1
|
Ye FTF, Gao X, Sin KF, Yang L. Remote learning and mental health during the societal lockdown: a study of primary school students and parents in times of COVID-19. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1106. [PMID: 37286984 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges to families around the world. The prolonged school closures in Hong Kong have forced young students to stay at home and adapt to remote learning for over a year, putting their mental health conditions at risk. Focusing on primary school students and their parents, the main objective of our research is to investigate the socioemotional factors and their associations with mental health conditions. METHODS A total of 700 Hong Kong primary schoolers (mean age = 8.2) reported their emotional experiences, loneliness, and academic self-concept via a user-friendly online survey; 537 parents reported depression and anxiety, perceived child depression and anxiety, and social support. Responses from students and parents were paired to account for the family context. Structural Equation Modeling was used for correlations and regressions. RESULTS The results of students' responses showed that positive emotional experiences were negatively associated with loneliness and positively related to academic self-concept among students. Furthermore, the paired sample results showed that, during the one-year societal lockdown and remote learning period, the socioemotional factors were associated with mental health conditions among primary school students and their parents. Among our family sample in Hong Kong, evidence supports the unique negative association between students-reported positive emotional experiences and parents-reported child depression and anxiety, as well as between social support and parents' depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlighted the associations between socioemotional factors and mental health among young primary schoolers during the societal lockdown. We thus call for more attention to the societal lockdown and remote learning context, especially since the social distancing practice could be "the new normal" for our society to handle the future pandemic crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Tian-Fang Ye
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaozi Gao
- Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Kuen-Fung Sin
- Centre for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Lan Yang
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Anhedonia reflects a reduced ability to engage in previously pleasurable activities and has been reported in children as young as 3 years of age. It manifests early and is a strong predictor of psychiatric disease onset and progression over the course of development and into adulthood. However, little is known about its mechanistic origins, particularly in childhood and adolescence. In this chapter, we provide a socio-cognitive model of the development of anhedonia. This model is substantiated by past literature presented in this chapter to account for how the individual trajectories of emotion knowledge, autobiographical memory, and self-concept representations contribute to the onset, persistence, and progression of anhedonia from early childhood through adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janani Prabhakar
- Section on Clinical and Computational Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Dylan M Nielson
- Section on Clinical and Computational Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Machine Learning Team, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Argyris Stringaris
- Division of Psychiatry and Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- National and Kapodistrian University Athens, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hoferichter F, Kulakow S, Hufenbach MC. Support From Parents, Peers, and Teachers Is Differently Associated With Middle School Students' Well-Being. Front Psychol 2021; 12:758226. [PMID: 34925161 PMCID: PMC8674184 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.758226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parents, peers, and teachers provide a powerful context for school students’ well-being. However, a detailed and systematic analysis of how parental, peer, and teacher support relate to students’ well-being, measured by the dimensions self-worth, psychological and physical well-being, is still missing. To address this research gap, the following study investigates 733 adolescent German students from grades 7 and 8 (Mage = 13.97, SD = 0.41, 52% girls) with respect to their perceived supportive relationships at home and within the school context. The study considers gender, socioeconomic status, and school form as potential confounders. The results of the structural equation model, analyzed with the statistical software R, indicate that perceived teacher support was positively related to students’ self-worth and physical well-being, while peer support was related to psychological well-being. Students who perceived their parents as supportive reported higher well-being with respect to all three dimensions investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frances Hoferichter
- Department of School Pedagogy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Kulakow
- Department of School Pedagogy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Raufelder D, Hoferichter F, Kulakow S, Golde S, Gleich T, Romund L, Lorenz RC, Pelz P, Beck A. Adolescents' Personality Development - A Question of Psychosocial Stress. Front Psychol 2021; 12:785610. [PMID: 34975679 PMCID: PMC8719601 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.785610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the relational-developmental systems approach, this three-wave study examines whether acute stress (T2) mediates the relationship between the development of personality traits from the beginning of 8th grade (T1, M age = 15.63, SD = 0.59; 22 girls) to the end of 9th grade (T3). Using the Montréal Imaging Stress Task, which is a task that provokes acute social stress by negative social feedback, this study combined the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), heart rate, and longitudinal survey data of 41 adolescents. Mediation analysis revealed that stress-induced left insula activation partially mediates the longitudinal stability of conscientiousness. These results highlight the impact of negative social feedback during stress on students' personality development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Raufelder
- Institute of Educational Science, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frances Hoferichter
- Institute of Educational Science, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Kulakow
- Institute of Educational Science, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabrina Golde
- Department of Education and Psychology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Gleich
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lydia Romund
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Patricia Pelz
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Beck
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lam JA, Murray ER, Yu KE, Ramsey M, Nguyen TT, Mishra J, Martis B, Thomas ML, Lee EE. Neurobiology of loneliness: a systematic review. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1873-1887. [PMID: 34230607 PMCID: PMC8258736 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01058-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Deeper understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness is needed to identify potential intervention targets. We did not find any systematic review of neurobiology of loneliness. Using MEDLINE and PsycINFO online databases, we conducted a search for peer-reviewed publications examining loneliness and neurobiology. We identified 41 studies (n = 16,771 participants) that had employed various methods including computer tomography (CT), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and post-mortem brain tissue RNA analysis or pathological analysis. Our synthesis of the published findings shows abnormal structure (gray matter volume or white matter integrity) and/or activity (response to pleasant versus stressful images in social versus nonsocial contexts) in the prefrontal cortex (especially medial and dorsolateral), insula (particularly anterior), amygdala, hippocampus, and posterior superior temporal cortex. The findings related to ventral striatum and cerebellum were mixed. fMRI studies reported links between loneliness and differential activation of attentional networks, visual networks, and default mode network. Loneliness was also related to biological markers associated with Alzheimer's disease (e.g., amyloid and tau burden). Although the published investigations have limitations, this review suggests relationships of loneliness with altered structure and function in specific brain regions and networks. We found a notable overlap in the regions involved in loneliness and compassion, the two personality traits that are inversely correlated in previous studies. We have offered recommendations for future research studies of neurobiology of loneliness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A. Lam
- grid.40263.330000 0004 1936 9094Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI USA
| | - Emily R. Murray
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Kasey E. Yu
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Marina Ramsey
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Tanya T. Nguyen
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Brian Martis
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Michael L. Thomas
- grid.47894.360000 0004 1936 8083Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Ellen E. Lee
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| |
Collapse
|