COVID-19 related fear and mental health in Indian sample: The buffering effect of support system

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

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

Mental Health in the Post-Lockdown Scenario: A Scientometric Investigation of the Main Thematic Trends of Research

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, researchers and clinicians have published scientific articles on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its medical, organizational, financial, and psychological implications. However, many effects have been observed in the post-lockdown scenario. In this study, we adopted a scientometric-bibliometric approach to drawing the state of the art regarding the emotional and psychological effects of the pandemic after the lockdown. In Scopus, we found 791 papers that were subsequently analyzed using CiteSpace. The document co-citation analysis (DCA) computation generated a network of eight major clusters, each representing a central area of investigation. Specifically, one major cluster-cluster no. 1-focuses on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and individuals' ability to develop adaptive coping mechanisms and resilience. The results allow us to frame the fields covered by researchers more precisely and the areas that still need more investigation.

Increased suicide rates in Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak: An analysis spanning from 2016 to 2021

Objective

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted mental health worldwide, and suicide can be a serious outcome of this. Thus, suicide characteristics were examined before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico City.

Methods

This is a retrospective study including all Mexico City residents who had a coroner's record with a cause of death of intentional self-harm (ICD-10) from January 2016 to December 2021.

Results

From 2016 to 2021, 3636 people committed suicide, of which 2869 were males (78.9%) and 767 females (21.1%). From 2016 to 2019 the suicide rate remained constant (∼6 per 100000) and dramatically increased in 2020 (10.45 per 100,000), to return to the levels of the previous year in 2021 (6.95 per 100000). The suicide rate in 2020 specifically increased from January to June (COVID-19 outbreak) in all age groups. Moreover, every year young people (15-24 years) have the maximum suicide rate and depression was the main suicide etiology.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak increased the suicide rate, regardless of age, but suicide prevalence was higher in males and young people, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings confirm that suicide is a complex and multifactorial problem and will allow the establishment of new guidelines for prevention and care strategies.

Somatic symptoms associated with mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this article was to systematically review the prevalence of somatic symptoms in patients, healthcare workers and general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objectives were to record the association between somatic symptoms and indices of mental distress and to record the qualitative characteristics of such somatic complaints.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA methodology we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for primary research reporting on somatic symptoms in association with mental distress. We specifically sought papers reporting on bodily distress disorder, somatic symptoms disorder or medically unexplained symptoms.

RESULTS

1569 papers were retrieved, which yielded 36 relevant studies after screening. 15 studies referred to healthcare workers, 13 to general population, 5 to COVID-19 patients, 2 compared medical with non-medical professionals and 1 was studying COVID-19 patients some of which were also healthcare workers. The reported prevalence of somatic symptoms ranged from 7.4% to 67.8%. Commonly seen symptoms were shortness of breath, dyspnea, palpitations and pain in arms, legs and joints.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review suggests that somatic symptoms are very frequent during the pandemic and are often linked to mental distress. All three population groups are affected.

Emotional fear of COVID-19, but not physiological expressions of fear, explains variability in COVID-19's impact on individuals' lives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and robust impact on individuals' lives and has particularly negatively affected individuals' experiences with fear of catching COVID-19. To measure this fear, researchers created the unidimensional Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). However, some exploratory factor analysis studies suggested the presence of two factors, which are 1) emotional fear and 2) physiological expressions of fear. In the current exploratory study, we aimed to confirm this factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis and to examine how these two new factors of the FCV-19S explain variability in the impacts of COVID-19 on nine life domains (i.e., finances, loved ones, job, safety, school, mental health, physical health, social activities, and quality of life). Participants were undergraduate students (n = 224) from a Midwestern University (White: 60.7%; Male: 48.0%) who participated in the study for course credit. The results revealed that the two-factor model had an excellent fit for the FCV-19S, both subscales had excellent psychometric properties, and the emotional fear subscale significantly explained variability in all nine life domains (7% to 54%). However, the physiological fear subscale only significantly explained variability in the physical health domain along with emotional fear (28%). The findings suggested that emotional fear of COVID-19 may explain more variability in the impact of COVID-19 across life domains, while physiological fear may only explain the effects of COVID-19 on physical health. We further discussed implications, limitations, and future directions.

Fear of COVID-19, stress and depression: A meta-analytic test of the mediating role of anxiety

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the lives of millions of individuals physiologically, behaviorally, socially, and/or psychologically. Moreover, there is now much empirical evidence that mental health problems have increased during the pandemic period and these problems have various consequences. The changes in the mood states of individuals due to the pandemic underpins the rationale of the present study. The aim of the study was to identify the cross-sectional associations between fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, and depression by using two stage-meta-analytic structural equation modeling (TS-MASEM).

DESIGN

This is a meta-analytic structural equation modelling study.

METHOD

A systematic literature review initially identified 4840 studies. As a result of applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 studies comprising 28 samples (reporting 120 effect sizes) were eligible for inclusion in the current TS-MASEM (N = 16,452).

RESULTS

The results showed significant associations between fear of COVID-19, stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the mediation role of anxiety in the association between depression and fear of COVID-19 and stress was explored.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the results did not allow for causal inferences regarding depression, they provide insight into the possible consequences of fear of COVID-19 and comorbid problems for clinicians and researchers.

The explanatory ability of COVID-19 life changes on quality of life: A comparison of those who have had and not had COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly negatively affected individuals' quality of life through multiple means such as social isolation, exacerbated mental health conditions, and financial instability. Multiple studies have demonstrated that one of the negative correlates of quality of life is the perceived danger of COVID-19 (i.e., fear of and anxiety about COVID-19). The current study addresses limitations in the literature by testing how life changes from COVID-19 explain the direct effect of the perceived danger of COVID-19 on quality of life using a United States sample between those who have had COVID-19 compared to those who have not had COVID-19. Undergraduate students (n = 196) from a Midwestern University in the United States participated in this study for course credit (White: n = 109; 55.61%; Male: n = 94; 48.0%). Participants completed this study online and at home where they responded to a demographic form and several measures of the effects of COVID-19 and quality of life. The results suggest that COVID-19 life changes fully explain the negative relationship between the perceived danger of COVID-19 and quality of life, but only in those who have had COVID-19. In the group that has never had COVID-19, the only significant relationship was the positive relationship between the perceived danger of COVID-19 on COVID-19 life changes. The results suggest that researchers may consider steering research away from the perceived danger of COVID-19 and onto remedying life changes from COVID-19 to improve individuals' quality of life. I further discuss the theoretical findings, implications, limitations, and future directions.

Volunteer community service providers during the COVID‐19 crisis response in China: What are their personal needs and how to respond?

The needs of volunteer community service providers (VCSPs), who are the main responders to community crises, have received significantly less attention for the contributions they have been making during the COVID‐19 crisis. A mixed‐method research framework was used in this study, which involved semi‐structured interviews with 13 NGOs and questionnaire responses from 430 VCSPs in Hubei, China to assess the VCSPs' personal needs based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It was found that the VCSPs had safety, love, belonging, self‐esteem, and self‐actualization personal needs, all of which were closely related to family, partners, organizations, society and the government. The discussions revealed that the more experienced VCSPs needed special attention and family support was extremely significant for VCSPs in crisis. Several recommendations to meet VCSPs' personal needs are proposed that could have valuable reference value for emergency managers when organizing and supporting VCSPs in contingencies.

Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms, Interpersonal Sensitivity and Social Support of Employees Before and During the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-lag Study

This study examined the correlation between depressive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and social support before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and verified causal relationships among them. The study used Social Support Scale and Symptom Self-Rating Scale to investigate relevant variables. A total of 1,414 employees from company were recruited for this longitudinal study, which a follow up study was conducted on the same group of participants 1 year later. Paired sample t-test results showed that significant differences were only found in social support, not in depressive symptoms or interpersonal sensitivity. The results of correlation analysis showed that social support, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal sensitivity were significantly correlated between wave 1 and wave 2. The cross-lag autoregressive pathway showed that employees’ social support level, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal sensitivity all showed moderate stability. Crossing paths showed that wave 1 social support could significantly predict wave 2 depressive symptoms (β = −0.21, p < 0.001) and wave 2 interpersonal sensitivity (β = −0.21, p < 0.001). Wave 1 depressive symptoms (β = −0.10, p < 0.01) could significantly predict wave 2 social support, while wave 1 interpersonal sensitivity (β = 0.07, p = 0.10) could not predict wave 2 social support. Social support can be considered as a protective factor against mental health problems.

Fear of COVID-19 and its association with mental health-related factors: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The severity of COVID-19 remains high worldwide. Therefore, millions of individuals are likely to suffer from fear of COVID-19 and related mental health factors.

AIMS

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize empirical evidence to understand fear of COVID-19 and its associations with mental health-related problems during this pandemic period.

METHOD

Relevant studies were searched for on five databases (Scopus, ProQuest, EMBASE, PubMed Central, and ISI Web of Knowledge), using relevant terms (COVID-19-related fear, anxiety, depression, mental health-related factors, mental well-being and sleep problems). All studies were included for analyses irrespective of their methodological quality, and the impact of quality on pooled effect size was examined by subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis pooled data from 91 studies comprising 88 320 participants (mean age 38.88 years; 60.66% females) from 36 countries. The pooled estimated mean of fear of COVID-19 was 13.11 (out of 35), using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental health-related factors were mostly moderate (Fisher's z = 0.56 for mental health-related factors; 0.54 for anxiety; 0.42 for stress; 0.40 for depression; 0.29 for sleep problems and -0.24 for mental well-being). Methodological quality did not affect these associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Fear of COVID-19 has associations with various mental health-related factors. Therefore, programmes for reducing fear of COVID-19 and improving mental health are needed.

Cyberchondria, but not preventive behavior, mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and somatic burden: Evidence from Russia

BACKGROUND

There is extensive available research on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 pandemic and physical symptoms. This study was the first to examine the cyberchondria and COVID-19 preventive behavior as mediators of this relationship.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2021, during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. The participants were 2,011 Russian-speaking volunteers aged 18 years and older. They completed questionnaires on somatic burden, cyberchondria, COVID-19 preventive behavior, and fear of COVID-19 pandemic. Mediation analysis was used to explore the mediating roles of cyberchondria and preventive behavior in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and somatic burden.

RESULTS

Fear of COVID-19 positively predicted somatic burden, cyberchondria, and COVID-19 preventive behavior. Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between fear of COVID-19 pandemic and somatic burden was mediated by cyberchondria (effect = 0.08, bootstrapping SE = 0.01, bootstrapping 95% CI [0.08, 0.12]), but not COVID-19 preventive behavior (effect = 0.02, bootstrapping SE = 0.01, bootstrapping 95% CI [0.00, 0.05]).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that cyberchondria had negative effects on somatic burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge of the mediating role of cyberchondria may be used by health care workers when consulting persons with physical health complaints and psychosomatic disorders.