The effect of age, gender, income, work, and physical activity on mental health during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown in Austria

Prevalence of co-occurring diagnoses in people exposed to alcohol prenatally: Findings from a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) commonly experience co-occurring diagnoses, which are often overlooked and misdiagnosed and have detrimental impacts on accessing appropriate services. The prevalence of these co-occurring diagnoses varies widely in the existing literature and has not been examined in PAE without an FASD diagnosis.

METHOD

A search was conducted in five databases and the reference sections of three review papers, finding a total of 2180 studies. 57 studies were included in the final analysis with a cumulative sample size of 29,644. Bayesian modeling was used to determine aggregate prevalence rates of co-occurring disorders and analyze potential moderators.

RESULTS

82 % of people with PAE had a co-occurring diagnosis. All disorders had a higher prevalence in individuals with PAE than the general population with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder, and intellectual disability (ID) being the most prevalent. Age, diagnostic status, and sex moderated the prevalence of multiple disorders.

LIMITATIONS

While prevalence of disorders is crucial information, it does not provide a direct representation of daily functioning and available supports. Results should be interpreted in collaboration with more individualized research to provide the most comprehensive representation of the experience of individuals with PAE.

CONCLUSIONS

Co-occurring diagnoses are extremely prevalent in people with PAE, with older individuals, females, and those diagnosed with FASD being most at risk for having a co-occurring disorder. These findings provide a more rigorous examination of the challenges faced by individuals with PAE than has existed in the literature, providing clinicians with information to ensure early identification and effective treatment of concerns to prevent lifelong challenges.

Rural-urban differences in the perceived impact of COVID-19 on mental health by European women

PURPOSE

Many studies have documented an adverse impact of the pandemic on women´s mental health. This cross-sectional study aims to explore associations between women's perceived impact of lockdowns and curfews on their mental health and their residential location, along with other contextual and individual factors.

METHODS

Using data from the Flash Eurobarometer 2712 "Women in times of COVID-19", conducted between January 25 and February 3, 2022, across the 27 Member States of the European Union (n = 23,671), this study applied bivariate tests and stratified models based on respondent location (rural areas, small or medium-sized towns and urban areas). The exploration sought predictors influencing the perceived mental health impact, encompassing five individual characteristics (age, disability, employment status, educational attainment, and household type), perceptions of violence against women, and country of residence. The dependent variable was assessed subjectively, measured on a scale from 1 (minor negative impact) to 5 (major negative impact).

RESULTS

Women living in urban areas generally reported a higher perceived negative impact on mental health compared to women in rural areas or in small/medium-sized towns. Age and disability were significantly linked to perceiving a negative impact on mental health. Similar adjusted odds ratios for age were observed across rural areas (aOR 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97-0.98), small or medium-sized towns (aOR 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97-0.98), and urban areas (aOR 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97-0.98). In terms of disability, the odds were higher in rural areas (aOR 1.44, 95% CI = 1.20-1.73) than in urban ones (aOR 1.36, 95% CI = 1.15-1.62). Among women residing in urban areas, those in childless couples were less likely to perceive a negative impact on mental health (aOR 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80-0.99) compared to women in couples with children. Respondents perceiving increased violence against women due to COVID-19 were more likely to perceive a negative impact on mental health, with higher odds ratios in rural areas (aOR 1.56, 95% CI = 1.40-1.74) compared to urban areas (aOR 1.29, 95% CI = 1.17-1.41). Differences across countries were also found.

CONCLUSION

The perceived impact of lockdowns and curfews on mental health exhibited variance between urban and rural areas. These disparities were influenced by individual characteristics such as age, disability, or household type, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on violence against women and contextual variables like country of residence.

Relevance of spirituality and perceived social support to mental health of people with pre-existing mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal investigation

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic and related measures have negatively impacted mental health worldwide. The main objective of the present longitudinal study was to investigate mental health in people living in Tyrol (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy) during the COVID-19 pandemic and to report the prevalence of psychological distress among individuals with versus those without pre-existing mental health disorders (MHD) in the long-term (summer 2020-winter 2022). Here, we specifically focus on the relevance of spirituality and perceived social support in this regard.

METHODS

161 individuals who had been diagnosed with MHD and 446 reference subjects participated in this online survey. Electronic data capture was conducted using the Computer-based Health Evaluation System and included both sociodemographic and clinical aspects as well as standardized questionnaires on psychological distress, spirituality, and the perception of social support.

RESULTS

The prevalence of psychological distress was significantly higher in individuals with MHD (36.6% vs. 12.3%) and remained unchanged among both groups over time. At baseline, the perception of social support was significantly higher in healthy control subjects, whereas the two groups were comparable in regards of the subjective relevance of faith. Reference subjects indicated significantly higher spiritual well-being in terms of the sense of meaning in life and peacefulness, which mediated in large part the between-group difference of psychological distress at follow-up. Notably, both faith and the perception of social support did not prove to be relevant in this context.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings point to a consistently high prevalence of psychological distress among people suffering from MHD and underscore the prominent role of meaning in life and peacefulness as a protective factor in times of crisis. Therapeutic strategies that specifically target spirituality may have a beneficial impact on mental health.

The relationship between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, personality traits in working women

BACKGROUND

Disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic have serious traumatic effects on people, who may experience sleep problems, anxiety, and fear in the face of such a stressor.

OBJECTIVE

This study is conducted to examine the relationship between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and personality traits in working women.

METHOD

This research was a descriptive study between June to August 2021. The study was conducted with 425 participants. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, COVID-19 Fear Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, and the revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Short Form were applied to the participants. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis, were used.

RESULTS

In the study, it was found that the total average score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 18.83±5.5, while the score of sleep quality was 5.40±3.3 and the anxiety score was 14.01±12.4. On the other hand, the score of Extraversion was determined as 3.73±1.7, Neuroticism was 3.79±1.8, and Psychoticism was 1.97±1 in the study. Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and neuroticism in working women (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbance; daytime dysfunction, use of sleep medication, sleep duration, sleep latency with anxiety; sleep latency, sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, sleep duration were found to be linked to neuroticism, and use of sleep medication and sleep duration were found to be linked to psychoticism. It was concluded that there was a relationship between sleep quality and fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and personality traits in working women.

Investigating war trauma, its effects, and associated risk factors on anxiety among high school students in Woldia town, northeast Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Anxiety symptoms are the most frequent mental health problems in the world, and it is a serious public health concern, especially among adolescents, because if left untreated, adolescent anxiety can have a number of detrimental effects, including lower academic performance, strained relationships with friends and family, substance addiction, thoughts of suicide and homicide, and trouble finding work. While this vulnerability is concerning in all situations, it is particularly critical in armed conflict areas. Ethiopia is one of the most recent war-affected countries, but to the best of our knowledge, limited studies focused on adolescents in this context. Therefore, this study assessed the experience of war trauma and its effects on anxiety symptoms among high school students in Woldia town, Ethiopia.

Objective

We assessed the experience of war trauma and its effects on anxiety among high school students, as well as associated risk factors, in war-affected areas in Woldia town, northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was conducted from May 23 to June 08 2022. Data were collected from high school students in Woldia town. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent factors associated with anxiety.

Results

A total of 624 out of 660 students participated in the study (94.5% response rate). The prevalence of anxiety among high school students in Woldia town was 39.7%. In the multivariable analysis, having depression (AOR = 9.24, 95% CI: 6.27, 13.64), witnessing the murder of family/friends (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.57), being of female sex (AOR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.36), and having a family history of mental illness (AOR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.85) were factors significantly associated with anxiety.

Conclusions and recommendations

The prevalence of anxiety in this study was approximately two in five high school students. Therefore, we recommend that the Ministry of Education collaborate with the Ministry of Health to expand and implement mental health services in high schools to promote the wellbeing of students for the prevention of anxiety.

Exploring the association between social support and anxiety during major public emergencies: a meta-analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a surge in research focusing on mental health issues faced by society, with particular emphasis on the interplay between social support and anxiety. However, the results of these studies have often been controversial.

Methods

To address this, we conducted a meta-analysis of 104 studies (N = 107,660) to investigate the relationship between anxiety and social support and the potential moderate variables.

Results

Our meta-analysis revealed a negative correlation between social support and anxiety (r = -0.233). The study also demonstrated the variation in the relationship between social support and anxiety was moderated by cultural area (Q = 14.120, p < 0.05) and phrase of the pandemic (Q = 13.678, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The relationship between social support and anxiety can differ across different cultural areas and throughout the phrase of the pandemic. Consequently, we advocate for a nuanced assessment of the role of social support in mitigating public anxiety, taking into account the mediating effects of these factors in the context of major public emergencies.

Intolerance of uncertainty and psychological flexibility as predictors of mental health from adolescence to old age

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it significant social, economic and health uncertainties. These were proposed to impact young people more compared to adults, leading adolescents to report more mental health problems during the pandemic. The current study examined whether differences in cognitive risk (tolerance of uncertainty) and protective (psychological flexibility) factors accounted for age-related differences in depression and anxiety.

METHODS

These associations were investigated in the COVID-19 Risks Across the Lifespan (CORAL) cohort (N = 2280, 11-89 years).

RESULTS

The results showed that adolescents experienced greater intolerance of uncertainty and lower psychological flexibility compared to adults and older adults. Tolerance of uncertainty did not account for age-related differences in depression or anxiety. However, psychological flexibility conferred more protective advantage for anxiety in adults compared to adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The observed age-related differences in risk and protective factors advance our understanding of developmental vulnerabilities to depression and anxiety. Implications for mental health interventions in the context of future pandemics are discussed.

Who Benefits from Acute Psychiatric Home Treatment? A Systematic Review

Home treatment (HT) treats patients in an acute crisis through an interdisciplinary team with daily appointments for a short treatment period. The effectiveness of HT has already been confirmed. However, only few studies addressed specific patient characteristics associated outcome of treatment. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics associated with successful outcomes of HT. A systematic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 13 studies were included in the systematic review. Being employed, having a regular income, having an anxiety disorder and family involvement were associated with a successful treatment outcome in HT. High symptom severity and former hospital admissions were associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome in HT in the selected studies. HT seems to be especially beneficial for patients with paid employment or regular income, patients with anxiety disorders, and patients with familial or other social support.

Investigating the Moderating Effect of HIV Status Disclosure on the Link Between Discrimination Experience and Psychological Distress Among People Living with HIV in Japan Infected Through Sexual Contact

BACKGROUND

There is a scarcity of research on the potential impact of disclosing HIV status to friends and family in moderating the adverse effects of discrimination on the mental health of people living with HIV (PLWH). This study assessed the experiences of discrimination and HIV status disclosure among PLWH in Japan, and evaluated their potential associations with psychological distress.

METHOD

Data were derived from a nationwide cross-sectional survey of PLWH conducted in Japan between 2019 and 2020. The interaction effects of HIV-related discrimination and HIV status disclosure on the psychological distress were examined using logistic and linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

The median age of the 804 respondents was 46 years old. Most respondents were male and 85.4% (687/804) identified as homosexuals or bisexuals. A total of 12.7% (102/804) of the respondents reported that they had recently experienced discrimination because of their HIV status. Experience of HIV-related discrimination was independently associated with high psychological distress (adjusted OR 2.02; 95% CI, 1.15-3.57), and HIV status disclosure to friends partially weakened the association between discrimination and the level of psychological distress (regression coefficient -3.115; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

While measures that aim to end discrimination remain vital, increasing the opportunities of PLWH to communicate with friends they feel comfortable disclosing their HIV status may also be helpful in protecting their mental health.

Improvements in mental health associated with increased electronic communication and deterioration in physical health in adults aged 50+ during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Previous studies have documented changes in physical health, mental health and social parameters during COVID-19. At the same time, there are no comprehensive analyses of these parameters designed as longitudinal studies on large-scale older populations before and during the pandemic.

Objective

This longitudinal study aims to provide a quantitative analysis of the COVID-19 impact on the physical, mental, and social parameters in adults aged 50 and older before, in the early stages, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The data for this study were collected from three waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a supranational longitudinal database: pre-COVID (October 2019-March 2020), early-COVID (June-September 2020), and during-COVID (June-August 2021). The sample included 31,526 individuals, compared across the three-time points through nonparametric group comparison tests.

Results

Physical health was subjectively rated as poorer in the during-COVID wave compared to the pre-COVID wave. Additionally, the number of illnesses or health conditions reported in the during-COVID wave was significantly higher than in the pre-COVID wave, with the biggest increases registered for cardiovascular diseases. The results also show that employment and overall social contact decreased while loneliness increased over time. Unexpectedly, mental health issues, such as sadness or depression and trouble sleeping, decreased significantly in the COVID waves compared to the pre-COVID wave. The analysis of two additional pre-COVID waves (2015, 2017) revealed that poorer pre-COVID mental health reflected in high values of sadness or depression and trouble sleeping was not an isolated peak but represented a typical baseline. The positive influence on the individuals' mental health during COVID-19 was found to be electronic communication, which showed higher values than face-to-face communication and lowered the odds of sadness or depression.

Conclusion

Future policies should thus consider the positive impact of electronic contacts on mental health to promote overall health in adults aged 50 and older.

Risk Groups and Psychosocial Factors for the Pandemic (COVID-19)

COVID-19, which started in 2019 and affected the whole world, has affected everyone at different intensities and in different ways. COVID-19, which is considered a pandemic, has turned into a major public health problem in terms of its consequences and has affected people biopsychosocially. However, people in risk groups may be affected more. This study was conducted to reveal the risk groups for the pandemic and to determine the psychosocial factors. Data were collected online using the relational screening model and snowball sampling methods. A Sociodemographic Information Form, COVID-19 Pandemic Psychosocial Impact Scale (C19-PPIS), and International Personality Inventory Short Form (IPISV) were sent online to 826 participants. Data were analysed using an independent sample t-test, a one-way ANOVA test, and the Pearson Correlation analysis. According to the results, young adults (X¯ = 2.77), women (X¯ = 2.79), singles (X¯ = 2.78), those who are unemployed (X¯ = 2.89), and those who had to change their home or city due to the pandemic (X¯ = 2.89) were more affected by the pandemic. Psychological support was the support system needed the most during the pandemic (X¯ = 3.04). In addition, a negative relationship was found between an extroverted personality and psychosocial impact from the pandemic (r = -0.148 and p < 0.01). A positive relationship was found between introversion (r = 0.183 and p < 0.01), agreeableness (r = 0.078 and p < 0.05), hostility (r = 0.094 and p < 0.01), disorganisation (r = 0.237 and p < 0.01), openness to development (r = 0.80 and p < 0.05), closed off to development (r = 0.070 and p < 0.05), emotional instability personality (r = 0.498 and p < 0.01), and psychosocial impact from the pandemic. This study has revealed important results regarding who has been most affected psychosocially by COVID-19. It is thought that the results obtained can guide state policies on what should be done in the field of preventive community mental health in another possible epidemic.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the effectiveness of psychosomatic rehabilitation in Germany

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the effectiveness of psychosomatic rehabilitation.

METHODS

Between April 2019 and March 2022, a total of 18,388 patients from 7 rehabilitation centres could be included in the study. For each patient, score values from the HEALTH-49 and ICF AT-50 Psych questionnaires were calculated at the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation and the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program was determined by comparing the scores at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation programme. Using risk adjusted linear mixed models, three time intervals were compared: a pre-pandemic episode (April 2019 to March 2020), the first year of the pandemic (April 2020 to March 2021) and the second year of the pandemic (April 2021 to March 2022).

RESULTS

Overall, it can be stated that the pandemic has substantially impaired the effectiveness of psychosomatic rehabilitation measures. This phenomenon can be observed across a wide range of psychosocial markers and even two years after the start of the pandemic there is no end to the limited effectiveness. With regard to 'psychological and somatoform disorders', for example, there was a relative decrease in the effectiveness of the rehabilitation measure by 11.29% in the first year of the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic episode, p < 0.001. In the second year of the pandemic, the effectiveness of the rehabilitation measure was still decreased by 8.8% compared to the pre-pandemic episode, p < 0.001. In addition, the evaluations show that a division of the pandemic effect into direct effects (on the individual) and indirect effects (via further complication of the occupational problem environment) can be made and that the pandemic-related complication of the occupational problem environment are still prevalent more than two years after the start of the pandemic.

DISCUSSION

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the psychosomatic rehabilitation programs reducing the effectiveness of treatment not only for a short period of time but constantly until March 2022.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DRKS00029669; Date of registration: 02/08/2022.

Prevalence of mental health symptoms in Austrian veterinarians and examination of influencing factors

Although previous studies point to a high mental health burden in veterinarians, little is known about mental health in Austrian veterinarians as well as potential underlying factors of poor mental health. We assessed mental health in Austrian veterinarians, compared it to the mental health of the general population, and explored potential risk factors for poor mental health in veterinarians. A total of n = 440 veterinarians (72.0% women; mean age: 44.53 ± 11.25 years) took part in an online survey in 2022 in which validated screening tools for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep disorders (ISI-2), perceived stress (PSS-4), and alcohol abuse (CAGE) were applied. Multivariable logistic regression revealed higher adjusted odds for exceeding cut-offs for clinically relevant depressive, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms in veterinarians (1.35-2.70) compared to the general population. Mental health symptoms in veterinarians were associated with female gender, physical inactivity, higher smartphone usage, higher working hours, less professional experience, and working with pets. In conclusion, it appears that veterinarians encounter mental health challenges that are more pronounced than those experienced in the general population. The teaching of strategies to improve mental hygiene as part of the curricula of veterinary education and targeted training and mentoring of employers and their team should be implemented to improve mental health in the veterinary profession.

Musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life for Chilean teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic at the academic year-end

Introduction

Schoolteachers have reported multiple demands contributing to poor perceptions regarding their quality of life and high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are few studies about the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life from the end of the academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

Evaluate musculoskeletal disorders rates and their association with quality of life perceptions among teachers from the last academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants and methods

A total sample of 161 Chilean schoolteachers was included in a cross-sectional study musculoskeletal disorders prevalence was evaluated using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and quality of life was evaluated through the Short-Form 12 Health Survey Instrument. A logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life perceptions adjusted by gender, age, and contract type.

Results

98% of teachers have suffered from some type of musculoskeletal disorders during the last 12 months, and 64% have had six or more painful regions. Women showed a higher musculoskeletal disorders rate than men. The group of teachers with the most musculoskeletal disorders (≥p50) saw significantly greater risk of low scores on the physical (OR: 2.16; p < 0.05) and mental components (OR: 4.86; p < 0.01) of quality of life, regardless of gender, age, and contract type.

Conclusion

High musculoskeletal disorders rates suggest that preventive and informative actions must be taken regarding these disorders in order to protect teachers' mental and physical health, considering the effects of the school year and the COVID-19 health crisis.

Patterns of unhealthy lifestyle and their associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese young adults: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence on the association between patterns of unhealthy lifestyle and mental health among young adults.

METHOD

This study included a total of 28,978 young adults aged 18 to 44 years old in Guangdong province in south China, which was conducted from September to December in 2022. We used latent class analysis to classify the patterns of unhealthy lifestyle among young adults and used multiple logistic regression to explore their associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms.

RESULT

The weighted prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 28.0 % and 19.5 %, respectively. The cumulative effect of unhealthy lifestyles on depressive and anxiety symptoms was significant. Five patterns of unhealthy lifestyle were classified. Compared to the relatively healthy lifestyle class, the class with more unhealthy lifestyles (OR = 6.54, 95 % CI: 5.70-7.51) and insufficient sleep (OR = 6.16, 95 % CI: 4.92-7.70) had higher risk for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Meaningfully, having adequate mental health literacy could reduce the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms from unhealthy lifestyle by half.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-section design study limited causal inferences, and the self-report information may lead to recall bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Unhealthy lifestyles have a negative impact on depressive and anxiety symptoms through independent, cumulative and combined effects, and they could be interrelated. Unhealthy lifestyle patterns differed in younger population by socio-demographic characteristics and mental health literacy. Health-care professionals and policymakers may provide programs to intervene multiple unhealthy lifestyles and improve mental health literacy by integrating healthy lifestyle education to promote youngers' mental health.

Psychosocial and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic by sex among migrant populations compared with general Finnish population: a population-based study

AIMS

To study sex differences in the psychosocial and economic impact of the restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 among the migrant origin and the general population in Finland.

METHODS

Cross-sectional MigCOVID Survey data (10/2020-2/2021; n=3668) were used. FinHealth 2017 Follow-up Study participants constituted the general population reference group (n=3490). Sex differences in self-perceived impact of the restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 on the psychosocial and economic situation were examined with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographics and self-rated health.

RESULTS

The migrant origin population had higher odds for reporting weakened economic situation (odds ratio (OR) 5.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.96-7.39), increased loneliness (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.35-2.28), decrease in feelings of hope for the future (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33-2.19) and increased sleeping difficulties and nightmares (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.34-2.92) than the general population. While the psychosocial and economic impact of COVID-19 was higher in women compared with men in the general population, findings were not fully replicated in the migrant origin population.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals of migrant origin faced a higher likelihood of experiencing adverse changes in both psychosocial and economic aspects during the pandemic, suggesting increased vulnerability linked to migrant origin. Additional research is required to delve into the intricate connections among gender, migrant origin, and the impact of COVID-19, aiming to enhance comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors. Vulnerabilities of different population groups should be identified and addressed when planning measures to reduce adverse societal impact in future crises.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of clinical psychologists in Austria: results of a mixed-methods study

Introduction

Clinical psychologists in Austria shouldered a large part of the massive increase in demand for mental health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to find out how the pandemic affected their work and to gather information on how best to support the profession in the event of a crisis.

Methods

N = 172 Austrian clinical psychologists participated in a cross-sectional online survey between 11 April 2022 and 31 May 2022, including both closed and open-ended questions about their work. Open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted to test correlations between the categories derived from the qualitative analysis and professional variables.

Results

The analyses revealed that clinical psychologists, especially those with more years of experience, perceived an increased need for clinical psychological treatment, especially for children and adolescents, a lack of coverage for clinical psychological treatment by health insurance, a change to remote treatment formats, and a number of burdens associated with complying with COVID-19 measures.

Discussion

Clinical psychologists reported an urgent need to increase resources in both outpatient and inpatient settings and to promote health insurance coverage. To support the clinical psychology profession in providing high-quality work in times of crisis, there is a need to facilitate more opportunities for team and peer exchange, as well as financial support in the event of loss of income.

EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L population norms for Thailand

BACKGROUND

The previous Thai norm-based scores for the EQ-5D-5L were established with Thai general population samples aged 20-70 years in 2019. Nevertheless, these values need to be updated after the COVID-19 pandemic because of its effects on both physical and mental health. This study therefore aimed to establish population norms of the Thai EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS scores as well as to estimate disutility values associated with self-reported main diseases.

METHODS

Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 2000 adult (age ≥ 18 years) members of the general Thai population to estimate norm-based scores. Each participant completed the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L as well as questions related to their sociodemographic factors and self-reported main diseases. Responses to the two instruments were converted to health utility (HU) scores on the basis of available value sets. Descriptive statistics were used to report the norm-based scores stratified by age and sex categories. Response redistribution determining the response consistency between EQ-5D versions was investigated. The HU score agreement from those two instruments was investigated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Tobit regression models were employed to investigate the relationships between sociodemographic factors and HU and EQ-VAS scores. Moreover, it was used to estimate the disutility values associated with self-reported main diseases.

RESULTS

The means (percentage of ceiling effects) of EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L, and EQ-VAS scores were 0.845 (57.80%), 0.923 (49.05%), and 79.83 (3.20%), respectively. The average percentage of inconsistent response was 1.09%. A good agreement level was found between both EQ-5D versions with the ICCs of 0.789 (95% CI: 0.558-0.878). Female, older, and unemployed participants and those with BMI ≥ 30 reported lower EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L than their counterparts. Bone/Joint disorder and stroke contributed to the largest disutility value for those two instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

The Thai norm-based scores from those two instruments were diminished when advancing age and among female, unemployed, and obese (BMI ≥ 30) participants. It is expected to provide information to policy makers to better allocate health care resources to those with diminished norm-based scores.

Burdens and resources of Austrian clinical psychologists: results of a qualitative study two years into the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health burden in the general population, enhancing the demands placed on mental healthcare professionals.

METHODS

This study aimed to assess the burdens and resources of clinical psychologists that emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. N = 172 Austrian clinical psychologists participated in a cross-sectional online survey between April and May 2022. The burdens and the sources of support that emerged during the pandemic were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Mental health-related issues were identified as the greatest burden, followed by work-related themes and restrictions imposed by the government to combat the spreading of the virus. The most important resources mentioned by the clinical psychologists were social contacts and recreational activities. Practising mindfulness and focusing on inner processes and work-related aspects were further important resources mentioned.

CONCLUSION

Overall, it seems that clinical psychologists have a high awareness of mental health-related problems related to the pandemic and use adaptive coping strategies to deal with them.

Genetic predisposition for negative affect predicts mental health burden during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was accompanied by an increase in mental health challenges including depression, stress, loneliness, and anxiety. Common genetic variants can contribute to the risk for psychiatric disorders and may present a risk factor in times of crises. However, it is unclear to what extent polygenic risk played a role in the mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigate whether polygenic scores (PGSs) for mental health-related traits can distinguish between four resilience-vulnerability trajectories identified during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns in 2020/21. We used multinomial regression in a genotyped subsample (n = 1316) of the CovSocial project. The most resilient trajectory characterized by the lowest mental health burden and the highest recovery rates served as the reference group. Compared to this most resilient trajectory, a higher value on the PGS for the well-being spectrum decreased the odds for individuals to be in one of the more vulnerable trajectories (adjusted R-square = 0.3%). Conversely, a higher value on the PGS for neuroticism increased the odds for individuals to be in one of the more vulnerable trajectories (adjusted R-square = 0.2%). Latent change in mental health burden extracted from the resilience-vulnerability trajectories was not associated with any PGS. Although our findings support an influence of PGS on mental health during COVID-19, the small added explained variance suggests limited utility of such genetic markers for the identification of vulnerable individuals in the general population.

Impact of Home-Based Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Physical Health in a German Population-Based Sample

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak necessitated physical distancing, as part of secondary prevention, at a personal and professional level. Working from home (WFH) became increasingly important. In this study, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on physical and mental health is investigated, compared with pre-pandemic data, and with employees who WFH and are on-site. Methods: Data from the German Saxon longitudinal study population were used. Attitudes towards WFH as well as mental and physical health assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. Comparisons were made with corresponding pre-pandemic scores and between employees WFH and on-site in 2022. Results: In total, 319 participants with equal gender distribution were included. Of those, 86 worked from home stating better organizability of their work, more time for partnership, less stress, and greater work satisfaction. Compared to pre-pandemic data, the D-score, PHQ-4, G-Score, and PHQ-SSS-8 showed a significant increase. No difference in physical or mental health between employees WFH and on-site was observed. Conclusion: In general, COVID-19 restrictions had a negative impact on mental and physical health. Although WFH is well accepted, it did not show significant health benefits.

Evaluation of the concerns of Spanish university students in the face of current major challenges

The concerns of students and young people have been on the rise in recent years. Recent events such as the Covid-19 pandemic or the invasion of Ukraine have contributed to this. Mental health, the high cost of living, the need to re-evaluate the way we work or the fight against climate change are among the main concerns of young people. The aim of this work is to find out the level of concern of university students about these problems that can condition their current life and to analyze whether these concerns can affect their academic performance, also distinguishing according to gender and age. To this end, a nationwide survey was carried out among this group in Spain. This work is the first of its kind to be carried out in Spain. The results obtained may be of great use to both educational institutions and government agents, with a view to offering policies that will improve the educational level and welfare of university students.

Are mobile apps meeting the needs of caregivers of people living with dementia? An evaluation of existing apps for caregivers

OBJECTIVES

Informal caregivers of people living with dementia (ICPDs) experience stressors that can lead to adverse outcomes. Although apps for ICPDs are available, evidence to support their effectiveness is limited. This investigation was aimed at providing an evaluation of available apps for ICPDs.

METHODS

We conducted two studies: 1) search and evaluation of available apps; and 2) controlled trial of two apps identified in the Study 1 (NCT05217004). For Study 2, participants were randomly assigned to one of the two app-using groups or a control group. Outcome measures were administered before, post-intervention, and at a follow-up. Interviews with caregivers were conducted to examine their needs regarding the development of future apps.

RESULTS

Sixteen apps were examined in Study 1. Results suggest that the number and type of features present in each app may not be sufficient to address the multifaceted needs of ICPDs. In Study 2, contrary to expectation, we did not identify differences between the app-using and control conditions on our outcome measures. Participants noted several content and user-experience needs to consider in developing new apps.

CONCLUSION

Findings from the investigation can inform future developments of apps to address the needs of ICPDs.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on self-reported levels of depression during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic among Canadian adults

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 related risk factors on self-reported increases in depression among Canadian adults during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. We aim to investigate the interactive effects of stressors, including social isolation, financial stress, and fear of catching COVID-19, on mental health outcomes. Our study aims to provide insights for the development of prevention and intervention strategies to address the mental health effects of the pandemic by examining the psychological changes attributable to the pandemic and its impact.

METHODS

This study used data collected from the Mental Health Research Canada online survey during the third wave of COVID-19 (April 20-28, 2021). The study examined the impact of COVID-19 related factors, including social isolation, financial concerns, fear of catching COVID-19, and concerns about paying bills, on self-reported increases in depression. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine these associations, with adjustments made for potential confounding variables. All statistical analysis was performed using SAS V9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

RESULTS

Participants reporting social isolation, financial concerns, and fear of catching COVID-19 were more likely to report increased depression. An interaction was observed between concerns for paying bills and catching COVID-19 in relation to depression (p = 0.0085). In other words, the effect of concerns about paying bills on depression was stronger for individuals who also had a fear of catching COVID-19, and vice versa. Young adults, females, patients with pre-existing depression, and residents of certain provinces reported higher levels of depression during COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our study underscores the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly among certain demographic groups. It emphasizes the need for depression screening and increased support for mental health during the pandemic, with a focus on mitigating financial burdens and reducing negative psychological impacts of social isolation. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between different stressors and the need to consider this when designing interventions to support mental health during times of crisis.

How salutogenic workplace characteristics influence psychological and cognitive responses in a virtual environment

Until today, most research focussed on the effects of pathogenic workplace demands on employee illness instead of on salutogenic resources on health. Using a stated-choice experiment in a virtual open-plan office, this study identifies key design aspects that enhance psychological and cognitive responses, ultimately improving health outcomes. The study systematically varied six workplace attributes: screens between workstations, occupancy rate, presence of plants, views outside, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), and colour palette. Each attribute predicted perceptions of at least one psychological or cognitive state. Plants had the highest relative importance for all expected responses but views outside with ample daylight, red/warm wall colours, and a low occupancy rate without screens between desks were also important. Low-cost interventions like adding plants, removing screens, and using warm wall colours can contribute to a healthier open-plan office environment. These insights can guide workplace managers to design environments that support employees' mental states and health.Practitioner summary: Salutogenic workplace resources that promote health have been understudied. This study aimed to show which workplace characteristics caused positive psychological and cognitive responses to improve health, using a stated-choice experiment in a virtual office environment. Plants in the office were the most important attribute for employees' psychological and cognitive responses.

Global burden of sleep disturbances among older adults and the disparities by geographical regions and pandemic periods

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among older adults. We aimed to evaluate sleep heath during COVID-19 pandemic and assess the differences among geographical regions and pandemic periods. We searched three databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) to find articles up to March 12, 2023. We included observational studies that reported the prevalence of sleep disturbances among adults aged 60 years or older in any setting. Two researchers independently reviewed the literature and retrieved the data. We used Der Simonian-Laird random effects meta-analyses to pool the data, followed by subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression. A total of 64 studies with 181,224 older adults during the pandemic were included. The prevalence of poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, and insomnia symptoms were 47.12% (95% CI: 25.97%, 68.27%), 40.81% (95% CI: 18.49%, 63.12%), 31.61% (95% CI: 24.83%, 38.38%), and 21.15% (95% CI: 15.30%, 27.00%), respectively. The prevalence of sleep problems reported by self-constructed items was 26.97% (95% CI: 20.73%, 33.22%). When compared to America (64.13%), Europe (20.23%) and the Western Pacific (21.31%) showed a lower prevalence of sleep problems (all P < 0.0001). The prevalence of worsened sleep problems was 27.88% (95% CI: 11.94%, 43.82%). Compared to 2020 (15.14%), it increased to 47.42% in 2021 (P < 0.05). Eight studies on sleep disturbances among 672 older COVID-19 patients were included. The prevalence of sleep problems and insomnia symptoms among older COVID-19 patients were 41.58% (95% CI: 21.97%, 61.20%) and 41.56% (95% CI: 28.11%, 58.02%), respectively. A significant burden related to poor sleep has been observed among older adults worldwide over the past three years, with variations across different regions and time periods. It is important to make more efforts in prevention and intervention to identify the risk factors, treatment, and rehabilitation of sleep disturbances for healthy aging.

Association of worker's mental health with changes in exercise time, going-out time, and screen time (TV time, internet time, and game time) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and government regulations have affected the daily lives and mental health of individuals worldwide. This study aimed to determine how much the change in time spent on exercise (exercise time), outdoor activities ("going-out" time), and screen usage (screen time) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health (depression, anxiety, and insomnia). In June 2021, during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan through an online research company. A total of 824 workers participated in this study. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Insomnia Severity Index, respectively. The symptoms of depression were associated with age and decreased exercise time. Symptoms of anxiety were associated with not decreased going-out time. Symptoms of insomnia were associated with reduced exercise time. The results indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in exercise time could have prevented depression and insomnia. Similarly, a decrease in going-out time could have prevented anxiety. Furthermore, in the event of future outbreaks of unpredictable infections, such as COVID-19, decreased going out and increased exercise may help maintain mental health.

A Longitudinal Study on the Effect of Exercise Habits on Locomotive Syndrome and Quality of Life during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigated the potential of exercise habits to improve quality of life (QOL) and prevent locomotive syndrome (LS) in residents of Yakumo-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. Participants from the 2018 health checkup were surveyed in February 2022, focusing on 200 respondents. These individuals were divided based on their 2018 exercise habits (at least 1 h per week): the exercise group (E group) and the non-exercise group (N group), further categorized in 2022 into the 2022E and 2022N groups. QOL was measured using the SF-36 (physical functioning, general health, physical role, physical pain, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health) and EuroQoL 5-dimension 5-level questionnaires (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), and LS was assessed with the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale. These showed no significant change in exercise habits from 2018 to 2022. In the non-LS group, the 2022E group had higher vitality and emotional role functioning scores compared to the 2022N group. For those with LS, the 2022E group reported less physical pain. Notably, the LS incidence was significantly lower in the 2022E group. This study concludes that consistent exercise habits positively impact QOL and reduce the LS risk, underscoring the importance of regular physical activity, especially during challenging times like a pandemic. These findings highlight the broader benefits of maintaining exercise routines for public health, particularly in periods of global health crises. Based on our findings, we recommend that people continue to exercise at least one hour per week to prevent LS.

Social support and mental health: the mediating role of perceived stress

Social support has been associated with improved mental health; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study aimed to explore whether perceived stress mediate the relationship between social support and positive affect, anxiety, and depression. Drawing from Lazarus and Folkman's stress and coping theory, the study emphasized the influential role of social support in appraising stressful events. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 426 Filipino adults during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed measures including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), the Positive Affect subscale of PANAS, and the Depression and Anxiety subscales of DASS-21. The hypotheses of the study were tested using mediation analysis. Consistent with the hypotheses, perceived stress significantly mediated the relationship between family and significant other support with positive affect, anxiety, and depression. Family and significant other support decreased perceived stress, increasing positive affect, and decreasing anxiety and depression. On the other hand, perceived stress did not mediate the relationship between friend support and positive affect, anxiety, and depression. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Prevalence of mental health symptoms and potential risk factors among Austrian psychotherapists

This research focused on the intricacies of mental health within the psychotherapist community, a domain currently understudied. A recent study suggests a better overall mental health profile for Austrian psychotherapists compared to the general population. However, a substantial proportion of psychotherapists still exhibited scores beyond the cut-off for clinically significant mental disorders, potentially undermining the efficacy of patient outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April to June 2023, enrolling a cohort of 502 Austrian psychotherapists (79.7% female; mean age: 53.4 ± 9.26 years). The analysis leveraged indicators for symptoms of depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), insomnia (ISI-2), stress (PSS-4), and overall well-being (WHO-5). Key correlations were revealed using multivariable logistic regressions incorporating sociodemographic, work-related, and health behavior variables. Mental health symptoms in psychotherapists were associated with lower income, lesser physical activity, employment in outpatient facilities, less experience in the field, and a smaller patient load. Notably, physical activity emerged as a significant protective component, underscoring regular exercise as a vital self-care routine for psychotherapists. Adequate income also presented as a crucial contributor to mental health stability. These findings augment our understanding of the complex dynamics influencing psychotherapists' mental health, potentially enhancing their well-being and optimizing professional output.

Long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal investigation among individuals with and without mental health disorders

Background

Over the past years, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in daily routines. Although the pandemic has affected almost everyone, it has been particularly challenging for people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress in individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders (MHD) compared to the general population. In addition, possible gender-specific differences were investigated.

Methods

123 patients with pre-existing MHD and 343 control subjects from Austria and Italy participated in three online surveys that had been conducted after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (t0), during the second lockdown in both countries (t1), and one year thereafter (t2). Participants completed standardized questionnaires on psychological distress (Brief-Symptom-Checklist), resilience (Resilience Scale), and extraversion (Big Five Inventory). A mediation model was employed to test the primary hypothesis. Possible gender-specific differences were analyzed using a moderated mediation model.

Results

The prevalence of psychological distress was consistently higher in patients compared to controls (t0: 37.3% vs. 13.2%, t1: 38.2% vs 11.7%, t2: 37.4% vs. 13.1%). This between-group difference in psychological distress at the first follow-up was fully mediated by baseline resilience scores (65.4% of the total effect). During the second-follow up, extraversion accounted for 18% of the total effect, whereas resilience slightly decreased to 56% of the total effect. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model.

Conclusion

Next to showing that people with MHD were particularly affected by the pandemic, these findings indicate that higher degrees of resilience and extraversion are related to less long-term psychological distress. Our findings stress the relevance of strengthening resilience and extraversion and to provide mental health support in times of crises, both to patients with MHD and the general population.

Stress, anxiety, and depression trajectories during the "first wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic: what drives resilient, adaptive and maladaptive responses in the Portuguese population?

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak and the community mitigation strategies implemented to reduce new SARS-CoV-2 infections can be regarded as powerful stressors with negative consequences on people's mental health. Although it has been shown that negative emotional symptoms subside during lockdown, it is likely the existence of inter-individual differences in stress, anxiety and depression trajectories throughout lockdown.

Objectives

We aimed to cluster participants' according to their trajectories of stress, anxiety and depression scores throughout lockdown, and identify the sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors that may distinguish the subjects included in the different clusters.

Methods

From March 23, 2020, to May 31, 2020, participants completed weekly online questionnaires on sociodemographic information (age, sex, education level, and employment status), psychological functioning (DASS-21, NEO-FFI-20), and clinical data (psychiatric disorders, psychiatric medication, physical disorders). Data regarding smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and time spent daily looking for COVID-19-related information were also collected. Stress, anxiety and depression trajectories were determined using latent class mixed models.

Results

A total of 2040 participants answered the survey at baseline and 603 participants answered all surveys. Three groups ("Resilient," "Recovered," and "Maladaptive") with distinct mental health trajectories were identified. Younger participants, women, participants with lower education level, not working, studying, diagnosed with a mental disorder, taking psychiatric medication, smokers, those who spent more time consuming COVID-19-related information and those with higher neuroticism tended to cluster in the "Maladaptive" group, placing them at higher risk of persistent negative emotional symptoms during compulsory confinement.

Conclusion

Accordingly, a tailored approach to emotional suffering for vulnerable subjects during the COVID-19 and future pandemics must be devised.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the first COVID-19 pandemic- restrictions in Germany: a nationwide survey : Running head: physical activity during the COVID-19 restrictions

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions posed challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical well-being. During the first mobility restrictions from March to mid-July 2020, the German population was advised to stay home, except for work, exercise, and essential shopping. Our objective was to comprehensively assess the impact of these restrictions on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior to identify the most affected groups.

METHODS

Between April 30, 2020, and May 12, 2020, we distributed a COVID-19-specific questionnaire to participants of the German National Cohort (NAKO). This questionnaire gathered information about participants' physical activity and sedentary behavior currently compared to the time before the restrictions. We integrated this new data with existing information on anxiety, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. The analyses focused on sociodemographic factors, social relationships, physical health, and working conditions.

RESULTS

Out of 152,421 respondents, a significant proportion reported altered physical activity and sedentary behavioral patterns due to COVID-19 restrictions. Over a third of the participants initially meeting the WHO's physical activity recommendation could no longer meet the guidelines during the restrictions. Participants reported substantial declines in sports activities (mean change (M) = -0.38; 95% CI: -.390; -.378; range from -2 to + 2) and reduced active transportation (M = -0.12; 95% CI: -.126; -.117). However, they also increased recreational physical activities (M = 0.12; 95% CI: .117; .126) while engaging in more sedentary behavior (M = 0.24; 95% CI: .240; .247) compared to pre-restriction levels. Multivariable linear and log-binomial regression models indicated that younger adults were more affected by the restrictions than older adults. The shift to remote work, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms were the factors most strongly associated with changes in all physical activity domains, including sedentary behavior, and the likelihood to continue following the physical activity guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Mobility patterns shifted towards inactivity or low-intensity activities during the nationwide restrictions in the spring of 2020, potentially leading to considerable and lasting health risks.

Assessing community-level impacts of and responses to stay at home orders: The King County COVID-19 community study

BACKGROUND

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) of unprecedented scope and duration were implemented to limit community spread of COVID-19. There remains limited evidence about how these measures impacted the lived experience of affected communities. This study captured the early impacts and coping strategies implemented in King County, Washington, one of the first U.S. communities impacted by COVID-19.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey of 793 English- and Spanish-speaking adult King County residents from March 18, 2020 -May 30, 2020, using voluntary response sampling. The survey included close- and open-ended questions on participant demographics, wellbeing, protective actions, and COVID-19-related concerns, including a freeform narrative response to describe the pandemic's individual-, family- and community-level impacts and associated coping strategies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze close-ended questions, and qualitative content analysis methods were used to analyze free-form narrative responses.

RESULTS

The median age of participants was 45 years old, and 74% were female, 82% were White, and 6% were Hispanic/Latinx; 474 (60%) provided a qualitative narrative. Quantitative findings demonstrated that higher percentages of participants engaged in most types of COVID-19 protective behaviors after the stay-at-home order was implemented and schools and community spaces were closed, relative to before, and that participants tended to report greater concern about the pandemic's physical health or healthcare access impacts than the financial or social impacts. Qualitative data analysis described employment or financial impacts (56%) and vitality coping strategies (65%), intended to support health or positive functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documented early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the NPIs implemented in response, as well as strategies employed to cope with those impacts, which can inform early-stage policy formation and intervention strategies to mitigate the negative impacts. Future research should explore the endurance and evolution of the early impacts and coping strategies throughout the multiyear pandemic.

Integrating work into life helps reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions

Work from home (WFH) creates work-life integration by moving work into traditional life at home, but its influence on residential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains unclear. In this study, an activity-based bottom-up model was developed to analyze the time-use patterns (activity durations and timeline of a typical day) of participants under WFH and traditional home life and to quantify their residential GHG emissions. Under WFH, participants generated an average of 9.03 kg CO2e/person/day, primarily attributed to space heating and cooling, cooking, grooming, work, and watching TV and movies. Notably, the GHG footprints varied across groups (8.08-9.93 kg CO2e/person/day) due to different work and household responsibilities and leisure time and varied with climate region (4.99-10.63 kg CO2e/person/day) because of emission factors of electricity, space heating and cooling, and cooking. Compared with traditional life at home (10.06 kg CO2e/person/day), WFH participants spent less time on almost all major activities (especially sleeping and watching TV and movies) to focus on work, enabling an 11.34% (1.02 kg CO2e/person/day) mitigation of GHG emissions. The reductions also varied by group and climate region, mainly associated with laundry, cooking, and watching TV and movies. Opportunities to reduce GHG emissions under WFH lie in targeting key activities, balancing the time spent on various activities, and developing group- and spatial-specific strategies. This study provides a systematic and high-resolution estimation of residential GHG emissions under WFH and traditional home life, with a complete system boundary, activity-specific considerations, and countrywide understanding. The findings reveal the environmental impact of work-life integration from the residential perspective and can aid residents and policymakers in utilizing decarbonization opportunities to advance low-carbon living under WFH.

[The impact of lockdown on mental health in PhD students, a cohort study in a French university]

INTRODUCTION

Few studies are available on the health status of doctoral students. This position at the border between university studies and a professional activity presents specific risk factors, especially in terms of psychosocial constraints. The lockdowns implemented worldwide to control the COVID-19 pandemic are potentially worsening factors.

METHODS

At Lyon 1 University, a systematic medical follow-up of first year PhD students had been set up by the occupational health service in 2019. In the context of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, a telephonic interview was proposed to the same PhD students in order to assess the impact of the lockdown on working conditions and health and to provide possible assistance. During this interview, a standardized questionnaire was used to collect information about the conditions during the lockdown, doctoral work during this period and the consequences on research progress, as well as possible financial difficulties due to the lockdown. In addition, questions were asked about the perceived general health conditions and consultation with a health practitioner during this period. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety. Questions on lifestyle during lockdown, changes in diet during the period, weight change, and changes in the quantity and quality of their sleep were also asked. Comparisons of perceived health status, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms at baseline and during the follow-up survey were made by MacNemar Chi2 tests, as the data were repeated ones. The students were informed orally and in writing that their data would be entered anonymously into a computer and that they could have access to their data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They were all informed by e-mail about the study results at the end of the study. The data collection process was registered with the National Institute for Health Data (INDS) and with the university's register under reference no. 2020/002 by the university's data protection officer in compliance with the French data protection laws (CNIL). The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Lyon University College of General Medicine (notification number: 2020-10-29-02).

RESULTS

Of the 161 PhD students initially interviewed, 149 underwent a second interview. In total, 89.2% of the students assessed their health as good or very good. Regarding the answers to the GAD-7 questionnaire, 8.1% had a score equal to or higher than 10, corresponding to moderate to severe anxiety. Regarding the answers to PHQ-9, 19.6% of the PhD students had a score equal to or higher than 9 corresponding to moderate to severe depressive syndromes. The prevalence of an anxiety disorder was significantly associated with the absence of an outside private access in the place of residence during lockdown (75% vs. 37%), an increase in coffee consumption (33% vs. 5%), an increase in the quantity of food consumed (50% vs. 12%), weight gain (50% vs. 19%) and a deterioration in sleep quality (75% vs. 28%). The prevalence of a depressive symptom was significantly associated with lockdown in an urban area (89% vs. 70%), the occurrence of financial difficulties (7% vs. 1%), the consultation of a health professional during the period (34% vs. 15%), smoking cessation (14% vs. 1%), changes in the quantity (31% vs. 9%) and deterioration (59% vs. 25%) of the quality of sleep, and diet changes (66% vs. 43%). GAD-7 scores were unchanged for 90% of participants between the two surveys, but they were higher for 6.8% of doctoral students and lower for 2.7 % (P=0.1). A deterioration of the PHQ-9 scores, i.e. higher scores in the second survey compared to the first, was observed for 15.5% of the PhD students while an improvement of the scores was observed for 1.4% (P=0.0001).

DISCUSSION

A number of studies have been published on the impact of lockdown on mental health, but few of them focused specifically on PhD students and even fewer were prospective studies. Their results are therefore difficult to compare with ours; they generally show GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores that are similar to those of our population, or even higher. The impact of lockdown on the mental health of doctoral students highlighted in our study therefore justifies an appropriate follow-up of this population, particularly in the case of former psychiatric disorders.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on emergency psychiatry department admissions

This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and lockdown period measures on patients' visits to the psychiatric emergency department (PED) of a University Hospital in İstanbul. We compared the number and characteristics of patients during the initial lockdown with visits in the pre- and post-lockdown months. We also investigated the number of monthly PED visits and hospitalizations between March 11, 2020 and 2021 and compared it to the same period in 2019 and between March 2021 and 2022. PED visits in the initial lockdown period in our university increased by 109% compared to the prelockdown months in the previous year. Anxiety and depressive disorders were responsible for most of this increase. The decline in PED visits was 3.1% and 42% during the first and second year of the pandemic, respectively; however, among the major diagnostic categories, we found that the rates of anxiety, depressive disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder increased significantly in the first year, while psychotic disorders declined and bipolar disorders remained the same. In the second year, there was a trend toward prepandemic year ratios. These findings show that the pandemic affects PED admissions in different ways at different periods. These data may also help shaping the public policies necessary to meet the evolving needs in the field of mental health of society at different public crises in the future.

The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19 in the Association between COVID-19-Related Work Stressors and Subjective Well-being: Path Analysis by Cross-sectional Evidence in the Child Care Sector across Three Samples

OBJECTIVE

COVID-19 has changed work conditions and instilled fear. However, research overlooked the contributing factors to fear of COVID-19 and its impact on well-being. We addressed this research gap and focused on the essential workforce of child care.

METHODS

Three samples of early childhood professionals (ECPs) ( NT1 = 423, NT2 = 142, NT3 = 584) were gathered in Germany between June 2020 and May 2021. We tested via path analysis whether (1) fear of COVID-19 relates to well-being, (2) COVID-19-related work stressors relate to fear of COVID-19, and (3) fear of COVID-19 mediates the relationship of work stressors and well-being.

RESULTS

Findings of N T1 and N T3 lent support, while results of N T2 differed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underlines the importance of adapting the work conditions during pandemics to reduce the fear of infection and thus preserve ECPs' well-being.

Changes in lifestyle and physical and mental health related to long-confinement due COVID-19: a study during the first and second pandemic waves in Mexico and Chile

We investigate changes in lifestyle, physical, and mental health during the confinement period of the first and second waves of COVID-19, as well as their relation to sociodemographic parameters and confinement status. Sociodemographic data and information regarding changes in their lifestyle behavior and changes in body weight and physical activity (PA) were collected. The SF-36 questionnaire was implemented for measuring the domains related to physical health (PH) and mental health (MH). The growth frequency of weight gain in the Mexican (4.8%) and Chilean (10.9%) populations was observed during the second wave. The MH component decreased in the Mexican and the Chilean population (p < 0.05). Moreover, the MH decreased significantly according to the degree of confinement (p < 0.01). Although some sociodemographic factors were related to the presence of a very low score (<50 scores) for the MH component during the first wave, it is perceived as a higher relative risk during the second wave in both populations. The long confinement due to COVID-19 is associated to negative changes in nutritional and physical lifestyle behavior, affecting mainly the MH component.

Nature visits, but not residential greenness, are associated with reduced income-related inequalities in subjective well-being

Nature exposure can promote human health and well-being. Additionally, there is some, albeit mixed, evidence that this relationship is stronger for socio-economically disadvantaged groups (equigenesis). Using a cross-sectional survey of the Austrian population (N = 2300), we explored the relationships between both residential greenness and recreational nature visits, and affective (WHO-5 Well-Being Index) and evaluative (Personal Well-Being Index-7) subjective well-being. Partially supporting the equigenesis hypothesis, regression analyses controlling for potential confounders found that recreational visit frequency, but not residential greenness, moderated the effect of income-related disparities in both subjective well-being metrics. Results suggest that merely making neighborhoods greener may not itself help reduce inequalities in subjective well-being. Additionally, greater efforts are also needed to support individuals from all sectors of society to access natural settings for recreation as this could significantly improve the well-being of some of the poorest in society.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on health of women in Pakistan - Socioeconomic perspective

Objectives

This study investigates the dimensions of women's experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, considering their historical vulnerability to natural disasters.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pakistan from May to September 2020 at Services institute of medical Sciences, Lahore. An online survey collected socio-demographic data, household responsibilities, and access to medical services using a self-designed questionnaire. Women aged 18 years and above (n=1307) were included through convenience sampling. Data analysis utilized SPSS 20.0.

Results

Of the surveyed women, 10 (14.9%) experienced improved health outcomes, while 39 (58.27%) faced poor health outcomes. Proper access to medical services was reported by 29 (43.3%) participants, while 38 (57.1%) had no access. Two women (3.0%) conceived during the lockdown. 45 (67.2%) women lived in nuclear families, and 21 (31.3%) in joint family systems. Additionally, 46 (68.7%) women were significantly burdened with household chores, while 21 (31.3%) had a normal routine. Among COVID-19-positive respondents, 70% reported weight gain from increased screen time and sedentary lifestyle. Difficulties in managing children's online classes were reported by 34.6% of participants. Moreover, 84% had a monthly income below one hundred thousand PKR. Among women aged 23-28 years, 30.9% had adverse effect on their husband's income, and 4.7% experienced unemployment. Unfortunately, 16% of respondents lost a relative due to COVID-19. Even with access to health facilities.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan led to adverse socioeconomic and health outcomes for women. These findings highlight the measures needed to address women's challenges amid pandemic impact.

COVID-19 lockdowns and working women's mental health: Does motherhood and size of workplace matter? A comparative analysis using understanding society

The COVID-19 pandemic had detrimental and unequal repercussions on mental health. To date there is little evidence exploring how motherhood and workplace size moderates this relationship for working women. This study aimed to estimate changes in working women's mental health at the start of each UK lockdown and estimate the effect of motherhood and workplace size on mental health. We used Understanding Society data from women in paid employment, who participated in at least: one pre-COVID-19 Wave (9 or 10/11) and one COVID-19 lockdown wave (Lockdown 1: April 2020, Lockdown 2: November 2020, Lockdown 3: January 2021). Primary outcome was probable psychological distress (i.e., score≥4 in the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12)). In Model 1, exposure was motherhood (binary), interacting with a variable that split time in the pre-pandemic and lockdown periods. In Model 2, workplace size (Micro:1-24, Medium: 25-199, Large: More than 200 employees) was added as an exposure (3-way interaction) to investigate moderation effects. We fitted mixed-effects logistic regression models, adjusting for age, ethnicity, UK country of residence, cohabitation, educational qualifications, working hours, furlough, subjective financial difficulty and previous health condition. In the adjusted Model 1, pre-pandemic, odds of GHQ-12 caseness were lower for mothers compared to non-mothers (OR:0.89 95%CI:0.77,1.03). However post-pandemic compared to pre-pandemic, odds for mothers were higher than non-mothers, especially during lockdown 3 (Non-mothers: OR:1.93 95%CI:1.69,2.20; Mothers: OR:2.87 95%CI:2.36,3.49). In Model 2, workplace size did not modify the relationship. Pre-pandemic, there was no difference in the odds of GHQ-12 caseness by workplace size; however, the differences observed in Lockdown 3 between non-mothers and mothers, are mainly attributed to differences in medium-sized enterprises (Non-mothers: OR:1.95 95%CI:1.53,2.48; Mothers: OR:3.56 95%CI:2.54,4.99). Future policies should be designed to facilitate the working lives of mothers, but especially for medium-sized enterprises as extreme uncertainty appears to affect these employees more.

Influence of gender identity on the adoption of religious-spiritual, preventive and emotion-focused coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Academic research has highlighted the gendered impacts and amplifications of gender disparities of COVID-19. Traditionally, Pakistan is a patriarchal society, where it is a parenthood norm to socialize specific gender social roles.

OBJECTIVES

The current research asserts that these normative gender roles may influence individuals throughout their life course, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study explored the influence of gender identity in adopting different coping strategies such as religious-spiritual, preventive, emotion-focused and non-constructive coping against the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Due to the lockdown in various areas of Pakistan, data were collected through an online questionnaire using Qualtrics. In a cross-sectional study, 955 respondents completed responses. Factors analysis and reliability analysis were run to ensure the scales' reliability, validity and robustness for different coping strategies. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to find model fitness.

CONCLUSIONS

For theoretical explanation, the current study used social role theory that argues that each gender benefits differently from distinct coping behaviours. The findings highlighted that women were more likely to adopt most coping strategies, with the most significant difference in religious-spiritual coping and preventative coping strategies even in the presence of control variables such as level of education, household monthly income, family structure, marital status and family size. There was no gender difference in adopting non-constructive strategies. The empirical evidence suggested that females might be at an increased risk of stress due to the burden of unbalanced household-based social norms and care responsibilities. The current research also expanded the base of coping to religious-spiritual coping, emotion-focused coping and non-constructive coping.

Gender in the disclosure of loneliness on Twitter during COVID-19 lockdowns

Introduction

Loneliness has been shown to affect both mental and physical health, and was a major concern even before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 distancing measures, millions of people took to social media to express their feelings and seek social support.

Methods

In this mixed-methods study, we examine the self-disclosure of loneliness by users identifying as male or female (via self-disclosed naming conventions) on Twitter before and during the COVID-19 "lockdowns."

Results

We show that in the first two months of COVID-19 restrictions, self-disclosure of loneliness on this platform rose dramatically, and also have changed qualitatively. We find that female accounts tend to post more loneliness self-disclosures compared to male ones, even before COVID. Female disclosures more often center around pregnancy, family, and close relationships, whereas those posted by the male ones are more related to leadership, video gaming and sex. During COVID lockdowns, female accounts turn to online messaging apps and hobbies, and male become increasingly vocal in seeking partners.

Discussion

The insights of this study have important implications for the design of interventions for lessening the burden of loneliness in the current digitized world.

Attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions and COVID-19-related stress and fear among college students across three waves

Background and Aims

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of college students, leading to increased psychological distress. This study explored potenital predictors to better understand the factors that influence and mitigate student COVID-19 stress in the evolving landscape of residential colleges. Specifically, we investigated the roles of COVID-19 fear, loneliness, and attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods

Employing a longitudinal online survey design, we collected data over the fall 2020 semester from 122 first-year college students enrolled in a small mid-west liberal arts college. Participants completed the same survey three times: Wave 1 in August, Wave 2 in October, and Wave 3 in November.

Results

Fear of COVID-19 (Time 1) was a significant predictor of increased COVID-19 related stress at both Time 2 and Time 3. Interestingly, loneliness (Time 1) moderated the effect of fear of COVID-19 (Time 1) on attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions at Time 2. Moreover, students' negative attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions and feelings of loneliness increased over the course of the semester.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that college students' wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 stress is influenced by a complex interplay of perceptions of COVID-19 (stress, fear, attitudes) and feelings of social isolation (loneliness). Further research in this area is crucial to provide targeted support and interventions to promote students' mental health.

Associations between changes in habitual sleep duration and lower self-rated health among COVID-19 survivors: findings from a survey across 16 countries/regions

BACKGROUND

Self-rated health (SRH) is widely recognized as a clinically significant predictor of subsequent mortality risk. Although COVID-19 may impair SRH, this relationship has not been extensively examined. The present study aimed to examine the correlation between habitual sleep duration, changes in sleep duration after infection, and SRH in subjects who have experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection.

METHODS

Participants from 16 countries participated in the International COVID Sleep Study-II (ICOSS-II) online survey in 2021. A total of 10,794 of these participants were included in the analysis, including 1,509 COVID-19 individuals (who reported that they had tested positive for COVID-19). SRH was evaluated using a 0-100 linear visual analog scale. Habitual sleep durations of < 6 h and > 9 h were defined as short and long habitual sleep duration, respectively. Changes in habitual sleep duration after infection of ≤ -2 h and ≥ 1 h were defined as decreased or increased, respectively.

RESULTS

Participants with COVID-19 had lower SRH scores than non-infected participants, and those with more severe COVID-19 had a tendency towards even lower SRH scores. In a multivariate regression analysis of participants who had experienced COVID-19, both decreased and increased habitual sleep duration after infection were significantly associated with lower SRH after controlling for sleep quality (β = -0.056 and -0.058, respectively, both p < 0.05); however, associations between current short or long habitual sleep duration and SRH were negligible. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that decreased habitual sleep duration was significantly related to increased fatigue (odds ratio [OR] = 1.824, p < 0.01), shortness of breath (OR = 1.725, p < 0.05), diarrhea/nausea/vomiting (OR = 2.636, p < 0.01), and hallucinations (OR = 5.091, p < 0.05), while increased habitual sleep duration was significantly related to increased fatigue (OR = 1.900, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in habitual sleep duration following SARS-CoV-2 infection were associated with lower SRH. Decreased or increased habitual sleep duration might have a bidirectional relation with post-COVID-19 symptoms. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these relationships for in order to improve SRH in individuals with COVID-19.

Assessment and Psychometric Properties of the 21-Item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) among Portuguese Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial disruptions in the lives of higher education students, with detrimental repercussions for academic performance and overall mental health. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among Portuguese higher education students during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and investigate DASS-21's psychometric characteristics and whether it functions effectively during a pandemic. A convenience sampling procedure was used to recruit 1522 participants (75.1% women and 79.2% undergraduate students) for this cross-sectional research. Participants completed an e-survey created using DASS-21. The results revealed a considerable prevalence of symptoms of depression [≥10] (N = 434, 28.5%), anxiety [≥7] (N = 551, 36.2%), and stress [≥11] (N = 544, 35.7%). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed the scale's three-factor structure, which matched the three DASS-21 subscales. Subsequently, the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) correlation ratio evaluated the scale's discriminant validity, which was relatively good. Cronbach's alpha measured the internal consistency of the DASS subscales, which was excellent (Cronbach's α > 0.90). DASS-21 was shown to be a reliable and appropriate measure for assessing students' mental health. Furthermore, DASS-21 is recommended for use by academics and healthcare professionals in measuring students' psychological distress. Further validation studies of this scale are needed with larger and more representative samples.

Assessing Social Determinants of Health Among Patients With Depression at Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh City

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 Depression is a common and serious medical illness that is greatly influenced by socioeconomic, demographic, and biological factors. The recognition of social determinants of depression can help reduce the risk factors and promote mental health. The purpose of this study was to assess the social determinants of health (SDOH) of patients with depression and to classify its categories at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODOLOGY

 A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 322 participants who were selected through a convenience sampling technique from June 2021 to August 2022. The study included Saudi and non-Saudi patients at the Ministry of Health PHCs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aged 12 years and older. Independent samples of t-test and one-way ANOVA test were used to assess differences in means of numerical variables. Correlations were made by the Pearson correlation coefficient. A p-value of <0.05 was set as the level of statistical significance. Logistic regression was used to determine the main variables associated with moderate to severe depression.

RESULTS

The findings showed 51% had minimal to mild depression, 27% had moderate depression, and 22% had moderately severe to severe depression. A greater proportion of females had moderate to severe depression (61%) (p=0.007). Also, moderate to severe depression was higher in those with lower monthly income(54%)(p=0.03). Saudi nationals were found to have a higher percentage of moderate to severe depression(51%)(p=0.007). Marital status was found to be associated with depression as single respondents were more likely to have moderate to severe depression (p=0.052) with 54%.

CONCLUSION

SDOH including gender, income, marital status, and nationality are associated with depression. Having a comprehensive system focusing not only on mental health services but also on the social determinants of mental health is very important. Future research is needed to understand the association between depression and SDOH in Saudi Arabia. The study results can help policymakers determine the areas that require improvements.

Trait mindfulness, self-efficacy, and coping strategies during COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic may have negative impacts on individuals' mental health. At the same time, protective factors such as mindfulness, i.e., a moment-to-moment awareness of own experiences without judgment, may have positive effects on various psychological outcomes during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

The current study analyzed the associations between trait mindfulness and psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic at three measurement points, testing self-efficacy and coping strategies as further potential predictors.

DESIGN & METHODS

Altogether 207 students (85% female, mostly between 18 and 25 years old) participated in a longitudinal online survey from May to July 2020. At t1, t2, and t3, trait mindfulness, COVID-19-specific psychological well-being, depressiveness, anxiety, and stress were assessed. In addition, coping strategies were measured at t1 and self-efficacy at t2.

RESULTS

Psychological outcomes at t1 were associated with trait mindfulness and coping strategies. The change in psychological outcomes between t2 and t3 was predicted by trait mindfulness and self-efficacy and to some extent by maladaptive coping. In a cross-lagged panel design, trait mindfulness was a better predictor of the psychological outcomes than vice versa.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the value of trait mindfulness for psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Positivity and coping as key to well-being and psychological adjustment during the pandemic of COVID-19: A follow-up study in Portugal

This follow-up study aimed to analyze the protective role of positivity and coping strategies on the well-being and psychological distress levels reported during Portugal's first and third waves of COVID-19. The total sample consisted of 135 participants (82.0% women) with ages ranging from 20 to 72 years (M = 39.29, SD = 11.46). Results suggested a significant decrease in well-being levels but no changes in psychological distress were observed. Positivity was a strong and significant predictor of well-being and psychological distress during the pandemic crisis. Among the set of strategies used by individuals at the first wave, denial, self-blame, and self-distraction predicted a poorer adaptation with more significant mental health impairment, with self-blame standing out as the most harmful. This study highlighted the key role of positivity in adjusting to the current pandemic crisis and the lasting detrimental impact of specific coping strategies.