Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in a UK student sample

Trends and Influencing Factors in Problematic Smartphone Use Prevalence (2012-2022): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Given that problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been researched for a long time, it becomes necessary to assess how the trends of PSU prevalence have evolved over time. In total, 106 articles from 2012 to 2022 with 109 studies covering 97,748 individuals were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimation of the global pooled PSU prevalence was 37.1% (95% confidence interval, 33.5 - 40.8%) and the PSU prevalence is growing over time in total. Although the PSU prevalence exhibited wide variation between regions and measurement scales, the increasing trend remained. In addition, the regression slope of the PSU prevalence trend in males was higher than that in females. Males initially had a lower prevalence of PSU than females, but this steadily changed over time until it was greater in males than in females. Moreover, the prevalence of PSU showed an increasing trend across all age groups, with a faster growth rate in the older age group. Considering the aforementioned results, it's necessary to implement proper interventions to do with this phenomenon. In addition, considering the differences in prevalence brought by regions, and measurement scales, in practice and research, we should not only take into account the disparities of PSU between countries or cultures, but also to concern about establishing unified standard and measurement tools to confirm it.

Longitudinal evidence over 2 years of the pandemic shows that poor mental health in people living with obesity may be underestimated

It is well-documented that people living with obesity are at greater risk of poorer mental health outcomes. The aim of our study was twofold: First, to examine the longitudinal trajectories of depression and anxiety in people living with obesity over two years across eight waves of a UK national COVID-19 survey (March 2020-March 2022) using smoothing-splines mixed-effects models. Second, to investigate participation effects via a missingness analysis to check whether survey attrition over time was related to participant characteristics. Trajectory models showed that those living with overweight and obesity consistently reported significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to those in normal weight categories over two years. Our missingness analysis revealed that depression and anxiety predicted the likelihood of responding to the survey over time, whereby those reporting higher rates of depression and anxiety were less likely to respond to the survey. Our findings add to the literature surrounding the (long-term) link between living with obesity and poor mental health. Notably, our results suggest that people who have poorer mental health were less likely to participate in the survey. Thus, we conclude that it is likely that longitudinal population survey studies potentially underreport mental health problems over time and therefore the realistic impact of obesity on mental health outcomes may be underestimated.

Cohort profile: The Social media, smartphone use and Self-harm in Young People (3S-YP) study-A prospective, observational cohort study of young people in contact with mental health services

OBJECTIVES

The Social media, Smartphone use and Self-Harm (3S-YP) study is a prospective observational cohort study to investigate the mechanisms underpinning associations between social media and smartphone use and self-harm in a clinical youth sample. We present here a comprehensive description of the cohort from baseline data and an overview of data available from baseline and follow-up assessments.

METHODS

Young people aged 13-25 years were recruited from a mental health trust in England and followed up for 6 months. Self-report data was collected at baseline and monthly during follow-up and linked with electronic health records (EHR) and user-generated data.

FINDINGS

A total of 362 young people enrolled and provided baseline questionnaire data. Most participants had a history of self-harm according to clinical (n = 295, 81.5%) and broader definitions (n = 296, 81.8%). At baseline, there were high levels of current moderate/severe anxiety (n = 244; 67.4%), depression (n = 255; 70.4%) and sleep disturbance (n = 171; 47.2%). Over half used social media and smartphones after midnight on weekdays (n = 197, 54.4%; n = 215, 59.4%) and weekends (n = 241, 66.6%; n = 263, 72.7%), and half met the cut-off for problematic smartphone use (n = 177; 48.9%). Of the cohort, we have questionnaire data at month 6 from 230 (63.5%), EHR data from 345 (95.3%), social media data from 110 (30.4%) and smartphone data from 48 (13.3%).

CONCLUSION

The 3S-YP study is the first prospective study with a clinical youth sample, for whom to investigate the impact of digital technology on youth mental health using novel data linkages. Baseline findings indicate self-harm, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and digital technology overuse are prevalent among clinical youth. Future analyses will explore associations between outcomes and exposures over time and compare self-report with user-generated data in this cohort.

COVID-19-Related distress, body image, and eating behaviors: a cross-sectional explanatory model

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents. To better understand these associations, this study tested an explanatory model in which appearance-focused social media use, internalization of social media pressure, and mindfulness abilities mediated the relationship between COVID-related distress and body dissatisfaction, which in turn was associated with dietary restraint and binge eating episodes.

METHODS

Adolescents (N = 493, Mage= 16.7; 47.5% girls) recruited within high schools completed online measures. We conducted model testing through path analysis in MPlus, using modification indices to derive a well-fitting model.

RESULTS

The initially hypothesized model was a poor fit for the data. The final well-adjusted model confirmed several significant paths and supported the parallel mediational roles of social media (specifically, the use of appearance-focused social media and internalization of social media pressure) along with mindfulness, on the relationship between COVID-19-related distress and body satisfaction. Model adjustments involved adding three paths, resulting in two additional significant indirect effects, and suppressing one path.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that mindfulness, media use and the internalization of social media pressure are potential key processes explaining body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among adolescents who experienced higher levels of COVID-related distress.

Assessing the mindfulness predictors of mental health: does mindfulness practise or dispositional mindfulness better protect young peoples' mental health?

Background

University is an important time in a young person's life. Although it is a time of exploration, self-discovery and socialising, it is also a time of increased vulnerability to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that engagement in mindfulness activities can have a positive effect on mental health. However, research is limited in its scope in particular in relation to stressful (transitional) periods of life.

Methods

The current study aims to address this issue by providing evidence on the predictive impact of both mindfulness practice and 'dispositional' (or trait) mindfulness on students' mental health. In total, we gathered data from 190 first-year students.

Results

A multiple regression was utilised for data analysis. This showed that 'dispositional' mindfulness, but not mindful activity had a significant impact on mental health scores.

Conclusion

This provides data for future research into the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for student adaptation to university and potential interventions.

The impact of COVID-19 and associated lockdowns on traumatic spinal cord injury incidence: a population based study

STUDY DESIGN

Natural experiment OBJECTIVES: To determine whether COVID-19 restrictions were associated with changes in the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Scotland.

SETTING

The Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (QENSIU), the sole provider of treatment for TSCI in Scotland.

METHODS

Time series analysis of all admissions for TSCI between 1st January 2015 and 31st August 2022.

RESULTS

Over the 8-year study period, 745 patients were admitted to the QENSIU with a TSCI. Interrupted time series analysis showed that level 3 and 4 COVID-19 lockdown restrictions (the most severe levels) were associated with lower incidence of TSCI (RR 0.63, CI% CI 0.47, 0.82, p < 0.001). The associations were stronger in people aged over 45 (additive interaction p = 0.001), males (additive interaction p = 0.01) and non-tetraplegia (additive interaction p = 0.002). The incidence of TSCI due to deliberate self-harm was higher (0.41 versus 0.23 per month) during restrictions.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, TSCI incidence reduced in Scotland when lockdowns were implemented, presumably due to lower engagement in risky activities. The increase in TSCI due to deliberate self-harm may reflect increased mental health problems and social isolation and should be anticipated and targeted in future pandemics. The change in incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic may have an economic impact and see a temporary reduction in the burden on health and social care. The results of this study will be useful for resource planning in future pandemics.

The Impact of COVID-Related Restrictions on the Mental Health of Students

The first stage of the COVID pandemic in spring and early summer of 2020 was shaped by restrictions due to the so-called flattening-the-curve approach. Students globally were impacted when public and private colleges and universities were forced to either shut down temporarily or transition to remote learning. Studies from around the world found increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Female students often reported being more affected than male students. Suicide rates, however, did not increase. The second stage, starting in late summer 2020, saw the highest case numbers but also a slow and mostly partial return to normal life enabled by vaccination efforts and policy decisions. The mental health of students in most countries recovered well, even when they had to go through repeated or continued lockdowns or restrictions. Although it cannot be predicted what portion of students will be affected by mental health issues in ten or twenty years, it is certain that there will be long-term mental health consequences for many. It is also uncertain which approach, "living with COVID" or "zero COVID," will show less impact on the mental health of students' long term.

Anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 lockdown in the post-epidemic era: an online cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect the mental health of college students in the post-epidemic era. We assessed the status and related factors of college students who are vulnerable to anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted two weeks after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, from November 6, 2022, to December 2, 2022, with 1176 valid samples using convenience sampling. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to measure levels of anxiety and depression in college students. Factors related to anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity were analyzed using binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity were 27.04%, 34.10%, and 25.60%, respectively. There was a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity among those who were currently living in rural areas. Compared with individuals with low monthly living expenses, those with higher monthly living expenses were less prone to anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of anxiety, depression, and their comorbidity were detected among college students during the COVID-19 lockdown. These were most common among college students who were senior students, had abnormal body mass index (BMI), were rural area residents, did study arts and humanities, were one-child in the family, and had low monthly living expenses and poor academic performance. Intervention practitioners and policymakers should formulate individualized prevention and intervention measures during the COVID-19 lockdown in the post-epidemic and possible future pandemics for college students.

Prevalence and factors associated with smartphone addiction among nursing postgraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multilevel study from China's mainland

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction is prevalent among college students, and there is a concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may bring an increased prevalence of smartphone addiction due to constant online classes and repeat quarantine policies. This study aims to assess the prevalence and influencing factors of smartphone addiction among Chinese nursing postgraduates during the pandemic by examining variables, including loneliness, perceived stress, resilience, and sense of security.

METHODS

This online cross-sectional survey recruited 224 nursing postgraduates in four cities in 2022, using Smartphone Addiction Scale for College Students, the Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3, Chinese version of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Security Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the associated factors and predictors of smartphone addiction.

RESULTS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of smartphone addiction was 10.41%. There was a positive correlation between smartphone addiction and loneliness, perceived stress (P < 0.001), and a negative relationship with resilience and sense of security (P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis identified five risk factors that contribute to smartphone addiction, including daily duration of using a smartphone (3-5 h) (OR = 11.085, 95%CI = 1.21-101.79), numbers of smartphone (OR = 3.704, 95%CI = 1.33-10.30), perceived stress (OR = 1.163, 95%CI = 1.06-1.28), loneliness (OR = 1.071, 95%CI = 1.01-1.13), age of using a smartphone first time (OR = 0.754, 95%CI = 0.60-0.95). Two protective factors, resilience (OR = 1.098, 95%CI = 1.01-1.20) and sense of security (OR = 0.950, 95%CI = 0.90-1.00), were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, smartphone addiction was prevalent among nursing postgraduates, and loneliness and perceived stress are important risk factors for smartphone addiction. Therefore, administrators should adopt targeted interventions to reduce smartphone addiction and the negative impacts on the psychological well-being of nursing postgraduates during a sudden outbreak of a national epidemic crisis.

Mental health in undergraduate students several months into the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To compare mental health indicators among undergraduates in Fall 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and Fall 2020, when many students returned to campus amidst restrictions on in-person contact.

PARTICIPANTS

Analyses included 26,881 undergraduate students, aged 18-24, from 70 U.S. institutions.

METHODS

Students completed the National College Health Assessment-III survey in Fall 2019 or Fall 2020.

RESULTS

The prevalences of high stress, loneliness, a low flourishing score, and serious psychological distress increased in 2020 compared to 2019. Serious psychological distress increased substantially in 2020 among students not living with family (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR)=1.36, 95% CI 1.29-1.45) but not among students living with family (aPR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.95-1.26).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest prevalences of several indicators of poor mental health were elevated among U.S. undergraduates several months into the pandemic. The pandemic may have had greater impact on mental health among students not living with family.

COVID-19 associated with universities in England, October 2020-February 2022

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 cases at universities in England (October 2020-February 2022) and investigate factors associated with rates of COVID-19 among students during autumn/winter of 2021/22.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was an observational retrospective study using routine contact tracing data.

METHODS

Estimates of COVID-19 cases among students and staff at universities were described. Student cases aged 18-24 years were calculated as a percentage of all cases within that age group. Count regression was used to explore university characteristics associated with case numbers.

RESULTS

We identified 102,382 cases among students and 28,639 among staff. Student cases reflected trends in the wider population of the same age group, but the observed fraction aged 18-24 years who were students was consistently below the expected level (32%). Phased reopening of universities in March-May 2021 was associated with small peaks but low absolute numbers. Russell group membership, campus universities, and higher student proportions in halls of residence were all associated with increased case numbers.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 case numbers among students in England varied considerably. At no time were the observed case numbers as high as expected from community prevalence. Characteristics of universities associated with higher case rates can inform future guidance for higher education settings.

Helpful activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceived benefits and actual association with psychiatric symptoms and psychological wellbeing

BACKGROUND

Few studies have rigorously examined the effectiveness of commonly reported coping activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to assess perceived helpful activities during the pandemic and to investigate the extent to which these activities were associated with psychological outcomes.

METHOD

Adults living in the US (N = 204), who were part of a longitudinal family study of depression responded to an online survey. They reported on their perceived helpful activities during the pandemic. General linear regression models (GLM) were used to evaluate the association between perceived helpful activities and current psychiatric symptoms, controlling for demographic factors, and pre-pandemic psychiatric history and symptoms.

RESULTS

The top perceived helpful activity during COVID-19 was communicating with friends/family via telephone text or video (75.5 %). However, of the top five activities endorsed, cooking/baking was associated with the most clinical outcomes, including lower anxiety/depression and greater psychological wellbeing (all ps < 0.05). These relationships were most prominent among younger individuals < age 40 years, females, and those with recent psychiatric history, although they extended to younger males, and individuals at high or low depression risk.

LIMITATIONS

Close ended items limited variability in coping activities reported. The study lacked data on substance use. The sample was racially and ethnically homogenous.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings move beyond anecdotal evidence that cooking/baking as a coping activity yields protection against psychopathology. Its ready accessibility and ability to confer benefits across a range of individual characteristics, make it a useful adjunct in therapeutic interventions for people confined to their homes.

Ontological insecurity in the post-covid-19 fallout: using existentialism as a method to develop a psychosocial understanding to a mental health crisis

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic we are witnessing a significant rise in mental illness diagnosis and corresponding anti-depressant prescription uptake. The drug response to this situation is unsurprising and reinforces the dominant role (neuro)biology continues to undertake within modern psychiatry. In contrast to this biologically informed, medicalised approach, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement stressing the causal role of psychological and social factors.Using the concept of ontological insecurity, contextualised within the WHO guidance, the interrelation of psychological and social factors is illuminated, and a psychosocial framework is produced as a means of understanding the mental health consequence of the post-Covid-19 fallout.The psychosocial framework generated provides a rationale to revise and reprioritise how we engage with the biopsychosocial model that is intended to underpin modern psychiatry. This framework establishes a connection between psychological and social theory which are too often addressed as disparate terrains within mental health services and policy creation.

University Students' Motivation and Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Lockdown, Isolation, and Remote and Hybrid Learning

This investigation comprised two studies that sought to identify the role of COVID-related disruptions in Australian university students' academic motivation and engagement. Study 1 involved a dataset of 500 university students and examined the links between COVID-19 pandemic disruptions (remote and hybrid learning modes, lockdown, isolation) and students' adaptive (e.g., planning and monitoring) and maladaptive (e.g., disengagement) dimensions of the Motivation and Engagement Scale (MES). Study 2 compared the mean motivation and engagement of Study 1 participants with mean levels from four published pre-COVID-19 Australian studies (N = 55, N = 233, N = 420, N = 941 university students) that also used the MES. Study 1 showed that lockdown and isolation (and not remote/hybrid learning) were associated with problematic motivation and engagement-with lockdown and isolation effects particularly noteworthy for maladaptive motivation and engagement. Study 2 showed that relative to the four pre-COVID-19 samples, the COVID-19 pandemic sample experienced difficulties with motivation and engagement, and again particularly so on maladaptive dimensions.

Exploring park visitation trends during the Covid-19 pandemic in Hungary by using mobile device location data

Sweeping changes in park visitation have accompanied the Covid-19 pandemic. In countries where governments imposed strict lockdowns during the first wave, park visitation declined in cities. The benefits of visiting urban green spaces on people's mental and physical health and well-being are generally acknowledged; many people in confinement during lockdowns reported increasing mental health issues. Therefore, based on lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic's first wave, urban parks and other urban green spaces remained open in most countries in subsequent pandemic phases. Furthermore, many studies have reported an overall increase in park visitation after strict lockdowns imposed in the pandemic's first wave have been removed. This study aims to investigate park visitation trends in Hungary based on a dataset of 28 million location data points from approximately 666,000 distinct mobile devices collected in 1884 urban parks and other urban green spaces in 191 settlements between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2021. Findings demonstrate that park visitation increased in the inter-wave period of 2020, compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2019, and decreased in Waves 2-3 of 2021, compared to Wave 1 of 2020.

A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups

Most governments have enacted physical or social distancing measures to control COVID-19 transmission. Yet little is known about the socio-economic trade-offs of these measures, especially for vulnerable populations, who are exposed to increased risks and are susceptible to adverse health outcomes. To examine the impacts of physical distancing measures on the most vulnerable in society, this scoping review screened 39,816 records and synthesised results from 265 studies worldwide documenting the negative impacts of physical distancing on older people, children/students, low-income populations, migrant workers, people in prison, people with disabilities, sex workers, victims of domestic violence, refugees, ethnic minorities, and people from sexual and gender minorities. We show that prolonged loneliness, mental distress, unemployment, income loss, food insecurity, widened inequality and disruption of access to social support and health services were unintended consequences of physical distancing that impacted these vulnerable groups and highlight that physical distancing measures exacerbated the vulnerabilities of different vulnerable populations.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental and physical health and overall wellbeing of university students in Portugal

Throughout the pandemic of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, university students were considered a vulnerable risk group for mental health impairment and wellbeing deterioration. This study aimed at evaluating the pandemic's impact on the physical and mental health and wellbeing among students of a Portuguese university. This cross-sectional study included 913 participants and ran from June to October 2020. Data collected included sociodemographics, three mental health self-report questionnaires (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and Brief COPE) and lifestyle practices (eating and sleeping patterns, media, and entertainment habits) during the first months of the pandemic, which included a 72-day full national lockdown. Descriptive and correlational statistical analysis were conducted. Students' food habits changed during the pandemic, namely on the consumption of snacks and fast food and, overall, less balanced meals became more prevalent. Additionally, almost 70% of the students reported Body Mass Index changes, while 59% went through sleep pattern changes-these were more pronounced in women and younger students. Over half (67%) of the inquirees exhibited an increase in their stress, depression, and generalized anxiety symptoms. Also, the study demonstrates that students' lifestyles trended negatively during the pandemic and highlights how important regular psychological, health monitoring and emotional support is, amongst this somehow overlooked population throughout the pandemic. Universities should provide support to overcome challenges in future stressful situations. This study might have an impact on how universities and higher education systems approach their students in terms of mental and physical health monitoring and promotion in future situations, non-related with COVID. Moreover, it has a large sample of students well characterized in terms of mental and physical health, which might be of interest for future comparison with other worldwide group of students throughout stressful situations, such as tragic events, wars, pandemics.

Screen time and adolescents' mental health before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland: A natural experiment

Background

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, adolescents' mental health was largely undermined. A general increment in screen time was reported. However, the long-term effects of the latter on adolescents' mental health are still little explored.

Methods

In the present natural experiment, we investigated these effects using longitudinal data collected before and after the first lockdown in Switzerland. Data come from 674 Swiss adolescents (56.7% females, Mage = 14.45, SDage = 0.50) during Spring 2019 (T1) and Autumn 2020 (T2) as part of the longitudinal MEDIATICINO study. Self-reported mental health measures included somatic symptoms, inattention, anxiety, irritability, anger, sleep problems, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, loneliness, and depression. Measures for screen-media activities included time spent on the Internet, smartphones, social media, video gaming, instant messaging, and television viewing. They were all assessed at T1 and T2.

Results

Paired-sample t-tests with Bonferroni's correction showed that most mental health problems increased over time with an overall medium effect size (Hedge's g = 0.337). In particular, medium effect sizes were found for anxiety, depression, and inattention; small-to-medium effect sizes were reported for loneliness, sleep problems, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms; and a small effect size was found for somatic symptoms. Screen-media activities increased, with the exception of television viewing and video gaming. The results of the hierarchical regression analyses showed that, controlling for covariates, increased time spent on social media - calculated as the difference between T2 and T1 - was the only screen-media activity significantly associated with worse mental health at T2 (β = 0.112, p = 0.016). More time spent in structured media activities like television viewing diminished levels of inattention (β = -0.091, p = 0.021) and anxiety (β = -0.093, p = 0.014). Among covariates, being female, experiencing two or more life events, having mental health problems at T1, and using screens for homeschooling negatively influenced mental health at T2.

Conclusion

These results align with literature indicating a small but negative effect of social media time on mental health. Underlying mechanisms are manifold, including increased exposure to COVID-19 news, heightened fear of missing out, social comparison, and time-displaced for activities such as physical activity and green time. However, in line with the structured days hypothesis, getting involved in media-structured activities like television viewing might protect against mental health symptoms.

Seating Behaviour of Students before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Occupancy Monitoring with PIR Sensors at the UCL Bartlett Library

Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in China, social and physical distancing has been promoted worldwide as an effective community mitigation strategy. However, our understanding remains limited regarding how students would resume their activities and use of libraries when the restrictions to manage the spread of coronavirus were lifted. Understanding students' seating behaviour in libraries is required to guarantee that the libraries meet the needs and preferences of students and promote students' health and well-being and satisfaction with the library. This paper aims to explore the changes in the use of study spaces before and after the pandemic. Occupancy data from the UCL Bartlett Library collected at 10-min intervals from motion sensors located underneath desks was used to assess the occupancy within the library and which was then compared to characteristics of the space. This study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted students' use of the library as well as how much time they spent there. While seats with a good combination of daylight, outdoor view and privacy were in most demand before the pandemic, distance from other students seems to be the priority after the pandemic. Students' seating preferences appear to be also influenced by the position of desk dividers after COVID-19. Future research should focus on assessing and proposing new seating arrangements and developing strategies to promote students' satisfaction with libraries in response to changes in students' seating behaviours.

Construction process and development stages of pandemic emotions questionnaire in cancer patients (PEQ-CP)

BACKGROUND

Despite the numerous tools built ad hoc to investigate the effects of the CoViD-19 pandemic on people, to date there are no known questionnaires that investigate the emotional experiences of cancer patients. This work aims to start a process of construction and validation of a tool that captures these aspects (Pandemic Emotions Questionnaire in Cancer Patients-PEQ-CP).

METHOD

A mixed method approach was used through three phases, each on a different sample: Phase 1: creation of items and checking of internal validity, through unstructured interviews and verification of the validity of content by "peers" and "experts"; Phase 2: exploration of the factorial structure of the scale through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA); Phase 3: confirmation of the factorial structure of the scale through a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

Phase 1 revealed 26 items that can be grouped into 4 theoretical dimensions. "Peers" and "experts" rated all items as understandable and relevant except one, which was reformulated. The EFA in the Phase 2 revealed a factorial structure with 14 items and three dimensions (Emotional Understanding, Communication of Emotions, Feelings the same as others), confirmed by the CFA in Phase 3.

CONCLUSION

Although further validation steps are required, the PEQ-CP showed good psychometric properties.