Resilience, Hope, and Subjective Happiness Among the Turkish Population: Fear of COVID-19 as a Mediator

Hope, resilience and subjective happiness among general population of Paraguay in the post COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Positive mental health includes not only the absence of mental disorders but also the presence of subjective well-being, good coping strategies for life stress, and strategies for adapting to community life. It is well known that the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged mental health in general population worldwide. However, research has not measured protective factors for mental health in the general population after the declared end of pandemic by the World Health Organization.

METHODS

This observational, cross-sectional study surveyed 591 Paraguayan participants aged ⩾18 years, who were recruited through an online survey. Demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status were collected as well as mental health and validated tools for hope, resilience, subjective happiness were administered.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 81.6% were women, 54% were married or in a relationship and 90.7% reported an university education. The main source of stress was economic issues (30.3%). A total of 22.7% had been previously diagnosed with a mental disorder, 22.2% had consulted a mental health professional and 10.8% had consumed prescription drugs. 42.6% reported flourishing, 36.2% reported moderate and 21.2% reported languishing mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

This large survey has shown that most of participants reported a flourishing mental health with high ratings at hope, resilience, and subjective happiness scales. Also, the main sources of stress were economic issues, not consequently related to the pandemic. This may add evidences to the international debate on the long term effects of the global pandemic and probably suggests that recovery processes have been collectively adopted in Paraguay.

Resilience-happiness nexus in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults: Results from Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan

The core of healthy aging is intrinsic capacity (IC) that consists of major elements, i.e., cognition, locomotion, vitality, sensory capacity, and psychological aspect. This cross-sectional study analyzes data of the Gan-Dau Healthy Longevity Plan, targeting community-dwelling adults aged 50 years or older. The participants completed the assessment, in addition to WHO IC, including the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) for cognitive performance, 6 m walking speed (m/s),timed up-and-go test (s) and hand grip strength (Kg) for locomotor assessment, Cardiovascular health study (CHS) for frailty assessment, Mini Nutrition assessment short form (MNA-SF) for nutrition. Psychological aspect including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, the Geriatric Depression Scale-5 (GDS-5) for depressive symptoms, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) for resilience, and the Chinese Happiness Inventory (CHI) for happiness levels. The study enrolled 810 participants (mean age of 68.45 ± 8.05 years, 32% male) and revealed that 94.7% of participants exhibited impairments in IC, with visual capacity and cognition being the most common deficit items of IC. Resilience levels varied, with 37.4% of men and 33.5% of women exhibiting moderate to low resilience. Only 23.4% of male participants and 21.1% female participants reported a high level of happiness. Resilience was found to partially mediate the relationship between intrinsic capacity and happiness, with approximately 6.6% of the variance in happiness being mediated by resilience. In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the connections between psychological aspect, IC, and healthy aging.

Fear, Perceived Threat, and Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Control/Flexibility and Intolerance of Uncertainty

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between fear of COVID-19, perceived threat of COVID-19, anxiety, cognitive control/flexibility, and intolerance to uncertainty. In addition, the mediating role of cognitive control/flexibility and intolerance to uncertainty were investigated.

METHOD

224 volunteers aged between 18-55 years were included in the study. Cognitive Control and Felxibility Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Perceived COVID-19 Threat Form and Beck Anxiety Scales were administered to all participants via an online environment. In this context, Pearson correlation, linear regression, and mediation analyzes were performed.

RESULTS

There were significant relationships among Cognitive Control and Flexibility, Intolerance of Uncertainty, Beck Anxiety, fear of COVID-19, perceived COVID-19 threat (p<0,01). Linear regression analysis showed that the Beck Anxiety Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Cognitive Control/ Flexibility Scale scores significantly predicted fear of COVID-19 and the perceived threat of COVID-19 (p<0,001). In addition, mediation analysis revealed that intolerance to uncertainty and cognitive control/flexibility are mediating factors between anxiety and the perceived threat of COVID-19 (p<0,01).

CONCLUSION

There is a relationship between fear of COVID-19 and perception of threat, anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and cognitive control mechanisms. In accordance with these findings, psychosocial support and therapy programs can be created based on cognitive control/flexibility and intolerance of uncertainty in order to increase the mental health well-being of individuals.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 and determinants among Spanish university students

Background

University students are a vulnerable population and faced a significant psychological impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of fear of COVID-19 among university students and to evaluate the possible relationship between fear of COVID-19 and socio-demographic, health-related determinants, variables related to the COVID-19 and variables related to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study between December 2020 and December 2021 on a sample of 950 university students from two universities in southern Spain. Participants completed a form that collected socio-demographic, health-related and COVID-related variables, a validated questionnaire related to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fear of COVID Scale (FCV-19S). Descriptive, inferential, and multivariable linear regression analyzes were conducted.

Results

The mean FCV-19S score was 14.86 ± 5.16 points. The factors identified as predictors of FCV-19S were being female (p < 0.001), holding religious beliefs (p = 0.04), living in towns with over 10,000 inhabitants (p < 0.01), living with someone vulnerable to COVID-19 (p = 0.02), watching TV to keep informed about COVID-19 (p < 0.01), believing in a low probability of surviving if infected with COVID-19 (p < 0.001), having a higher level of death anxiety (p < 0.001) and suffering from insomnia (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

An average fear of COVID-19 score of 14.86 ± 5.16 points has been found among university students in Spain. These findings can aid in identifying specific factors contributing to fear of COVID-19 and in developing coping strategies to alleviate the stress of the pandemic.

Psychological Resilience Factors and Their Association With Weekly Stressor Reactivity During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Europe: Prospective Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND

Cross-sectional relationships between psychosocial resilience factors (RFs) and resilience, operationalized as the outcome of low mental health reactivity to stressor exposure (low "stressor reactivity" [SR]), were reported during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

OBJECTIVE

Extending these findings, we here examined prospective relationships and weekly dynamics between the same RFs and SR in a longitudinal sample during the aftermath of the first wave in several European countries.

METHODS

Over 5 weeks of app-based assessments, participants reported weekly stressor exposure, mental health problems, RFs, and demographic data in 1 of 6 different languages. As (partly) preregistered, hypotheses were tested cross-sectionally at baseline (N=558), and longitudinally (n=200), using mixed effects models and mediation analyses.

RESULTS

RFs at baseline, including positive appraisal style (PAS), optimism (OPT), general self-efficacy (GSE), perceived good stress recovery (REC), and perceived social support (PSS), were negatively associated with SR scores, not only cross-sectionally (baseline SR scores; all P<.001) but also prospectively (average SR scores across subsequent weeks; positive appraisal (PA), P=.008; OPT, P<.001; GSE, P=.01; REC, P<.001; and PSS, P=.002). In both associations, PAS mediated the effects of PSS on SR (cross-sectionally: 95% CI -0.064 to -0.013; prospectively: 95% CI -0.074 to -0.0008). In the analyses of weekly RF-SR dynamics, the RFs PA of stressors generally and specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and GSE were negatively associated with SR in a contemporaneous fashion (PA, P<.001; PAC,P=.03; and GSE, P<.001), but not in a lagged fashion (PA, P=.36; PAC, P=.52; and GSE, P=.06).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified psychological RFs that prospectively predict resilience and cofluctuate with weekly SR within individuals. These prospective results endorse that the previously reported RF-SR associations do not exclusively reflect mood congruency or other temporal bias effects. We further confirm the important role of PA in resilience.

Quality of life of a healthy polish population due to sociodemographic factors during the COVID-19 pandemic - a cross-sectional study

Introduction

The quality of life should be studied in every person, both among the sick and healthy. Sociodemographic factors affect the level of the perceived quality of life (QoL), and especially in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the enforcement of certain behaviours in society, such as social distancing, as well as introduced panic and fear for one's own health and life. The main aim of the study was to assess the quality of life in the group of people without the disease, to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors on QoL during the pandemic.

Material and method

3,511 healthy people were included in the study. The inclusion criteria of the study were: age of respondents over 18 years, no continuously administered medicaments, no diagnosed chronic diseases and no treatment in specialist clinics as well as lack of positive COVID-19 test in 4 weeks before the examination. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The student's t-test and intergroup comparisons were used in 7 age groups. Factors such as age, gender, place of residence, education, civil status, employment status, smoking, and physical activity were assessed.

Results

The lowest average QoL level in the studied population was recorded in the Mental Component Summary (MCS) dimension (X = 47.9;Cl:47.6-48.3). A high correlation between age and the SF-36 spheres was noted in the following spheres: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), Physical Component Summary (PCS), and ILQ (p < 0.001). The highest chance of a better QoL in the PCS dimension among men was recorded in the 30-39 age group (OR = 3.65;Cl:1.13-11.79). In the group of people over 50 years of age living in the village, there was a greater chance of a better QoL in the PCS dimension in each age group. Practicing physical activity was significantly more often conditioned by a higher chance of developing a better QoL (p < 0.05). In the group of people ≥80 years of age, there was a greater than 4 times higher chance of developing a better quality of life in terms of MCS among physically active people (OR = 4.38;Cl:1.62-11.83).

Conclusion

With age, QoL decreases among people with disabilities. Men are more likely to assess their health better. A better QoL among women occurs at age 80 and later. A higher level of education often determined a significantly higher level of QoL felt. The practising of recreational physical activity and the lack of smoking habit determined a higher level of QoL more often. Smoking provided a greater chance of a better QoL in ILQ in the group of people ≥80 years.

Impact of the war in Ukraine on resilience, protective, and vulnerability factors

War or armed conflict is one of the most severe human-made adversities. The current study examines the resilience, protective, and vulnerability factors of a sample of Ukrainian civilians, during the current Russian-Ukrainian war. The level of resilience and coping indicators were compared with the responses of an Israeli sample following an armed conflict in May 2021. The data were collected by an internet panel company. A representative sample of Ukrainian residents (N = 1,001) responded to an online questionnaire. A stratified sampling method was employed regarding geographic distribution, gender, and age. The data concerning the Israeli population (N = 647) were also collected by an internet panel company during a recent armed conflict with Gaza (May 2021). Three notable results emerged in this study: (a) The Ukrainian sample reported significantly higher levels of the following: Distress symptoms, sense of danger, and perceived threats, compared with the Israeli sample. However, despite these harsh feelings, the Ukrainian respondents reported substantially higher levels of hope and societal resilience compared, to their Israeli counterparts, and somewhat higher individual and community resilience. (b) The protective factors of the respondents in Ukraine (level of hope, wellbeing, and morale), predicted the three types of resilience (individual, community, and social) better than the vulnerability factors (sense of danger, distress symptoms, and level of threats). (c) The best predictors of the three types of resilience were hope and wellbeing. (d) The demographic characteristics of the Ukrainian respondents hardly added to the prediction of the three types of resilience. It appears that a war that threatens the independence and sovereignty of a country may, under certain conditions, enhance the societal resilience and hope of the population under risk, despite a lower sense of wellbeing and higher levels of distress, sense of danger, and perceived threats.

From fearful to hopeful: A thematic content analysis of COVID-19 survivors' YouTube videos

COVID-19 survivors experienced a spectrum of emotions as a result of surviving the said disease. Employing thematic content analysis, the researchers characterized the various emotional manifestations among recovered COVID-19 patients, which are crucial indicators of their mental well-being postinfection. From March 2020 to June 2021, data was collated from 31 Filipino COVID-19 Survivors' YouTube videos. 51.61% of the videos were posted in 2020 and 48.39% were posted in 2021 where 70.97% of the survivors were female while 29.03% were male. 579 primary codes emerged and were narrowed down into sixteen themes where Hope (18.83%) arose as the most predominant emotion followed by Gratitude (14.68%), Joy and Relief (14.16%), Faith (11.57%), Plight Response (10.88%), Sadness (10.88%), Fear (6.39%), and nine others (12.61%).

The mediating role of resilience in the relationship between helicopter parenting and several indicators of mental health among emerging adults

Helicopter parenting has received much attention in the last decade. The growing literature on this phenomenon illustrates the negative consequences of helicopter parenting. The detrimental effects of helicopter parenting on emerging adults may be especially more present in collectivist cultures. Studies carried out with this population have demonstrated that mental health problems among this group are more prevalent than those of other groups. Hence, an understanding of the factors affecting mental health at this age is critical. The deleterious effects of helicopter parenting on mental health among emerging adults are well-documented. However, there is a lack of literature investigating the mediating role of resilience between helicopter parenting and mental health issues (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress). To bridge this gap, we collected data from 402 emerging adults (M = 21.31, SD = 2.01). Our results revealed that although helicopter parenting was a risk factor for several indicators of mental health among emerging adults, resilience mitigates the potential detrimental effect of helicopter parenting.

The Switch to Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Interplay between Personality and Mental Health on University Students

The switching from traditional to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for students, determining an increase in physical and mental health problems. The current paper applied a two-step cluster analysis in a large sample of n = 1028 university students (Mage = 21.10 years, SD = 2.45 years; range: 18-30 years; 78.4% females). Participants responded to an online survey exploring neuroticism, trait/state anxiety, general self-efficacy, academic motivation, fear of COVID-19, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health, and the help requests. Results showed two significant clusters of students having a Maladaptive Academic Profile (n = 456; 44.4%) or an Adaptive Academic Profile (n = 572; 55.6%). Significant differences were found between the two clusters, where students belonging to the Maladaptive Academic Profile reported higher levels of neuroticism, higher dispositional and situational anxiety, and fear of COVID-19, and lower self-efficacy and academic motivation than students of the Adaptive Academic Profile cluster. In addition, more physical or mental health problems and help requests, mainly to partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, were found in the Maladaptive Academic Profile cluster compared to the Adaptive Academic Profile. Finally, the practical implications of the study's results in implementing university counseling services as protective measures to contrast psychological distress in the long-term COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Psychological first aid intervention: rescue from psychological distress and improving the pre-licensure nursing students' resilience amidst COVID-19 crisis and beyond

Background

The public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in mental and psychological ramifications on the healthcare professionals. The pre-licensure nursing students found themselves not only fighting against the baneful virus but also weak ego resilience. At this point, enriching the pre-licensure nursing students with psychological first aid (PFA) could help them to recover from the feeling of psychological distress and improve their resilience capacity to encounter any upcoming outbreaks.

Methods

A quasi-experimental two groups, a pre-post-test study was used in which sixty-four pre-licensure nursing students completed a baseline survey which revealed high levels of psychological distress and low resilience capacity due to the COVID-19 crisis. The study group engaged in the Psychological First- aid Intervention (PFA) at the end of the clinical practicum course period, while the comparison group received routine psychological support.

Results

A significant reduction in the psychological distress levels among students in the PFA group (F^ET=7.83, P = 0. 001). Likewise, significant improvements in the students' resilience capacity level immediately after the intervention (F^ET=3.34, P = 0.019) and during the two-month follow-up (F^ET=12.94, P = 0. 001). The implementation of PFA enhanced the pre-licensure nursing students' psychological health status and resilience capacity levels after their clinical training amid the ambiance of the COVID-19 crisis.

Conclusion

The PFA effectively fostered the pre-licensure nursing students' recovery from the COVID-19 related- psychological distress and improve their resilience capacity. The application of RAPID model is recommended to reduce stress and prevent burnout among novice and future nurses who show signs of psychological exhaustion.

The Resilience of South African School Teachers in the Time of COVID-19: Coping with Risk of Infection, Loneliness, and Anxiety

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an overall increase in the global prevalence of mental health disorders and psychological distress. However, against this backdrop, there was also evidence of adaptation and coping, which suggested the influence of protective factors. The current study aims to extend previous research on the role of protective factors by investigating the health-sustaining and mediating roles of resilience in the relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease, loneliness, and anxiety. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of schoolteachers (N = 355) who completed the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire, the short form of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and the trait scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale, through an online link created with Google Forms. The results of path analysis indicated significant negative associations between resilience and both loneliness and anxiety. These results indicate the health-sustaining role of resilience. In addition, resilience mediated the relationships between germ aversion and perceived infectability, on the one hand, and loneliness and anxiety, on the other hand. The findings confirm that resilience can play a substantial role in counteracting the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health.

How and When May Technostress Impact Workers' Psycho-Physical Health and Work-Family Interface? A Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

Although a growing body of research has analyzed the determinants and effects of technostress, it is still unclear how and when technostress would impact workers' psycho-physical health and work-family interface during the pandemic. To fill this gap, this study tests the mediating mechanisms and the boundary conditions associated with the impact of technostress on workers' psycho-physical well-being and work-family conflict. A total of 266 Italian workers completed online questionnaires measuring (traditional vs. remote) working modalities, technostress, fear of COVID-19, working excessively, psycho-physical distress, work-family conflict, loss of a loved one due to COVID-19, and resilience. Structural equation models were performed. Results indicated that technostress was positively related to psycho-physical distress and work-family conflict, as mediated by fear of COVID-19 and working excessively, respectively. The loss of a loved one exacerbated the effects of fear of COVID-19 on psycho-physical health, while resilience buffered the effects of working excessively on work-family conflict. Since numerous organizations intend to maintain remote working also after the COVID-19 emergency, it is crucial to study this phenomenon during its peaks of adoption, to prevent its potential negative outcomes. The implications of these findings for theory and practice are discussed.

A longitudinal examination of the association between fear of COVID-19, resilience, and mental health during COVID-19 outbreak

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of fear of COVID-19 on depression and anxiety in longitudinal data and whether this relationship can be mediated by resilience. The sample of the study comprised of 144 university students (77% female and 23% male) between 18 and 39 years of age (M = 22.74 ± 2.93) and participants completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) at Time 1 and Time 2. Mediation analyses demonstrated that resilience (T2) was a significant mediator between fear of COVID-19 (T1) and depression and anxiety (T2). The findings of the study highlight the potential key role of resilience as a protective factor against the negative effects of pandemic challenges on individuals' mental health.

Fear of COVID-19 and Subjective Well-Being: Sequential Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility and Psychological Resilience

The negative relationship between fear of COVID-19 and well-being has been revealed over the last years. However, the potential variables that affect this relationship need to be studied. This study examines the sequential mediating role of cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and subjective well-being. Six hundred and eight participants (339 females and 269 males, aged between 18-79 years) completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale online. The path analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro in the study. The sequential mediation analyses show that the control dimension of cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience fully mediate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and subjective well-being. In other words, fear of COVID-19 indirectly affects subjective well-being via the control dimension of cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience. In order to restrain the adverse effects of COVID-19, individuals’ cognitive flexibility and psychological resilience levels should be increased to enhance their well-being.

The Role of Self-Compassion on Psychological Well-Being and Life Satisfaction of Vietnamese Undergraduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hope as a Mediator

The simultaneous occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to adulthood have posed particular obstacles to university students' mental health. However, it remains unclear whether hope promotes mental health in the relationship between self-compassion, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction. Therefore, this study investigated the role of hope as a mediator in the relationship between self-compassion, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction among Vietnamese undergraduate students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants consisted of 484 students (aged 18-24) from several universities in Vietnam. To measure the four variables in the research model, we opted for the Self-Compassion Scale, the State Hope Scale, the World Health Organization 5-item Well-Being Index, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The results showed that (1) self-compassion was significantly positively correlated with psychological well-being, (2) self-compassion was not correlated with life satisfaction, (3) hope was a mediator of the relationship between self-compassion and psychological well-being, and (4) hope was a mediator of the relationship between self-compassion and life satisfaction. These findings suggest interventions on self-compassion to enhance hope and subsequently increase students' mental health, which offers colleges, psychologists, and psychiatrists a guideline to cope with harmful psychological implications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Validation of the fear of COVID-19 scale in a central Balkan country - Serbia

Validation of the fear of introduction

High levels of fear of COVID-19 may be associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as decreased resilience and life expectancy.

Objective

This study aimed to translate and confirm the Serbian version of the Fear of COVID-19 scale as well as to investigate its psychometric properties.

Methods

The translation and intercultural adaptation of the Fear of COVID-19 scale was performed by the leading standard of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research. When the distribution was normal, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. The reliability of the Serbian version of FCV-19S was tested by measuring the internal consistency through the value of Cronbach's alpha.

Results

The original version of the Fear of COVID-19 scale was tested on a sample of 256 subjects with a mean age of 25.38 ± 12.47. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.864. We divided the scale by the split-half method (Spearman-Brown), and the value of the coefficient for the questionnaire as a whole was 0.882. Divergent criterion validity was tested through the non-parametric correlation between the scores of the Fear of COVID-19 scale and the Fear of Hospitalization scale. A score of the Fear of COVID-19 scale was calculated as the sum of each question for each of the respondents. Convergent criterion validity was tested through the non-parametric correlation between the scores of the Fear of COVID-19 scale and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire.

Conclusion

The validated version of the scale in Serbia complements versions available in other cultures and other languages and facilitates global studies related to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The influences on happiness and life satisfaction of young people during COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for positive youth development

COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many uncertainties and adversities for young people, negatively influencing their mental health. The present study investigated the mediation role of intolerance to uncertainty (IU) in the relationship between social emotional learning (SEL) skills and happiness, and between SEL skills and life satisfaction (LS) of young people, within the framework of Positive Youth Development (PYD). The study included 589 university students (51% women) aged 18-24, and the participants completed a Demographic form, Social Emotional Learning Scale-Young Adult Form, Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. In the study, the mediating role of IU on the relationship between SEL skills and happiness (Model 1) and between SEL skills and LS (Model 2) were tested. The analysis first indicated positive direct relations of SEL skills with happiness and LS, as well as negative direct relations with IU. In addition, there were negative associations between IU and happiness, and between IU and LS. The results also demonstrated the mediation role of IU on the relationships between SEL skills and both happiness and LS. These findings confirmed the pivotal role that SEL skills play in happiness and LS by reducing the impact of IU, thus promoting PYD during the pandemic.

Resilience Improves the Quality of Life and Subjective Happiness of Physiotherapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Resilience is an individual characteristic that protects mental health. However, its impact on the lives of Brazilian physiotherapists during COVID-19 is not known. This study aimed to analyze whether resilience modulates the perceived quality of life (QoL) and subjective happiness (SH) of physiotherapists who work with COVID-19 patients, compared with those who do not. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 22 August and 22 October 2020. Physiotherapists working in critical and non-critical hospital sectors were invited to participate in the study. The participants completed sociodemographic questionnaires and were graded on the 14-item Resilience Scale, 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Subjective Happiness Scale. In total, 519 physiotherapists were enrolled in the study. Physiotherapists with low resilience who worked with COVID-19 patients reported lower scores on the SF-36 subscales (except for social functioning) and the Subjective Happiness Scale, compared with those with high resilience who did not work with COVID-19 patients. These responses were modulated by age, sex, absence from work, receipt of personal protective equipment, host leadership, and practice and maintenance of regular physical activity. In conclusion, physiotherapists with low resilience who worked with COVID-19 patients presented lower perceptions of QoL and SH, compared with the other study participants.

Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Adult Subjective Wellbeing: The Role of Hope and Sense of Control

The study investigates the unexplored link between childhood socioeconomic status and adult subjective wellbeing using data from a field survey of 568 rural residents from poor areas in China. This study focuses on exploring the relationship between childhood socioeconomic status, hope, sense of control, and adult subjective wellbeing using a structural equation model. Results indicated that hope and sense of control mediated the links between childhood socioeconomic status and adult subjective wellbeing, revealing that hope and sense of control may buffer the negative impacts of childhood poverty experiences on subjective wellbeing. The findings provide new insights into the impacts of childhood socioeconomic status on adult subjective wellbeing and expand the literature on key factors in adult subjective wellbeing.

Resilience, stress and anxiety in pregnancy before and throughout the pandemic: a structural equation modelling approach

The present study explored and compared the link between resilience and pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety, employing two structural equation models. One model focused on pregnant women before the outbreak of the pandemic, and the other on pregnancies throughout the pandemic. For this purpose, a total sample of 690 women during their pregnancy were collected: the Pre-Pandemic Group (P-PG) was composed of 341 pregnant women evaluated prior to the pandemic; and 349 pregnant women assessed at the time of the pandemic constituted the Pandemic Group (PG). The resilience, pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology of the women were assessed. For both samples, resilience was found to lower levels of pregnancy-specific stress, as well as general perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology. Furthermore, pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress showed a covariance relationship and, that these, in turn, increased the anxiety. Moreover, the PG showed greater levels of pregnancy-specific stress, anxiety, somatisations, and obsessions-compulsions, while the P-PG presented higher perceived stress levels.

Tweet topics and sentiments relating to distance learning among Italian Twitter users

The outbreak of COVID-19 forced a dramatic shift in education, from in-person learning to an increased use of distance learning over the past 2 years. Opinions and sentiments regarding this switch from traditional to remote classes can be tracked in real time in microblog messages promptly shared by Twitter users, who constitute a large and ever-increasing number of individuals today. Given this framework, the present study aims to investigate sentiments and topics related to distance learning in Italy from March 2020 to November 2021. A two-step sentiment analysis was performed using the VADER model and the syuzhet package to understand the overall sentiments and emotions. A dynamic latent Dirichlet allocation model (DLDA) was built to identify commonly discussed topics in tweets and their evolution over time. The results show a modest majority of negative opinions, which shifted over time until the trend reversed. Among the eight emotions of the syuzhet package, ‘trust’ was the most positive emotion observed in the tweets, while ‘fear’ and ‘sadness’ were the top negative emotions. Our analysis also identified three topics: (1) requests for support measures for distance learning, (2) concerns about distance learning and its application, and (3) anxiety about the government decrees introducing the red zones and the corresponding restrictions. People’s attitudes changed over time. The concerns about distance learning and its future applications (topic 2) gained importance in the latter stages of 2021, while the first and third topics, which were ranked highly at first, started a steep descent in the last part of the period. The results indicate that even if current distance learning ends, the Italian people are concerned that any new emergency will bring distance learning back into use again.

Covid-19 fear, happiness and stress in adults: the mediating role of psychological resilience and coping with stress

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of coping with stress and psychological resilience in the relationship between happiness and perceived stress of COVID-19 fear in Turkish adults.

METHODS

827 individuals (516 females, 311 males) above 18 years of age and living in Turkey participated in this research. The data of the research was collected through the COVID-19 Fear Scale, Depression-Happiness Scale Short Form, Perceived Stress Scale and Psychological Resilience Scale Short Form.

RESULTS

The results show that fear of COVID-19 negatively predicts happiness and positively predicts perceived stress. According to the results, psychological resilience and coping with perceived stress mediate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and happiness and stress. Moreover, psychological resilience and coping with perceived stress mitigate the impact of COVID-19 fear on happiness and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide evidence as to how to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health. In addition, the results provide information to improve mental health during the pandemic period.KEY POINTSPsychological resilience reduces the effect of COVID-19 on stress and increases happiness levels.Coping with stress reduces the impact of COVID-19 on stress and increases happiness levels.

Staying at Work? The Impact of Social Support on the Perception of the COVID-19 Epidemic and the Mediated Moderating Effect of Career Resilience in Tourism

The COVID-19 epidemic has caused dramatic impacts and changes in the tourism industry, and job insecurity and emotional exhaustion have created psychological stress and negative emotions. Social support for Taiwan tourism workers (travel agency, transportation industry, lodging industry, tourism and leisure industry, etc.) plays an important role in their career resilience. However, not all of the potential social support moderators have a critical impact. This study used PLS-SEM analysis to survey 373 respondents by using an online questionnaire to investigate the critical influence of social support on the spread of COVID-19 using career motivation theory. In addition to the direct relationship between the individual’s psychological resilience and social support, the strategy of social support (family and friends, national relief policies and workplace support) is also pointed out. The results of the study illustrate the effectiveness of workplace support in combating the epidemic. This study provides information on effective resistance to the epidemic, how to prolong career resilience during unexpected shocks and stresses, and how to understand the mechanisms of adaptation or resilience in adversity and complements the study of factors and literature base in resilience research. It is also used as a study of the impact factors and industry strategy planning in future research.

Predictors of happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic in mothers of infants and/or preschoolers: a pre-COVID-19 comparative study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Happiness may help to prevent negative physiological outcomes in response to life events; however, factors contributing to happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been longitudinally investigated. This study explored the predictors of happiness in mothers of young children in Japan using comparable data that were obtained before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We conducted the baseline survey in February 2020, and 4 months later, we also conducted the follow-up survey. Throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan, 4,700 (100 respondents/prefecture) mothers of infants and/or preschoolers (0-6 years) participated in the baseline online survey; 2,489 of these also participated in the follow-up survey.

RESULTS

We performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis and our final model indicated that maternal happiness during COVID-19 pandemic was positively related to employment status (homemaker, β = 0.052, p = 0.014), levels of available social support (average, β = 0.052, p = 0.012, high, β = 0.055, p = 0.010) and happiness score before the pandemic (β = 0.467, p < 0.001), and satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace (average, β = 0.129, p < 0.001; high, β = 0.279, p < 0.001), preventive behavior against COVID-19 (average, β = 0.055, p = 0.002; high, β = 0.045, p = 0.015) and positive attitudes/thinking (β = 0.087, p < 0.001) during the pandemic. In contrast, poor mental health (K6 ≥5, β = -0.042, p = 0.011) before the pandemic and negative changes during the pandemic (≥3, β = -0.085, p < 0.001) were negatively related to maternal happiness during the pandemic. Our final model explained 44.9% of the variance in mothers' happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace, preventive behavior, and positive attitudes/thinking were especially important for maternal happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future study is needed to consider measures against infectious diseases in the workplace that are desirable for the well-being of parents with young children, taking into account the gender perspective.

Self-compassion, Resilience, Fear of COVID-19, Psychological Distress, and Psychological Well-being among Turkish Adults

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine the variables that may affect the psychological distress and psychological well-being of individuals. This study aims to investigate the mediating effects of psychological resilience, fear of COVID-19, and psychological distress on the relationship between self-compassion and psychological well-being among Turkish adults. The participants of this study were chosen through the convenience sampling method. Participants consist of 617 Turkish adults, 461 (74.7%) females and 156 (25.3%) males. The participants' ages vary between 18 and 24 (M age  = 30.44, SD = 11.45). The relations between variables were examined by bootstrapping procedure. The results showed that self-compassion, resilience, fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, and psychological well-being are significantly inter-correlated. Self-compassion significantly predicts psychological well-being through the mediating factors of resilience, fear of COVID-19, and psychological distress. It was also found that psychological distress is a mediating factor for the relationship between fear of COVID-19, resilience, and psychological well-being. The indirect effects of self-compassion on psychological well-being through mediating variables were found to be significant. Based on the findings, it can be said that self-compassion decreases individuals' psychological distress and increases their well-being by increasing their resilience. Consequently, psychoeducational programs designed to increase self-compassion and resilience can be vital to support individuals' mental health. In light of the literature, the results, implications, and limitations were discussed.

The Fear of Contagion and the Attitude Toward the Restrictive Measures Imposed to Face COVID-19 in Italy: The Psychological Consequences Caused by the Pandemic One Year After It Began

The pandemic nature of COVID-19 has caused major changes in health, economy, and society globally. Albeit to a lesser extent, contingent access to shops and places to socialize the imposition of social distancing and the use of indoor masks is measures still in force today (more than a year after the start of the pandemic), with repercussions on economic, social, and psychological levels. The fear of contagion, in fact, has led us to be increasingly suspicious and to isolate ourselves from the remainder of the community. This has had repercussions on the perception of loneliness, with significant psychological consequences, such as the development of stress, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, depressive symptoms. Starting from these assumptions, this research was developed with the aim of deepening the perceptions that the participants have of their own mental health, loneliness, fear linked to contagion, and attitudes toward imposed social distancing. In particular, we wanted to analyze whether there is a relationship between perceived fear and the perceived level of mental health, loneliness, and attitude toward social distancing. Finally, we wanted to analyze whether there are differences related to gender, age, marital status, current working mode, and educational qualifications. The research, performed after the diffusion of the vaccination in Italy, lasted 14 days. The participants were 500 Italians who voluntarily joined the study and were recruited with random cascade sampling. The research followed a quantitative approach. The analyzed data, from participants residing throughout the national territory, allow us to return the picture of the perceptions that Italians have of the fear of contagion, of their level of mental health, of loneliness and of their attitude toward social distancing. In particular, the data show that fear of COVID-19 is an emotional state experienced by the entire population and that young people have suffered more from loneliness and have been less inclined to accept the imposed social distancing. The data that emerged should make policymakers reflect on the need to find functional strategies to combat COVID-19 or other health emergency crises whose effects do not affect the psychological wellbeing of the population.

Brain conditions mediate the association between aging and happiness

As the population ages, the realization of a long and happy life is becoming an increasingly important issue in many societies. Therefore, it is important to clarify how happiness and the brain change with aging. In this study, which was conducted with 417 healthy adults in Japan, the analysis showed that fractional anisotropy (FA) correlated with happiness, especially in the internal capsule, corona radiata, posterior thalamic radiation, cingulum, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. According to previous neuroscience studies, these regions are involved in emotional regulation. In psychological studies, emotional regulation has been associated with improvement in happiness. Therefore, this study is the first to show that FA mediates the relationship between age and subjective happiness in a way that bridges these different fields.

Relationships Between Hostility, Resilience and Intolerance of Uncertainty: A Structural Equation Modeling

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between hostility, resilience, and intolerance of uncertainty within the framework of structural equation modeling. In order to determine the relationship between the concepts, structural equation modeling was made, and the mediation role of resilience between hostility and intolerance of uncertainty was investigated. A total of 359 individuals participated in the study from different regions of Turkey. The short version of the intolerance of uncertainty scale, brief resilience scale, and hostility in pandemic scale were used as research instruments. The test of the measurement model resulted in an acceptable fit to the data, and all loadings of the measured variables on the latent constructs were statistically significant. The test of the direct relationship between hostility and intolerance of uncertainty model and mediation role of resilience between hostility and intolerance of uncertainty resulted in an acceptable fit to the data. The results of the Bootstrap analysis were used to determine whether the mediation role of resilience between hostility and intolerance of uncertainty was statistically significant. According to the results of the research, it is determined that psychological resilience is a partial mediator variable between hostility and intolerance to uncertainty. In order to control the feelings of intolerance and hostility toward uncertainty, which are risky for the psychological health of individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic, the protective intervention factors of improving psychological resilience and increasing the capacity to tolerate uncertainty should be addressed in terms of individual and social mental health.

Investigating the Relationships between COVID-19 Quality of Life, Loneliness, Happiness, and Internet Addiction among K-12 Teachers and School Administrators-A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

It is well acknowledged that the roles of both school administrators and teachers have changed due to the global education crisis caused by COVID-19. During this challenging and critical period, it is essential to investigate how those working in the education sector who undertake strategic tasks for sustainable education are affected by the new conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the interrelationships between COVID-19 quality of life, loneliness, happiness, and Internet addiction. The research was designed according to the relational survey model, was conducted with 432 school administrators and teachers working in K-12 schools. The research data was collected through online questionnaires, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test and analyze proposed hypotheses. The study’s results revealed a positive relationship between the COVID-19 related quality of life and loneliness, and that loneliness significantly positively predicts Internet addiction. In this context, due to the impact of COVID-19 on the life quality, the participants’ loneliness levels significantly increased, and this increase in loneliness caused them to become addicted to using the Internet. Interestingly, it was also determined that a positive relationship exists between loneliness and happiness and that as the loneliness of individuals increased, their level of happiness also increased. In many studies conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a negative relationship was revealed between loneliness and happiness. In the current study conducted during the pandemic, the relationship between the two variables was positive. SEM results revealed that COVID-19 directly affects the quality of life, Internet addiction, loneliness, and happiness of school administrators and teachers. Furthermore, it was determined that Internet addiction indirectly affects the relationship between loneliness and happiness.

Association between positive psychological traits and changes in dietary behaviour related to first COVID-19 lockdown: A general population-based study

Background

The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led many countries to implement lockdown measures, which resulted in changes in dietary behaviours that could persist over the long term and have associated health consequences. Psychological traits may impact these changes given their known association with dietary behaviours. We aimed to investigate in a population-based study, whether positive psychological traits were associated with changes of snacking behaviour and food consumption observed during the first COVID-19 lockdown period.

Design

In 2016, levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness and mastery were assessed in 33,766 adults of the French NutriNet-Santé cohort. Snacking and food group consumption were assessed in April–May 2020. Association between psychological traits and changes (no change, increase, decrease) in snacking and food group consumption were assessed using logistic regressions. Multiple correspondence analysis followed by ascending hierarchical classification were used to derive clusters of dietary behaviours. Covariance analyses were used to compare mean scores of psychological traits between clusters. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, anxiety and depressive symptomatology.

Results

Participants with higher levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness or mastery were less likely to change their snacking behaviour and food group consumption of various food groups. Individuals with lower levels were more likely to make changes, with either unhealthy (e.g., less fruits and vegetables, more processed meat) or healthy (e.g., more pasta/rice (whole-grain)) changes. Overall, individuals showed higher levels of positive psychological traits in the “no change” cluster, followed by the “healthy” and the “unhealthy” cluster (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Individuals with higher levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness or mastery were less impacted by the lockdown in terms of dietary behaviours.

Mental Pain, Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Emergency: the Moderating Role of Tolerance for Mental Pain

The psychosocial stressors related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have been shown to lead to an exacerbation of suicide risk. The present study aims to examine (a) the contribution of mental pain intensity to psychological distress and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) the protective role of mental pain tolerance in buffering these adverse mental health effects. A total of 652 adults (74.2% female, M = 33.99 years, SD = 13.74) were assessed through an online survey during the first mandatory lockdown in Italy. Participants completed measures of mental pain intensity and tolerance, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Results showed that mental pain intensity significantly predicted increases in psychological distress and suicidal ideation while mental pain tolerance significantly buffered the adverse effects of mental pain intensity on psychological distress and suicidal ideation. The findings highlight that tolerance for mental pain may act as a powerful protective factor during the pandemic. Evidence-based public health interventions fostering tolerance for mental pain during a pandemic are needed in order to effectively reduce suicide in potential risk groups.

The effect of COVID-19 on tourists' intention to resume hotel consumption: The role of resilience

This study aims to better understand how one particular personal capacity-psychological resilience-may help consumers adapt to the 'new normal' provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hotel context, which is characterized by high uncertainty. We conducted a quantitative empirical study among consumers of hotel services, which showed that their psychological resilience has a negative effect on their perceived health risk and emotional risk. This negative effect on risk helps increase tourist intention to return to consuming hotel services despite the on-going pandemic. The findings are of value to the literature and the professional sector alike, as they demonstrate both relationships jointly for the first time. The work can help hotel firms to design more effective strategies for approaching customers in the 'new normal'.

Psychological Distress and Happiness of Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender People During the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic: Is There a Need for Public Health Policy Intervention?

Since the global onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the disease has significantly impacted mental health. This impact is likely to be further exacerbated for groups who were already marginalized. This paper shares results from a broader study of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in Bali, Indonesia and includes a focus on psychological distress and happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic; applying sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics as potential mediators. Psychological distress and the level of happiness were measured by The Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to September 2020. Of the 416 participants, complete data were available for 363 participants. The majority of participants were aged 26-40 years, currently single, were born outside Bali, were currently living in an urban area, and over one-third were living with HIV. While all were MSM, the majority identified as homosexual/tend to be homosexual (71.3%), however 54 (14.9%) identified themselves as heterosexual. The majority (251, 69.1%) reported moderate to very high psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The binary logistic regression analysis identified five factors to be significantly associated with higher psychological distress: being a student, reporting higher levels of stigma, had ever experienced discrimination, felt better prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and less happy than the average person. When homosexual were compared with heterosexual participants, those who identified themselves as being homosexual reported significantly lower psychological distress compared to those identified themselves as heterosexual, which may be associated with these participants not disclosing their status as MSM and the stigma around MSM. Those who considered themselves to be less happy than the average person (316, 87.1%) were more likely to live with a partner and to report moderate to very high psychological distress. Based on the findings, interventions should focus on strategies to reduce stigma, provide non-discriminatory services, and improve access to essential health services.

Burnout in Professional Psychotherapists: Relationships with Self-Compassion, Work-Life Balance, and Telepressure

Though negative impacts of COVID-19 on occupational mental health have been reported, the mental health of psychotherapists has not been evaluated in depth. As this occupational group treats ever-increasing mental health problems, it is essential to appraise key factors for their mental health. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore burnout of professional psychotherapists. A total of 110 participants completed self-report measures regarding burnout, self-compassion, work–life balance and telepressure. Correlation, regression and moderation analyses were conducted. Both of the burnout components—emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation—were positively associated with weekly working hours and telepressure, and negatively associated with age, self-compassion and work–life balance. Weekly working hours and work–life balance were significant predictors of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Lastly, self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between work–life balance and emotional exhaustion but did not mediate the relationship between work–life balance and depersonalisation. The findings suggest that maintaining high work–life balance is particularly important for the mental health of psychotherapists, protecting them from burnout. Moreover, self-compassion needs to be cultivated to mitigate emotional exhaustion. Mental health care for this occupational group needs to be implemented to achieve sustainable mental health care for workers and the public.

Living with the risk of being infected: COPD patients' experiences during the coronavirus pandemic

Aims

To explore the existential significance of living with the risk of being infected with coronavirus in patients with COPD.

Background

Distancing measures aim to break the coronavirus transmission chains. Physical separation from social networks and social isolation are correlated with anxiety and depression. People with a chronic obstructive lung disease are particularly vulnerable due to the increased risk of a serious course of illness, so therefore many of them choose self‐isolation to protect themselves from COVID‐19.

Design

A qualitative exploratory study using individual semi‐structured interviews.

Methods

From June–September 2020, 13 participants were recruited through advertisements on Facebook as a convenience sample for semi‐structured individual interviews. The interviews took place through virtual platforms or in physical meetings. Data were analysed using Ricoeur's phenomenological approach, involving naïve reading, a structural analysis and a critical interpretation strategy. The study has been reported in line with COREQ guidelines.

Findings

Living with the threat of being infected with coronavirus has greatly affected everyday life for patients with COPD. The nagging fear of coronavirus as a death threat was a dominant feeling, together with anxiety, loneliness and hope. With self‐isolation, followed concerns of being forgotten and thoughts of the future, balancing between fearing the worst, and hoping the best.

Conclusions

Patients with moderate to severe COPD feel compelled to self‐isolate, as they fear dying from COVID‐19. The study revealed a need for proactive contact with health professionals to calm the patients' feelings of deprivation, loneliness, hopelessness and anxiety.

Relevance to clinical practice

Information about the patient's perspective may be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at giving adequate information, supporting hope, implementing digital or virtual solutions to keep in contact and avoid the feeling of being alone and forgotten during a pandemic crisis.

Self-compassion, intolerance of uncertainty, fear of COVID-19, and well-being: A serial mediation investigation

The present study examined the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty and fear of COVID-19 in the relationship between self-compassion and well-being. The participants were comprised of 667 Turkish individuals (465 females and 202 males; aged between 18 and 73 years) from 75 of 81 cities in Turkey. The model was investigated using bootstrapping. The results showed that self-compassion, intolerance of uncertainty, fear of COVID-19, and well-being are significantly interrelated. Moreover, a serial mediation was found among the variables: individuals with a growth self-compassion to report lower intolerance of uncertainty, which further decreased perceived fear of COVID-19, and subsequently weakened well-being. Results are discussed in the context of COVID-19 and the well-being literature, and theoretical and practical implications were also provided.