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Benhayoun A, Olsavsky A, Akard TF, Gerhardt C, Skeens MA. Predictors of loneliness among middle childhood and adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308091. [PMID: 39146346 PMCID: PMC11326567 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Social contexts (e.g., family, friends) are important in predicting and preventing loneliness in middle childhood (MC) and adolescence; however, these social contexts were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparison of social context factors that may differentially contribute to loneliness at each developmental stage (MC vs. adolescence) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been overlooked. This study examined longitudinal predictors of loneliness, including social contexts and COVID-19 impact, within MC (8-12y) and adolescence (13-17y). Parents reported on demographic information, and their children completed surveys on COVID-19 impact, loneliness, and family functioning using the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS), the NIH Toolbox Loneliness (Ages 8-17) measure, and the PROMIS Family Relationships Short Form 4a measure, respectively. Regression models examined time one (T1; May-June 2020) predictors of time two (T2; November 2020-January 2021) MC child (n=92, Mage=10.03) and adolescent (n=56, Mage=14.66) loneliness. For the MC child model, significant predictors of higher loneliness included worse family functioning as well as higher COVID-19 impact and lower family income. On the other hand, higher adolescent loneliness was significantly predicted by not having married/partnered parents and was marginally significantly predicted by higher COVID-19 impact. The regression model with the full sample and interaction terms revealed no significant interactions, but that lower family functioning and higher COVID-19 impact were significant predictors of higher loneliness. Lower family income and lower in-person communication were marginally significant predictors of higher loneliness in the combined interaction model. Lastly, further exploratory mediation analyses displayed that family functioning significantly mediated the relationship between COVID-19 impact and T2 loneliness only for MC children and the full sample. Results support future interventions focused on optimizing family functioning to help mitigate MC loneliness in the context of adversity, such as a global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Benhayoun
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Anna Olsavsky
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Terrah Foster Akard
- Vanderbilt School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, South Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Gerhardt
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Micah A Skeens
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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Pang M, Wang J, Zhao M, Chen R, Liu H, Xu X, Li S, Kong F. The Migrant-Local Difference in the Relationship Between Social Support, Sleep Disturbance, and Loneliness Among Older Adults in China: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e49253. [PMID: 38194253 PMCID: PMC10806446 DOI: 10.2196/49253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driven by the accelerated aging of the population of China, the number of older adults has increased rapidly in the country. Meanwhile, following children, migrant older adults (MOA) have emerged as a vulnerable group in the process of fast urbanization. Existed studies have illustrated the association between social support and loneliness and the relationship between sleep disturbance and loneliness; however, the underlying mechanisms and the migrant-local difference in the association between social support, sleep disturbance, and loneliness have not been identified. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to clarify the migrant-local difference in the relationship between social support, sleep disturbance, and loneliness in older adults in China. METHODS Multistage cluster random sampling was used to select participants: 1205 older adults (n=613, 50.9%, MOA and n=592, 49.1%, local older adults [LOA]) were selected in Weifang City, China, in August 2021. Loneliness was assessed with the 6-item short-form University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, social support was evaluated with the Social Support Rating Scale, and sleep disturbance was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The chi-square test, t test, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were adopted to explore the migrant-local difference between social support, sleep disturbance, and loneliness among the MOA and LOA. RESULTS The mean score of loneliness was 8.58 (SD 3.03) for the MOA and 8.00 (SD 2.79) for the LOA. SEM analysis showed that social support exerts a direct negative effect on both sleep disturbance (standardized coefficient=-0.24 in the MOA and -0.20 in the LOA) and loneliness (standardized coefficient=-0.44 in the MOA and -0.40 in the LOA), while sleep disturbance generates a direct positive effect on loneliness (standardized coefficient=0.13 in the MOA and 0.22 in the LOA). CONCLUSIONS Both MOA and LOA have a low level of loneliness, but the MOA show higher loneliness than the LOA. There is a negative correlation between social support and loneliness as well as between social support and sleep disturbance among the MOA and LOA (MOA>LOA), while loneliness is positively associated with sleep disturbance in both populations (MOA
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Pang
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jieru Wang
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Mingyue Zhao
- Human Resource Department, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xixing Xu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shixue Li
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fanlei Kong
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Institute of Health and Elderly Care, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Suanrueang P, Peltzer K, Lkhamsuren Z, Yap LK. The association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12589. [PMID: 37537238 PMCID: PMC10400538 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39452-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted by investigating the 2018 Bolivia global school-based student health survey (GSHS). The total number of students who participated in this survey was 7931, and the final sample was 7377. The mean age of the participants was 15.3 years (SD = 1.4). Psychological distress was assessed with a 2-item screener (loneliness and worry induced sleep disturbance). In all 22.3% of participants reported experiencing psychological distress, with 18.1% among adolescent males and 26.2% among adolescent females. In adjusted logistic regression analysis (AOR, 95% CI), there are two significant directions of association. One is the negative association, such as parental involvement as a protective factor. School adolescents who had more parental involvement were less likely to experience psychological distress. Parents understand problems or worries (0.64, 0.54-0.75, p < .001) and parents disregard privacy (0.69, 0.58-0.82, p < .001). On the other hand, many psycho-social factors are significantly positively associated with psychological distress. School adolescents who experience more psychosocial factors are more likely to experience psychological distress. Physical assault in the previous year (1.83, 1.59-2.11, p < .001), being bullied at school (1.27, 1.07-1.52, p < .01), being bullied outside of school (1.36, 1.15-1.61, p < .001), and being cyberbullied (1.60, 1.37-1.88, p < .001), were all significantly associated with psychological distress. Healthy relationships in a family, and interventions to reduce violence and bullying, should be encouraged and promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Passakorn Suanrueang
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Karl Peltzer
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Zuchi Lkhamsuren
- Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Lyen Krenz Yap
- Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Pengpid S, Peltzer K. Food insecurity is associated with multiple psychological and behavioural problems among adolescents in five Caribbean countries. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2023; 28:291-304. [PMID: 34957886 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2021.2019813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to assess associations between food insecurity and multiple psychological and behavioural problems among adolescents in five Caribbean countries. Data from national and cross-sectional school health surveys from 9,956 adolescents (15 years, median age) in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, Anguilla and the Dominican Republic in 2016-2017 were analyzed in 2016-2017. Results show that the prevalence of moderate (rarely or sometimes) past-month food insecurity was 35.9% and severe (mostly or always) food insecurity was 4.6%. Severe food insecurity among adolescents ranged from 2.9% in Dominican Republic to 11.2% in Suriname. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, the higher severity of food insecurity was associated with negative psychological outcomes (loneliness, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, anxiety, current tobacco use and any trouble from alcohol use) and negative behavioural outcomes (truancy, bullied, physically attacked, physical injury, and multiple sexual partners). Two out of five adolescents experienced some form of food security. Food interventions, such as school feeding programmes, are warranted to reduce negative psychosocial outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supa Pengpid
- Asean Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.,Department of Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa
| | - Karl Peltzer
- Department of Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa.,Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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The Association of Soft Drink Consumption and the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines with Suicidality among Adolescents of the United States. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14091870. [PMID: 35565838 PMCID: PMC9100874 DOI: 10.3390/nu14091870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Evidence is lacking for the association of the behaviors of the 24 h movement guidelines including sleep duration, physical activity, screen time, and soft drink consumption with suicidality among adolescents. Methods: Data were extracted from a national representative sample of Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) in the United States from 2011 to 2019. Binary logistic regression models with complex sampling designs were used to explore the association of the recommendations of the 24 h movement guidelines and soft drink consumption with suicidality. Results: The total prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, and suicide attempt with medical treatment was higher among adolescents who did not meet all the recommendations in the 24 h movement guidelines and had a higher level of soft drink consumption. Totally, not meeting all the recommendations of the 24 h movement guidelines was significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.30–2.19) and suicide plan (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.34–2.33) compared with adolescents who meet all the recommendations. Soft drink consumption of ≥3 times/day was associated with an increased risk of suicidality including suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, and suicide attempt with medical treatment, regardless of sex. Soft drink consumption of ≥3 times/day was significantly associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt and suicide attempt with medical treatment, regardless of whether the recommendations of physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration were met. Conclusion: Age-appropriate sleep duration, no more than 2 h of screen time per day, at least 1 h of physical activity per day as contained in the 24 h movement guidelines and less than one soft drink consumption per day are good targets to prevent involvement in suicidality. More actions for intervening in the movement and dietary behaviors among adolescents are needed to maintain physical and mental health.
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