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Auerswald S, Koddebusch C, Hermann C. Elevated perceived stress in university students due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Potential contributing factors in a propensity-score-matched sample. Scand J Psychol 2024. [PMID: 38497207 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.13013] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID) pandemic has increased students' perceived burdens. The current study aimed to examine COVID-related changes and to identify potential factors that contribute to students' stress. METHOD Adopting a cross-sectional cohort-study design, we examined perceived stress and depressive and anxiety symptoms with a specific focus on the role of study-related variables such as perceived study-related demands, study-related resources, academic procrastination, and stress-enhancing beliefs. Two cohorts (Npre-COVID = 2,175; NCOVID = 959) were recruited at the same university and matched with regard to their propensity score (age, gender, semester). RESULTS Compared with the pre-COVID cohort, university students in the COVID cohort reported more perceived stress, more depressive and anxiety symptoms, more academic procrastination due to fear of failure, more stress-enhancing beliefs, more distress due to the housing situation, and more perceived study-related challenges (Cohen's d = 0.15-0.45). A stepwise regression analysis identified depressive symptoms, procrastination due to fear of failure, general self-efficacy, increased study demands, perceived difficulties with self-organized learning, distress due to housing, and stress-enhancing beliefs as predictors of perceived stress in the COVID cohort. DISCUSSION Findings suggest that the switch to online-only education increased the study-related burden for students, primarily due to exams being replaced by a greater amount of regular coursework and imposing demands on self-organized learning. Possibly, stress-enhancing beliefs and procrastination due to fear of failure might have been elevated due to less opportunity for social referencing and lack of felt social support by peer students. CONCLUSION Experienced increased burden in students during the COVID pandemic was mostly accounted for by a lack of perceived individual resources rather than by an increase in objective study-related demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Auerswald
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christine Koddebusch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christiane Hermann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
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Schippers MC, Ioannidis JPA, Luijks MWJ. Is society caught up in a Death Spiral? Modeling societal demise and its reversal. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2024; 9:1194597. [PMID: 38533441 PMCID: PMC10964949 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1194597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Just like an army of ants caught in an ant mill, individuals, groups and even whole societies are sometimes caught up in a Death Spiral, a vicious cycle of self-reinforcing dysfunctional behavior characterized by continuous flawed decision making, myopic single-minded focus on one (set of) solution(s), denial, distrust, micromanagement, dogmatic thinking and learned helplessness. We propose the term Death Spiral Effect to describe this difficult-to-break downward spiral of societal decline. Specifically, in the current theory-building review we aim to: (a) more clearly define and describe the Death Spiral Effect; (b) model the downward spiral of societal decline as well as an upward spiral; (c) describe how and why individuals, groups and even society at large might be caught up in a Death Spiral; and (d) offer a positive way forward in terms of evidence-based solutions to escape the Death Spiral Effect. Management theory hints on the occurrence of this phenomenon and offers turn-around leadership as solution. On a societal level strengthening of democracy may be important. Prior research indicates that historically, two key factors trigger this type of societal decline: rising inequalities creating an upper layer of elites and a lower layer of masses; and dwindling (access to) resources. Historical key markers of societal decline are a steep increase in inequalities, government overreach, over-integration (interdependencies in networks) and a rapidly decreasing trust in institutions and resulting collapse of legitimacy. Important issues that we aim to shed light on are the behavioral underpinnings of decline, as well as the question if and how societal decline can be reversed. We explore the extension of these theories from the company/organization level to the society level, and make use of insights from both micro-, meso-, and macro-level theories (e.g., Complex Adaptive Systems and collapsology, the study of the risks of collapse of industrial civilization) to explain this process of societal demise. Our review furthermore draws on theories such as Social Safety Theory, Conservation of Resources Theory, and management theories that describe the decline and fall of groups, companies and societies, as well as offer ways to reverse this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaéla C. Schippers
- Department of Organisation and Personnel Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - John P. A. Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Matthias W. J. Luijks
- Department of History of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Ekoube CE, Bitsie DM, Njiengwe EF, Ma Linwa EM, Eyoum C, Betoko RM, Massako JD, Nsang EH, Soumaiyatou A, Kuate CT. Exploring Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease and HIV: A Comparative Analysis. Anemia 2024; 2024:4429541. [PMID: 38487039 PMCID: PMC10937083 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4429541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Paediatric HIV and sickle cell disease (SCD) are two stigmatising and potentially fatal illnesses that place a significant burden on families. HIV patients benefit from a longstanding free-service national programme in Cameroon, and this could considerably alleviate burden of care on HIV caregivers, possibly leading to better quality of life (QoL) in HIV caregivers compared to SCD caregivers. Our study aimed to compare the QoL between caregivers of children and adolescents with SCD and HIV and explore factors associated with this QoL in Cameroon. Methods and Materials We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional analytic study at Douala Laquintinie Hospital from February to May 2023. A questionnaire was administered to caregivers of paediatric patients (≤18 years) with SCD and HIV. The Pediatrics Quality of Life-Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and the 9-item Patient Health Question (PHQ-9) tools were used as measures of quality of life, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors associated with quality of life. A significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results We included 199 caregivers: SCD = 104 and HIV = 95. The mean age of caregivers in our sample was 40.47 ± 10.18 years. Caregivers of paediatric patients with HIV had a better mean quality of life than SCD (93.01 ± 7.35SD versus 64.86 ± 9.20SD, p < 0.001). PHQ-9 score (B = -1.52, 95% CI = [-2.08; -0.96], p=<0.001), GAD-7 score (B = -1.46, 95% CI = [-2.09; -0.83], p=<0.001), spending less than 75 000 FCFA on medications monthly (B = 12.13, 95% CI = [5.73; 18.94], p=<0.001), and being a SCD caregiver (B = -11.62, 95% CI = [-18.46; -4.78], p=0.001) were factors independently associated with quality of life on multivariable analysis. Conclusion Quality of life is lower in caregivers of children and adolescents with SCD than with HIV. Preventing depression and anxiety as well as advocating for the subsidization of medications through a national SCD program may improve quality of life in SCD caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Eposse Ekoube
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Laquintinie Hospital of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Dora Mbonjo Bitsie
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Christian Eyoum
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Ritha Mbono Betoko
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Laquintinie Hospital of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | | | - Emmanuel Heles Nsang
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Abba Soumaiyatou
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Callixte Tegueu Kuate
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
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Musso P, Inguglia C, Wiium N, Coco AL, Liga F, Albiero P, Bartolo MG, Cassibba R, Barrett M, Tenenbaum H, Burns MB, Ingoglia S. The role of late adolescents' emotion regulation in the experience of COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal study. Stress Health 2024. [PMID: 38193853 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic may be considered a unique mass-trauma experience. This study examined the relations between Italian late adolescents' emotion regulation strategies, their anxiety states, and their experience of the lockdown (in terms of discomfort related to restrictions, capacities to create new functional daily routines, and to find positive changes in one's own life) during the first wave of this pandemic. We analysed how participants' reports of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression were associated with anxiety states during the 2020 Italian COVID-19 lockdown (large scale physical distancing and movement restrictions) and one month after the lockdown restrictions had been removed. We also examined how cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and anxiety states were linked to late adolescents' experience of lockdown. The participants were 497 Italian adolescents, aged from 17 to 24 years (Mage = 21.11, SD = 1.83). A longitudinal structural equation modelling showed that emotion regulation strategies and anxiety states were not associated across time. Cognitive reappraisal was positively associated with routine reorganization and positive changes. In contrast, participants' expressive suppression was negatively related to their discomfort related to restrictions, ability to functionally reorganise their daily routine, and ability to find positive changes related to the COVID-19 emergency. Anxiety was positively linked to discomfort related to restrictions. The findings are discussed in light of the current literature related to emotion regulation and anxiety. Limitations and implications for practice are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Musso
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Cristiano Inguglia
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Nora Wiium
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Alida Lo Coco
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Liga
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Albiero
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Bartolo
- Department of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Rosalinda Cassibba
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Sonia Ingoglia
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Zhai XY, Lei DC, Zhao Y, Jing P, Zhang K, Han JT, Ni AH, Wang XY. Surviving the shift: College student satisfaction with emergency online learning during COVID-19 pandemic. World J Psychiatry 2023; 13:1106-1120. [PMID: 38186724 PMCID: PMC10768495 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i12.1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic disrupted education systems by forcing systems to shift to emergency online leaning. Online learning satisfaction affects academic achievement. Many factors affect online learning satisfaction. However there is little study focused on personal characteristics, mental status, and coping style when college students participated in emergency online courses. AIM To assess factors related to satisfaction with emergency online learning among college students in Hebei province during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1600 college students. The collected information included demographics, psychological aspects of emergent public health events, and coping style. Single factor, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors that affected online learning satisfaction. RESULTS Descriptive findings indicated that 62.9% (994/1580) of students were satisfied with online learning. Factors that had significant positive effects on online learning satisfaction were online learning at scheduled times, strong exercise intensity, good health, regular schedule, focusing on the epidemic less than one hour a day, and maintaining emotional stability. Positive coping styles were protective factors of online learning satisfaction. Risk factors for poor satisfaction were depression, neurasthenia, and negative coping style. CONCLUSION College students with different personal characteristics, mental status, and coping style exhibited different degrees of online learning satisfaction. Our findings provide reference for educators, psychologists, and school administrators to conduct health education intervention of college students during emergency online learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Zhai
- Institute of Mental Health of Hebei Medical University, Department of Clinical Psychology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
| | - Dong-Chuan Lei
- Sculpture Institute, Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, Shijiazhuang 050700, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Peng Jing
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Basic Medical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Ji-Ting Han
- Department of Media Art, Shijiazhuang Information Engineering Vocational College, Shijiazhuang 052160, Hebei Province, China
| | - Ai-Hua Ni
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xue-Yi Wang
- Institute of Mental Health of Hebei Medical University, Psychiatric Department of the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050031, Hebei Province, China
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Qiao Z, Wu Y, Xie Y, Qiu X, Chen L, Yang J, Pan H, Gu S, Yang X, Hu X, Wei P, Zhao J, Qu Y, Zhou J, Bu T, Yang Y. The chain mediating roles of anxiety and depression in the relationship between the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and procrastination in adolescents: a longitudinal study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2277. [PMID: 37978471 PMCID: PMC10656881 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is a traumatic event for adolescents, and procrastination is not clear. Mental health may play an important role in this relationship; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to construct chain mediation models to examine whether anxiety and depression symptoms mediate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on procrastination in adolescents. METHODS A convenience sample of 12 middle and high schools in Harbin, China, with four follow-up online surveys was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 4,156 Chinese adolescents were enrolled in this study, of whom ages 11-18 (Mean = 13.55; SD = 1.18), 50.75% were male, and 93.24% were middle school students. Descriptive demographic analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (T1), anxiety(T2), depression (T3), and procrastination (T4) were performed in SPSS 22.0. Chain mediation analysis performed with Mplus 8.3. RESULTS The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and procrastination were positively correlated (P < 0.01). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have a direct link on adolescent procrastination (effect = 0.156; SE = 0.031; 95%CI: 0.092, 0.214), and have three indirect paths on procrastination: the independent mediating role of anxiety symptoms was 29.01% (effect = 0.047; SE = 0.012; 95%CI: 0.024, 0.072), the independent mediating role of depression symptoms was 29.01% (effect = 0.047; SE = 0.010; 95%CI: 0.030, 0.068), as well as the completely chain mediating role of anxiety and depression symptoms was 15.43% (effect = 0.025; SE = 0.005; 95%CI: 0.017, 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that anxiety and depressive symptoms are part of a causal chain between the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and procrastination among Chinese adolescents. To effectively reduce their procrastination, attention should be paid to the emotional distress caused to adolescents by major events such as the COVID-19 epidemic. All data were taken from self-reported measures and one city in China, which may bias the results and limit their generalizability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxue Qiao
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yongmei Wu
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yunjia Xie
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiaohui Qiu
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Beijing Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiarun Yang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education of Heilongjiang University, Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Pan
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Simeng Gu
- Department of Psychology, Jiangsu University Medical School, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiuxian Yang
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiaomeng Hu
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Ping Wei
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jinxin Zhao
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yuanpeng Qu
- School of Western Languages and Cultures, Harbin Normal University, Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Tianyi Bu
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Yanjie Yang
- Psychology and Health Management Center, Harbin Medical University, No.157, Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Shi MM, Xu XF, Sun QM, Luo M, Liu DD, Guo DM, Chen L, Zhong XL, Xu Y, Cao WY. Betaine prevents cognitive dysfunction by suppressing hippocampal microglial activation in chronic social isolated male mice. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4755-4770. [PMID: 37846157 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social isolation (SI) stress, which became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to abnormal behavior, including mood changes and cognitive impairment. Known as a functional nutrient, betaine has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. However, whether betaine can alleviate the abnormal behavior induced by chronic SI in mice remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of betaine in the treatment of behavioral changes and its underlying mechanism. Three-week-old male mice were randomly housed for 8 weeks in either group housing (GH) or SI. The animals were divided into normal saline-treated GH, normal saline-treated SI, and betaine-treated SI groups in the sixth week. The cognitive and depression-like behavior was determined in the eighth week. We found that long-term betaine administration improved cognitive behavior in SI mice but failed to prevent depression-like behavior. Moreover, long-term betaine administration inhibited hippocampal microglia over-activation and polarized microglia toward the M2 phenotype, which effectively inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in SI mice. Finally, the protective effect of betaine treatment in SI mice might not be due to altered activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Collectively, our findings reveal that betaine can improve SI-induced cognitive impairment, thus providing an alternative natural source for the prevention of memory loss caused by SI or loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Meng Shi
- Clinical Anatomy and Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao Fan Xu
- Clinical Anatomy and Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Qiu Min Sun
- Department of Nursing, Yiyang Medical College, Yiyang, Hunan, China
| | - Mingying Luo
- Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Dan Dan Liu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Dong Min Guo
- Clinical Anatomy and Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao Lin Zhong
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wen Yu Cao
- Clinical Anatomy and Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
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Du X, Xiang G, Xiao M, Liu X, Sun J, Ding C, Chen H. The relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of negative emotions and maladaptive coping. J Adolesc 2023; 95:1449-1462. [PMID: 37435881 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the observed increased feelings of loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, further research was needed to determine whether and how the increased loneliness of adolescents during such major public health crisis events affects the risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents. This study aimed to examine the relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among Chinese adolescents (aged 10-16 years) during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the possible mediating role of negative emotions and maladaptive coping. METHODS A total of 672 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.05, SD = 1.51, 50.4% boys, 93.8% from rural areas, 22.5% of whom were only children) took part in this cross-sectional study in April 2022 by completing the Chinese adolescent version of the Loneliness Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (subscale), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale. RESULTS The serial mediation model revealed that negative emotions and maladaptive coping independently mediated the relationship between adolescents' loneliness and problematic smartphone use. In addition, the mediation effects of "negative emotions-maladaptive coping" could also mediate the relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness may be positively related to problematic smartphone use through negative emotions and maladaptive coping among adolescents during major public health crisis events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Du
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guangcan Xiang
- Tian Jiabing College of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Mingyue Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiayi Sun
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cody Ding
- Department of Educational Psychology, Research and Evaluation, University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Reivan Ortiz GG, Yanza R, Campoverde X, Estrada Cherres JP, Reinoso García LP, Diaz J, Granero Pérez R. A predictive model of perceived stress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in university students Ecuadorians. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1202625. [PMID: 37520229 PMCID: PMC10374223 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1202625] [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: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives The situation caused by the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility restriction implemented by governments worldwide had a significant impact on people's routines. Stressors are known to increase emotional imbalance, uncertainty, and frustration in the general population. This study explores the factors that predispose to the risk of perceived stress from COVID-19 and determines the underlying mediating mechanisms in the Ecuadorian population. Method The cross-sectional study an incidental non-probabilistic sample of n = 977 participating student volunteers from the four regions of the Republic of Ecuador (68.6% women and 31.4% men). Data on emotional regulation (ERQ), perceived stress (PSS), active procrastination (APS), diagnosis and symptoms related to COVID-19, social isolation, coexistence, and a sociodemographic questionnaire (biological sex, marital status, and age) were recruited. Statistical analysis was based on a structural equation model. Results The risk of suffering perceived stress in the COVID-19 pandemic was higher for single women who have lived longer in social isolation, have lived with more people, have poor emotional regulation and high rates of procrastination. This structural model is similar in all Ecuadorian regions χ2 = 21.54 (p = 0.760), RMSEA = 0.001 (95%CI, 0.00-0.02), CFI = 0.998; TLI = 0.999; SRMR = 0.020. Discussion Although our findings are consistent and revealing for the scientific community, the lack of discrimination of the data due to strict isolation measures, taken at different periods by the Ecuadorian government against positive cases of COVID-19, is discussed. The research was applied to the university population, it would be representative to extend the study to schools and colleges. Conclusion We consider this work as a starting point for the creation of preventive models against perceived stress in the university environment in the event of health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geovanny Genaro Reivan Ortiz
- Laboratory of Basic Psychology, Behavioral Analysis and Programmatic Development (PAD-LAB), Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Rafael Yanza
- Laboratory of Basic Psychology, Behavioral Analysis and Programmatic Development (PAD-LAB), Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Ximena Campoverde
- Laboratory of Basic Psychology, Behavioral Analysis and Programmatic Development (PAD-LAB), Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Johanna Paulina Estrada Cherres
- Laboratory of Basic Psychology, Behavioral Analysis and Programmatic Development (PAD-LAB), Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | | | - José Diaz
- Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
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Su Z, McDonnell D, Ahmad J, Cheshmehzangi A. Disaster preparedness in healthcare professionals amid COVID-19 and beyond: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Nurse Educ Pract 2023; 69:103583. [PMID: 36996556 PMCID: PMC9968355 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disasters like COVID-19 are oftentimes inevitable, which makes disaster preparedness indispensable to global health and social stability. However, there is a dearth of understanding of how well healthcare professionals, who often have to work at the epicenter of disasters as they evolve, are trained to be sufficiently prepared for these crises. To this end, this study aims to examine the characteristics and effectiveness of existing interventions that aim to improve healthcare professionals' disaster preparedness. METHODS We searched RCTs that aim to improve healthcare professionals' disaster preparedness in databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus. Results were screened against the eligibility criteria. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020192517) and conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS A total of 7382 articles were screened for eligibility, among which, 27 RCTs, incorporating 35,145, met the inclusion criteria. Review results show that most of the eligible RCTs were conducted in high-income countries. Only two RCTs were developed in disaster contexts that share similarities with COVID-19. Most of the interventions did not address critical disaster coping abilities, such as how can healthcare professionals protect or improve their personal or the general public's mental health amid pandemics. Furthermore, almost half of the disaster preparedness RCTs failed to generate statistically significant outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Albeit inevitable, disasters are preventable. Our study results underscore the imperative of designing and developing effective and comprehensive interventions that could boost healthcare professionals' disaster preparedness, so that these frontline workers can better protect personal and public health amid global crises like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Su
- School of Public Health, Institute for Human Rights, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan.
| | - Dean McDonnell
- Department of Humanities, South East Technological University, Carlow R93 V960, Ireland; Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan.
| | - Junaid Ahmad
- Rufaidah Nursing College, Peshawar, Pakistan; Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan
| | - Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan
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11
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Conti C, Lanzara R, Rosa I, Müller MM, Porcelli P. Psychological correlates of perceived loneliness in college students before and during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period: a longitudinal study. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:60. [PMID: 36879326 PMCID: PMC9987403 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01099-1] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is increasingly acknowledged as a serious public health issue. This longitudinal study aimed to assess the extent to which psychological distress and alexithymia can predict loneliness among Italian college students before and one year after the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS A convenience sample of 177 psychology college students were recruited. Loneliness (UCLA), alexithymia (TAS-20), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) were assessed before the COVID-19 outbreak and one year after the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. RESULTS After controlling for baseline loneliness, students with high levels of loneliness during lockdown showed worsening psychological distress and alexithymic traits over time. Suffering from depressive symptoms before COVID-19 and the aggravation of alexithymic traits independently predicted 41% of perceived loneliness during the COVID-19 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS College students with higher levels of depression and alexithymic traits both before and one year after the lockdown were more at risk of suffering from perceived loneliness and may constitute the target sample for psychological support and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Roberta Lanzara
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Rosa
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Markus M Müller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Piero Porcelli
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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12
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Factors contributing to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Educ Pract 2023; 68:103587. [PMID: 36842294 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103587] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate predictive factors of student's academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping on the depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students. BACKGROUND As the burden of depression among students has increased worldwide, depressive symptoms have become a standard part of mental health problems in college and university students. Among the various fields of medical sciences, nursing students face more stressors during their study period and are more at risk of suffering depressive symptoms than other students. DESIGN A cross-sectional design. METHODS A total of 230 undergraduate nursing students from a university in Myanmar were recruited from August to September 2021. The data were collected using standard research instruments, including a Demographic Questionnaire, Student Nurse Stress Index Questionnaire, General Self-efficacy Scale, Brief COPE Inventory, and Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Inferential statistics were used to identify the predictive effect of academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, problem-focused coping, and emotion-focused coping on depressive symptoms, using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS Academic year, interest in the field of nursing, stress, self-efficacy, and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping accounted for 31.5% of the variance of depressive symptoms (F(8, 221) = 12.704, p < .001) with an R2 = .315. Stress was the factor that most influenced student's depressive symptoms (β = .407, p < .001). Self-efficacy (β = -.244, p < .001) and emotion-focused coping (β = .199, p < .05) were also critical factors contributing to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide insight and knowledge about depressive symptoms and factors that can contribute to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students. Results suggest that nurse educators and community mental health nurses should focus on reducing stress, increasing self-efficacy, and enhancing proper coping strategies among students to prevent depressive symptoms.
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13
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Bin Adnan MAA, Bin Kassim MSA, Bt Sahril N, Bin Abd Razak MA. Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety among Stable Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Malaysia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:ijerph20010586. [PMID: 36612905 PMCID: PMC9819532 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created anxiety among hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors among stable inpatient COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based online survey involving 401 patients from Malaysia’s leading COVID-19 hospitals from 15th April until 30th June 2020, who were chosen using quota sampling. The General Anxiety Disorders 7 items (GAD-7) scale, the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) and a socio-demographic profile questionnaire were used. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed using SPSS v23 to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors. Result: The results showed that the prevalence of anxiety was 7.0%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (p < 0.05), a fear of infection (p < 0.05), a lack of information (p < 0.05), a maladaptive coping mechanism of behavioral disengagement (p < 0.001) and self-blame (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with anxiety. Meanwhile, adaptive coping mechanisms via instrumental support (p < 0.001) were a significant protective predictor of anxiety. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection has had a significant influence on the mental health of patients. Findings in our study provide baseline data on the prevalence of anxiety among stabilized COVID-19 inpatients in Malaysia. Despite the relatively low prevalence, the data have the potential to improve the present mental health monitoring system and the deployment of suitable treatments in dealing with similar circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azri Adam Bin Adnan
- Correspondence: (M.A.A.B.A.); (M.S.A.B.K.); Tel.: +60-126660695 (M.A.A.B.A.); +60-175607623 (M.S.A.B.K.); Fax: +60-333627801 (M.A.A.B.A. & M.S.A.B.K.)
| | - Mohd Shaiful Azlan Bin Kassim
- Correspondence: (M.A.A.B.A.); (M.S.A.B.K.); Tel.: +60-126660695 (M.A.A.B.A.); +60-175607623 (M.S.A.B.K.); Fax: +60-333627801 (M.A.A.B.A. & M.S.A.B.K.)
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14
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Qu R, Ding N, Li H, Song X, Cong Z, Cai R, Zhu Y, Wen D. The mediating role of general academic emotions in burnout and procrastination among Chinese medical undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1011801. [PMID: 36544803 PMCID: PMC9760956 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1011801] [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: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Academic procrastination has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic due to teaching/learning changes. This phenomenon induces academic burnout, which is already serious among medical students. However, the academic emotion, which is the factor most vulnerable to changes in the academic environment, is still unknown. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of general academic emotions in procrastination and burnout among Chinese medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 995 medical students from China Medical University. We applied the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS), the Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API) and the General Academic Emotion Questionnaire for College Students (GAEQ) to evaluate the variables of interest. We examined the mediation effects of GAEs by hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results Correlation analyses showed a significant positive correlation between procrastination and burnout. Procrastination and burnout positively and negatively correlated with negative academic emotions, respectively. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that procrastination had positive associations with negative academic emotions, while it had negative associations with positive academic emotions. The contributions (as mediators) of GAEs to burnout and procrastination were 21.16% (NAEs), 29.75% (PAEs), 54.25% (NDEs) and 23.69% (PDEs). Conclusions The results indicate that academic emotions had mediating effects on procrastination and burnout. Medical students' worries about the uncertainty of the learning environment may have exacerbated academic burnout. Targeted improvements in the teaching environment to communicate encouragement and reduce anxiety and helplessness among medical undergraduates for implementing medical education while preventing and controlling the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyi Qu
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Honghe Li
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinzhi Song
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhangzhao Cong
- Department of Teaching Affairs, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ruoxin Cai
- The First Clinical Department, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yaxin Zhu
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Deliang Wen
- Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,*Correspondence: Deliang Wen
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15
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Zeng Y, Zhang J, Wei J, Li S. The Impact of Undergraduates' Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15903. [PMID: 36497974 PMCID: PMC9738847 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315903] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on the physical health of societies and individuals. One important concern is the effect of social isolation on the mental health of undergraduates, such as academic anxiety, smartphone addiction and other social psychological problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations among undergraduates' social isolation in this special context, social media use for obtaining information about the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., communicative and non-communicative), academic anxiety, and smartphone addiction. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June in 2022 and a total of 388 undergraduates were included. The results showed significant positive associations between social isolation and smartphone addiction and academic anxiety. Furthermore, academic anxiety played a mediating role in the effect of social isolation on smartphone addiction, which was moderated by non-communicative social media use. Some theoretical and practical implications as well as research limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youlai Zeng
- School of Education, Liaoning Normal University, 850 Huanghe Road, Dalian 116029, China
| | - Jiahui Zhang
- School of Education, Liaoning Normal University, 850 Huanghe Road, Dalian 116029, China
| | - Jiaxin Wei
- School of Education, Liaoning Normal University, 850 Huanghe Road, Dalian 116029, China
| | - Shunyu Li
- Center for Teacher Education Research in Xinjiang, Xinjiang Normal University, 100 Guanjing Road, Urumqi 830017, China
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16
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Villarreal-Zegarra D, Paredes-Angeles R, Mayo-Puchoc N, Vilela-Estada AL, Copez-Lonzoy A, Huarcaya-Victoria J. An explanatory model of depressive symptoms from anxiety, post-traumatic stress, somatic symptoms, and symptom perception: the potential role of inflammatory markers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:638. [PMID: 36210450 PMCID: PMC9548421 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The context of the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the mental health of the population, increasing the incidence of mental health problems such as depression, especially in those who have had COVID-19. Our study puts forward an explanatory model of depressive symptoms based on subjective psychological factors in those hospitalized for COVID-19 with and without biological markers (i.e., inflammatory markers). Therefore, we aim to evaluate the hypotheses proposed in the model to predict the presence of depressive symptoms. METHOD We conducted a cross-sectional study, using a simple random sampling. Data from 277 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Lima-Peru, were collected to assess mental health variables (i.e., depressive, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and somatic symptoms), self-perception of COVID-19 related symptoms, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) such as inflammatory marker. We performed a structural equation modeling analysis to evaluate a predictive model of depressive symptoms. RESULTS The results showed a prevalence of depressive symptoms (11.2%), anxiety symptoms (7.9%), somatic symptoms (2.2%), and symptoms of post-traumatic stress (6.1%) in the overall sample. No association was found between the prevalence of these mental health problems among individuals with and without severe inflammatory response. The mental health indicators with the highest prevalence were sleep problems (48%), low energy (47.7%), nervousness (48.77%), worry (47.7%), irritability (43.7%) and back pain (52%) in the overall sample. The model proposed to explain depressive symptoms was able to explain more than 83.7% of the variance and presented good goodness-of-fit indices. Also, a different performance between the proposed model was found between those with and without severe inflammatory response. This difference was mainly found in the relationship between anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and between the perception of COVID-19 related symptoms and somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrated that our model of mental health variables may explain depressive symptoms in hospitalized patients of COVID-19 from a third-level hospital in Peru. In the model, perception of symptoms influences somatic symptoms, which impact both anxiety symptoms and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Thus, anxiety symptoms could directly influence depressive symptoms or through symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Our findings could be useful to decision-makers for the prevention of depression, used to inform the creation of screening tools (i.e., perception of symptoms, somatic and anxiety symptoms) to identify vulnerable patients to depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villarreal-Zegarra
- grid.441978.70000 0004 0396 3283Escuela de Medicina, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo, Peru ,Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | | | - Anthony Copez-Lonzoy
- Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru ,grid.441908.00000 0001 1969 0652Unidad de Investigación en Bibliometría, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru ,PSYCOPERU Peruvian Research Institute of Educational and Social Psychology, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeff Huarcaya-Victoria
- Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Filial Ica, Peru. .,Departamento de Psiquiatría, Servicio de Psiquiatría de Adultos, Unidad de Psiquiatría de Enlace, Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, Lima, Perú.
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17
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Contribution of perceived loneliness to suicidal thoughts among French university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16833. [PMID: 36207381 PMCID: PMC9540057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21288-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Restrictive measures during the COVID-19 epidemic have led to increased levels of loneliness, especially among university students, although the influence on suicidal thoughts remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study of 1913 French university students, those with the highest level of loneliness had a fourfold increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Perceived loneliness should be incorporated into suicide risk assessment, and assistance in coping with loneliness should be considered as a means of reducing suicidal risk in vulnerable groups, like university students.
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18
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Schippers MC, Ioannidis JPA, Joffe AR. Aggressive measures, rising inequalities, and mass formation during the COVID-19 crisis: An overview and proposed way forward. Front Public Health 2022; 10:950965. [PMID: 36159300 PMCID: PMC9491114 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.950965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of aggressive restrictive measures were adopted around the world in 2020-2022 to attempt to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from spreading. However, it has become increasingly clear the most aggressive (lockdown) response strategies may involve negative side-effects such as a steep increase in poverty, hunger, and inequalities. Several economic, educational, and health repercussions have fallen disproportionately on children, students, young workers, and especially on groups with pre-existing inequalities such as low-income families, ethnic minorities, and women. This has led to a vicious cycle of rising inequalities and health issues. For example, educational and financial security decreased along with rising unemployment and loss of life purpose. Domestic violence surged due to dysfunctional families being forced to spend more time with each other. In the current narrative and scoping review, we describe macro-dynamics that are taking place because of aggressive public health policies and psychological tactics to influence public behavior, such as mass formation and crowd behavior. Coupled with the effect of inequalities, we describe how these factors can interact toward aggravating ripple effects. In light of evidence regarding the health, economic and social costs, that likely far outweigh potential benefits, the authors suggest that, first, where applicable, aggressive lockdown policies should be reversed and their re-adoption in the future should be avoided. If measures are needed, these should be non-disruptive. Second, it is important to assess dispassionately the damage done by aggressive measures and offer ways to alleviate the burden and long-term effects. Third, the structures in place that have led to counterproductive policies should be assessed and ways should be sought to optimize decision-making, such as counteracting groupthink and increasing the level of reflexivity. Finally, a package of scalable positive psychology interventions is suggested to counteract the damage done and improve humanity's prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaéla C. Schippers
- Department of Technology and Operations Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Michaéla C. Schippers
| | - John P. A. Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Ari R. Joffe
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,John Dossetor Health Ethics Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Zhao Q, Wang K, Kiss O, Yuksel D, de Zambotti M, Clark DB, Goldston DB, Nooner KB, Brown SA, Tapert SF, Thompson WK, Nagel BJ, Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Pohl KM, Baker FC. Earlier Bedtime and Effective Coping Skills Predict a Return to Low-Risk of Depression in Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191610300. [PMID: 36011934 PMCID: PMC9408272 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610300] [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] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
To determine the persistent effects of the pandemic on mental health in young adults, we categorized depressive symptom trajectories and sought factors that promoted a reduction in depressive symptoms in high-risk individuals. Specifically, longitudinal analysis investigated changes in the risk for depression before and during the pandemic until December 2021 in 399 young adults (57% female; age range: 22.8 ± 2.6 years) in the United States (U.S.) participating in the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) was administered multiple times before and during the pandemic. A score ≥10 identified individuals at high-risk for depression. Self-reported sleep behavior, substance use, and coping skills at the start of the pandemic were assessed as predictors for returning to low-risk levels while controlling for demographic factors. The analysis identified four trajectory groups regarding depression risk, with 38% being at low-risk pre-pandemic through 2021, 14% showing persistent high-risk pre-pandemic through 2021, and the remainder converting to high-risk either in June 2020 (30%) or later (18%). Of those who became high-risk in June 2020, 51% were no longer at high-risk in 2021. Logistic regression revealed that earlier bedtime and, for the older participants (mid to late twenties), better coping skills were associated with this declining risk. Results indicate divergence in trajectories of depressive symptoms, with a considerable number of young adults developing persistent depressive symptoms. Healthy sleep behavior and specific coping skills have the potential to promote remittance from depressive symptoms in the context of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyu Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Kevin Wang
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Dilara Yuksel
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | | | - Duncan B. Clark
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - David B. Goldston
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Kate B. Nooner
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
| | - Sandra A. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Susan F. Tapert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Wesley K. Thompson
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Lab, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bonnie J. Nagel
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Edith V. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Kilian M. Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Fiona C. Baker
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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20
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Wright L, Fluharty M, Steptoe A, Fancourt D. How Did People Cope During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Structural Topic Modelling Analysis of Free-Text Data From 11,000 United Kingdom Adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:810655. [PMID: 35734451 PMCID: PMC9207408 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.810655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial impacts on lives across the globe. Job losses have been widespread, and individuals have experienced significant restrictions on their usual activities, including extended isolation from family and friends. While studies suggest population mental health worsened from before the pandemic, not all individuals appear to have experienced poorer mental health. This raises the question of how people managed to cope during the pandemic. Methods To understand the coping strategies individuals employed during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used structural topic modelling, a text mining technique, to extract themes from free-text data on coping from over 11,000 UK adults, collected between 14 October and 26 November 2020. Results We identified 16 topics. The most discussed coping strategy was ‘thinking positively’ and involved themes of gratefulness and positivity. Other strategies included engaging in activities and hobbies (such as doing DIY, exercising, walking and spending time in nature), keeping routines, and focusing on one day at a time. Some participants reported more avoidant coping strategies, such as drinking alcohol and binge eating. Coping strategies varied by respondent characteristics including age, personality traits and sociodemographic characteristics and some coping strategies, such as engaging in creative activities, were associated with more positive lockdown experiences. Conclusion A variety of coping strategies were employed by individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coping strategy an individual adopted was related to their overall lockdown experiences. This may be useful for helping individuals prepare for future lockdowns or other events resulting in self-isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Wright
- Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Liam Wright,
| | - Meg Fluharty
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daisy Fancourt
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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21
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Procrastination during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12020038. [PMID: 35200289 PMCID: PMC8868816 DOI: 10.3390/bs12020038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Procrastination involves voluntarily or habitually delaying unpleasant tasks for later. It is characterized by short-term benefits and long-term costs. The COVID-19 pandemic set specific circumstances that may have influenced procrastination behavior. This scoping review identified the existing peer-reviewed literature in English or Spanish about procrastination during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020 to April 2021) in six electronic databases. To conduct the review, a five-step methodological framework, as well as established PRISMA guidelines, was followed. A total of 101 articles were found. After removing duplicates and reviewing the articles, only 13 were included in the review. Findings indicate that procrastination was studied mostly in academic contexts in various parts of the globe. Procrastination behavior was related to anxiety, distress, time management, self-control, and other variables. There is limited information about interventions to prevent or decrease procrastinating behaviors in the context of confinement or in the living conditions generated by the pandemic. Future research should consider how procrastination evolved during the pandemic using longitudinal methodologies. Individual differences related to procrastination also should be identified, and the evaluation of the efficacy of existing interventions is still needed. This information might help in the creation of appropriate interventions that target detrimental procrastination behaviors.
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22
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Miconi D, Geenen G, Frounfelker RL, Levinsson A, Rousseau C. Meaning in Life, Future Orientation and Support for Violent Radicalization Among Canadian College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:765908. [PMID: 35222111 PMCID: PMC8873191 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.765908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased levels of uncertainty and social polarization in our societies, compromising young people's capacity to envision a positive future and maintain a meaningful sense of purpose in life. Within a positive youth development framework, the present study investigates the associations of a positive future orientation, presence of and search for meaning in life, and support for violent radicalization (VR) in a diverse sample of Canadian college students. In addition, we investigate the moderating role of future orientation in the association between presence of and search for a meaning in life and support for VR. A total of 3,100 college students in Québec (Canada) (69% female; M age = 18.57, SD age = 1.76) completed an online survey during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from linear mixed-effects models indicate that a positive future orientation and a higher presence of a meaning in life were negatively and independently associated with support for VR. Search for meaning in life was not associated with support for VR. The magnitude of the negative association between presence of a meaning in life and support for VR was greater among students with a more positive future orientation. Schools and colleges are in a privileged position to implement preventive interventions to support a positive future orientation and the presence of a meaning in life among young people during these challenging and uncertain times and reduce the risk of violence related to extreme ideologies in our rapidly changing society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Miconi
- Department of Psychopedagogy and Andragogy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Geenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Anna Levinsson
- Division of Social and Cultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cécile Rousseau
- Division of Social and Cultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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23
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Joffe AR, Redman D. The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in High Income Countries Such as Canada: A Better Way Forward Without Lockdowns. Front Public Health 2021; 9:715904. [PMID: 34926364 PMCID: PMC8672418 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.715904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused tragic morbidity and mortality. In attempt to reduce this morbidity and mortality, most countries implemented population-wide lockdowns. Here we show that the lockdowns were based on several flawed assumptions, including "no one is protected until everyone is protected," "lockdowns are highly effective to reduce transmission," "lockdowns have a favorable cost-benefit balance," and "lockdowns are the only effective option." Focusing on the latter, we discuss that Emergency Management principles provide a better way forward to manage the public emergency of the pandemic. Specifically, there are three priorities including the following: first, protect those most at risk by separating them from the threat (mitigation); second, ensure critical infrastructure is ready for people who get sick (preparation and response); and third, shift the response from fear to confidence (recovery). We argue that, based on Emergency Management principles, the age-dependent risk from SARS-CoV-2, the minimal (at best) efficacy of lockdowns, and the terrible cost-benefit trade-offs of lockdowns, we need to reset the pandemic response. We can manage risk and save more lives from both COVID-19 and lockdowns, thus achieving far better outcomes in both the short- and long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari R. Joffe
- Department of Pediatrics and John Dossetor Health Ethics Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - David Redman
- Retired LCol, Alberta Emergency Management Agency, St. Paul, AB, Canada
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