must incorporate support mechanisms for mental health and IPV, focusing especially on the intersectional needs of racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-14285-4.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Associated Factors among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Although women have been substantially affected by the pandemic, they tend to have a lower likelihood of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Research on factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among this key population is imperative. Thus, this study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among women in Saudi Arabia. This study was part of a larger study conducted on the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia, carried out between the 8th and 14th of December 2020. The study sample included 910 women aged 18 years and older. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses was utilized to analyze the data. Overall, 41% of the participants were willing to receive the vaccine. Participants were more willing to accept vaccination if they were 40–49 years old (OR = 2.209, 95% CI: 1.49–2.02), if they had a moderate (OR = 2.570, 95% CI 1.562–4.228) or high to very high (OR = 1.925, 95% CI 1.093–3.390) perceived likelihood of being infected with COVID-19, or if they were in favor of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for people in Saudi Arabia (OR = 64.916, 95% CI 35.911–117.351). However, participants with a high educational level (OR = 0.431, 95% CI 0.220–0.847) or who refused physician-recommended vaccines in the past (OR = 0.152, 95% CI 0.083–0.275) were less likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination. Given the low level of vaccine acceptance among women, relevant stakeholders should consider the needs and dynamics of this key population to increase vaccination uptake and to improve current and future outreach activities.

Compassion fatigue among frontline healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic in Tunisia

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF), which not only leads to decreased mental and physical health, but also to deterioration in the safety of care delivered. Our study aims to measure compassion satisfaction (CS), CF levels and their predictors among Tunisian HCWs.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs caring for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients, staff at two university hospitals in Sousse, Tunisia during the 4thwave of coronavirus through a self-administrated Questionnaire, using the French version of the Professional Quality of Life scale ProQol, version 5.

RESULTS

A total of 274 professionals were recruited with a mean age of 32.87±8.35 years. HCWs tend to have an overall moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout with mean scores 35.09±7.08, 29.72±7.62, 28.54±5.44 respectively. Self-reported resilience (β = 0.14, p = 10-3), work engagement (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) and burnout (β = -0.32, p = 10-3) were the predictors of compassion satisfaction in the linear regression analysis (adjusted r2 = 0.45). Similarly, limited work experience, compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic sub-scores were the determinants of burnout (β = -0.1, p = 0.04; β = -0.54, p = 10-3; β = 0.35, p = 10-3 respectively); (adjusted r2 = 0.48). Regarding STS, female professionals (β = 0.20, p = 10-3), being married (β = 0.19, p = 10-3), the fear of transmitting the infection (β = 0.11, p = 0.03) and burnout (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) were the predictors for the occurrence of secondary traumatic stress (adjusted r2 = 0.48).

CONCLUSION

More resilience promoting interventions and more coping skills programs must be implemented to fulfill HCWs' psychological well-being needs.