The mediating role of psychological distress on the link between socio-ecological factors and quality of life of Filipino adults during COVID-19 crisis

Bridging social capital among Facebook users and COVID-19 cases growth in Arizona

Social capital is an important social determinant of health, more specifically bridging social capital, which connects individuals and communities across societal divides. This article reports on the findings of a study about the relationship between bridging social capital and COVID-19 infection trends within the state of Arizona from October 2020 to November 2021. Economic connectedness (EC), derived from Facebook friendship connections, served as a measure of aggregated bridging social capital among residents in each ZCTA (ZIP code tabulation area). Analysis of 192 ZCTAs in Arizona revealed that below-median SES individuals had fewer above-median SES friends (mean EC = 0.86). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the correlation between EC and biweekly COVID-19 case growth, adjusting for other social determinants of health. Results showed that higher EC was associated with slower biweekly COVID-19 case growth (p < 0.001). This suggests that bridging social capital plausibly facilitated members of underserved and vulnerable groups to better access health-related information during the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby reducing the risks of infection during the pandemic. These findings suggest that promoting bridging social capital, particularly through social network sites, could be leveraged during early phase of public health crisis. The article concludes by recommending to strengthening bridging social capital for individuals with limited access to public health information and medical care.

Emotion Regulation Use Varies Across Socioecological Levels of Pandemic Stress in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

COVID-19 escalated stress within family/neighborhood (local) and national/cultural (global) levels. However, the impact of socioecological levels of stress on pandemic emotion regulation remains largely unexplored.

METHODS

Thirty older adults from the Northeast US (63-92 years) reported on pandemic stress and emotion regulation in semi-structured interviews. Responses were coded into socioecological sources of local and global stress, and associated use of cognitive emotion regulation strategies from the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was explored.

RESULTS

Older adults experienced significant distress at global levels, and perception of lacking top-down safety governance may have exacerbated local distress of engaging in daily activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants endorsed coping with local stressors via perspective-taking, acceptance, and other adaptive strategies, while global sources of stress were associated with greater use of maladaptive strategies, including other-blame and rumination.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative assessments may underestimate significant older adult distress and maladaptive coping toward global stressors. Findings should be replicated with more diverse populations beyond the COVID-19 context.

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines: A scoping review

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remained at elevated risk for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic because of persistent stressors to their health systems. Simultaneously facing high infection rates, strict containment measures and natural disasters, the Philippines provides important grounds for health research in LMICs. This review examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines. This scoping review included literature in English from 2020 to mid-2022 from PubMed, PsycInfo and SCOPUS, and used the PRISMA-ScR and PCC-question model. Two independent reviewers conducted blind article screening and data extraction using COVIDENCE software, followed by consensus building, data charting and analyses. This work identified 405 publications across PubMed (N = 56), PsycInfo (N = 106) and SCOPUS (N = 243), of which 76 articles addressed the Philippines. Article types included 54 research articles, 10 opinion pieces, 4 literature reviews, 6 letters to journals, 1 study protocol and 1 other report. These findings focused primarily on health professionals (N = 23) and educators/learners (N = 22) and reported mostly on moderate-to-severe clinical outcomes such as fear, depression, anxiety or stress. Coping behaviors, like resiliency and other ways of adapting to the pandemic, including religious, spiritual and community-oriented approaches highlighted experiences with stringent infection prevention and control measures to contain COVID-19 in the Philippines. The COVID-19 pandemic brought severe challenges to mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines. The literature focused mostly on healthcare workers and educators/learners, and moderate-to-severe mental health outcomes in these groups. There is a need to expand studies to other sociodemographic groups and communities across the Philippines. Future work stands to benefit from more in-depth qualitative, mixed methods, longitudinal and representative quantitative research in LMICs following this pandemic. Literature reviews remain important to synthesize post-pandemic experiences by providing context for future studies and health practice in the Philippines and other LMICs.

The Associations Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To examine the associations between physical activity (PA) levels and mental health in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, 117 participants aged between 6 and 17 years with IDs from 10 Hong Kong special schools were included. There were positive dose-response associations between PA (i.e., light PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA) and mental health, and participants with higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and self-concept (SC) had better social quality of life (QoL) than those with lower levels of MVPA and SC. Moreover, personal and environmental factors such as age, body mass index, school, sex, ID level, and parental education level influenced the PA levels and QoL in children and adolescents with IDs.

A Contemporary Review of the Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Past, Present, and Emerging Directions

Since the 1940s, the Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation has evolved towards a comprehensive practice of social theory and intervention. Despite the model's cost effectiveness and observational evidence of its efficacy, empirical research remains lacking. The current narrative review examines studies from recent years (2015-2021), not to assess study rigor, but to identify trends in research aims, findings, and methodology, as well as specify future research directions. A narrative review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Using the search term "Clubhouse," 194 articles were identified in online databases. 38 met criteria for inclusion. Most studies were qualitative (60.5%) and few utilized experimental or quasi-experimental designs (7.9%). Narrative synthesis revealed research aims and outcome variables falling into six key areas: social integration and connectedness, quality of life (QOL), recovery outcomes, relational dynamics, policy, and virtual adaptations of the model. Findings indicate that recent Clubhouse-related research trends have primarily involved studies of social connectedness, QOL, recovery, relationships, and policy, as well as studies examining the value of the virtual Clubhouse in maintaining well-being. However, heterogeneity of methodologies and measures present a critical limitation to assessing results across studies. Options for increasing experimental methodologies in this area are reviewed. Recommended future directions involve moving towards a biopsychosocial approach to clarifying the mechanisms through which the model promotes recovery-aims that may yield implications beyond the realm of serious mental illness.

Impact of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease of 2019 as an epidemic and public health emergency of international concern on January 30th, 2020. Different factors during a pandemic can contribute to low quality of life in the general population. Quality of life is considered multidimensional and subjective and is assessed by using patient reported outcome measures. The aim and objective of this review is to assess the impact of coronavirus disease of 2019 and associated factors on the Quality of Life in the general population. This review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A protocol was registered in the international Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database(CRD42021269897). A comprehensive electronic search in PubMed, EBSCO Host Research Databases, MEDLINE and Google scholar search engine was conducted. A total number of 1,7000,074 articles were identified from electronic search. 25 full text articles were retained for qualitative synthesis and seventeen articles for quantitative analysis. Seven main quality of life scales were used to assess the quality of life of the general population; World Health Organization Quality of Life-bref, EuroQuality of Life-Five dimensions, Short Form, European Quality of Life Survey, coronavirus disease of 2019 Quality of Life, General Health Questionnaire12 and My Life Today Questionnaire. The mean World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief was found to be 53.38% 95% confidence interval [38.50-68.27] and EuroQuality of Life-Five dimensions was 0.89 95% confidence interval [0.69-1.07]. Several factors have been linked to the Coronavirus disease of 2019 such as sociodemographic factors, peoples living with chronic diseases, confinement and financial constraints. This review confirms that the Coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic affected the quality of life of the general population worldwide. Several factors such as sociodemographic, peoples living with chronic diseases, confinement and financial constraints affected the quality of life.

Anxiety as a mediator in the relationship between the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 and quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Vietnam

Previous studies have investigated the effects of the pandemic on quality of life; both economical and psychosocial effects were explored. Some studies also mentioned mediating factors as mechanisms in this relationship; however, the mediating role of anxiety has not been examined. The present study examined the mediating effects of anxiety on the relationship between socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 and quality of life. An online survey of 280 Vietnamese residents was conducted in the context of the pandemic outbreak. Anxiety was found to be a completely mediating variable in the association between the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic and quality of life during the lockdown period. This finding contributes to a better understanding of how the pandemic affects people's quality of life and serves as the foundation for lessening the negative effects of the epidemic on people's lives.

Bending not breaking: coping among Filipino University students experiencing psychological distress during the Global Health Crisis

The impact of the global health crisis on students' mental health has been well documented. While most of the studies looked into the psychological impact of the coronavirus disease, the process of coping with psychological distress as experienced by university students in the Philippines remains unexamined. Cognizant of the dearth in literature, this grounded theory study purports to investigate and understand the coping processes among 20 Filipino university students. A comprehensive model highlights Filipino university students' coping techniques with psychological distress through vertical and horizontal analysis of the field text, open, axial, and selective coding. To ensure the trustworthiness and truthfulness of the theory and for refinement and consistency, triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking validation strategies were likewise employed. The novel and distinct B.E.N.D. Model of Coping with Psychological Distress illustrates a substantive four-phased process symbolic of the challenges that a bamboo tree underwent, namely: (1) Befuddling Phase, (2) Enduring Phase, (3) Navigating Phase, and (4) Developing Phase. The phases that emerged had the advanced appreciable understanding of the university students' coping processes that may provide evidence-based information in crafting programs and specific interventions to support and safeguard students' mental health.

Impact of less social connectedness and fear of COVID-19 test on employees task performance: A multi-mediation model

The core objective of this study is to examine the impact of less social connectedness and testing fear on employee health. This study also investigates the mediating role of psychological strain between the relationship of less social connectedness, testing fear and employee health. Furthermore, this study also assesses the impact of employee health on employee performance. The study's target audience consisted of employees in the electronics industry in China. The convenience sample method was used in this study to collect data from respondents. Data analysis of this study was performed by using the structural equation modeling technique. The statistical software used for data analysis is Smart PLS 3. The results of this study show that less COVID-19 testing fear has a negatively significant impact on employee health, but less social connectedness has not significant direct impact on employee health. Furthermore, psychological strain was discovered to mediate the relationship between less social connectedness and employee health and testing fear and employee health. In addition, this impact of employee health on employee performance was found significant. This study provides theoretical and practical implications. In the context of practical implications, this study provides valuable insights for the organizational management to develop a healthy and positive working environment and adopt healthy behavior among their employees which ultimately foster their job performance.

Psychosocial Distress among Family Members of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Hospital and Isolation Facilities in the Philippines: A Prospective Cohort Study

This study determined the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on families of adult COVID-19 patients in isolation facilities in Metro Manila, Philippines. This prospective cohort study was conducted in COVID-19 healthcare facilities. Data collection was undertaken 2 weeks and 8 weeks after discharge. Logistic regression was performed to determine the socioeconomic and clinical factors influencing anxiety, depression, and family function. Based on HADS-P, 43.2% of the participants had anxiety symptoms, and 16.2% had depression symptoms 2 weeks after the discharge of their relative with COVID-19 infection. The prevalence of anxiety and depression significantly decreased to 24.3% and 5.4%, respectively, 8 weeks after discharge. The percentage of participants with a perceived moderate family dysfunction was 9.5% in the 2nd week and 6.8% in the 8th week post discharge. Participants with perceived severe family dysfunction increased from none to 4.1%. The most inadequate family resources for the participants were economic, medical, and educational resources. Patient anxiety (p = 0.010) and perceived inadequate family resources (p = 0.032) were associated with anxiety symptoms among family members. Patient anxiety (p = 0.013) and low educational attainment (p = 0.002) were associated with anxiety symptoms among family members 8 weeks after discharge. On the other hand, patient depression (p = 0.013) was a factor related to depressive symptoms among family members 2 weeks after discharge. This study provided an in-depth understanding of the mental health status of family members caring for relatives with COVID-19 infection. This can be used to guide healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients and their family members.

Predictors of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of financial satisfaction and neuroticism

Current research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacts well-being. This study examined how subjective well-being (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB) in Singapore were affected during the pandemic, and the factors that were important to SWB. A representative sample of 999 respondents completed an online survey during the pandemic in August 2020 (after a lockdown was lifted). Two hundred and thirty-two respondents completed the follow-up Wave 2 survey 4 months later. Analyses showed that SWB and PWB during the pandemic were significantly lower than the prepandemic period. However, by Wave 2, well-being levels recovered to levels similar to those observed in the prepandemic period. Regression analyses showed that previously established key determinants of SWB were still important predictors during the pandemic. Specifically, neuroticism and financial satisfaction were strongly associated with all three major SWB components. PWB, particularly in terms of meeting one's psychological needs for autonomy and mastery, was also closely related to SWB. The importance of financial satisfaction suggests that one avenue to buffer the detrimental effects of the pandemic on well-being would be to formulate economic policies that can alleviate the pandemic's negative financial impact.

Measurement and community antecedents of positive mental health among the survivors of typhoons Vamco and Goni during the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines

The present study examined the measurement and antecedents of positive mental health in people who concurrently experienced two disasters of different nature (i.e., typhoons and COVID-19 crisis), focusing on the survivors of typhoons Vamco and Goni that hit the Philippines in November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we investigated the psychometric properties of Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), a well-validated measure of positive mental health dimensions (i.e., emotional, social, and psychological well-being) by: 1) comparing the structural validity of three measurement models including a single-factor, bifactor, and three-factor solutions of positive mental health; 2) looking into the criterion validity through correlating the MHC-SF subscales with relevant measures; and 3) calculating for item reliability. Second, we examined the mediating role of social responsibility in the positive influence of community resilience on the three dimensions of positive mental health. Using 447 participants, with ages ranging from 18 to 70 years old, confirmatory factor analysis showed that compared to the single-factor and the bifactor models, the intercorrelated three-factor model of MHC-SF has the best model fit and most stable factor loadings. MHC-SF subscales correlated with relevant measures indicating criterion validity and yielded excellent internal consistency for all subscales. Additionally, results showed that social responsibility mediated the positive impact of community resilience on emotional, social, and psychological well-being of Filipinos in times of great adversities. The findings were discussed within the context of extreme weather events and the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines, highlighting implications on disaster preparedness and mental health policies at the community level.

Measuring mental well-being among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

In the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline nurses providing care to different communities face are particularly vulnerable to the mental health threats of the crisis. The objective of this study was to examine the structural validity, convergent validity, and reliability of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) in professional nurses amidst the COVID-19 crisis in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from 413 nurses in Saudi Arabia using a cross-sectional online survey. Consistent with the original version, results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unidimensional structure of the WEMWBS. Support for convergent validity was found as the WEMWBS significantly correlated with measures of burnout and compassion satisfaction. In terms of reliability, all WEMWBS items yielded high internal consistencies suggesting that the 14 items were robust indicators of mental well-being. In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, the current study offers a psychometrically sound instrument that can be utilized in screening the mental well-being of nurses in the days of a public health crisis. Preserving the positive aspect of mental health among frontline healthcare workers and promoting quality of care for communities requires a contextualized measurement tool that efficiently assesses mental well-being.

The Associations Among Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and Self-Concept in Children and Adolescents With Disabilities: A Moderated Mediation Model

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine a moderated mediation model of the associations among physical activity (PA), quality of life (QoL), and self-concept (SC) in children and adolescents with physical disabilities (PDs) and intellectual disabilities (IDs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 288 children and adolescents with PDs and IDs, aged between 6 and 17 years, were recruited from 16 special schools in Hong Kong. PA, QoL, and SC were measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Physical Self-Description Questionnaire Short Form, respectively. Mediation (i.e., PA, QoL, and SC) and moderation analyses (i.e., age, sex, and parental education level) were conducted by structural equation modelling (SEM) using the M plus and PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

Physical activity (PA) was positively associated with SC (PDs: β = 0.373; IDs: β = 0.343), and SC significantly mediated the associations between PA and QoL in children and adolescents with PDs (parent proxy-report QoL: β = 0.114; self-report QoL: β = 0.141) and IDs (self-report QoL: β = 0.204). The mediating effects of SC accounted for 16 and 15% of the total effects of PA on QoL (parent proxy-report and self-report) respectively, in participants with PDs, and 8 and 4%, respectively, in those with IDs. Males and participants with higher parental education levels reported stronger associations among PA, QoL, and SC than their counterparts.

CONCLUSION

This study supports mediating and moderating effects on the associations among PA, QoL, and SC in children and adolescents with PDs and IDs. Future researchers should consider PA intervention in mental health services and provide tailor-made PA programmes based on personal and environmental factors for children and adolescents with disabilities.