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Kavvadas D, Kavvada A, Karachrysafi S, Papaliagkas V, Chatzidimitriou M, Papamitsou T. Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Levels among University Students: Three Years from the Beginning of the Pandemic. Clin Pract 2023; 13:596-609. [PMID: 37218805 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract13030054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Three years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress among college students remains increased. This study assesses stress, anxiety, and depression levels among students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki by the end of the third year of the pandemic (November 2022), revealing demographic characteristics and probable stressors. METHODS A questionnaire was distributed in November 2022 via the academic students' e-mails. The evaluation was performed with the DASS21 survey tool. The correlation analysis and the effect size calculation were performed with the t-test. RESULTS The majority of participants were undergraduates, on their first or second academic year, female students (67%), age of 18 to 21, unmarried or single (91%), and vaccinated against COVID-19 infection (83.4%). Severely increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (21.3%, 23.3%, and 25.1%, respectively) were measured. The normal and mild levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were 64.0%, 66.5%, and 57.2%, respectively. Female and younger students were at a higher risk of extremely severe stress, anxiety and depression prevalence (ORs up to 2.07, p-Values < 0.00001). Participants who were receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment exhibited severe stress, anxiety, and depression levels (ORs above 2.9, p-Values < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS Despite the undeniable withdrawal of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki presents high stress, anxiety, and depression levels, similar to those reported during the first year of the pandemic (November 2020). Stressors and risk factors were according to the reported literature and previous studies on Greek students. Academic psychological support offices should consider the students' "profile" in order to evaluate properly the potential risk for emotional and psychological distress. Evidence suggest that new technology (virtual reality, tele-psychiatry or tele-support apps and sessions) should also be implemented in universities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kavvadas
- Post-Graduate Program "Health and Environmental Factors", School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Asimoula Kavvada
- Post-Graduate Program "Health and Environmental Factors", School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 574 00 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sofia Karachrysafi
- Post-Graduate Program "Health and Environmental Factors", School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasileios Papaliagkas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 574 00 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Chatzidimitriou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 574 00 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodora Papamitsou
- Post-Graduate Program "Health and Environmental Factors", School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
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McIntosh JT. Emergency department nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors toward individuals with mental illness: A secondary analysis. Int Emerg Nurs 2023; 68:101271. [PMID: 37003054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2023.101271] [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: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to determine emergency department (ED) nurses' caring behaviors toward individuals with mental illness; and the influence of stigma on their caring behaviors. METHOD This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study with (n = 813) ED nurses working in the United States from March 2021 to April 2021. The Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 item (CBI-24) and the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes Scale-4 (MICA v4) were used to collect data. RESULTS The mean CBI-24 score was 4.6 (SD = 0.8).The MICA v4 had an overall sum of 53.4 (SD = 9.2). Caring behaviors and stigma were found to have significant weak inverse relationship (r = - 0.23, p <.001). Age and level of education had a significant inverse relationship with caring behaviors (r = - 0.12; r = -. 19, p <.01 respectively). CONCLUSION The results of this study may contribute to the quality, equity, and safety of the emergency nursing care of individuals with mental illness, thereby improving health outcomes. It is recommended that the diversity of nurses and the characteristics of the ED be taken into consideration when designing trainings, providing leadership support, and managing resources to support the care of individuals with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T McIntosh
- Adelphi University, College of Nursing and Public Health, One South Street, Garden City, NY 11530, USA; Yale University School of Nursing, 400 West Campus Drive, Orange, CT 06477, USA.
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Kavvadas D, Kavvada A, Karachrysafi S, Papaliagkas V, Cheristanidis S, Chatzidimitriou M, Papamitsou T. Stress, Anxiety and Depression Prevalence among Greek University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Year Survey. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154263. [PMID: 35893354 PMCID: PMC9332455 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic on college students’ mental health is well-demonstrated. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the pandemic on the students of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Northern Greece), in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and to analyze the probable correlation of various social and phycological factors. Methods: The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire, which was first distributed in November 2020 and then re-launched in November 2021. The evaluation was carried out through the DASS21 screening tool. Associations regarding participants’ characteristics and the three variables (stress, anxiety, and depression) were investigated with Pearson’s chi-squared (Χ2) test. Results: The first-year results (November 2020) revealed severe prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression (37.4%, 27.2% and 47% respectively). The second-year results (November 2021) revealed a significant augmentation in all three variables, mainly for the extreme severe scales (47.3%, 41.1% and 55% respectively). Participants who were receiving psychiatric treatment exhibited higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, especially during the second year of the pandemic (p-Value < 0.00001). Female students’ mental health was at higher risk, as elevated prevalence of negative symptoms was observed (p-Value < 0.00001). Conclusions: The community of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has been greatly affected during the last 2 years. The inherent risks of the confinement measures on students’ well-being and mental health are undeniable. Recurrent annual psychological evaluation in universities and colleges is strongly advised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kavvadas
- Post-Graduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.); (S.C.); (T.P.)
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence:
| | - Asimoula Kavvada
- Post-Graduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.); (S.C.); (T.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Sofia Karachrysafi
- Post-Graduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.); (S.C.); (T.P.)
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasileios Papaliagkas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Stavros Cheristanidis
- Post-Graduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.); (S.C.); (T.P.)
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Chatzidimitriou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Theodora Papamitsou
- Post-Graduate Program “Health and Environmental Factors”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.); (S.C.); (T.P.)
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Wang M, Wang Y, Xu J, Meng N, Li X, Liu Z, Huang J. Individual-level socioeconomic status and contact or familiarity with people with mental illness: a cross-sectional study in Wuhou District, Chengdu, Southwest China. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:71. [PMID: 33836653 PMCID: PMC8035729 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01422-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background People with mental illness (PWMI) often suffer from public stigma, which can make them unwilling to seek help and reduce access to early treatment. The aims of this study were to determine attitudes towards PWMI among the general public in a Chinese sample and to explore the relationships with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2019. The participants’ attitudes towards PWMI were evaluated by the Chinese version of the Social Distance Scale (SDSC). An independent-sample T-test and one-way ANOVA were used to determine the association of categorical variables with the outcome variable. Multiple linear regression and Spearman correlations were computed to explore the correlation between SDSC scores and individual-level socioeconomic status (SES). Results A total of 1437 participants were recruited, and their total SDSC score was 12.53 (SD: 3.11). Univariate analysis results showed that age, education level, educational attainment, and individual-level SES as well as whether they were caregivers/family members of PWMI were correlated with SDSC scores. The results of regression analysis showed a significant effect caused by contact or familiarity with PWMI (B = -1.134, β = -.190, P < 0.001), as well as for individual-level SES (B = -.339, β = -.110, P < 0.001). Spearman correlation results showed that SDSC scores were negatively correlated with individual-level SES (r = -.078, p < 0.01) and contact or familiarity with PWMI (r = -.168, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study reveals that public stigma towards PWMI is common in Southwest China. Individuals who are not a family member or a caregiver of PWMI or have low education level or low individual-level SES need to be provided more anti-stigma interventions. Contacting with PWMI is also a potentially beneficial measure to reduce social distance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-021-01422-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Wang
- West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University/Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiajun Xu
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang No.37, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Na Meng
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaolin Li
- West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University/Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Junqiang Huang
- Chengdu Dekang Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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