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Luk JW, Leiter N, Stangl BL, Gunawan T, Schwandt ML, Goldman D, Diazgranados N, Ramchandani VA. Associations of history of alcohol use disorder with loneliness, social support, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Res 2024; 335:115826. [PMID: 38479194 PMCID: PMC11229409 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
This study examined the effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and treatment history on changes in loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms from before to during the pandemic, and tested loneliness and social support as mediators of the AUD-mental health associations. Participants (n = 427) enrolled in the NIAAA COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study were categorized into three groups: healthy control (62.3%), nontreatment AUD (14.1%), and treatment AUD (23.7%). Multilevel generalized linear models were conducted to examine changes in loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms by group. Path analyses tested the mediating roles of loneliness and social support. Loneliness increased during the pandemic, especially in the nontreatment AUD group. Social support decreased in the healthy control and AUD treatment group. Anxiety and depressive symptoms increased in the nontreatment AUD group. Individuals with a history of AUD regardless of treatment history reported greater loneliness, which was linked to higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. Loneliness, but not social support, mediated the AUD-mental health associations. Psychosocial interventions aimed at increasing positive social engagement among individuals with AUD may help alleviate feelings of loneliness and mitigate mental health symptoms. Study findings can also help improve preparedness for future public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy W Luk
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Noa Leiter
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Bethany L Stangl
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tommy Gunawan
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States; Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Melanie L Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States; Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Vijay A Ramchandani
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Habibi Asgarabad M, Vahabi Z, Cheung HN, Ahmadi R, Akbarpour S, Sadeghian MH, Etesam F. Perceived social support, perceived stress, and quality of sleep among COVID-19 patients in Iran: assessing measurement invariance of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support across gender and age. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1337317. [PMID: 38699447 PMCID: PMC11063771 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1337317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Perceived social support (PSS) plays a considerable role in mental health. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely used scales, leading to much research evidence. The present study investigated its measurement model, equivalence across gender (male and female) and age groups (older patients= above 60 and non-older patients= below 60), and concurrent validity. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and October 2020, on patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran. The scales were administered to 328 COVID-19 patients (54.6% male, aged 21 to 92) from two general hospitals; participants completed MSPSS (including friends, family, and significant others subscales), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, include sleep latency, subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep duration, use of sleep medication, daytime dysfunction, and sleep disturbances subscales), and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10, to assess patients' appraisal of stressful conditions). Results The MSPSS three-factor structure was confirmed among COVID-19 patients by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The results support the MSPSS internal consistency and configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender and age groups. Nevertheless, small but significant differences were found across ages based on the latent factor mean of the MSPSS from friends, with a lower mean level in older patients. The coefficients of Cronbach's alpha (ranging from.92 to.96), the ordinal theta (ranging from.95 to.98), and Omega (ranging from.93 to.97) suggested high internal consistency of MSPSS. The concurrent validity of MSPSS was evidenced by its significant negative correlation with PSS-10 (τb = -.13, p <.01) and also subjective sleep quality (τb = -.22, p <.01), sleep disturbances (τb = -.26, p <.001), and daytime dysfunction (τb = -.26, p <.001). Conclusions The MSPSS was valid and reliable for measuring individuals' perception of social support between males and females and older and non-older COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zahra Vahabi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran, Iran
- Cognitive Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ho Nam Cheung
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Reza Ahmadi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Akbarpour
- Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Sadeghian
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnaz Etesam
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran, Iran
- Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran
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Gao B, Cai Y, Zhao C, Qian Y, Zheng R, Liu C. Longitudinal associations between loneliness and online game addiction among undergraduates: A moderated mediation model. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 243:104134. [PMID: 38228073 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Online gaming addiction (OGA) has become a noteworthy public concern, especially among university students, thereby requiring in-depth scrutiny. Although previous cross-sectional studies have established a positive link between loneliness and OGA, there is a lack of longitudinal evidence within this field. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms that elucidate the connection between loneliness and OGA are still poorly understood, underscoring a crucial research gap that requires further investigation. Our study utilized a longitudinal approach and developed a moderated mediation model. From September 2021 to September 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, data were collected from a sample of Chinese undergraduate students, with 367 participants at T1, 352 at T2, and 340 at T3. Participants completed online self-report surveys, providing valuable data on their levels of loneliness at T1, fear of missing out (FoMO) at T2, sensation seeking at T2, and OGA at T3. Our findings found that loneliness was positively linked to OGA. Further analysis demonstrated that FoMO partially mediated the link between loneliness and OGA. Meanwhile, sensation seeking moderated the pathway from FoMO to later OGA. Specifically, the effect of FoMO on OGA was significant for college students with high sensation seeking. This study offers longitudinal evidence linking loneliness and OGA, which has implications for the development of interventions to reduce OGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Gao
- School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxiyu Cai
- School of Marxism, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong Zhao
- School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuqing Qian
- School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, People's Republic of China
| | - Runting Zheng
- School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, People's Republic of China
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O'Hare D, Gaughran F, Stewart R, Pinto da Costa M. A cross-sectional investigation on remote working, loneliness, workplace isolation, well-being and perceived social support in healthcare workers. BJPsych Open 2024; 10:e50. [PMID: 38406834 PMCID: PMC10897687 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare trusts began to implement remote working arrangements, with little knowledge of their impact on staff well-being. AIMS To investigate how remote working of healthcare workers during the pandemic may have been associated with stress, productivity and work satisfaction at that time, and associations between loneliness, workplace isolation, perceived social support and well-being. METHOD A questionnaire was developed to explore remote working and productivity, stress and work satisfaction during time spent working remotely. Associations between current loneliness, workplace isolation and well-being, and the influence of perceived social support, were explored with perceived social support as a potential moderator. RESULTS A total of 520 participants responded to the study, of whom 112 were men (21.5%) and 406 were women (78.1%), with an age range of 21-77 years (mean 40.0, s.d. = 12.1). Very few (3.1%) worked remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic, and this had increased significantly (96.9%). Those who worked ≥31 h a week remotely reported higher stress and lower workplace satisfaction at that time, compared with office work, yet also felt more productive. Current loneliness, workplace isolation and perceived social support were cross-sectionally associated with lower current well-being. CONCLUSIONS Those who worked more hours a week remotely during the pandemic reported increased stress, which may be related to the lack of resources in place to support this change in work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dearbhla O'Hare
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Fiona Gaughran
- Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and National Psychosis Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Robert Stewart
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Mariana Pinto da Costa
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Ozer S. Social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: A two-wave study of Danish students. Scand J Psychol 2024; 65:42-52. [PMID: 37489595 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Societal lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed everyday life across the globe, including requirements of social distancing that might limit the social support people derive from social interaction. Social support has proven to be a vital resource for well-being (i.e., perceived stress and satisfaction with life) and coping during societal challenges. The present study examined how social support is associated with perceived stress and life satisfaction through self-efficacy and self-esteem among Danish students (N = 204). These psychological constructs were examined both during and after lockdown, assessing the possible aversive psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results did not yield any significant changes in either the mean scores of the constructs or the indirect effects model across the two time points. Moreover, the results indicate that social support derived from a significant person, family, and friends - but not student peers - is negatively linked with perceived stress and positively associated with life satisfaction through both self-efficacy and self-esteem. Although societal lockdown did not yield significant psychological impact, the results highlight the importance of social support among students, both during and after lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ozer
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Sood R, Entenman J, Kitt-Lewis E, Lennon RP, Pinto CN, Moss JL. We are all in this together: Rurality, Social cohesion, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. J Rural Health 2024; 40:154-161. [PMID: 37430390 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cohesion refers to an individual's sense of belonging to their community and correlates with health outcomes. Rural communities tend to have higher social cohesion than urban communities. Social cohesion is relatively understudied as a factor impacting COVID-19 prevention behaviors. This study explores the associations between social cohesion, rurality, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. METHODS Participants completed a questionnaire assessing rurality; social cohesion (subscales of (1) attraction to neighborhood, (2) acts of neighboring, and (3) sense of community); COVID-19 behaviors; and demographics. Chi-square tests were used to characterize participant demographics and COVID-19 behaviors. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and rurality, social cohesion, and demographics. RESULTS Most participants (n = 2,926) were non-Hispanic White (78.2%) and married (60.4%); 36.9% were rural. Rural participants were less likely than urban participants to practice social distancing (78.7% vs 90.6%, P<.001) or stay home when sick (87.7% vs 93.5%, P<.001). Social distancing was more common among participants with higher "attraction to neighborhood" scores (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26-3.47) but was less common among participants with higher "acts of neighboring" scores (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.40-0.88). Staying home when sick was also more common among participants with higher scores on "attraction to neighborhood" (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.15-3.91), and less common among participants with higher scores on "acts of neighboring" (aOR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.33-0.86). CONCLUSIONS Efforts to maximize COVID-19 behavioral prevention, particularly among rural communities, should emphasize the importance of protecting the health of one's neighbors and how to support one's neighbors without face-to-face interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Sood
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Erin Kitt-Lewis
- Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Casey N Pinto
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gouin J, de la Torre‐Luque A, Sánchez‐Carro Y, Geoffroy M, Essau C. Heterogeneity in the trajectories of psychological distress among late adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. JCPP ADVANCES 2023; 3:e12195. [PMID: 38054054 PMCID: PMC10694544 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has constrained opportunities in social, educational and professional domains, leading to developmental challenges for adolescents initiating their transition to adulthood. Meta-analysis indicated that there was a small increase in psychological distress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, significant heterogeneity in the psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic was noted. Developmental antecedents as well as social processes may account for such heterogeneity. The goal of this study was to characterize trajectories of psychological distress in late adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 5014 late adolescents born between 2000 and 2002 from the UK Millennium Cohort Study completed online self-reported assessments at three occasions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020, September/October 2020 and February/March 2021). These surveys assessed psychological distress, loneliness, social support, family conflict, as well as other pandemic stressors. Information on developmental antecedents were obtained when cohort members were 17 years of age. Results Four distinct trajectories class were identified. Normative class (52.13%) experienced low and decreasing levels of psychological distress, while moderately increasing class (31.84%) experienced a small, but significant increase in distress over time and increasing class (8.75%) exhibited a larger increase in distress after the first wave of the pandemic. Inverted U-shaped class (7.29%) experienced elevated psychological distress during the first wave of the pandemic, followed by a decrease in distress in subsequent waves of the pandemic. Larger longitudinal increases in loneliness were noted among individuals in the elevated distress trajectory, compared to other trajectories. Pre-pandemic psychopathology was associated with elevated distress early in the pandemic. Conclusions The largest trajectory showed low and declining psychological distress, highlighting the resilience of the majority of late adolescents. However, a subgroup of adolescents experienced large increases in psychological distress, identifying a group of individuals more vulnerable to pandemic-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro de la Torre‐Luque
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and PathologyUniversidad Complutense de Madrid, CIBERSAM ISCIIIMadridSpain
| | - Yolanda Sánchez‐Carro
- Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM)Carlos III Health InstituteMadridSpain
| | - Marie‐Claude Geoffroy
- Department of PsychiatryMcGill University and Douglas Mental Health University InstituteMontrealQuebecCanada
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Xie X, Huang C, Sitar S, Qiao X. Community engagement and loneliness in older adults in China: mediation effects of social support in the wake of COVID-19. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1199577. [PMID: 38106887 PMCID: PMC10722421 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1199577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Loneliness is a key indicator of well-being in older adults. Drawing from the ecological model of aging, the active aging perspective, and the convoy model of social relations, this study investigates the extent community engagement influences loneliness and whether the relationship is mediated by social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data was collected from 1,067 retired older adults in a cross-sectional design in Chengdu, China in 2022. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of community engagement on loneliness through the hypothesized mediator of social support. Results The results show community engagement was positively associated with social support (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and social support was negatively related to loneliness (β = -0.41, p < 0.001). Social support fully mediated the relationship between community engagement and loneliness. Additionally, community engagement had an indirect effect on loneliness via social support (β = -0.11, p < 0.001). Discussion The findings from the moderation analysis suggests community engagement and social support are likely to have large effects on loneliness for older adults over the age of 70 and who have low educational attainment. The findings suggest community engagement could be an important factor for improving social support and reducing loneliness amongst retired, older adults in China, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic where millions of individuals were isolated for extended periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Xie
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chienchung Huang
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Sophie Sitar
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Xingyong Qiao
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Nai ZL, Tan WS, Tov W. Acceptance of communication technology, emotional support and subjective well-being for Chinese older adults living alone during COVID-19: A moderated mediation model. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291806. [PMID: 37733727 PMCID: PMC10513265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Stringent social distancing measures implemented to control the spread of COVID-19 affected older adults living alone by limiting their social interaction beyond their households. During these restrictions, interactions beyond the household could be facilitated by communication technology (CT) such as voice calls, instant messages. Our study provides evidence on how CT acceptance could influence the emotional support and in turn, subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults living alone. We did a cross-sectional survey with 293 community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Participants were surveyed from September to November 2020 and had completed measures on CT acceptance (competency), emotional support, and SWB. PROCESS Model 1 was used to estimate the conditional effects of CT acceptance (competency) on emotional support for those living alone versus with others. Following which, PROCESS Model 7 was used to estimate the conditional indirect effects of CT acceptance (competency) on SWB through emotional support. Our results suggested that living arrangement moderated the indirect effect of CT acceptance (competency) on SWB. For older adults living alone, CT acceptance (competency) was significantly associated with perceived emotional support and, in turn, their SWB. For older adults living with others, CT acceptance was not associated with emotional support and SWB. Our findings call for more research and support to increase older adults' acceptance of CT as an option for communication to increase emotional support for older adults living alone, even during non-pandemic times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Ling Nai
- Geriatric Education & Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woan Shin Tan
- Geriatric Education & Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- Health Services & Outcomes Research Department, National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore
| | - William Tov
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
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Dopico-Casal C, Montes C, Fraga I, Vieitez L, Padrón I, Romero E. So far but yet so near: Examining the buffering effect of perceived social support on the psychological impact of Spanish lockdown. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:1803-1819. [PMID: 36350844 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to examine the moderating or buffering effect of social support (SS) perceived by university students on the psychological impact of lockdown on mental health. Specifically, a total of 826 participants (622 women) completed an online survey that included standardized measures of anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and irritability (Brief Irritability Test), as well as measures of stressors, perceived SS, and self-perceived change in mental health. The results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that SS contributes toward attenuating the negative impact of academic stressors, general overload, and interpersonal conflict on the indicators of psychological well-being; however, moderation analysis only confirms the buffering effect for symptoms of anxiety. In conclusion, it is suggested that SS networks need to be strengthened as a basic means of protecting health and well-being during unexpected disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Dopico-Casal
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology, and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Carlos Montes
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology, and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Isabel Fraga
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology, and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Lucía Vieitez
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology, and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Isabel Padrón
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology, and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Estrella Romero
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, UNDERISK, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Yavuz C, Şahin S. The impact of a videoconferencing-ımplemented program on older adults' psychosocial health in the COVID-19 pandemic: an experimental study. Psychogeriatrics 2023. [PMID: 37072132 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social distancing and 'stay-at-home' orders are essential to contain the coronavirus outbreak; however, it has affected older adults very negatively psychosocially. The present study explored the impact of a videoconferencing-implemented program on older adults' psychosocial health during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We carried out this experimental research with pretest-posttest and control groups between November 02 to December 26, 2020 on individuals aged 60 years and over who were enrolled at Fethiye Refreshment University (60+ FRU). While the intervention group consisted of 40 people, we recruited 52 participants in the control group. Unlike the control group, the intervention group participated in a structured videoconferencing program held there days a week for 8 weeks. We collected the data using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Loneliness Scale for Elderly (LSE). The data were then analysed on the SPSS 22.0 program. RESULTS The participants had a mean age of 66.13 ± 5.13 years; 65.2% were females, 58.7% were married, 55.4% held a university degree and 93.5% had a regular income. Following the intervention, we found the experimental group to have significantly a lower posttest FCV-19S score (p < 0.05) and a higher posttest MSPS score than the control group (p < 0.05). Besides, the experimental group had significantly lower posttest scores on the DASS-21 and the anxiety and stress subscales than the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the posttest score of the experiential group on the emotional loneliness subscale (LSE) was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05); nevertheless, we could not conclude significant differences between the groups' pretest and posttest LSE scores and their scores on the other LSE subscales (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Overall, the videoconferencing program was found to be efficient in providing older adults with psychosocial support amid social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cemil Yavuz
- Fethiye Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Mugla Sıtkı Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey
| | - Sevnaz Şahin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine/Geriatrics, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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Bokszczanin A, Gladysh O, Bronowicka A, Palace M. Experience of Ethnic Discrimination, Anxiety, Perceived Risk of COVID-19, and Social Support among Polish and International Students during the Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5236. [PMID: 37047852 PMCID: PMC10093790 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our research aimed to assess the experiences of ethnic discrimination among students in Poland (Polish and international) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also tested the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with perceived COVID-19 risk, the severity of discrimination, and social support. METHODS The data from Polish (n = 481) and international university students (n = 105) were collected online (November-January 2020). Participants completed measures of ethnic discrimination (GEDS), anxiety scale (GAD-7), COVID-19 risk perception index, and perceived social support scale (MSPSS) questionnaires. RESULTS The results showed that international students reported being much more discriminated than Polish students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to our expectation, a higher risk of anxiety disorders (GAD) was observed in 42% of Polish students compared to 31% of international students. The predictors of higher anxiety symptoms among both groups were the perceived risk of COVID-19 and the greater severity of ethnic discrimination. In both groups, the perceived social support had a protective role in anxiety symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of discrimination, especially among international students, simultaneously with high symptoms of anxiety, requires vigorous action involving preventive measures and psychological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bokszczanin
- Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland
| | - Olga Gladysh
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 03-378 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Bronowicka
- Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland
| | - Marek Palace
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3-5UG, UK
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13
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Dai Z, Fu J, Qu Y, Wu Y, Si M, Chen X, Wang H, Xiao W, Huang Y, Yu F, Mi G, Su X. Depressive symptoms, perceived social support, and anticipated HIV stigma among HIV-negative/unknown men who have sex with men in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter online cross-sectional study. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2946. [PMID: 36917559 PMCID: PMC10097053 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative/unknown men who have sex with men (MSM) in China and explore the relationship between perceived social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms. METHODS Participants in this study were recruited from a gay social networking app (Blued) in China by convenience sampling from December 16, 2020 to March 1, 2021. Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, Anticipated HIV Stigma Questionnaire, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to measure the social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms of participants. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the measurement model. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the association of perceived social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms, as well as the mediation effects. RESULTS Overall, 47.70% (665/1394) of the participants had depressive symptoms. Perceived social support could have both direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms with the mediating role of anticipated HIV stigma among HIV-negative/unknown MSM. CONCLUSION Tailored interventions regarding perceived social support and anticipated HIV stigma, such as group therapy, mutual support groups and mindfulness training, with the involvement of non-governmental or governmental organizations, should be taken into account to reduce depressive symptoms and stigma among HIV-negative/unknown MSM in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Dai
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Fu
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yimin Qu
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yijin Wu
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mingyu Si
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Weijun Xiao
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yiman Huang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Yu
- Danlan Public Welfare, Beijing, China
| | | | - Xiaoyou Su
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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14
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Patel EU, Astemborski J, Feder KA, Rudolph JE, Winiker A, Sosnowski DW, Kirk GD, Mehta SH, Genberg BL. Temporal association of pre-pandemic perceived social support with psychological resilience and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with a history of injection drug use. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 244:109802. [PMID: 36774804 PMCID: PMC9908589 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are limited data on whether modifiable social factors foster psychological resilience and mental well-being among people who use drugs following Big Events. We examined the temporal association of pre-pandemic perceived social support with psychological resilience and negative mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with a history of injection drug use. METHODS Between June and September 2020, we conducted a telephone survey among 545 participants in the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study: a community-based cohort of adults with a history of injection drug use. Leveraging data from study visits in 2018-early 2020, associations of pre-pandemic perceived social support with psychological resilience scores (range=1-5) and the probability of negative mental health symptoms during the pandemic were assessed using multivariable linear and modified Poisson regression models, respectively. RESULTS Participants' median age was 58 years, 38.2% were female, 83.3% identified as Black, and 30.3% were living with HIV. During the pandemic, 14.5% had low (<3) resilience scores, 36.1% experienced anxiety, and 35.8% reported increased loneliness. Compared to participants in the lowest tertile of pre-pandemic social support, participants in the highest tertile had higher mean resilience scores (β = 0.27 [95% CI = 0.12, 0.43]), a lower probability of anxiety (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.71 [95% CI = 0.52, 0.96]), and a lower probability of increased loneliness (PR = 0.62 [95% CI = 0.45, 0.84]). CONCLUSIONS Pre-pandemic perceived social support was associated with greater psychological resilience and generally better mental well-being during the pandemic. Interventions that improve social support may foster psychological resilience and protect the mental well-being of people who use drugs, especially during periods of social disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eshan U Patel
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacquie Astemborski
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth A Feder
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline E Rudolph
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Abigail Winiker
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David W Sosnowski
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory D Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Becky L Genberg
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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15
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Li H. I'm Offering You My Pain: Priming COVID-19 Salience Increases Everyday Sadism. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231159611. [PMID: 36823028 PMCID: PMC9950809 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231159611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Li
- Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
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16
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Leshem B, Kashy-Rosenbaum G, Schiff M, Benbenishty R, Pat-Horenczyk R. Continuous Exposure to Terrorism during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model in the Israeli Context. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2799. [PMID: 36833494 PMCID: PMC9956153 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study tested the role of perceived social support as a moderating factor in the mediation of COVID-19-related concerns in the association between continuous traumatic stress (CTS) and depression. The study participants were 499 college students who responded to an anonymous online questionnaire. Measures included the assessment of prior continuous exposure to threats of terrorism, COVID-19-related distress, perceived social support and depressive symptoms. The results demonstrated that COVID-19-related concerns mediated the relationship between continuous exposure to threats of terrorism and depression symptoms, and that perceived social support moderated the association between COVID-19-related concerns and depression. The implications of the study highlight the role of prior exposure to traumatic stress as a risk factor for depression and the role of social support as a protective factor. These results point to the need to develop accessible and non-stigmatic mental health services for populations exposed to other types of continuous traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Becky Leshem
- Department of Education, Achva Academic College, Beer Tuvia, Arugot 7980400, Israel
| | | | - Miriam Schiff
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
| | - Rami Benbenishty
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
- Department of Education, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7591538, Chile
| | - Ruth Pat-Horenczyk
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
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17
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Ju YJ, Kim W, Lee SY. Perceived social support and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationally-representative study. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2023; 69:47-55. [PMID: 35102767 PMCID: PMC9936177 DOI: 10.1177/00207640211066737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated containment policies have led to negative mental health consequences in the general population. AIMS This study investigated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms in Korea. METHODS Data from the Korea Community Health Survey conducted from August to November 2020 was used for this cross-sectional study. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and perceived social support was assessed based on the number of contacts that participants had identified as being available in case participants needed isolation due to COVID-19 exposure. This study included the general adult populations aged 19 years and older. The relationship between the perceived social support and depressive symptoms was analyzed using multivariable liner regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on income. RESULTS Analysis of the data obtained from 225,453 participants indicated that PHQ-9 scores were highest in the group with 'no' perceived social support, followed by 'low', 'middle', and 'high' perceived levels of social support. Compared to individuals with 'high' perceived social support, those with 'middle' (β: .10, p-value <.001), 'low (β: .07, p-value .010), and 'no' (β: .34, p-value <.001) perceived levels of social support showed poorer depression scores. The magnitude of the relationship found was particularly strong in the low-income group. CONCLUSIONS During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals' depression scores varied according to their perceived level of social support. Strategies that address the need of vulnerable individuals are required to reduce the potentially negative mental health consequences of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeong Jun Ju
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Woorim Kim
- Division of Cancer Control & Policy, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Young Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Sattler DN, Bishkhorloo B, Lawley KA, Hackler R, Byambajav C, Munkhbat M, Smith-Galeno B. Stigma, Post-traumatic Stress, and COVID-19 Vaccination Intent in Mongolia, India, and the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2084. [PMID: 36767449 PMCID: PMC9915119 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Background: Stigma and discrimination during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have increased precipitously worldwide. This multinational study examines how stigma, blaming groups for virus spread, concern regarding contracting the virus, resource loss, life satisfaction, and protective behaviors that help control the spread of COVID-19 are associated with post-traumatic stress and vaccine intent in Mongolia, India, and the United States. Method: 1429 people in Mongolia, India, and the United States completed measures assessing stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic, post-traumatic stress, blame, protective behaviors, and vaccine intent. Results: Mean post-traumatic stress scores in all three countries exceeded the cut-off that is commonly used to determine probable post-traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress was associated with COVID-19 stigma experience, personal behavior change due to COVID-19 stigma, blaming groups for the spread of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, and resource loss. In India and the United States, personal behavior change due to COVID-19 stigma, anger at individuals spreading COVID-19, and perceived susceptibility to illness were positively associated with vaccine intent. Conclusions: Stigma is a collateral stressor during the pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of prompt action to address stigma as a deleterious consequence of the pandemic. The findings illuminate potential barriers to receiving the vaccine and provide direction for future research to address barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Sattler
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9172, USA
| | - Boldsuren Bishkhorloo
- Department of Education and Psychology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Kendall A. Lawley
- Global Center for Integrated Health of Women, Adolescents, and Children, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ruth Hackler
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9172, USA
| | - Chuluunbileg Byambajav
- Department of Education and Psychology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Michidmaa Munkhbat
- Department of Education and Psychology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Brooklyn Smith-Galeno
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9172, USA
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Wannachot W, Phukrongpet P, Rattanasuteerakul K, Daovisan H. “Even though we are elders living alone”: has social support reshaped the care of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HEALTHCARE 2023. [DOI: 10.1108/ijhrh-09-2022-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how social support has reshaped the care of older adults living alone in northeast Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative method using a narrative gerontological perspective with a descriptive design. Purposive sampling was conducted from 20 in-depth narrative interviews between November 2021 and February 2022 in Maha Sarakham province, northeast Thailand. Data transcriptions were performed using a narrative analytical process.
Findings
The in-depth narrative interviews indicated that older adults living alone during the coronavirus pandemic valued a comfortable life, a sense of place, favourable living arrangements, self-reliance, life goals and meaningful life. The gerontological analysis showed that social support for older adults living alone included a social safety net, networking, supporting needs, physical care and mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative narrative gerontological study to explore how social support reshaped the care of older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeast Thailand.
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20
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Klonover E, Maytles R, Trachtingot I, Bergman YS. Sense of community, meaning in life, and satisfaction with life among Ultra-Orthodox Jews: A mediation model. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:516-523. [PMID: 35773775 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel, characterized by close-knit ties and strong community values, has been particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, both epidemiologically and socially. Accordingly, the current study examined whether the connection between the sense of community and life satisfaction in this population is mediated by meaning in life (MIL). Three hundred and fifty-eight Ultra-Orthodox participants (age range: 30-70; M = 49.50, SD = 10.24) filled out scales assessing MIL, sense of community, and satisfaction with life (SWL), as well as sociodemographic and COVID-19-related scales. Sense of community was linked with increased MIL and life satisfaction. Moreover, the connection between sense of community and life satisfaction was mediated by MIL. This study highlights the roles of sense of community and MIL for Ultra-Orthodox individuals and emphasizes the importance of both concepts for maintaining SWL during COVID-19. Practical implications for Ultra-Orthodox communities are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Klonover
- Faculty of Social Work, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Ruth Maytles
- Faculty of Social Work, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
- Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Yoav S Bergman
- Faculty of Social Work, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
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21
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Bokszczanin A, Palace M, Brown W, Gladysh O, Tripathi R, Shree D. Depression, Perceived Risk of COVID-19, Loneliness, and Perceived Social Support from Friends Among University Students in Poland, UK, and India. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:651-663. [PMID: 36923297 PMCID: PMC10010133 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s380318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The study examines the prevalence of depression among university students in Poland, the UK and India in the face of the second pandemic wave of COVID-19. The paper also examines the protective role of perceived social support, the hypothesis being that social support from friends would reduce depression. Methods The data from university students (N=732) in Poland (N=335), UK (N= 198), and India (N=199) were collected online during of the fall/winter 2021. Participants completed measures of depression (CES-D), COVID-19 risk perception index, loneliness (DJGLS), and perceived social support (MSPSS). Results Almost 52% of all participants (58.5% in Poland, 62.6% in the UK, and 29.1% in India) met the criteria for major depression. The higher levels of depression symptoms were associated with a higher perceived risk of COVID-19, greater loneliness, female gender, younger students' age, and the lower levels of perceived social support. The greater family support predicted lower levels of depression symptoms in the Polish and Indian samples. Structural equation analyses (SEM) revealed the indirect effect of perceived social support from friends on the association between social loneliness and depression and between age and depression. This result shows that the support from friends significantly reduced depression, regardless of age, the level of social loneliness, and the perceived risk of COVID-19. Conclusion Our conclusions link to university specialists' enhancement of psychological help for students with depression. We also recommend information campaigns on depression and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marek Palace
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - William Brown
- School of Psychology, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK
| | - Olga Gladysh
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rakhi Tripathi
- Information Technology Area, FORE School of Management, New Delhi, India
| | - Divya Shree
- School of Criminology and Behavioural Sciences, Rashtriya Raksha University Lavad, Dahegam, India
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22
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Măirean C, Zancu SA, Diaconu-Gherasim LR, Brumariu LE. Mental Health among Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Investigation. THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 157:192-211. [PMID: 36808701 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2023.2169230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess changes in COVID-19 related factors (i.e. risk perception, knowledge about the virus, preventive behaviors and perceived efficacy) and mental health (i.e. psychological distress and positive mental health), in a sample of Romanian young adults attending college, assessed immediately after the national COVID-19 lockdown ended (Time 1) and six months after the end of the lockdown (Time 2). We also evaluated the longitudinal relations between COVID-19 related factors and mental health. The sample consisted of 289 undergraduate students (89.3% female, Mage = 20.74, SD = 1.06), who completed questionnaires assessing mental health and COVID-19-related factors via two online surveys, six months apart. The results showed that perceived efficacy and preventive behaviors, as well as positive mental health, but not psychological distress, decreased significantly over the six months period. Risk perception and perceived efficacy of preventive behaviors at Time 1 were positively related with the number of preventive behaviors measured six months later. Risk perception at Time 1 and fear of COVID-19 at Time 2 predicted the mental health indicators at Time 2. Public-health strategies should find the right balance in cultivating proper levels of risk perception that would be most beneficial for prevention of COVID-19 spread and mental health problems due to pandemic.
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23
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Shen J, Sun R, Xu J, Dai Y, Li W, Liu H, Fang X. Patterns and predictors of adolescent life change during the COVID-19 pandemic: a person-centered approach. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 42:2514-2528. [PMID: 34539155 PMCID: PMC8435363 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02204-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated patterns of adolescent life changes across multiple life domains and utilized a holistic-interactionistic perspective to examine their individual, familial, and societal correlates with a sample of 2544 Chinese parent-adolescent dyads. Adolescents were aged from 10 to 19 years old (50.16% girls). Latent profile analysis revealed five life change profiles, including three improved profiles at various degrees, one unchanged profile, and one worsened profile. The majority of adolescents had an improved or unchanged life. Multinomial logistic regression analyses found that most of the individual, familial, and societal factors predicted the group memberships. Notably, parent-adolescent conflict was a significant factor that predicted memberships of all patterns. These findings show the resilience of adolescents and indicate the need for policies and interventions that consider the holistic nature of adolescents' person-context system, especially during a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Shen
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
- Research Center for High School Student Developmental Guidance, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruixi Sun
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
- Research Center for High School Student Developmental Guidance, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianjie Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Dai
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
- Research Center for High School Student Developmental Guidance, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Wanping Li
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
- Research Center for High School Student Developmental Guidance, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Liu
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
| | - Xiaoyi Fang
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875 China
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Oksanen A, Oksa R, Celuch M, Cvetkovic A, Savolainen I. COVID-19 Anxiety and Wellbeing at Work in Finland during 2020-2022: A 5-Wave Longitudinal Survey Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:680. [PMID: 36612998 PMCID: PMC9819787 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted workers globally during 2020-2022 and it has had major psychological implications for workers' wellbeing. This longitudinal study analyzed risk and protective factors predicting COVID-19 anxiety among workers in Finland. Longitudinal national sample of Finnish workers (n = 685) participated in a five-wave study conducted in 2020-2022, covering multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Our outcome measure was COVID-19 anxiety. Predictors were psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, and loneliness. Models also controlled for self-regulation; social support at work and remote working; and socio-demographic background factors. Both within-person and between-person effects were analyzed using multilevel hybrid regression models. COVID-19 anxiety varied between time points which is explained by changes in circumstances during the pandemic. Highest anxiety was expressed in the middle of the Delta variant surge and lockdown in spring 2021. Within-person changes in psychological distress, work exhaustion, technostress, self-regulation, and perceived loneliness were all associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Between-person results showed that distressed, exhausted, technostressed, and lonely workers expressed more anxiety than others. Remote workers reported higher anxiety over time than others. Those who had reported high self-regulation reported lower anxiety than others. Female gender and younger age were associated with higher anxiety. COVID-19 anxiety continues to be an important phenomenon with a magnitude of consequences on people and numerous industries. This study showed that general mental health and work stressors predict COVID-19 anxiety. Promoting social support and workers' self-regulation skills can be beneficial for overcoming anxiety during and after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atte Oksanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
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Mitchell BJ, Gawlik EA, Baugher BJ, George RL, Muakkassa FF, Mallat AF, Gunstad J, Delahanty DL, Coifman KG. Were there losses in social support during the pandemic? Testing the impact of COVID-19 on psychological adjustment to trauma in United States adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1061621. [PMID: 36619028 PMCID: PMC9813403 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Social support is a key protective factor in the psychological adjustment of individuals to traumatic events. However, since March 2020, extant research has revealed evidence of increased loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic-related recommendations that restricted day-to-day contact with others. Methods In this investigation, we applied a case-control design to test the direct impacts of the pandemic on social support in United States adults recovering from a significant injury caused by PTSD-qualifying, traumatic events (e.g., motor vehicle crashes, violence, etc.). We compared individuals who experienced trauma during the pandemic, the "cases" recruited and evaluated between December 2020 to April 2022, to trauma-exposed "controls," recruited and evaluated pre-pandemic, from August 2018 through March 9, 2020 (prior to changes in public health recommendations in the region). Cohorts were matched on key demographics (age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, income) and injury severity variables. We tested to see if there were differences in reported social support over the first 5 months of adjustment, considering variable operationalizations of social support from social network size to social constraints in disclosure. Next, we tested to see if the protective role of social support in psychological adjustment to trauma was moderated by cohort status to determine if the impacts of the pandemic extended to changes in the process of adjustment. Results The results of our analyses suggested that there were no significant cohort differences, meaning that whether prior to or during the pandemic, individuals reported similar levels of social support that were generally protective, and similar levels of psychological symptoms. However, there was some evidence of moderation by cohort status when examining the process of adjustment. Specifically, when examining symptoms of post-traumatic stress over time, individuals adjusting to traumatic events during COVID-19 received less benefit from social support. Discussion Although negative mental health implications of the pandemic are increasingly evident, it has not been clear how the pandemic impacted normative psychological adjustment processes. These results are one of the first direct tests of the impact of COVID-19 on longitudinal adjustment to trauma and suggest some minimal impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Mitchell
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Benjamin J. Mitchell,
| | - Emily A. Gawlik
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Brittany J. Baugher
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Richard L. George
- Summa Health Systems, Akron, OH, United States,Department of Surgery, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown Township, OH, United States
| | | | - Ali F. Mallat
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH, United States
| | - John Gunstad
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Douglas L. Delahanty
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Karin G. Coifman
- Department of Psychological Science and Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
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Irfan I, Artama S, Wawomeo A. Determinants of the Support System and Quality of Life for Post-COVID-19 Patients. JURNAL INFO KESEHATAN 2022. [DOI: 10.31965/infokes.vol20.iss2.815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in habits for post-COVID-19 patients in Indonesia. Support system, both informal and formal, are very important for the successful treatment and recovery of post-COVID-19 patients. The level of knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the patient's family is also significantly influential on the support system, especially for comorbid patients who undergo a longer recovery process. The objective of this study to determine the determinants of the support system and quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients in Ende Regency. The type of research used is analytic observational using a cross sectional study design. The sampling method used cluster random sampling. The sample used proportional allocation technique with a sample of 110 respondents. The results of the study found that the variables that had a significant relationship with the support system and quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients were the respondent's age (p=0.001), quality of life (p=0.001), family attitudes (p=0.001), family behavior (p=0.001), health status (p=0.001) and the patient's comorbid history (p=0.001), while for family knowledge variables (p=0.051) and (p=0.129), and there is no significant relationship for symptoms when suffering from COVID-19 (p=0.078) and (p=0.717). The conclusion is that the support system provided to people with various determinants when facing the situation after the coronavirus pandemic is very important in improving the physical and psychological dimensions. A good support system can reduce various forms of stress, improve coping mechanisms and improve the quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients.
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Fan C, Liu S. Exploring the associations among perceived teacher emotional support, resilience, Covid-19 anxiety, and mental well-being: evidence from Chinese vocational college students. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-11. [PMID: 36531197 PMCID: PMC9734723 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relations between perceived teacher emotional support, Covid-19 anxiety, resilience, and mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students during Covid-19 pandemic. A sample of Chinese vocational college students (n = 1469) were surveyed with an online questionnaire composed of Teacher Emotional Support, Covid-19 Anxiety Scale, Brief Resilience Scale and Mental Well-being in Chinese version. Path analysis was employed in the study and the results showed that teacher emotional support was an important promoter for building up mental well-being but not a buffer for Covid-19 within Chinese cultural context, and the Covid-19 anxiety was significantly and negatively related to mental well-being. Resilience hindered the incidences of Covid-19 anxiety and was a significant protector for mental well-being. Covid-19 anxiety mediated the both relations between teacher emotional support and mental well-being, and resilience and mental well-being. These findings provided practical implications for coping with psychological problems and flourishing mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-04112-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhong Fan
- College of Education, Qufu Normal University, Qufu City, Zip: 273165 Shandong Province China
- Shandong Polytechnic College, Jining City, Zip: 272000 Shandong Province China
| | - Shujie Liu
- College of Education, Qufu Normal University, Qufu City, Zip: 273165 Shandong Province China
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Rodrigues DL, Zoppolat G, Balzarini RN, B Slatcher R. Security motives and negative affective experiences during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychol Health 2022; 37:1605-1625. [PMID: 35510649 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2067332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Self-regulation can help individuals cope during stressful events, but little is known about why and when this might occur. We examined if being more focused on prevention was linked to negative affective experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined possible underlying mechanisms for this association, and whether social support buffered it. DESIGN Pre-registered longitudinal study, with surveys every 2 weeks over one month (N = 1269). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Regulatory focus and worry for health (T1), adherence to self-isolation and preventive health behaviours (T2), negative affective experiences, positive affect, frequency of online interactions, and perceived social support (T3). RESULTS Prevention focus was associated with health worries at baseline and linked to greater adherence to preventive health behaviours (T2). Only adherence to self-isolation was linked to more negative affective experiences (T3). Exploratory analyses showed that prevention focus was linked to more negative affective experiences (T3), but only for participants with fewer online interactions with their family and less perceived social support from family and friends. CONCLUSIONS Prevention motives in threatening times can be a double-edged sword, with benefits for health behaviours and consequences for negative affective experiences. Having a strong social network during these times can alleviate these consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Rodrigues
- Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-Iscte, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Giulia Zoppolat
- Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Hemi A, Sopp MR, Schäfer SK, Michael T, Levy‐Gigi E. Adaptive responding to prolonged stress exposure: A binational study on the impact of flexibility on latent profiles of cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e6163-e6174. [PMID: 36184793 PMCID: PMC10092359 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The high level of uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the general population's well-being and capacity for adaptive responding. Studies indicate that flexibility, defined as the ability to choose and employ a variety of emotional, cognitive and behavioural strategies in accordance with changing contextual demands, may significantly contribute to adaptive responding to long-term stressors such as COVID-19. In the current study, we aimed to investigate which facets of flexibility predict different latent profiles of adaptive responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel and Germany. A total of 2330 Israelis and 743 Germans completed online questionnaires measuring cognitive and coping regulatory flexibility and cognitive, emotional and behavioural responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyses revealed three distinct response profiles in each country (high, medium and low). These profiles differed in both anxiety and depression symptoms with the non-adaptive response group experiencing clinically relevant symptoms both in Israel and Germany. Additionally, cognitive flexibility and coping flexibility emerged as significant predictors of response profiles in both countries. Training cognitive and coping flexibility may thus help individuals respond more adaptively to psychosocial stressors such as COVID-19. Such training could be selectively administered to less flexible subpopulations as well as adapted to the specific population characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Hemi
- Faculty of EducationBar Ilan UniversityIsrael
| | - M. Roxanne Sopp
- Faculty of EducationBar Ilan UniversityIsrael
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of PsychologySaarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
| | | | - Tanja Michael
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of PsychologySaarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
| | - Einat Levy‐Gigi
- Faculty of EducationBar Ilan UniversityIsrael
- The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research CenterBar Ilan UniversityIsrael
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Han SY, Jang HY, Ko Y. COVID-19-related anxiety and lifestyle changes. Front Public Health 2022; 10:886137. [PMID: 36388278 PMCID: PMC9663920 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.886137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify factors that affect lifestyle changes and focused on coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related anxiety since the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea. Data from 213,848 individuals from the 2020 Korean Community Health Survey were analyzed using a complex sampling design. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analyses were performed. Participants reported a high level of COVID-19-related anxiety, with a score of 19.28 out of 25. The score of healthy behavioral change index was -0.51, indicating negative changes in physical activity, dietary habits, and sleep patterns. A slight positive change was reported for addictive behavioral change index, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, at 0.27 scores, indicating a decrease in these behaviors. COVID-19-related anxiety was an important factor that negatively affected health behavior. The high-risk groups that were vulnerable to anxiety included older adults and those who have little social support or few social encounters. Thus, identifying high-risk groups with the potential for worsened health behavior and providing interventions to reduce the anxiety caused by COVID-19 are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Yi Han
- Department of Nursing Science, Sunmoon University, Asan-si, South Korea
| | - Hye Young Jang
- College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Ko
- College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
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31
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Rostami M, Ahmadboukani S, Saleh Manijeh H. Big Five Personality Traits and Predicting Mental Health among Iranian Older Adults. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2022; 8:23337214221132365. [PMID: 36340048 PMCID: PMC9629558 DOI: 10.1177/23337214221132365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging has been a major issue for experts, policymakers, and even the general public in recent years. There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the role of personality traits in the health of older adults, but this evidence is still in its infancy. This study aimed to investigate the role of the big five personality traits in predicting the mental health among older adults. In this cross-sectional study, 150 community-residing older adults were selected and completed the Ten Item Personality Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Adult Hope Scale, and Short-Form Health Survey. According to the results, extraversion and openness to experience can explain 11% of the variances of hope, extraversion and conscientiousness account for 16% of the variances in perceived social support, and all the big five personality traits together predict 34% of the variances in the health-related quality of life. Given the role of personality traits in predicting the mental health of older adults, counselors and psychologists working with these people can pay attention to the personality traits of older adults in designing their psychological, educational, and research programs to achieve more desirable outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rostami
- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Soliman Ahmadboukani
- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Hiwa Saleh Manijeh
- Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Hiwa Saleh Manijeh, Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Koodakyar Ave, Daneshjoo Blvd, Evin, Tehran 1985713831, Iran.
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Yang H, Zhao Q, Zhang Z, Jia W. Associations between Lifestyle Changes, Risk Perception and Anxiety during COVID-19 Lockdowns: A Case Study in Xi'an. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13379. [PMID: 36293958 PMCID: PMC9602756 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 dramatically changed individuals' lifestyles, which in turn triggered psychological stress and anxiety. Many previous studies have discussed the relationships between lifestyle changes and anxiety and risk perception and anxiety independently. However, few papers have discussed these factors in a comprehensive and systematic manner. We established a six-dimensional system to assess changes in individuals' lifestyles, which include dietary habits, physical activity (PA), sleep, screen time, smoking and alcohol consumption, and interaction with neighbors. Then, we collected information relating to socio-demographics, lifestyle changes, risk perception, and anxiety, and discussed their associations using multilinear and stepwise logistic regressions. The results show that not all lifestyle changes had an influence on anxiety. Changes in PA and interaction with neighbors were not significantly associated with anxiety. Risk perception was found to be inversely related to anxiety. Changes in dietary habits, family harmony, and net income were negatively related to anxiety among the group with higher risk perception. As individuals perceived a higher severity of COVID-19, the impact of their financial status on anxiety increased. These findings provide a valuable resource for local governments seeking to refine their pandemic strategies by including approaches such as advocating healthy lifestyles and stabilizing the job market to improve individuals' mental health during lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | | | - Zhengkai Zhang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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Ciułkowicz M, Misiak B, Szcześniak D, Grzebieluch J, Maciaszek J, Rymaszewska J. Social Support Mediates the Association between Health Anxiety and Quality of Life: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12962. [PMID: 36232258 PMCID: PMC9566112 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to test if perceived social support and cyberchondria mediate the association between health anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in a nonclinical sample. Cross-sectional research involved adult internet users (n = 538) between 16 May 2020 and 29 December 2020 in Poland who completed self-report questionnaires, including the cyberchondria severity scale (CSS-PL), the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) and the quality of life scale (QOLS). A mediation analysis was performed to examine the direct effects of health anxiety on cyberchondria, perceived social support and quality of life. Likewise, the effects of cyberchondria and perceived social support on QoL were analyzed. Hence, indirect effects of health anxiety on QoL through cyberchondria and perceived social support were explored. Health anxiety significantly impaired QoL both directly and indirectly through low-perceived social support. Perceived social support partly mediated the association between health anxiety and QoL. Cyberchondria did not have a significant direct effect on the latter. Thus, cyberchondria did not mediate the relationship between health anxiety and QoL. Boosting-perceived social support may mitigate the detrimental effect of health anxiety on QoL. Cyberchondria was not found to have a significant effect on QoL in contrast to health anxiety alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ciułkowicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Szcześniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Grzebieluch
- Department of Population Health, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julian Maciaszek
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Rymaszewska
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
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Matteucci I. Sport, physical activity and social health in older adults. Caring with technology in the COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW FOR THE SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT 2022; 57:960-979. [PMID: 36065458 PMCID: PMC9301356 DOI: 10.1177/10126902211045675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to photograph this precise moment in history, focusing on the situation of older adults during the COVID-19 health emergency in Northern Italy. In particular, we analysed the relationship between social networks and social support, sport and recreational activity, and the use of communications technologies in December 2020. We investigated and discussed such use of technologies, wondering if and how it helped to compensate for the diminishment in social health, usually gained trough social interactions and the practice of sport and physical activity. We examined how reduction of mobility, social distancing and isolation measures imposed by the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19, affected the living conditions of the older adults, in particular their social health, and the level of sport and physical activity they were engaged in. We collected data through interviews with the subjects, assessing their social networks, the perceived social support provided by their family members, friends and caregivers, and the level of sport and physical activity they were engaged in. Moreover, we analysed the impact of technological communications devices, which were employed to help older adults to maintain their relationships with the outside world and to preserve their active life. The interview questions were formulated based on the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R), the short version of the Social Support List (SSL12-I) for the elderly and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). A relationship was found between the social health related to physical activity of the older adults subjects during the COVID-19 emergency and the use of communications technologies, which played a role in mitigating the impact of the crisis on their social health by helping them to keep physically and socially active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Matteucci
- Ivana Matteucci, Department of
Communication Science, Humanistic and International Studies (DISCUI), Carlo Bo
University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy.
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Muñoz‐Martínez AM, Naismith I. Social connectedness, emotional regulation, and health behaviors as correlates of distress during lockdown for COVID‐19: A diary study. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2022; 15:536-560. [PMID: 35986601 PMCID: PMC9538517 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mass lockdowns are a powerful infection‐reduction strategy but are a significant stressor. This study aimed to explore whether various factors known to predict distress in normal contexts (e.g. social connectedness, emotional‐regulation strategies, and health‐related behaviors) are associated with daily distress under lockdown conditions. A time‐based diary study evaluated how perceived social connectedness, health‐promoting, and risk behaviors predicted within‐person and between‐person psychological distress. One hundred and nine adults completed surveys on these variables daily for 15 days while under stringent COVID‐19 lockdown in Colombia. Emotional suppression and reappraisal were measured at the start of the study to explore whether they predicted distress. Distress was lower on the days that people experienced greater social connectedness (within‐person analyses) but was not significantly predicted by between‐participant differences in emotional regulation. Health‐promoting behaviors such as exercising and meaningful activity were associated with lower distress, while watching COVID‐19 news and eating high‐calorie food were associated with higher distress. Looking at individual dynamics provides meaningful insights on daily behaviors associated with distress that might improve people's wellbeing during lockdown, such as social connectedness, meaningful activity, nutrition, exercise, and minimizing news exposure. Future research with alternative designs will enable causal conclusions to be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iona Naismith
- Department of Psychology University of the Andes Bogota Colombia
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Cui J, Cheung VHM, Huang W, Kan WS. Mental Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study of Women Receiving the Comprehensive Social Security Allowance in Hong Kong. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10279. [PMID: 36011912 PMCID: PMC9407927 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Welfare recipients were often considered the least deserving of COVID-related support. Despite the recent attention paid to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, few studies have explored the mental distress experienced by welfare recipients. This cross-sectional study on female Comprehensive Social Security Allowance recipients in Hong Kong aimed to explore their level of mental distress and its association with a range of risk factors specific to welfare recipients. Hence, 316 valid cases from a local community center responded to our online survey. We found that 52.3%, 23.4%, and 78% of the participants showed moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. A higher level of mental distress was associated with having a psychiatric diagnosis, poorer social, and greater concerns over disciplining children, the living environment, daily expenses and being infected by COVID-19. Unexpectedly, being married, having a permanent residence, and having a job were not significant protective factors for this group. The models explained 45.5%, 44.6%, and 52.5% of the overall variance in the level of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.01), respectively. Our findings have important implications for supporting female welfare recipients during a public health crisis and may help frontline staff and professionals provide prompt assistance to this group in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang Cui
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vanessa Hoi Mei Cheung
- Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong
| | | | - Wan Sang Kan
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Gewirtz-Meydan A, Lassri D. A profile analysis of COVID-19 stress-related reactions: The importance of early childhood abuse, psychopathology, and interpersonal relationships. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 130:105442. [PMID: 34920898 PMCID: PMC8666322 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is little argument that COVID-19 is potentially highly stressful for many people, however, little research has broken down COVID-19-related distress into different aspects clustering together, and how these clusters differ in terms of the vulnerability of the individuals. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of the present study was to identify distinct profiles of individuals' reactions to COVID-19-related stress, and analyze potential differences and risk and protective factors associated with these profiles in relation to childhood abuse, psychopathology, and interpersonal relationships. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Data was collected online among a convenience sample of 914 men and women in Israel. METHODS A Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) for estimating distinct profiles in people's COVID-19-related distress was applied. Next, profiles were compared in childhood abuse, psychopathology, perceived social support and relationship satisfaction. RESULTS Five distinct profiles were identified: The distressed (23.75%), the worried (38.96%), the financially and socially distressed (15.20%), the caregivers (13.65%), and the untroubled (8.44Profiles in which individuals had more COVID-19 related distress are characterized by more childhood abuse, psychopathology, and less social support and relationship satisfaction. CONCLUSION An assessment of the psychological implications of COVID-19 (when screening the population and creating prevention/intervention programs) should take into account the different responses individuals have when facing COVID-19, and their vulnerability, including their history of abuse, psychopathology, social support and relationship satisfaction, so that these programs will be better tailored to each type of distress experienced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan
- School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. agewirtz-@univ.haifa.ac.il
| | - Dana Lassri
- The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Reis D, Krautter K, Hart A, Friese M. Heterogeneity in mental health change during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany: The role of social factors. Stress Health 2022; 39:272-284. [PMID: 35778965 PMCID: PMC9350024 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a prolonged global crisis, but its effects on mental health seem inconsistent. This inconsistency highlights the importance of considering the differential impact of the pandemic on individuals. There is some evidence that mental health trajectories are heterogeneous and that both sociodemographic and personal characteristics are associated with higher risk for mental health issues. By contrast, information on the role of social factors as potential determinants of initial reactions to the pandemic and on heterogeneous trajectories over time is lacking. We analysed seven assessments of a large-scale (N = 2203) longitudinal study across 1.5 years, beginning in March 2020. Using self-report data on mental health and life satisfaction, we applied latent change models to examine initial reactions and mean changes across the pandemic. In addition, we applied latent class growth analyses to investigate whether there were distinct groups with different patterns of change. Results showed that on average, levels of life satisfaction and anxiety decreased (d = -0.31 and d = -0.11, respectively), levels of depressive symptoms increased (d = 0.13), and stress levels remained unchanged (d = -0.01) during the first year of the pandemic. For each outcome, we identified four distinct mental health trajectories. Between 5% (for anxiety) and 11% (for life satisfaction) of the sample reported consistently high-and even increasing-impairments in mental health and well-being. The trajectories of a sizeable number of people covaried with the course of the pandemic, such that people experienced better mental health when the number of COVID cases was low and when fewer restrictions were placed on public life. Low emotional support, high instrumental support, and the tendency to compare oneself with others were associated with more mental health issues. Findings show that whereas a substantial portion of people were largely unaffected by the pandemic, some individuals experienced consistently high levels of psychological distress. Social factors appear to play a crucial role in the maintenance of well-being.
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Goodwin R, Takahashi M. Anxiety, past trauma and changes in relationships in Japan during COVID-19. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 151:377-381. [PMID: 35567802 PMCID: PMC9047618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Widely shared traumas have the potential to both improve and impair our relationships with others. During COVID-19 anxiety has been seen as a major individual vulnerability associated with relationship change, as have the wider economic, situational factors facing families and communities. In this national sample of 997 Japanese respondents we assessed perceived relationship changes in couple relations, neighbourhood relations, and wider relations with Japanese nationals, alongside anxiety, exposure to previous mass traumas, household economics, education, and vulnerability to COVID-19. Whilst most respondents reported little change in their relationships during this year there was a small overall improvement in couple relationships and a decline in relations with wider communities. Participant's economic resources were positively associated with an improvement in couple relationships, while anxiety was associated with a decline in relations with both the neighbourhood and the wider society. While neither prior experience of mass trauma, nor education or health vulnerability to COVID-19, were associated with relationship change, having time to talk, and younger age, was positively associated with improvement in couple relations. Findings suggest that anxiety can function to distance relationships during a time of stress, but perceived changes in relationships are little effected by experience of previous trauma. Relationship growth is likely to be greatest in those with better economic conditions. Practitioners need to be mindful of the impact of enhanced anxiety during the pandemic on interpersonal relations, and a potential threat to the relationships of older couples during this time of pandemic threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Goodwin
- Department of Psychology, Gibbet Hill, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
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Dan VH, Ponnuchamy L, Anand N, Bhaskarapillai B. Social support among persons with depressive disorders during COVID-19 pandemic. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:2981-2988. [PMID: 36119187 PMCID: PMC9480639 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2462_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Context The extent of depressive disorders is wide in the Indian population as reported by epidemiological studies, warranting a necessary area of intervention to cover the rampant treatment gap. Social support is known to vary as per the community-level changes, which may be attributed to events kickstarted by COVID-19. Objectives This study aimed to assess the social support among persons with depressive disorders. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 75 individuals of age ranging from 18 to 46 years from multi-ethnic communities across India. We used the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results This sample had a mean age of 32 years (SD: 7.88 years), and recurrent depressive disorder was the larger prevalent psychopathology diagnosed during their routine clinical consultation in the hospital (69.3%). The majority of the respondents experienced moderate depression (n = 42), followed by mild depression (n = 14) and severe depression (n = 5). Social support and resilience were found to be mildly correlated with each other for persons with mild depression (r = 0.620; P = 0.018). Conclusion Persons with mild depressive features may benefit from low-cost and community-based interventions directed to enhance social support and thus impact resilience. Psychosocial interventions must address the impact of moderate depression and recurrent depressive disorder and include social support at all spousal, family, and societal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Hubert Dan
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - L. Ponnuchamy
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Nitin Anand
- Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Binukumar Bhaskarapillai
- Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Chang ML, Gaines RE, Mosley KC. Effects of Autonomy Support and Emotion Regulation on Teacher Burnout in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:846290. [PMID: 35548551 PMCID: PMC9083197 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.846290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated levels of stress and anxiety for P-12 teachers around the globe. The present study aims to understand teachers' emotional experiences and feelings of burnout during the pandemic, and how individual (i.e., emotion regulation strategies) or contextual factors (e.g., school administrative support) intersect with different facets of their emotional experiences. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, we collected and examined survey and interview data from teachers in the southeastern United States. The structural equation model confirmed the relationships among the following latent variables: negative emotion, emotion regulation, autonomy support, burnout, and teacher enthusiasm. Qualitative findings provide further insight in the contextualized nature of these relationships and how they play out across various schools and districts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Lin Chang
- Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
| | - Rachel E. Gaines
- Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
| | - Kristen C. Mosley
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Xu J, Sun R, Li Y, Chen X, Yiu WYV, Zhou N, Wang Y, Luo S, Shen J, Liu L. Subtypes of social withdrawal and mental health trajectories during COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2022; 97:104203. [PMID: 35165492 PMCID: PMC8828291 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has pervasive implications for the well-being of people, especially for the social withdrawn individuals. The present study examined changes of well-being among people in distinct subgroups of social withdrawal – shyness, unsociability, and social avoidance –in different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic using six-wave longitudinal data in China (N = 222; 54.50% female). Results showed that, in general, well-being sharply decreased from the initial phase to the peak phase of the pandemic, but steadily recovered after the peak phase. People in different withdrawal groups displayed different levels and trajectories of well-being during a period of six months. The current study has implications for developing targeted interventions for vulnerable people in public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjie Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Ruixi Sun
- Human Development-Quantitative Methods Division, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yutan Li
- Human Development-Quantitative Methods Division, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xinyin Chen
- Human Development-Quantitative Methods Division, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wai Ying Vivien Yiu
- Human Development-Quantitative Methods Division, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nan Zhou
- Department of Educational Psychology and School Counseling, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Yinan Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Shuyi Luo
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Jingyi Shen
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Lijia Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, China
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Cihan H, Var EC. Developing a model on the factors affecting family resilience in the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk and protective factors. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-16. [PMID: 35370387 PMCID: PMC8960083 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03008-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
During the COVID-19, the relationships among family members and the stress that accompanied have increasingly affected families. The first aim of this study is to test the effects of marital adjustment, perceived stress and parental self-efficacy of married couples on family resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second aim of this study is to investigate whether or not family resilience, perceived stress, parental self-efficacy and marital adjustment differentiate depending on demographic and other variables in the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants consisted of 241 married individuals with at least one child between 4 and 18 years old, and data were collected online. It was found that when perceived stress increased, parental self-efficacy and marital adjustment decreased; besides, this perceived stress indirectly influenced family resilience through parental self-efficacy and marital adjustment. Similarly, it was found that pregnant participants experienced higher level of perception of stress during the COVID-19 period. It was found that the family resilience of participants who got support within the family was higher than participants who got support from outside the family. However, no differences were found between males and females. In stressful processes like the COVID-19 pandemic, each sub-system of the family (individual, couple and parent) has a significant role in the resilience level of the family as a whole. Future studies focus on experimental and can focus on programs prepared for family resilience. Intervention programs can be prepared related to stress perception, parental skills and marital adjustment of married couples and their influence on family resilience can be searched.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudayar Cihan
- Department of Psychology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esra Calik Var
- Department of Social Work, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
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Ciaunica A, McEllin L, Kiverstein J, Gallese V, Hohwy J, Woźniak M. Zoomed out: digital media use and depersonalization experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3888. [PMID: 35273200 PMCID: PMC8913838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07657-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Depersonalisation is a common dissociative experience characterised by distressing feelings of being detached or 'estranged' from one's self and body and/or the world. The COVID-19 pandemic forcing millions of people to socially distance themselves from others and to change their lifestyle habits. We have conducted an online study of 622 participants worldwide to investigate the relationship between digital media-based activities, distal social interactions and peoples' sense of self during the lockdown as contrasted with before the pandemic. We found that increased use of digital media-based activities and online social e-meetings correlated with higher feelings of depersonalisation. We also found that the participants reporting higher experiences of depersonalisation, also reported enhanced vividness of negative emotions (as opposed to positive emotions). Finally, participants who reported that lockdown influenced their life to a greater extent had higher occurrences of depersonalisation experiences. Our findings may help to address key questions regarding well-being during a lockdown, in the general population. Our study points to potential risks related to overly sedentary, and hyper-digitalised lifestyle habits that may induce feelings of living in one's 'head' (mind), disconnected from one's body, self and the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ciaunica
- Centre for Philosophy of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto, via Panoramica s/n, 4150-564, Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1N 3AR, UK.
| | - Luke McEllin
- University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Department of Cognitive Science, Social Mind Center, Central European University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julian Kiverstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vittorio Gallese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, 43121, Parma, Italy
| | - Jakob Hohwy
- Cognition and Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Centre for Consciousness & Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mateusz Woźniak
- Department of Cognitive Science, Social Mind Center, Central European University, Vienna, Austria.
- Cognition and Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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Dubey S, Dubey MJ, Ghosh R, Mitchell AJ, Chatterjee S, Das S, Pandit A, Ray BK, Das G, Benito-León J. The cognitive basis of psychosocial impact in COVID-19 pandemic. Does it encircle the default mode network of the brain? A pragmatic proposal. MEDICAL RESEARCH ARCHIVES 2022; 10:10.18103/mra.v10i3.2707. [PMID: 35530572 PMCID: PMC9071110 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v10i3.2707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics, hypothalamic-pituitary axes, environmental and metabolic influences, and transgenerational plasticity govern social behavior. Cognitive research considers the brain's default mode network (DMN) as a central hub that integrates various cognitive and social processing domains responsible for emotion perception, empathy, theory of mind, and morality. Hence, DMN is regarded as the "social brain." Upsurge in social turmoil, social anxiety, panic, depression, post-traumatic stress, hoarding, herd behavior, substance and behavioral addictions, sexual abuse, and violence in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic are intricately related to personality traits resulting in disruptive social cognition and social behavior, conceptualized as the result of unsettling and disruption of the functional nexus of the DMN. Considering overt and conspicuous display of neuroticism during the current pandemic, its impact upon modulation of the DMN functional nexus and the DMN itself, and the potential to presage cognitive impairment in the future, the authors caution that an increase in the global burden of dementia may be one of the long-term ramifications of COVID-19. Social behavior, a functional derivative of the DMN, can strikingly affect the functional nexus of DMN and the DMN itself, in a centripetal way via the phenomenon called "Experience-Dependent Plasticity," with long-term consequences. In this review, we intend to 1) decipher the association between social cognition and social behavior with the DMN, in time of COVID-19; and to 2) discuss the prospective aftermath of disrupted social behavior during the pandemic on modulation/alteration of functional connectomes of DMN or the DMN itself in the time ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Dubey
- Department of Neuromedicine, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Mahua Jana Dubey
- Department of Psychiatry, Berhampore Mental Hospital, Murshidabad, India
| | - Ritwik Ghosh
- Department of General Medicine, Burdwan Medical College & Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India
| | - Alex J Mitchell
- University Hospitals of Leicester, University of Leicester, Leicester, U.K
| | - Subhankar Chatterjee
- Department of Medicine, RG Kar Medical College, and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Shambaditya Das
- Department of Neuromedicine, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Alak Pandit
- Department of Neuromedicine, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Biman Kanti Ray
- Department of Neuromedicine, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Gautam Das
- Department of Neuromedicine, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Julián Benito-León
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital "12 de Octubre", Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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Coping Strategies and Life Satisfaction among Romanian Emerging Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14052783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to understand coping mechanisms among Romanian youth in their response to institutional COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Data were collected from emerging adults (N = 214), aged 18–29, enrolled in various fields of study throughout a public university in Romania. Adopted versions of the Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences Scale (Brief-COPE, Carver, 1997) and Satisfaction with Life Scales (SLWS, Diener et al., 1985) were administered to explore the impact of the specific social distancing and isolation enforced pandemic restrictions. Findings elucidate the response styles, impact of coping skills, and strategies employed by students toward their well-being during stay-at-home courses. Results indicated that Romanian emerging-adults tend to use diverse strategies, but they use more disengagement, problem-focused coping, humor, socially supportive coping or religion, rather than denial, avoidant-focused coping or substance use, when faced with unprecedented situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss these findings framed in resilience as it relates to the positive youth psychology framework.
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Ali AM, Alkhamees AA, Abd Elhay ES, Taha SM, Hendawy AO. COVID-19-Related Psychological Trauma and Psychological Distress Among Community-Dwelling Psychiatric Patients: People Struck by Depression and Sleep Disorders Endure the Greatest Burden. Front Public Health 2022; 9:799812. [PMID: 35071173 PMCID: PMC8777039 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.799812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has created a general state of worry and distress, especially among vulnerable groups such as those with psychiatric diagnoses. Worldwide, psychiatric care provision has drastically suffered during the pandemic, with many patients unable to access proper care, which may have implications for increased mental health consequences in patients with psychiatric disorders (e.g., relapse and suicide). This cross-sectional study used structural equation modeling to investigate COVID-19-related trauma and distress among Arab psychiatric population during COVID-19 quarantine. Patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders (N = 168) completed an online survey that comprised the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and a questionnaire on COVID-19-related attitudes/perceptions, sources of information, used protective measures, and socio-demographic information. Respondents commonly reported feeling down-hearted/blue, trouble concentrating, along with symptoms of avoidance and rumination related to the pandemic. Patients with depression and sleep disorders expressed higher COVID-19-related trauma than patients with other disorders. Perceived physical health mediated the effect of co-morbid chronic physical disorders on COVID-19 trauma, psychological distress, perceived vulnerability to COVID-19, and perceived likelihood of recovery in case of contracting COVID-19. Perceived physical health and perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 were strong direct predictors of COVID-19-related trauma and psychological distress. Staying at home negatively predicted COVID-19 trauma and exerted an indirect negative effect on psychological distress via COVID-19 trauma. COVID-19 trauma, age, and marital status directly predicted psychological distress, with COVID-19 trauma being the strongest predictor. Educational level, income, having family members working in the medical field, keeping up to date with the news on deaths/infected cases or the development of COVID-19 drugs or vaccines, satisfaction with available information on COVID-19, and using different protective measures were not associated with significant differences in COVID-19 trauma and psychological distress scores. Immuno-psychiatric interventions should be designed to target COVID-19-trauma and distress among younger single patients with perceived poor physical health, especially those diagnosed with depression and sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira M. Ali
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan,Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Abdulmajeed A. Alkhamees
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Abdulmajeed A. Alkhamees
| | - Eman S. Abd Elhay
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Samah M. Taha
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Amin O. Hendawy
- Department of Biological Production, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan,Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
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Latikka R, Koivula A, Oksa R, Savela N, Oksanen A. Loneliness and psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationships with social media identity bubbles. Soc Sci Med 2022; 293:114674. [PMID: 34959045 PMCID: PMC8688936 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and mental health are a concern worldwide. This article is based on two longitudinal studies that investigated the role of social media use in loneliness and psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 1 utilized nationally representative 3-point longitudinal data (n = 735) collected in 2017-2020 on the Finnish population. Study 2 utilized 5-point longitudinal data (n = 840) collected in 2019-2021 representing the Finnish working population. We analyzed the data using multilevel mixed-effects regression analysis. A longitudinal analysis of Study 1 showed that perceived loneliness did not increase among the Finnish population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stronger involvement in social media identity bubbles predicted lower loneliness during the pandemic. Study 2 results showed that since the outbreak of the pandemic, psychological distress has increased among lonely individuals but not among the general working population. Involvement in social media identity bubbles predicted generally lower psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it did not buffer against higher psychological distress among lonely individuals. The findings suggest that perceived loneliness is a risk factor for prolonged negative mental health effects of the pandemic. Social media identity bubbles can offer meaningful social resources during times of social distancing but cannot protect against higher psychological distress among those who perceive themselves as often lonely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Latikka
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Aki Koivula
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, 20500, Turku, Finland.
| | - Reetta Oksa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Nina Savela
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Atte Oksanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland.
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Yang L, Yang Z, Xia Y. Relationship between negative coping style and fear of COVID-19 among Wuhan college students during the post-pandemic period: A moderated chain mediation model. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:994685. [PMID: 36506420 PMCID: PMC9730038 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.994685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES After a long-term lockdown, particularly one in which human life is at risk, negative psychological consequences are expected. In this study, we aimed to explore the cause of stress and fear of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) among Chinese college students in Wuhan during the latest strictest lockdown. METHODS During the COVID-19 outbreak, 1,070 college students from Wuhan, aged 18-29 years, took part in an online survey. We used correlations, bootstrap tests, and other statistical analysis methods to analyze the data. RESULTS Negative coping style significantly positively predicted fear of COVID-19, and stress had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between negative coping style and fear of COVID-19. In addition, rumination and stress had a chain-mediating effect on the relationship between negative coping style and fear of COVID-19. Perceived social support moderated the three paths of this serial mediation model. CONCLUSION Negative emotions, such as stress and fear of COVID-19, in college students are caused by both behavior (e.g., negative coping style) and cognition (e.g., rumination). Importantly, negative cognitive thinking (i.e., rumination) is often a malign consequence of a negative coping style. Thus, to improve students' mental health, students should be encouraged to engage in more positive behaviors and seek social support during periods of adherence to regular prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziyun Yang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Institute of Adolescent Psychological Development, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Xia
- Wuhan Wudong Hospital, Wuhan, China
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Yang L, Liu Y, Han L, Ao Y, Yang H. Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Chinese Residents in Its Initial Stage. Front Psychol 2021; 12:722093. [PMID: 34975616 PMCID: PMC8716447 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.722093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the Chinese public's mental health during its early stage. We collected the data through an online questionnaire survey. Specifically, we adopted the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess symptomatic responses to exposure to traumatic life events and public anxiety, respectively, in the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Then, we evaluated the differences in the scores among various socio-demographic groups using Kruskal-Wakkis H tests and t-tests and analyzed the IES-R, state anxiety (SA) score, and trait anxiety (TA) score using the Pearson correlation analysis. Finally, we conducted a path analysis to determine the mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (measured by the IES-R) in the relationship between TA and SA. The results show that the average of the SA and TA scores were 48.0 ± 10.4 and 38.0 ± 8.2, respectively; the respondents who suffered from mild, moderate, and severe psychological impacts because of the health crisis accounted for 21.9, 5.2, and 13.1%, respectively; farmers have the highest IES-R score than others; people with the highest income have the lowest SA level; a significant positive correlation existed between the IES-R and STAI scores; and TA produces both direct and indirect (through the IES-R) effects on SA. Overall, the general Chinese public exhibited much higher anxiety levels than normal in the early days of the pandemic outbreak. Accordingly, we strongly recommend psychological counseling and intervention support to mitigate the adverse psychological impacts of such an event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linchuan Yang
- Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunhong Liu
- College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Han
- College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Yibin Ao
- College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongtai Yang
- School of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
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