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Truong AK, Keskin G, Lougheed JP. Within- and between-person associations between social interactions and loneliness: students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:938-946. [PMID: 38525824 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2333920] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many restrictions to in-person interactions, and remote social interactions may be especially important for managing loneliness when such restrictions are in place. However, it is unclear how social interactions are related to loneliness when in-person interactions are limited. Data were collected between February 2021 and March 2022 from a sample of 581 university students. Participants reported their loneliness and participation in positive in-person or remote social interactions each day for 14 days. Results from dynamic structural equation models showed that participants felt less lonely than they usually felt on the days they engaged in positive remote interactions at the within-person level. Moreover, participants generally felt less lonely when engaging more frequently in remote interactions, but only when in-person interactions were restricted (between-person level). Some of these results varied by changing COVID-19 restrictions. Finally, for participants who felt lonelier in general, the effect of positive in-person and remote interactions on loneliness was less strong. These findings suggest that social interactions may buffer loneliness but are not as impactful for those who experience greater loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa K Truong
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Gizem Keskin
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Jessica P Lougheed
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
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Qiu Y, Zhao X, Liu J, Li Z, Wu M, Qiu L, Xiong Z, Wang X, Yang F. Understanding the relationship between smartphone distraction, social withdrawal, digital stress, and depression among college students: A cross-sectional study in Wuhan, China. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35465. [PMID: 39166051 PMCID: PMC11334876 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Smartphone distraction considerably affects the depression level of college students. These two variables are highly associated with social withdrawal and digital distress. However, the underlying mechanisms of how social withdrawal and digital stress were involved in the relationship between smartphone distraction and depression remain unclear. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven colleges of Wuhan, Hubei Province, from September to November 2021. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Smartphone distraction, social withdrawal, digital stress, and depression level were assessed using the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS), 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25), Multidimensional Digital Stress Scale (DSS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. All scales demonstrated good reliability in this study, the reliability of each scale was 0.920, 0.884, 0.959, and 0.942. Results The final analysis included 1184 students (692 males and 492 females), aged between 17 and 37 years. Participants were from various academic disciplines, including medical and non-medical. The findings revealed that smartphone distraction had a significant direct effect on depression (c = 0.073, 95 % CI: 0.037 to 0.108, p < 0.001) and three significant indirect mediation effects: (1) social withdrawal (B = 0.083, 95 % CI: 0.066 to 0.101, p < 0.001), accounting for 27.76 % of the total effect; (2) digital stress (B = 0.109, 95 % CI: 0.088 to 0.132, p < 0.001), accounting for 36.45 % of the total effect; and (3) the chain mediating roles of social withdrawal and digital stress (B = 0.034, 95 % CI: 0.026 to 0.043, p < 0.001), accounting for 11.37 % of the total effect. The total mediating effect was 75.59 %. Limitations This study is based on cross-sectional data, which limits the causality inference. Conclusions These findings suggest that educational institutions should identify college students with excessive smartphone use early and provide timely interventions to minimize negative outcomes. It is also significant to reduce the risk of social withdrawal and digital stress to maintain the physical and mental health development of college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Qiu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Xueyang Zhao
- Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Ningbo, 315010, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Zhaoyang Li
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Man Wu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Lixin Qiu
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zhenfang Xiong
- School of Nursing and Health Management, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan, 430212, China
| | - Xiaopan Wang
- School of Nursing and Health Management, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan, 430212, China
- Department of Nursing, Hubei Provincial Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, 430015, China
| | - Fen Yang
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, 430065, China
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Choi J, Kim K, Park SH, Hur J, Yang H, Kim YH, Lee H, Han S. Investigation of factors regarding the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on college students' depression by quantum annealer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4684. [PMID: 38409195 PMCID: PMC11306746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54533-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diverse cases regarding the impact, with its related factors, of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been reported in previous studies. In this study, multivariable datasets were collected from 751 college students who could be easily affected by pandemics based on the complex relationships between various mental health factors. We utilized quantum annealing (QA)-based feature selection algorithms that were executed by commercial D-Wave quantum computers to determine the changes in the relative importance of the associated factors before and after the pandemic. Multivariable linear regression (MLR) and XGBoost models were also applied to validate the QA-based algorithms. Based on the experimental results, we confirm that QA-based algorithms have comparable capabilities in factor analysis research to the MLR models that have been widely used in previous studies. Furthermore, the performance of the QA-based algorithms was validated through the important factor results from the algorithms. Pandemic-related factors (e.g., confidence in the social system) and psychological factors (e.g. decision-making in uncertain situations) were more important in post-pandemic conditions. Although the results should be validated using other mental health variables or national datasets, this study will serve as a reference for researchers regarding the use of the quantum annealing approach in factor analysis with validation through real-world survey dataset analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junggu Choi
- Yonsei Graduate program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Kion Kim
- Korea Quantum Computing©, Seoul, 06164, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Park
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Juyoen Hur
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Yang
- University College, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hakbae Lee
- Deparment of Applied Statistics, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghoon Han
- Yonsei Graduate program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Brewer K, Waring JJC, Noble B, Bradley D, Olurotimi O, Fronheiser J, Sifat MS, Ehlke SJ, K Boozary L, McQuoid J, Kendzor DE, Alexander AC. Pandemic-Related Stress May Be Associated with Symptoms of Poor Mental Health Among African Americans. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:2028-2038. [PMID: 35953609 PMCID: PMC9371371 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01383-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected African Americans and has been a significant source of stress for this population due to increased economic hardship and social isolation. This study characterized the associations between COVID-19 vulnerability (e.g., contracting the illness or losing a loved one), pandemic-related stress, and symptoms of poor mental health among African Americans. The study sample included African Americans (N = 304) who responded to an online survey. Symptoms of poor mental health were assessed using the PHQ-4, which assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety. Vulnerability to COVID-19 was measured via self-report in three ways: (1) personal vulnerability, (2) family vulnerability, and (3) community vulnerability (i.e., friends, neighbors, and co-workers). Pandemic-related stress was measured by asking participants to rate how difficult it has been to access essential resources and services, manage finances, and plan or attend social events since March 13, 2020. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results showed that COVID-19 vulnerability was not associated with symptoms of depression or anxiety, but pandemic-related stress was consistently associated with symptoms of poor mental health. Study findings highlight the need to monitor and intervene on pandemic-related stress to prevent further psychological distress within this vulnerable and underserved population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khandis Brewer
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Joseph J C Waring
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Bishop Noble
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - David Bradley
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Oluwakemi Olurotimi
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jack Fronheiser
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Munjireen S Sifat
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sarah J Ehlke
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Laili K Boozary
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Julia McQuoid
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Darla E Kendzor
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Adam C Alexander
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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Mitchell BJ, Gawlik EA, Baugher BJ, George RL, Muakkassa FF, Mallat AF, Gunstad J, Delahanty DL, Coifman KG. Were there losses in social support during the pandemic? Testing the impact of COVID-19 on psychological adjustment to trauma in United States adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1061621. [PMID: 36619028 PMCID: PMC9813403 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social support is a key protective factor in the psychological adjustment of individuals to traumatic events. However, since March 2020, extant research has revealed evidence of increased loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic-related recommendations that restricted day-to-day contact with others. Methods In this investigation, we applied a case-control design to test the direct impacts of the pandemic on social support in United States adults recovering from a significant injury caused by PTSD-qualifying, traumatic events (e.g., motor vehicle crashes, violence, etc.). We compared individuals who experienced trauma during the pandemic, the "cases" recruited and evaluated between December 2020 to April 2022, to trauma-exposed "controls," recruited and evaluated pre-pandemic, from August 2018 through March 9, 2020 (prior to changes in public health recommendations in the region). Cohorts were matched on key demographics (age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, income) and injury severity variables. We tested to see if there were differences in reported social support over the first 5 months of adjustment, considering variable operationalizations of social support from social network size to social constraints in disclosure. Next, we tested to see if the protective role of social support in psychological adjustment to trauma was moderated by cohort status to determine if the impacts of the pandemic extended to changes in the process of adjustment. Results The results of our analyses suggested that there were no significant cohort differences, meaning that whether prior to or during the pandemic, individuals reported similar levels of social support that were generally protective, and similar levels of psychological symptoms. However, there was some evidence of moderation by cohort status when examining the process of adjustment. Specifically, when examining symptoms of post-traumatic stress over time, individuals adjusting to traumatic events during COVID-19 received less benefit from social support. Discussion Although negative mental health implications of the pandemic are increasingly evident, it has not been clear how the pandemic impacted normative psychological adjustment processes. These results are one of the first direct tests of the impact of COVID-19 on longitudinal adjustment to trauma and suggest some minimal impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Mitchell
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Benjamin J. Mitchell,
| | - Emily A. Gawlik
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Brittany J. Baugher
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Richard L. George
- Summa Health Systems, Akron, OH, United States,Department of Surgery, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown Township, OH, United States
| | | | - Ali F. Mallat
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH, United States
| | - John Gunstad
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Douglas L. Delahanty
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Karin G. Coifman
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
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