The prevalence of psychological consequences of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Health behaviour and wellbeing trends among Australian adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2022): An interrupted time-series analysis

Objective

To explore population-level trends in health behaviours and wellbeing indicators from before (2017-2019) to during (2020-2022) the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

Methods

Using cross-sectional data from New South Wales Adult Population Health Surveys (2017-2022, n = 73,680 responses), we calculated weighted prevalence estimates and interrupted time-series logit models to investigate trends in health behavioural risk factors (vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, e-cigarette use), Body Mass Index (BMI) (overweight and obesity), and wellbeing indicators (psychological distress, self-rated health) among adults aged ≥ 16 years before and during the pandemic.

Results

From 2017 to 2022, the behavioural risk factors and BMI trends were mostly unchanged. Similarly, wellbeing indicator trends showed only minor variations according to age. The interrupted time-series models found marked changes from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic for e-cigarette use and self-rated health. E-cigarette use showed an overall increasing trend, with significant increases from 2017 to 2022 (OR 8.25, 95 %CI 6.10-11.16). Poor self-rated health showed a stable trend before COVID-19, but decreased in 2020 (OR 0.68, 95 %CI 0.58-0.80) and 2021 (OR 0.70, 95 %CI 0.60-0.81), returning to pre-COVID levels in 2022 (OR 1.23, 95 %CI 1.07-1.41). During the pandemic (2020-2022), there were few statistically significant observed changes in prevalence trends according to SES indicators.

Conclusion

Among Australian adults, relatively small population-level impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours and wellbeing trends were observed. Continued surveillance and sub-group analyses are essential for investigating potential time-lagged effects and regional or sociodemographic differences in health behaviours and wellbeing.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence: an umbrella review

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most serious and incapacitating mental diseases that can result from trauma exposure. The exact prevalence of this disorder is not known as the literature provides very different results, ranging from 2.5% to 74%. The aim of this umbrella review is to provide an estimation of PTSD prevalence and to clarify whether the prevalence depends on the assessment methods applied (structured interview v. self-report questionnaire) and on the nature of the traumatic event (interpersonal v. not-interpersonal). A systematic search of major databases and additional sources (Google Scholar, EBSCO, Web of Science, PubMed, Galileo Discovery) was conducted. Fifty-nine reviews met the criteria of this umbrella review. Overall PTSD prevalence was 23.95% (95% confidence interval 95% CI 20.74-27.15), with no publication bias or significant small-study effects, but a high level of heterogeneity between meta-analyses. Sensitivities analyses revealed that these results do not change after removing meta-analysis also including data from underage participants (23.03%, 95% CI 18.58-27.48), nor after excluding meta-analysis of low quality (24.26%, 95% CI 20.46-28.06). Regarding the impact of diagnostic instruments on PTSD prevalence, the results revealed a lack of significant differences in PTSD prevalence when structured v. self-report instruments were applied (p = 0.0835). Finally, PTSD prevalence did not differ following event of intentional (25.42%, 95% CI 19.76-31.09) or not intentional (22.48%, 95% CI 17.22-27.73) nature (p = 0.4598). The present umbrella review establishes a robust foundation for future research and provides valuable insights on PTSD prevalence.

Exploring the effect of environmental sensitivity on emotional fluctuations among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a three-wave longitudinal study

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the emotional well-being of adolescents worldwide. Some studies suggested that individuals with high Environmental Sensitivity may have been more likely to experience poor psychological adjustment during the pandemic than those with lower sensitivity. However, there is still limited research on how emotional responses varied across different stages of the pandemic and whether Environmental Sensitivity increased adolescents' vulnerability to the psychological impact of prolonged pandemic restrictions.

Methods

To address this gap, this study used a three-year longitudinal design (2020-2022) with a sample of 453 adolescents. They completed an online survey measuring their positive and negative emotions throughout the pandemic period, with Environmental Sensitivity considered a time-invariant covariate.

Results

The results revealed that all participants, regardless of their level of Environmental Sensitivity, experienced a decrease in positive emotionality between the first and second years. However, this trend reversed, showing an increase between the second and third years. Regarding negative emotions, highly sensitive adolescents experienced a significant linear increase over time. In contrast, low-and medium-sensitive adolescents exhibited a quadratic trend, with a notable increase in negative emotions between the first and second years, followed by a slight decrease between the second and third years.

Discussion

These findings provide further evidence of the negative impact of the pandemic on adolescents' emotional well-being. They also support the notion that Environmental Sensitivity is associated with individuals' ability to respond and adjust to adverse life events, with significant implications for future research and practice.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Online Social Intelligence Training With Custodial Grandmothers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a self-administered, online Social Intelligence Training (SIT) program aimed at enhancing psychological and relational well-being among a nationwide U.S. sample of custodial grandmothers.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A two-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted, where 349 grandmothers raising grandchildren aged 11-18 years were assigned to either SIT or an attention control condition (ACC). Participants self-completed online surveys at baseline and immediately postintervention, in addition to follow-ups at 3-, 6-, and 9-month postintervention. First-order latent difference score models were used to compare SIT to ACC, across all times of measurement, along key indicators of psychological and relational well-being on an intent-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

Although SIT was largely superior to ACC at yielding positive results, it appears that it attenuated longitudinal declines that occurred among ACC participants. SIT also exerted stronger effects on relational than psychological outcomes, with perceived relations with grandchildren being the most positively affected.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Given that the historical time of this RCT unpredictably corresponded with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we suspect that SIT helped offset declines in psychological and relational well-being that are widely documented to have resulted from the pandemic. Our overall positive findings support future use of the inexpensive and easily delivered SIT program under normal environmental conditions, with the vulnerable and geographically disperse population of custodial grandmothers.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03239977.

Longer-Term Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Infection: Moderation by Race and Socioeconomic Status

OBJECTIVE

While evidence suggests that the mental health symptoms of COVID-19 can persist for several months following infection, little is known about the longer-term mental health effects and whether certain sociodemographic groups may be particularly impacted. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the longer-term mental health consequences of COVID-19 infection and examine whether such consequences are more pronounced in Black people and people with lower socioeconomic status.

METHODS

277 Black and White adults (age ≥ 30 years) with a history of COVID-19 (tested positive ≥ 6 months prior to participation) or no history of COVID-19 infection completed a 45-minute online questionnaire battery.

RESULTS

People with a history of COVID-19 had greater depressive (d = 0.24), anxiety (d = 0.34), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (d = 0.32), and insomnia (d = 0.31) symptoms than those without a history of COVID-19. These differences remained for anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia symptoms after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, income, employment status, body mass index, and smoking status. No differences were detected for perceived stress and general psychopathology. People with a history of COVID-19 had more than double the odds of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (OR = 2.22) and PTSD (OR = 2.40). Education, but not race, income, or employment status, moderated relationships of interest such that COVID-19 status was more strongly and positively associated with all the mental health outcomes for those with fewer years of education.

CONCLUSION

The mental health consequences of COVID-19 may be significant, widespread, and persistent for at least 6 months post-infection and may increase as years of education decreases.

The global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder among patients coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Post COVID-19 syndrome, also known as "Long COVID," is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively assess the global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder in individuals coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome.

METHODS

A rigorous search of electronic databases was conducted to identify original studies until 24 January 2023. The inclusion criteria comprised studies employing previously validated assessment tools for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, reporting prevalence rates, and encompassing patients of all age groups and geographical regions for subgroup analysis Random effects model was utilized for the meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis was done.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome was estimated to be 23% (95% CI: 20%-26%; I2 = 99.9%) based on data from 143 studies with 7,782,124 participants and 132 studies with 9,320,687 participants, respectively. The pooled prevalence of sleep disorder among these patients, derived from 27 studies with 15,362 participants, was estimated to be 45% (95% CI: 37%-53%; I2 = 98.7%). Subgroup analyses based on geographical regions and assessment scales revealed significant variations in prevalence rates. Meta-regression analysis showed significant correlations between the prevalence and total sample size of studies, the age of participants, and the percentage of male participants. Publication bias was assessed using Doi plot visualization and the Peters test, revealing a potential source of publication bias for depression (p = 0.0085) and sleep disorder (p = 0.02). However, no evidence of publication bias was found for anxiety (p = 0.11).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate a considerable burden of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, among individuals recovering from COVID-19. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health support and tailored interventions for patients experiencing persistent symptoms after COVID-19 recovery.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Middle-Aged Adults' Mental Health: A Mixed-Method Case-Control Study on the Moderating Effect of Cognitive Reserve

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the vulnerability of adults to mental health effects, and the study of protective factors has become crucial. Cognitive reserve (CR) is a well-known protective factor against cognitive decline and several health factors; however, its protective effect on mental health during the pandemic has been rarely addressed. Thus, this study explored, through a mixed-method design, the effect of CR on perceived distress and PTSD-like symptoms in middle-aged participants who have survived severe COVID-19 and a matched control group. A total of 432 participants filled out self-report measures of CR, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and were also asked to provide narration about their COVID-19-related experience. COVID-19 significantly affected the chances of reporting different mental health symptoms; levels of CR played a protective role in reducing their severity. Moreover, adults with higher CR seemed to be more realistic, focusing less on positive emotions, and elaborating more on the sense of anxiety when describing their experience: this might be an indication of a lower use of suppression to regulate emotions. Practical implications of these findings and future directions have been also discussed.

COVID-19 and Mental Health: A "Pandemic Within a Pandemic"

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in daily life for humanity and has had a profound impact on mental health. As widely acknowledged, the pandemic has led to notable increases in rates of anxiety, depression, distress, and other mental health-related issues, affecting both infected patients and non-infected individuals. COVID-19 patients and survivors face heightened risks for various neurological and psychiatric disorders and complications. Vulnerable populations, including those with pre-existing mental health conditions and individuals living in poverty or frailty, may encounter additional challenges. Tragically, suicide rates have also risen, particularly among young people, due to factors such as unemployment, financial crises, domestic violence, substance abuse, and social isolation. Efforts are underway to address these mental health issues, with healthcare professionals urged to regularly screen both COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients and survivors for psychological distress, ensuring rapid and appropriate interventions. Ongoing periodic follow-up and multidimensional, interdisciplinary approaches are essential for individuals experiencing long-term psychiatric sequelae. Preventive strategies must be developed to mitigate mental health problems during both the acute and recovery phases of COVID-19 infection. Vaccination efforts continue to prioritize vulnerable populations, including those with mental health conditions, to prevent future complications. Given the profound implications of mental health problems, including shorter life expectancy, diminished quality of life, heightened distress among caregivers, and substantial economic burden, it is imperative that political and health authorities prioritize the mental well-being of all individuals affected by COVID-19, including infected individuals, non-infected individuals, survivors, and caregivers.

Navigating the crisis: A review of COVID-19 research and the importance of academic publications - The case of a private university in Lebanon

Objectives

The threat of the Corona virus has had a profound global impact, prompting extensive discussions among academicians and medical researchers seeking to understand its implications across various fields. Consequently this review aims to explore the COVID-19 research approaches adopted at the Lebanese American University (LAU) between 2019 and 2022 and, to eventually shed light on the importance of the academic publications during this crisis period in the context of Lebanon.

Design Data sources Eligibility criteria

Studies related to "Coronavirus", "SARS-CoV-2," or "COVID-19″ were extracted from the SciVal database spanning the period 2019 to 2022. The identified studies, totaling 97 publications, were indexed in Scopus and Web of Science and underwent narrative analysis along with an evaluation using a predefined scale to determine their eligibility. The majority of the studies were literature reviews, followed by observational studies, modeling studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Results

The majority of the identified studies (31 %) were focused on the medical field, primarily the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, 22 % of studies discussed updates related to global finance and economic markets, while 18 % addressed the psychological burden of the pandemic. Other areas covered in the literature included the impact on performance, nutrition, tourism, politics, and telecommunication.

Conclusion

This study marks a pioneering endeavor that sparks a crucial dialogue regarding peer-reviewed scientific literature during a period of immense need for accurate information. The prevalence of literature reviews can be attributed to the demand for swift dissemination of preliminary findings and the increased call for COVID-19-related research. However, despite the abundance of publications in this specific domain, it is imperative for future research to shift its focus towards the development of novel therapies, preventive measures, psychological insights, and strategies to address the socioeconomic and financial burdens stemming from the pandemic. This study has the potential to establish a standardized framework for addressing similar crises across diverse fields and at various levels.

Limitations

The review readily acknowledges certain limitations. By solely relying on specific databases like Scopus and WoS, there is a possibility of inadvertently overlooking relevant studies. Although the study provides insights into the impact of COVID-19 across different fields and their respective publications, it is important to recognize that the continuous updates to databases and potential exclusions of related studies may have imposed constraints on the findings. Moreover, the urgency for expeditious peer-review during the pandemic may have heightened the chances of errors and diminished transparency. This urgency has unfortunately increased the risk of fraudulent activities and misconduct.

Contact with primary care physicians among adults with pre-existing common mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a registry-based study from Norway

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with pre-existing mental health problems may have experienced additional stress, which could worsen symptoms or trigger relapse. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if the number of consultations with general practitioners (GPs) among individuals with a pre-existing common mental health problem during the pandemic differed from pre-pandemic years.

METHODS

Data on consultations with GPs among 18-65-year-olds registered with common mental health problems in 2017-2021 were retrieved from the Norwegian Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements Database. Based on data from the pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), we predicted the number of consultations per week for depression, anxiety disorder, phobia/obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders during the pandemic (March 2020-December 2021) among individuals with pre-existing mental health problems. The forecasted and observed trends in GP consultations per week during the pandemic were stratified by diagnosis, gender, and age groups.

RESULTS

The observed number of consultations for anxiety disorder, PTSD, and eating disorders were significantly higher than forecasted during extended periods of the two pandemic years. The differences were largest for PTSD (on average 37% higher in men and 47% higher in women during the pandemic), and for eating disorders among women (on average 87% higher during the pandemic). There were only minor differences between the predicted and observed number of consultations for depression and phobia/OCD.

CONCLUSIONS

During the pandemic, individuals with a recent history of mental health problems were more likely to seek help for anxiety disorder, PTSD, and eating disorders, as compared to pre-pandemic years.

Mental Health Services in Colombia: A National Implementation Study

Laws in Latin American countries are based on scientific evidence that calls for mental health services to move to the community. These care modalities have implementation problems. The objective of this article is to describe the implementation of the services proposed in Law 1616 of 2013 of Colombia (Mental Health Law): emergencies, hospitalization, community-based rehabilitation, pre-hospital care, day hospital for children and adults, Drug Addiction Care Center, groups support and mutual aid, telemedicine, and home and outpatient care. We used a mixed study, with a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative component, where an instrument was used to determine the level of implementation of these services, consisting of a scale that established the availability and use of these services, in addition to the climate of implementation of the services and community mental health strategies, in addition to a qualitative determination of barriers and facilitators of implementation. We found a low availability of all services in departments such as Amazonas, Vaupés, Putumayo, and Meta and an implementation of services in Bogotá and Caldas. The least implemented services are the community ones, and those with the greatest presence at the territorial level are emergencies and hospitalization. We conclude that low- and middle-income countries have few community models and invest a large part of their technical and economic effort in emergencies and hospitalization. There are difficulties in the implementation of most of the services proposed by Colombian legislation related to mental health.

Generalized Anxiety Mediates the Relationship Between Loneliness and Sleep Quality Amongst Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, restrictions to minimize its spread have had a profound effect. Government instigated restrictions, such as social isolation, have affected millions worldwide, and the downstream consequences of perceived loneliness upon mental health and sleep are largely unknown. A total of 1662 individuals participated in an online survey. Loneliness, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorders scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Higher levels of perceived loneliness, as well as each one-unit increase in anxiety, were independent predictors of poor sleep quality, where OR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.03-1.31) and 1.16 (1.11-1.21), respectively, and after adjustment. In our path analysis, we revealed significant direct effects between loneliness and sleep quality (β = 0.25, p < .001), as well as generalized anxiety and sleep quality (β = 0.28, p < .001), and generalized anxiety mediated the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality (β = 0.33, p < .001). Heightened anxiety and perceived loneliness appear to be significant drivers of poor sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital media platforms that encourage support groups for those experiencing social isolation are encouraged, along with self-help and meditative practices, which may minimize an increase of mental health and sleep disorder diagnoses post COVID-19.

Social isolation and social connectedness among young adult cancer survivors: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Social isolation and connectedness are social determinants of health that have demonstrated effects on cancer-related outcomes. These constructs have been systematically evaluated among pediatric and older adult cancer populations. In this review, the authors evaluated the prevalence, correlates, and psychosocial implications of social isolation and connectedness among young adult (YA) cancer survivors aged 18-39 years.

METHODS

Peer-reviewed articles published in English before June 2021 were identified from database searches and included articles' reference lists according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Included articles described studies that assessed social isolation and/or connectedness among YA cancer survivors.

RESULTS

In total, 5094 unique records were identified; 4143 were excluded after title/abstract screening, and 907 were excluded after full-text review. Forty-four articles were included. Few studies used validated measures or directly assessed social isolation or connectedness. Social isolation was similarly prevalent among YAs and older cancer survivors and noncancer populations. Demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk and protective factors for social isolation were identified. Social isolation was related to worse psychological well-being, whereas social connectedness was often, but not always, related to better psychological well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

This growing literature underscores the relevance of social isolation and connectedness as important health determinants among YA cancer survivors. The identified risk and protective factors can identify YAs who especially may benefit from screening for social isolation. Future studies are needed that directly, reliably, and validly evaluate social isolation and connectedness to inform the development of interventions to decrease isolation and increase connectedness.

Mental health, stress, and well-being measured before (2019) and during (2020) COVID-19: a Swedish socioeconomic population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Compare mental health, stress, and well-being in the Swedish population as measured before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Repeated cross-sectional design using data measured before (Jan-2019; n = 2791) and during (Oct/Nov-2020; n = 2926) COVID-19 pandemic in Swedish population-representative cohorts. Following constructs were measured: anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10 items), health-related quality of life (HRQOL[Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Population]) and self-rated health (SRH) was assessed with a single-item question.

RESULTS

When adjusting for age, sex, education, and income there were significantly higher levels of anxiety (M̂ = 9.15 vs. 8.48, p < 0.01) and depression (M̂ = 3.64 vs. 3.30, p = 0.03), lower levels of stress (M̂ = 14.06 vs. 14.91, p < 0.001), but worsened HRQOL (M̂ = 76.40 vs. 77.92, p < 0.01) and SRH (M̂ = 6.91 vs. 7.20, p < 0.001), observed in 2020 compared to 2019. For the negative effects seen in anxiety, depression, HRQOL, and SRH, higher income and education had a protective effect. The decrease in stress was also correlated with higher income.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a small but significant worsening in mental health and well-being in the general Swedish population, where higher socioeconomic status seemed to have a protective effect.

Healthy lifestyle mediates the association between health locus of control and life satisfaction among college students in Hubei, China: during the normalization stage of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have primarily focused on the relationships among the health locus of control (HLC), healthy lifestyle and life satisfaction of college students. However, little is known about the mediating mechanism of healthy lifestyle on the other two aspects. This study aims to address this issue.

METHODS

A total of 2394 students from six colleges in Hubei Province validly completed self-report questionnaires, including the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for college students and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC), which covered three dimensions: internal HLC, powerful others HLC and chance HLC. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyses the hypothesized relationships in the path model, and a mediation analysis was used to verify the indirect relationships.

RESULTS

Healthy lifestyle and life satisfaction showed positive relations with both internal HLC and powerful others HLC, but a significant negative association with chance HLC. In addition, healthy lifestyle mediated the relationships of internal HLC, powerful others HLC and chance HLC with life satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthy lifestyle mediates the impact of HLC on life satisfaction. Students with high IHLC tend to develop a healthier lifestyle and have higher LS. Powerful others also exert positive effects in collectivist cultural backgrounds. Thus, colleges should give full play to the positive role of psychological health and physical education courses in improving students' IHLC. Meanwhile, the positive guiding effect of powerful others should be stressed. Further, particular emphasis should also be placed on the peer influence, new media publicity functions, community intervention, and college systematic appraisal, especially during and after public health emergencies.

Experiences of Telenursing in Overcoming Challenges and Applaying Strategies by COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation: Qualitative Study in Primary Care

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in the use of telenursing to provide care for patients at home. However, the quality of the patient experience when nurses rely on technology instead of personal contact has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of COVID-19 patients in home isolation who received telenursing from primary care nurses during the initial phase of the pandemic. A qualitative study was conducted that employed purposive sampling and involved semi-structured interviews via videoconference with fourteen COVID-19 patients from two primary health centers in Catalonia (Spain). Thematic analysis was used, and the study adhered to the COREQ checklist. The findings revealed three themes related to the challenges faced by COVID-19 patients in home isolation: physical symptoms, emotional and social difficulties, and a lack of information. Three themes emerged regarding the strategies patients employed to overcome these challenges and the role of nurses: self-care, emotional support, and personal commitment. The patients reported having achieved strategies to improve their physical, psychological, and situational well-being despite the unprecedented situation. The study highlights that telenursing is a valuable resource for delivering patient-centered care, which could lead to changes in organisational policies and the development of best clinical practices.

Identifying health research in the era of COVID-19: A scoping review

Background

Health improvements are considered one of the most important fields of research. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 was declared a pandemic, it might have impacted clinical and public health research in various forms.

Objectives

The goal of this study is to explore health research approaches in the era of coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods

In this scoping review, we reviewed published medical full-text studies and identified potential areas of interest of health research in the era the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic during the last 3 years within a higher educational setting. A bibliometric analysis was used to compare among published works.

Results

Among the 93 studies that met the inclusion criteria, most focused on mental health (n = 23; 24.7%). Twenty-one publications targeted coronavirus disease 2019 and its consequences on general health. Other studies have described hemato-oncological, cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrinological diseases. 42 studies were cross-sectional or cohort studies and most of them published in Q1 journals. Almost half of them belonged to the Faculty of Medicine (49.5%) followed by the School of Arts, Sciences, and Psychology (26.9%).

Conclusions

Health research has been demonstrated to be important, at all times, especially during crises. Therefore, researchers need to invest more efforts into seeking new medical updates in various health-related fields, regardless of their correlation with coronavirus disease 2019.

Long COVID in Children: A Multidisciplinary Review

Long COVID syndrome has emerged as a long-lasting consequence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults. In addition, children may be affected by Long COVID, with potential clinical issues in different fields, including problems in school performance and daily activities. Yet, the pathophysiologic bases of Long COVID in children are largely unknown, and it is difficult to predict who will develop the syndrome. In this multidisciplinary clinical review, we summarise the latest scientific data regarding Long COVID and its impact on children. Special attention is given to diagnostic tests, in order to help the physicians to find potential disease markers and quantify impairment. Specifically, we assess the respiratory, upper airways, cardiac, neurologic and motor and psychological aspects. Finally, we also propose a multidisciplinary clinical approach.

What's Your Pension Story? Women's Perspectives during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Old-Age Pension Status, Past and Present

This study examines the present and retrospective views of mothers who are nearing or are at retirement age regarding their economic status, pension planning, and perceptions of state pension policy. The paper addresses gaps in the literature on the cross-intersections of employment history, vulnerable economic retirement status, and marital and parental status, thereby adopting a life course perspective. Based on in-depth interviews of thirty-one mothers (ages 59-72) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings revealed five themes-economic abuse: an unequal distribution of pension funds following divorce; regrets over past choices; COVID-19 and pensions; the state's responsibility for old-age economic security; and knowledge is important, and I can help others. The study concludes that the majority of women at these ages perceive their current economic situation as a product of insufficient familiarity with pension plans, while voicing opinions about the state's irresponsibility regarding people of retirement age.

Neural response to social but not monetary reward predicts increases in depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic

The prevalence of depressive symptoms has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among those with greater pandemic-related stress exposure; however, not all individuals exposed to pandemic stress will develop depression. Determining which individuals are vulnerable to depressive symptoms as a result of this stress could lead to an improved understanding of the etiology of depression. This study sought to determine whether neural sensitivity to monetary and/or social reward prospectively predicts depressive symptoms during periods of high stress. 121 participants attended pre-pandemic laboratory visits where they completed monetary and social reward tasks while electroencephalogram was recorded. Subsequently, from March to August 2020, we sent eight questionnaires probing depressive symptoms and exposure to pandemic-related stressors. Using repeated-measures multilevel models, we evaluated whether neural response to social or monetary reward predicted increases in depressive symptoms across the early course of the pandemic. Furthermore, we examined whether neural response to social or monetary reward moderated the association between pandemic-related episodic stressors and depressive symptoms. Pandemic-related stress exposure was strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, we found that blunted neural response to social but not monetary reward predicted increased depressive symptoms during the pandemic. However, neither neural response to social nor monetary reward moderated the association between episodic stress exposure and depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate that neural response to social reward may be a useful predictor of depressive symptomatology under times of chronic stress, particularly stress with a social dimension.

COVID-19 and common mental health symptoms in the early phase of the pandemic: An umbrella review of the evidence

BACKGROUND

There remains uncertainty about the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. This umbrella review provides a comprehensive overview of the association between the pandemic and common mental disorders. We qualitatively summarized evidence from reviews with meta-analyses of individual study-data in the general population, healthcare workers, and specific at-risk populations.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A systematic search was carried out in 5 databases for peer-reviewed systematic reviews with meta-analyses of prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the pandemic published between December 31, 2019 until August 12, 2022. We identified 123 reviews of which 7 provided standardized mean differences (SMDs) either from longitudinal pre- to during pandemic study-data or from cross-sectional study-data compared to matched pre-pandemic data. Methodological quality rated with the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews checklist scores (AMSTAR 2) instrument was generally low to moderate. Small but significant increases of depression, anxiety, and/or general mental health symptoms were reported in the general population, in people with preexisting physical health conditions, and in children (3 reviews; SMDs ranged from 0.11 to 0.28). Mental health and depression symptoms significantly increased during periods of social restrictions (1 review; SMDs of 0.41 and 0.83, respectively) but anxiety symptoms did not (SMD: 0.26). Increases of depression symptoms were generally larger and longer-lasting during the pandemic (3 reviews; SMDs depression ranged from 0.16 to 0.23) than those of anxiety (2 reviews: SMDs 0.12 and 0.18). Females showed a significantly larger increase in anxiety symptoms than males (1 review: SMD 0.15). In healthcare workers, people with preexisting mental disorders, any patient group, children and adolescents, and in students, no significant differences from pre- to during pandemic were found (2 reviews; SMD's ranging from -0.16 to 0.48). In 116 reviews pooled cross-sectional prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms ranged from 9% to 48% across populations. Although heterogeneity between studies was high and largely unexplained, assessment tools and cut-offs used, age, sex or gender, and COVID-19 exposure factors were found to be moderators in some reviews. The major limitations are the inability to quantify and explain the high heterogeneity across reviews included and the shortage of within-person data from multiple longitudinal studies.

CONCLUSIONS

A small but consistent deterioration of mental health and particularly depression during early pandemic and during social restrictions has been found in the general population and in people with chronic somatic disorders. Also, associations between mental health and the pandemic were stronger in females and younger age groups than in others. Explanatory individual-level, COVID-19 exposure, and time-course factors were scarce and showed inconsistencies across reviews. For policy and research, repeated assessments of mental health in population panels including vulnerable individuals are recommended to respond to current and future health crises.

Symptoms and risk factors of depression and PTSD in the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal survey conducted from 2020 to 2022 in Japan

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to explore changes in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the general population during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate risk factors and adaptive/nonadaptive strategies.

METHODS

A web-based longitudinal survey was conducted across five timepoints from 2020 to 2022 in Japan. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), PTSD was measured using Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IESR), and coping strategies were measured using Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE). Higher scores of PHQ-9 and IESR indicate more symptoms and Higher score of Brief COPE indicate that these means of coping are used very frequently.

RESULTS

A total of 1,366 participants (mean age = 52.76, SD = 15.57) were analyzed. Regarding levels of depression, PHQ-9 scores in 2022 were lower than in 2020 and 2021 (all p < 0.01). Regarding levels of PTSD, IESR scores in 2022 were lower than in 2021 among females (p < 0.001). Being younger (β = -0.08 and - 0.13, both p < 0.01) and engaging in self-blame (β = 0.12 and 0.18, both p < 0.01) increased PHQ-9 scores regardless of sex. For males, not working (β = 0.09, p = 0.004) and having suffered an economic impact (β = 0.07, p = 0.003) were risk factors for depressive symptoms, and active coping (β = -0.10, p = 0.005) was associated with decreased depressive symptoms. For females, substance use (β = 0.07, p = 0.032) and behavioral disengagement (β = 0.10, p = 0.006) increased depressive symptoms, and females did not show strategies that decreased the symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of depression might have increased in the early stages of the pandemic and decreased in January 2022. Although males need to improve their economic situation to decrease depressive symptoms, adaptive strategies might be difficult to identify due to the prolonged pandemic among both sexes. In addition, the pandemic might be a depressive event but not a traumatic event among the general population, at least in Japan.

Parental and Pandemic Burnout, Internalizing Symptoms, and Parent-Adolescent Relationships: A Network Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic and preventive measures undertaken by many governments have had a significant impact on family relationships, which could result in worsened parenting. In our study, we used network analysis to examine the dynamic system of parental and pandemic burnout, depression, anxiety, and three dimensions of relationship with an adolescent: connectedness, shared activities, and hostility. Parents (N = 374; M_age = 42.9) of at least one child at the age of adolescence completed an online survey. The central symptoms in the network were parental emotional exhaustion and parental anxiety. Parental emotional exhaustion correlated negatively with activities shared with the adolescent, but positively with hostility. Anxiety correlated positively with parental emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion and anxiety were the strongest bridge symptoms between parental burnout, internalizing symptoms, and parenting. Our results suggest that psychological interventions supporting parent-adolescent relationships should address primarily parental emotional exhaustion and anxiety.

Prevalence of Burnout among Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have found that there has been a lot of teacher overload. One of the additional burdens has been that they have had to teach online. In addition, when they returned to face-to-face classes, they had to follow all the hygiene rules so that the COVID-19 virus would not spread. It is therefore not surprising that, during this pandemic period, high levels of psychological symptoms have been reported among teachers. Among this symptomatology, burnout has been very frequent among teachers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the overall prevalence of burnout among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a search was conducted for cross-sectional studies listed in PubMed from 1 December 2019 to 14 February 2022 that reported on the prevalence of burnout among teachers. A total of nine studies from eight different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America, were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of burnout among teachers was 52% (95% CI 33-71%), which is higher than burnout rates reported for health professionals. There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 99%, p-value < 0.001), and the prevalence of burnout was higher in women and school teachers (compared to university educators), and lower in American studies. This meta-analysis concludes that teachers worldwide experienced a high rate of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has implications not only for the teachers themselves, but also for the quality of the education they were able to provide. This education has an influence on the student population. The possible long-term effects are yet to be determined.

Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health Symptoms, and Modifiable Health Factors in Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

Importance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence and severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) increased. Associations between IPV and mental health symptoms and modifiable health factors early in the pandemic have yet to be explored.

Objective

To prospectively investigate the association of IPV with greater risk of mental health symptoms and adverse health factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 3 cohorts of female participants.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used observational data from 3 prospective, population-based, longitudinal cohorts in the US: the Nurses' Health Study II, Growing Up Today Study, and Nurses' Health Study 3. Data analyzed included baseline and follow-up survey responses about IPV experiences early in the pandemic (March-September 2020); mental health domains of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS); and modifiable health factors (May 2020-October 2021). Female participants (both health care professionals and non-health care workers) aged 21 to 60 years from the 3 cohorts were included in the full analytic sample.

Exposures

Experience of IPV measured by the Relationship Assessment Tool and fear of partner.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and PTSS, and modifiable health factors, including sleep duration, sleep quality, physical activity, alcohol use, and use of alcohol or other substances to cope with stress.

Results

The full analytic sample included 13 597 female participants with a mean (SD) age of 44 (10.6) years. Accounting for sociodemographic factors and prepandemic mental health symptoms and correcting for multiple testing, experiencing IPV was associated with higher endorsement of depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.38-1.50), anxiety (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.26-1.36), and PTSS (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.29) in random-effects meta-analyses across the 3 cohorts. The IPV experience was also associated with poorer sleep quality (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16-1.26), shorter sleep duration (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19), increased use of alcohol (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14), and use of alcohol or other substances to cope with stress (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.18) across all cohorts as well as decreased physical activity (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.26) in the Nurses' Health Study II only.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of the study showed that IPV experiences at the start of the pandemic were associated with worse mental health symptoms and modifiable health factors for female participants younger than 60 years. Screening and interventions for IPV and related health factors are needed to prevent severe, long-term health consequences.

Patients with multi-drug-resistant organisms feel inadequately informed about their status: adverse effects of contact isolation

BACKGROUND

Contact isolation of patients with multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is an essential element of infection prevention strategies in hospitals worldwide. However, this practice may be associated with adverse side effects on patients' health and well-being.

AIM

This study was the first to assess mental health and well-being variables among isolated patients compared with non-isolated control patients in a German cohort.

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-control study among N = 267 patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital in Germany. Their levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with their hospital experience were assessed using a questionnaire. Additionally, among isolated patients, it was evaluated how well they felt informed about their MDRO status.

FINDINGS

In our cohort, patients under contact isolation were significantly more dissatisfied than non-isolated control patients but did not show higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. A large proportion of patients felt insufficiently informed about their MDRO status. This lack of information was the strongest predictor of dissatisfaction among isolated patients.

CONCLUSION

These findings underline the importance of adequate patient communication. It is essential for patients' well-being to receive timely, relevant, and understandable information about the background and consequences of their infection or colonisation with MDROs.

I'm Offering You My Pain: Priming COVID-19 Salience Increases Everyday Sadism

The COVID-19 pandemic and its link to the emergence of everyday sadism is a matter of public concern worldwide. However, previous studies are nearly silent regarding the causal relationship between the two variables. We address this gap by theorizing that exposure to information about coronavirus can increase sadistic behavior by inducing state boredom. We conducted three complementary controlled experiments, which comprised multiple participants populations (N = 784, student and community samples) and measurement techniques of sadism, to test our theoretical perspective. Based on self-report measures, Study 1 found that Chinese university students who were exposed to a reminder of COVID-19 exhibited a higher level of everyday sadism than participants in the control condition. Study 2 replicated this finding in a more generalized population. Additionally, results revealed that state boredom mediated this effect. Moving beyond subjective self-report data in Studies 1 and 2, Study 3 assessed a different behavioral operationalization of sadistic tendencies, namely, shredding worms. As expected, priming COVID-19 salience has an immediate, statistically significant influence on sadistic behavior in impactful real-world contexts. Overall, these findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic not only has grave effects on economy and society, but has implications for the malevolent side of human nature.

The Association of Social Support and Loneliness with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that changes in social support and loneliness have affected mental disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are a lack of studies comparing the robustness of these associations.

AIMS

The aims were to estimate the strength of the associations of loneliness and social support with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) in the general population.

METHOD

The method entailed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of quantitative studies.

RESULTS

Seventy-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations of the effect size of the association of loneliness with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were 0.49, 0.40, and 0.38, respectively. The corresponding figures for social support were 0.29, 0.19, and 0.18, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the strength of some associations could be influenced by the sociodemographic characteristics of the study samples, such as age, gender, region, and COVID-19 stringency index, and by methodological moderators, such as sample size, collection date, methodological quality, and the measurement scales.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support had a weak association with mental disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic while the association with loneliness was moderate. Strategies to address loneliness could be highly effective in reducing the impact of the pandemic on social relationships and mental health.

The psychological impact of COVID-19 in a socio-politically unstable environment: protective effects of sleep and gratitude in Lebanese adults

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 global pandemic initiated an unprecedented medico-psychological turmoil. Our study investigates the psychological impact of the viral spread and austere lockdown, and focuses mostly on potential protective factors in a politically and economically unstable society.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate rates of mental distress in a sample of 348 Lebanese adults. Participants filled questionnaires of perceived stress (PSS), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), PTSD (IES-22), as well as sleep (PSQi) and gratitude (GQ-6) immediately after 3 months of strict quarantine. Demographics included gender, age, employment and infection statuses. Correlations and regression models were used.

RESULTS

Results indicated a very high prevalence of mental distress, in addition to major alterations in sleep quality and quantity. Younger age and unemployment correlated with more severe symptoms. Sleep was found to be a protective factor against all studied psychological distress, and gratitude further mitigated effects of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health significantly degrades post-COVID lockdown, even in the absence of direct viral threat. Yet simple behavioral and cognitive changes like sleep and attitude of gratitude could provide protective factors against these psychological distresses. Such changes should be further explored and advocated as cost-efficient self-care practices to buffer this devastating public health burden, especially in unstable socio-political environments.

Factors associated with posttraumatic growth: gratitude, PTSD and distress; one year into the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon

Almost one year since the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, mental distress remains elevated with high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet studies suggest these challenging circumstances might be conducive of post-traumatic growth (PTG). This study aims to investigate the factors associated with growth after the original trauma. A sample of 252 Lebanese adults filled an online survey to determine levels of PTG, PTSD and gratitude using validated self-rating scales. Participants also subjectively evaluated the sources of their distress such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion and/or their deteriorating financials. The PTGi-SF evaluated dimensions of growth while the IES-R_22 measured the degree of distress post-trauma. The GQ-6 was used to measure the proneness to experience gratitude daily. Results indicated 41% of participants scored above the cutoff for PTSD symptomatology. Yet, PTSD was positively correlated, alongside gratitude and accumulated subjective distress, with higher levels of PTG. A forward linear regression taking PTG scores as the dependent variable further showed that more gratitude (Beta = 0.57), a higher impact of events (Beta = 0.16), and knowing anyone who died from COVID-19 (Beta = 3.93) were significantly associated with more growth. The study highlights elevated levels of PTSD symptoms in a context of a global pandemic worsened by financial and socio-political instabilities. It mostly identifies personal factors, including high initial symptomatology post-trauma and gratitude, related to the capacity for growth in spite of these accumulating hardships. As such, it advocates the need to investigate and bolster silver linings amidst unprecedented traumas.

Factors associated with hopelessness, depression and anxiety in the Honduran-Central America population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The mental health of the population has been affected by COVID-19, reporting in many populations higher levels of depressive, anxious and stress symptoms, however, in Honduras there are no studies showing the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the population.

Aim

To determine the factors associated with hopelessness, depression and anxiety in times of COVID-19 in the Honduran population.

Methods

Cross-sectional analytical study. Three scales were used, Beck for hopelessness, Hamilton for depression and anxiety, through interviews with the population attending different levels of health care throughout the country. Descriptive and analytical statistics were obtained. For hopelessness, the Beck Hopelessness Scale was used; for depression and anxiety, the Hamilton Scale was used.

Results

Of the 8,125 participants, the population in general showed results of hopelessness 14.9%, depression 12.9% and anxiety 1.2%, there was less hopelessness among women (p = 0.004), university students (p &lt; 0.001), but greater among those who had a family member deceased by COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.001), among those who had diabetes mellitus (DM) (p &lt; 0.001), history of mental illness (p &lt; 0.001) or had consumed drugs in the last 6 months (p &lt; 0.001). There was more depression among those with arterial hypertension (p = 0.002), obesity (p = 0.019), DM (p = 0.004), history of mental illness (p &lt; 0.001) or had consumed drugs in the last 6 months (p &lt; 0.001). There was more anxiety among those infected with COVID-19 (p = 0.023), according to having a family member deceased by COVID-19 (p = 0.045) and in those with a history of mental illness (p &lt; 0.001).

Discussion

The Honduran population presented important differences in the socio-pathological, according to the loss of family members or having previous illnesses, this according to the presentation of problems in the mental sphere.

Conclusion

We found factors associated with hopelessness, we found factors associated with hopelessness, depression and anxiety in times of COVID-19 in the Honduran population.

First access to mental health services during COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health is complex and affects a broad segment of the population. Several studies indicate that depressive, anxious and post-traumatic symptoms are common in people exposed to SARS-Cov2.

METHODS

458 subjects were recruited during their first consultation in outpatient psychiatric services between June 2020 and October 2021. Post-traumatic, depressive and anxious symptoms were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Beck Depression Inventory Scale-second edition (BDI-II), and  the Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). A specific set of questions was developed, with the aim of evaluating socio-demographic variables and work, environmental and personal characteristics related to the pandemic.

RESULTS

Prevalence rates of clinically significant depressive, anxious and post-traumatic symptoms were 57.6%, 63.5% and 54.8%, respectively. Female gender, worsening of relationship status and financial consequences due to the pandemic were the conditions most strongly associated with the presence of psychopathology.

LIMITATION

The cross-sectional design of the study doesn't allow an evaluation over time of the sample. No assumption of causality can be made due to the lack of pre-pandemic assessments for the investigated variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of the pandemic involves depressive, anxious and post-traumatic dimensions. The investigated psychopathology correlates with several variables expressing the personal and environmental changes that occurred in the population due to the COVID-19 emergency. The study is multicentric and the recruitment of participants was held in a clinical setting, providing a realistic picture of the consequences of the pandemic in clinical practice within mental health services.

Effectiveness of pharmacogenomic tests including CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genomic variants for guiding the treatment of depressive disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Major depressive disorders are prevalent conditions with limited treatment response and remission. Pharmacogenomics tests including CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genomic variants provide the most reliable actionable approach to guide choice and dosing of antidepressants in major depression to improve outcomes. We carried out a meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses of randomised controlled trials evaluating pharmacogenomic tests with CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 polymorphisms in major depression. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines to search several electronic databases. Logarithmically transformed odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) for improvement, response and remission were calculated. A random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were subsequently carried out. Twelve randomised controlled trials were included. Pharmacogenomic tests in the treatment of depression were more effective than treatment as usual for improvement (OR:1.63, CI: 1.19-2.24), response (OR: 1.46; CI: 1.16-1.85) and remission (OR: 1.85; CI: 1.23-2.76) with no evidence of publication bias. Remission was less favourable in recent studies. The results are promising but cautious use of pharmacogenomics in major depression is advisable. PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42021261143.

Digital health literacy and well-being among university students: Mediating roles of fear of COVID-19, information satisfaction, and internet information search

Background

Digital health literacy (DHL) enables healthy decisions, improves protective behaviors and adherence to COVID-19 measures, especially during the era of the “infodemic”, and enhances psychological well-being.

Objective

We aimed to explore the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19, information satisfaction, and the importance of online information searching on the association between DHL and well-being.

Methods

A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among 1631 Taiwanese university students, aged 18 years and above, from June 2021 to March 2022. The collected data include sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, social status, and financial satisfaction), the importance of online information searching, information satisfaction, fear of COVID-19, DHL, and well-being. A linear regression model was utilized to investigate factors associated with well-being, followed by a pathway analysis to assess the direct and indirect relationship between DHL and well-being.

Results

The scores of DHL and overall well-being were 3.1 ± 0.4 and 74.4 ± 19.7, respectively. Social status (B = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73–3.07, p < 0.001), DHL (B 0.29, 95% CI 0.10–0.49, p < 0.001), importance of online information searching (B = 0.78, 95% CI 0.38–1.17, p < 0.001), and information satisfaction (B = 3.59, 95% CI 2.22–4.94, p < 0.001) were positively associated with well-being, whereas higher fear of COVID-19 scores (B = −0.38, 95% CI −0.55-(−0.21), p < 0.001) and female (B = −2.99, 95% CI −5.02–0.6, p = 0.004) were associated with lower well-being, when compared with lower fear scores and male, respectively. Fear of COVID-19 (B = 0.03, 95% CI 0.016–0.04, p < 0.001), importance of online information searching (B = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.05, p = 0.005), and information satisfaction (B = 0.05, 95% CI 0.023–0.067, p < 0.001) were significantly mediated the relationship between DHL and well-being.

Conclusion

Higher DHL scores show direct and indirect associations with higher well-being scores. Fear, importance of online information searching, and information satisfaction significantly contributed to the association.

The Investigation of Major Predictors of Well-Being in a Sample of Romanian University Students in the Post-Covid-19 Period

"The Coronavirus-induced pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and psychological functioning of the entire world’s population. Research has indicated that besides the physical threat to health itself, the implications of constant uncertainty, separation from and/or loss of loved ones, loss of freedom to travel, shortage of food and financial resources, disruptions of usual life-routines, changing work and learning habits, further aggravate the effect of initial stressors, leading to increased levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, lowered levels of well-being, and confusion. Unfortunately, just as the two-years long pandemic ended, the Ukrainian war started, and the Romanian population, since our country borders Ukraine, has experienced a novel type of stress, that of the possibility of being attacked, affected economically. Almost simultaneously, the online education has returned to classical form of teaching, amidst semester, being another stress factor for students. Our results indicated that the two-year long pandemic was considered as having the greatest impact by almost two-thirds of the students. Furthermore, the lack of self-efficacy component of perceived stress was a constant and strong predictor of all components of well-being (subjective and psychological), and perceived helplessness for subjective well-being. Regarding emotion regulation strategies refocus on planning, positive reevaluation, self- and other blame, withdrawal and actively approaching the source of stress proved to be the most important predictors. The results of our investigation may be beneficial for the tailoring of future prevention and intervention programs that would target the enhancement of psychological adaptation of students. Keywords: stress, depressive symptoms, uncertainty, emotion regulation strategies, subjective and psychological well-being, post COVID-19. "

Exploring the Social Trend Indications of Utilizing E-Commerce during and after COVID-19's Hit

COVID-19 is a major global crisis affecter, changing global norms and societal behavioral models. Many companies have faced existential crises, but on the other hand, businesses that were and are helping others to boost digitalization, ICT and software solutions deployment, remote communications integration, e-commerce & e-services, and so on, have boosted their businesses, as people shifted online during the global lockdown and international travel restrictions. Our work explores the trend of e-commerce and e-services utilization during the ease of restrictions and the social distancing period to forecast the trend continuation patterns after the pandemic. An online survey was conducted and targeted individuals in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, resulting in 155 participants. The data were analyzed from four perspectives: demographics, COVID-19 health impact, trend analysis, and regression analysis. The results indicate heavy utilization of e-commerce and e-services during the global movement restrictions and travel bans. This trend has, however, significantly reduced during the ease of restrictions and social distancing period. Utilizing e-commerce and e-services in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, based on the research data, is positively correlated to the outbreak conditions. On the other hand, current data still does not give clear indications, and this pattern is going to be mostly, partly, or not at all permanent now as societies are returning to mostly a free movement of people and marginally restricted social distancing times.

Post-pandemic stress of COVID-19 among high-risk groups: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is considered as a prevalent outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to present a global picture of the prevalence of PTSD in high-risk groups for COVID-19 (HRGs-COVID19) and determine its risk factors.

METHODS

Cross-sectional studies published between March 11, 2020, and October 11, 2021, in English, were searched in seven databases on the prevalence of PTSD in HRGs-COVID19. After screening the retrieved records, their quality was assessed, and the required data were extracted. R-4.1.3 software and random effect model with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to synthesize and analyze the data.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of PTSD in HRGs-COVID19 was 30 % (95 % CI: 21-39 %). The pooled prevalence of PTSD was significantly different in terms of the variables of data collection during the lockdown, gender, and data collection season (P < 0.05). Subgroup analyses could not identify sources of heterogeneity.

LIMITATIONS

The included studies did not cover all HRGs-COVID19 such as smokers and the elderly.

CONCLUSION

Considering the higher pooled prevalence of PTSD in HRGs-COVID19 than the general population, COVID-19 patients, and health care workers, prioritizing this subgroup for prevention and treatment of psychological outcomes is highly recommended. Predicting and implementing psychological interventions early in the pandemic is more critical when applying restrictive measures and among HRGs-COVID19 women.

The longitudinal effects of stress and fear on psychiatric symptoms in mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly difficult for mothers. Women with a history of peripartum depression (PPD) may be vulnerable to relapse. We sought to understand changes in depressive and anxious symptoms throughout the pandemic and which stressors increased symptoms in women with a history of PPD. In June 2020, all US participants with a history of PPD (n = 12,007) in the global MomGenes Fight PPD study were invited to the COVID-19 follow-up study. Respondents (n = 2163, 18%) were sent biweekly and then monthly surveys until January 31, 2022. We employed time-varying effects models to evaluate trajectories of depressive (patient health questionnaire, PHQ-9) and anxious (generalized anxiety disorder, GAD-7) symptoms and to estimate longitudinal associations between perceived stress, fears, COVID-19 case rates, and symptoms. Peaks of PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSS, and perceived COVID-19 risk scores corresponded with timing of national COVID-19 case surges. High perceived stress was the strongest predictor of PHQ-9 (beta = 7.27; P = 1.48e - 38) and GAD-7 (beta = 7.73; P = 6.19e - 70). Feeling lack of control and unlikely to survive increased PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores by 2 points. COVID-19 case rates, pandemic restrictions, and region were not independently associated with symptoms. This study suggests that the collective trauma of the pandemic has significantly affected mothers with a history of PPD, exemplified by high levels of perceived stress and the strong association with depressive and anxious symptoms. The next pandemic phase is uncertain, but will continue to influence mental health collectively and dynamically. Interventions must be flexible and responsive and should address fear, trauma, and feelings of control, particularly for mothers with a history of PPD.

Mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection: impacts of post-COVID impairments and fatigue on depression, anxiety, and insomnia - a web survey in Sweden

BACKGROUND

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health is now clearly established. However, information on the levels of mental ill health of people infected with COVID-19 and potential correlates of poor mental health is still limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to study indicative of potential mental health problems in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection/infections and address the impacts of post-COVID impairments and fatigue following COVID-19 infection/infections on depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

METHODS

A web-survey including demographics, questions related to COVID-19 status and post-COVID impairments, and standardized measures of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue was completed by 507 individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection/infections.

RESULTS

We found significant rates of significant depression, anxiety, and insomnia in our sample, with more than 70% experiencing levels above the clinical cut offs for at least one psychological health problems. Higher levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection in the acute phase, hospitalization because of COVID-19, and higher levels of post-COVID impairments and fatigue. Reduced motivation emerged as the strongest predictor for mental ill health.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight that individuals infected with COVID-19, especially those who still have experienced post-COVID impairments, are more likely to suffer from mental ill-health and may be more vulnerable for poor mental health outcomes. Therefore, more effective actions are needed to take in order to promote and protect mental health of individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection.

Longitudinal assessment of COVID-19 fear and psychological wellbeing in the United Kingdom

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact global psychological wellbeing. To investigate the sustained impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing, the current study longitudinally assessed fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, intolerance of uncertainty, worry, sleep quality, loneliness and alcohol use during the pandemic in the United Kingdom. Timepoint 1 (T1; N = 445) took place in February 2021 following the highest number of pandemic-related deaths in the UK. Timepoint 2 (T2, N = 198) took place in June 2021 when pandemic-related deaths had declined considerably, and many had been vaccinated. At T1, COVID-19 fear predicted elevated levels of anxiety, depression, intolerance of uncertainty, worry, sleep quality and loneliness. At T2, we observed that levels of COVID-19 fear, depression, loneliness and sleep quality decreased. However, COVID-19 fear continued to predict elevated intolerance of uncertainty, worry and impaired sleep quality. These findings demonstrate the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 fear on psychological wellbeing.

Perceived job demands: a qualitative study of workplace stress in the Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs)

OBJECTIVES

Work-related stress is a common risk factor among healthcare workers (HCWs). In Iran, the healthcare system has undergone extensive changes to develop services. Organisational change has led to the creation of new working conditions for HCWs. The purpose of this study is to identify job demands that health workers perceive as stressors.

DESIGN

As a qualitative study, semistructured interviews, a focus group, and related data were analysed both inductively and deductively with reference to the job demand component based on the job demands-resources model and MAXQDA.

SETTING

This investigation was conducted in 18 primary healthcare centres in Qazvin, Iran.

PARTICIPANT

Twenty-one female HCWs with at least 6 months of work experience and an average age of 34.4 years.

RESULTS

The participants identified six key elements as the stressful job demands including organisation's supervisory function, role characteristics, workload, job insecurity, client service challenges and perceived job content.

CONCLUSIONS

After organisational changes and development, HCWs were faced with role changes and increased workload. In addition, organisational supervision in terms of quantity and quality and lack of job security intensified the pressures. These factors led to the high level of stress among employees who dealt with people and those who perceived their job content as unfavourable. Perhaps teaching stress control skills and organisational support interventions can be useful to reduce and control stress among HCWs.

Incident and Recurrent Depression among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying public health measures have exacerbated many risk factors for depression in older adulthood. The objectives of the current study are: (1) to determine the risk of incident and recurrent depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among those with, or without, a history of depression; and (2) to identify factors that were predictive of depression in these two groups. The study population included 22,622 participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging who provided data at baseline (2011-2015), follow-up (2015-2018), and twice during the pandemic (April-May 2020, September-December 2020). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) was used to classify individuals with depression. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of depression during COVID across a series of risk factors. Individuals with a history of depression had four times the risk of depression during the pandemic when compared to those without a history of depression, even after controlling for relevant covariates. Other factors associated with depression during the pandemic include being female, having fewer savings, and experiencing COVID-19 related stressors, such as health stressors, difficulties accessing resources, and family conflict. Clinicians working with older adults should consider interventions to support high-risk groups, such as those with recurrent depression.

Revisiting the multidimensional interaction model of stress, anxiety and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

Background

Although the Multidimensional Interaction Model of Stress, Anxiety and Coping (MIMSAC) has been known for years, there is a lack of research examining this theory longitudinally in stressful events. This study aims to revisit the MIMSAC among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A prospective cohort study with the longitudinal design was performed during the first (W1, March 30–April 29, 2020) and second wave (W2, November 3–December 3, 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 216 university students with a mean age of 22 years (ranging from 20 to 36, M = 22.13, SD = 2.04) participated in the study. An online survey included Perceived Stress Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Results

Due to the MIMSAC, all variables changed substantially across W1 and W2, adapting to an unpredictable environment. Women scored higher than men in stress, anxiety, emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping styles. We found the indirect effect of emotion-oriented coping on the stress-anxiety relationship and task-oriented coping on the anxiety-stress interaction. Avoidance was not found as a mediator in the stress-anxiety interaction.

Conclusion

Emotion-oriented coping adversely affected mental health, increasing anxiety in response to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Task-oriented coping efficiently decreased stress in reaction to high anxiety, but only in men. Avoidance seems to be an ineffective coping style during the COVID-19 pandemic. Campus intervention programs should focus on reducing negative emotions and increasing the frequency of task-oriented coping strategies among university students.

Barriers Against and Motivations for Quitting Smoking during the COVID-19 Health Crisis: Results of a Qualitative Study in France

The COVID-19 epidemic and its psychological, economic and social consequences could have an impact on the evolution of tobacco-smoking prevalence and attitudes towards quitting. The aim of this study is to analyse the specific characteristics of the motivations for and barriers against smoking cessation in this period. The study is based on qualitative data collected from late 2020 to early 2021 in France from 89 smokers with a low or intermediate socio-economic level. Among the motivations for quitting smoking, health concerns and the financial cost of cigarettes carried increased importance among the smokers in this period. Inversely, perceived stress, isolation, and a lack of social or healthcare support prevented some smokers from attempting to quit. These results are useful for explaining the evolution of smoking prevalence and preparing future interventions in the context of the health crisis and its aftermath. They highlight the relevance of educational messages, of the promotion of validated smoking-cessation aids and, in particular, remote support, as well as the implementation of community-based actions.

The correlation between health literacy and mental health literacy in Turkish Society

PURPOSE

The study aims to determine the correlation between health literacy (HL) and mental health literacy (MHL) in Turkish society.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey, a form of quantitative research. Data were collected from participants with the personal information form, Turkish Health Literacy Scale, and Mental Health Literacy Scale.

FINDINGS

The study found that 48.2% of the individuals had insufficient-limited HL and that 46.2% had a low level of MHL. A positive weak relationship was found between HL and MHL.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

As HL and MHL are correlated concepts, community health nurses can prepare their nursing action plans accordingly.

Pregnant in a Pandemic: Connecting Perceptions of Uplifts and Hassles to Mental Health

How women experience pregnancy as uplifting or a hassle is related to their mental and physical health and birth outcomes. Pregnancy during a pandemic introduces new hassles, but may offer benefits that could affect how women perceive their pregnancy. Surveying 118 ethnically and racially diverse pregnant women, we explore (1) women's traditional and pandemic-related pregnancy uplifts and hassles and (2) how these experiences of pregnancy relate to their feelings of loneliness, positivity, depression, and anxiety. Regressions show that women who experience more intense feelings of uplifts than hassles also feel more positive, less lonely, and have better mental health. Findings suggest that focusing on positive aspects of being pregnant, in general and during a pandemic, might be beneficial for pregnant women's mental health.

Do healthy habits regulate the relationship between psychosocial dysfunction by COVID-19 and bidimensional mental health?

COVID-19 has affected mental health and well-being. Lifestyles are relevant to understand the impact of psychosocial dysfunctions. The objective was to examine the role of healthy habits in the relations between psychosocial dysfunction and psychological well-being/distress during COVID-19. Participants completed measures of psychosocial dysfunction, healthy habits, life satisfaction, well-being, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Psychosocial dysfunction was associated with distress symptoms, while health habits were associated with well-being. Healthy habits were mediators: greater psychosocial dysfunction was associated with less healthy habits, which in turn were associated with lower overall well-being, and greater depression. Programs addressing healthy habits can be of great utility.