Correlates of symptoms of anxiety and depression and mental wellbeing associated with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of UK-based respondents

Positive Mental Health of Frontline Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 First Wave and Second Wave in Spain: The Protective Role of Social Recognition

BACKGROUND

The study of the COVID-19 disease consequences on healthcare professionals' mental health has drawn a great interest in psychology and other behavioral sciences. Previous studies mainly focused on professionals' health in terms of psychopathology, therefore, there is no research examining their positive mental health during both the first and the second wave. Also, there is no research studying healthcare professionals' social recognition during the pandemic and the influence of this variable on professionals' positive health.

METHODS

Following the WHO's recommendations, our objective was to measure pathology (i.e., anxiety and traumatic intensity), positive health (i.e., Hedonic, Psychological and Social Well-being) and social recognition in a sample of 200 healthcare professionals in the frontline care of Covid-19 patients.

RESULTS

In both waves, participants showed high levels of anxiety and traumatic intensity, although, as expected, in the second (vs. the first) wave psychopathological symptoms decreased. Concerning positive health indicators, in the second wave, health professionals showed more hedonic and psychological well-being than in the first one. However, in the second wave social well-being was lower than in the first wave, an expected though apparently paradoxical result, linked to the decrease in healthcare professionals' social recognition between the first and the second wave. In fact, bootstrapping procedures and Sobel Test confirm the mediating role of social recognition on the effect of Covid-19 wave on social well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Public institutions, governments, and society in general, should recognize health professionals' work, given that social recognition is a fundamental protection factor for social well-being.

Investigating social media addiction and impact of social media addiction, loneliness, depression, life satisfaction and problem-solving skills on academic self-efficacy and academic success among university students

Introduction

The negative effects of post-COVID-19 restrictions have been detected in students' mental well-being due to internet addiction, changing habits, despair and uncertainty. Students' academic success is expected to be affected by social media addiction, loneliness, depression, life satisfaction, problem solving skills and academic self-efficacy factors. This study aimed to determine the level of social media addiction and the effects of these factors on the academic success of university students and define their interactions with each other.

Methods

Four hundred nineteen questionnaires were collected between October-December 2022 at Bingöl University, Türkiye. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, One-Way ANOVA, correlation and multiple linear regression methods were used to analyze data with the help of the SPSS 22 software.

Results

Middle level grade (GPA) average (71,17 ± 9,69 out of 100), low level social support from friends and family members (34,6%), spending more than 4 h on social media (42,5%), middle level social media addiction, moderate depression level (51,31%-PHQ > 10), mild loneliness and slight dissatisfaction with life were found among students. Furthermore, high academic self-efficacy, moderate agreement with academic performance and good problem-solving skills were indicated in the survey results. Significant differences, such as higher life satisfaction among males and higher depression among females, were measured. Academic self-efficacy scale, problem solving skills and satisfaction with life had a negative correlation with social media addiction and depression, while a positive correlation with academic performance measures. Problem solving skills, satisfaction with life, fourth class vs. others and living alone vs. others were positive predictors of the academic self-efficacy. Meanwhile, loneliness was a negative predictor of the academic self-efficacy, while higher problem-solving skills and being female were positive factors leading to a higher GPA.

Discussion

The fact that the participants were only students from Bingöl University limits the ability to generalize the results. Policymakers could implement social and problem-solving skills training to develop better academic programs and cognitive-behavioral therapy for students' academic success.

Mental health among college students a year after COVID-19 outbreak in Israel: The association between wellbeing and anxiety

Objective: To evaluate anxiety and well-being among college students. Participants: The sample comprised 366 college students who responded to an online survey In January 2021. Methods: An online survey included demographics, a 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and a 14-item Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) measuring well-being. Results: Findings revealed low self-rated well-being compared to the general population. The mean anxiety level was 8.89, and 39% of respondents showed moderate to severe anxiety. Negative correlations were found between well-being and anxiety. A regression model showed that students who live with their parents, had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and have low emotional well-being scores, are at risk of suffering from anxiety (R2=0.32, F = 53, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Student mental health is significantly affected by the pandemic and should be carefully monitored. It is crucial to provide timely psychological support to prevent negative long-term implications of the crisis on student mental health.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Reporting in Highly Cited Current Alcohol Research

Purpose: This study aimed to measure the frequency of high-quality and transparent sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection and reporting in highly cited current alcohol use research, using the extant literature to identify community-informed priorities for the measurement of these variables. Methods: A single search to identify alcohol use literature was conducted on PubMed with results restricted to primary research articles published between 2015 and 2022. The 200 most highly cited studies from each year were identified and their titles and abstracts reviewed against inclusion criteria after deduplication. After full-text review, study characteristics and data indicating quality of SOGI reporting were extracted. The fidelity of the results was verified with a random sample before analyses. Results: The final sample comprised 580 records. Few studies reported gender identity (n = 194; 33.4%) and, of these, 7.2% reported the associated gender identity measure. A two-stage approach to measure gender was adopted in 3 studies, one study used an open-ended question with a free-text response option, and 13 studies recorded nonbinary gender identities (reported by 0.9% of the whole sample). Nineteen (3.3%) studies reported sexual orientation and more than half of these provided the sexual orientation measure. Eight of the 20 studies that reported sexual orientation and/or gender identity measures were classified as sexual and gender minority specialist research. Conclusions: Culturally competent SOGI reporting is lacking in highly cited current alcohol research. SOGI measures should be disclosed in future research and should provide free-text response options.

Association of lifestyle and flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Introduction

COVID-19 have changed our lifestyle and little is known how our lifestyle associated with flourishing during COVID-19. This study examined the association between lifestyle, including sleep time, drinking, and smoking, and flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Methods

We used the population-based study, Utsunomiya COVID-19 seROprevalence Neighborhood Association (U-CORONA) survey conducted in November 2021 to examine the association between lifestyle such as sleeping time, drinking and smoking, and flourishing (n = 473). Flourishing was assessed with the flourishing index, a 10-item multidimensional scale with five domains. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed adjusted for sex, age, income, and education.

Results

We found that the flourishing index was significantly lower in the group that slept less than 6 h than in the group that slept 6-8 h (coef = -0.49, SE = 0.17, p < 0.01). We also found that drinking once to several times/week showed higher flourishing than those who almost never drink (coef = 0.57, SE = 0.19, p < 0.01). Smoking was not associated with flourishing.

Discussion

Sleep duration and drinking habit, but not smoking, may be important for flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Did COVID-19 Impact Smoking Habits in the Saudi Community?

Background/aims Most countries have gone through lockdowns to varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the disease. The successive pandemic waves have impacted the health system, imposing restrictions set by the government. This changed people's daily life routines and they felt more socially isolated, which in turn had an impact on their mental health. Some factors were linked to the severity and outcome of COVID-19 on patients. One of these factors was smoking. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and impact of lockdown on smoking habits, as well as the changes in attitudes, behavior, and the rate of consumption before and after the government restrictions in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 921 participants from the general population of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. A structured self-response questionnaire was given to the participants after institutional research ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results A total of 921 participants from the smoker population of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The majority of participants were male (72.9%), and more than half were aged between 18 and 34 years (53.7%). Single individuals had a higher prevalence of increased smoking and a lower rate of quitting compared to married individuals. Participants with higher education levels were more likely to continue smoking at the same rate. While 40.5% of participants reported no change in their smoking rate during the pandemic, 15.4% reported a decrease, 39.0% reported an increase, and 5.1% reported quitting smoking. Participants who reported feeling more stressed during the pandemic had a higher prevalence of increased smoking. The majority of participants believed that smoking increased the risk of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted smoking cessation interventions and support services during the pandemic, considering demographic factors, living arrangements, and psychological impact. Efforts should be made to raise awareness about the negative health consequences of smoking during the pandemic and provide resources for stress management and alternative coping strategies. These findings have important implications for public health interventions and policies in Saudi Arabia.

A systematic review on the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and emotional disorder symptoms during Covid-19: unearthing the potential role of economic concerns and financial strain

BACKGROUND

Covid-19 has disrupted the lives of many and resulted in high prevalence rates of mental disorders. Despite a vast amount of research into the social determinants of mental health during Covid-19, little is known about whether the results are consistent with the social gradient in mental health. Here we report a systematic review of studies that investigated how socioeconomic condition (SEC)-a multifaceted construct that measures a person's socioeconomic standing in society, using indicators such as education and income, predicts emotional health (depression and anxiety) risk during the pandemic. Furthermore, we examined which classes of SEC indicators would best predict symptoms of emotional disorders.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted search over six databases, including Scopus, PubMed, etc., between November 4, 2021 and November 11, 2021 for studies that investigated how SEC indicators predict emotional health risks during Covid-19, after obtaining approval from PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021288508). Using Covidence as the platform, 362 articles (324 cross-sectional/repeated cross-sectional and 38 longitudinal) were included in this review according to the eligibility criteria. We categorized SEC indicators into 'actual versus perceived' and 'static versus fluid' classes to explore their differential effects on emotional health.

RESULTS

Out of the 1479 SEC indicators used in these 362 studies, our results showed that 43.68% of the SEC indicators showed 'expected' results (i.e., higher SEC predicting better emotional health outcomes); 51.86% reported non-significant results and 4.46% reported the reverse. Economic concerns (67.16% expected results) and financial strains (64.16%) emerged as the best predictors while education (26.85%) and living conditions (30.14%) were the worst.

CONCLUSIONS

This review summarizes how different SEC indicators influenced emotional health risks across 98 countries, with a total of 5,677,007 participants, ranging from high to low-income countries. Our findings showed that not all SEC indicators were strongly predictive of emotional health risks. In fact, over half of the SEC indicators studied showed a null effect. We found that perceived and fluid SEC indicators, particularly economic concerns and financial strain could best predict depressive and anxiety symptoms. These findings have implications for policymakers to further understand how different SEC classes affect mental health during a pandemic in order to tackle associated social issues effectively.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Brazilian Pregnant Women at the Beginning of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the presence of PTSD symptoms and their risk among the pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of pregnant women that received receiving prenatal care at two university hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, from April to June 2020. The sociodemographic and health data of the participants and their exposure to individuals suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 were evaluated. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to assess PTSD and anxiety symptoms, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 149 pregnant women were included in this study. The risk of PTSD among the participants was 55.1%. The independent risk factors for PTSD were state anxiety (ORadj = 2.6), trait anxiety (ORadj = 10.7), changes in routine due to the pandemic (ORadj = 4.7) and contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 person (ORadj = 7.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on the mental health of pregnant women, more than half of the participants of the present study showed a risk of PTSD, exacerbated by anxiety symptoms and exposure to individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Determinants of adolescents' depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in Northwest Ethiopia: A non-recursive structural equation modeling

INTRODUCTION

In low and middle-income countries, adolescent mental health is not only a major public health challenge but also a development concern. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders and somatic symptoms often co-exist with them. Adolescents with common mental health problems are associated with an increased risk of suicide, future unemployment, and poor quality of life. However, little is known about the mental health of adolescents in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the determinants of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms among adolescents in Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 8 to 24, 2022. Two-stage stratified random sampling was used to select 1407 adolescents in Northwest Ethiopia. Structured and standardized self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Non-recursive structural equation modeling was employed to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of predictors. Adjusted regression coefficients and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to interpret the strength of the association.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms were 28.21% (95% CI: 25.8, 31%), 25.05% (95%CI: 22.8, 27.5), and 25.24(95% CI: 23, 27.6%) respectively. Alcohol use had a significant positive effect on depression [β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.201], anxiety [β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.188], and somatic symptoms [β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.062, 0.211]. Stress had a significant positive effect on depression [β = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.642, 0.900], anxiety [β = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.955, 1.264], and somatic symptoms [β = 086, 95% C: 0.700, 1.025]. Depression had a direct positive effect on anxiety [β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.508, 1.010].

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms was moderate. Alcohol use and stress were significantly related to depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. The bidirectional relationship between anxiety and depression was significant. Therefore, public health interventions should focus on the bidirectional relationship between depression and anxiety, as well as on identified factors to reduce the burden of mental illness in adolescents.

Exploring the Psychological Impact of Quarantine: An Investigation into Eating Patterns, Emotions, and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece

PURPOSE

The implementation of quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges linked to adverse psychological effects, notably affecting individuals' eating patterns. This study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of individuals during lockdowns compared across sex, age, and income levels, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, as well as loneliness, on these patterns.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online study was conducted with 450 participants (aged 18-74 years old). One questionnaire about demographics, the Demographic Questionnaire, and three validated self-report scales (Eating Attitudes Test, comprising the Dieting, Bulimia, and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control subscales, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale) were employed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were collected between April and May 2021, primarily through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The survey questionnaire was shared via these platforms and users could answer if they wanted. Also, they were asked to send the questionnaire to their close contacts. Additionally, the survey questionnaire was distributed face-to-face to 80 participants. The statistical analyses included linear regression and mediation analyses.

RESULTS

 Abnormal eating patterns (e.g. eating behaviors that tend to have signs of diet such as constant avoidance of fattening foods, the individual's involvement with becoming leaner, extreme control or preoccupation with food, overeating and purging methods) were identified in 25% of the 450 participants participated in this survey, aged 18-74 years. Moderate levels of negative/positive emotions and loneliness were predominantly reported. Female sex was significantly associated with abnormal eating patterns (p=0.010), particularly dietary behaviors (p=0.029). Negative emotions (p=0.032) and loneliness (p=0.001) emerged as predictive factors for overall eating patterns and bulimic behaviors. Negative emotions exhibited a direct correlation with eating patterns, while loneliness played a significant mediating role (p=0.032). Furthermore, the association between negative emotions and bulimia was partially mediated by loneliness (p=0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the pivotal roles of negative emotions and loneliness in shaping eating patterns during quarantine. Multilevel public health interventions are needed to address the negative effects of quarantine and pandemics in general. Screening tests for mental health in the school and job environments could highlight the need for shaping interventions, such as counseling, group empowerment, and family support in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating behaviors and mental health in general.

Exploring the relationship across autonomous motivation, affects, and anxiety among gym practitioners during the second COVID-19 lockdown

The present study explores the association of autonomous motivation and the relationship of positive and negative affect on anxiety levels among individuals engaged in gym practitioners during the second COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 196 exercisers (29.17 ± 10.77) were enrolled in the present study, of which 112 (57.1%) were women and 84 (42.9%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data, as well as validated instruments measuring autonomous motivation, positive and negative affect, and anxiety states related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed a positive association between autonomous motivation and positive affect (β = 0.36, CI 0.12, 0.37; p < 0.001), and a negative association between autonomous motivation and negative affect (β = - 0.17, CI - 0.31, - 0.01; p = 0.03). Moreover positive, and negative affect are negatively (β = - 0.33, CI - 0.43, - 0.24; p < 0.001) and positively (β = 0.72, CI 0.57, 0.82; p < 0.001) associated to anxiety, respectively. Thus, this study appears to emphasize the association of autonomous motivation on affect as a potential buffer against anxiety levels, particularly in a context where practitioners found themselves restricted in their usual gym practices.

The effect of a prosocial environment on health and well-being during the first COVID-19 lockdown and a year later

The outset of the COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by prolonged periods of chronic stress and social isolation. While studies have investigated the changes to well-being (WB) during this period, the impact of the social environment on long-term physical and mental health requires further study. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing WB and health outcomes, with the hypothesis that a positive social environment would play a significant immediate and long-term role in improving WB and preventing the effects of anxiety associated with the pandemic. At time point 1 (April 2020), an Israeli sample of 206 participants (84% female, mean age 31.5) responded to traditional questionnaires assessing mental health and social support. Factors affecting WB were assessed within subjects during the first COVID-19 lockdown for 6 weeks using a daily survey (Beiwe phone application). A year later, in May 2021, at time point 2, the initial questionnaires were readministered to a subset of the same participants (N = 94). We found that anxiety during the first lockdown adversely affected WB and predicted health and WB deterioration a year later. In contrast, a high quality of social relationships was associated with better short- and long-term WB, and mitigated the adverse effects of anxiety. Daily activities, including physical activity, meditation, and romantic relations, were also positively associated with WB during the first lockdown but did not have long-term effects. In summary, our study underscores the enduring health advantages of a positive social environment, particularly during stressful periods. These results have implications for health policymakers: programs which support individuals with high anxiety and low support, by integrating them into community-based interventions, promise to enhance well-being (WB) and health, as well as to fortify the community as a whole.

Control list of high-priority chemicals based on 5-HT-RI functionality and the human health interference effects selective CNN-GRU deep learning model

The antidepressant drug known as 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (5-HT-RI) was commonly detected in biological tissues and result in significant adverse health effects. Homology modeling was used to characterize the functionalities (efficacy and resistance), and the adverse outcome pathway was used to characterize its human health interferences (olfactory toxicity, neurotoxicity, and gut microbial interference). The convolutional neural network coupled with the gated recurrent unit (CNN-GRU) deep learning method was used to construct a comprehensive model of 5-HT-RI functionality and human health interference effects selectivity with small sample data. The architecture with 2 SE, 320 neuronal nodes and 6-folds cross-validation showed the best applicability. The results showed that the confidence interval of the constructed model reached 90 % indicating that the model had reliable prediction ability and generalization ability. Based on the CNN-GRU deep learning model, seven high-priority chemicals with a weak comprehensive effect, including D-VEN, (1R,4S)-SER, S-FLX, CTP, S-CTP, NEF, and VEN, were screened. Based on the molecular three-dimensional structure information, a comprehensive-effect three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model was constructed to confirm the reliability of the constructed control list of 5-HT-RI high-priority chemicals. Analysis with the ranking of calculated values based on the molecular dynamics method and predicted values based on the CNN-GRU deep learning model, we found that the consistency of the three methods was above 85 %. Additionally, by analyzing the sensitivity, molecular electrostatic potential, polar surface area of the comprehensive-effect CNN-GRU deep learning model, and the electrostatic field of the 3D-QSAR models, we found that the significant effects of five key characteristics (DM, Qyy, Qxz, I, and BP), molecular electronegativity, and polarity significantly affected the high-priority degree of 5-HT-RI. In this study, we provided reasonable and reliable prediction tools and discussed theoretical methods for the risk assessment of functionality and human health interference of emerging pollutants such as 5-HT-RI.

The interrelationship between pain, life satisfaction and mental health in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury, in the context of a developing country

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional, analytical study design using a conveneient sampling strategy.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the interrelationship between pain, life satisfaction and indices of negative mental well-being amongst the traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) population.

SETTING

Western Cape Rehabilitation Center in Cape Town, South Africa.

METHODS

Participants (n = 70) were adults (mean age of 36.3, SD = 9.2) with TSCI. Participants completed the following instruments: 10 satisfaction items from the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version, short forms of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a one-item measure of pain intensity taken from the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Data Set and the interference scale of the Brief Pain Inventory.

RESULTS

Correlational analysis (Pearson r) demonstrated that all the indices of mental well-being as well as the two indices of pain was significantly negatively related to life satisfaction. In addition, life satisfaction mediated the relationship between pain intensity and depression as well as anxiety. Life satisfaction only mediated the relationship between pain interference and depression but not anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

An improvement in life satisfaction may lead to improvements in pain interference, pain intensity as well as psychological distress, amongst persons suffering from TSCI Future research should focus on assessing measures/treatment which may improve life satisfaction in the TSCI population.

Anxiety disorders among children and adolescents during COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: a cross-sectional study in Kuwait

Introduction

Investigating the epidemiology of mental health disorders resulting from COVID-19 intervention measures, primary school closures, and social isolation in children and adolescents needs to be prioritized over adults at the post-pandemic stage. Most preliminary psychosocial studies conducted during the pandemic have demonstrated that younger age groups are the most vulnerable to such implications. Thus, this study aims to estimate the probable prevalence of specific anxiety disorders in children and quantify their relationships with relevant demographic risk factors.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional study comprising 430 children aged between 8- and 18 years old living in Kuwait during the period of school closures as well as full and partial lockdowns. The survey included questions about participants' characteristics, children's anxiety using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire (SCARED) scale, and children's emotions and behaviours using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to summarize the demographic and characteristics of the participants and their association with general, social, and generalized anxieties, as well as behavioural and emotional difficulties.

Results

We inferred that 24.83% of our participants had at least one anxiety disorder, while 20.19% were classified as abnormal on the SDQ scale. Our multivariate analysis revealed that lockdown duration and sex of the child were consistently significant predictors (p-values < 0.05) of the broad spectrum of selected mental disorders. Additionally, we inferred notable increases in the likelihood of mental disorders associated with the increased duration of lockdowns.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed preliminary insights into the vulnerability of young populations to the indirect negative impacts of strict public health measures during pandemic emergencies. Thus, authorities should consider such implications when planning and implementing similar interventions in future pandemics.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Personal Networks and Neurological Outcomes of People With Multiple Sclerosis: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the social fabric.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the associations between personal social networks and neurological function in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and controls in the prepandemic and pandemic periods.

METHODS

During the early pandemic (March-December 2020), 8 cohorts of pwMS and controls completed a questionnaire quantifying the structure and composition of their personal social networks, including the health behaviors of network members. Participants from 3 of the 8 cohorts had additionally completed the questionnaire before the pandemic (2017-2019). We assessed neurological function using 3 interrelated patient-reported outcomes: Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS), Multiple Sclerosis Rating Scale-Revised (MSRS-R), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function. We identified the network features associated with neurological function using paired 2-tailed t tests and covariate-adjusted regressions.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional analysis of the pandemic data from 1130 pwMS and 1250 controls during the pandemic, having a higher percentage of network members with a perceived negative health influence was associated with worse disability in pwMS (MSRS-R: β=2.181, 95% CI 1.082-3.279; P<.001) and poor physical function in controls (PROMIS Physical Function: β=-5.707, 95% CI -7.405 to -4.010; P<.001). In the longitudinal analysis of 230 pwMS and 136 controls, the networks of all participants contracted, given an increase in constraint (pwMS-prepandemic: mean 52.24, SD 15.81; pwMS-pandemic: mean 56.77, SD 18.91; P=.006. Controls-prepandemic: mean 48.07, SD 13.36; controls-pandemic: mean 53.99, SD 16.31; P=.001) and a decrease in network size (pwMS-prepandemic: mean 8.02, SD 5.70; pwMS-pandemic: mean 6.63, SD 4.16; P=.003. Controls-prepandemic: mean 8.18, SD 4.05; controls-pandemic: mean 6.44, SD 3.92; P<.001), effective size (pwMS-prepandemic: mean 3.30, SD 1.59; pwMS-pandemic: mean 2.90, SD 1.50; P=.007. Controls-prepandemic: mean 3.85, SD 1.56; controls-pandemic: mean 3.40, SD 1.55; P=.01), and maximum degree (pwMS-prepandemic: mean 4.78, SD 1.86; pwMS-pandemic: mean 4.32, SD 1.92; P=.01. Controls-prepandemic: mean 5.38, SD 1.94; controls-pandemic: mean 4.55, SD 2.06; P<.001). These network changes were not associated with worsening function. The percentage of kin in the networks of pwMS increased (mean 46.06%, SD 29.34% to mean 54.36%, SD 30.16%; P=.003) during the pandemic, a change that was not seen in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that high perceived negative health influence in the network was associated with worse function in all participants during the pandemic. The networks of all participants became tighter knit, and the percentage of kin in the networks of pwMS increased during the pandemic. Despite these perturbations in social connections, network changes from the prepandemic to the pandemic period were not associated with worsening function in all participants, suggesting possible resilience.

The association of psychological distress and economic and health worries with tobacco smoking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-year longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic and other life events may trigger worries and psychological distress. These impacts may lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as tobacco smoking, but the degree of such associations is unclear. The current three-wave longitudinal study examines changes in tobacco smoking in Norway between 2020 and 2022 and their associations with psychological distress as well as health- and economy-related worries.

METHODS

Data were collected in April 2020 (baseline), January 2021, and January 2022 in Bergen, Norway, from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Smoking tobacco (the outcome variable) was dichotomized based on the responses to the question of whether participants smoked cigarettes or not. Tobacco smoking and its associations with psychological distress were assessed among 24,914 participants (response rate 36%) in a mixed model regression presented with coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, education, having children below 18 years living at home, living alone, and alcohol consumption.

RESULTS

A total of 10% of the study sample were current smokers at baseline. At baseline, smoking tobacco was associated with high levels of psychological distress (absolute difference 13%, 95% CI 10%; 15%), advanced age (50-59 years: 11%, CI 10%; 13%), and hazardous alcohol use (4%, CI 3%; 5%) compared to their counterparts. Higher education (-5%, CI -6%; -4%), working from home (-4%, CI -5%; -4%), and higher physical activity levels (-4%, CI -5%; -3%) were associated with non-smoking. The prevalence of smoking among individuals experiencing severe psychological distress decreased slightly over time (-2% per year, CI -3%; -1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking was associated with severe psychological distress, advanced age, and hazardous alcohol use at baseline; non-smoking was associated with high education, working from home, and high physical activity. Nevertheless, the smoking rate among individuals experiencing severe psychological distress slightly decreased over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of psychological distress as a function of positive psychological variables during the COVID-19 pandemic: A university longitudinal study

Objective: To examine changes in psychological distress of college students as a function of demographic and psychological variables over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Subjects were recruited from a large public university in Northeast Ohio using electronic surveys administered at three time points in 2020. Methods: Demographics, positive psychological metrics (flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience) and psychological distress were collected and a mixed linear model was run to estimate their effect on change in distress. Results: Psychological distress did not change significantly across time. Females experienced more psychological distress than males. Higher levels of flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience were associated with less distress overall. Conclusions: Although psychological distress did not change across observed time, previous data suggests heightened psychological distress that remained elevated across observed time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive psychological variables were shown to mitigate psychological distress, and the relationship was stable over time.

Prevalence and associated risk factors for mental health problems among young adults in Fiji Island during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally. To understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health in Fiji, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression among the young adults.

Method

An online survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression among the general population in Suva, Fiji during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1,119 Fiji adults participated in the study. The study was conducted between May 20 to June 30, 2022, using a snowball sampling via social media platforms. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scales were used to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. The COVID-19 related stressors was evaluated using the adapted SARS stressors assessment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing mental health among respondents.

Results

The result shows that a significant portion of individuals experienced each of the stressors, with the highest prevalence seen for hearing information about the severity of COVID-19. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 45% and 49%, respectively. Being female, having pre-existing illness and COVID-19 stressors were a risk factor to develop anxiety and depression. On the other hand, employed individuals and having high BMI was a protective factor against developing depression during COVID-19 lockdown.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental health needs of the Fijian population during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Effects of COVID-19-related worry and rumination on mental health and loneliness during the pandemic: longitudinal analyses of adults in the UK COVID-19 mental health & wellbeing study

BACKGROUND

The lasting effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic are likely to be significant.

AIMS

This study tracked worry and rumination levels during the pandemic and investigated whether periods with higher COVID-related worry and rumination were associated with more negative mental health and loneliness.

METHODS

A quota survey design and a sampling frame that permitted recruitment of a national sample were employed. Findings for waves 1 (March 2020) to 6 (November 2020) are reported (N = 1943).

RESULTS

Covid-related worry and rumination levels were highest at the beginning of the first lockdown, then declined but increased when the UK returned to lockdown. Worry levels were higher than rumination levels throughout. High levels of COVID-related worry and rumination were associated with a five- and ten-fold increase in clinically meaningful rates of depression and anxiety (respectively) together with lower well-being and higher loneliness. The effects of COVID-related worry on depression and anxiety levels were most marked and clinically meaningful in individuals living with a pre-existing mental health condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological interventions should include components that specifically target COVID-related worry and rumination. Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions should be prioritised as we emerge from the current pandemic and in any future public health crises.

Effect of common low-molecular-weight organic acid on the photodegradation of sertraline by ferrihydrite

Sertraline is one of the most commonly used antidepressant pharmaceuticals with ubiquitous distribution in the aqueous environment. However, the environmental behavior of sertraline in the co-presence of low-molecular-weight organic acid (LMWOA) and iron oxide mineral is still poorly understood. In this study, the photodegradation of sertraline was systematically investigated in a common photosensitizing system (ferrihydrite (Fh)-LMWOA). Six LMWOAs, including citrate acid (CA), tartrate acid (TA), malate acid (MA), lactate acid (LA), succinate acid (SA) and malonic acid (MOA) were chosen as the representatives. Our results implied that the different Fe3+ dissolution rates would lead to rather different sertraline degradation patterns following the order of Fh-CA > Fh-TA > Fh-MA > Fh-LA > Fh-SA > Fh-MOA. The reaction was initiated by the interaction between LMWOA and Fh via ligand-promoted-dissolution mechanism. Furthermore, the Fe3+ dissolution rates also showed a strong correlation with the metal-organic complexation constants, indicating that the photodegradation process is strongly related to the complexation ability of LMWOA with Fe3+. •OH, O2•- and CO2•- were detected, indicating that they contributed to the photodegradation of sertraline. •OH was demonstrated to be the dominant Reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the degradation of sertraline, and the detailed transformation pathways were proposed based on the product analysis and theoretical calculation. According to the ecological structure activity relationship estimation, the photodegradation products of sertraline possessed lower toxicity compared to the parent compound. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental fate of sertraline and evaluate its potential ecotoxicity in natural systems.

Relationships between physical activity, sleep, and screen time with academic performance and psychological functioning among US children and adolescents with depression

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between adherence to 24-HMB guidelines (including physical activity [PA], screen time [ST], and sleep) with academic performance and psychological functioning among children and adolescents with depression.

METHODS

This study consists of 2165 participants aged 6-17 years with depression. Independent variables were components of 24-HMB guideline adherence, while outcomes of interest were academic performance (i.e., caring about school performance and completion of required homework) and psychological functioning (i.e., resilience and self-regulation). Logistic regression analysis was conducted while adjusting for confounding variables.

RESULTS

Only 1.03 % of the participants adhered to PA + ST + Sleep guidelines. Compared to non-adherence, adherence to PA + ST guidelines was significantly linked to a greater likelihood of caring about school performance (OR = 2.17), while ST + Sleep guidelines adherence was significantly linked to a greater likelihood of caring about school performance (OR = 2.02), completing homework (OR = 2.91), resilience (OR = 2.51), and self-regulation (OR = 2.51). Furthermore, adherence to PA + ST + Sleep guidelines was significantly linked to a higher likelihood of caring about school performance (OR = 5.01), resilience (OR = 2.49), and self-regulation (OR = 2.88) among these participants with depression.

CONCLUSION

Adhering to 24-HMB guidelines is positively linked to academic performance and psychological functioning among children and adolescents with depression. Thus, establishing healthy lifestyle behaviors should be promoted in school settings.

Social distancing policy and mental health during COVID-19 pandemic: an 18-month longitudinal cohort study in South Korea

Background

Despite the effectiveness of social distancing policies in preventing the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), their impact on mental health remains a concern. Longitudinal studies investigating the psychological effects of social distancing are limited.

Methods

Longitudinal data on psychological variables were collected eight times between May 2020 and November 2021 through online surveys in South Korea.

Results

The participants in the study reported a worsening of depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, and psychological distress with increasing levels of social distancing. Specifically, during the third wave, when social distancing levels peaked, the highest levels of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were observed, and the second-lowest levels of vitality were reported. Furthermore, psychological risk factors, such as depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal risk, were closely associated with vitality levels in daily life.

Discussions

During the pandemic, although social distancing helped prevent the spread of COVID-19, it also led to increased depression, anxiety, suicide risk, psychological distress, and decreased vitality. Engagement at a personal level in fundamental daily activities is important to cope with psychological distress. Our results indicate that commitment to fundamental daily activities and following routines is an important protective factor against psychological distress, notwithstanding COVID-19.

The relationship among psychological distress, well-being and excessive social media use during the outbreak of Covid-19: A longitudinal investigation

INTRODUCTION

The corona pandemic has been a life event causing negative consequences on mental health. Mental health consists of positive and negative dimensions. The present longitudinal study investigated how positive and negative dimensions changed over 15 months after the Covid-19 outbreak. Potential changes of excessive social media use (SMU) and its relationship with mental health were also investigated.

METHOD

Data (N = 189) on distress (measured overall and as depression, anxiety, and stress), well-being and excessive SMU were collected at three time points (baseline, BL; 3-month follow-up, FU1; 15-month follow-up, FU2) via online surveys in Italy. Repeated analyses of variance were used to test differences among the three measurement time points. Mediational models were applied.

RESULTS

Distress did not change over time, well-being decreased and excessive SMU increased significantly. The relationship between distress at BL and excessive SMU at FU2 was significant (total effect, c: p < .001). The relationship between distress at BL and well-being at FU1 (a: p < .001), and between well-being at FU1and excessive SMU at FU2 (b: p = .004) was significant. Including FU1 well-being in the model, the relationship between distress at BL and excessive SMU at FU2 was not significant (direct effect, c': p = .078). The indirect effect (ab) was significant.

CONCLUSION

Well-being mediated the relationship between baseline stress and excessive SMU. Enhanced stress may reduce well-being which, in turn, increases the risk of excessive SMU. This emphasizes the urgency of programmes that foster well-being, especially during stressful events such as a pandemic.

Change of human flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Results from population-based U-CORONA study

Longitudinal change in flourishing during the pandemic of COVID-19 would provide new insight to reveal determinants of well-being. We aimed to describe changes in flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and to examine the association of sex, age, education, and income with changes in flourishing. Utsunomiya COVID-19 seROprevalence Neighborhood Association (U-CORONA) study conducted in October 2020 and November 2021 was used (n = 419 in 2020 and n = 478 in 2021, and n = 327 for both waves). Flourishing was assessed using a 12-item multidimensional flourishing scale including six domains. Change of flourishing was categorized into decreased, unchanged, and increased. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to longitudinal data to estimate the relative risk ratio of increase and decrease in flourishing scores. Cross-sectional analysis showed that the mean score of flourishing was approximately seven in both waves, with no sex differences, but older adults had higher scores than young-aged adults. We found that men were twice as likely to lose their flourishing scores as women and lower levels of education were associated with 2-3 times declining flourishing scores than higher levels of education. Age and income were not significantly associated with the change of flourishing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, flourishing declined, and men and lower-educated people were more vulnerable. In prolonged difficult situations, support for men and less educated people may contribute to the prevention of declining well-being in Japan.

Assessing the delivering of iMAgery-focused therapy for PSychosis (iMAPS) via telehealth

OBJECTIVES

To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel telehealth (video-conferencing software and telephone calls) imagery-based therapeutic intervention for people experiencing persecutory delusions. Utilising a multiple baseline case series design and exploring imagery-focused therapy for psychosis (iMAPS).

DESIGN

A non-concurrent A-B multiple baseline design was used.

METHODS

Participants experiencing persecutory delusions and self-reporting a psychosis or schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis were recruited through online adverts. On completion of assessments, participants were randomly assigned to multiple baseline assessments, of between three and five sessions. Six therapy sessions followed, consisting of imagery formulation, safe-place imagery creation, compassionate imagery, imagery manipulation and rescripting. Participants completed pre- and post-measures and sessional measures via an online survey software or in semi-structured interviews. Two weeks post-intervention, a final measure was completed exploring any potential adverse effects of psychotherapy.

RESULTS

Five female participants completed all baseline and therapeutic sessions, suggesting the therapy was and mode of delivery was feasible and acceptable. Results indicate strong effect sizes across PANSS positive subscale and mood, as well as participants reporting a clinically significant change in at least one measure, for example, PSYRATS. All participants reported a reduction in the realness and compelling nature of distressing imagery.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest delivering a telehealth imagery-focused therapy is acceptable and feasibly delivered via telehealth. A control group and blinding of assessments would strengthen the methodological limitations present.

Predictors of mental well-being over the first lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France. A repeated cross-sectional study

Introduction

Numerous studies have investigated the positive and negative effects of potential predictors of well-being during lockdowns due to COVID-19. Yet, little is known on whether these effects significantly changed with time spent in lockdown. In the current study, we described the association of mental well-being with a large number of background characteristics (e.g., socio-demographic or health-related factors), COVID-related factors, and coping strategies, over the duration of the first lockdown due to COVID-19 in France.

Methods

A nationwide online survey was conducted over 7 of the 8 weeks of the 1st lockdown in France, i.e., from 25 March 2020 to 10 May 2020. The level of mental well-being was reported using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). We also measured various background characteristics (e.g., age, sex, education, health issues), COVID-related factors (e.g., health and economic risks, agreement with lockdown), and coping strategies. Our analytical strategy enabled us to disentangle effects aggregated over the study period from those that linearly vary with time spent in lockdown.

Results

Our final dataset included 18,957 participants. The level of mental well-being dropped gradually from the third to the eighth week of lockdown [49.7 (sd 7.9) to 45.5 (sd 10.6)]. Time in lockdown was associated with a decrease in well-being (for each additional 10 days of lockdown: B = -0.30, 95%CI: -0.62, -0.15). Factors that showed significantly negative and positive effects on well-being as time in lockdown progressed were (for each additional 10 days of lockdown): having current psychiatric problems (B = -0.37; 95%CI: -0.63, -0.04), worries about having access to personal protective equipment (B = -0.09; 95%CI: -0.18, -0.01), coping by having positive beliefs about the future of the pandemics (B = 0.29; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.62), being supported by neighbors (B = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.44), and being involved in collective actions (B = 0.23; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.46).

Discussion

Participants from our sample saw a drop in their mental well-being throughout the first period of COVID-19 lockdown. Policymakers should be mindful of factors contributing to greater deterioration of mental well-being over time, such as having current psychiatric issues. Promoting collective actions and local support from neighbors may alleviate the deterioration of mental well-being over time.

The effects of therapeutic virtual reality experience to promote mental well-being in older people living with physical disabilities in long-term care facilities

BACKGROUND

Mental well-being is poor in long-term care facilities (LTCF) residents. Physical disabilities, impaired social engagement, and environmental stress are also common in LTCF which exacerbate the decline of the mental well-being of older people living in LTCF. Protective elements, including nature-based, reminiscence, outdoor, and group activities, are known to be effective to promote the mental well-being of older people living in LTCF. However, limited by their physical disabilities and poor social support, older people living in LTCF are not likely to benefit from these effective measures. Virtual reality has been proven to be feasible to be environmentally unrestricted to providing LTCF residents with all protective elements promoting mental well-being. However, its effects on the mental well-being of LTCF residents living with physical disabilities are unclear.

METHODS

This study employs a single-blinded, two-parallel-group (intervention-to-control group ratio = 1:1), non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants are aged 60 years or above, LTCF residents, and living with physical disabilities. The study will be conducted in LTCF. In the intervention group, participants will receive a 6-week VR experience program. In the control group, participants will receive the usual care provided by the LTCF. The primary outcome is mental well-being, as measured by World Health Organization Five Well-being Index at the time point of baseline (i.e., week 0) and after completion of the intervention (i.e., week 7). This study aims to recruit a total of 216 participants. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) will be used to examine the effects of the intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05818579 ), Registered on April 5, 2023. The latest version of the protocol was published online on 19 April 2023. All items come from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set. This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Tung Wah College, Hong Kong (reference number: REC2023158). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, presented at international and local conferences with related themes, and shared in local media.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: linking immune function to mental health status

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is known to cause a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and neurological changes. Importantly, mental health problems are also overrepresented in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), the group of neurodevelopmental conditions that can occur following PAE. Approximately 90% of individuals with FASD report experiencing mental health problems over their lifespan, compared to approximately 30% in the overall population. Individuals with FASD also display impairments in coping skills and increased vulnerability to stress. Here, we investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic would have a differential impact on mental health and inflammation-to-mood associations in adults with FASD, compared to unexposed controls (no PAE). We capitalized on our pre-pandemic study examining health and immune function and invited past-participants to enroll in the current study. Participants completed mental health assessments and COVID-related questionnaires by phone. In addition, blood samples collected at baseline (pre-pandemic) were used to probe for inflammation-to-mood associations. Overall, our results indicate that lower SES was predictive of higher coronavirus anxiety scores, with no differences between adults with FASD and controls. In addition, while there were no differences in depression or anxiety measures at baseline (pre-pandemic) or during the pandemic, examination of inflammation-to-mood associations identified differential relationships in adults with FASD compared to unexposed controls. Specifically, there was a positive association between baseline neutrophil counts and both baseline and pandemic mental health scores in unexposed controls only. In addition, for unexposed controls there was also a negative association between baseline interferon-ɣ (IFN-ɣ) and pandemic mental health scores. By contrast, only adults with FASD showed positive associations between baseline interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), IL-8, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and pandemic mental health scores. Taken together, to our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the impact of the pandemic in adults with FASD. And while it may be too soon to predict the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health, our data suggest that it will be important that future work also takes into account how immune function may be modulating mental health outcomes in this population.

Mental distress and well-being of university students amid COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an online integrative intervention for psychology trainees

Introduction

University students have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as significant changes supervened their academic and social life. To tackle these challenges, several adjustments in the educational methods may be warranted for cultivating a positive environment at higher education institutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and protective factors of students' mental health and well-being as well as their potential for flourishing in an undergraduate clinical psychology course that took place online due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures and incorporated positive psychology exercises as a means to empower young people amid the adverse conditions of the lockdown.

Methods

In total, 124 students attended the course and completed mental health (i.e., DASS-9, HADS, ERQ) and well-being (i.e., MHC-SF, SWLS, PANAS, GQ-6, BRS) measures at two time points (pre-and-post-test), during the first restrictions in Greece (March-June 2020).

Results

According to the results, students aged 18-20 years old reported higher levels of stress [χ² = 14.72, p = 0.002], while students who felt that the quality of their studies had deteriorated [χ² = 6.57, p = 0.038] reported increased levels of anxiety. High levels of depression were correlated with worse relationships with significant others (z = 7.02, p = 0.030 and χ² = 11.39, p = 0.003 for family and friends, respectively), while gratitude and resilience were positively correlated with improved relationships with others, both during and after the lockdown. Factors associated with students' well-being were satisfaction with life and gratitude.

Discussion

These results suggest that well-being enhancement factors may have added value to current educational practices for promoting students' mental health and well-being in times of crisis.

A disaster's disparate impacts: analysing perceived stress and personal resilience across gender and race

This research sought to identify differences in perceived stress and personal resilience across gender, race, and different types of stressors (such as rent or mortgage stress) among a sample of United States residents experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. It used a cross-sectional, convenience sampling design for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting in April 2020 (n=374). Independent t-tests and binary logistic regression were performed to determine statistically significant differences between gender and race for perceived stress and personal resilience and to pinpoint key contributing factors. Results indicate women exhibited higher levels of stress, with non-IPV (intimate partner violence) reporting women evidencing higher levels of resilience than IPV reporting women. Racial minority women were more likely to experience nutritional stress, whereas White women were more likely to worry about rent or mortgage stress. These findings provide insight into disparate impacts across vulnerable populations at the start of a crisis with implications for improving pre- and post-disaster interventions.

Influence of Stress and Emotions in the Learning Process: The Example of COVID-19 on University Students: A Narrative Review

Emotional instability and stress are the main disturbances that condition the learning process, affecting both teachers and students. The main objective of this review is to analyze the influence of stress and emotions (as part of stress) on the learning environment. Stress is a physiological mechanism that the organism develops to adapt and survive external and internal challenges. In this context, stress tends to be seen as a negative condition in the learning process when it is chronic. Extreme stress situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can generate anxiety and frustration in students. However, other studies indicate that controlled stress can positively enhance the learning process. On the other hand, the quality and intensity of emotions resulting from stress can influence as well the learning process. Positive emotions are healthy and can promote optimal learning. Emotions lead to sentimental, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological changes, which will have a strong influence on intellectual performance. The activation of coping strategies constitutes a key mechanism for dealing positively with problems and challenges, generating positive emotions essential for the self-regulation of learning. In conclusion, correct management of emotions in stressful situations could promote effective learning through enhanced attention and capacity to solve problems.

Telenursing in mental health: effect on anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

(1) A remote intervention with a positive impact on reducing anxiety and alcohol use. (2) Nursing as a protagonist of preventive care in mental health (3) A low-cost intervention that covers several population groups. (4) Telenursing in mental health as a care strategy during COVID-19. to investigate the effect of a remote intervention on anxiety symptoms and alcohol use in users of the Primary Health Care service.

METHOD

a quasi-experimental study conducted with 1,270 participants who answered the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6. Of these, 1,033 interviewees scored for moderate/severe anxiety symptoms (STAI-6 > 3) and moderate/severe risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C > 3), and received the interventions via telephone calls with follow-up periods lasting seven and 180 days. For data analysis, a mixed-effects regression model was used.

RESULTS

the effect of the intervention performed was positive in reducing anxiety symptoms between T0 and T1 (µ=1.6, p<0.001) and in reducing the alcohol use pattern between T1 and T3 (µ=1.57, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

the follow-up results suggest a positive effect of the intervention in reducing anxiety and the alcohol use pattern, which tends to be maintained over time. There is diverse evidence that the intervention proposed can be an alternative for preventive care in mental health, in situations where accessibility of the user or the professional is compromised.

Psychiatric and non-psychiatric population vulnerabilities in time of a crisis: the unsuspected aggression factor

OBJECTIVES

In March 2020, France faced a health crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak that, like previous infectious disease crises, involved high psychological and emotional stress, a series of factors that influenced the ongoing mental health crisis.

METHODS

We recruited 384 respondents to complete an online questionnaire during the second month of isolation: 176 psychotherapy recipients (68 were currently attending psychiatric care) and 208 healthy controls. We measured demographic characteristics, impulsivity, aggression, hopelessness, suicidal risk, and the global level of anxiety and depression in order to estimate potential discrepancies in clinical measures across these populations.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that the group currently undergoing psychiatric care was prone to loneliness and social isolation. Regarding clinical and nonclinical population, there were differences in suicidal risk, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness but mainly in aggression. Regression analysis also demonstrated that aggression surprisingly influenced anxiety levels. Patients undergoing therapy compared with patients who were not displayed differences only in suicidal risk, anxiety, and hopelessness, with those undergoing therapy having higher scores. The outpatient group undergoing therapy had a significantly lower level of impulsivity. Moreover, the regression to predict anxiety and depression levels from correlated factors highlighted the potentially heightened role of aggression in predicting anxiety in the clinical group.

CONCLUSION

New research into stress reactions should assess other clinical signals, such as aggression, and examine preventive mental health interventions in times of crisis.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Survivors of COVID-19-Related ARDS

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in survivors of COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome that needed ICU care; to investigate risk factors and their impact on the Health-Related Quality of life (HR-QoL). Materials and Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study included all patients who were discharged from the ICU. Patients were administered the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, the Short-Form Health Survey 36Version 2 (SF-36v2), a socioeconomic question set and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to assess PTSD. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model found that an International Standard Classification of Education Score (ISCED) higher than 2 (OR 3.42 (95% CI 1.28-9.85)), monthly income less than EUR 1500 (OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.13-0.97)), and more than two comorbidities (OR 4.62 (95% CI 1.33-16.88)) are risk factors for developing PTSD symptoms. Patients with PTSD symptoms are more likely to present a worsening in their quality of life as assessed by EQ-5D-5L and SF-36 scales. Conclusion: The main factors associated with the development of PTSD-related symptoms were a higher education level, a lower monthly income, and more than two comorbidities. Patients who developed symptoms of PTSD reported a significantly lower Health-Related Quality of life as compared to patients without PTSD. Future research areas should be oriented toward recognizing potential psychosocial and psychopathological variables capable of influencing the quality of life of patients discharged from the intensive care unit to better recognize the prognosis and longtime effects of diseases.

"At First It Wasn't so Bad": How Adults Aged 60 and Older Feel About Social Distancing During COVID-19

We conducted an exploratory study to describe the emotional experience of adults aged 60 and older in the United States practicing social distancing during COVID-19. The survey asked respondents how they were feeling during social distancing. Responses (n=673) were coded into segments by affect and then specific emotional states. A large portion of respondents reported negative emotions (e.g. anxiety, loneliness). A smaller portion reported positive emotions (e.g. optimism, gratitude). Younger respondents (aged 60-70) reported more feelings of anxiousness and fear compared to older respondents (71+). Older respondents were more likely to report negative feelings towards the government. For both age groups, female respondents were significantly more likely to report feeling afraid and having negative feelings about their own health. We conclude that many older adults are vulnerable to negative emotional outcomes during the pandemic. This highlights the importance of interventions targeting vulnerable older adults.

How regulation strategies protected or worsened emotional experience during France's three lockdowns: Prepandemic versus pandemic comparisons and longitudinal approach

The COVID-19 pandemic remains hugely challenging, but its impact on emotional experience, especially over time, has often been neglected. The French Government imposed three COVID lockdowns with varying degrees of strictness that induced different types of emotional discomfort and emotion regulation. The present longitudinal study explored affect and emotion regulation strategies in each of these lockdowns, comparing samples assessed before and during the pandemic. The objective was to understand how government measures influenced subjective experience and how people adjusted their emotion regulation accordingly. The longitudinal lockdown sample comprised 164 participants (M_age = 37.60 years, SD = 12.50). Affect and emotion regulation were assessed in the first week of each of the three lockdowns (20-27 March 2020, 23-30 November 2020, and 19-26 April 2021). The 120 participants in the prepandemic (control) sample were drawn from previous studies focusing on affect and regulation strategies in natural everyday situations. Results indicated that affect deteriorated considerably, compared with prepandemic levels. Whereas activated negative affect (nervous and worried) tended to decrease, deactivated negative affect (sad and bored) increased. Regarding emotion regulation strategies, negative emotion expression was associated with more negative affect and less positive affect, while positive emotion expression and proactive behaviour were associated with a better emotional experience. A multivariate growth curve showed that in the absence of psychological support, stressful situations and repeated lockdowns do not induce people to make better emotion regulation strategy choices. As government restrictions had a negative impact on individuals' emotional experience, support programs should be implemented in future pandemics to promote emotion regulation.

Depression and anxiety in people with cognitive impairment and dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

BACKGROUND

Some studies have identified declines in mental health during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in different age groups, including older people. As anxiety and depression are common neuropsychiatric symptoms among people with cognitive impairment, the mental health experiences of older people during the pandemic should take cognitive function into consideration, along with assessments made prior to the pandemic. This study addresses evidence gaps to test whether changes in depression and anxiety among older people through the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with cognitive impairment. It also investigates whether associations varied according to key sources of sociodemographic inequality.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) collected from 2018/2019 to November/December 2020, we estimated changes in depression and anxiety for people aged 50+ in England across 3 cognitive function groups: no impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Conditional growth curve models were estimated for continuous measures over 3 time points (N = 5,286), with mixed-effects logistic regression used for binary measures. All models adjusted for demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, and cohabiting partnership), socioeconomics (education, wealth, and employment status), geography (urban/rural and English region), and health (self-rated and the presence of multimorbidity). We found that depression (measured with CES-D score) worsened from 2018/2019 to November/December 2020 for people with mild cognitive impairment (1.39 (95% CI: 1.29 to 1.49) to 2.16 (2.02 to 2.30)) or no impairment (1.17 (95%CI: 1.12 to 1.22) to 2.03 (1.96 to 2.10)). Anxiety, using a single-item rating of 0 to 10 also worsened among those with mild cognitive impairment (2.48 (2.30 to 2.66) to 3.14 (2.95 to 3.33)) or no impairment (2.20 (2.11 to 2.28) to 2.85 (2.77 to 2.95)). No statistically significant increases were found for those with dementia. Using a clinical cutoff for likely depression (CES-D ≥4), we found statistically significant increases in the probability of depression between 2018/2019 and November/December 2020 for those with no impairment (0.110 (0.099 to 0.120) to 0.206 (0.191 to 0.222)) and mild impairment (0.139 (0.120 to 0.159) to 0.234 (0.204 to 0.263)). We also found that differences according to cognitive function that existed before the pandemic were no longer present by June/July 2020, and there were no statistically significant differences in depression or anxiety among cognitive groups in November/December 2020. Wealth and education appeared to be stronger drivers for depression and anxiety, respectively, than cognitive impairment. For example, those with no impairment in the richest two-thirds scored 1.76 (1.69 to 1.82) for depression in June/July, compared to 2.01 (1.91 to 2.12) for those with no impairment in the poorest third and 2.03 (1.87 to 2.19) for those with impairment in the poorest third. Results may be limited by the small number of people with dementia and are generalizable only to people living in the community, not to those in institutional care settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a convergence in mental health across cognitive function groups during the pandemic. This suggests mental health services will need to meet an increased demand from older adults, especially those not living with cognitive impairment. Further, with little significant change among those with dementia, their existing need for support will remain; policymakers and care practitioners should ensure this group continues to have equitable access to mental health support.

Longitudinal development of well-being among Finnish employees during 2019-2021: Relationships with personality trait profiles

We examined well-being profiles among Finnish employees before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and their links with personality trait profiles. Longitudinal survey data were collected in 2019-2021, and 733 respondents participated in all five surveys. The data were analyzed with a person-centered approach using latent profile analysis (LPA). Measures included burnout, work engagement, psychological distress; and Big Five personality traits. Six well-being profiles: Disengaged, Declined, Engaged, Fluctuated, Stable, and Burned-out, and four personality profiles: Ordinary, Reserved, Resilient, and Overcontrolled were identified. Resilient participants typically belonged to the Engaged well-being profile and Reserved to Burned-out and Fluctuated well-being profiles. Although some separation in developmental well-being profiles existed, overall, well-being was rather stable. Personality trait profiles played a crucial role in maintaining well-being.

COVID-19 and stress of Indian youth: An association with background, on-line mode of teaching, resilience and hope

Background

COVID-19 pandemic causes serious threats to physical health and triggers wide varieties of psychological problems, including anxiety and depression. Youth exhibit a greater risk of developing psychological distress, especially during epidemics influencing their wellbeing.

Objectives

To identify the relevant dimensions of psychological stress, mental health, hope and resilience and to examine the prevalence of stress in Indian youth and its relationship with socio-demographic information, online-mode of teaching, hope and resilience.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey obtained information on socio-demographic background, online-mode of teaching, psychological stress, hope and resilience from the Indian youth. A Factor Analysis is also conducted on the recompenses of the Indian youth on psychological stress, mental health, hope and resilience separately to identify the major factors associated with parameters. The sample size in this study was 317, which is more than the required sample size (Tabachnik et al., 2001).

Results

About 87% of the Indian youth perceived moderate to a high levels of psychological stress during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Different demographic, sociographic and psychographic segments were found to have high stress levels due to the pandemic, while psychological stress was found to be negatively correlated with resilience as well as hope. The findings identified significant dimensions of the stress caused by the pandemic and also identified the dimensions of mental health, resilience and hope among the study subjects.

Conclusion

As stress has a long-term impact on human psychology and can disrupt the lives of people and as the findings suggest that the young population of the country have faced the greatest amount of stress during the pandemic, a greater need for mental health support is required to the young population, especially in post pandemic situations. The integration of online counselling and stress management programs could assist in mitigating the stress of youth involved in distance learning.

The association between sociodemographic inequalities, COVID-related impacts and mental health

PURPOSE

There are concerns that the social, economic and health impacts of COVID-19 are unevenly distributed, exacerbating existing inequalities. Here we tested the hypotheses that: (H1) the magnitude of these impacts would be associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety early in the pandemic, and (H2) that these impacts would be associated with a range of sociodemographic risk factors.

METHODS

Cross-sectional self-report data were collected from a UK sample (N = 632) between the 16th of May and 21st of July 2020, coinciding with the early stages of the pandemic and first UK lockdown. Data were collected on COVID-19 related impacts including financial and social stressors, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and sociodemographic/economic risk factors operationalised at multiple levels including the individual, familial, household and neighbourhood.

RESULTS

Using regression analyses both financial and social impacts were independently associated with anxiety (R² = 0.23) and depression scores (R² = 0.24), as well as clinically significant generalised anxiety (R² = 0.14) and depression (R² = 0.11). In addition, many sociodemographic factors were associated with elevated levels of COVID-19 related impacts, including being younger, female, having lower educational attainment and lower income.

LIMITATIONS

The main limitations of the study were its modest sample size, cross sectional design (which precluded inferences about directions of causality), and the relatively high socioeconomic status of the sample (which limited generalisability).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence that suggests that the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, and further, point to particular groups that should be supported by post-COVID-19 recovery policies and initiatives.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Contribution of Local Green Space and Nature Connection to Mental Health

BACKGROUND

Exposure to green space and feeling connected to the natural environment have independently been associated with improved mental health outcomes. During the coronavirus pandemic, people experienced restrictions on access to the outdoors, and health data indicated a decline in mental health in the UK general population.

METHODS

Data available from two independent surveys conducted prior to and during the pandemic enabled a naturally occurring comparison of mental health and its correlates prior to and during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Survey responses from 877 UK residents were included in the analyses. Independent t-tests revealed significant declines in mental health scores during the pandemic. After controlling for age and gender, greater nature connection significantly predicted lower depression and stress and improved well-being. Percentage of green space did not significantly predict any mental health outcomes. Further, time point (pre- or during COVID) and the interaction of time point with green space and nature connection did not significantly predict any of the outcome measures. The findings indicate that nature connection may play an important role in promoting mental health. Strategies to improve mental health and reduce mental illness should consider the role of nature connection and the use of interventions that involve direct interaction with natural environments.

Impact of sedentary behavior and emotional support on prenatal psychological distress and birth outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract.

BACKGROUND

Studies have reported mixed findings regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women and birth outcomes. This study used a quasi-experimental design to account for potential confounding by sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

Data were drawn from 16 prenatal cohorts participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Women exposed to the pandemic (delivered between 12 March 2020 and 30 May 2021) (n = 501) were propensity-score matched on maternal age, race and ethnicity, and child assigned sex at birth with 501 women who delivered before 11 March 2020. Participants reported on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, sedentary behavior, and emotional support during pregnancy. Infant gestational age (GA) at birth and birthweight were gathered from medical record abstraction or maternal report.

RESULTS

After adjusting for propensity matching and covariates (maternal education, public assistance, employment status, prepregnancy body mass index), results showed a small effect of pandemic exposure on shorter GA at birth, but no effect on birthweight adjusted for GA. Women who were pregnant during the pandemic reported higher levels of prenatal stress and depressive symptoms, but neither mediated the association between pandemic exposure and GA. Sedentary behavior and emotional support were each associated with prenatal stress and depressive symptoms in opposite directions, but no moderation effects were revealed.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no strong evidence for an association between pandemic exposure and adverse birth outcomes. Furthermore, results highlight the importance of reducing maternal sedentary behavior and encouraging emotional support for optimizing maternal health regardless of pandemic conditions.

Frustrative nonreward and the basal ganglia: Chemogenetic inhibition and excitation of the nucleus accumbens and globus pallidus externus during reward downshift

Frustrative nonreward contributes to anxiety disorders and addiction, and is included in the Research Domain Criteria initiative as a relevant endophenotype. These experiments explored the role of the basal ganglia in consummatory reward downshift (cRD) using inhibitory and excitatory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) infused in either the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or one of its downstream targets, the globus pallidus externus (GPe). NAc inhibition did not disrupt consummatory suppression during a 32-to-2% (Experiment 1) or 8-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 2). However, NAc excitation enhanced consummatory suppression during a 32-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 1). GPe inhibition caused a trend toward increased consummatory suppression after a 32-to-2% sucrose downshift, whereas GPe excitation eliminated consummatory suppression after an 8-to-2% sucrose downshift (Experiment 3). Chemogenetic manipulations of NAc and GPe had no detectable effects on open field activity. The effects of DREADD activation via clozapine N-oxide (CNO) administration were compared to controls that carried the DREADDs, but received vehicle injections. There was no evidence that CNO or vehicle injections in virus vector control (VVC) animals affected cRD or OF activity after either CNO or vehicle injections. NAc and GPe excitation led to opposite results in the cRD task, providing evidence that the basal ganglia circuit has a function in frustrative nonreward in the absence of detectable motor effects.

The effects of Digital Buddy programme on older adults' mental well-being: study protocol for a multi-centre, cluster randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Mental well-being is associated with many mental health symptoms, including depression and health-related quality of life. Digital divide could impact mental health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information and communication technology (ICT)-based tools and interventions could effectively provide social support. Intergenerational mentoring between college students and older adults could promote eHealth literacy and self-efficacy, and it is advocated to bridge the digital divide for older adults. However, the effectiveness of an intervention which employs ICT-based tools and intergenerational mentoring strategies (i.e. Digital Buddy) on mental well-being is unclear.

METHODS

This study will employ a multi-centre, cluster-randomized, two-parallel-group, noninferiority, controlled trial design with a 1:1 group allocation ratio. In the intervention group, a Digital Buddy (i.e. a young volunteer) is assigned to a group of older adults in a 1:10 ratio. A series of training sessions for a minimum of 23 h will be provided to the older adults by Digital Buddy, who will also follow through the intervention period with the older participants. The training contents include ICT and mental health care knowledge and skills. The whole intervention period will last for 6 months between 14 sessions. In the control group, participants will receive the usual care. The primary outcome measure is mental well-being. We aim to recruit 292 older participants. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) will be used to examine the effects of the intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05553730) on 23 September 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05553730 , and all items come from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set. It has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Tung Wah College, Hong Kong (reference number: REC2022143). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences relevant to the subject fields.

The Relationship between Social Support and Mental Health Problems of Peri- and Postmenopausal Women during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic affects women's mental health, because they are more predisposed to vulnerabilities and adverse impacts. Therefore, is important to find strategies for preventing and treating these mental health consequences in the female population. The main purposes of our study were to determine the level of social support received by peri- and postmenopausal women during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, as well as factors related to this level with reference to health status and sociodemographic variables. A total of 218 women in peri- and postmenopausal status participated in the study. The study assessed depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Scale), climacteric symptoms (the Blatt-Kupperman Index), social support (the Inventory of Social Supportive Behaviors). The majority of the respondents had a moderate level of anxiety as a state (40.8%), a low level of anxiety as a trait (51.4%), no depressive symptoms (75.2%) and no climacteric symptoms (52.3%). Age was found to significantly correlate with anxiety as a state (p = 0.036). The anxiety as state was significantly stronger in people with higher education than in people with secondary education (p = 0.019). Professionally inactive women had more emotional (p = 0.05) and appraisal (p = 0.014) support than women who work. The analysis demonstrated no statistically significant correlation between social support and depression, anxiety or climacteric symptoms (p > 0.05). The majority of peri- and postmenopausal women had no depressive symptoms and/or anxiety symptoms. Professionally inactive women had more emotional and appraisal support than women who work. The analysis demonstrated no statistically significant correlation between social support and depression, anxiety or climacteric symptoms.

Predictors and prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD among university students during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

This study aimed to find the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD; differences according to demographic variables; and predictors of mental health problems during the second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Turkey. Differences in exposure to COVID-19 during the first and second waves of the pandemic among students were compared. A total of 754 students from seven universities in different parts of Turkey participated in the survey between November and December 2020. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) scale measuring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to measure the mental well-being of students. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, correlations, and multinomial logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data. The prevalence of high stress, high generalized anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10), high depression symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), and high PTSD in the total sample were 84.2, 36.2, 55.0, and 61.2%, respectively. High perceived stress, moderate generalized anxiety disorder, mild depression symptoms, high severity PTSD, and moderate satisfaction were found among students in Turkey. Religiosity and spirituality have significant negative correlations with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Religiosity level, gender, relationship status, year of study, physical activity, symptoms of coronavirus, death of a close relative, job loss, and economic status are significant parameters for predicting psychological problems of students in Turkey.

Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Applying Topic Modeling in Daily Life Descriptions

The novel coronavirus disease pandemic is threatening not only physical but also mental health. Although some recent quantitative studies have been conducted and revealed the influence of the pandemic on mental health and its relevant factors, it is impossible to obtain and explore all possible variables strongly related to mental health. Therefore, we attempted to adopt a bottom-up approach using text mining of participants' narratives. We examined how participants' descriptions of daily life during the pandemic were categorized into various topics, and which topics were related to their mental health in a sample of 776 Japanese citizens in the general population over 18 years old. Results of a topic modeling with 2,594 unique words provided nine topics (mask, physical symptoms, children, infection anxiety, disinfection items, economic influence, remote work, going out, and change of lifestyle). Those who wrote about economic influence, physical symptoms, and disinfection items experienced lower life satisfaction and higher depression and negative affect, whereas those who mentioned their children were likely to have higher life satisfaction. This study highlighted that monitoring the mental health of individuals with economic impacts and physical symptoms may reduce the damage of COVID-19.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11469-021-00587-y.

Differential relationship of observer-rated and self-rated depression and anxiety scales with heart rate variability features

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a known psychophysiological marker for diverse psychiatric symptoms. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential for clinical use of HRV by investigating the interrelationship between HRV indices and clinical measures mainly used to assess depressive and anxious symptoms. Participants who reported depressive and anxious symptoms were designated into the following groups: group 1, clinician-rated and self-rated depression; group 2, only self-rated depression; group 3, clinician-rated and self-rated anxiety; group 4, only self-rated anxiety. Statistical comparisons were performed between these groups to investigate the association between HRV and clinical measures. As a result, HRV variables showed significant correlations only with the clinician-rated assessments. Moreover, both time and frequency domain HRV indices were significantly different between groups 1 and 2, but groups 3 and 4 showed significant differences only in frequency domain HRV indices. Our study showed that HRV is an objective indicator for depressive or anxious symptoms. Additionally, it is considered a potential indicator for predicting the severity or state of depressive symptoms rather than of anxious symptoms. This study will contribute to increasing the diagnostic utility of discriminating those symptoms based on HRV in the future.

Adaptation and initial psychometric study of the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 scale in the United Kingdom population

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was the initial psychometric study to validate the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 (AMICO) assessment scale in the general population of the United Kingdom population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional, psychometric validation and descriptive study was conducted, performing univariate and bivariate analyses, as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The sample was 658 people living in the United Kingdom over 16 years. Of the total, 80.5% were female, with a mean age of 48.25 years (SD = 14.861). A mean score for the AMICO scale of 4.85 (SD = 2.398) was obtained, with a range of scores from 1 to 10. The study of percentiles and quartiles allowed for the identification of three proposed levels of anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The AMICO_UK scale is reliable to measure the presence of anxiety and fear related to the COVID-19 disease in the United Kingdom population. The majority of the United Kingdom population presented low levels of anxiety and fear at the time the scale was administered.