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Keleynikov M, Cohen N, Benatov J. Maternal distress during the COVID-19 outbreak: A socio-ecological perspective. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302266. [PMID: 38701039 PMCID: PMC11068201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302266] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mothers faced an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other populations. However, there is little data on the factors that placed mothers at increased risk of distress. AIMS The present study explored a range of individual, familial, and environmental factors associated with psychological distress in mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD This repeated cross-sectional study was composed of a convenience sample of mothers who completed an online survey that included a demographic questionnaire, an emotion regulation questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale. The survey was administered during the second and third lockdowns in Israel in 2020-2021. RESULTS The study included 575 mothers (M age = 39). The findings of a hierarchical regression indicated that individual-level factors, composed of age and emotion regulation tendencies predicted psychological distress. The family-level factors of household income and number of children in the family also predicted distress. In terms of environmental-level factors, COVID-19-related media consumption and school status (open or closed) were also significant predictors of psychological distress. Importantly, the results showed that the most important predictors of psychological distress in mothers during the COVID-19 outbreak were school closures, household income, and the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the intersection of individual, familial, and environmental factors in mothers' mental health during crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mor Keleynikov
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Cohen
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Joy Benatov
- Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Reinhart E. Money as Medicine - Clinicism, Cash Transfers, and the Political-Economic Determinants of Health. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1333-1338. [PMID: 38598803 DOI: 10.1056/nejmms2311216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Reinhart
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago
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González MR, Trujillo A. Examining the Moderating Role of Parental Stress in the Relationship between Parental Beliefs on Corporal Punishment and Its Utilization as a Behavior Correction Strategy among Colombian Parents. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:384. [PMID: 38671601 PMCID: PMC11049352 DOI: 10.3390/children11040384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Understanding beliefs about corporal punishment is crucial, as evidence suggests that positive beliefs in its effectiveness predict its use. High parental stress, especially in those valuing corporal punishment, increases the potential for child abuse. Factors such as having many children or low education and socioeconomic status contribute to parental tensions, leading to the use of corporal punishment for behavior correction. We posit that the accumulation of such variables results in heightened stress levels. Our focus aimed to determine the moderating role of stress levels among parental beliefs about corporal punishment and its reported use through quantitative research. In our study, 853 Colombian parents of low, middle, and high socioeconomic status, and from four different regions of Colombia, with children aged 0 to 17 participated. They provided information about their beliefs on corporal punishment, using the Beliefs and Punishment Scale. Correlations indicated that older parents with better socioeconomic status were less inclined to believe that strictness improves children. Regressions suggested that increased belief in corporal punishment modifying behavior, along with higher parental stress, increases corporal punishment use. Moderation models highlighted that when more stressors were present, corporal punishment was used due to stress rather than parental beliefs. Ultimately, stress emerged as a crucial factor influencing corporal punishment use among Colombian parents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Trujillo
- Facuttad de Psicología y Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 250005, Colombia;
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Rodríguez-Prieto P, Simpson IC, Gomez-Baya D, García de la Cadena C, Ruiz-Aranda D, Ibáñez-Alfonso JA. Neuropsychological Stimulation Program for Children from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:596. [PMID: 38470707 PMCID: PMC10931306 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guatemala remains one of the poorest countries in Central America and suffers from high rates of social inequality and violence. In addition to the negative impact that two years without attending school has had on Guatemalan children due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this unfavourable socioeconomic context poses a risk to children's emotional and cognitive development. This work presents a protocol for implementing a cognitive and emotional stimulation program aimed at increasing the academic performance of these children and consequently improving their quality of life. METHODS The protocol proposes the implementation of a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a 24-session-long stimulation program. It targets the cognitive functions of attention, language, executive functions, and social cognition, using the digital neurorehabilitation platform NeuronUP. The participants (n = 480) will be randomly assigned to an Experimental or Control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be carried out, together with a follow-up in the next academic year, in which both groups will change roles. Results will be compared for the first and second years, looking for differences in academic and cognitive performance between groups. DISCUSSION Mid- and long-term outcomes are still unknown, but effective interventions based on this protocol are expected to facilitate the following benefits for participants: (1) improved cognitive and emotional development; (2) improved academic performance; (3) improved well-being. We expect to create a validated neuropsychological stimulation program that could be applied in similar socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts around the world to help these children improve their life chances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Rodríguez-Prieto
- Human Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, 41704 Dos Hermanas, Spain; (P.R.-P.); (D.R.-A.)
- ETEA Foundation, Development Institute of Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Calle Escritor Castilla Aguayo n°4, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ian Craig Simpson
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Diego Gomez-Baya
- Department of Social, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Campus de El Carmen, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain;
| | - Claudia García de la Cadena
- Department of Neuropsychology, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Calle 11, Zona 15, Post n° 82, Guatemala City 01901, Guatemala;
| | - Desirée Ruiz-Aranda
- Human Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, 41704 Dos Hermanas, Spain; (P.R.-P.); (D.R.-A.)
| | - Joaquín A. Ibáñez-Alfonso
- Human Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, 41704 Dos Hermanas, Spain; (P.R.-P.); (D.R.-A.)
- ETEA Foundation, Development Institute of Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Calle Escritor Castilla Aguayo n°4, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
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Flores A, Mason KA. "You would think she would hug me": Micropractices of Care Between First-Generation College Students and Their Parents During Covid-19. Cult Med Psychiatry 2024; 48:91-112. [PMID: 37768495 PMCID: PMC10972772 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-023-09833-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the education of first-generation college students (first-gens)-those whose parents did not complete a college degree. With campuses closed, activities canceled, and support services curtailed, many first-gens have increasingly relied on their parents for mental, emotional, and logistical support. At the same time, their parents face compounding stresses and challenges stemming from the prolonged effects of the Covid pandemic. We examined the role that relational dynamics between first-gens and their parents played in how they weathered the first 2 years of the Covid pandemic together. We draw upon journals submitted by self-identified first-gens and parents of first-gens to the Pandemic Journaling Project between October 2021 and May 2022 as part of a pilot study of first-gen family experiences of Covid-19, along with a series of interviews conducted with three student-parent dyads. We argue that what we term the micropractices of care-the "little things," like a kind word, small gift, or car ride, that were regularly exchanged between parents and students-played a key role in mental wellness and educational persistence. We find that when there is synchrony between practices offered by one dyad member and their reception by the other, mental wellbeing is preserved. When there is asynchrony, mental health is destabilized. These findings reflect the strategies on which first-gen families have creatively relied to maintain shared mental wellness and student success during a time of crisis. We show how everyday mental wellness is forged in the intersubjective space between two people engaged in achieving shared life goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Flores
- Department of Education, Brown University, Box 1938, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
| | - Katherine A Mason
- Department of Anthropology, Brown University, Box 1921, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
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Pucciarelli DM, Ramasubramani R, Trautmann CH. Associations Between Psychopathological Symptom Severity Amid the Pandemic and the Childhood Sociodemographic Environment. Cureus 2024; 16:e56458. [PMID: 38638738 PMCID: PMC11024765 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
It is well-documented that childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with various health conditions in adulthood. Here, we examine the extent to which childhood SES is associated with COVID-19 pandemic anxiety and depression. Participants (n = 212), recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk, were assessed for depression and anxiety in February 2022 for both the current context and retrospective self-perceived early pandemic depression and anxiety (April 2020). Participants also reported childhood SES and current demographics. Consistent with predated findings, we show a strong, positive correlation between depression and anxiety under both conditions. Paternal unemployment in childhood was associated with increased anxiety, while maternal occupation was not. High household education in childhood was generally associated with greater anxiety and depression, similar to past studies examining education levels and depression. However, the shift from high school to post-secondary degrees (trade school and associate's) was associated with decreased anxiety and depression, which may reflect "essential work" careers, therefore indicating a dualism. Growing up in crowded, de-individualized spaces was associated with lower anxiety and depression, suggesting better conditioning for the imposition of COVID-19 quarantines. Pandemic-related unemployment was associated with an increase in anxiety and depression. Strong political views, regardless of ideology, were associated with increased anxiety. Finally, participants in our cohort perceived their mental health to be worse in the early pandemic for anxiety and depression, up 6.6% and 7.9%, respectively. Our work suggests a complex relationship between SES, demographics, and anxiety and depression during the pandemic. These findings emphasize the importance of exploring the dynamics between early SES and mental health in adulthood, particularly during extended societal stressors.
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Calvano C, Engelke L, Holl-Etten AK, Renneberg B, Winter SM. Almost 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic: an update on parental stress, parent mental health, and the occurrence of child maltreatment. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:2593-2609. [PMID: 36739338 PMCID: PMC9899111 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02147-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Increased parental stress, poorer mental health, and an increase in the occurrence of child maltreatment (CM) have been reported in earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, data from later phases of the pandemic are not yet available. We conducted a cross-sectional, representative survey among 1087 parents (48.8% female; mean age 41.72 years, SD = 9.15) in Germany in December 2021. Data were compared to a previous representative sample, assessed in August 2020 (N = 1024), and to normative scores of the outcome measures. Predictors for the occurrence of CM were analyzed by logistic regression. Pandemic-related stress and general stress were higher and physical and mental health were poorer in the December 2021 sample than in the August 2020 sample. Occurrence rates of CM varied between 5 and 56%. Verbal emotional abuse (n = 607, 56%), witnessing domestic violence (n = 446, 41%), and emotional neglect (n = 435, 40%) were most frequently reported. For these subtypes, parental risk for alcohol abuse (OR 2.1-2.7) and parental recent experience of violence (OR 2.1-5.1) were the strongest predictors. Across all subtypes of CM, parents reporting child maltreatment showed poorer scores on all stress outcomes, with medium-large-effect sizes. Results confirm a high burden within the families, almost 2 years into the pandemic. Occurrence rates of a broad spectrum of CM subtypes raise further concerns for the well-being of children. Family-oriented intervention efforts are needed to stabilize families and provide targeted support. Longitudinal studies are needed for a description of families at risk for poorer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Calvano
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Olshausenstr. 62, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Lara Engelke
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Katharina Holl-Etten
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Babette Renneberg
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sibylle M Winter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
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Athe R, Dwivedi R, Singh K, Babusab Hulmani S, Karadi N, Boraiah C, Vasu S. Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers and Job Loss From a Gender Perspective in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2023; 15:e48219. [PMID: 38050506 PMCID: PMC10693901 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant stress and anxiety among the general population and healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. India is one of the countries severely impacted by the pandemic. This review explores the gender perspective of mental health conditions among HCWs and job loss during the pandemic in India. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for articles published till March 2021. Studies that reported the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and worry among HCWs in India during the pandemic and job loss in both males and females due to COVID-19 were included. We used a random-effects model to estimate pooled prevalence rates with 95% CIs. We assessed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. The meta-analysis included 11 studies; the pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and worry among HCWs was 34.9% (95%CI 27.33, 42.47), 35.4% (95%CI 24.46, 46.33), 32.9% (95%CI 25.43, 40.37), and 42.87% (95%CI 25.83, 59.91), respectively. The pooled prevalence of job loss due to COVID-19 was 16.6% (95%CI 8.34, 19.66). We employed meta-regression and Egger's regression for publication bias. The meta-analysis findings suggest that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and worry among HCWs in India during COVID-19 was high. Furthermore, job loss due to COVID-19 has also been prevalent in India. These findings emphasize the need for mental health support for HCWs and those who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. It is essential to prioritize mental health and job creation policies in India to support individuals affected by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Athe
- Data Science and Intelligent Systems, Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, Dharwad, IND
| | - Rinshu Dwivedi
- Science and Humanities, Indian Institute of Information Technology Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli, IND
| | - Kasha Singh
- Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, Dharwad, IND
| | - Sabiha Babusab Hulmani
- Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, Dharwad, IND
| | - Nikhita Karadi
- Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, Dharwad, IND
| | - Chaithanya Boraiah
- Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad, Dharwad, IND
| | - Sindhu Vasu
- Science and Humanities, Indian Institute of Information Technology Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli, IND
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Mooney AC, Jackson KE, Hamad R, Fernald LCH, Hoskote M, Gosliner W. Experiences of distress and gaps in government safety net supports among parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1099. [PMID: 37287030 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16037-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid federal, state, and local government policymaking to buffer families from the health and economic harms of the pandemic. However, there has been little attention to families' perceptions of whether the pandemic safety net policy response was adequate, and what is needed to alleviate lasting effects on family well-being. This study examines the experiences and challenges of families with low incomes caring for young children during the pandemic. METHODS Semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted from August 2020 to January 2021 with 34 parents of young children in California were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS We identified three key themes related to parents' experiences during the pandemic: (1) positive experiences with government support programs, (2) challenging experiences with government support programs, and (3) distress resulting from insufficient support for childcare disruptions. Participants reported that program expansions helped alleviate food insecurity, and those attending community colleges reported accessing a range of supports through supportive counselors. However, many reported gaps in support for childcare and distance learning, pre-existing housing instability, and parenting stressors. With insufficient supports, additional childcare and education workloads resulted in stress and exhaustion, guilt about competing demands, and stagnation of longer-term goals for economic and educational advancement. CONCLUSIONS Families of young children, already facing housing and economic insecurity prior to the pandemic, experienced parental burnout. To support family well-being, participants endorsed policies to remove housing barriers, and expand childcare options to mitigate job loss and competing demands on parents. Policy responses that either alleviate stressors or bolster supports have the potential to prevent distress catalyzed by future disasters or the more common destabilizing experiences of economic insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C Mooney
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Kaitlyn E Jackson
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Rita Hamad
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Lia C H Fernald
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Mekhala Hoskote
- University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco Joint Medical Program, 570 University Hall MC #7360, 2018 Oxford Street, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Wendi Gosliner
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA
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Alam M, Hickie IB, Poulsen A, Ekambareshwar M, Loblay V, Crouse J, Hindmarsh G, Song YJC, Yoon A, Cha G, Wilson C, Sweeney-Nash M, Troy J, LaMonica HM. Parenting app to support socio-emotional and cognitive development in early childhood: iterative codesign learnings from nine low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071232. [PMID: 37192801 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many children in low-income and middle-income countries are disadvantaged in achieving early developmental potential in childhood as they lack the necessary support from their surroundings, including from parents and caregivers. Digital technologies, such as smartphone apps, coupled with iterative codesign to engage end-users in the technology-delivered content development stages, can help overcome gaps in early child development (ECD). We describe the iterative codesign and quality improvement process that informs the development of content for the Thrive by Five International Program, localised for nine countries in Asia and Africa. DESIGN Between 2021 and 2022, an average of six codesign workshops in each country were conducted in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya and Namibia.ParticipantsA total of 174 parents and caregivers and 58 in-country subject matter experts participated and provided feedback to refine and inform the cultural appropriateness of the Thrive by Five app and its content. Detailed notes from the workshops and written feedback were coded and analysed using established thematic techniques. RESULTS Four themes emerged from the codesign workshops: local realities, barriers to positive parenting, child development and lessons learnt about the cultural context. These themes, as well as various subthemes, informed content development and refinement. For example, childrearing activities were requested and developed to promote inclusion of families from diverse backgrounds, encourage best parenting practices, increase engagement of fathers in ECD, address parents' mental well-being, educate children about cultural values and help bereaved children with grief and loss. Also, content that did not align with the laws or culture of any country were removed. CONCLUSIONS The iterative codesign process informed the development of a culturally relevant app for parents and caregivers of children in the early years. Further evaluation is required to assess user experience and impact in real world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafruha Alam
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam Poulsen
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Victoria Loblay
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacob Crouse
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Hindmarsh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yun J C Song
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam Yoon
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Grace Cha
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chloe Wilson
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Jakelin Troy
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Haley M LaMonica
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Mohangi K. Risks and opportunities for children's well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during COVID-19: Implications for school psychology interventions. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2023; 44:236-254. [PMID: 38603399 PMCID: PMC9768532 DOI: 10.1177/01430343221144407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had a global impact on family social and economic well-being. Individuals and families sought alternative living arrangements as a result of the financial crisis, health implications, and housing insecurity, with many joining multigenerational households. However, it is unknown how multigenerational family life affects children's well-being. Therefore, this qualitative study explored risks and resilience-building opportunities for children's psychological and social well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Five multigenerational families were selected through snowball sampling and case design. The three generations of participants were grandparents (n = 5), parents (n = 7), and children (n = 4). Data were gathered through a questionnaire and interviews. The study received institutional ethics approval. After thematic analysis, two themes and six sub-themes were identified. Risks were related to interpersonal conflict, family collective fear of COVID-19, and children's multiple other fears. Opportunities were identified as academic support, shared responsibilities, life skills and values acquisition, and family cohesion. Results demonstrated the potential risks and resilience-building opportunities multigenerational households present for children's psychosocial well-being. Multisystemic influences in a multigenerational household contribute to children's adjustment. These outcomes necessitate systemic school psychology interventions. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore child well-being trends in multigenerational households in varying socioeconomic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamleshie Mohangi
- Department of Psychology of Education, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Falgas-Bague I, Thembo T, Kaiser JL, Hamer DH, Scott NA, Ngoma T, Paul R, Juntunen A, Rockers PC, Fink G. Trends in maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic-evidence from Zambia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281091. [PMID: 36735688 PMCID: PMC9897519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased social and emotional stressors globally, increasing mental health concerns and the risk of psychiatric illness worldwide. To date, relatively little is known about the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups such as women and children in low-resourced settings who generally have limited access to mental health care. We explore two rounds of data collected as part of an ongoing trial of early childhood development to assess mental health distress among mothers of children under 5-years-old living in two rural areas of Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the prevalence of mental health distress among a cohort of 1105 mothers using the World Health Organization's Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2019 and after the first two infection waves in October-November 2021. Our primary outcome was mental health distress, defined as SRQ-20 score above 7. We analyzed social, economic and family level characteristics as factors modifying to the COVID-19 induced changes in the mental health status. At baseline, 22.5% of women were in mental health distress. The odds of mental health distress among women increased marginally over the first two waves of the pandemic (aOR1.22, CI 0.99-1.49). Women under age 30, with lower educational background, with less than three children, and those living in Eastern Province (compared to Southern Province) of Zambia, were found to be at highest risk of mental health deterioration during the pandemic. Our findings suggest that the prevalence of mental health distress is high in this population and has further worsened during COVID-19 pandemic. Public health interventions targeting mothers' mental health in low resource settings may want to particularly focus on young mothers with limited educational attainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Falgas-Bague
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Mongan Research Institute, Disparities Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thandiwe Thembo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Jeanette L. Kaiser
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Davidson H. Hamer
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nancy A. Scott
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thandiwe Ngoma
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ravi Paul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Allison Juntunen
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter C. Rockers
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Günther Fink
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
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13
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Batra A, Jackson K, Hamad R. Effects Of The 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit On Adults' Mental Health: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Health Aff (Millwood) 2023; 42:74-82. [PMID: 36623218 PMCID: PMC10089297 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The US Congress temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide economic assistance for families with children. Although formerly the CTC provided $2,000 per child for mostly middle-income parents, during July-December 2021 it provided up to $3,600 per child. Eligibility criteria were also expanded to reach more economically disadvantaged families. There has been little research evaluating the effect of the policy expansion on mental health. Using data from the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey and a quasi-experimental study design, we examined the effects of the expanded CTC on mental health and related outcomes among low-income adults with children, and by racial and ethnic subgroup. We found fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms among low-income adults. Adults of Black, Hispanic, and other racial and ethnic backgrounds demonstrated greater reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to non-Hispanic White adults with children. There were no changes in mental health care use. These findings are important for Congress and state legislators to weigh as they consider making the expanded CTC and other similar tax credits permanent to support economically disadvantaged families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akansha Batra
- Akansha Batra, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Rita Hamad
- Rita Hamad , University of California San Francisco
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14
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Wong LP, Alias H, Farid NDN, Yusop SM, Musa Z, Hu Z, Lin Y. Parent-child relationships and psychological distress: survey of parents from low-income families after the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1158698. [PMID: 37213607 PMCID: PMC10196452 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1158698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aims to shed light on parent-child relationships and the psychological health of parents from low-income families after the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 553 parents of children aged 13-24 years in low-income community settings. The Parent-Child Conflict scale of the Parental Environment Questionnaire (PEQ) was used to measure parent-child conflict. Psychological distress was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale short form (DASS-21). Results The study revealed a low level of parent-child conflict in the overall study population, with a median PEQ of 48.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 36 to 48). Concerning demographics, married parents reported a likelihood of having a higher level of parent-child conflict over 3 times higher than single parents (OR = 3.18 95%, CI 1.30-7.75). More parent-child conflicts were also found in parents aged 60-72 years old who were unemployed, retired, or housewives and from lower-income groups. In regard to lifestyle factors, a higher level of physical activity and having enough sleep were associated with lower levels of parent-child conflict. Only approximately 1% of the participants reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. Discussion Low risk exists for parent-child conflict and psychological sequelae following the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, which could be due to various support measures implemented by the government. Vulnerable parents identified as being at risk of parent-child conflict warrant attention in future advocacy efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ping Wong
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Li Ping Wong,
| | - Haridah Alias
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nik Daliana Nik Farid
- Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sofia Md Yusop
- National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), LPPKN Building, Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Zuhrah Musa
- National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), LPPKN Building, Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Zhijian Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yulan Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yulan Lin,
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15
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Hendry A, Gibson SP, Davies C, McGillion M, Gonzalez-Gomez N. Toward a dimensional model of risk and protective factors influencing children's early cognitive, social, and emotional development during the COVID-19 pandemic. INFANCY 2023; 28:158-186. [PMID: 35993691 PMCID: PMC10086814 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Variation in infants' home environment is implicated in their cognitive and psycho-social development. The pandemic has intensified variations in home environments through exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities, and increasing psychological stressors for some families. This study investigates the effects of parental (predominantly maternal) mental health, enriching activities and screen use on 280 24- to 52-month-olds' executive functions, internalising and externalising problems, and pro-social behaviour; with socioeconomic status and social support as contextual factors. Our results indicate that aspects of the home environment are differentially associated with children's cognitive and psycho-social development. Parents who experienced sustained mental distress during the pandemic tended to report higher child externalising and internalising problems, and executive function difficulties at follow-up. Children who spent more time engaged in enriching activities with their parents showed stronger executive functions and social competence six months later. Screen use levels during the first year of the pandemic were not associated with outcomes. To mitigate the risk of persistent negative effects for this 'pandemic generation' of infants, our study highlights the importance of supporting parents' mental health. As our results demonstrate the impact of social support on mental health, investing in support services and interventions promoting building support networks are likely to be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hendry
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Catherine Davies
- School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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16
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Fisk E, Russell B. Patterns of Stress and Wellbeing Among Families Enrolled in Early Head Start/Head Start During COVID-19. Matern Child Health J 2022; 26:2370-2376. [PMID: 36350437 PMCID: PMC9644384 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-022-03523-1] [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: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected low-income families in the U.S., particularly those with young children (Kalluri et al., 2021). This longitudinal study describes the resources, stress, and health and wellbeing of low-income families enrolled in an Early Head Start/Head Start program for two cumulative program years before and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found having more resources (higher income, higher education levels, full time employment) prior to the onset of COVID-19 was correlated with better wellbeing and lower stress throughout the pandemic. Implications and directions for future research include understanding the specific types of supports that programs like EHS/HS provided during COVID-19 and how families benefitted from them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Fisk
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, 348 Mansfield Road, U-1058, CT 06269-1058, Storrs, U.S
| | - Beth Russell
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and Center for Applied Research in Human Development, University of Connecticut, Storrs, U.S
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17
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Barboza G, Angulski K, Hines L, Brown P. Variability in Opioid-Related Drug Overdoses, Social Distancing, and Area-Level Deprivation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Bayesian Spatiotemporal Analysis. J Urban Health 2022; 99:873-886. [PMID: 36068454 PMCID: PMC9447988 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring the spatial and temporal course of opioid-related drug overdose mortality is a key public health determinant. Despite previous studies exploring the evolution of drug-related fatalities following the stay-at-home mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about the spatiotemporal dynamics that mitigation efforts had on overdose deaths. The purpose of this study was to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of overdose death relative risk using a 4-week interval over a span of 5 months following the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown in the city of Chicago, IL. A Bayesian space-time model was used to produce posterior risk estimates and exceedance probabilities of opioid-related overdose deaths controlling for measures of area-level deprivation and stay-at-home mandates. We found that area-level temporal risk and inequalities in drug overdose mortality increased significantly in the initial months of the pandemic. We further found that a change in the area-level deprivation from the first to the fourth quintile increased the relative risk of a drug overdose risk by 44.5%. The social distancing index measuring the proportion of persons who stayed at home in each census block group was not associated with drug overdose mortality. We conclude by highlighting the importance of contextualizing the spatial and temporal risk in overdose mortality for implementing effective and safe harm reduction strategies during a global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gia Barboza
- College of Public Health and the College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Kate Angulski
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Lisa Hines
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Philip Brown
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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18
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Ecker A, Jarvers I, Schleicher D, Kandsperger S, Schelhorn I, Meyer M, Borchert T, Lüdtke M, Shiban Y. Problems or prospects? Being a parent in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Front Psychol 2022; 13:901249. [PMID: 35992448 PMCID: PMC9389411 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, many restrictions hit people in ways never seen before. Mental wellbeing was affected and burden was high, especially for high-risk groups such as parents. However, to our knowledge no research has yet examined whether being a parent was not only a risk for psychological burden but also a way to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online survey was used to collect data from 1,121 participants from April to June 2020. In addition to demographic variables, risk factors (financial burden, problems complying with COVID-19 restrictions, and pre-treatment due to mental health problems) and protective factors (emotion regulation, humor, and crisis self-efficacy) were collected. The dataset was divided into three groups: parents whose children lived at home (n = 395), parents whose children did not (no longer) live at home (n = 165), and people who were not parents (n = 561). Results A linear mixed effect model showed that parents had no higher burden than non-parents, and even less when children did not live at home. Expected risk factors were generally less important, and there were no differences between parents and non-parents. In contrast, parents had advantages in protective factors. Conclusion In the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shown that parents (with and without their children at home) were not necessarily at risk due to additional burden, but also had prospects of coping better with the situation than people without children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Ecker
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Irina Jarvers
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Schleicher
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kandsperger
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Iris Schelhorn
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marie Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Borchert
- Department of Psychology, Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Lüdtke
- Department of Psychology, Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology, Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
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19
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Venegas-Murillo AL, Bazargan M, Grace S, Cobb S, Vargas R, Givens S, Li-Sarain S, Delgado C, Villatoro J, Goodall A, Tesimale R, Ramirez S, Brown M, Uyanne J, Assari S. Mitigating COVID-19 Risk and Vaccine Hesitancy Among Underserved African American and Latinx Individuals with Mental Illness Through Mental Health Therapist-Facilitated Discussions. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2022; 10:1358-1370. [PMID: 35534682 PMCID: PMC9083473 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01321-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Underserved ethnic minorities with psychiatric disorders are at an increased risk of COVID-19. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of one-to-one counseling on COVID-19 vaccination and vaccination readiness among underserved African American and Latinx individuals with mental illnesses and adult caregivers of children with mental illness. Methods Through an academic-community partnered collaboration, a multidisciplinary and culturally sensitive training on COVID-19 was co-developed and delivered to 68 therapists from January to March 2021. Mental health clients and their caregivers were recruited to participate in pre- and post-intervention surveys to evaluate the impact of the intervention on their perceptions of COVID-19 public health guidelines, testing, and vaccination. Mental health therapists delivered four lessons of the COVID-19 educational intervention with 254 clients from March to June 2021, when vaccine availability was widely available. Of those clients, we collected 180 baseline and 115 follow-up surveys. The main outcome was the uptake in COVID-19 vaccine. Results There was a positive shift in participant vaccine acceptance and receptivity. Pre-intervention survey shows that only 56% of adult clients and 48% of caregivers had indicated a likelihood of getting the vaccine for themselves at baseline. Post-intervention documented that more than 57% of each group had been vaccinated, with another 11–15% of the unvaccinated individuals reporting that they were somewhat or very likely to get the vaccine. Conclusion This study demonstrated that multidisciplinary academic-community and theoretical-based educational intervention delivered by mental health therapists is an effective strategy in increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and reducing the negative impact and disruption that COVID-19 caused in the daily life of mental health patients and caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohsen Bazargan
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA USA
- Department of Family Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Stephen Grace
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Sharon Cobb
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Roberto Vargas
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Shronda Givens
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Sheila Li-Sarain
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Carissa Delgado
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Jeffry Villatoro
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Asia Goodall
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Rylan Tesimale
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Sylvia Ramirez
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Monica Brown
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - John Uyanne
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA USA
- Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation (TCCSC), Los Angeles, CA USA
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20
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Anholon R, Rampasso IS, Dibbern T, Serafim MP, Filho WL, Quelhas OLG. COVID-19 and decent work: A bibliometric analysis. Work 2022; 71:833-841. [PMID: 35253711 DOI: 10.3233/wor-210966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among these impacts, those related to the SDG 8 can be highlighted. Consequently, the literature has addressed aspects related to economic growth and decent work. OBJECTIVE This article aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on decent work according to the literature. METHODS For this, a bibliometric analysis was conducted. Data from Web of Science were collected, and VOSviewer software was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS Regarding the results, four main clusters that govern the subject were identified. A first cluster (identified in red) evidenced the consequences of the pandemic to the generation of informal work, increasing poverty and the impacts on gender issues. A second cluster (identified in blue) addresses mental health and stress issues, especially for nurses professionals who experience a situation in the COVID-19 pandemic. The green cluster focused on unemployment, precarious employment, and work conditions, which were highly related to coronavirus contagion. Finally, the yellow cluster evidenced the final consequences when there is a substantial public health problem. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here can be helpful to researchers interested in the, as it allows a broad and condensed view of important information about a relevant topic for sustainable economic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosley Anholon
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Izabela Simon Rampasso
- Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.,PNPD/CAPES Program, Doctoral Program in Sustainable Management Systems, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Thais Dibbern
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Milena Pavan Serafim
- Laboratory of Public Sector Studies, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil
| | - Walter Leal Filho
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Osvaldo L G Quelhas
- Master Program in Management Systems and Doctoral Program in Sustainable Management Systems, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil
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21
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Wiwaha G, Sari DM, Biben V, Sunjaya DK, Hilmanto D. Translation and validation of Indonesian version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Neuromuscular Module. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2022; 20:33. [PMID: 35209927 PMCID: PMC8867449 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-022-01933-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Pediatric Quality of Life™ 3.0 Neuromuscular Module is an instrument to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) aged 2-18 years. This study aimed to determine whether the PedsQL™ 3.0 Neuromuscular Module Indonesian Version is valid and reliable. METHODS This study used the Indonesian translation of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Neuromuscular Module after getting formal permission from the inventor, and the translation process followed the Mapi linguistic translation guidelines. This study administered the PedsQL™ 3.0 Neuromuscular Module Indonesian Version to 84 parents and 71 children. In addition, we used the Rasch model to analyze the psychometric properties. RESULTS The reliability of the total scale of the PedsQL™ Neuromuscular Module Indonesian Version shows good to very good criteria. On the parent proxy-report, Cronbach alpha was 0.95, person reliability was 0.84, item reliability was 0.93, person separation was 2.32, item separation was 3.61, person strata separation was 4 levels, and item strata separation was 5 levels. On the child self-report, Cronbach alpha was 0.93, person reliability was 0.81, item reliability was 0.81, person separation was 2.08, item separation was 2.06, person strata separation was 3 levels, and item strata separation was 3 levels. The total scale of the PedsQL Neuromuscular Module Indonesian Version shows fair to good construct validity in parent proxy-report (explained variance 51.9%; unexplained variance 8.4%) and child self-report (explained variance 40.9%; unexplained variance 12.6%). There were no misfit items in the parent proxy-report (infit 0.66-1.49; outfit 0.51-1.81; point measure correlation 0.36-0.93) and child self-report (infit 0.53-1.65; outfit 0.50-1.73; point measure correlation 0.31-0.90) identified by the Rasch models. CONCLUSIONS The PedsQL™ 3.0 Neuromuscular Modul Indonesian Version is a valid and reliable instrument in measuring HRQoL in Indonesian children with neuromuscular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guswan Wiwaha
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Eyckman 38, Bandung, West Java, 40161, Indonesia
| | - Dian M Sari
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Eyckman 38, Bandung, West Java, 40161, Indonesia.
| | - Vitriana Biben
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Eyckman 38, Bandung, West Java, 40161, Indonesia
| | - Deni K Sunjaya
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Eyckman 38, Bandung, West Java, 40161, Indonesia
| | - Dany Hilmanto
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Eyckman 38, Bandung, West Java, 40161, Indonesia
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22
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Prevalence and Sociodemographic Predictors of Mental Health in a Representative Sample of Young Adults from Germany, Israel, Poland, and Slovenia: A Longitudinal Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031334. [PMID: 35162364 PMCID: PMC8835083 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this cross-national longitudinal study was to evaluate the prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of mental health indicators (coronavirus-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal/self-harm ideation) during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a three-month period among representative samples of young adults from Germany, Israel, Poland, and Slovenia. The participants were 1724 young adults between 20 and 40 years of age (M = 30.74, SD = 5.74). The first measurement (T1) was in February 2021 and the second (T2) was in May–June 2021. The samples were representative of young adults in each country: Germany (n = 418, 24%), Israel (n = 428, 25%), Poland (n = 446, 26%), and Slovenia (n = 431, 25%). Women constituted 54% (n = 935) of the total sample. The mental health indicators were coronavirus-related PTSD measured by PCL-S, perceived stress (PSS-10), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-8), and suicidal ideation (PHQ-9). The participants completed an online questionnaire that also included a physical activity (PA) measurement and sociodemographic variables. The Pearson’s χ2 independence test was used for prevalence comparisons and McNemar’s χ2 was used for longitudinal changes, whereas generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used for the predictors of change in mental health indices. Significant differences were found between countries in each mental health dimension in both T1 and T2, with moderate effect sizes for coronavirus-related PTSD and suicidal ideation. The highest rate of PTSD and depression risk was in Germany, the highest rates of stress and anxiety risk were in Poland, and there was insufficient PA in Slovenia. The anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation rates were the lowest in Israel and Slovenia. Israeli participants reported the lowest rate of coronavirus-related PTSD among the other countries in T1 and T2. Significant decreases in coronavirus-related PTSD and stress were observed during T2 compared to T1 in the total sample. There was no change in the risk of anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation. Being single was a predictor of changes in all mental health indices. Having children was a risk factor for coronavirus-related PTSD and high stress. Being a student was a predictor of depression and suicidal ideation. A younger age (20–29 years) predicted coronavirus-related PTSD risk, whereas female gender predicted high stress. The mental health indices improved over time or remained stable. The groups that are most prone to mental health problems were single individuals, students, and parents in young adulthood across all countries. Future intervention programs for young adults should consider these factors when prioritizing, planning, and implementing such programs.
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23
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Vargová L, Mikulášková G, Fedáková D, Lačný M, Babjáková J, Šlosáriková M, Babinčák P, Ropovik I, Adamkovič M. Slovak parents' mental health and socioeconomic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:934293. [PMID: 36061269 PMCID: PMC9433575 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.934293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The changes in people's mental health have become one of the hot topics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents have been said to be among the most vulnerable groups in terms of the imposed anti-pandemic measures. The present paper analyzes the trends in mental health indicators in a sample of Slovak parents (N = 363) who participated in four waves of data collection over a year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health indicators were represented by general levels of depression and anxiety as well as COVID-related stress and anxiety. While there were only minor changes in depression and anxiety, the dynamic in COVID-related stress and especially anxiety was more noteworthy. Besides some exceptions, the results hold even after controlling for the socioeconomic situation. The gender differences in the mental health trends were found to be negligible. Overall, we observed no substantial deterioration in the mental health indicators across the four waves of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Vargová
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Gabriela Mikulášková
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia.,Instytut Psychologii, Wyższa Szkoła Humanitas, Humanitas University, Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Denisa Fedáková
- Institute of Social Sciences of the Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Lačný
- Faculty of Arts, Institute of Political Science, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Jaroslava Babjáková
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Martina Šlosáriková
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Peter Babinčák
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Ivan Ropovik
- Department of Preschool and Elementary Education and Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia.,Faculty of Education, Institute for Research and Development of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Matúš Adamkovič
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Presov, Prešov, Slovakia.,Institute of Social Sciences of the Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Faculty of Education, Institute for Research and Development of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Bik-Multanowska K, Mikocka-Walus A, Fernando J, Westrupp E. Mental distress of parents with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A prospective cohort study. J Psychosom Res 2021; 152:110688. [PMID: 34875464 PMCID: PMC8665692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To-date there has been limited examination of the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in parents who suffer from chronic physical conditions. We aimed to 1) examine whether presence of a chronic disease predicts differential latent distress profile memberships, and 2) assess factors that could predict different distress profiles in the sub-group of parents with a chronic disease. METHODS We used a sample of 1618 parents, from the longitudinal COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Study, who completed a measure of mental distress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) at 13 data collection points. Distress profiles were assessed with the latent profile analysis. RESULTS We identified four distinct mental distress profile memberships, with the most common membership characterised by very low (48.1%), followed by low (31.9%), moderate (15.7%), and high (4.3%) distress scores. A higher proportion of parents with chronic diseases belonged to profiles experiencing low (34.7% vs. 30.4%), moderate (18.7% vs. 14.1%), and high (5.5% vs. 3.7%) compared to very low (41.2% vs. 51.8%) distress levels than other parents. Residing in Victoria, younger age, lower levels of social support and appraisal of COVID as risk were associated with membership to higher compared to very low distress profiles. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the importance of considering chronic disease co-morbidity as an additive risk factor in addressing mental health outcomes of parents during pandemic-like events, since parents with chronic conditions are more vulnerable to experiencing worse mental distress. Future interventions should focus on ways to strengthen social support and provide guidance for managing threat appraisal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Bik-Multanowska
- Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, VIC, Australia; Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Antonina Mikocka-Walus
- Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, VIC, Australia.
| | - Julian Fernando
- Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Westrupp
- Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia
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25
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[Burden in parents of school-aged children during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis within the COVID-19 snapshot monitoring (COSMO) study]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2021; 64:1500-1511. [PMID: 34825928 PMCID: PMC8617549 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents face a variety of personal challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, while simultaneously being confronted with additional, school-related pandemic containment measures. OBJECTIVES To investigate burden in parents of school-aged children across different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and to identify particularly affected subgroups. METHODS The COSMO project is a repetitive cross-sectional survey monitoring the psychosocial situation of the population in Germany during the pandemic with a sample size of approximately n = 1000 respondents per survey wave. A quantitative analysis of COSMO data was conducted using closed survey questions on the item "burden" as the main outcome, and, if applicable, on parenthood-associated burden from March 2020 until January 2021. RESULTS During the first COVID-19 wave, parents of school-aged children were significantly more burdened compared to the general study population. However, burden decreased significantly from March/April to June 2020. During the second COVID-19 wave in January 2021, burden was homogeneously high across all groups. Single parenthood, a low household income, having a chronic health condition, a COVID-19 infection and a migration background were associated with higher burden, although none of these factors was consistently significant across the survey waves. Mothers reported to be more affected by parenthood-related burden than fathers. CONCLUSIONS School measures for infection control have to be weighed carefully against the psychological impact on parental burden with subsequent negative impact on the family system. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as Supplementary Information.
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Alonzo D, Popescu M. Utilizing social media platforms to promote mental health awareness and help seeking in underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2021; 10:156. [PMID: 34222531 PMCID: PMC8224506 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_21_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 virus has resulted in significant psychological distress for many individuals, particularly, those in underserved communities. Social media have the potential to be one of the most effective tools for mental health campaigns, reaching wide audiences in the shortest amount of time. In this paper, the potential of harnessing social media platforms to address mental health needs in underserved populations is presented. In addition, description of the preliminary implementation of a social media mental health campaign, the 5 × 5 campaign, is described as an example of the feasibility and benefits of such efforts. Key implications gleaned from the implementation process are also presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS Utilizing a participatory approach, the 5 × 5 campaign aimed to improve recognition of mental health symptoms, promote help seeking, and provide immediate strategies for self-care for individuals experiencing psychological distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income, high-risk communities in and around Guatemala City. Campaign content was promoted on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp from April 2020 to June 2020. RESULTS Preliminary analysis of the 5 × 5 campaign demonstrated feasibility and substantial impact with over 84,000 individuals reached by the campaigns through initial messaging and shares. CONCLUSION The 5 × 5 highlights the feasibility of using social media campaigns for mental health promotion and key factors that should be incorporated in the planning of social media mental health campaigns aimed at promoting awareness, engaging underserved communities, and encouraging help seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Alonzo
- Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, West Harrison, NY, USA
| | - Marciana Popescu
- Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, West Harrison, NY, USA
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