A profile analysis of COVID-19 stress-related reactions: The importance of early childhood abuse, psychopathology, and interpersonal relationships

Parenting experiences of marriage immigrant women in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive phenomenological study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the experiential meaning of child-rearing for marriage immigrant women in Korea in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

Using the hermeneutic descriptive phenomenology framework developed by Colaizzi, 10 marriage immigrant women rearing preschool and school-age children were invited through purposive and snowball sampling from two multicultural support centers in Korea. The participants were rearing one or two children, and their original nationalities were Vietnamese, Japanese, Cambodian, and Chinese. Individual in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted from September 1 to November 30, 2021. We extracted significant statements from the transcripts, transformed these into abstract formulations, and organized them into theme clusters and themes to authentically capture the essence of the participants' subjective experiences.

RESULTS

Four theme clusters with 14 themes were derived. The four theme clusters identified were "navigating child healthcare alone," "guilt for not providing a social experience," "worry about media-dependent parenting," and "feelings of incompleteness and exclusion." This study explored the perspectives of mothers raising children as marriage migrant women who experienced physical and emotional health crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore that marriage immigrant women encountered heightened challenges in managing their children's health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic due to linguistic and cultural barriers limiting access to healthcare and information. Additionally, these women experienced considerable emotional stress from perceived inadequacies in providing a holistic social and developmental environment for their children under extensive social restrictions.

Transdiagnostic factors in the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining the role of childhood abuse and neglect in establishing latent profiles of risk and resilience

BACKGROUND

Ample studies have focused on the negative consequences of COVID-19 on mental well-being, but fewer have explored the specific role of childhood abuse and neglect in the context of risk and resilience during this unprecedented crisis.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify distinct profiles of individuals based on their experiences of childhood abuse and neglect, coping strategies, and psycho-social transdiagnostic risk and protective factors, using a person-centered approach.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A convenience sample of 914 Israelis completed self-report questionnaires during the second wave of COVID-19.

METHODS

Latent Profile Analysis was employed based on levels of childhood abuse and neglect, coping strategies, and established factors underpinning risk and resilience in mental health: dissociation, self-criticism, self-efficacy, self-compassion, attachment insecurity, psychological resilience, mentalizing, distress disclosure, psychopathology, and relationship satisfaction. Profiles were compared in COVID-19-related distress and well-being using ANOVAs.

RESULTS

A four-profile solution was found to be optimal for describing individuals with different profiles of risk and resilience: "risk" (5.1 %)-individuals with meaningfully high levels of childhood abuse and neglect and dissociation; "vulnerable" (14.2 %)-individuals high in risk factors and low in protective factors; "moderately resilient" (47.6 %)-those with moderate levels of protective and risk factors; "highly resilient" (33.1 %)-individuals high in protective factors and low in risk factors; groups differed in mental well-being and COVID-19-related distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight the importance of childhood abuse and neglect in differentiating between the two distinct profiles of at-risk individuals. Implications for risk assessment and treatment in the context of potential traumatic stress are discussed.

War-Time Stress and Sexual Well-Being in Israel

Objective

This study explored the relationship between war-related stressors and sexual well-being among a civilian population during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, emphasizing a comprehensive assessment of sexual satisfaction, function, and distress. We aimed to investigate how direct exposure, media exposure, and acute stress symptoms during the war contribute to various dimensions of sexual well-being using a quasi-longitudinal online survey method.

Methods

An online survey with a convenience sample of 1033 Israeli adults, utilizing measures of direct and media exposure to war stress, acute stress symptoms, and various aspects of sexual well-being, both pre-war and present was distributed. Data analysis involved Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression.

Results

There were significant associations between stress-related variables and sexual well-being, highlighting the differential contribution of direct exposure, media exposure, and acute stress symptoms. Direct exposure to stress was uniquely associated with sexual dysfunction, while media exposure and acute stress symptoms contributed significantly to predicting various aspects of sexual well-being.

Conclusions

Recognizing the multifaceted impact of stress during wartime on sexual well-being is crucial for developing comprehensive mental health interventions that address individual and societal factors. This study contributes valuable insights into the relationships between stress-related variables and sexual well-being during wartime, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches in addressing the intimate challenges individuals face during times of conflict.

Contributions of Trauma and Economic Insecurity to Psychological Distress in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

Racially minoritized women with limited socioeconomic resources are at increased risk for adverse psychological outcomes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disproportionate rates of trauma exposure and economic insecurity likely heighten risk for these outcomes among socioeconomically vulnerable individuals, but the unique contributions of these factors are poorly understood. As such, we examined trauma and economic factors as predictors of pandemic-related psychological distress and symptoms.

Methods

Ninety-six women recruited for a trauma research study (91.7% Black, Mage=38.3 years, SDage=11.8 years) completed measures of trauma exposure, economic insecurity, and several items assessing psychological distress and symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined concern for mental and physical health impacts of COVID-19 as well as changes in self-reported levels of anxiety and anhedonia from the three months prior to the pandemic to the past two weeks. Linear regression analyses were used to assess contributions of trauma exposure and economic insecurity to COVID-19-related distress.

Results

Childhood maltreatment and lifetime trauma exposure did not predict COVID-19-related distress; however, financial concern significantly contributed to concern for the physical health impact of COVID-19 (B = .30, p < .05). Food insecurity emerged as the only significant predictor of concern for mental health impact of COVID-19 (B=.91, p < .01). Housing instability was the only significant predictor of COVID-19-related increases in anhedonia (B = -.30, p < .05).

Conclusions

Economic insecurity, namely self-reported financial concern, food insecurity, and housing instability, was related to COVID-19-related psychological distress in a sample of predominately Black American women living in under-resourced communities. Findings may help identify populations at risk for COVID-19-related psychological distress and symptoms and develop effective interventions, such as expanding access to nutritious food sources and housing support, for minoritized community members.

The Evolution of Psychological Distress Levels in University Students in Spain during Different Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk and Protective Factors

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.

A Person-Centered Approach to Emotional Security: Latent Profile Analysis of the Dark Triad and Psychological Symptoms

Few studies have examined emotional security utilizing a person-centered approach. Therefore, in the present study, we conceptualized a multidimensional construct that includes psychological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) and the dark triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy). Applying latent profile analysis (LPA) allows the exploration of the interaction of emotional security with the dark triad traits and psychological symptoms in the sample at the level of sub-classes. Depression, stress, anxiety, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were determined as profile indicators. Moreover, satisfaction with life and the psychological well-being of the sub-classes were predicted. Data were gathered from 558 participants (418 females, %74.9) with an average age of 22.44 years). LPA indicated four distinct profiles: 'High emotional security and low psychological symptoms, and dark triad traits' (22%), 'Low emotional security and high psychological symptoms, dark triad traits' (5%), 'Low emotional security and moderate dark triad traits' (28%), 'Moderate emotional security, psychological symptoms, and dark triad traits' (45%). Mixture modeling approach-based research provides a complementary view of the previous psychopathology literature. The findings could help practitioners target at-risk university students with low emotional security, low psychological well-being, and low life satisfaction and design programs to aid them in alleviating the psychological symptoms and the dark triad traits.

Relationships between childhood trauma and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a network analysis

Background

Childhood trauma has been found to have an important impact on mental health. However, little is known regarding the intercorrelations between childhood trauma and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate such complex interplay between childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress level during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fear of COVID-19 using network analysis.

Methods

A total of 1,247 college students were recruited and were asked to complete a series of questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Checklist-Civilian version, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The Gaussian graphical model with the scores of the questionnaires as nodes was estimated. The partial correlations between nodes were calculated as edges. Moreover, network comparison tests were conducted to compare the network patterns between participants with high levels of childhood trauma and low levels of childhood trauma.

Results

Childhood trauma was found to be connected to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress level. The node of childhood trauma exhibited the strongest strength and the highest expected influence in the network. Participants with high levels of childhood trauma and participants with low levels of childhood trauma showed comparable network structure and global strength.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed a complex network pattern between childhood trauma and different mental health problems, indicating that childhood trauma might be a risk factor for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Domestic violence and its psychological consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic-key findings from German-speaking countries]

The impact of traumatic experiences on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has been insufficiently discussed in the German-speaking countries. Against this background, a working group of scientifically and clinically active colleagues was formed on behalf of the German-Speaking Society for Psychotraumatology (DeGPT). The aim of the working group was to summarize central research findings on the incidence of domestic violence and associated psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in German-speaking countries and to discuss their implications. In addition, associations between pre-existing childhood trauma and psychological distress during the pandemic should be illuminated. The present narrative review was prepared for this purpose.The results of the studies conducted indicate high prevalences of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, however, predominantly correspond to pre-pandemic prevalences. Adults with current or pre-existing interpersonal traumatic experiences during childhood or adolescence reported increased psychological distress during the pandemic compared with adults without such experiences. A number of risk factors (e.g., female gender, lower frequency of social contacts) increased the risk of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during the pandemic. According to these findings, people with current or past interpersonal trauma exposure represent a vulnerable group with special support needs during pandemic contexts.

Obesity and adverse childhood experiences in relation to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

BACKGROUND

People with obesity are at increased risk of chronic stress, and this may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are also associated with both obesity and stress, and may modify risk of stress among people with obesity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the associations between obesity, ACEs, and stress during the pandemic, and to determine if the association between obesity and stress was modified by ACEs.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was conducted among adults aged 50-96 years (n = 23,972) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) COVID-19 Study. Obesity and ACEs were collected pre-pandemic (2015-2018), and stress was measured at COVID-19 Exit Survey (Sept-Dec 2020). We used logistic, Poisson, and negative binomial regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between obesity, ACEs, and stress outcomes during the pandemic. Interaction by ACEs was evaluated on the additive and multiplicative scales.

RESULTS

People with obesity were more likely to experience an increase in overall stressors (class III obesity vs. healthy weight RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12-1.27) as well as increased health related stressors (class III obesity vs. healthy weight RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.12-1.39) but did not perceive the consequences of the pandemic as negative. ACEs were also associated an increase in overall stressors (4-8 ACEs vs. none RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.33-1.44) and being more likely to perceive the pandemic as negative (4-8 ACEs vs. none RR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.19-1.47). The association between obesity and stress was not modified by ACEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased stress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was observed among people with obesity or ACEs. The long-term outcomes of stress during the pandemic need to be determined.

Stressful Events, Psychological Distress and Well-Being during the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Gender Analysis

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.

Maternal Perceived Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Pre-Existing Risk Factors and Concurrent Correlates in New York City Women

Objective: We examined whether pre-pandemic mental health and sociodemographic characteristics increased the susceptibility of pregnant women and mothers of young children to stress in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between April and August 2020, we surveyed 1560 women participating in a sociodemographically diverse birth cohort in New York City. Women reported their perceived stress, resiliency, and financial, familial/societal, and health-related concerns. We extracted pre-pandemic information from questionnaires and electronic health records. Results: Pre-pandemic history of depression, current financial difficulties, and COVID-19 infection were the main risk factors associated with high perceived stress. Being Hispanic and having higher resiliency scores and preexisting social support were protective against high perceived stress. Major contributors to current perceived stress were financial and familial/societal factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among pregnant women, changes to prenatal care were common, as were changes to experiences following birth among postpartum women and difficulties in arranging childcare among mothers of young children. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that major risk factors of higher stress during the pandemic were similar to those of other major traumatic events.