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Martinsson E, Garmy P, Einberg EL. School Nurses' Perceptions About Student's Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Sweden. J Sch Nurs 2024; 40:401-410. [PMID: 35822231 PMCID: PMC9280116 DOI: 10.1177/10598405221112443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has affected both the private and public lives of people worldwide. Countries have chosen different strategies to reduce the spread of infection, including school closures and distance learning. This study aimed to describe school nurses' perceptions about the wellbeing of students during the Covid-19 pandemic in Sweden. Interviews in five focus groups and one individual were conducted with 17 school nurses in Sweden. The interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. According to the school nurses' perceptions, students were concerned about spreading infection, becoming infected themselves, their academic performances, and longing for socialization. The change in the school situation involved a slower pace and less anxiety for some students, more or less physical activity, and an increase in screen time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Martinsson
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Garmy
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eva-Lena Einberg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
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2
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Donker MH, Mastrotheodoros S, Yanagida T, Branje S. Changes in Adolescents' COVID-19-Health-Related Stress, Parent-Adolescent Relationships, and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effect of Personality Traits. J Youth Adolesc 2024:10.1007/s10964-024-02048-w. [PMID: 39042209 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-024-02048-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies investigated short-term effects of COVID-19 on families. However, much is unknown about how families with adolescents fared throughout the pandemic, as well as factors that might explain interindividual differences in adjustment. The current study used latent change score models to investigate associations between changes in adolescents' mental health, parent-adolescent relationship quality, and COVID-19-health-related stress from Fall 2019 to Spring 2021, and whether personality predicted changes in adolescents' mental health, relationship quality, and stress. Participants were 242 adolescents (Mage = 11.56, SD = 0.44, 50% girls). Parent-adolescent negative interactions decreased from before the pandemic to the first lockdown, and stronger decreases (both in this period and between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021) were associated with simultaneous stronger increases in mental health. From Spring to Fall 2020, decreases in stress were stronger for less extraverted adolescents and were associated with better mental health. More agreeable adolescents reported a stronger decrease in stress between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The findings suggest that it is important to consider heterogeneity in designing future intervention and prevention programs. Especially adolescents with existing problems and from multi-problem families might be at risk for adverse consequences during pandemic-like situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika H Donker
- Department of Education and Pedagogy, Section Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Stefanos Mastrotheodoros
- Department of Education and Pedagogy, Section Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece
| | - Takuya Yanagida
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susan Branje
- Department of Education and Pedagogy, Section Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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3
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Parrello S, Postiglione J, Sica LS, De Rosa B, Parola A, Regnoli GM, Fenizia E, Sommantico M. Italian university students' future time perspective and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1404952. [PMID: 39114590 PMCID: PMC11304507 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1404952] [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: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, young adults worldwide showed signs of distress as they were affected in their specific developmental tasks, including the construction of personal and professional futures. Methods The present study aimed to assess the situational future time perspective of Italian university students during the second pandemic wave, as measured by an ad hoc constructed instrument, to explore its interaction with some dispositional traits relevant in future construction, such as optimism, sense of life, aggression, and dispositional future time perspective, and to test their effect on psychological well-being. The total sample consisted of 389 subjects (18-35 years, M = 23.5, SD = 4.4). Results and discussion The results indicated that the pandemic experience, assessed by surveying specific indicators, negatively affected the future time perspective of students, particularly those dispositionally optimistic and convinced that life has meaning. However, awareness of the negative impact that the pandemic brought to the vision of the future seems to have dampened the levels of depression and stress, while anxiety was found to be related only to dispositional traits. The results also suggested the need for educational and economic policies that help young adults develop confidence in the future and in their ability to build it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santa Parrello
- Department of Humanities, Section of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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Hölscher SIE, Schachner MK, Juang LP, Altoè G. Promoting Adolescents' Heritage Cultural Identity Development: Exploring the Role of Autonomy and Relatedness Satisfaction in School-Based Interventions. J Youth Adolesc 2024:10.1007/s10964-024-02017-3. [PMID: 38789877 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-024-02017-3] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Given the significance of heritage cultural identity for optimal adolescent development, it is imperative to investigate factors influencing the efficacy of interventions aimed at promoting heritage cultural identity. Using latent profile cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regressions, this longitudinal study examined how autonomy and relatedness need satisfaction at school (1) related to heritage cultural identity development trajectories, and (2) moderated effects of a school-based intervention. The study included N = 198 adolescents (Mage = 12.86 years, SDage = 0.75, 52% female, 41% immigrant descent, 49% intervention group) in Germany. Teacher-student relationships played an important role in facilitating intervention effects on identity development trajectories, emphasizing the importance of the relational context when implementing school-based interventions to promote heritage cultural identity development.
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Raccanello D, Vicentini G, Rocca E, Hall R, Burro R. Can a web application foster emotional competence in children and adolescents? The case of PandHEMOT®. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:672-695. [PMID: 38035795 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12511] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had many traumatic consequences for the physical and psychological functioning of children and adolescents. Internet-based interventions can reach a large audience and be a potentially powerful resource for promoting well-being among young people. We tested the efficacy of the web application PandHEMOT®, developed ad hoc for increasing knowledge about pandemics, emotions, and emotion regulation. We involved a sample of 147 Italian third and seventh graders. The sample was assigned to an experimental (participating in the training) and a waitlist condition (who participated following a waitlist design). All the participants completed pretest and posttest measures. The intervention was structured into three units. The training took place between November and December 2021. Generalized linear mixed models and linear mixed models revealed that knowledge about pandemics, emotions, emotion regulation, and metacognitive awareness increased for the experimental condition. Moreover, adolescents performed better than children. The findings supported the efficacy of an Internet-based training for increasing children and adolescents' resilience, according to the standards of evidence-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giada Vicentini
- Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Emmanuela Rocca
- Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rob Hall
- Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Environmetrics, Killara, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roberto Burro
- Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Dewa LH, Roberts L, Choong E, Crandell C, Demkowicz O, Ashworth E, Branquinho C, Scott S. The impact of COVID-19 on young people's mental health, wellbeing and routine from a European perspective: A co-produced qualitative systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299547. [PMID: 38507395 PMCID: PMC10954119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299547] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people's (YP) mental health has been mixed. Systematic reviews to date have focused predominantly on quantitative studies and lacked involvement from YP with lived experience of mental health difficulties. Therefore, our primary aim was to conduct a qualitative systematic review to examine the perceived impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on YP's (aged 10-24) mental health and wellbeing across Europe. METHODS AND FINDINGS We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, MEDRXIV, OSF preprints, Google, and voluntary sector websites for studies published from 1st January 2020 to 15th November 2022. European studies were included if they reported qualitative data that could be extracted on YP's (aged 10-24) own perspectives of their experiences of Covid-19 and related disruptions to their mental health and wellbeing. Screening, data extraction and appraisal was conducted independently in duplicate by researchers and YP with lived experience of mental health difficulties (co-researchers). Confidence was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (CERQual) approach. We co-produced an adapted narrative thematic synthesis with co-researchers. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021251578. We found 82 publications and included 77 unique studies in our narrative synthesis. Most studies were from the UK (n = 50; 65%); and generated data during the first Covid-19 wave (March-May 2020; n = 33; 43%). Across the 79,491 participants, views, and experiences of YP minoritised by ethnicity and sexual orientation, and from marginalised or vulnerable YP were limited. Five synthesised themes were identified: negative impact of pandemic information and restrictions on wellbeing; education and learning on wellbeing; social connection to prevent loneliness and disconnection; emotional, lifestyle and behavioural changes; and mental health support. YP's mental health and wellbeing across Europe were reported to have fluctuated during the pandemic. Challenges were similar but coping strategies to manage the impact of these challenges on mental health varied across person, study, and country. Short-term impacts were related to the consequences of changing restrictions on social connection, day-to-day lifestyle, and education set-up. However, YP identified potential issues in these areas going forward, and therefore stressed the importance of ongoing long-term support in education, learning and mental health post-Covid-19. CONCLUSIONS Our findings map onto the complex picture seen from quantitative systematic reviews regarding the impact of Covid-19 on YP's mental health. The comparatively little qualitative data found in our review means there is an urgent need for more high-quality qualitative research outside of the UK and/or about the experiences of minoritised groups to ensure all voices are heard and everyone is getting the support they need following the pandemic. YP's voices need to be prioritised in decision-making processes on education, self-care strategies, and mental health and wellbeing, to drive impactful, meaningful policy changes in anticipation of a future systemic crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay H. Dewa
- NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Roberts
- NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth Choong
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Crandell
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ola Demkowicz
- Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Ashworth
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Catia Branquinho
- Environmental Health Institute, Medicine Faculty, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Steph Scott
- Newcastle Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Sobotka M, Kern T, Haider K, Dale R, Wöhrer V, Pieh C, Probst T, Humer E, Jesser A. School students' burdens and resources after 2 years of COVID-19 in Austria: a qualitative study using content analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1327999. [PMID: 38406498 PMCID: PMC10884163 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1327999] [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: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The mental health of young people has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures associated with it. Mental health symptoms increased across various domains during the pandemic and subjective wellbeing decreased. Methods This study examined the burdens and resources of Austrian school students (M = 16.63 years old) in the third year of the pandemic and compared them descriptively with the burdens and resources identified in a comparative study in 2021. A cross-sectional online survey with open-ended questions from April to May 2022 provided data that was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A sub-sample of N = 214 was selected from the larger sample. This sub-sample is representative for the Austrian population aged 15-19 in terms of gender and migrant background. Results Analysis of the open-ended questions showed that concerns about the pandemic and the burdens of the measures were no longer on young people's minds at the time of the survey in 2022. On the other hand, stress at school was increasing and the opening of schools and the resumption of face-to-face teaching were challenging for respondents. While resuming social contacts and leisure activities was mentioned as a resource by many respondents, some also expressed a desire for more time off and a retreat into coping strategies such as sleeping more or avoiding problems. Discussion Our findings suggest that there is a need for low-threshold support from teachers and parents to help students catch up on missed lessons and to empathize with the mas they make the transition back to "old normal".
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Sobotka
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Thomas Kern
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Katja Haider
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Rachel Dale
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Veronika Wöhrer
- Department of Education, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Pieh
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Thomas Probst
- Division of Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Elke Humer
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Jesser
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Bond L, McNicholas F. The ethicality of the COVID-19 response in children and adolescents. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:321-327. [PMID: 37318749 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03423-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of physiological growth as well as development in biological, emotional, and social domains. During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescent's lives were drastically changed. Many countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland imposed strict universal lockdowns, which included the closing of creches, schools and universities as well as restricting peer interactions, social activities, and recreational pursuits. Evidence is emerging of a catastrophic impact on the younger generation, which leads the authors to explore the ethicality of the COVID-19 response in this population in relation to the four pillars of medical ethics: beneficence, nomaleficence, autonomy, and justice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bond
- University College Dublin School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Fiona McNicholas
- University College Dublin School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
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Azarmehr R, Reck AJ, Zhang L, Oshri A. COVID-19-related stress exacerbates the effect of child maltreatment on negative affect via increased identity confusion during adolescence. J Adolesc 2024; 96:18-30. [PMID: 37718632 PMCID: PMC10843095 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12249] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to childhood maltreatment may undermine the crucial developmental task of identity formation in adolescence, placing them at risk for developing negative affect. The current study investigated whether COVID-19-related stress intensified the indirect link between child maltreatment and adolescents' negative affect through identity confusion. METHOD Using multidimensional assessments of child maltreatment (threat vs. deprivation), the study included a sample of 124 adolescents (Mage = 12.89, SD = 0.79; 52% female) assessed before (January 2018 to March 2020) and during the pandemic (May to October 2020) in Georgia, United States. The majority of the participants were European American (78.8%), followed by African American (11.5%), Hispanic (3.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%), and other (4.8%). We used structural equation modeling to test (a) the mediating role of identity confusion in the link between childhood maltreatment and negative affect and (b) whether COVID-19-related stress moderated these indirect effects. Simple slopes and Johnson-Neyman plots were generated to probe regions of significant interaction effects. RESULTS Threat and deprivation predicted an increase in adolescent identity confusion. Additionally, childhood threat and deprivation were indirectly linked to adolescents' negative affect through increased levels of identity confusion. COVID-19-related stress significantly exacerbated the link between identity confusion and negative affect. CONCLUSION Identity confusion is a mechanism underlying the link between child maltreatment and the development of negative affect in adolescence. Our results inform prevention and intervention programs that aim to reduce negative affect among adolescents who experience threatening and depriving rearing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabeeh Azarmehr
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
- Youth Development Institute, University of Georgia, Room 208, 105 Foster Road (Pound Hall), Athens, GA, 30606, United States
| | - Ava J. Reck
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
- Youth Development Institute, University of Georgia, Room 208, 105 Foster Road (Pound Hall), Athens, GA, 30606, United States
| | - Linhao Zhang
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
- Youth Development Institute, University of Georgia, Room 208, 105 Foster Road (Pound Hall), Athens, GA, 30606, United States
| | - Assaf Oshri
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
- Youth Development Institute, University of Georgia, Room 208, 105 Foster Road (Pound Hall), Athens, GA, 30606, United States
- Integrated Life Sciences, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Kadiani A, Shah H, Thotam A. Negative and positive impacts on lives of resident doctors working in a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Mumbai: A mixed-methods study. Ind Psychiatry J 2023; 32:S213-S219. [PMID: 38370922 PMCID: PMC10871390 DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_193_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in inducting trainee resident doctors (RDs) in the care of COVID-19 patients. Limited research has been conducted to understand the impact of domains other than physical and emotional health on their lives. The focus has been to understand the negative consequences of COVID-19 duties, disregarding the possibility of any positive impact that could have emerged. Aim This mixed-methods study (qualitative and quantitative) aims to explore the holistic and comprehensive impacts of COVID-19 duties on RD's lives. Materials and Methods This is a mixed-methods convergent design study conducted in a 1400-bed multispecialty teaching hospital in a metropolitan city in India. A phenomenological approach was used for the qualitative part of the study, and the data were collected using focus group discussions (FGDs). For quantitative purposes, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was administered. Results Qualitative findings show themes of negative impact covering domains of physical, emotional, social, and professional life. Themes that reveal a positive impact have emerged in the social, professional, and personal domains of the RDs' lives. Quantitative and qualitative results were in agreement with all the questions covered in the WHOQOL-BREF scale; however, the qualitative data findings extend far beyond. Conclusion In the course of the COVID-19 duties, the RD has suffered in multiple domains, yet it has allowed them to self-reflect and change. As a consequence, they have grown as individuals in many areas of their lives. Working in COVID-19 wards has had a holistic impact on the RDs and has transformed them into better doctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Kadiani
- Department of Psychiatry, TNMC B Y L Nair Hospital, Dr A L Nair Road, Near Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Henal Shah
- Department of Psychiatry, TNMC B Y L Nair Hospital, Dr A L Nair Road, Near Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ankita Thotam
- Department of Psychiatry, TNMC B Y L Nair Hospital, Dr A L Nair Road, Near Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Damghanian H, Hedayati S, Farhadinejad M, Rastgar AA. Lessons learned from behaviors of the employees in Iranian banks during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis: A phenomenological study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21445. [PMID: 38045175 PMCID: PMC10692766 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this research is to analyze the experiences of employees during the Covid-19 pandemic cri-sis and conceptualize the lessons learned to deal with similar crises in the future. To achieve this, a qualitative approach with a phenomenological strategy was conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 front-line employees of Bank Melli, the largest state bank in Iran. The study found that employee behavior plays a critical role in crisis management, with functional behaviors such as preventive measures, stress management, and sharing valid information being essential. Dysfunctional behaviors such as resistance to change and inconsistent behaviors were also identified. The prevention of infection and stress management were identified as key behaviors to cope with the crisis, while media literacy and acceptance of change were crucial for correct information analysis and crisis management. Overall, the study highlights the challenges faced by employees during the Covid-19 crisis and provides valuable lessons from a behavioral perspective for managers in the banking industry to manage disruptions caused by current and future pandemics. The study emphasizes the importance of learning from the lessons of the Covid-19 crisis to reduce negative effects on physical and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Damghanian
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Sadegh Hedayati
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Mohsen Farhadinejad
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Abbas Ali Rastgar
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
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Nikitović T, Vuletić T, Ignjatović N, Ninković M, Grujić K, Krnjaić Z, Krstić K. Crisis as Opportunity, Risk, or Turmoil: Qualitative Study of Youth Narratives About the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Adolesc Health 2023; 73:686-692. [PMID: 37410006 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study employed a narrative approach in order to explore how young people constructed meanings regarding their sense of self in the context of COVID-19 experiences. Adolescents have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group, as the developmental challenges they face are superimposed and amplified by the accidental crisis caused by the pandemic. METHODS An in-depth narrative analysis was conducted on written accounts of 13 females aged 17-23 years from Serbia. We selected these narratives from a larger sample of 70 responses (M = 20.1; SD = 2.9; 85.7% female) collected via an online form. We used reflexive thematic analysis as a tool for the selection process of the narratives subjected to in-depth narrative analysis. RESULTS Young people told stories that differ significantly in coherence, affective tone, personal agency, and depth of self-exploration. Narrative analysis of the selected accounts identified three distinct types of stories: (1) crisis as an opportunity for personal growth, (2) crisis as a risk for the sense of self, and (3) crisis as inner turmoil. DISCUSSION Narrative analysis enabled us to recognize three distinct processes of youth meaning-making related to the sense of self in times of crisis, all reflecting a significant impact on their core developmental task. Personal narratives served different functions; for some, the pandemic was framed as a challenge one could grow from, while others were left devastated or overwhelmed. Narrative coherence reflected youths' capacities for integrating experiences not necessarily connected to their psychological well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Nikitović
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Teodora Vuletić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natalija Ignjatović
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Ninković
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Kristina Grujić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zora Krnjaić
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ksenija Krstić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Lindgren I, Trulsson Schouenborg A, Larsson C, Stigmar K. Perceptions of everyday life during lenient COVID-19 restrictions in Sweden- an interview study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1743. [PMID: 37679662 PMCID: PMC10483720 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16599-3] [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: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both COVID-19 and its associated societal restrictions have affected individuals' health and everyday life. In Sweden, more lenient public health restrictions were implemented, with individuals asked to act responsibly in terms of reducing spread of disease. The majority of studies reporting on experiences of Covid-19 restrictions have been in the context of more substantial mandatory rules aimed at reducing social contact, therefore it is important to describe how more lenient restrictions have impacted individuals' well-being. This study aims to describe perceptions of everyday life during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived by individuals with no underlying medical condition, and living with more lenient public health restrictions in Sweden. METHOD The participants were recruited from individuals who originally had participated in an online survey about life satisfaction, health, and physical activity. Fifteen individuals (median age 49, range 26-76 years, seven women) in various social situations, such as living alone/cohabiting, having children at home, geographical area and size of city were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis was applied to the data. RESULTS An overall theme "Both hindrances and opportunities in important life domains were experienced within the same person during lenient Covid-19 restrictions" was derived and covered three categories: "New possibilities of flexibility in work and better health", "Life went on as usual with minor adjustments" and "Everyday life changed and became more difficult" together with eight subcategories. For most participants, both facilitating and hindering important domains in life were described. Unexpected findings were positive experiences regarding working from home, physical activities, leisure time activities and the balance between work and leisure time. In areas where only minor adjustments were made, life was perceived as going on as before. On the other hand, restrictions increased worries and were perceived to have negative effects on social participation. CONCLUSION The impact of the pandemic and lenient restrictions in Sweden on the participants´ everyday life was multifaceted. Both hindrances and opportunities in important life domains were experienced within the same person. An increased flexibility in work- and leisure activities were perceived having positive effects for health and wellbeing and led to a better balance in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Lindgren
- Rehabilitation and Sustainable Health, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Memory Disorders and Geriatrics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anna Trulsson Schouenborg
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pain Rehabilitation, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
- Human Movement: health and rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Caroline Larsson
- Human Movement: health and rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kjerstin Stigmar
- Human Movement: health and rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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14
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Lionetti F, Spinelli M, Moscardino U, Ponzetti S, Garito MC, Dellagiulia A, Aureli T, Fasolo M, Pluess M. The interplay between parenting and environmental sensitivity in the prediction of children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors during COVID-19. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1390-1403. [PMID: 35256026 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The interplay of parenting and environmental sensitivity on children's behavioral adjustment during, and immediately after, the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions was investigated in two longitudinal studies involving Italian preschoolers (Study 1, N = 72; 43% girls, Myears = 3.82(1.38)) and primary school children (Study 2, N = 94; 55% girls, Myears = 9.08(0.56)). Data were collected before and during the first-wave lockdown (Studies 1 and 2) and one month later (Study 1). Parental stress and parent-child closeness were measured. Markers of environmental sensitivity in children were temperamental fearfulness and Sensory Processing Sensitivity. Results showed little change in externalizing and internalizing behaviors over time, but differences emerged when considering parenting and children's environmental sensitivity. In preschoolers, greater parenting stress was related to a stronger increase in internalizing and externalizing behaviors, with children high in fearful temperament showing a more marked decrease in externalizing behaviors when parenting stress was low. In school-aged children, parent-child closeness emerged as a protective factor for internalizing and externalizing behaviors during COVID-19, with children high in Sensory Processing Sensitivity showing a marked decrease in internalizing behaviors when closeness was high. Implications for developmental theory and practice in times of pandemic are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lionetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Maria Spinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
| | - Ughetta Moscardino
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Ponzetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Garito
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Aureli
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
| | - Mirco Fasolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy
| | - Michael Pluess
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, UK
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15
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Mann M, Harary D, Louis S, Wang T, Bonuck K, Isasi CR, Charron MJ, Fuloria M. Association of parent-child interactions with parental psychological distress and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1150216. [PMID: 37425276 PMCID: PMC10326543 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1150216] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The effects of psychological distress/resilience on parent-child engagement (e.g., family dinners, reading) during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been well studied. Among very young children from underrepresented backgrounds enrolled in the ongoing longitudinal Bronx Mother Baby Health Study of healthy term infants, we (1) examined associations between exposures to COVID-19-related events, demographic factors and parental psychological distress and resilience; and (2) correlated these factors with parent-child engagement activities. Methods Between June 2020-August 2021, parents of 105 Bronx Mother Baby Health Study participants aged birth-25 months completed questionnaires related to exposures to COVID-19-related events, frequency of positive parent-child engagement activities, food and housing insecurity, and parental psychological distress and resilience. Families were also asked open ended questions about the pandemic's impact. Results 29.8% and 47.6% of parents reported food and housing insecurity, respectively. Greater exposures to COVID-19-related events were associated with increased parental psychological distress. Positive parent-child interactions were associated with demographic factors and higher levels of maternal education, but not with exposures to COVID-19-related events. Discussion This study adds to a growing body of literature on the negative impacts of COVID-19 exposures and psychosocial stressors on families during the pandemic, supporting the need for enhanced mental health resources and social supports for families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Mann
- Department of Pediatrics, Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Queens, NY, United States
| | - David Harary
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Shirley Louis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Karen Bonuck
- Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Carmen R. Isasi
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Maureen J. Charron
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Mamta Fuloria
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
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16
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Yang X, Chen P, Zhang Y. How mentally healthy we are during the pandemic? Findings from changed travel behavior. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH 2023; 29:101587. [PMID: 36909252 PMCID: PMC9986682 DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2023.101587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Many people changed their travel behavior during the coronavirus pandemic with more telecommuting, fewer trip frequencies, and less use of transit and ride-hailing to avoid infection. The lack of outdoor activities may result in social isolation and then trigger anxiety or depressive symptoms. Research objective This study examines the relationship between anxiety and depression, and correlates various sociodemographic, income, job status, health-related factors, and travel behavior changes in six large U.S. cities. Data U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey Phases 3.0 and 3.1 are employed. Method GAD-2 and PHQ-2 are used to screen the scores of anxiety and depression. The synthetic minority oversampling technique is applied to correct sample distribution. The multivariate mixed model is employed to examine relationships. Results (1) Anxiety and depression are positively correlated, and the percentage of high anxiety is greater than the percentage of high depression. (2) The levels of anxiety and depression significantly vary across the six cities. (3) Women, young, singles, and white people have higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic. (4) People who are willing to receive vaccination tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression. (5) The prevalence of depressive disorders is significantly lower in the high-income group. (6) People who applied for unemployment insurance and experienced expense difficulties are more likely to suffer high levels of anxiety and depression. (7) Travel behavior changes, measured by increased telecommuting, reduced trip frequency, and reduced use of transit and ride-hailing, all suggest positive correlations with anxiety and depression. Conclusions More assistance and attention should be given to women, singles, and low-income households to reduce the prevalence of mental stress in vulnerable groups. Telecommuting can be but need to work with other travel demand management strategies. Travel and outdoor activities should be promoted under the new normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiankui Yang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Peng Chen
- School of Public Affairs, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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17
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Özlü-Erkilic Z, Kothgassner OD, Wenzel T, Goreis A, Chen A, Ceri V, Mousawi AF, Akkaya-Kalayci T. Did the mental health and well-being of young people increase after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period? A cross-sectional multicentre study in Austria and Turkey. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 43:1-14. [PMID: 36845211 PMCID: PMC9943030 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated prevention measures affected the mental health and psychological well-being of young people with and without a migratory background. The present study aimed to compare the mental health and psychological well-being of migrant and non-migrant young people before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period in two countries which had different policies to deal with the pandemic. The "Psychological General Well-being" of young people and their experiences during the pandemic were investigated using an anonymous online survey during two pandemic waves before the vaccination campaign and 6 months after its start. A majority of the 6154 participants (aged between 15 and 25 years in all study groups) reported a decrease of mental health from the time period before the vaccination (BV) to after the vaccination (AV) campaign (b = 0.27, p < .001). This association was higher in females (b = 0.04, p = 0.008) and in youth with financial problems (b = 0.13, p < .001). Furthermore, this decrease was more pronounced in people ≤17 years old (40% to 62%) than in those >17 years (59% to 67%). Contrary to expectation, vulnerable groups such as the economically disadvantaged, younger, and female participants did not experience a significant easing of the pandemic's psychological burden AV. Vaccination campaigns should continue emphasizing the beneficial effects of COVID-19 vaccination on general well-being, but with an acknowledgement that the road to recovery is still a long one. Concurrently, free access to psychological treatment and financial support should be offered, especially for vulnerable groups. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04366-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeliha Özlü-Erkilic
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic of Transcultural Psychiatry and Migration Induced Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Postgraduate University Program Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Oswald D. Kothgassner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wenzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Scientific Section on Psychological Aspects of Torture and Persecution, World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Goreis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anthony Chen
- Scientific Section on Psychological Aspects of Torture and Persecution, World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1226 Thônex, Switzerland
| | - Veysi Ceri
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Child Development, Batman University, Üniversitesi, Merkez Kampüsü, 72060 Batman, Turkey
| | - Aylin Fakhr Mousawi
- Postgraduate University Program Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic of Transcultural Psychiatry and Migration Induced Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Postgraduate University Program Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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18
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Stänicke LI, Kurseth PO, Bekkhus M. 'Everything turned upside down': A thematic analysis of adolescents' experiences of everyday life during COVID-19 restrictions. Scand J Public Health 2023:14034948231152272. [PMID: 36765465 PMCID: PMC9922644 DOI: 10.1177/14034948231152272] [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: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were encouraged to practice social distancing, and schools and leisure venues closed. AIMS We aimed to explore the everyday experiences of Norwegian adolescents during COVID-19 restrictions, when in-person contact with peers was severely limited. METHODS A total of 622 high-school students (16-18 years of age) replied to an online survey containing open-ended questions about the changes they experienced in everyday life during the first three months of the pandemic. RESULTS Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (a) 'Everyday life turned upside down - everything is on hold'; (b) 'Alone with my thoughts - new concerns'; (c) 'A loss of social life - a fear of wasting important time'; and (d) 'Gratitude - new perspectives in life'. The results are discussed according to mental-health concerns and psychological developmental challenges during adolescence, such as social exploration of roles with peers, autonomy and identity formation during a crisis. CONCLUSIONS
The results underline individual variations and positive experiences among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite social restrictions. Still, the lack of in-person contact with friends is related to an increased experience of loneliness and mental-health concerns for many adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Indrevoll Stänicke
- Department of Psychology, University of
Oslo, Norway,Lovisenberg Hospital, Nic Waals
Institute, Norway,Line Indrevoll Stänicke, University of
Oslo, Pb 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
| | | | - Mona Bekkhus
- Promenta Research Centre, Department of
Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
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19
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Tremolada M, Cusinato M, D’Agnillo A, Negri A, Righetto E, Moretti C. "One and a Half Years of Things We Could Have Done": Multi-Method Analysis of the Narratives of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2620. [PMID: 36767985 PMCID: PMC9916259 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032620] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public health interventions for COVID-19 forced families to adopt changes in daily routines that affected children's and adolescents' psychological well-being. In youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), psychological symptoms may compromise glycemic control and outcomes; however, evidence of improved glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D emerged early during the pandemic. This qualitative study aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescents' with T1D routines, experiences, T1D management, and psychological well-being. METHODS 24 adolescents, aged 15-18 years, with T1D, joined focus-group discussions during the diabetes summer camp. Word frequency analysis and thematic analysis were conducted on adolescents' narratives. The average frequencies of use of words related to COVID-19 and to T1D were compared by t-test. RESULTS Word frequency analysis identified "friends", "family", and "home" as the most recurrent terms. Seven themes were highlighted: (1) COVID-19 and T1D; (2) emotional reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) changes in daily life; (4) feelings of loss; (5) coping with the COVID-19 pandemic; (6) the COVID-19 pandemic as opportunity; (7) return to (new) normality. COVID-19 related words were on average more frequent than words referring to T1D. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic may have represented a more stressful condition for adolescents with T1D, facing additional challenges compared to their healthy peers. Findings offer directions to the diabetes care team for customized interventions while the effects of the pandemic on adolescents' health continue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tremolada
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Cusinato
- Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Alessia D’Agnillo
- Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Arianna Negri
- Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Righetto
- Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Moretti
- Pediatric Diabetes Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
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20
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Italian University Students' Resilience during the COVID-19 Lockdown-A Structural Equation Model about the Relationship between Resilience, Emotion Regulation and Well-Being. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:259-270. [PMID: 36826204 PMCID: PMC9954855 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13020020] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two years, the consequences of the severe restrictions imposed by the rapid spread of COVID-19 among the global population have been a central focus of scientific research. The pandemic has been a singular and unexpected event that found people unprepared and vulnerable in responding to its emergence, resulting in substantial psychological distress. Scientific evidence has highlighted that adolescents and emerging adults have been among those populations at greatest risk of adverse psychological outcomes, even in the long term. In particular, more than one-third of young adults reported high levels of loneliness, and nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds felt lonely during the pandemic, experiencing both psychological and emotional distress. The lockdown, the consequent suspension of face-to-face academic activities and the severe restriction of social life have disrupted the daily routines of students already involved in coping with developmental tasks related to identity formation and the relational experience. Under such conditions, emotions and emotional regulation skills are crucial in adapting behavior to reach academic goals and face mounting levels of distress. Therefore, several studies have investigated resilience mechanisms and coping strategies of emerging adults during the pandemic. The present study focuses on university students and explores the impact of resilience and emotional regulation on adverse psychological outcomes related to persistent distress conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were administered a self-report assessment battery through an online platform at the beginning (T0) and the end of the lockdown (T1). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the relationship between resilience, emotional regulation difficulties and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress). The findings indicate that psychological resilience and emotion regulation are protective factors that buffer the extent of possible distress resulting from an adverse condition such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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21
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Pepe A, Farina E. A mixed-method study on adolescents' well-being during the COVID-19 syndemic emergency. Sci Rep 2023; 13:871. [PMID: 36650194 PMCID: PMC9843112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24007-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we set out to investigate adolescents' levels of perceived well-being and to map how they went about caring for their well-being during the COVID-19 syndemic. Participants were 229 Italian adolescent high school students (48.9% males, mean age = 16.64). The research design was based on an exploratory, parallel, mixed-method approach. A multi-method, student-centered, computer-assisted, semi-structured online interview was used as the data gathering tool, including both a standardized quantitative questionnaire on perceived well-being and an open-ended question about how adolescents were taking charge of their well-being during the COVID-19 health emergency. Main findings reveal general low levels of perceived well-being during the syndemic, especially in girls and in older adolescents. Higher levels of well-being are associated with more affiliative strategies (we-ness/togetherness) whereas low levels of well-being are linked with more individualistic strategies (I-ness/separatedness) in facing the health emergency. These findings identify access to social support as a strategy for coping with situational stress and raise reflection on the importance of balancing the need for physical distancing to protect from infection, and the need for social closeness to maintain good mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pepe
- "R.Massa" Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. .,LAB300, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Farina
- "R.Massa" Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,LAB300, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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22
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Stewart TM, Fry D, Wilson J, McAra L, Hamilton S, King A, Laurie M, McCluskey G. Adolescent Mental Health Priorities During the Covid-19 Pandemic. SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 15:247-259. [PMID: 36340296 PMCID: PMC9618414 DOI: 10.1007/s12310-022-09547-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has shown that the Covid-19 outbreak has impacted adolescents' mental health. Utilising a mixed-method design, the current study examined a total of 518 adolescent perspectives (60% female), in Scotland, on what has and could help their mental health in the context of Covid-19. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed three themes in relation to what has helped adolescents' mental health since the Covid-19 outbreak. These related to findings about the value of: (1) engaging in recreational activities, (2) engaging with friends, and (3) the disruption to schooling. The remaining four themes related to what could have helped adolescents mental health and wellbeing since the Covid-19 outbreak. These focussed on (1) better support: in relation to mental health; school work; and communication, (2) contact with friends, and (3) more opportunities for recreational activities. Males were more likely to report recreational activities had helped and less likely to report better support could have helped. Adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression and anxiety and those with elevated PTSD-like symptoms about Covid-19 were more likely to state more support could have helped, and adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression were less likely to report that friends could have helped their mental health. The findings may inform mental health policy and interventions in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy M. Stewart
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ Scotland, UK
| | - Debi Fry
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ Scotland, UK
| | - Jenny Wilson
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ Scotland, UK
| | - Lesley McAra
- Edinburgh Law School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK
| | | | | | - Margaret Laurie
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ Scotland, UK
| | - Gillean McCluskey
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ Scotland, UK
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23
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Xiang GX, Li H, Gan X, Qin KN, Jin X, Wang PY. School resources, self-control and problem behaviors in Chinese adolescents: a longitudinal study in the post-pandemic era. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-13. [PMID: 36593906 PMCID: PMC9797384 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought many challenges to youth development. During this specific period, adolescents have suffered from numerous behavioral problems, which will lead to more maladaptive consequences. It is necessary to explore several protective factors to prevent or reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors in adolescence. The current study combined school resources and self-control to evaluate the multiple protective effects on adolescents' problematic behaviors in a two-wave longitudinal study. A sample of 789 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.00 years, SD = 2.05, 418 boys) were recruited via the random cluster sampling method to participate in the survey. The results confirmed the assumptions about the multiple protective effects of school resources and self-control on adolescents' problem behaviors. Specifically, school resources could negatively predict IGD and victimization, and self-control mediated these associations. Moreover, one problematic behavior could also mediate the associations between self-control and another problematic behavior. This is the first study to focus on the multiple protective effects of positive factors on adolescents' problem behaviors during the post-pandemic period, which has made several contributions to the literature and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Xing Xiang
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Xiong Gan
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Ke-Nan Qin
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Yangtze University College of Technology and Engineering, Jingzhou, China
| | - Pin-Yi Wang
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
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Montreuil M, Gendron‐Cloutier L, Laberge‐Perrault E, Piché G, Genest C, Rassy J, Malboeuf‐Hurtubise C, Gilbert E, Bogossian A, Camden C, Mastine T, Barbo G. Children and adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of their experiences. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 2022; 36:65-74. [PMID: 36566357 PMCID: PMC9880751 DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12404] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
TOPIC Public health measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted children and adolescents' (C&A) lives, affecting their sense of structure, predictability, and security. PURPOSE To examine C&A' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand how this context and its associated public health measures affected them and their mental health, and to identify helpful coping strategies. SOURCES USED The study was guided by a participatory hermeneutic framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 C&A aged 6-17 years during the first and second pandemic waves. Participants' interviews were analyzed following a narrative synthesis approach, through which C&A' experiences were contrasted and contextualized to highlight relevant themes. CONCLUSIONS Participants described a distinct pattern related to their mental health as the pandemic unfolded, which followed the severity of the pandemic in the province. Negative repercussions on their mental health were linked to the loss of social activities, imposed public health measures, transition to online learning, and challenges with family relationships. Certain youth shared positive societal and moral reflections triggered by the pandemic context. Coping strategies reported include: having a variety of hobbies; expressing their emotions; and accessing financial and material resources. This study highlights the importance of supporting C&A' mental health during crisis situations such as a pandemic. Their perspectives are vital for clinical practice and policy improvement, particularly to find means for social engagement while maintaining safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Montreuil
- Ingram School of NursingMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de MontréalMontréalQuebecCanada,Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale DouglasMontréalQuebecCanada
| | | | | | - Geneviève Piché
- Université du Québec en Outaouais, Campus de Saint‐JérômeGatineauQuebecCanada
| | - Christine Genest
- Centre d'étude sur le trauma du Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal et le Centre de recherche et d'intervention sur le suicide, les enjeux éthiques et pratiques de fin de vie, Faculté des sciences infirmièresUniversité de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Jessica Rassy
- École des sciences infirmièresUniversité de Sherbrooke, Campus de LongueuilLongueuilQuebecCanada
| | | | - Elsa Gilbert
- Département des sciences de la santéUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQuebecCanada
| | - Aline Bogossian
- École de travail socialUniversité de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Chantal Camden
- School of Physical and Occupational TherapySherbrooke UniversitySherbrookeQuebecCanada
| | | | - Geneveave Barbo
- Ingram School of NursingMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
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Namdar Areshtanab H, Hosseinzadeh M, Vahidi M, Hurst SK, Soheili S. It's all not negative: a cross-section study on the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on Iranian population. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2297. [PMID: 36482432 PMCID: PMC9733052 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14777-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covid-19 has had significant effects on the quality of life of individuals around the world. Research highlights many negative impacts related to Covid-19; however, there are also potential positive impacts. The current study aimed to identify both the perceived negative and positive effects of Covid-19 among the residents of Tabriz, Iran. MATERIALS & METHODS The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 health centers in Tabriz city in 2021. Cluster random sampling was used to select the 861 study participants. A questionnaire was developed to collect demographic and Covid-19 impacts. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS The mean (SD) of negative and positive impacts of Covid-19 was 37.7 (5.10) and 36.35 (5.31), respectively. Significant negative impacts included restriction in participation in cultural (90.4%) and religious (88.9%) activities. Positive impacts were increased attention to personal hygiene (88.7%) and attention to elders (87.6%). Gender (p = 0.006), work status (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0. 01) had significant association with the mean of negative impacts and work status (p = 0.01), age (p < 0.001), history of Covid-19 (p = 0.01) and family history of Covid-19 (p < 0.001) had the significant association with the mean of positive impacts of Covid-19. CONCLUSION The findings revealed that the general population experienced many negative impacts of Covid-19. This may be related to the priority of religious gatherings in Iranian culture. Despite the unfavorable effects of Covid-19, its positive effects and post-traumatic growth should not be ignored. Covid-19 may be used as an opportunity to develop personal growth and a positive outlook on life. Healthcare workers should reinforce the positive impacts of Covid-19 while taking into consideration the importance of spirituality among Iranian individuals during times of community lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mina Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Community Health Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Maryam Vahidi
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Soraya Soheili
- Department of Nursing, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
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Narratives and mental health in the Covid-19 Pandemic. DISCOVER MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 2:10. [PMID: 35465177 PMCID: PMC9017411 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-022-00013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The rise in the flow of narratives is directly associated with technological advances in communication. In pandemic times, the narratives have produced profound consequences in many dimensions of human life, such as individuals' belief systems. Narratives operate as a background of the self's functioning and present substantial importance to personality development. On the other side, narratives can influence the functioning of the self's disorders. It occurs when narratives do not respect a hierarchical belief system in the individuals. The disrespect to the central beliefs that operate in the individuals' personalities often fosters a psychosomatic process that distances them from authentic contact with themselves. Consequently, it enhances mental suffering and psychic illness. The current paper aimed to discuss some intersections between narratives and states of psychic suffering.
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Barrera UDL, Schoeps K, Mónaco E, Antonio Gil-Gómez J, Montoya-Castilla I. Analyzing protective factors for adolescents' mental health during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: A longitudinal study. EUROPEAN REVIEW OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY = REVUE EUROPEENNE DE PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE 2022; 73:100847. [PMID: 36345274 PMCID: PMC9630132 DOI: 10.1016/j.erap.2022.100847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the protective role of self-esteem and perceived emotional intelligence on mental health problems in Spanish adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN Participants (N = 139; Mage = 13.83 years, SD = 0.96; 63.8% female) completed measures before the outbreak of COVID-19 (T1) and during the first wave of the pandemic in Spain (T2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants self-reported emotional intelligence, self-esteem, mental health problems and suicidal behavior. RESULTS Adolescent mental health problems were equally affected by COVID-19 pandemic according to gender, age and lockdown conditions. Adolescents with low levels of emotional intelligence and self-esteem at T1 showed a significant decrease in self-reported anxiety, depression, stress and suicidal behavior at T2. However, adolescents with average or high levels of emotional intelligence and self-esteem at T1 showed no significant changes in mental health problems at T2. Self-esteem at T1 meditated the relationships between emotional intelligence at T1 (clarity and repair) and emotional symptoms at T2 (depression, anxiety and stress). Furthermore, the relationship between self-esteem and anxiety symptoms was moderated by the number of people living together during COVID-19 lockdown. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the protective role of pre-pandemic development of self-esteem and emotional intelligence in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on adolescent mental health during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usue De la Barrera
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Konstanze Schoeps
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Estefanía Mónaco
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Antonio Gil-Gómez
- Instituto Universitario de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
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Malerba A, Iannattone S, Casano G, Lauriola M, Bottesi G. The Trap of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Italian Adolescents Fare Well at First, Maybe Thanks to Protective Trait Expression. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:1631. [PMID: 36360359 PMCID: PMC9688502 DOI: 10.3390/children9111631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Abundant research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively affecting mental health in adolescence. Few works, however, benefit from data from the same sample before and after the onset of the pandemic. The present longitudinal study involved a non-clinical group of 136 Italian adolescents (Mage = 16.3 years ± 1.08, 67% girls) to investigate their psychological response to the first lockdown and explore the role of a protective trait (i.e., Positivity) in moderating the effect of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) on internalizing symptoms before and during the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing psychopathological symptoms, psychological well-being, IU, and Positivity on three separate occasions: October 2019 (T1), January 2020 (T2), and April 2020 (T3). The results showed that internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as psychological well-being did not vary significantly over time. Positivity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between IU and internalizing symptoms at T3 (i.e., during the COVID-19 lockdown) only. Overall, our findings suggest that the teenagers' good adjustment to the initial phase of the pandemic might have been associated with the enhanced weight of the Positivity trait, which may have encouraged a positive attitude towards self, life, and the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Malerba
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Iannattone
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgia Casano
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Lauriola
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Gioia Bottesi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Nocentini A, De Luca L, Palladino BE, Menesini E. The impact of life environmental satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents’ social-emotional adjustment: a 15-month latent profile study in Italy. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2022.2137142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annalaura Nocentini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa De Luca
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Emanuela Palladino
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ersilia Menesini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Jesser A, Schaffler Y, Gächter A, Dale R, Humer E, Pieh C. School Students’ Concerns and Support after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria: A Qualitative Study Using Content Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10071334. [PMID: 35885859 PMCID: PMC9315779 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10071334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescents suffer severely from the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using qualitative content analysis, this study examined open-ended responses to a survey on the mental health of school students in Austria in February 2021. A representative sample (n = 214) was drawn from a total survey sample of 3052 adolescents aged 14–20. The analysis revealed several areas of concern, including school-related concerns, concerns about restrictions, self-related concerns, and interpersonal problems. School-related concerns associated with distance learning were mentioned most frequently. Compared with research conducted at the beginning of the pandemic, it appeared that concerns about educational and professional futures increased. The analysis also indicated young people’s most important sources of support, such as social contacts, recreational activities, attitudes and abilities, distraction, and escape. Of concern is the proportion of young people citing maladaptive coping strategies and the reluctance to seek professional support. Ideas for practice-oriented measures were developed from the study results, such as embedding youth-led peer interventions in traditional mental health services.
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Tishelman C, Degen JL, Weiss Goitiandía S, Kleijberg M, Kleeberg-Niepage A. A Qualitative Serial Analysis of Drawings by Thirteen-to Fifteen-Year-Old Adolescents in Sweden About the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:1370-1385. [PMID: 35599585 PMCID: PMC9350847 DOI: 10.1177/10497323221101978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we explore the perspectives of 13-15-year-olds living in Sweden about the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, through inductive analysis of 187 of their drawings. Through reconstructive serial picture analysis, three types of meaning were derived: (1) A new normal in dystopian scenery points to the disruption of daily life and development of new praxis and meaning in a context of threat and restriction; (2) Disrupted relationships refers to these adolescents' self-portrayal as solitary, without adult guidance or friends prominent; and (3) Negative emotions and compliant behaviors addresses a range of negative emotions and expressions of loss with few proactive strategies illustrated. General existential distress appears in these drawings, seemingly compounded by both developmental stage and other factors in addition to the pandemic context. Drawings suggest a restricted repertoire of ways of dealing with challenges confronting these adolescents, who seemed to feel left to their own resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Tishelman
- Department of Learning, Informatics,
Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Center for Health Economics,
Informatics and Health Care Research (CHIS), Stockholm Health Care Services
(SLSO), Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna L. Degen
- Department of Psychology, European University of Flensburg, Flensburg, Germany
| | | | - Max Kleijberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences
and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bassi M, Carissoli C, Beretta S, Negri L, Fianco A, Delle Fave A. Flow Experience and Emotional Well-Being among Italian Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 156:395-413. [PMID: 35727991 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2022.2074347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Research highlighted the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' emotional well-being worldwide. In the attempt to identify resources which could facilitate adolescents' adjustment, this study examined the occurrence of flow experience and related activities, and the association between flow and emotional well-being among Italian teenagers. In Spring 2021, 150 students (40.7% girls) aged 15-19 completed instruments assessing flow and related activities before and during the pandemic, and current positive and negative affect. Findings revealed that only 24.7% of the participants currently reported flow; over half of those reporting flow before the pandemic did not experience it subsequently, and only 6.5% of those not reporting flow before the pandemic currently experienced it. Participants with flow both before and during the pandemic reported higher positive affect than teens who never experienced flow (p = .011), or lost it (p = .006). No group differences were detected for negative affect. Learning, structured leisure, and interpersonal relations were the domains most frequently associated with flow before and during the pandemic, but after the pandemic onset a reduction in the variety of flow activities and limited identification of new flow domains were observed. The association of flow with higher emotional well-being even in pandemic times suggests the potential usefulness of interventions promoting flow retrieval under adverse circumstances.
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Kratzer S, Pfadenhauer LM, Biallas RL, Featherstone R, Klinger C, Movsisyan A, Rabe JE, Stadelmaier J, Rehfuess E, Wabnitz K, Verboom B. Unintended consequences of measures implemented in the school setting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 6:CD015397. [PMID: 35661990 PMCID: PMC9169532 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, governments worldwide implemented a multitude of non-pharmaceutical interventions in order to control the spread of the virus. Most countries have implemented measures within the school setting in order to reopen schools or keep them open whilst aiming to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. For informed decision-making on implementation, adaptation, or suspension of such measures, it is not only crucial to evaluate their effectiveness with regard to SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but also to assess their unintended consequences. OBJECTIVES To comprehensively identify and map the evidence on the unintended health and societal consequences of school-based measures to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to generate a descriptive overview of the range of unintended (beneficial or harmful) consequences reported as well as the study designs that were employed to assess these outcomes. This review was designed to complement an existing Cochrane Review on the effectiveness of these measures by synthesising evidence on the implications of the broader system-level implications of school measures beyond their effects on SARS-CoV-2 transmission. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, four non-health databases, and two COVID-19 reference collections on 26 March 2021, together with reference checking, citation searching, and Google searches. SELECTION CRITERIA We included quantitative (including mathematical modelling), qualitative, and mixed-methods studies of any design that provided evidence on any unintended consequences of measures implemented in the school setting to contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Studies had to report on at least one unintended consequence, whether beneficial or harmful, of one or more relevant measures, as conceptualised in a logic model. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We screened the titles/abstracts and subsequently full texts in duplicate, with any discrepancies between review authors resolved through discussion. One review author extracted data for all included studies, with a second review author reviewing the data extraction for accuracy. The evidence was summarised narratively and graphically across four prespecified intervention categories and six prespecified categories of unintended consequences; findings were described as deriving from quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies. MAIN RESULTS Eighteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 13 used quantitative methods (3 experimental/quasi-experimental; 5 observational; 5 modelling); four used qualitative methods; and one used mixed methods. Studies looked at effects in different population groups, mainly in children and teachers. The identified interventions were assigned to four broad categories: 14 studies assessed measures to make contacts safer; four studies looked at measures to reduce contacts; six studies assessed surveillance and response measures; and one study examined multiple measures combined. Studies addressed a wide range of unintended consequences, most of them considered harmful. Eleven studies investigated educational consequences. Seven studies reported on psychosocial outcomes. Three studies each provided information on physical health and health behaviour outcomes beyond COVID-19 and environmental consequences. Two studies reported on socio-economic consequences, and no studies reported on equity and equality consequences. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We identified a heterogeneous evidence base on unintended consequences of measures implemented in the school setting to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and summarised the available study data narratively and graphically. Primary research better focused on specific measures and various unintended outcomes is needed to fill knowledge gaps and give a broader picture of the diverse unintended consequences of school-based measures before a more thorough evidence synthesis is warranted. The most notable lack of evidence we found was regarding psychosocial, equity, and equality outcomes. We also found a lack of research on interventions that aim to reduce the opportunity for contacts. Additionally, study investigators should provide sufficient data on contextual factors and demographics in order to ensure analyses of such are feasible, thus assisting stakeholders in making appropriate, informed decisions for their specific circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzie Kratzer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa M Pfadenhauer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Renke L Biallas
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Carmen Klinger
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Ani Movsisyan
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia E Rabe
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Stadelmaier
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Rehfuess
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Wabnitz
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Ben Verboom
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology - IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Szepietowska EM, Zawadzka E, Filipiak S. Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Sense of Gains and Losses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063504. [PMID: 35329192 PMCID: PMC8949522 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study was primarily designed to investigate the perception of changes in selected areas of life experienced by adults of various nationalities in connection to the long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic. The second objective was to identify the factors increasing the risk of perception of negative changes in life during the pandemic. The tools applied in the study include a self-report questionnaire designed to measure sociodemographic data and health status of the subjects, COVID-19 Sense of Life Changes Questionnaire, as well as the Impact of Event Scale: Revised. The study involved over 600 adult subjects. With increased intensity of intrusions, the likelihood of negative perception of the changes emerging as a result of the pandemic was reduced by approximately 7%, whereas a higher intensity of hyperarousal increased that risk. Individuals reporting a sense of negative changes presented a greater degree of hyperarousal compared to those reporting positive changes. In the group of subjects perceiving the changes in a positive way, increasing the intensity of intrusion and/or hyperarousal corresponded to a growing conviction about a negative nature of life changes concerning the relationship with their partner and affecting their work as well as regarding a positive meaning of the changes in relations with their parents and in daily life. Generally, there was a prevailing sense of negative changes; however, there was also a group of subjects that perceived these as positive. Intrusions and hyperarousal in certain individuals may play a role in motivating them to take action in protecting against effects of the pandemic and, in others, may lead to frustration and anxiety.
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Li JB, Dou K, Liu ZH. Profiles of positive changes in life outcomes over the COVID-19 pandemic in Chinese adolescents: the role of resilience and mental health consequence. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2022; 16:13. [PMID: 35193652 PMCID: PMC8861996 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused enormous negative impacts on adolescents' routines, social interaction, interpersonal relationships, psychosocial well-being, and physical health. Nevertheless, theories suggest that individuals also often seek out solutions that may facilitate positive changes when they are faced with uncertainty and crisis. However, the existing literature has disproportionately focused on the negative effect of COVID-19 on adolescents, and scant research has examined to what extent and in what aspects adolescents would experience positive changes in times of the pandemic. This pre-registered research aims to bridge said gaps by: (1) exploring different profiles of positive changes in various life outcomes in Chinese adolescents over the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) examining the role of resilience in differentiating different profiles; (3) comparing adolescents' mental health across profiles. METHOD Participants were 2,567 adolescents aged 12 to 24 recruited from 32 provinces in mainland China (66.89% females; Mage = 19.87 years, SD = 2.02). Through an online survey, participants rated how much their lives of different domains had experienced positive changes since the outbreak of the pandemic. They also answered standardized questionnaires that measured their resilience and mental health. RESULTS Results of latent profile analysis revealed three profiles: limited positive changes (33.3%), partial positive changes (49.5%), and overall strong positive changes (17.2%). Moreover, adolescents with a higher level of resilience were more likely to be categorized into the partial positive changes profile compared to the limited positive changes profile and categorized into the overall strong positive changes profile compared to the other two profiles, after controlling for multiple covariates. Adolescents in the overall strong positive changes profile had better mental health than their counterparts of the other two profiles. CONCLUSION Chinese adolescents appear to experience positive changes in various life outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those with high levels of resilience. Such positive changes have important implications on adolescents' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Bin Li
- Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Kai Dou
- Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, 230, Waihuan Road West, Panyu District, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zi-Hao Liu
- Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, 230, Waihuan Road West, Panyu District, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Jones N, Baird S, Abu Hamad B, Bhutta ZA, Oakley E, Shah M, Sajdi J, Yount KM. Compounding inequalities: Adolescent psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among refugee and host communities in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261773. [PMID: 35108293 PMCID: PMC8809558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic and associated risk-mitigation strategies have altered the social contexts in which adolescents in low- and middle-income countries live. Little is known, however, about the impacts of the pandemic on displaced populations, and how those impacts differ by gender and life stage. We investigate the extent to which the pandemic has compounded pre-existing social inequalities among adolescents in Jordan, and the role support structures play in promoting resilience. METHODS Our analysis leverages longitudinal quantitative survey data and in-depth qualitative interviews, collected before and after the onset of COVID-19, with over 3,000 Syrian refugees, stateless Palestinians and vulnerable Jordanians, living in camps, host communities and informal tented settlements. We utilize mixed-methods analysis combining multivariate regression with deductive qualitative tools to evaluate pandemic impacts and associated policy responses on adolescent wellbeing and mental health, at three and nine months after the pandemic onset. We also explore the role of support systems at individual, household, community, and policy levels. FINDINGS We find the pandemic has resulted in severe economic and service disruptions with far-reaching and heterogenous effects on adolescent wellbeing. Nine months into the pandemic, 19.3% of adolescents in the sample presented with symptoms of moderate-to severe depression, with small signs of improvement (3.2 percentage points [pp], p<0.001). Two thirds of adolescents reported household stress had increased during the pandemic, especially for Syrian adolescents in host communities (10.7pp higher than any other group, p<0.001). Social connectedness was particularly low for girls, who were 13.4 percentage points (p<0.001) more likely than boys to have had no interaction with friends in the past 7 days. Adolescent programming shows signs of being protective, particularly for girls, who were 8.8 percentage points (p<0.01) more likely to have a trusted friend than their peers who were not participating in programming. CONCLUSIONS Pre-existing social inequalities among refugee adolescents affected by forced displacement have been compounded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with related disruptions to services and social networks. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets to support healthy and empowered development in adolescence and early adulthood requires interventions that target the urgent needs of the most vulnerable adolescents while addressing population-level root causes and determinants of psychosocial wellbeing and resilience for all adolescent girls and boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Jones
- Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE), ODI, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Baird
- Department of Global Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC., United States of America
| | - Bassam Abu Hamad
- Department of Public Health, Al Quds University, Gaza, State of Palestine
| | - Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Erin Oakley
- Department of Global Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC., United States of America
| | - Manisha Shah
- Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Jude Sajdi
- Information and Research Center, King Hussein Foundation, Amman, Jordan
| | - Kathryn M. Yount
- Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Tzankova I, Compare C, Marzana D, Guarino A, Di Napoli I, Rochira A, Calandri E, Barbieri I, Procentese F, Gatti F, Marta E, Fedi A, Aresi G, Albanesi C. Emergency online school learning during COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative study of adolescents' experiences in Italy. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-13. [PMID: 35018086 PMCID: PMC8739356 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02674-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused abrupt and profound changes to teaching and learning. The present study seeks to understand adolescents' experiences of the emergency adoption of online school learning (OSL) during the first national lockdown in Italy. Sixty-four students in their final two years of high school were interviewed and content analysis was performed. The findings describe students' views of the changes related to OSL according to structural, individual and relational dimensions. Schools' lack of organization, overwhelming demands, as well as experience of difficulties in concentration, stress and inhibited relationships with teachers and classmates were among the challenges evidenced in the transition. OSL, however, has also made it possible to experience a new flexibility and autonomy in the organization of learning. The study stresses the importance of fostering adaptation of teacher-student relationships and collaborative learning in order to improve schools' preparedness for digital transitions in and out of emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iana Tzankova
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Christian Compare
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Daniela Marzana
- Psychology Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
- CERISVICO Research Centre on Community Development and Organisational Quality of Life, Via della Garzetta, 50, 25133 Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Guarino
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Immacolata Di Napoli
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Rochira
- Department of History, Society and Human Studies, Laboratory of Applied Psychology, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Emanuela Calandri
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Irene Barbieri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Fortuna Procentese
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Flora Gatti
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Marta
- Psychology Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
- CERISVICO Research Centre on Community Development and Organisational Quality of Life, Via della Garzetta, 50, 25133 Brescia, Italy
| | - Angela Fedi
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aresi
- Psychology Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
- CERISVICO Research Centre on Community Development and Organisational Quality of Life, Via della Garzetta, 50, 25133 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Albanesi
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
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Ssebunya RN, Boopa M, Nguyen D, Ligon L. Disparities in Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Rights Among Adolescents and Young People During COVID-19 Pandemic: Culture, Economic, and Gender Perspectives. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2022; 9:234-242. [PMID: 36311053 PMCID: PMC9589761 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-022-00274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review As the world grapples with the health systems' challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the needs of the already vulnerable adolescents and young people is vital. This narrative synthesis is aimed to highlight the current gender, cultural, and socioeconomic dynamics fueling inequalities to accessing sexual, reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services among adolescents and young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Recent Findings The COVID-19 pandemic has in most countries exacerbated already existing inequalities due to economic, gender, cultural, and legal aspects. Strategies implemented by most governments to mitigate the spread of the virus have also had a negative impact on the access to SRHR services, some of which are long term. Few published studies have assessed the extent to which the pandemic has fueled each of these paradigms regarding access to SRHR, especially among adolescents and young people (AYP). Additionally, there is paucity in data on the same in most countries, as the systems to track such effects were not available at the inception of the pandemic. Summary Despite efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on this population, deficits remain and a multi-stakeholder approach is needed to achieve the intended goals, especially where cultural and gender values are deeply rooted. Further research is needed to quantify how the pandemic has fueled economic, gender, and cultural aspects to influence access to SRHR services among AYP especially in LMIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogers N. Ssebunya
- Baylor College of Medicine Children Foundation, Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 72052, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mafusi Boopa
- Baylor College of Medicine Children Foundation, Maseru, Lesotho
| | | | - Lee Ligon
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA
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Martin-Storey A, Dirks M, Holfeld B, Dryburgh NSJ, Craig W. Family relationship quality during the COVID-19 pandemic: The value of adolescent perceptions of change. J Adolesc 2021; 93:190-201. [PMID: 34801811 PMCID: PMC8585638 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adolescents typically spend decreasing amounts of time with family members, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed this pattern for many youth. The objective of the current study was to better understand adolescents' perceived change in family relationship quality, and how these perceptions were related to psychosocial functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for more traditional measures of family relationship quality. Understanding how adolescents perceived change in relationship quality with family members during the pandemic offers novel insight into adolescents' relationships with their families and psychosocial functioning during this period. METHOD A sample of Canadian adolescents (N = 605, ages 14 to 18, 53% girls), was employed to examine patterns of adolescents' perceived change in relationship quality with parents and siblings since the start of the pandemic, accounting for relationship quality, pandemic-related characteristics, and demographic variables. RESULTS Four latent profiles were identified: youth who perceived (1) low change, (2) improvement only, (3) moderate instability and (4) high instability in relationship quality. Higher perceived instability was associated with poorer functioning, with youth who reported only improvement reporting the highest overall level of functioning. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent perceptions of change in relationship quality were heterogeneous, and contribute to psychosocial functioning over and above their general evaluations of relationship quality. In particular, youth who perceive considerable change in their relationships with siblings and parents may require additional support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Martin-Storey
- Group de Recherche et d'intervention sur les adaptations sociales de l'enfance, département de psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, 150 Place Charles Lemoyne, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Melanie Dirks
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 Avenue McGill College, Montréal, QC H3A 1G1, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Brett Holfeld
- Psychology Program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 20 University Drive, Corner Brook, NL, A2H 5G4, Canada.
| | - Nicole S J Dryburgh
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 Avenue McGill College, Montréal, QC H3A 1G1, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Wendy Craig
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Iannattone S, Raffagnato A, Zanato S, Traverso A, Tascini B, Del Col L, Miscioscia M, Gatta M. Children with Psychopathology and Their Parents Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case-Control Study. CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2021; 18:324-333. [PMID: 35096079 PMCID: PMC8785424 DOI: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20210606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective This case-control study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental well-being of pediatric psychiatric outpatients and their families, comparing them with children/adolescents and their parents from the general population. Method The case group consisted of 168 subjects: 56 patients (6-18 years old) with psychiatric disorders, and their 112 parents. The healthy control group included 189 subjects: 63 children and adolescents with no psychopathologies, and their 126 parents. Both groups were assessed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy (T0) and 4 months later (T1), by administering the CBCL6-18 and DASS-21. Results Patients showed a good adaptation to the pandemic situation, while the children/adolescents in the healthy sample showed a greater variation in their general habits and a higher prevalence of stress symptoms during the lockdown. The patients’ parents likewise had fewer stress-related symptoms than caregivers in the healthy control group, both during the lockdown and 4 months later. At T0, patients’ mothers reported higher anxiety levels than mothers in the healthy group, while at T1 fathers of healthy children scored higher on the DASS-21 anxiety and stress scales than patients’ fathers. As concerns changes over time (T0-T1) in the parents’ psychological well-being, a general improvement was detected in both groups. Conclusions The pandemic and quarantine measures were confirmed as significant stressors for all children and adolescents, and negatively affected their parents’ adaptation. The findings of this study point to the need for preventive interventions to support the mental health of all parents and their children in uncertain and stressful times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Iannattone
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.), Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy,Corresponding author Sara Iannattone Department of General Psychology – University of Padua Via Venezia, 8 35131, Padua (PD), Italy E-mail:
| | - Alessia Raffagnato
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Silvia Zanato
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Annalisa Traverso
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Benedetta Tascini
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Lara Del Col
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Marina Miscioscia
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.), Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy, Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Michela Gatta
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (A.R.); (S.Z.); (A.T.); (B.T.); (L.D.C); (M.M.); (M.G.)
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Maria ST. Intrapersonal, social, environmental-societal influences and career development learning during childhood. BRITISH JOURNAL OF GUIDANCE & COUNSELLING 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2021.1988902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sgaramella Teresa Maria
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Todorova I, Albers L, Aronson N, Baban A, Benyamini Y, Cipolletta S, del Rio Carral M, Dimitrova E, Dudley C, Guzzardo M, Hammoud R, Fadil Azim DH, Hilverda F, Huang Q, John L, Kaneva M, Khan S, Kostova Z, Kotzeva T, Fathima M, Anto MM, Michoud C, Awal Miah MA, Mohr J, Morgan K, Nastase ES, Neter E, Panayotova Y, Patel H, Pillai D, Polidoro Lima M, Qin DB, Salewski C, Sankar KA, Shao S, Suresh J, Todorova R, Tomaino SCM, Vollmann M, Winter D, Xie M, Xuan Ning S, Zlatarska A. "What I thought was so important isn't really that important": international perspectives on making meaning during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Psychol Behav Med 2021; 9:830-857. [PMID: 34650834 PMCID: PMC8510597 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2021.1981909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and mental health of people everywhere. The aim of the study is to understand how people living in 15 countries around the globe experience an unexpected crisis which threatens their health and that of loved ones, and how they make meaning of this disruption in their narratives. METHODS Data were collected through an anonymous online survey during May-September 2020, which was during or just after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the country. The questionnaire included demographic and three open-ended questions as prompts for stories about experiences during the initial months of the pandemic. The text was analyzed through inductive thematic content analysis and quantified for full sample description, demographic and subsequently international comparisons. RESULTS The final qualitative dataset included stories from n = 1685 respondents. The sample was 73.6% women and 26.4% men. The mean age of participants was 39.55 years (SD = 14.71). The identified four groups of overarching themes were: The presence and absence of others; Rediscovering oneself; The meaning of daily life; Rethinking societal and environmental values. We discuss the prevalence of each theme for the sample as a whole and differences by demographic groups. The most prevalent theme referred to disruptions in interpersonal contacts, made meaningful by the increased appreciation of the value of relationships, present in (45.6%) of stories. It was more prevalent in the stories of women compared to men (χ² = 24.88, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS The paper provides a detailed overview of the methodology, the main themes identified inductively in the stories and differences according to select demographic variables. We identify several major ways of making meaning of the pandemic. The pandemic has impacted many aspects of people's lives which give it meaning, no matter where they live.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Todorova
- Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Nicole Aronson
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adriana Baban
- Department of Psychology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Yael Benyamini
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sabrina Cipolletta
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria del Rio Carral
- Research Center for Psychology of Health, Aging and Sport Examination (PHASE), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elitsa Dimitrova
- Institute for Population and Human Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Claire Dudley
- Department of Psychology, St. Lawrence University Canton, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariana Guzzardo
- Department of Human Development and Women's Studies, California State University, East Bay, CA, USA
| | - Razan Hammoud
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Darlina Hani Fadil Azim
- Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons School of Medicine (PURCSI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Femke Hilverda
- Department of Socio-Medical Sciences, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qi Huang
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Liji John
- Department of Psychology, Prajyoti Niketan College, Thrissur, India
| | - Michaela Kaneva
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanjida Khan
- Department of Psychology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zlatina Kostova
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tatyana Kotzeva
- Institute for Population and Human Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - M.A. Fathima
- Department of Psychology, Prajyoti Niketan College, Thrissur, India
| | - Milu Maria Anto
- Department of Psychology, Prajyoti Niketan College, Thrissur, India
| | - Chloé Michoud
- Research Center for Psychology of Health, Aging and Sport Examination (PHASE), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Julia Mohr
- Fakultät für Psychologie, Fernuniversität, Hagen, Germany
| | - Karen Morgan
- School of Health Psychology, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Hemali Patel
- School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dhanya Pillai
- Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons School of Medicine (PURCSI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Manuela Polidoro Lima
- Hospital da Liga Norte Riograndense Against Cancer in Natal, and INSA Institute Prepares - CESAC, Natal, Brazil
| | - Desiree Baolian Qin
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | - K. Anu Sankar
- Department of Psychology, Prajyoti Niketan College, Thrissur, India
| | - Sabrina Shao
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeevanisha Suresh
- Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons School of Medicine (PURCSI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ralitsa Todorova
- Department of Psychology, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Manja Vollmann
- Department of Socio-Medical Sciences, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David Winter
- Centre for Research in Psychology and Sport Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Mingjun Xie
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Sam Xuan Ning
- Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons School of Medicine (PURCSI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Calandri E, Graziano F, Begotti T, Cattelino E, Gattino S, Rollero C, Fedi A. Adjustment to COVID-19 Lockdown Among Italian University Students: The Role of Concerns, Change in Peer and Family Relationships and in Learning Skills, Emotional, and Academic Self-Efficacy on Depressive Symptoms. Front Psychol 2021; 12:643088. [PMID: 34489777 PMCID: PMC8416775 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Italy strict containment measures against COVID-19 pandemic were implemented from March to May 2020 with home confinement and schools and universities closed. Students shifted to remote learning, experienced a forced isolation from peers and an increased sharing of time and spaces with the family. The influence of these aspects on the psychological adjustment of university students is largely unexplored. This paper was aimed at investigating the role of some correlates of depressive symptoms specific to the lockdown condition experienced by young university students, namely contagion concern, perceived worsening of family, and peer relationships and perceived worsening of learning skills. Moreover, the possible mediating effects of emotional and academic self-efficacy in these relationships were examined. Data were collected from 296 Italian university students (aged 18–25 years; 83% female students) through an online survey by means of a snowball sampling methodology in May 2020. Significant depressive symptoms were reported by 67% of participants. Contagion concerns were related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of emotional self-efficacy. Worsening of learning skills was related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of academic self-efficacy. Depressive symptoms were directly related to worsening of family relationships but unrelated to worsening of peer relationships. Results are discussed in relation to the need of preventive interventions for this specific population in view of academic activities planning in the post-COVID 19 period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tatiana Begotti
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Cattelino
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Aosta Valley, Aosta, Italy
| | - Silvia Gattino
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Rollero
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Angela Fedi
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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Psychological adjustment of Spanish adolescents and their parents during COVID-19 lockdown: A mixed method approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255149. [PMID: 34324579 PMCID: PMC8321118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous literature on the psychological impact of COVID-19 has shown a direct relationship between family conflicts and psychological distress among parents and their children during the domestic lockdown and social isolation; but there are also opportunities to enhance family bonding, encourage collective problem-solving and improve personal relationships. This study aimed to explore psychological adjustment processes of Spanish adolescents and their parents during the first month of lockdown by analyzing their narratives, perceived outcomes, protection and risk factors. A total of 142 people agreed to participate in this study. Of all participants, 61 were adolescents (M = 13.57; SD = 1.74; 57% women) and 81 were parents (M = 46.09; SD = 4.72; 91% mothers). All were Spanish residents and completed an online survey during the domestic lockdown in March 2020. From a qualitative design, methodology followed a mixed approach to analyze data. The results showed three different types of adaptation to lockdown and social isolation in both adolescents and their parents: 1) positive adjustment, 2) moderate adjustment, and 3) maladjustment. Most participants reported a good adjustment and only a 20% of parents and a 16% of adolescents stated that they had not been able to achieve a positive psychological adjustment. There are few significant quantitative differences between adolescents and their parents. The qualitative analysis of data showed that adolescents reported less psychological distress than their parents. The two most important protective factors were social support and keeping busy during lockdown. The most significant risk factors were loss of mobility and social isolation. The conclusions stressed that regarding psychological maladjustment, parents experienced feelings of uncertainty whereas adolescents experienced a kind of mourning process. These findings can be used to design and implement effective intervention measures for mental health and psychological well-being in such a difficult situation as domestic lockdown.
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Guerrero-Gomez A, Nöthen-Garunja I, Schredl M, Homberg A, Vulcan M, Brusić A, Bonizzi C, Iannaco C. Dreaming in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Health Crisis: Survey Among a Sample of European School Students. Front Psychol 2021; 12:652627. [PMID: 33959080 PMCID: PMC8093446 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.652627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the continuity hypothesis of dreaming and contemporary psychodynamic approaches, dreams reflect waking life. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and dreaming in adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy, Romania and Croatia involving 2,105 secondary school students (69% girls, mean age 15.6 ± 2.1 years; 31% boys, mean age 15.1 ± 2.2 years; mean age of whole sample 15.4 ± 2.1 years). No substantial differences between countries were found. Thirty-one percent of the participants reported heightened dream recall, 18% noticed an increase in nightmares during the lockdown, and 15% of the provided dreams (n = 498) included pandemic-related content. The results indicate that subjective emotional reactions to lockdown had a significantly higher correlation to dreaming than objective distress (i.e., illness or death of a close one because of COVID-19). These findings suggest that attention to dreams should be included in preventive programs for adolescents with pandemic-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Schredl
- Sleep Laboratory, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Maria Vulcan
- Timișoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture Association, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Asja Brusić
- Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture, Croatian Cultural Centre, Rijeka, Croatia
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