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Chen M, Padmapriya N, Chua XH, Escobosa LLT, Tay AE, Tai BC, Petrunoff N, Müller-Riemenschneider F. Screen viewing patterns and their association with mental wellbeing and psychological distress: a cross-sectional study amongst university students. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2097. [PMID: 39095795 PMCID: PMC11297782 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dependency on screen viewing (SV) has reached unprecedented levels, and mental health issues are becoming a major public health concern. However, the associations between SV, including variations in purposes, devices, and timing, and mental health remain unclear. This study aims to provide insights into these associations among university students. METHODS This analysis used baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study among first-year university students matriculating in the 2021-2022 academic year. Self-reported data on sociodemographics, health behaviors and mental health outcomes alongside anthropometric measurements were collected. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS The average age of the 997 valid students was 20.2 years, with 59.6% being female and 41.4% male. Students spent 14.3 h daily on SV, with females reporting higher SV than males. Daily SV was predominant for study purposes (7.6 h/day). Computer usage was the highest (7.0 h/day), while TV usage was the lowest (1.7 h/day). Poor mental wellbeing was reported by 33.6% of students, while 13.9% experienced psychological distress. Compared to students with low total SV, those with high levels were more likely to have poor mental wellbeing [OR (95% CI): 1.40 (0.99, 1.98)] and psychological distress [1.56 (1.00, 2.44)]. High levels of recreational and study related SV were significantly associated with poor mental wellbeing [1.81 (1.27, 2.56)] and psychological distress [1.75 (1.11, 2.83)], respectively. Those with high levels of computer time were more likely to have poor mental wellbeing [1.44 (1.01, 2.06)], and high weekend day SV was associated with greater odds of psychological distress [2.16 (1.17, 4.06)]. CONCLUSIONS SV among university students was high, as was the high prevalence of poor mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Greater SV was associated with poor mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Differences according to purpose of SV were noted. Although recreational SV was associated with poor mental wellbeing, study related SV was associated with psychological distress. Variations across different devices and timing were also noted. This highlights the need for further longitudinal research to understand the impact of SV on mental health and to guide interventions for promoting mental health of university students globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Chen
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Natarajan Padmapriya
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xin Hui Chua
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Andrew Epaphroditus Tay
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bee Choo Tai
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Petrunoff
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Falk Müller-Riemenschneider
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Digital Health Centre, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Bhugra D, Liebrenz M, Ventriglio A, Ng R, Javed A, Kar A, Chumakov E, Moura H, Tolentino E, Gupta S, Ruiz R, Okasha T, Chisolm MS, Castaldelli-Maia J, Torales J, Smith A. World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission on Public Mental Health. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 98:104105. [PMID: 38861790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Although there is considerable evidence showing that the prevention of mental illnesses and adverse outcomes and mental health promotion can help people lead better and more functional lives, public mental health remains overlooked in the broader contexts of psychiatry and public health. Likewise, in undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula, prevention and mental health promotion have often been ignored. However, there has been a recent increase in interest in public mental health, including an emphasis on the prevention of psychiatric disorders and improving individual and community wellbeing to support life trajectories, from childhood through to adulthood and into older age. These lifespan approaches have significant potential to reduce the onset of mental illnesses and the related burdens for the individual and communities, as well as mitigating social, economic, and political costs. Informed by principles of social justice and respect for human rights, this may be especially important for addressing salient problems in communities with distinct vulnerabilities, where prominent disadvantages and barriers for care delivery exist. Therefore, this Commission aims to address these topics, providing a narrative overview of relevant literature and suggesting ways forward. Additionally, proposals for improving mental health and preventing mental illnesses and adverse outcomes are presented, particularly amongst at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Bhugra
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, Kings College, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
| | - Michael Liebrenz
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Roger Ng
- World Psychiatric Association, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Anindya Kar
- Advanced Neuropsychiatry Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Egor Chumakov
- Department of Psychiatry & Addiction, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | - Susham Gupta
- East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roxanna Ruiz
- University of Francisco Moaroquin, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Smith
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Regli J, Sadeghi-Bahmani D, Rigotti V, Stanga Z, Ülgür II, Fichter C, Lang UE, Brühl AB, Brand S. Psychiatric Characteristics, Symptoms of Insomnia and Depression, Emotion Regulation, and Social Activity among Swiss Medical Students. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4372. [PMID: 39124639 PMCID: PMC11313248 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13154372] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Almost by default, young adult students are at increased risk of suffering from mental health issues, and this holds particularly true for medical students. Indeed, compared to the general population and non-medical students, medical students report higher scores for symptoms of depression. For Swiss medical students, research on the associations between psychiatric characteristics and symptoms of depression and insomnia, including cognitive-emotional processes and social activity, has been lacking so far. Given this, the aims of the present study were to relate self-declared psychiatric characteristics to symptoms of depression, insomnia, emotion regulation, and social activity. Methods: A total of 575 medical students (mean age: 22.4 years; 68.9% females) completed an online survey covering sociodemographic information (age and gender), study context (year of study), self-declared psychiatric characteristics and symptoms of depression, insomnia, emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal vs. emotion suppression), and social activity. Data on insomnia sum scores and categories of historical samples (862 non-medical students and 533 police and emergency response service officers) were used for comparison. Results: Of the 575 participants, 190 participants (33%) self-declared psychiatric issues, such as major depressive disorder; anxiety disorders, including PTSD and adjustment disorders; eating disorders; ADHD; or a combination of such psychiatric issues. Self-reporting a psychiatric issue was related to higher symptoms of depression and insomnia and lower symptoms of social activity and cognitive reappraisal (always with significant p-values and medium effect sizes). Compared to historical data for non-medical students and police and emergency response service officers, medical students reported higher insomnia scores. In a regression model, current self-declared psychiatric issues, female gender, higher scores for insomnia, and lower scores for social activity were associated with higher scores for depression. Conclusions: Among a sample of Swiss medical students, the occurrence of self-declared psychiatric issues was associated with higher scores for depression and insomnia and lower cognitive reappraisal and social activity. Further, insomnia scores and insomnia categories were higher when compared to non-medical students and to police and emergency response service officers. The data suggest that medical schools might introduce specifically tailored intervention and support programs to mitigate medical students' mental health issues. This holds particularly true for insomnia, as standardized and online-delivered treatment programs for insomnia (eCBTi) are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Regli
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Viola Rigotti
- Outpatient Medical Clinic, University Hospital of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Zeno Stanga
- Centre of Competence for Military and Disaster Medicine, Swiss Armed Forces, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; (Z.S.); (I.I.Ü.)
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, University Hospital, University of Berne, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Ismail I. Ülgür
- Centre of Competence for Military and Disaster Medicine, Swiss Armed Forces, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; (Z.S.); (I.I.Ü.)
| | - Christian Fichter
- Department of Psychology, Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Undine E. Lang
- Adult Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Annette B. Brühl
- Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disturbances, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Serge Brand
- Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disturbances, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland;
- Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
- Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851115, Iran
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851115, Iran
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417653761, Iran
- Center for Disaster Psychiatry and Disaster Psychology, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Brinholi FF, Vasupanrajit A, Semeão LDO, Michelin AP, Matsumoto AK, Almulla AF, Tunvirachaisakul C, Barbosa DS, Maes M. Increased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide formation, lowered total radical trapping capacity coupled with psychological stressors are strongly associated with the phenome of first-episode mild depression in undergraduate students. Neuroscience 2024; 554:52-62. [PMID: 38992564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.06.003] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Undergraduate students are frequently afflicted by major depressive disorder (MDD). Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. There is no information regarding whether mild outpatient MDD (SDMD) and first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) are accompanied by O&NS. The current study compared lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced protein oxidation products, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), thiol groups, plasma total antioxidant potential (TRAP), and paraoxonase 1 activities among SDMD and FE-SDMD patients versus healthy controls. We found that SDMD and FE-SDMD exhibit elevated MDA and NOx, and decreased TRAP and LOOH as compared with controls. There was a significant and positive correlation between O&NS biomarkers and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and negative life events (NLEs). O&NS pathways, NLEs and ACEs accounted for 51.7 % of the variance in the phenome of depression, and O&NS and NLS explained 42.9 % of the variance in brooding. Overall, these results indicate that SDMD and FE-SDMD are characterized by reduced total antioxidant defenses and increased aldehyde and NOx production. The combined effects of oxidative and psychological stressors are substantially associated with the manifestation of SDMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis F Brinholi
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Asara Vasupanrajit
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Laura de O Semeão
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Michelin
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Andressa K Matsumoto
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Abbas F Almulla
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Psychosomatic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Chavit Tunvirachaisakul
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Décio S Barbosa
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Psychosomatic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China; Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Cognitive Fitness and Biopsychological Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Research Institute, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Research and Innovation Program for the Development of MU - PLOVDIV- (SRIPD-MUP), Creation of a network of research higher schools, National plan for recovery and sustainability, European Union - NextGenerationEU; Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Korea.
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5
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Stirparo G, Pireddu R, D’Angelo M, Bottignole D, Mazzoli R, Gambolò L. Is Mental Health Worse in Medical Students than in the General Population? A Cross-Sectional Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:863. [PMID: 38929480 PMCID: PMC11205491 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In recent years, there has been a notable increase in university students experiencing severe mental illness. The transition to university life can be demanding, leading to mental health disorders. Persistent stress and anxiety can cause demotivation, difficulties with concentration, cognitive impairment, and reduced academic performance. Mental health issues can also impact social relationships and overall well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the mental health of medical students and compare it with the mental health of the non-student population. Materials and Methods: The survey collected demographic information such as age and gender. Participants were questioned about their self-perceived mental distress, diagnosed mental disorders, and history of therapy for mental distress. Various validated assessment tools were utilized to assess mental health and quality of life. Results: Medical students exhibit a higher self-perception of mental symptoms that does not translate into a significantly higher prevalence of diagnosed mental disorders. Medical students experience higher levels of anxiety and subclinical depressive symptoms and lower quality of life. Female participants reported lower QoL scores and higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared with male participants. While the prevalence of mental disorders did not differ significantly between genders (except for clinical anxiety), females tended to perceive a higher burden of mental health challenges. Conclusions: By addressing mental health issues among medical students, especially females, institutions can create a more supportive and conducive learning environment. Encouraging open conversations about mental health and providing accessible mental health services can help in destigmatizing mental health challenges and promoting early intervention when needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Stirparo
- SIMED (Società Italiana di Medicina e Divulgazione Scientifica), 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Pireddu
- School of Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Marta D’Angelo
- SIMED (Società Italiana di Medicina e Divulgazione Scientifica), 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Dario Bottignole
- SIMED (Società Italiana di Medicina e Divulgazione Scientifica), 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Mazzoli
- SIMED (Società Italiana di Medicina e Divulgazione Scientifica), 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Gambolò
- SIMED (Società Italiana di Medicina e Divulgazione Scientifica), 43125 Parma, Italy
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Alomri RM, Alghamdi Y. The Prevalence and Predictors of Sleep Disorders and Their Impact on Academic Performance Among Saudi University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2024; 16:e61334. [PMID: 38947619 PMCID: PMC11213967 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND University students encounter a variety of sleep problems that have an impact on their health and academic performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sleep disorders and their impact on academic performance among Saudi university students. METHODS This is an online cross-sectional study that involved university students and was conducted between November 2022 and February 2023 in Saudi Arabia. Sleep disorders were examined among undergraduate students through online screening surveys including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to assess excessive daytime sleepiness, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to measure insomnia, and the Berlin questionnaire to examine obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Restless leg syndrome (RLS) was measured using the RLS rating. SPSS version 29.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of having excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, and RLS. RESULTS The sample included 449 participants. According to the ESS, 56.6% (n=254) of students reported excessive daytime sleepiness. Using the ISI, 78.4% (n=352) of students were found to have insomnia. The Berlin questionnaire indicated that 6.7% (n=30) of students had sleep-disordered breathing. Additionally, 13.6% (n=61) of students reported having RLS. Male students had higher odds of sleep-disordered breathing compared to females (p<0.01), while marital status showed that married students had higher odds of sleep-disordered breathing (p<0.05). Students who reported nighttime sleeping had lower odds of insomnia and restless leg syndrome (p<0.05). Having regular sleeping times was associated with higher odds of insomnia (p<0.05). Napping sometimes was associated with higher odds of excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing (p<0.05). Students working day and night shifts had higher odds of sleep-disordered breathing (p<0.01). Interestingly, students with comorbidities had lower odds of RLS (p<0.01). CONCLUSION This study established that sleep disturbances among students significantly reduce grade point averages (GPAs), where the most affected were male students and those who were married. The government should implement sleep education programs, provide resources for the management of sleep, encourage consistent sleep schedules, and come up with targeted interventions for at-risk groups. More research is also recommended on effective sleep interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridwan M Alomri
- Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Media, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, SAU
| | - Yaser Alghamdi
- Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, Taibah University, Madinah, SAU
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7
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Gao W, Ji J, Zhang W, Liu X. Depression and approach-avoidance achievement goals of Chinese undergraduate students: A four-wave longitudinal study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 94:151-164. [PMID: 37783569 DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study explored the prospective relations between depression and approach-avoidance achievement goals of undergraduate students in China. METHODS 2473 full-time undergraduates reported their depression and achievement goals annually from the freshman to the senior year. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and cross-lagged models. RESULTS Students' achievement goals decreased gradually during the first 3 years but rose in the fourth year, and the avoidance goals appeared to be less prevalent than the approach goals over time. Depression was negatively associated with approach goals, whereas positively correlated with avoidance goals. Depression in the freshman and sophomore years resulted in more avoidance goals 1 year later, and the depressive problems in the junior year predicted the decline of approach goals in the senior year. CONCLUSIONS The present study highlighted the deleterious effects of depression on the achievement goals of college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Gao
- Institute of Higher Education, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- School of Public Administration, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- Research Centre for Beijing Higher Education Development, Beijing, China
| | - Junlin Ji
- Institute of Higher Education, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- School of Public Administration, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- Research Centre for Beijing Higher Education Development, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinqiao Liu
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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8
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Ovi MR, Siddique MAB, Ahammed T, Chowdhury MAB, Uddin MJ. Assessment of mental wellbeing of university students in Bangladesh using Goldberg's GHQ-12: A cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e1948. [PMID: 38463032 PMCID: PMC10920986 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims The mental well-being of university students is a primary public health concern worldwide, including in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the overall mental health status among Bangladeshi university students. The study used larger and more diverse sample compared to previous studies, and also explored factors associated with the mental health well-being of those students. Methods Data were collected through an online questionnaire, utilizing the proportional allocation method, from students in various universities across Bangladesh. The sample included 2036 participants. The study applied Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) using the GHQ2+ threshold (i.e., having more than two symptoms). A binary outcome variable was created with two levels: "good mental health" and "poor mental health," to assess the mental health status of the university students. The explanatory variables were age, gender, academic year, type of university, and sources of personal expenses. Exploratory data analysis, association tests, and binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors influencing the outcome variable. Results A total of 55.9% of students (male: 52.6% and female: 62.8%) exhibited poor mental health status. Female students' mental health was found to be worse (odds ratio [OR]: 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-1.81) compared to that of males. Similarly, public university students displayed a worse mental health condition than their counterparts in private universities (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.61). Conclusion The overall mental health of university students in Bangladesh is concerning. There is a pressing need for effective mental health policies and interventions to bolster the mental well-being of university students, with a specific focus on students from public universities and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musaddiqur R. Ovi
- Department of StatisticsShahjalal University of Science and TechnologySylhetBangladesh
| | - Md A. B. Siddique
- Department of StatisticsShahjalal University of Science and TechnologySylhetBangladesh
| | - Tanvir Ahammed
- Department of StatisticsShahjalal University of Science and TechnologySylhetBangladesh
| | | | - Md J. Uddin
- Department of StatisticsShahjalal University of Science and TechnologySylhetBangladesh
- Faculty of Graduate StudiesDaffodil International UniversitySavarBangladesh
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9
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Yeo PME, Qin VM, Ang CS, Chia M, Ho RMH, Ho AHY, Car J. Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among matriculated university students in Singapore during Covid-19 pandemic: findings from a repeated cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:454. [PMID: 38350881 PMCID: PMC10865677 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17866-7] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common issue among university students and has been particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, limited research has specifically focused on depression among university entrants. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression severity and identify associated factors during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic using health screening questionnaires completed by matriculated university students in Singapore. METHODS A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university in Singapore. Data from health screening questionnaires administered in 2020 and 2021, involving 15,630 newly enrolled university students, were analyzed. The questionnaires covered students' sociodemographic information, physical health status, own and family medical history, lifestyle behaviours, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms, categorizing into moderate to severe depressive symptoms (MSDS), mild depressive symptoms (MDS), or no depressive symptom (NDS). Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the sociodemographic, physical and behavioural correlates of depression. RESULTS The prevalence of MSDS was 1% in both 2020 and 2021, while the rates for MDS were 1.93% in 2020 and 1.64% in 2021. In the 2020 cohort, male freshmen who reported better health had a lower likelihood of experiencing depression. Conversely, students of Malay ethnicity, those majoring in Engineering, those with multiple chronic diseases, monthly alcohol consumers, current smokers, and those with a family history of mental disorder had a higher likelihood of experiencing depression. Moreover, students who lived on-campus in the 2021 cohort were less likely to experience depression than those living off-campus. However, the associations between academic majors, alcohol consumption, and smoking with depression were not significant in the 2021 cohort. CONCLUSIONS This study reported a low prevalence of both MSDS and MDS among university entrants in Singapore. The study further identified three categories of factors associated with depression: sociodemographic, physical, and behavioural. This study suggests policy interventions to enhance targeted social support that address each student group's specific requirements and susceptibilities. A more extensive and comprehensive study is warranted to assess the changes in student mental health status post-COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearlie Mei En Yeo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vicky Mengqi Qin
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
- Primary Care and Family Medicine programme, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Chin-Siang Ang
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael Chia
- Physical Education & Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ringo Moon-Ho Ho
- Psychology Programme, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andy Hau Yan Ho
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Psychology Programme, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Josip Car
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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10
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Wang W, Xu H, Li S, Jiang Z, Sun Y, Wan Y. The impact of problematic mobile phone use and the number of close friends on depression and anxiety symptoms among college students. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1281847. [PMID: 38260802 PMCID: PMC10800545 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1281847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Psychological problems often occur in college students, with the most common ones being depression and anxiety symptoms. Exploring the risk factors that influence depression and anxiety symptoms in college students is essential to promote their physical and mental health. Objective This study aimed to investigate the independent and interaction effects of problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and the number of close friends (NCFs) on depression and anxiety symptoms and the comorbidity of these symptoms among college students. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Huainan, Anhui Province, and Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China from October to December 2022. Data from 7,617 college students were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms. The PMPU data were collected by the Mobile Phone Addiction Type Scale. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of PMPU and NCFs with depression and anxiety symptoms and their interaction effects. Results PMPU and lack of close friends significantly increased the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms and the comorbidity of these symptoms in college students (p < 0.001). In addition, the effects of PMPU and lack of close friends on depression and anxiety symptoms in college students were interactive (p < 0.001). No significant sex differences were found. Conclusion PMPU and lack of close friends are important risk factors for depression, anxiety, and the comorbidity of these symptoms in college students in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Chinical Medicine, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huiqiong Xu
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China
| | - Shuqin Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhicheng Jiang
- Public Health Department, Changfeng County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanjun Sun
- Department of Chinical Medicine, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuhui Wan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, Anhui, China
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11
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Liu W, Gamble JH, Cao CH, Liao XL, Chen IH, Flett GL. The General Mattering Scale, the Anti-Mattering Scale, and the Fear of Not Mattering Inventory: Psychometric Properties and Links with Distress and Hope Among Chinese University Students. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4445-4459. [PMID: 37933271 PMCID: PMC10625781 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s430455] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Mattering is essential to university students' mental health. Feeling valued by others or unimportant can affect their overall well-being. However, most measures for assessing mattering have been developed and tested in Western countries, with limited evaluation of the measures when administered to university students in other regions. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of three mattering-related instruments - the General Mattering Scale (GMS), Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS), and Fear of Not Mattering Inventory (FNMI) among Chinese university students using classical test theory and Rasch analysis. Methods The study comprised 3594 university students from 19 universities across 13 provinces in mainland China, with a balanced gender distribution of 47.2% females and 52.8% males. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 37, averaging 20.02 years. Most (78.4%) were in four-year programs, with the rest in three-year programs. The majority were freshmen (54.2%), and 86.3% had siblings. The predominant major was engineering (43.4%), followed by roughly equal representations in science, social science, and literature/art. Results The three scales showed high reliability and factorial validity, with Rasch analysis confirming their unidimensionality and monotonicity, although 2 of 15 items (one GMS item and one FNMI item) had lower fit. There were no substantial differences in item functioning between male and female respondents. Further analyses indicated that mattering, anti-mattering, and fear of not mattering all explained significant unique variance in levels of hope and distress. Conclusion All three mattering-related instruments are suitable for assessing Chinese students' mattering, anti-mattering, and fear of not mattering and changes in levels of these mattering dimensions. Moreover, each measure represents a unique element of the mattering construct in terms of associations with levels of hope and distress assessed in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jeffrey Hugh Gamble
- Department of English, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Cui-Hong Cao
- Faculty of Education, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, People’s Republic of China
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong Women’s University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ling Liao
- Faculty of Education, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - I-Hua Chen
- Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, People’s Republic of China
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12
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Lai M, Gao Y, Lu L, Huang X, Gong Q, Li J, Jiang P. Functional connectivity of the left inferior parietal lobule mediates the impact of anxiety and depression symptoms on sleep quality in healthy adults. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9908-9916. [PMID: 37429833 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad253] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with anxiety and depression symptoms are vulnerable to sleep disturbances. The current study aimed to explore the shared neuro-mechanisms underlying the effect of anxiety and depression symptoms on sleep quality. We recruited a cohort of 92 healthy adults who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. We measured anxiety and depression symptoms using the Zung Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scales and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Independent component analysis was used to explore the functional connectivity (FC) of brain networks. Whole-brain linear regression analysis showed that poor sleep quality was associated with increased FC in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) within the anterior default mode network. Next, we extracted the covariance of anxiety and depression symptoms using principal component analysis to represent participants' emotional features. Mediation analysis revealed that the intra-network FC of the left IPL mediated the association between the covariance of anxiety and depression symptoms and sleep quality. To conclude, the FC of the left IPL may be a potential neural substrate in the association between the covariance of anxiety and depression symptoms and poor sleep quality, and may serve as a potential intervention target for the treatment of sleep disturbance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingfeng Lai
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yingxue Gao
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China
- West China Medical Publishers, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
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13
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Haywood D, Baughman FD, Bosanac P, Johnston K, Gnatt I, Haywood J, Gullifer J, Rossell S. Research Directions for Leveraging and Supporting the Lived Experience of Mental Illness within Psychology. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2318. [PMID: 37628516 PMCID: PMC10454461 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11162318] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper explores the lived experience of mental illness within the field of psychology across higher education and the mental health workforce. There is a high prevalence of mental health issues among psychology students and practitioners, and it is critical not only to provide support for these populations, but also to acknowledge the value of leveraging their lived experience within their education and practice. There has been increased interest in and advocacy for the involvement of those with lived experience of mental illness within mental healthcare service provision to improve patient experiences and outcomes. However, there have been limited acknowledgement and research regarding the role of psychologists with personal lived experiences of mental illness, and how to leverage this experience. Further, there are challenges faced by both psychology students and practising psychologists with lived experience that act as barriers to leveraging their unique skills and experiences. Psychology students with lived experience face stigma, inadequate support, and incongruence between the course material and their personal experiences. Similarly, practising psychologists with lived experience encounter stigma and isolation, indicating the need for a culture change that promotes transparency and understanding. The paper calls for research in five key directions to provide evidence that can be used to support and leverage lived experience in psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Haywood
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute of Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; (P.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Frank D. Baughman
- School of Population Health, Curtin University Western Australia, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Peter Bosanac
- Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; (P.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Kim Johnston
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute of Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Inge Gnatt
- Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; (P.B.)
- Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Jennifer Haywood
- School of Population Health, Curtin University Western Australia, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Judith Gullifer
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute of Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Susan Rossell
- Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia; (P.B.)
- Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
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14
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Liu XQ, Guo YX, Xu Y. Risk factors and digital interventions for anxiety disorders in college students: Stakeholder perspectives. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:1442-1457. [PMID: 36926387 PMCID: PMC10011984 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i7.1442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide prevalence of anxiety disorders among college students is high, which negatively affects countries, schools, families, and individual students to varying degrees. This paper reviews the relevant literature regarding risk factors and digital interventions for anxiety disorders among college students from the perspectives of different stakeholders. Risk factors at the national and societal levels include class differences and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. College-level risk factors include the indoor environment design of the college environment, peer relationships, student satisfaction with college culture, and school functional levels. Family-level risk factors include parenting style, family relationship, and parental level of education. Individual-level risk factors include biological factors, lifestyle, and personality. Among the intervention options for college students' anxiety disorders, in addition to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, psychological counseling, and group counseling, digital mental health interventions are increasingly popular due to their low cost, positive effect, and convenient diagnostics and treatment. To better apply digital intervention to the prevention and treatment of college students' anxiety, this paper suggests that the different stakeholders form a synergy among themselves. The nation and society should provide necessary policy guarantees, financial support, and moral and ethical supervision for the prevention and treatment of college students' anxiety disorders. Colleges should actively participate in the screening and intervention of college students' anxiety disorders. Families should increase their awareness of college students' anxiety disorders and take the initiative to study and understand various digital intervention methods. College students with anxiety disorders should actively seek psychological assistance and actively accept and participate in digital intervention projects and services. We believe that in the future, the application of methods such as big data and artificial intelligence to improve digital interventions and provide individualized treatment plans will become the primary means of preventing and treating anxiety disorders among college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Qiao Liu
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yu-Xin Guo
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yi Xu
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
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15
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Zelkowitz RL, Cole DA, Sterba SK, Liu Q, Lau AS, Trung LT, Weiss B. Latent profile analyses of disordered eating behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury among Vietnamese adolescents. Int J Eat Disord 2022; 55:1721-1732. [PMID: 36165444 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23813] [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] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Comorbidity of disordered eating (DE) behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is linked to increased functional impairment. The present study identified subtypes of DE and NSSI comorbidity in a non-Western, low- and middle-income country where there has been particularly little research in this area. METHOD Latent profile analyses (LPA) were conducted to identify patterns of subgroup comorbidity in self-reported DE behaviors and NSSI behaviors, in a sample of Vietnamese high-school students (N = 1451, 51% female). Parallel-process LPA was used to predict NSSI subgroup membership from DE subgroup membership. RESULTS A seven-class LPA model was identified for DE: (1) Low frequencies of all DE behaviors; (2) Frequent levels of all DE behaviors; (3) Frequent fasting and purging behaviors; (4) Frequent binge eating only; (5) Moderate binge eating; (6) Moderate fasting and purging behaviors; (7) Exercise and fasting. A two-class (high versus low) model was identified for NSSI. Odds of membership in the high-NSSI class were significantly increased for all DE classes except the class characterized by moderate binge eating. Odds of belonging to the high-NSSI class were highest for those in DE classes involving purging behaviors. Males predominated in classes characterized by high behavior dysregulation. DISCUSSION DE and NSSI represent important clinical concerns among Vietnamese youth in urban contexts, and males may show particular vulnerability for certain risk behaviors. The association of classes of DE behaviors to NSSI was particularly strong for classes that involved purging, highlighting the importance of this specific behavior for understanding comorbidity of DE and NSSI. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE Disordered eating and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; hurting oneself without intending to die) commonly co-occur. There has been less research on disordered eating and NSSI among individuals from non-Western or low/middle-income countries. We examined patterns of these behaviors in a school-based sample of Vietnamese adolescents. We found that patterns of disordered eating distinguished by purging showed particular links to NSSI, which could have implications for screening and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Zelkowitz
- Women's Health Sciences Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David A Cole
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sonya K Sterba
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Qimin Liu
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anna S Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lam T Trung
- Danang Psychiatric Hospital, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Bahr Weiss
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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16
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Herselman MF, Bailey S, Deo P, Zhou XF, Gunn KM, Bobrovskaya L. The Effects of Walnuts and Academic Stress on Mental Health, General Well-Being and the Gut Microbiota in a Sample of University Students: A Randomised Clinical Trial. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224776. [PMID: 36432461 PMCID: PMC9697272 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Poorer mental health is common in undergraduate students due to academic stress. An interplay between stress and diet exists, with stress influencing food choices. Nutritional interventions may be effective in preventing mental health decline due to complex bidirectional interactions between the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown walnut consumption has a positive effect on mental health. Here, using a randomized clinical trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, #ACTRN12619000972123), we aimed to investigate the effects of academic stress and daily walnut consumption in university students on mental health, biochemical markers of general health, and the gut microbiota. We found academic stress had a negative impact on self-reported mood and mental health status, while daily walnut consumption improved mental health indicators and protected against some of the negative effects of academic stress on metabolic and stress biomarkers. Academic stress was associated with lower gut microbial diversity in females, which was improved by walnut consumption. The effects of academic stress or walnut consumption in male participants could not be established due to small numbers of participants. Thus, walnut consumption may have a protective effect against some of the negative impacts of academic stress, however sex-dependent mechanisms require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauritz F. Herselman
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Sheree Bailey
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Permal Deo
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Kate M. Gunn
- Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Larisa Bobrovskaya
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Correspondence:
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17
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Almarzouki AF, Mandili RL, Salloom J, Kamal LK, Alharthi O, Alharthi S, Khayyat N, Baglagel AM. The Impact of Sleep and Mental Health on Working Memory and Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Study. Brain Sci 2022; 12:1525. [PMID: 36358451 PMCID: PMC9688482 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12111525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep and mental health can affect cognition and academic performance. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between sleep, mental health, working memory, and academic performance. We collected demographic data from university students during the non-academic summer period and the academic term. We also measured academic performance (GPA), sleep (PSQI), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and disordered social media use (SMDS). Working memory was assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We assessed 83 students (42.2% male) with a mean age of 21 years. Compared to the non-academic summer period, students had significantly worse sleep and distress scores in the academic term. Anxiety, depression, and distress scores were significantly correlated with worse sleep quality. Despite worse mental health and sleep in the academic term, working memory improved compared to the non-academic summer period and was also correlated with a higher GPA. However, a higher GPA was significantly associated with longer sleep latency, increased sleep disturbances, and increased use of sleep medication. Students experiencing poor sleep suffered from poor mental health, although they maintained high GPA and working memory scores. Cognitive resilience, including higher working memory, may mask poor sleep quality and mental health among university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer F. Almarzouki
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rahaf L. Mandili
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joud Salloom
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lujain K. Kamal
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omimah Alharthi
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samah Alharthi
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nusaiba Khayyat
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa M. Baglagel
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Tran MAQ, Khoury B, Chau NNT, Van Pham M, Dang ATN, Ngo TV, Ngo TT, Truong TM, Le Dao AK. The Role of Self-Compassion on Psychological Well-Being and Life Satisfaction of Vietnamese Undergraduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hope as a Mediator. JOURNAL OF RATIONAL-EMOTIVE AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR THERAPY 2022:1-19. [PMID: 36340869 PMCID: PMC9617225 DOI: 10.1007/s10942-022-00487-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The simultaneous occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to adulthood have posed particular obstacles to university students' mental health. However, it remains unclear whether hope promotes mental health in the relationship between self-compassion, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction. Therefore, this study investigated the role of hope as a mediator in the relationship between self-compassion, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction among Vietnamese undergraduate students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants consisted of 484 students (aged 18-24) from several universities in Vietnam. To measure the four variables in the research model, we opted for the Self-Compassion Scale, the State Hope Scale, the World Health Organization 5-item Well-Being Index, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The results showed that (1) self-compassion was significantly positively correlated with psychological well-being, (2) self-compassion was not correlated with life satisfaction, (3) hope was a mediator of the relationship between self-compassion and psychological well-being, and (4) hope was a mediator of the relationship between self-compassion and life satisfaction. These findings suggest interventions on self-compassion to enhance hope and subsequently increase students' mental health, which offers colleges, psychologists, and psychiatrists a guideline to cope with harmful psychological implications during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Anh Quang Tran
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, No.1, University Road, Tainan City, 701 Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Bassam Khoury
- Epartment of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Education Building, 3700 McTavish St (Room 614), Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2 Canada
| | - Nguyen Ngoc Thao Chau
- University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Manh Van Pham
- Department of Physical Therapy, Hai Duong Medical Technical University, Hai Duong City, Vietnam
| | - An Thien Nguyen Dang
- Department of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tai Vinh Ngo
- Department of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Thuy Thi Ngo
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Trang Mai Truong
- Department of Psychology, Ha Noi City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Anh Khuong Le Dao
- College of Medicine, International Health Program, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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19
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Wong L, Goh LG, Ramachandran R. Evolution of paediatric eating disorders in Singapore: a historical cohort study. Arch Dis Child 2022; 107:1046-1048. [PMID: 35851292 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-323925] [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] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most eating disorders (EDs) develop during adolescence, impacting a critical period of development. There is limited research on EDs in children in Singapore or the rest of South-East (SE) Asia. DESIGN We analysed a hospital-based cohort of paediatric patients (≤18 years) with EDs (n=177) in Singapore between 2011 and 2021. Historical trends, over three decades, were obtained by comparison with two previously published Singapore studies. RESULTS Of the 177 patients, the majority 158 (89%) were females, with anorexia nervosa (AN) 151 (85%). The mean age at diagnosis was 14.6 (SD 1.8) years. For AN, the mean duration of illness before diagnosis was 8.3 (SD 6.3) months and this has decreased by 8.4 months (95% CI 4.5 to 12.3 months, p=<0.0001) from the 2003 to 2010 cohort, and 17.7 months (95% CI 12.6 to 22.8 months, p=<0.0001) from the 1994 to 2002 cohort. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) cases are increasing, and the clinical profile differs from other EDs. Since family-based therapy (FBT) was introduced for patients with AN, the remission rate at 1 year improved from 30% to 79%, and time to remission has decreased from 16 to 7.5 months. CONCLUSIONS AN is the most common ED in paediatric patients in Singapore. Over the past three decades, EDs are being diagnosed earlier. FBT has emerged as the most effective treatment for AN. ARFID is being diagnosed more frequently. Data suggest that EDs are prevalent and increasing among adolescents in SE Asia. Singapore is a good test case for SE Asia, but research and attention to the problem in the region is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wong
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore
- Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lee Gan Goh
- Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
- Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Rajeev Ramachandran
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore
- Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
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Abdul Kadir NB, Rusyda HM. Developmental assets, creativity, thriving, and mental health among Malaysian emerging adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:944238. [PMID: 36148118 PMCID: PMC9487708 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was part of a larger cross-national research project at the Norway's University of Bergen, which involved participants from over 30 countries. This undertaking delves into developmental assets, creativity, and thriving, and the part they play in determining mental health. Thus, this study examined the developmental assets (internal assets: support, empowerment, boundaries, and expectations and creative use of time; external assets: commitment to learning, positive identity, positive values, and social competencies), creativity, thriving, and their importance to mental health in a sample of Malaysian emerging adults. This study was based on a sample of 394 undergraduate students, comprising 264 females and 130 males, ranging between the ages of 18 and 26 years (M = 21.5). Two subscales of the Reisman diagnostic creativity assessment (RDCA) were used to measure creativity (originality and fluency). Meanwhile, thriving indicators of Search Institute were used to measure thriving while the short form of the mental health continuum (MHC-SF) for adolescents was used to measure mental health. An online Google form was used to collect data from university students enrolled in both public and private universities. The correlation analysis results revealed that all the variables were positively correlated to each other and that the relationship between development assets, creativity, thriving, and mental health ranged from weak to moderate. Multiple regression (stepwise) analysis produced four models that indicated that positive identity, support, creativity, and thriving have a significant influence on mental health among emerging adults. Further, analyses using the PROCESS procedure demonstrated significant indirect effects of positive identity and support on mental health through its effects on creativity and thriving. As such, it is our recommendation that mental health practitioners tailor their treatment approach to include positive identity, support, creativity, and thriving in their sessions with Malaysian emerging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Ba’yah Abdul Kadir
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Center for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
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Liu XQ, Guo YX, Zhang WJ, Gao WJ. Influencing factors, prediction and prevention of depression in college students: A literature review. World J Psychiatry 2022; 12:860-873. [PMID: 36051603 PMCID: PMC9331452 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i7.860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of depression among college students has a strong negative impact on individual physical and mental health, academic development, and interpersonal communication. This paper reviewed the extant literature by identifying nonpathological factors related to college students' depression, investigating the methods of predicting depression, and exploring nonpharmaceutical interventions for college students' depression. The influencing factors of college students' depression mainly fell into four categories: biological factors, personality and psychological state, college experience, and lifestyle. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 has exacerbated the severity of depression among college students worldwide and poses grave challenges to the prevention and treatment of depression, given that the coronavirus has spread quickly with high infection rates, and the pandemic has changed the daily routines of college life. To predict and measure mental health, more advanced methods, such as machine algorithms and artificial intelligence, have emerged in recent years apart from the traditional commonly used psychological scales. Regarding nonpharmaceutical prevention measures, both general measures and professional measures for the prevention and treatment of college students' depression were examined in this study. Students who experience depressive disorders need family support and personalized interventions at college, which should also be supplemented by professional interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and online therapy. Through this literature review, we insist that the technology of identification, prediction, and prevention of depression among college students based on big data platforms will be extensively used in the future. Higher education institutions should understand the potential risk factors related to college students' depression and make more accurate screening and prevention available with the help of advanced technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Qiao Liu
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yu-Xin Guo
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wen-Jie Zhang
- Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wen-Juan Gao
- Institute of Higher Education, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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22
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Dalpati N, Jena S, Jain S, Sarangi PP. Yoga and meditation, an essential tool to alleviate stress and enhance immunity to emerging infections: A perspective on the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on students. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 20:100420. [PMID: 35072120 PMCID: PMC8767968 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has negatively impacted the global healthcare and economic systems worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has also created an emotional and psychological pandemic among people of all ages irrespective of economic status and physical wellbeing. As a consequence of prolonged lockdowns, one of the most severely affected age groups globally is the young adults' group, especially students. Uncertainties in the academic calendar, restricted outdoor activities, and unusual daily routines during lockdowns led to higher incidences of stress, anxiety, and depression among students worldwide. In this review, we summarise the available evidence on the effect of lockdowns on students and discuss possible positive impacts of yoga and meditation on various psychological, emotional, and immunological parameters, which can significantly influence the general wellbeing and academic performance of students. Perspectives shared in the review will also bring awareness on how yoga and meditation could boost students' performance and assist them in maintaining physical and mental wellbeing during stressful conditions such as future epidemics and pandemics with novel infections. This information could help create better educational curriculums and healthy routines for students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibedita Dalpati
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Subhashree Jena
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Shikha Jain
- Institute Wellness Center, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Pranita P Sarangi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
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