Does perceived post-traumatic growth predict better psychological adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic? Results from a national longitudinal survey in the USA

Changes in mental health among U.S. military veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

Increases of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression have been observed among individuals exposed to potentially traumatic events in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, associations among different aspects of mental health, such as symptoms of PTSD and suicidal ideation, have also been documented. However, studies including an assessment prior to the onset and during the height of the pandemic are lacking. We investigated changes in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and posttraumatic growth in a population-based sample of 1232 U.S. military veterans who experienced a potentially traumatic event during the first year of the pandemic. Symptoms were assessed prior to (fall/winter 2019) and one year into the pandemic (fall/winter 2020). We compared changes in symptom interrelations using network analysis, and assessed their associations with pandemic-related PTSD and posttraumatic growth symptoms. A subtle increase in psychopathological symptoms and a decrease in posttraumatic growth was observed one year into the pandemic. The peripandemic network was more densely connected, and pandemic-related PTSD symptoms were positively associated with age, anxiety, worst-event PTSD symptoms, and pandemic-related posttraumatic growth. Our findings highlight the resilience of veterans exposed to a potentially traumatic event during the first year of a pandemic. Similarly, the networks did not fundamentally change from prepandemic to one year into the pandemic. Despite this relative stability on a group level, individual reactions to potentially traumatic events could have varied substantially. Clinicians should individualize their assessments but be aware of the general resilience of most veterans.

Benefit finding and well-being over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

This study focuses on understanding benefit finding, the process of deriving growth from adversity, and its relationship to well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 701) completed online surveys at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after a shelter-in-place mandate was announced in California, USA. Identifying as female or of Asian descent, having a supportive social network, and reporting more distress were associated with higher levels of general benefit finding at all data collection points, while other demographics were not. Benefit finding exhibited small but statistically significant associations with two measures of well-being. Understanding the extent to which various groups of people experience benefit finding during ongoing adversity and how such benefit finding is associated with well-being may help to promote mental health during a collective trauma like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exposure to negative life events, change in their perceived impact, and subsequent well-being among U.S. adults: A longitudinal outcome-wide analysis

OBJECTIVE

Negative life events have the potential to undermine an individual's ability to function and thrive, but less is known about the implications of changes in subjective appraisals of those events for long-term well-being. This research examines how exposure to negative life events and subsequent changes in the perceived impact of those events are related to longer-term well-being in adulthood.

METHOD

Drawing on three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States study (M1: 1995-1996, M2: 2004-2006, M3: 2013-2014), we applied the analytic template for outcome-wide longitudinal designs to investigate associations of (a) negative life event exposure between M1 and M2 and (b) change in the perceived impact of negative life event exposure assessed at M2 with 25 outcomes across several domains of well-being assessed approximately 9 years later at M3: psychological distress, psychological well-being, social well-being, prosociality, physical health, and health behavior.

RESULTS

Whereas negative life event exposure was associated with worse subsequent well-being on selected outcomes (5/25 in total) in some domains, positive change in the perceived impact of negative life event exposure was associated with better well-being on one or more outcomes in most domains (11/25 in total). Effect sizes in both sets of analyses were generally small, with more consistent associations found for psychological and social outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Subjective appraisals of negative life events (particularly positive changes in those appraisals over time) may be more closely related to individual well-being in the long run than mere exposure to negative life events themselves. The findings bring attention to the possibility that positive changes in a person's subjective appraisal of negative life events could have beneficial consequences for long-term well-being.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect individuals with schizophrenia from Turkey?

BACKGROUND

Serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, have been shown to be associated with psychosocial vulnerabilities in the face of adverse events. While individuals with schizophrenia might undergo many psychosocial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, they might also not be affected, or report increased subjective well-being. This suggests that it is important to understand diverse impacts and further understand the unique experiences.

METHODS

To capture how the pandemic affected them and how they handled the challenges if there were any in the initial and more recent phases of the pandemic, 18 individuals with schizophrenia living in Turkey were interviewed.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis of interviews resulted in four superordinate themes for both time points. Three themes related to the impact of the pandemic (i.e. burdens of COVID-19, positive impacts of COVID-19, no impact of COVID-19) indicated that they shared a number of challenges with the general population. Themes about the positive impacts and no impact also replicated the previous findings in this clinical population. One last theme named as facilitators of coping implied that the participants tried to deal with the burdens by using available resources, adapt to the changes in their daily living, and benefit from social interaction and support.

CONCLUSIONS

To conclude, people with schizophrenia seem to be coping with challenges posed by the pandemic with diverse strategies and they seem to even experience psychological growth alongside with negative impacts. The individualized needs and potential for growth have pivotal implications for the management of the illness during the pandemic.

Shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic: Psychological responses from a subjective perspective-A longitudinal mixed-methods study across five European countries

BACKGROUND

Contextual factors are essential for understanding long-term adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study investigated changes in mental health outcomes and subjective pandemic-related experiences over time and across countries. The main objective was to explore how psychological responses vary in relation to individual and environmental factors.

METHODS

The sample consisted of N = 1070 participants from the general population of Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, and Portugal. We applied a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, with baseline assessment in summer and autumn 2020 (T1) and follow-up assessment 12 months later (T2). Qualitative content analysis by Mayring was used to analyse open-ended questions about stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations on how to cope. Mental health outcomes were assessed with the Adjustment Disorder-New Module 8 (ADNM-8), the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The analyses were performed with SPSS Statistics Version 26 and MAXQDA 2022.

RESULTS

The mental health outcomes significantly differed over time and across countries, with e.g. Greek participants showing decrease in adjustment disorder symptoms (p = .007) between T1 and T2. Compared with other countries, we found better mental health outcomes in the Austrian and the Croatian sample at both timepoints (p < .05). Regarding qualitative data, some themes were equally represented at both timepoints (e.g. Restrictions and changes in daily life), while others were more prominent at T1 (e.g. Work and finances) or T2 (e.g. Vaccination issues).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that people's reactions to the pandemic are largely shaped by the shifting context of the pandemic, country-specific factors, and individual characteristics and circumstances. Resource-oriented interventions focusing on psychological flexibility might promote resilience and mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises.

Posttraumatic growth levels of healthcare workers in two periods with different intensities of COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens health-care workers' (HCW) mental health and well-being. Although traumatic life events may result in psychiatric disorders, occasionally they give rise to positive changes, such as post-traumatic growth. Accordingly, the present study evaluated the traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression levels of HCWs and their post-traumatic growth levels during the pandemic. In addition, the study aimed to assess the changes in psychological outcomes during the pandemic. For this aim, the data were collected in two different periods. The first data-collection period was between May and July 2020, and the second period started in November 2020 and ended in January 2021. The sociodemographic data form, Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were used to collect data. Sixty-six HCWs participated in the study. No significant differences appeared between the baseline scores and 6-month follow-up in the depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress levels of HCWs. Furthermore, the PTGI scores decreased significantly over time. Although the change in the psychological distress scores was not statistically significant, the depression and post-traumatic stress scores increased over time. Previous research specified an inverse-parabolic relationship between traumatic stress and PTGI. Our results support previous research; as the exposure to the stressors continues, individual traumatic stress levels increase, psychiatric disorders become frequent, and affirmative changes (like post-traumatic growth) decline.

The transformative power of pain and posttraumatic growth in nurses with Covid-19 PCR positive

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the relationship between the transformative power of pain and posttraumatic growth in nurses with positive Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

DESIGN AND METHOD

"Sociodemographics Form," "Transformative Power of Pain Scale," and "Post-Traumatic Growth Scale" were used to collect the data of the study.

FINDINGS

In the study, posttraumatic growth increased as the level of the transformative power of pain increased for nurses. Furthermore, some variables were found to have an effect on the transformative power of pain and the posttraumatic growth mean score in nurses who had positive Covid-19 PCR test.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurses should be provided with social and professional psychological support to improve their transformative power of pain and posttraumatic growth levels.

Recovering from COVID-19: psychological sequelae and post-traumatic growth six months after discharge

Background: Clinical and scientific evidence has shown that a range of long-lasting symptoms can persist in the post-virological period. However, little is known about the psychological sequelae of patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety-depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and post-traumatic growth among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic 6 months after discharge, and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with psychological outcomes. Method: This cross-sectional cohort study enrolled recovered COVID-19 patients during a multidisciplinary follow-up screening. At 6 months post-discharge, participants underwent a remote assessment with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted. Results: The sample was composed of 100 patients, mainly males (72%), with a mean ± SD age of 58.7 ± 11.8 years. Regarding psychological symptoms, 34% and 24% of patients, respectively, reported anxiety and depression over the clinical threshold, and 20% met the criteria for a possible PTSD diagnosis. Psychological symptoms were associated with the presence of a mood disorder in the patient's clinical history and having received a psychological consultation after discharge. Post-traumatic growth was associated with younger age and having received a psychological consultation after discharge. Conclusions: A high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, potentially indicative for a mood or anxiety disorder, and PTSD was confirmed among COVID-19 survivors after 6 months. Anxiety and depressive symptoms and PTSD were associated with a previous diagnosis of a mood disorder and having received psychological consultation. Post-traumatic growth was associated with younger age and having received psychological consultation. Tailored psychological interventions could help to elaborate the psychological suffering and foster post-traumatic growth after a traumatic experience such as COVID-19 hospitalization.

HIGHLIGHTS

A high prevalence of psychological symptoms has been observed among COVID-19 survivors 6 months after hospitalization.Tailored psychological interventions could help to contain the psychological sequelae and facilitate post-traumatic growth.

Factors Predicting Post-Traumatic Positive and Negative Psychological Changes Experienced by Nurses during a Pandemic COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

It is common knowledge that COVID-19 affects physiopathological changes in all systems of the human body. On the other hand, events related to the COVID-19 pandemic also have a significant impact on the social and mental sphere of human functioning. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between selected sociodemographic variables and selected subjective cognitive resources, and the positive and negative perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of nurses working in Poland. The computer-assisted web interviewing method was conducted between 1 and 15 May 2020. Participants were requested to complete the following questionnaires: The Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CIOQ), The Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), The Safety Experience Questionnaire (SEQ), and The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Three-hundred and twenty fivenurses working all over Poland participated in the study. Their mean age was 39.18 ± 11.16 years. A higher average level was noted among the surveyed nurses in the Positive Change subscale (18.56 ± 4.04). In a multivariate model, taking into account both sociodemographic and cognitive variables, the level of perceived traumatic stress, the level of social support, a sense of security, reflection on safety and a sense of meaning and meaning in life were independent predictors of a positive perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those variables explained as much as 37% of the dependent variable, and the nature of the relationship was positive. While we are still a long way from understanding the full range of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and psychosocial well-being, it is possible that in this challenging context there are many individual resources available to perceive the effects of the current pandemic positively. Therefore, they should be strengthened through the development and implementation of intervention programs to improve the mental state of nurses.

The Role of Life Meaning in Psychological Distress and Post-traumatic Growth Among Italian First-Aid Volunteers During the COVID-19 Outbreak

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a sudden and disruptive event that has produced lots of deaths, overload of the healthcare system, interruption of social habits, and change in life prospective. The study aimed to explore the relationships between meaning of life, psychological distress, and post-traumatic growth in volunteers from the first-aid associations operating in Italy belonging to the areas most affected by the pandemic (Bergamo, Brescia, and Parma). Our hypothesis anticipated that the meaning of life can mediate the relationship between psychological distress and post-traumatic growth. We, also, expected that this effect could vary with the role played in the rescue team, the increased shifts’ amount, and the monetary incentive. Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 268 consenting participants completed Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Personal Meaningful Profile-Brief (PMP-B). Findings yielded a positive relationship between psychological distress and post-traumatic growth (r = .284). Regarding the meaning of life, Spearman’s correlation revealed that the two dimensions of “Self-Transcendence” and “Religion” are moderately involved in the post-traumatic change (specifically, “New Possibilities” ρ = .237, “Personal Strength” ρ = .252, and “Spiritual Change” ρ = .373). Logistic regression failed to show any effect concerning role, shifts’ amount, and distress level. Finally, the monetary incentive appeared to not influence the altruism’s propension. Even though our findings should be interpreted with caution, this study provides evidence for the relevance of meaning of life to understanding of resilience and promoting the well-being of workforce following traumatic experiences.