Psychological Outcomes Associated with Stay-at-Home Orders and the Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Daily Life

Impact analysis of COVID-19 on Nigerian workers' productivity using multiple correspondence analysis

As the COVID-19 pandemic became a global health concern, many business activities have had to adjust to the protocols required to keep people safe, thereby altering the work structures of many professionals. With data gathered from 466 respondents in Nigeria, of which approximately 70% are from the South-West, this study shows how the factors associated with the health crisis have affected work productivity during this period. The snowball survey research design techniques with the two-way interaction model were employed. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to analyse and understand multiple and pairwise qualitative factors that influence productivity. The first part of the analysis identified boredom, remuneration, internet availability, fear of COVID-19 and depressing news of COVID-19 as the factors that had significant impacts on workers' productivity. The second part of the analysis shows how the categories of the five significant factors were either associated or not with productivity. An analysis of each of these factors showed that fear of the disease was associated with slight productivity but access to internet facilities and remuneration were strongly associated with improved work productivity, while boredom and depressing news about COVID-19 were associated with non-productivity during this period. Further evidence also showed that training and new skills acquisition might improve workers' productivity much more. We, therefore, recommend dynamic skills acquisition, training, and investment in tools and services that will enhance flexibility with the changing work structure that comes because of global crises.

Associations of the perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 with confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health symptoms: a population-based survey in Hong Kong

Introduction

Both perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 have been reported, but whether they affect confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health remains uncertain.

Objective

To examine the association of perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 with confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health symptoms.

Methods

A population-based survey was conducted on 7,535 Hong Kong adults from 22 February to 23 March 2021, when the 4^th wave of COVID-19 was under control. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, perceived benefits (10 options) and harms (12 options) of COVID-19, confidence in coping with the pandemic (range 0-10), loneliness (range 0-4), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders-2, range 0-6) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2, range 0-6) was collected. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the combined patterns of perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19. The associations of combined patterns with confidence in coping with COVID-19, loneliness, anxiety, and depression were examined using linear regression (β coefficient) adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

The combined patterns of perceived benefits and harms were classified into benefit (n = 4,338, 59.3%), harm (n = 995, 14.0%), and ambivalent (n = 2,202, 26.7%) groups. Compared with the ambivalent group, the benefit group had a significantly higher level of confidence (adjusted β 0.46, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.58), and lower levels of loneliness (-0.35, -0.40 to-0.29), anxiety (-0.67, 0.76 to-0.59), and depression (-0.65, -0.73 to-0.57). The harm group had a significantly lower level of confidence (-0.35, -0.53 to-0.16), and higher levels of loneliness (0.38, 0.30 to 0.45), anxiety (0.84, 0.73 to 0.96), and depression (0.95, 0.84 to 1.07).

Conclusion

Perceived greater benefit from COVID-19 was associated with better mental health and stronger confidence in coping with the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Reading Behavior

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic was detrimental to lifestyle and behavior. In this investigation, changes in reading habits during the pandemic were examined.

Methods

The study is cross-sectional and survey-based. 1844 individuals completed an online survey about sociodemographic and reading habits during COVID-19. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the study variables.

Results

Most of the participants were active readers (71.5%-83.2%). Fewer (13.8-18.0%) reported a decrease in reading, while about half reported a no change, and 1/3rd reported an increase. Changes in reading habits were related to age, education, job type, and income.

Conclusion

About half of the participants during the pandemic reported a change in reading habits. Interventions to further enhance reading among people during the pandemic might help ameliorate the negative impacts of the pandemic.

Generalised anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and their subjective change after the first wave of COVID-19 among gamers in Poland

Previous studies have indicated that levels of emotional distress were considerably elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some longitudinal studies did not confirm these findings. There is a very limited number of studies on specific subpopulations, such as video gamers in this particular period. Playing video games may have either a beneficial influence on mental health by diminishing stress or a detrimental impact in terms of increasing depression and anxiety. It is, therefore, important to establish whether regular gamers differ from the general population in terms of symptoms of depression and anxiety during COVID-19. A total of 1023 participants (aged 18-50) participated in the study. The sample was composed of gamers and was representative of the Polish population. Participants completed a modified version of GAD-7, PHQ-9 online, addressing subjective change in anxiety and depressive symptoms. 25% of the sample reported clinically significant anxiety levels, and 35% mentioned depression. There were no differences in anxiety and depression levels between the investigated sample of gamers and the general population. However, up to 30% of individuals reported an increase in subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. A further 30% reported a downward subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. The remaining 40% declared a lack of change in the subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Those who reported an increase scored substantially higher in anxiety and depression than other groups. This indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted people's mental health along a syndemic-syndaimonic continuum. COVID-19 might have been harmful to those with already poorer mental health and beneficial to those with good mental health. It is also important to plan interventions targeting vulnerable individuals who report clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression - women and younger adults and those who subjectively perceive their emotional condition to deteriorate during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Association between Stress and Social Support Perceived among Undergraduate Health Sciences Student

Introduction

A high level of perceived social support can lessen stress. However, the lack of knowledge on stress and perceived social support among students during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was explored. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress and perceived social support among undergraduate Health Sciences students.

Methods

A convenience sampling method was used in a cross-sectional study of 290 undergraduate Health Sciences students in public universities. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used to measure the perception of stress, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure perceived social support from three sources, including family, friends and significant others.

Results

A statistically significant correlation was found between the stress level and the total score of the MSPSS (r = -0.432), perceived social support from family (r = -0.429), significant others (r = -0.328), and friends (r = -0.219, P < 0.001). Over three-quarters (73.4%) of the students have a moderate stress level (mean = 21.17, SD = 5.75). The highest social support perceived was from a family (mean = 5.21, SD = 1.48).

Conclusion

The study suggested that social support from family is the strongest for students to go through the stress of tough times. It also highlighted the need for attention to stress management among undergraduate students for healthy well-being. Future studies that involve other academic fields of study and qualitative research would give useful information on perceived social support among students.

The level of health anxiety before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Concerns about disease and an increase in health anxiety levels are expected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there have been few longitudinal studies of health anxiety in the general population during this time period. The aim of this study was to examine health anxiety levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in an adult, working population in Norway.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study included 1012 participants aged 18-70 years with one or more measurements of health anxiety (1402 measurements total) from the pre-pandemic period (2015 to March 11, 2020) and/or during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 12, 2020 to March 31, 2022). Health anxiety was measured with the revised version of the Whiteley Index-6 scale (WI-6-R). We estimated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health anxiety scores with a general estimation equation analysis, and age, gender, education, and friendship were included in subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

We found no significant change in health anxiety scores during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period in our adult, working population. A sensitivity analysis restricted to participants with two or more measurements showed similar results. Moreover, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health anxiety scores was not significant in any subgroup analysis.

CONCLUSION

Health anxiety remained stable, with no significant change observed between the pre-pandemic period and the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in an adult, working population in Norway.

Social capital and loneliness among older adults in community dwellings and nursing homes in Zhejiang Province of China

Background

Loneliness is an important problem afflicting the health of older adults, and has been proven to be associated with social capital. Previous research in China rarely investigated the differences of social capital and loneliness between older adults living in community dwellings and nursing homes. This study aims to examine the status of social capital and loneliness among older adults living in community dwellings and nursing homes, and analyze the relationship between them.

Methods

A total of 1,278 older adults were recruited for the study from the cities of Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Lishui in Zhejiang Province of China from July to October 2021 by using multi-stage stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data on the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, social capital, and loneliness. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between social capital and loneliness. The interaction of social capital and institutionalization on loneliness was also explored.

Results

Compared with community-dwelling older adults, institutionalized older adults had higher levels of loneliness and lower degrees of social support, social connection, trust, cohesion, and reciprocity. A further analysis of the social capital showed that low levels of social support, trust, and cohesion were related to high levels of loneliness among adults in both community dwellings and nursing homes. Social connection was negatively correlated with loneliness among older adults living in community dwellings. Institutionalization itself demonstrated a strong effect on loneliness.

Conclusion

Health-related policies should help older adults gain more social support, trust and cohesion to alleviate their loneliness. This is particularly crucial for older adults living in nursing homes, as they have higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of social capital than noninstitutionalized older adults.

COVID-19 anxiety and mental health among university students during the early phases of the U.S. pandemic

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the impact of COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic on university students in the U.S. by: (1) characterizing COVID-19-related disruptions; (2) evaluating health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive (OC), depression, and stress symptoms; and (3) analyzing the unique role of COVID-19 anxiety on mental health outcomes, after accounting for relevant variables.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included 263 students (63.9% female).

METHODS

Data were collected online between March 19, 2020 and May 1, 2020.

RESULTS

Participants screened positive for health anxiety (6.5%), OC symptoms (48.7%), or depression (29.7%). COVID-19 anxiety was positively associated with mental health symptoms. After controlling for demographics and COVID-19 impact, COVID-19 anxiety accounted for significant variance in health anxiety, OC symptoms, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings demonstrate the vast impact of COVID-19 on mental health among university students and provide guidance for identifying mental health priorities in the context of public health crises.

Longitudinal associations of social support, everyday social interactions, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Main effect models contend that perceived social support benefits mental health in the presence and the absence of stressful events, whereas stress-buffering models contend that perceived social support benefits mental health especially when individuals are facing stressful events. We tested these models of how perceived social support impacts mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluated whether characteristics of everyday social interactions statistically mediated this association - namely, (a) received support, the visible and deliberate assistance provided by others, and (b) pleasantness, the extent to which an interaction is positive, flows easily, and leads individuals to feel understood and validated. 591 United States adults completed a 3-week ecological momentary assessment protocol sampling characteristics of their everyday social interactions that was used to evaluate between-person average values and within-person daily fluctuations in everyday social interaction characteristics. Global measures of perceived social support and pandemic-related stressors were assessed at baseline. Psychiatric symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline, at the end of each day of ecological momentary assessment, and at 3-week follow-up. Consistent with a main effect model, higher baseline perceived social support predicted decreases in psychiatric symptoms at 3-week follow-up (β = -.09, p = .001). Contrary to a stress-buffering model, we did not find an interaction of pandemic-stressors × perceived social support. The main effect of perceived social support on mental health was mediated by the pleasantness of everyday social interactions, but not by received support in everyday social interactions. We found evidence for both main effects and stress-buffering effects of within-person fluctuations in interaction pleasantness on daily changes in mental health. Results suggest the importance of everyday social interaction characteristics, especially their pleasantness, in linking perceived social support and mental health.

University students' living conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and predictors of their subjective health views: A cross-sectional survey

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing subjective health views based on the living conditions and concerns of university students during the coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was administered to 8,547 Japanese university students, and logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors related to subjective health views. The results showed that satisfaction with quality of sleep (OR = 2.651, 95% Cl 2.370-2.966,p < 0.001), satisfaction with university life (OR = 2.486, 95%Cl 2.215-2.789, p < 0.001), satisfaction with diet (OR = 1.849, 95% CI: 1.496-2.285, p < 0.001), regular exercise (OR = 1.759, 95% CI: 1.594-1.941, p < 0.001), consciousness of nutritional balance (OR = 1.276, 95% CI: 1.147-1.420,p < 0.001), eating breakfast every day (OR = 1.247, 95% CI: 1.121-1.387, p < 0.001), and consuming soft drinks at least once a week (OR = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.755-0.966, p = 0.010) were positive factors for subjective views of health. On the other hand, anxiety about whether the necessary credits can be obtained (OR = 0.885, 95% CI: 0.799-0.980, p = 0.019), infection from minimal outings (OR = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.794-0.976, p = 0.016) building and maintaining friendships on campus (OR = 0.867, 95% CI: 0.767-0.980, p = 0.023), and being able to continue working (OR = 0.713, 95% CI: 0.640-0.795, p < 0.001) were identified as negative factors. To ensure a healthy university life during the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemic, supports tailored to students' living conditions and measures to address their anxieties are required.

Assessment of Psychometric Properties of the Malay Version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-M) among Non-Academic Staff Working from Home during COVID-19 in Malaysia

This study aims to validate the Malay version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-M) in order for the scale to be available among the Malay-speaking population. Two hundred and ninety-eight non-academic staff completed the Malay version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-M), Malay Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI-M), and Malay Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (M-DASS-21). To explore the factor structure of BRS-M, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with the first group of 149 participants was conducted using FACTOR (v.11) software. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted from the data of the second group of 149 participants using SEM_PLS software. The EFA revealed a two-factor model; Factor 1 ="Resilience" and Factor 2 = "Succumbing". The CFA indicated a sufficient internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.806 and McDonald's omega, ω = 0.812) and a good fit with SRMR = 0.031. BRS-M, CBI-M, and M-DASS-21 displayed a satisfactory concurrent validity result. Household income and marital status had significant association with resilience level, with low household income (B40 group) being a predictor of lower resilience. The BRS-M demonstrated favourable psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity to assess the level of resilience among non-academic staff in Malaysia.

The effects of social-media based social comparison information and similarity mindsets on COVID-19 vaccination uptake cognitions

Vaccine hesitancy-delays in vaccine uptake when one is readily available-is an important public health issue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of psychosocial factors in influencing cognitions and behaviors related to vaccine uptake have been examined. Using an online sample of unvaccinated U.S. adults (N = 300), we examined the influence of COVID-19-related social media-based comparison information (e.g., others' attitudes about taking the vaccine)-as well as the moderating impact of (dis)similarity mindsets and indirect influence of affective associations, norm perceptions, and self-evaluations of efficacy-on vaccination uptake intentions. Participants reported higher intentions for vaccine uptake following exposure to cautious comparison models (e.g., those that engaged in health prevention behaviors, intended to get vaccinated) versus risky comparison models (e.g., those who did not engage in health prevention behaviors, did not intend to get vaccinated) and neutral comparison models and this effect was indirect through positive affective associations about taking the vaccine. There were no main or interactive effects of (dis)similarity mindsets. Understanding the psychosocial factors that influence health cognitions and behaviors in the context of an infectious disease pandemic will advance theoretical development and aid in creating interventions targeting vaccine uptake.

The road to postpandemic recovery in the USA: a repeated cross-sectional survey of multidimensional well-being over two years

OBJECTIVES

Examine differences in multidimensional well-being from before (January 2020) to three timepoints during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020, January 2021, January 2022).

STUDY DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Nationally representative cross-sectional cohorts of US adults completed the Secure Flourish Index before (January 2020 cohort: N = 1010) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 cohort: N = 3020; January 2021 cohort: N = 3366; January 2022 cohort: N = 2598). We estimated differences in indicators, domains, and composite well-being between the January 2020 cohort and each of the subsequent cohorts. We also explored whether changes in well-being between January 2020 and January 2022 varied based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Initial declines in well-being observed by June 2020 were largely followed by a return to prepandemic levels in January 2022, with some exceptions. Notably, general declines in mental health have persisted through to January 2022. On the other hand, there was evidence of general improvements in character & virtue that exceeded prepandemic levels in January 2022. Young adults and racial/ethnic minorities reported lower financial & material stability in January 2022 compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are promising signs that the well-being of US adults has mostly recovered to prepandemic levels, a coordinated response is urgently needed to support population mental health and the financial security of vulnerable groups. As society continues the journey toward postpandemic recovery, continued tracking of multidimensional well-being will be important for making informed decisions about public health priorities.

Investigation into the Relationship Between COVID-19 Anxiety and Spiritual Orientation in Elderly Individuals in Nursing Homes and Care Centers in Turkey

Spirituality is seen as a coping strategy for reducing stress and anxiety. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and the spiritual orientation of individuals aged 65 and over in nursing homes and elderly care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. The findings showed that with increasing age, coronavirus anxiety levels decrease, and spiritual orientation increases. There was a negative relationship between the time of diagnosis of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety (r =  - .48; p =  0.01). Those diagnosed with COVID-19 had higher coronavirus anxiety levels (U = 374.5; p < 0.001) and had lower spiritual orientation (U = 593.5; p > 0.05). As spiritual orientation increases in elderly individuals, their level of anxiety decreases.

The impact of COVID-19 related adversity on the course of mental health during the pandemic and the role of protective factors: a longitudinal study among older adults in The Netherlands

PURPOSE

Many studies report about risk factors associated with adverse changes in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic while few studies report about protective and buffering factors, especially in older adults. We present an observational study to assess protective and buffering factors against COVID-19 related adverse mental health changes in older adults.

METHODS

899 older adults (55 +) in the Netherlands were followed from 2018/19 to two pandemic time points (June-October 2020 and March-August 2021). Questionnaires included exposure to pandemic-related adversities ("COVID-19 exposure"), depressive and anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and pre-pandemic functioning. Linear regression analyses estimated main effects of COVID-19 exposure and protective factors on mental health changes; interaction effects were tested to identify buffering factors.

RESULTS

Compared to pre-pandemic, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms and loneliness increased. A higher score on the COVID-19 adversity index was associated with stronger negative mental health changes. Main effects: internet use and high mastery decreased depressive symptoms; a larger network decreased anxiety symptoms; female gender, larger network size and praying decreased loneliness. COVID-19 vaccination buffered against COVID-19 exposure-induced anxiety and loneliness, a partner buffered against COVID-19 exposure induced loneliness.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to COVID-19 adversity had a cumulative negative impact on mental health. Improving coping, finding meaning, stimulating existing religious and spiritual resources, network interventions and stimulating internet use may enable older adults to maintain mental health during events with large societal impact, yet these factors appear protective regardless of exposure to specific adversities. COVID-19 vaccination had a positive effect on mental health.

Older people's experience of the partial lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate older people's experience of a COVID-19 partial lockdown (16 March-11 May 2020) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling participants of the Lausanne cohort (Lc65+) in 2020, aged 71-86 years (n=2642).

DESIGN AND OUTCOME

This cross-sectional study was nested within the Lc65+ longitudinal study. A specific COVID-19 questionnaire was sent on 17 April 2020 to evaluate participants' experience of the lockdown (outcome). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the sociodemographic, living environment, health and social factors associated.

RESULTS

Out of 2642 participants, 67.8% described the lockdown as 'somewhat' difficult (reference group), 21.5% as 'not at all' difficult (positive) and 10.7% as 'very or extremely' difficult (negative). The relative risk of a positive experience was higher in participants living alone (relative risk ratio, RRR=1.93, 95% CI 1.52 to 2.46) or in a house (RRR=1.49, 1.03 to 2.16); lower in those who reported fear of falling (RRR=0.68, 0.54 to 0.86), functional difficulties (RRR=0.78, 0.61 to 0.99), feeling of loneliness (RRR=0.67, 0.49 to 0.91), unfamiliarity with communication technologies (RRR=0.69, 0.52 to 0.91), usual social support (RRR=0.71, 0.50 to 0.93), previous participation in group activities (RRR=0.74, 0.59 to 0.92) and among women (RRR=0.75, 0.59 to 0.95). The relative risk of a negative experience was higher in participants with fear of falling (RRR=1.52, 1.07 to 2.15), and lower in those who had a terrace/garden (RRR=0.66, 0.44 to 0.99) and owned a dog (RRR=0.32, 0.11 to 0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Only one in 10 participants experienced the lockdown as very or extremely difficult. Specific interventions targeting vulnerability factors, such as fear of falling, could lessen the impact of any future similar situation.

The Moderating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty in the Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Pandemic-Related Stress

Background and Objectives

Global pandemics, including COVID-19, have a significant effect on mental health, and this may be especially true for individuals with health anxiety. Although health anxiety is related to both pandemic-related fears and perceptions of health risks, there is a paucity of research on individual difference variables that might exert an influence on these relationships. The present study examined intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as a potential moderator of the relationship between health anxiety and COVID-related stress, and the relationship between health anxiety and perceived risk of contracting COVID.

Design and Methods

A nationally representative sample of North American adults (N = 204) completed self-report measures of health anxiety, IU, COVID-related stress, and perceived risk of contracting COVID.

Results

Prospective IU moderated the positive relationship between health anxiety and COVID-related stress, as the relationship was strengthened at average and higher levels of prospective IU. Neither IU subscale moderated the relationship between health anxiety and perceived risk.

Conclusion

These results suggest that individuals with elevated health anxiety and high prospective IU may be at higher risk of experiencing COVID-related stress, illuminating the interplay of risk factors that place anxious populations at an increased risk of experiencing stress during acute health risks.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-023-10365-w.

Moderation effects of loneliness between fatalism and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has put more than just our physical health at risk. Due to containment measures, people have become increasingly isolated and have drastically reduced their daily social interactions. Many studies have already shown the negative effects of these measures, including fatalism. However, research linking fatalism during COVID-19 to well-being indicators is still limited. The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between COVID-19-related fatalism and well-being indicators, as well as the role of loneliness in moderating this relationship. Data was collected from 1,036 adults in Peru through an online survey that included the Quality-of-Life Index, the Fatalism Facing COVID-19 Scale, the Loneliness Scale, and the Mood Assessment Scale. Three models were tested using linear regression and ordinary least squares with bias-corrected bootstrapping. The results indicate that fatalism has a negative impact on quality of life and a positive effect on negative affect, and loneliness moderates both relationships, supporting the conclusion that fatalism exacerbates the effect of well-being indicators and negative affect.

Utility disconnection protections and the incidence of energy insecurity in the United States

Energy insecurity-the inability to secure one's energy needs-impacts millions of Americans each year. A particularly severe instance of energy insecurity is when a utility disconnects a household from service, affecting its ability to refrigerate perishable food, purchase medicine, or maintain adequate temperatures. Governments can protect vulnerable populations from disconnections through policies, such as shutoff moratoria or seasonal protections that limit disconnections during extreme weather months. We take advantage of the temporary disconnection moratoria that states implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the efficacy of state protections on rates of disconnection, spending across other essential needs, and uptake of bill payment assistance. We find that protections reduce disconnections and the need for households to forgo other expenses. We further find that protections are most beneficial to people of color and households with young children. We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications for energy-insecure populations.

A large sample cross-sectional study on mental health challenges among adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic at-risk group for loneliness and hopelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for societies. Emerging data have indicated that the younger population are the most vulnerable group to the development of mental health problems during this pandemic. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the changes in health behaviors on mental health problems to identify an at-risk group among adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

In the present cross-sectional study, secondary school students (N = 2556) ages 15-21 years participated in Hungary. A self-report questionnaire was developed to measure the changes in health behaviors. Mental health problems were measured by the Beck Hopelessness Scale and the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale.

RESULTS

A significant proportion of the students showed moderate/severe hopelessness or high loneliness which were more pronounced among adolescent females. An at-risk group was identified among adolescents and young adults. Students who have a lower number of friends, spend less time in front of a screen, and feel lonely often/very often are more likely to have moderate/severe hopelessness with high loneliness.

LIMITATIONS

All data were collected online, and students completed the questionnaires voluntarily. Cross-sectional, non-preregistered study.

CONCLUSIONS

Loneliness and hopelessness were prevalent in the young population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The at-risk group of adolescents characterized by moderate/severe hopelessness with high loneliness highlights the need for follow-up mental health to avoid future poor mental and physical health. It is also recommended to develop effective interventions targeted to gender and age, with the promotion of resiliencies and buffers against vulnerabilities of negative life events.

Importance of Social Videogaming for Connection with Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study focused on the importance of social videogame play for remaining connected to others early in the COVID-19 pandemic. While social isolation and loneliness negatively affect well-being, social interaction is important for positive outcomes. During the pandemic, online videogame play has offered a safe outlet for socialization. Participants (n = 45) completed a survey rating the importance of gaming for feeling connected to family, friends, and co-workers, before, during, and after stay-at-home orders. As expected, the results indicate that social videogame play and its importance increased significantly during the stay-at-home period and decreased afterward. The importance of gaming with friends and co-workers increased significantly during the stay-at-home period but did not decrease significantly afterward. Social gaming was more important for remaining connected with friends and co-workers than family. Participants likely had more direct interaction with family members, while more effort was necessary to maintain contact with non-family members.

Predictors of psychological distress during self-isolation

OBJECTIVES

Global pandemics, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, are predicted to increase in prevalence in the future. Transmission suppression techniques such as social distancing and stay-at-home restrictions have introduced an abundance of additional stressors while simultaneously reducing our capacity to cope with stress, thus increasing the collective burden of the pandemic. Numerous psychosocial factors have been identified to protect against distress in difficult circumstances. However, it is unknown whether these factors will continue to be protective in the pandemic context.

DESIGN

The aim of the current study was to determine whether locus of control (LOC), coping style or self-compassion were debilitating or protective factors towards psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative affect) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

In the current study, Australian adults (N = 176) completed a longitudinal online survey (two time points, 2 weeks apart) incorporating measures of demographics, locus of control, coping, self-compassion (measured at T1), depression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative affect (measured at T1 and T2) throughout June-August 2020, during the height of lockdown in Australia.

RESULTS

Multiple regression analyses suggested that avoidant coping was predictive of increases in stress and negative affect across time points. Additionally, self-compassion was predictive of increased positive affect across time points.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the pandemic context represents a unique stressor, demanding a distinctive set of strategies and psychosocial characteristics to cope. Interventions targeted at reducing avoidant coping behaviours and promoting self-compassion may contribute to improvements in psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future pandemics.

"Feel the need to prepare for Armageddon even though I do not believe it will happen": Women Veterans' Firearm Beliefs and Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Associations with Military Sexual Assault and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

AIMS

Firearm purchasing increased within the U.S. during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While rates of firearm ownership and suicide are elevated among women Veterans compared to women non-Veterans, no studies have examined if and how firearm beliefs and behaviors changed among women Veterans during the pandemic. We examined women Veterans' changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the early pandemic era.

METHOD

3,000 post-9/11 era women Veterans were invited to participate in a survey. 501 respondents (May-December 2020) comprised the sample for this concurrent nested mixed-method analysis. Thematic analysis and log-binomial regression were used.

RESULTS

13.88% (n = 69) of women Veterans in our sample reported changes in their firearm beliefs; 22.15% (n = 109) reported engaging in firearm behaviors. The most prevalent reported behaviors were making household firearms more accessible (16.13%) and purchasing ammunition (11.97%). Smaller percentages reported carrying a firearm more frequently (6.71%), loading previously unloaded firearms (5.69%), or purchasing a firearm (4.24%). Thematic analysis suggested firearm behaviors were likely driven by a perceived increased need to protect oneself, family, and property due to: (1) uncertainties brought on by the pandemic; (2) pandemic-related threats necessitating self-defense, preparedness, and self-sufficiency; (3) political, social, and racial unrest and protests. PTSD symptom severity and military sexual assault history were associated with higher prevalence of changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the pandemic.

DISCUSSION

Consideration of women Veterans' prior experiences and pandemic-related factors may be necessary to contextualize firearm discussions and inform future research. Given associations of military sexual assault and PTSD symptoms with firearm beliefs and behaviors, it may be crucial to ensure that such discussion are trauma-informed.

Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep Quality Evaluated by Wrist Actigraphy: A Systematic Review

COVID-19 has probably contributed as a risk factor for sleep disturbance. Actigraphy has been used to evaluate sleep complaints in self-isolated populations and frontline doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review aims to summarize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep through wrist actigraphy, estimating sleep latency, total sleep time, awakening-after-sleep onset, and sleep efficiency. Searches were conducted of observational studies on the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro databases from 1 December 2019 to 31 December 2022. Ninety articles were found, and given the eligibility criteria, fifteen were selected. Six studies were classified by the National Health and Medical Research Council as evidence level IV, two studies as level III-3, and seven studies as level III-2. According to the ACROBAT-NRSI instrument, three studies were classified as having a "serious" risk of bias, two as having "critical" risk, four as having "moderate" risk, and six as having "low" risk. In the selected publications, various populations were evaluated via actigraphy during the COVID-19 pandemic, with reports of "poor" sleep quality. Actigraphy may be a relevant tool to assess individual day-night rhythms and provide recommendations under enduring pandemic conditions. Moreover, as actigraphy presents objective data for sleep evaluations, it is suggested that this method be used in similar pandemics and that actigraphy be included as part of the sleep hygiene strategy.

Latent profiles of psychological status among populations cumulatively exposed to a flood and the recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Henan Province in Central China was hit by unprecedented, rain-triggered floods in July 2021 and experienced a recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aims to identify the latent profiles of psychological status and acceptance of change among Henan residents who have been cumulatively exposed to these floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 977 participants were recruited. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to explore underlying patterns of psychological status (i.e., perceived risk of the COVID-19 pandemic, post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and rumination) and acceptance of change. The predictors were evaluated with multinomial logistic regression. LPA identified four patterns of psychological status and acceptance of change: high distress/high acceptance (5.1%), moderate distress/moderate acceptance (20.1%), mild distress/mild acceptance (45.5%), and resilience (29.3%). The additive impact of the floods and COVID-19 pandemic and negative emotion during the floods were the risk factors, while flood coping efficacy, trust, and a closer psychological distance change were the protective factors. The present study therefore provides novel evidence on psychological status after both a natural disaster and a major public health event. The cumulative effects of the floods and the COVID-19 pandemic may have heightened the risk of post-disaster maladaptation. A complex relationship between psychological outcomes and acceptance of change was also found. The findings of this study thus provide a foundation for both disaster management and psychological assistance for particular groups.

Mental health indicators in Sweden over a 12-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic - Baseline data of the Omtanke2020 Study

BACKGROUND

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the lives of people globally and is expected to have profound effects on mental health. Here we aim to describe the mental health burden experienced in Sweden using baseline data of the Omtanke2020 Study.

METHOD

We analysed self-reported, cross-sectional baseline data collected over a 12-month period (June 9, 2020-June 8, 2021) from the Omtanke2020 Study including 27,950 adults in Sweden. Participants were volunteers or actively recruited through existing cohorts and, after providing informed consent, responded to online questionnaires on socio-demographics, mental and physical health, as well as COVID-19 infection and impact. Poisson regression was fitted to assess the relative risk of demonstrating high level symptoms of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 related distress.

RESULT

The proportion of persons with high level of symptoms was 15.6 %, 9.5 % and 24.5 % for depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 specific post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. Overall, 43.4 % of the participants had significant, clinically relevant symptoms for at least one of the three mental health outcomes and 7.3 % had significant symptoms for all three outcomes. We also observed differences in the prevalence of these outcomes across strata of sex, age, recruitment type, COVID-19 status, region, and seasonality.

CONCLUSION

While the proportion of persons with high mental health burden remains higher than the ones reported in pre-pandemic publications, our estimates are lower than previously reported levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD during the pandemic in Sweden and elsewhere.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Canadian Social Connections: A Thematic Analysis

Background

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Responses to the pandemic response disrupted Canadian social connections in complex ways; because social connections are determinants of health and well-being, their disruption could adversely affect health and well-being. Moreover, understanding how pandemics and public health responses affect social connections could inform pandemic recovery strategy and public health approaches designed for future pandemics. The purpose of this study is to understand experiences of pandemic impact on social connections over the pandemic.

Methods

A sample of 343 Canadian adults was recruited through Athabasca University and social media. Participants were predominantly White (81%) and female (88%). After the pandemic onset, participants responded to open-ended questions about the impact of the pandemic on and any changes to social connections at three time points (baseline, and three- and 6 months from study entry). Responses were categorized into epochs by date (April-June 2020 [Spring]; July-August 2020 [Summer]; September 2020-January 2021 [Fall/Winter]). Qualitative thematic analysis was used to code themes for each epoch.

Results

Negative impact of the pandemic (37-45%), loss of social connections (32-36%), and alternative means of connection (26-32%) were prominent themes across the epochs. Restrictions to face-to-face connections were largest in spring (9%) and lowest in the Summer (4%). Conversely, participants increasingly reported limited contact or communication into the Fall and Winter (6-12%) as pandemic restrictions in Canada were reinstated.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens social connections, with negative impacts that fluctuated with COVID-19 case rates and subsequent pandemic restrictions. These findings could be used to identify targets for social supports during the pandemic recovery, and to adjust public health strategies for future pandemics that minimize impact on social connections.

Child, parent, and family mental health and functioning in Australia during COVID-19: comparison to pre-pandemic data

The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to population mental health. Despite evidence of detrimental effects for adults, there has been limited examination of the impact of COVID-19 on parents and children specifically. We aim to examine patterns of parent and child (0-18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19, compared to pre-pandemic data, and to identify families most at risk of poor outcomes according to pre-existing demographic and individual factors, and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0-18 years (N = 2365). Parents completed an online self-report survey during 'stage three' COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent depression, anxiety, and stress (Cohen's d = 0.26-0.81, all p < 0.001), higher parenting irritability (d = 0.17-0.46, all p < 0.001), lower family positive expressiveness (d = - 0.18, p < 0.001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, we consistently found that younger parent age, increased financial deprivation, pre-existing parent and child physical and mental health conditions, COVID-19 psychological and environmental stressors, and housing dissatisfaction were associated with worse parent and child functioning and more strained family relationships. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing.

The Effects of Expectations and Worries on the Experience of COVID-19 Symptoms

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to have profound effects on both mental and physical health. Distress and widespread uncertainty about global events and personal risk are associated with increased worry and negative expectations that impact physical health. Thus, the current pandemic poses a possibility for the experience of nocebo effects.

Objective

To evaluate the likelihood of nocebo-induced COVID-19 symptoms in a US sample.

Methods

An online study on the mental health impact of COVID-19 asked participants to complete a set of biweekly surveys over a 6-month period between April 2020 and May 2021. We focus on responses from 3,027 individuals who reported never testing positive for COVID-19. We assessed the association between two types of worry and self-reported symptoms of COVID-19. We used multi-level models to examine variations across and within participants over time. We further investigated the effects of pre-existing health conditions and mental health status.

Results

There was a positive association between symptoms and both general (b= 2.56, p<0.01) and personal worry (b=2.77, p<0.01). However, worry reported at one timepoint was not specifically associated with symptoms reported two weeks later (p = 0.63, p=0.56). We also found that a greater number of prior clinical comorbidities and greater mental health burden were significant predictors of symptom reporting.

Conclusions

These results suggest that increased worries during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with greater symptoms. Further studies investigating worry and symptoms in populations with confirmed negative COVID-19 tests or isolated populations will be needed to isolate the occurrence of true nocebo effects during the pandemic.

Developing and Implementing a Web-Based Relapse Prevention Psychotherapy Program for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

 Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by problematic alcohol use accompanied by clinically substantial distress. Patients with AUD frequently experience high relapse rates, and only 1 in 5 remain abstinent 12 months post treatment. Traditional face-to-face relapse prevention therapy (RPT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that examines one's situational triggers, maladaptive thought processes, self-efficacy, and motivation. However, access to this treatment is frequently limited due to its high cost, long waitlists, and inaccessibility. A web-based adaptation of RPT (e-RPT) could address these limitations by providing a more cost-effective and accessible delivery method for mental health care in this population.

OBJECTIVE

 This study protocol aims to establish the first academic e-RPT program to address AUD in the general population. The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of e-RPT to face-to-face RPT in decreasing relapse rates. The secondary objective is to assess the effects of e-RPT on quality of life, self-efficacy, resilience, and depressive symptomatology. The tertiary objective is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of e-RPT compared to face-to-face RPT.

METHODS

 Adult participants (n=60) with a confirmed diagnosis of AUD will be randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of e-RPT or face-to-face RPT. e-RPT will consist of 10 predesigned modules and homework with asynchronous, personalized feedback from a therapist. Face-to-face RPT will comprise 10 one-hour face-to-face sessions with a therapist. The predesigned modules and the face-to-face sessions will present the same content and structure. Self-efficacy, resilience, depressive symptomatology, and alcohol consumption will be measured through various questionnaires at baseline, amid treatment, and at the end of treatment.

RESULTS

 Participant recruitment is expected to begin in October 2022 through targeted advertisements and physician referrals. Completed data collection and analysis are expected to conclude by October 2023. Outcome data will be assessed using linear and binomial regression (for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively). Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis methods.

CONCLUSIONS

 This study will be the first to examine the effectiveness of e-RPT compared to face-to-face RPT. It is posited that web-based care can present benefits in terms of accessibility and affordability compared to traditional face-to-face psychotherapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05579210; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05579210.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/44694.

Healthcare Workers after Two Years of COVID-19: The Consequences of the Pandemic on Psychological Health and Sleep among Nurses and Physicians

COVID-19 has challenged the health workforce worldwide. In this cross-sectional study with a retrospective assessment, we explored the impact of the pandemic on mental health and sleep among a sample of Italian nurses and medical doctors. A total of 287 healthcare workers (212 nurses and 75 physicians) completed a web survey on socio-demographic, psychological, and sleep-related aspects referring to the period before the pandemic and to the present period of February to June 2022. Comparisons between nurses and physicians revealed that the former had greater distress in response to the pandemic. Consistently, the multivariate analysis of covariance showed that even if both groups were negatively impacted by the pandemic, nurses presented a greater worsening over time regarding several psychological and sleep symptoms. Furthermore, we observed that working on the frontline represented an additional risk factor for nurses. In line with previous evidence, we also found that personal experiences with COVID-19 are significant predictors of the current health status. Our results underscore the urgent need for preventive programs among healthcare operators to increase their coping skills and prevent the long-term consequences of chronic stress, especially for high-risk professionals. Specific attention should also be devoted to programs to improve sleep quality and reduce sleep-related traumatic symptoms.

Comparison of pregnancy stress, impact and fear of COVID-19 between working and non-working pregnant women in Korea

The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the pregnancy stress, impact and fear of COVID-19 between working and non-working pregnant women in Korea. The influencing factors of pregnancy stress considering the pandemic situation were explored in each group. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used in the study. A total of 150 participants were recruited from Korean online communities where only women can register and exchange information about pregnancy and childbirth. The survey questionnaires included the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, Pregnancy Experience Scale - brief, COVID-19 Experiences, and Fear of COVID-19. The survey data of 140 participants (74 working pregnant women and 66 non-working pregnant women) were analyzed. Working pregnant women appeared to have more pregnancy stress than non-pregnant women (p < 0.05). They described more concerns about labor and delivery, and caring for infant. Non-working pregnant women were having more negative impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy experience (p < 0.05). They had more concerns related to prenatal care, obtaining living supplies, and giving birth during the pandemic situation. There were no significant differences in fear of COVID-19 between groups. In both groups, negative pregnancy experience and pregnancy types were significantly related with higher pregnancy stress (p < 0.05). While pregnancy stress was significantly higher in the working pregnant women, the negative impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy experience was greater in the non-working pregnant women group. We suggest tailored prenatal management, education, and social supports considering the differences in psychological distress between the groups.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-04105-8.

Experiencing a significant life event during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of perceived control

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a context that might influence how people experience significant life events (such as marriage, job change, or relocation). In the present research, we argue that one important factor of how positively or negatively the pandemic influences the experience of significant life events is how much control people perceive in the situation. An online sample of N = 882 participants aged 18-82 years reported a significant life event that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants described whether the pandemic influenced the life event, to what extent they perceived control over the life event and how they experienced the life event in terms of valence (i.e., positively or negatively). The results showed that the self-reported pandemic influence was significantly associated with the life-event experience. Furthermore, perceived control partly mediated this association. The results persisted even after controlling for the age of the participants. The present research underscores the important role of control for experiencing significant life events in challenging times such as during the pandemic.

Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Applying Topic Modeling in Daily Life Descriptions

The novel coronavirus disease pandemic is threatening not only physical but also mental health. Although some recent quantitative studies have been conducted and revealed the influence of the pandemic on mental health and its relevant factors, it is impossible to obtain and explore all possible variables strongly related to mental health. Therefore, we attempted to adopt a bottom-up approach using text mining of participants' narratives. We examined how participants' descriptions of daily life during the pandemic were categorized into various topics, and which topics were related to their mental health in a sample of 776 Japanese citizens in the general population over 18 years old. Results of a topic modeling with 2,594 unique words provided nine topics (mask, physical symptoms, children, infection anxiety, disinfection items, economic influence, remote work, going out, and change of lifestyle). Those who wrote about economic influence, physical symptoms, and disinfection items experienced lower life satisfaction and higher depression and negative affect, whereas those who mentioned their children were likely to have higher life satisfaction. This study highlighted that monitoring the mental health of individuals with economic impacts and physical symptoms may reduce the damage of COVID-19.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11469-021-00587-y.

Psychological wellbeing, memories, and future thoughts during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic led countries to place restrictions on the general public in order to protect their safety. These restrictions, however, may have negative psychological consequences as people are restricted in their social and leisure activities and facing daily life stressors. Investigating the relationship between how people are remembering pandemic events and thinking about their futures is important in order to begin to examine the psychological consequences - cognitive and emotional - of the Covid-19 pandemic. The present study examined how characteristics of past and future thinking relate to psychological wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. In an online questionnaire study, 904 participants in Germany and the USA recalled and predicted negative and positive events related to the pandemic. Participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring cognitions and psychological symptoms. Participants' current psychological wellbeing related to how they remembered events and thought of their future. Participants reported a greater sense of reliving for past compared to future events. However, future events were more rehearsed than past events. Additionally, the emotional impact of positive and negative events differed for the past and the future. Participants seem to be strongly future oriented during the Covid-19 pandemic, but have a negative view of future events.

A literature review of the main factors influencing the e-commerce and last-mile delivery projects during COVID-19 pandemic

Humanity has faced many pandemics throughout its history with COVID-19 pandemic being the most recent. Each pandemic requires the implementation of a series of restrictions and measures to reform local societies or even society on a global scale. Scientific and technological innovations have ensured the survival of mankind and consequently the establishment of new habits and trends. One of these reforms concerns the transport of goods and in particular urban logistics and last-mile delivery. Despite the increasing use of e-commerce, the average amount of money spent per month and per buyer has decreased; in times of uncertainty, people prefer to postpone big purchases and focus more on everyday products. These purchases have generated an increase in demand for the transport of goods and put significant pressure on the supply chain. For this reason, actions have been developed to improve logistics, in particular last-mile delivery, with the introduction of environmentally friendly and small vehicles, among others. In order to be able to trace the evolution of the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and logistics spatially and temporally, the manuscript focused as a first step on the analysis of the literature entered in the main databases dedicated to scientific publications, returning some 2,227 indexed articles from 2000 to 2021.

The search was conducted using keywords and iterations between them. The results emphasised the need to adapt business activities to the changing situation by anticipating people's needs, creating e-commerce sites capable of accompanying customers in this delicate phase. The results obtained were analysed from a statistical point of view, laying the foundations for future investigative steps in the field of last-mile logistics and the proper planning of loading and unloading spaces for goods in urban areas.

Designing pandemic resilient cities: Exploring the impacts of the built environment on infection risk perception and subjective well-being

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities around the world explored ways to slowdown the spread of the disease while maintaining the physical and mental health of individuals. They redistributed the street space to promote physical activity and non-motorized travel while meeting the social distancing requirements. Although the statistics showed significant increases in walking and bicycling trips during the pandemic, we have limited knowledge about the associations between built environment characteristics, COVID-19 infection risk perception while traveling, and subjective well-being. This study assesses the impacts of the built environment on subjective well-being and infection risk perception while traveling during the pandemic. It uses data collected from the residents of Columbus, Ohio, through a multi-wave survey conducted at different time points during the COVID-19 outbreak. By employing a structural equation modeling approach, it explores the associations between residential neighborhood characteristics, individuals' subjective well-being, and perceived infection risk while using non-motorized modes and shared micromobility. The findings show that those living in more compact, accessible, and walkable neighborhoods are less likely to perceive active travel and shared micromobility as risky in terms of COVID-19 infection. Our results also show that built environment characteristics have an indirect positive effect on the subjective well-being of individuals. The findings of our study demonstrate that built environment interventions can help promote physical activity and support mental health of individuals at this critical time. Our study also indicates that designing compact neighborhoods will be a crucial element of pandemic resilient cities in the post-COVID-19 era.

Relative Importance of Well-Being Determinants in Atlantic Canadian Families During the Pandemic

Framed by the socio-ecological model of well-being, we examined the relative importance of factors contributing to three dimensions of well-being (child, parent, and family) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 536 participants from the Atlantic provinces of Canada answered a cross-sectional survey in 2021, covering experiences during the pandemic (eg, changes in family life and well-being). Well-being was assessed with 3 single-item measures on positive change in the life of children, parents, and families during the pandemic. This study involved 21 predictor variables (eg, change in time spent on various family activities). Using multiple regression and measures of relative importance based on the Lindeman, Merenda and Gold (lmg) method, we identified the variables most important to predicting well-being. Twenty-one predictors accounted for 21% of the variance in child well-being, 25% in parent well-being, and 36% in family well-being. Well-being at all 3 levels (child, parent, and family) shared the same top predictor (family closeness). The top 6 predictors of well-being at each level were related to leisure (eg, play) and time-use (eg, to prepare meals, engage in self-care, and rest). The effect sizes were smaller for child well-being than at the parent or family level, suggesting there may be important predictors of child well-being not accounted for in these analyses. This study may inform family-level programing and policy that seeks to promote well-being for children and their families.

The Association of Age With Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: The Role of Loneliness and Prepandemic Mental Disorder

OBJECTIVE

Older adults may be at lower risk of common mental disorders than younger adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous research has shown shown differences by age in psychosocial well-being during the pandemic and have highlighted the moderating effect of prepandemic mental disorders on that association. In this line, we examined the association of age with self-reported symptoms of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress, as well as potential roles of loneliness symptoms and prepandemic mental disorders on the association between age and mental disorder symptoms.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data of 2000 adults in Spain interviewed by telephone during the COVID-19 pandemic (February-March 2021) were analyzed. Depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were measured with the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the four-item checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), respectively. Loneliness was measured with the three-item University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Several regression models were constructed to assess factors related to loneliness and mental disorders.

RESULTS

According to cutoff points used, 12.4% of participants revealed depression, 11.9% revealed anxiety, and 11.6% revealed posttraumatic stress. Age was negatively related to mental disorder symptoms and loneliness. Loneliness was associated with higher levels of mental disorder symptoms. This association was stronger in younger adults without prepandemic mental disorders and in older adults with them. The association between age and loneliness was stronger in those with prepandemic mental disorders. Loneliness mediated the association of age with mental disorder symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions focused on loneliness could alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.

Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping Strategies among Hong Kong People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to potential adverse effects on the mental health status of a wide range of people. This study aimed to identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among general population in Hong Kong. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; level of fear was evaluated using the Fear of COVID-19 scale; and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify key factors associated with these mental health variables. Of the 555 participants, 53.9% experienced moderate to very high levels of psychological distress, 31.2% experienced a high level of fear of COVID-19, and 58.6% showed moderate to high resilient coping. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that living with family members, current alcohol consumption, and higher level of fear were associated with higher levels of psychological distress; perceived stress due to a change in employment condition, being a frontline worker, experiencing 'moderate to very high' distress, and healthcare service use to overcome the COVID-19 related stress in past 6 months were associated with a higher level of fear; and perceived better mental health status was associated with a moderate to high resilient coping. This study identified key factors associated with distress, fear and coping strategies during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Mental health support strategies should be provided continuously to prevent the mental impact of the pandemic from turning into long-term illness.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02338-7.

The state of general surgery residents in Italy after COVID-19 outbreak: a nationwide cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

A significant reorganization of working activities including those of teaching hospitals occurred after COVID-19 outbreak, leading to the need to re-assess the current status of training after the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the state of general surgery (GS) residency in Italy. The impact of COVID-19 on GS residents was also assessed.

METHODS

Between October and November 2020, an anonymous online survey was distributed to GS residents across Italy. Email addresses were provided by the Regional Committees of the Italian Polyspecialistic Society of Young Surgeons. The residents completed a set of questions regarding their training schedule and three standardized questionnaires to measure burnout and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Overall, 1709 residents were contacted and 648 completed the survey. Almost two-thirds of the residents (68.4%, n = 443) reported to not reach the minimum annual operative case volume. According to ordinal logistic regression analysis, two of the most perceived effects of COVID-19 by trainees on training were reduction of surgical activities (OR = 2.21, p < 0.001) and increased concerns about future employment (OR = 1.14, p = 0.025). Loss of training opportunities was also associated with a significant increase of distress (OR = 1.26, p = 0.003) but not with burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided a snapshot of the situation of GS residents in Italy after COVID-19 outbreak. Reduction of activities due to pandemic highlighted the need to improve the level of surgical education in our country by implementing all the new available tools for training and ensuring at the same time the well-being of the residents.

Real-Time Mental Health Crisis Response in the United States to COVID-19

Background: Data are scarce on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people. Aim: To examine changes in crisis text patterns in the United States during the pandemic compared to the prepandemic period. Method: Nonintrusive data from a national digital crisis texting platform were analyzed using an interrupted time series design. Poisson regression with repeated-measures examined help-seeking patterns for stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health concerns in the pandemic (March 13 to July 20, 2020) compared to the prepandemic period (March 13 to July 20, 2019). Results: An abrupt increase in national crisis response texts occurred during the pandemic for stress and anxiety, substance abuse, bereavement, isolation, and abuse compared to the prepandemic period. Similar trends of excess texts for isolation and abuse were reported among children (relative risk [RR]_abuse: 1.16, CI: 1.03, 1.31; RR_isolation: 1.15, CI: 1.09, 1.21) and adolescents (RR_abuse: 1.17, CI: 1.11, 1.24; RR_isolation: 1.08, CI: 1.05, 1.11), bereavement among Black (RR: 1.31, CI: 1.12, 1.54) and Hispanic (RR: 1.28, CI: 1.10, 1.49) texters, and isolation and bereavement in female (RR_isolation: 1.09, CI: 1.06, 1.11; RR_bereavement: 1.21, CI: 1.13, 1.28) or nonconforming youth (RR_isolation: 1.19, CI: 1.08, 1.32; RR_bereavement: 1.50, CI: 1.08, 2.09) texters. Conversely, the risks of reporting bullying, depression, relationship issues, and suicidal thoughts as reasons for texting were significantly lower during COVID-19. Limitations: Results may underestimate crisis support-seeking in some groups because demographic data were not captured on all texters. Conclusion: Findings illuminated the real-time crisis response of young people across the United States and can inform more responsive interventions to alleviate the mental health consequences brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Email: filip.popovici@unibuc.ro., Vaida S, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Email: sebastianvaida@psychology.ro.. Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Coping Mechanism During Covid-19 Pandemic

"The current pandemic due to the COVID-19 virus has caught the entire world by surprise, on all aspects of life, from economic and work-related ones to education and online communication. Psychological health issues are not an exception to this rule, as people have been forced to either stay indoors during lockdown periods, or completely change their habits for longer periods of time. In this study, we investigated the effects of the pandemic on a sample of 241 adults, on several concepts. The study is relevant for understanding the factors that can contribute to maintaining a balance in life, especially in times of hardship. Keywords: anxiety, coping, Covid-19, depression, stress. "

COVID-19 Anxiety and Wellbeing at Work in Finland during 2020-2022: A 5-Wave Longitudinal Survey Study

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted workers globally during 2020-2022 and it has had major psychological implications for workers' wellbeing. This longitudinal study analyzed risk and protective factors predicting COVID-19 anxiety among workers in Finland. Longitudinal national sample of Finnish workers (n = 685) participated in a five-wave study conducted in 2020-2022, covering multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Our outcome measure was COVID-19 anxiety. Predictors were psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, and loneliness. Models also controlled for self-regulation; social support at work and remote working; and socio-demographic background factors. Both within-person and between-person effects were analyzed using multilevel hybrid regression models. COVID-19 anxiety varied between time points which is explained by changes in circumstances during the pandemic. Highest anxiety was expressed in the middle of the Delta variant surge and lockdown in spring 2021. Within-person changes in psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, self-regulation, and perceived loneliness were all associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Between-person results showed that distressed, exhausted, technostressed, and lonely workers expressed more anxiety than others. Remote workers reported higher anxiety over time than others. Those who had reported high self-regulation reported lower anxiety than others. Female gender and younger age were associated with higher anxiety. COVID-19 anxiety continues to be an important phenomenon with a magnitude of consequences on people and numerous industries. This study showed that general mental health and work stressors predict COVID-19 anxiety. Promoting social support and workers' self-regulation skills can be beneficial for overcoming anxiety during and after the pandemic.

Association between COVID-19 pandemic declaration and depression/anxiety among U.S. adults

BACKGROUND

Although studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 on mental health, few studies have attempted to compare the prevalence of depression/anxiety symptoms among U.S. adults before and after the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. We examined the prevalence and association between depression/anxiety symptoms and COVID-19 pandemic declaration among U.S. adult population and subgroups.

METHODS

A nationally representative cross-sectional study of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 4) assessing health-related information and behaviors in U.S. adults aged ≥18 years from February through June 2020. The primary dependent variable was current depression/anxiety derived from Patient Health Questionnaire-4. The main independent variable was responses before and after the COVID-19 pandemic declaration in addition to sexual identity heterosexual identity, /race/ethnicity and rural-urban commuting areas. Covariates were sociodemographic factors, and health risk behaviors. Weighted percentages, multivariable logistic regression, and Chi-square tests were used to establish the prevalence and association between current depression/anxiety and the independent variables and covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 3,865 participants completed the survey and included 35.3% of the participants before the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. Most of the sample were aged 50-64 years [33.0%]; males [51.0%]; and non-Hispanic Whites [70.1%]). The post-pandemic declaration included participants, aged 35-49 years [27.0%]; females [52.6%]; and non-Hispanic Whites [59.6%]). The prevalence of depression/anxiety was higher after the COVID-19 pandemic declaration (32.2%) than before the declaration (29.9%). Higher risks of depression/anxiety symptoms after the declaration were associated with being a sexual minority ([adjusted odds ratio] AOR, 2.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.38-6.14]) and having fair/poor general health (AOR, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.76-4.83]). The probability of experiencing depression/anxiety symptoms after the declaration was highest among homosexuals/lesbians/gays (65.6%) compared to bisexuals (39.6%), and heterosexuals (30.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, young adults, non-Hispanic Whites, and those with fair/poor general health had a higher burden of depression/anxiety symptoms after the pandemic declaration. The development of psychological support strategies to promote wellbeing during the pandemic may reduce psychological distress in the population, especially among at-risk populations.

The actual and ideal indoor soundscape for work, relaxation, physical and sexual activity at home: A case study during the COVID-19 lockdown in London

The period of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic made the importance of a high-quality surrounding environment even more evident than before. Several studies have been carried out to assess the (negative) impacts of noise on annoyance, particularly whilst working from home (WFH). The present study takes a step further by (1) investigating the positive and negative impacts of the "actual" acoustic environment on a range of activities, i.e., WFH, relaxation, physical, and sexual activities, and (2) identifying the characteristics of an "ideal" indoor soundscape. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of verbal descriptions collected from open-ended questions included in a survey administered in January 2021 to 464 respondents living in London, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The range of impacts in the actual scenario varied from no effect on task execution, to disruption, distraction, concern of disturbing others or being heard. Positive impacts included support of concentration, relaxation, motivation, freedom of sound expression, feeling of being connected to the surroundings and comforted by the presence of others, according to mechanisms described in the study. Negative appraisal could trigger coping strategies (e.g., controlling windows, playing music, wearing headphones) and behavioural changes (e.g., lowering the volume of the voice or music, muting oneself during call, changing workout type) that could in turn limit or enhance the freedom of behaviour, affect or foster wellbeing. Negative impacts were most frequently reported on WFH (by 55% of the participants), followed by relaxation activities (40.6%), sexual activities (30.1%), and home workout (20.1%). The ideal soundscape was described as a quiet, well-sound insulated environment, which guarantees access to positive sounds (i.e., natural sounds, music, urban background), thus resulting in privacy, intimacy, and a place where to express themselves without noise-related constraints. The study complements literature findings on housing design directions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing further evidence on the impacts of poor sound insulation at home, the potential benefits of nature-based solutions for positive indoor soundscapes, and opportunities for an activity-based design of domestic environments, inclusive of a broader set of home uses and household compositions.

Aging in Place: Connections, Relationships, Social Participation and Social Support in the Face of Crisis Situations

OBJECTIVES

We seek to identify active coping strategies used by older adults to face the pandemic and to deal with daily stressors, and to clarify which factors had an effect on stress, positive emotions and depression in active and healthy community-dwelling older adults in the first and second year of the pandemic in Costa Rica.

METHODS

Participants were living in their own homes in Costa Rica (n = 218, mean age 69.96, 82.1% women). Participants were interviewed by phone and answered an online survey, which included socio-demographic information, mental health variables such as stressors (perceived health and fear of COVID-19, illness, perception of pandemic gravity), loneliness (whether they felt lonely and how often they felt lonely), access to Information and Communication Technologies, socio-emotional coping variables, social participation and physical activity level during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Positive socio-emotional indicators related to well-being such as self-efficacy, social support, perceived health and proactive behavior were high. Negative well-being indicators such as perceived stress, emotional COVID-19 fear and loneliness showed low values in the sample studied during both years. We found significant relations across the dependent variables (perceived stress, positive emotions and depression) by studying the psychological well-being coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of coping strategies and social participation in the capacity of older adults to mitigate the negative psychological consequences of crisis situations and provide evidence of "aging in place".