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Gómez-Salgado C, Camacho-Vega JC, Allande-Cussó R, Ruiz-Frutos C, Ortega-Moreno M, Martín-Pereira J, Macías-Toronjo I, Prieto-Callejero B, García-Iglesias JJ, Fagundo-Rivera J, Gómez-Salgado J. Evaluation of the Level of Psychological Distress in Construction Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Spain. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1224. [PMID: 38921338 PMCID: PMC11204114 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge for construction companies, which were confronted with the need to prevent the enormous negative socio-psychological impact of the pandemic on their employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of psychological distress among construction workers in an advanced phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Andalusia, southern Spain. For this, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using online questionnaires with data on sociodemographic variables and employment situation, COVID-19 pandemic-related data, and Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). A total of 860 questionnaires from all provinces of Andalusia, Spain, were collected between March and May 2022. Descriptive statistical analyses and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests were performed, followed by logistic regression analysis. The incidence of psychological distress was higher among women, individuals under 43 years of age, those with a family income below EUR 1200, participants whose working conditions had been affected by the pandemic, those who had not received adequate means or specific training to protect themselves from infection, those who had experienced symptoms, those who had suffered side effects after vaccination, and those who had been hospitalised. The logistic regression analysis predicted the occurrence of psychological distress in this study by the effect of the pandemic on mental/emotional well-being, the working conditions affected during the pandemic, health-related variables, and the age of the worker. The correctly classified percentage was 75.1%. Assessing psychological distress in construction sectors may allow for the identification of vulnerable groups or even help to reduce the number of errors in daily practice and potential risks of occupational injury or illness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Carlos Camacho-Vega
- Department of Building Construction II, Higher Technical School of Building Engineering, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Regina Allande-Cussó
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Carlos Ruiz-Frutos
- Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
- Safety and Health Postgraduate Programme, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil 092301, Ecuador
| | - Mónica Ortega-Moreno
- Department of Economy, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Juan Jesús García-Iglesias
- Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | - Javier Fagundo-Rivera
- Centro Universitario de Enfermería Cruz Roja, University of Seville, 41009 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Gómez-Salgado
- Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
- Safety and Health Postgraduate Programme, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil 092301, Ecuador
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Matud MP, Zueco J, Del Pino-Espejo MJ, Fortes D, Beleña MÁ, Santos C, Díaz A. The Evolution of Psychological Distress Levels in University Students in Spain during Different Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk and Protective Factors. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:2583-2598. [PMID: 37998070 PMCID: PMC10670007 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13110180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study assesses the evolution of stressful events and psychological distress in male and female students over three different time periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: the initial "lockdown", with no face-to-face teaching; the "new normality" period, when classes were resumed; and two years after the first wave of the pandemic. The participants were 1200 Spanish university students who were assessed for psychological distress, COVID-19-associated stressful events, social support, and self-esteem. Female students reported more stressful events and higher levels of psychological distress than male students during the "lockdown" and "new normality" time periods of the first wave of the pandemic. However, these differences disappeared in the third period tested, two years after the first wave of the pandemic, with female and male students showing no differences in psychological distress or in the number of stressful events. The main risk predictors of psychological distress during the first wave of the pandemic were lower self-esteem and having suffered a high number of stressful events. The last variable, number of stressful events associated with COVID-19, lost most its effect two years later, when only self-esteem presented a strong and highly significant predictive role.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pilar Matud
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (M.P.M.); (D.F.); (C.S.)
| | - Jesús Zueco
- Department of Microbiology, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain;
| | | | - Demelsa Fortes
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (M.P.M.); (D.F.); (C.S.)
| | - María Ángeles Beleña
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Cristina Santos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (M.P.M.); (D.F.); (C.S.)
| | - Amelia Díaz
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
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Mohamad N, Ismail R, Ibrahim MF, Abdul Shukor IH, Mohamad MZ, Mahmud MF, Yaacob SS. Assessing Mental Health Outcomes in Quarantine Centres: A Cross-Sectional Study during COVID-19 in Malaysia. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2339. [PMID: 37628536 PMCID: PMC10454547 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11162339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, persons under surveillance (PUS) were isolated in quarantine centres instead of at home. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the mental health issues experienced by these persons. This study aimed to assess mental health outcomes and associated factors among PUS and frontline workers at quarantine centres. This study conducted an analysis of secondary data from a cross-sectional survey carried out by the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS). The MHPSS employed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to evaluate mental health outcomes across 49 quarantine centres in Malaysia. The study included a total of 4577 respondents. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 0.9%, 11.4%, and 10.2%, respectively. Frontline workers and being part of the younger age group were found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Other factors associated with mental health issues were being female, staying at an institution-type centre, and a longer duration of the stay or work at the centre. In conclusion, assessing the mental health status and its associated factors among quarantine centre occupants is crucial for developing future strategies to safeguard their mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Mohamad
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rohaida Ismail
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Faiz Ibrahim
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Imanul Hassan Abdul Shukor
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Zulfinainie Mohamad
- Non-Communicable Disease Control Sector, Selangor State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Farhan Mahmud
- Non-Communicable Disease Control Sector, Selangor State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Sara Yaacob
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia
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Mendoza Bernal I, Sánchez-Teruel D, Robles-Bello MA, Sarhani-Robles A, Sarhani-Robles M. Predictors of resilience in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study comparing the first and second waves. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:143. [PMID: 37131194 PMCID: PMC10153033 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01077-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the effects of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 on health professionals, especially nurses, from the point of view of the protective factors of mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the level of resilience in healthcare workers, to determine whether there were differences between two moments of the pandemic. Applying a longitudinal study, participants (N = 590) from healthcare workers completed surveys in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the second wave. Socio-demographic and psychosocial variables such as resilience, emotional intelligence, optimism, self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression are used. There were differences between the two waves in all protective and risk variables except anxiety. In the first wave, there were three socio-demographic and psychosocial variables that explained 67.1% of the variance in resilience. In the first wave, three sociodemographic and psychosocial variables explained 67.1% of the variance in resilience in healthcare professionals. The enhancement of specific protective variables in healthcare professionals exposed to situations of high emotional stress can minimise the negative impact of the situation and promote more resilient responses in this professional group as a result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irhomis Mendoza Bernal
- Psychology Department, University of Jaen, Campus Las Lagunillas, s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain
| | - David Sánchez-Teruel
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
- Spanish Society of Suicidology, Madrid, Spain.
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Pilar Matud M, del Pino MJ, Bethencourt JM, Estefanía Lorenzo D. Stressful Events, Psychological Distress and Well-Being during the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Gender Analysis. APPLIED RESEARCH IN QUALITY OF LIFE 2022; 18:1-29. [PMID: 36619208 PMCID: PMC9803894 DOI: 10.1007/s11482-022-10140-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigates gender differences in stressful events, psychological distress and well-being during the second wave of COVID-19 in Spain, analyzing women's and men's risk and resilience factors for psychological distress and for well-being. Participants were 1758 individuals from the general population, 50.8% women, aged between 18 and 79 years. Women and men did not differ in age, number of children, educational level, occupation or marital status. The participants were assessed by seven self-report questionnaires and scales. The results revealed that women experienced more psychological distress, more negative feelings, more stressful events related to the COVID-19 pandemic, more social support, and lower thriving and self-esteem than men. Multiple regression analyses showed that, in the case of women and men as well, self-esteem was the most important predictor of higher well-being and lower psychological distress and negative feelings while more COVID-19 pandemic-related stressful events were associated with higher psychological distress and lower well-being. Another important predictor of greater well-being for either gender was social support while unemployment was associated with lower well-being. In women and men, a higher educational level was associated with greater psychological distress and negative feelings; the male sample revealed that psychological distress was also connected to younger age while in women it was associated with lower instrumental social support. The results suggest that gender plays an important role in the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the risk being higher for women than for men.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Pilar Matud
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de La Laguna, Apartado 456, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
| | - Mª José del Pino
- Department of Sociology, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Bethencourt
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de La Laguna, Apartado 456, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
| | - D. Estefanía Lorenzo
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de La Laguna, Apartado 456, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
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Lafarge C, Milani R, Cahill S, Görzig A. 2020 COVID-19-Related Lockdown: the Relationships Between Coping Strategies, Psychological Adjustment and Resilience Among a Non-clinical Sample of British Adults. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2022; 3:297-307. [PMCID: PMC9584239 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-022-00079-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
To curb COVID-19 infections, the British government enforced a series of lockdowns resulting in restrictions on movement and socialisation. This study assessed which groups may have been at higher risk of emotional distress among a non-clinical sample of British adults. It also examined which coping strategies, if any, related to more positive psychological adjustment and higher resilience scores. A cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. Using a convenience sample, an online survey was conducted in April–June 2020. One hundred ninety-four participants completed the Brief COPE (coping), the GAD-7 (anxiety), the PHQ-9 (depression), the CD-RISC (resilience), and provided demographic information. Participants used mainly coping strategies considered to be adaptive. They exhibited mild/moderate anxiety and depression symptoms, and moderate resilience scores. However, some individuals displayed significantly higher distress symptoms and lower resilience scores than others, especially those aged under 35 (particularly 18–24), those not working, those who were single and/or childless. Results also show that coping strategies including substance use, behavioural disengagement and self-blame were associated with anxiety and/or depression symptoms, conversely, positive reframing related to lower anxiety symptomatology. Interventions promoting positive reframing may be helpful. Similarly, interventions promoting connection to others, a factor known to enhance resilience, may be beneficial. This is particularly relevant to groups who may be more at risk of psychological distress, such as young individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lafarge
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Raffaella Milani
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Sharon Cahill
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London, TW8 9GA UK
| | - Anke Görzig
- Psychology and Counselling, School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LS UK
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Gender and Psychosocial Differences in Psychological Resilience among a Community of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12091414. [PMID: 36143198 PMCID: PMC9504613 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12091414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aimed at exploring gender and additional sociodemographic differences in psychological resilience, as well as the association between resilience and psychological distress in older adults, during the first lockdown in Italy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants attended an online survey during the first lockdown in May 2020. Psychological distress was assessed through the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, the Resilience Scale (RS) was administered to evaluate psychological resilience, and sociodemographic variables were also collected. The study involved 108 community older adults (mean age 70.02 ± 3.5 years). Comparisons revealed that women reported significantly lower total scores of RS (p = 0.027), as well as lower levels of resilience-related domains, namely Meaningfulness (p = 0.049), Self-Reliance (p = 0.011), Perseverance (p = 0.035), and Existential Aloneness (p = 0.014), compared to men. Significantly higher RS scores were found in older adults being involved in a relationship, compared to those not involved in relationships (p = 0.026), and in older adults with children (p = 0.015), compared to those without offspring, suggesting the importance for older adults of not dealing alone with such a dramatic and stressful event, such as the pandemic. Negative correlations were found between psychological resilience and stress, depression, and anxiety. Linear regressions revealed that lower RS total scores, as well as lower scores in the majority of the RS scales, were associated with greater levels of stress, greater levels of anxiety, and greater levels of depressive symptoms. This study suggested that older women might appear more vulnerable in facing the pandemic, compared to men; having not lived alone through the lockdown period might also be considered as a factor of resilience for older adults.
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