Understanding Psychosocial Wellbeing in the Context of Complex and Multidimensional Problems

Nursing's Role in Psychosocial Health Management After a Stroke Event: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

INTRODUCTION

Stroke can have profound psychosocial health implications. These constructs are often overlooked and undertreated yet can be as devastating as the physical, functional, and cognitive consequences after stroke.

AIM

This scientific statement aims to evaluate 5 important aspects of psychosocial health (depression, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and quality of life) after a stroke to provide a framework for related nursing care across the poststroke continuum.

METHODS

A narrative review of the literature published from 2018 to 2023 was conducted with databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, PsychInfo/EBSCOHost, PsychArticles, CINHAL, and the Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

Findings reveal a gap in evidence-based nursing interventions for addressing poststroke psychosocial needs. Critical strategies for shaping therapeutic nursing care include enhanced screening with validated tools; educating stroke survivors, families, and staff on symptom recognition, prevention, and treatment; and ensuring appropriate pharmacological management and access to psychological and psychosocial interventions, including referrals to social services and other essential support systems. Care should be comprehensive and interdisciplinary. Nurse-led research can benefit from more inclusive inclusion, including individuals with recurrent strokes and preexisting psychosocial conditions, focusing on the impact of structural racism and care disparities and expanding evidence-based nursing interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is limited high-level evidence on the nursing care for patients with suboptimal psychosocial health after stroke, nurses have a crucial role in addressing these needs. Enhanced screening, assessment, supportive services, and education are vital to ensure that patients receive the necessary treatment and care.

Experiences of Acquired Brain Injury as Expressed Through Mask-Making: A Qualitative Analysis

PURPOSE

Acquired brain injury (ABI) extends beyond the immediate aftermath, and understanding individual experience of ABI is paramount to providing effective support mechanisms. This study examined how people with ABI used mask-making to engage in self-expression.

METHOD

Publicly available data from the Unmasking Brain Injury Project website, an advocacy group for people with ABI, were analyzed. A qualitative approach with hybrid inductive/deductive analysis was used to explore how people with ABI use art to express their emotional experiences of ABI.

RESULTS

In total, 1,049 masks had narratives describing the visual components and meaning in the associated masks. Three major themes emerged: the multiplicity of experiences after ABI, including positive, negative, and mixed outcomes; the expression of emotional pain and living with loss through art; and the importance of positivity, purpose, and faith in the experience with ABI. Multiplicity was the central expression represented in the masks. The most commonly represented emotional experiences were: emotional pain and living with loss and positivity, purpose, and faith. The masks incorporated literal depictions of the ABI, visual metaphors, and intentional use of colors and shapes for self-expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support previous findings that emotional experiences after ABI are complex and often interlaced with several emotions. The most prominent feelings include emotional pain and living with loss, and positivity, purpose, and faith. Mask-making may be a particularly appropriate method for people with ABI to process or express emotional experiences, as well as to provide clinicians with visual records of sense of self, coping, or progress.

The community pharmacist as a link to psychosocial care services: Findings and lessons from a collaborative project

The role of pharmacists is increasingly expanding to encompass holistic patient-oriented services, including prevention, health advice, and counseling. Despite this, the pharmacist's role in public psychosocial wellbeing remains understudied. Project #CAVAsa, a collaboration between Flemish Pharmacists' Network and Centers for General Wellbeing (CAW), aimed to strengthen the pharmacist's role in psychosocial care. Through training and supportive materials, pharmacists were equipped to detect, inform, and refer patients to appropriate psychosocial services. Between 2021 and 2024, 387 pharmacies participated, registering 415 patient contacts about psychosocial wellbeing. Key enabling conditions for sustainable integration of pharmacists in psychosocial care include delineating their role, strengthening knowledge and competencies, and facilitating integrated care and collaboration. Further support for pharmacists and other primary care providers in psychosocial care is needed to bridge the gap between the health and social services.

Relationships between couple collaboration, well-being, and psychological health of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment

BACKGROUND

Social problems related to infertility are associated with a significant psychological burden for the involved couple. Previous studies have shown the positive effects of couple interactions on the psychological health of these couples; however, the specific conditions of participating in assisted reproductive treatments (ART) might influence the effect of couple collaboration. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between couple collaboration, well-being during infertility, and the psychological indicators of infertile couples undergoing fertility treatment.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 ART volunteer couples. Couple collaboration and well-being during infertility were evaluated using a validated researcher-made questionnaire, and the level of depression, anxiety, and stress was evaluated using the DASS-21 questionnaire in both couples. Statistical analysis was performed using the plug-in application PROCESS macro for SPSS and AMOS software.

RESULTS

The results showed that couple collaboration was correlated with the level of depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, depression, anxiety, and stress levels were correlated with well-being during infertility. The direct and indirect effect of couple collaboration on the depression level was significant; however, the direct effect of couple collaboration on the level of anxiety and stress was not significant, and the effect of couple collaboration on these indicators was mediated by well-being during infertility. The fit index of the equation modelling showed a good fit of the relationship path between the variables of couple collaboration, well-being during infertility, and psychological indicators (CMIN = 4.196, p = 0.260).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that the specific conditions of participating in ART may affect the direct effects of couple interaction on an infertile couple's levels of anxiety and stress. These results suggest that in order to develop mental health programs for infertile couples, strategies based on couple collaboration that are associated with higher well-being during infertility should be developed and presented.

Gamified Interventions for Promoting the Psychosocial Well-Being of School-Aged Children: A Scoping Review

Gamified health interventions can offer child-centered and tailored health-promoting strategies. Evidence suggests that its various mechanics foster engagement that can be utilized to promote health and well-being and influence health behavior. At present, psychosocial challenges among school-aged children are becoming a global predicament. We conducted a scoping review to explore the range and nature of evidence on gamified interventions for promoting the psychosocial well-being of school-aged children from the general population. We followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and extracted sources of evidence from five databases. Our review findings were summarized with basic numerical analysis and provided with narrative accounts based on a gamification taxonomy and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). We identified 12 gamified interventions and included 23 records that reported their development and evaluation. Theories on emotions, behaviors, social skills, and mental health were commonly applied frameworks. Narrative was found as the most commonly used gamification mechanic (11/12, 91.7%), followed by avatar and tasks (10/12, 83.3%), feedback system and level progression (9/12, 75%), points (7/12, 58.3%), badges (5/12, 41.7%), progress bar (4/12, 33.3%), and virtual goods, reminders, and time pressure (2/12, 16.7%). The included sources of evidence reported significant improvements in some of the measured psychosocial outcomes; however, studies on this domain for this particular target group are still considerably limited. Further research is needed to determine how the applied theories and gamification mechanics brought about the change in psychosocial outcomes, bridging the gap in current evidence.

Factors influencing the psychosocial well-being of people with dementia and their informal caregivers: A systematic review of dyadic studies

Individuals with dementia and their informal caregivers face significant challenges to their psychosocial well-being, necessitating immediate attention. In spite of the prevalence of this problem, there is limited data regarding the factors that influence the dyadic psychosocial well-being and potential actor-partner influencing mechanisms. Therefore, this review was conducted to synthesise the factors associated with the psychosocial well-being of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. MEDLINE via EBSCOhost, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Scopus were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method studies examining the factors influencing dyadic psychosocial well-being outcomes were included. The quality of included studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists. A narrative synthesis approach was employed for data analysis. A total of 3217 records were yield, out of which 26 studies were included in the analysis. Quality of life emerged as the most extensively investigated dyadic psychosocial well-being outcome, followed by depression. The interrelation between the quality of life for people with dementia and caregivers was observed, where individual members' quality of life was influenced by their own, partner and dyadic factors. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the mechanisms through which one member's factors exert influence on both their own and partner's quality of life within the dyad. This gap also exists for other psychosocial well-being outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which dyadic members influence their own and their partner's psychosocial well-being.

Social support as a coping resource for psychosocial conditions in postpartum period: a systematic review and logic framework

PURPOSE

This review seeks to examine the current state of postpartum social support and psychosocial conditions among women around the world, as well as explore the relationship between these factors. Additionally, it aims to propose a logical framework for enhancing postpartum social support and psychosocial conditions in this population.

METHODS

Following the development of a search strategy, two databases, PubMed and Science Direct, were searched for studies published between January 2019 and May 2023. The search was conducted throughout the entire month of May 2023. The risk of bias in the included cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, which was adapted for this specific study design. To determine if the main objective of the cross-sectional studies was to investigate the relationship between social support and postpartum psychosocial conditions, a review was conducted based on the AMSTAR checklist, PRISMA checklist and PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was performed with the consensus of two authors, and a narrative synthesis approach was chosen for data synthesis, following the guidelines provided by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD).

RESULTS

Eleven cross-sectional studies were included in the final analysis. Our findings revealed that all reviewed studies provided evidence of a positive association between social support and healthy psychosocial conditions in postpartum period. However, due to the absence of standardized measurement indicators to identify and compare the outcomes of various studies, there was a need to develop a conceptual framework that could enhance our understanding of the postpartum psychosocial condition including anxiety, depression, unfavorable quality of life and social support status up to 24 month after child birth. This framework aimed to incorporate childbirth and motherhood as "stressful events," while considering social support as a crucial "coping resource." Furthermore, it acknowledged empowerment, help-seeking behavior, and peer support as important "coping actions," alongside implementing client-centered interventions. Lastly, it recognized postpartum mental health and optimal quality of life as significant "effects" of these factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed conceptual framework could define postpartum women's health as "the ability to adapt and self-manage."

The Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

CONTEXT

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries greatly impact patients in terms of future performance, reduced physical activity and athletic participation, and overall economic burden. Decades of research have investigated how to improve ACL reconstruction (ACLR) outcomes. Recently, there has been growing interest to understand the effects of psychosocial factors on patient outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical review.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A search of the PubMed database was performed in March 2023. Articles were reviewed by at least 2 authors to determine relevance. We highlighted publications of the past 5 years while incorporating previous pertinent studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 5.

RESULTS

There is no standardization of psychosocial factors regarding ACLR. As such, there is a lack of consensus regarding which psychosocial measures to use and when. There is a need for clarification of the complex relationship between psychosocial factors and physical function. Despite this, psychosocial factors have the potential to help predict patients who are more likely to return to sport: (1) desire/motivation to return; (2) lower levels of kinesiophobia; (3) higher levels of self-efficacy, confidence, and subjective knee function; (4) risk acceptance; and (5) social support. However, there are no standardized interventions to improve psychosocial factors after ACLR.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial factors affect outcomes after ACLR. However, the interplay between psychosocial factors and physical function is complex. There is emerging evidence that testing and interventions may improve ACLR outcomes. There is a lack of standardized interventions to determine or improve psychosocial factors after ACLR. Further research is needed to identify psychosocial factors and to develop standardized interventions for clinicians to implement to improve clinical outcomes.

The impact of virtual reality on the psychological well-being of hospitalised patients: A critical review

Background and objectives

Improving hospitalised patients' psychological well-being (PWB) is relevant to their recovery and overall quality of life. Virtual Reality (VR) holds the potential to emerge as a novel tool for increasing the PWB of hospitalised patients. This study critically reviewed existing research concerning the use and impact of VR on the PWB of hospitalised patients with serious illnesses. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and practical applicability of VR in enhancing the PWB for hospitalised patients dealing with serious illnesses.

Methodology

In the initial search, the authors identified 106 sources that provided valuable insights into the broader field of VR, PWB, and the influence of VR on the psychological functioning of hospitalised patients. However, only eight articles were selected for the critical review, following the SALSA method. The SALSA method comprises the following steps: (S) Search, (AL) Appraisal, (S) Synthesis and (A) Analysis. Data extracted from these eight articles were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis, through which patterns were identified to examine the use and impact of VR on the PWB of hospitalised patients with serious illnesses. The thematic analysis process involves data gathering and familiarisation, code identification, and formulating and refining various themes to produce a thematic analysis report.

Results

The themes that emerged from the analysis were (i) positive psychological effects (with sub-themes including the effectiveness of VR in improving psychological symptoms, its role as an equivalent or adjunctive treatment, and symptom reduction), (ii) perceptions and the adoption of novel technology, (iii) characteristics that influence the effectiveness of VR, and (iv) statistical and practical applicability and diversity of VR.

Conclusion and recommendation

The use of VR to increase the PWB of hospitalised patients is a relatively recent innovation. Nevertheless, the themes identified in this study indicate that the use of VR within the context of hospitalised patients can benefit their psychological functioning, ultimately contributing to an improvement in their overall PWB. Further in-depth studies are needed to provide a comprehensive conclusion on the potential benefits of VR on the PWB of hospitalised patients dealing with serious illnesses.

Psychosocial well-being among individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis treatment and their caregivers: a protocol of a mixed method study in Sri Lanka and Poland

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can be identified as one of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which affect millions of people worldwide, including in Sri Lanka and Poland. The prevalence of CKD has been rising over the last three decades due to the identification of CKD with unknown etiology and the increment of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus among the Sri Lankan population. Poland can be identified as a European country that has 4 million patients with CKD, which is the second most common chronic disease in the country. CKD is associated with the physical, economic, psychological, and social burden on patients and their caregivers. The current study is aimed to investigate the psychosocial well-being of CKD patients and their caregivers in Sri Lanka and Poland. The current study is a mixed-method study aimed to investigate the psychosocial well-being of individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and their caregivers in Sri Lanka and Poland. Participants in the quantitative part of the project will be individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis from Sri Lanka (n = 63) and Poland (n = 63) who are currently undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Sort Form, Beck Depression Scale, Test of Self-Conscious Affect, The Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, and a demographic and medical information sheet will be used in both Sri Lankan and Polish samples. Apart from that, the qualitative phase of the study will involve semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with CKD, selected randomly from the initial part of the research, and their close relatives. Notably, the participant count will remain undetermined, as this approach addresses the inherent challenges of exploratory research.

Associations between older adults' social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being

BACKGROUND

Research examining associations between social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being among older adults are limited.

AIMS

To explore associations between older adults' social media (social networking services and instant messaging applications) use behaviors and psychosocial well-being.

METHODS

This was a secondary data analysis. All data were retrieved from the Taiwan Communication Survey database, an annual survey that examines trends in Taiwanese residents' communication behaviors and social media use. The original investigation was conducted in Taiwan from September to December 2019. Data from 647 older adults aged over 60 years were extracted for the analyses. Social media use behaviors (users/non-users and time spent using), positive psychosocial outcomes (life satisfaction, self-determination, subjective well-being, and happiness), negative psychosocial outcomes (loneliness, depression, and anxiety), and demographic variables were included.

RESULTS

Social media users had significantly higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness compared with non-users. Time spent on social networking services was significantly and positively correlated with negative psychosocial outcomes (β = 0.103, p = 0.044, f2 = 0.011), and it was significantly and inversely correlated with positive psychosocial outcomes (β = - 0.063, p = 0.049, f2 = 0.004). Time spent using an instant messaging application was significantly positively associated with positive psychosocial outcomes (β = 0.068, p = 0.031, f2 = 0.005). The proposed path model had an acceptable model fit.

DISCUSSION

Study results indicated that older adults' social media use behaviors were associated with their psychosocial well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults are recommended to use social media for appropriate time periods as an important way to promote social engagement for their psychosocial well-being.

The Consequences of Child Abuse

This review provides an overview of the consequences of early adverse experiences across various domains of life. Drawing on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) conceptual framework, we discuss the ACE pyramid and the varying degrees of consequences that ACE exposure may elicit. Using online search engines such as Google Scholar, the authors sifted through empirical research to locate relevant articles and research to help prepare this review. This article sheds light on the implications of ACEs for health, socio-emotional and psychosocial well-being, relationships, personality, and cognitive functioning.

Clinical, psychosocial, and sociodemographic factors of sexual and gender minority groups with cancer: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Psychosocial health varies depending on demographic and clinical factors and the social context in which individuals grow and live. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience health disparities due to systemic factors that privilege cisgender and heterosexual identities. We reviewed the literature on the psychosocial, sociodemographic, and clinical factors in SGM groups with cancer and described the associations among these factors.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review according to Fink's methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines in the PubMed, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and LGBTQ+ Life databases. Quantitative articles published in English or Spanish were included. Grey literature and studies with participants in hospice care were excluded. The quality of the publications was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute criticalappraisal tools.

RESULTS

The review included 25 publications. In SGM groups, systemic cancer treatment was associated with worse psychosocial outcomes; and older age, employment, and higher income were associated with better psychosocial outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SGM groups with cancer are different from their heterosexual cisgender peers in sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors. Clinical and sociodemographic factors are associated with psychosocial outcomes among SGM individuals with cancer.

Assessing Psychosocial Health Impacts of Climate Adaptation: A Critical Review

The urgency of dealing with risks associated with climate change and the need for effective response measures to their impacts are increasing daily the world over. Literature abounds regarding the impacts of climate change on physical, psychosocial, and other health outcomes. In contrast, little research exists on the health impacts of response measures to climate change. This critical review seeks to contribute towards closing this gap through a synthesis of current literature on the psychosocial health outcomes of climate adaptation actions. Our results found both positive and negative outcomes associated with psychosocial health that may result from climate adaptation actions. We propose the utilization of well-developed conceptual frameworks and evaluation tools in assessment and analysis of these outcomes. Ultimately, there is need to expand similar and related areas of research more broadly and on psychosocial effects, specifically.

Housing and psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

The loss of psychosocial well-being is an overlooked but monumental consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. These effects result not only from the pandemic itself but, in a secondary way, from the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) made to curb the spread of disease. The unprecedented physical distancing and stay-at-home requirements and recommendations provide a unique window for housing researchers to better understand the mechanisms by which housing affects psychosocial well-being. This study draws on a survey conducted with over 2,000 residents of the neighbouring Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta in 2021. We propose a new multi-dimensional model to examine the relationships between the Material, Economic, Affordances, Neighbourhood, and Stability (MEANS) aspects of housing and psychosocial well-being. Our analysis reveals the direct and indirect pathways by which deficiencies in each of these areas had negative effects on psychosocial well-being. Residential stability, housing affordances, and neighbourhood accessibility exert stronger direct impacts on psychosocial well-being than material and economic housing indicators (e.g. size of living space and tenure). Notably, we find no significant well-being differences between different homeowners and renters when we account for other housing MEANS. These findings have important implications for housing policy across pandemic and post-pandemic contexts, suggesting a need for research and policy focus on understanding housing and well-being in terms of non-material aspects, such as residential stability and affordances that housing provides.

Relationships between psychosocial well-being and leisure time physical activity among 160.000 young Finnish men: a cross-sectional study during 2015-2021

Evidence on the relationship between psychosocial well-being and physical activity (PA) is insufficient, especially in young adults between 18 and 29 years. Identifying protective factors for psychosocial well-being as well as factors that may promote PA behaviour in this specific age group is crucial.The aim of the present study was to explore the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and a number of measures of psychosocial well-being in a large sample of Finnish young men. The sample used for this study is based on registers of the Finnish Defence Forces and consist of questionnaire-based data collected from 159,776 young healthy men (18-29 years, mean age 19 years) who started their military service during the period from 2015 to 2021. Sum scores were calculated for self-esteem and prosocial behaviour. Physical activity, number of friends and the relationship with the parents were each measured with a single question. Unadjusted and adjusted (education, financial situation of the family, family structure) logistic regression models were calculated.A multinominal logistic regression analysis showed that a higher level of LTPA was associated with a higher level of both prosocial behaviour (OR 6.12, 95% CI 5.88-6.36) and self-esteem (OR 4.41 95% CI 4.28-4.54). Further, LTPA had a positive relationship with good social relations, both with peers and parents. The odds ratio for participation in any LTPA weekly was higher (OR 2.74; CI 2.27-3.20) among those who had a close and trustworthy relationship with their parents compared to those men with more challenging relationships with their parents (OR 1.77; CI 1.46-2.14). An inactive lifestyle (PA less than once a week) seemed to be most common among men with no friends. About one third (31%) of men with no friends reported to engage in LTPA less than once a week, while only 10% of men with very many good friends reported to engage in similarly inactive LTPA behaviour.LTPA seems to be positively associated with self-esteem, prosocial behaviour and good social relations among young adult men. Actions aimed at promoting LTPA may have a positive impact on psychosocial well-being among young men, or vice versa. The relationship between PA and psychosocial well-being is complex and interrelated.

Well-Being of Israeli Nurse Practitioners During Times of Crisis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

For healthcare workers, good work-related well-being positively affects enthusiasm, efficiency, and job satisfaction. Conversely, poor well-being is associated with burnout and negative patient outcomes. During times of crises, it is difficult to balance professional responsibilities with well-being.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the degree of well-being among nurse practitioners in Israel who worked in COVID-19 units or allied units during the delta wave.

Methods

This was a web-based, cross-sectional study. Nurse practitioners who worked within the COVID-19 units in Israeli hospitals were asked to complete several questionnaires: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Subjective Happiness Scale, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression.

Results

Forty-nine nurse practitioners participated in the survey. Scores from the Subjective Happiness Scale and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form indicate that most nurses have relatively positive mental health. Conversely, scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies indicated that participants are at risk for clinical depression. There was a positive moderate association between the number of years worked as a nurse practitioner and depression and a moderate negative association between the number of years worked as a nurse practitioner and happiness.

Conclusions

Understanding how nurses' mental health is impacted during crises can provide healthcare systems with tools to prevent negative outcomes. This, in turn, may contribute to a lower burnout rate, higher satisfaction from work, and better patient outcomes.

Examining the Psychosocial Well-Being of Children and Adolescents With Coeliac Disease: A Systematic Review

This review aimed to synthesize the available literature regarding the psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents with coeliac disease (CD). Research on psychosocial well-being outcomes in children and adolescents with CD under the age of 18 were identified through a systematic search in the PsychInfo, Medline, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases in July 2021. Outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL), psychological adjustment, mental health, and social functioning were examined. Changes in outcomes over time and the geographic representation of the included studies were also analyzed. A total of 43 studies were included. Mixed results were found in the domain of HRQOL and mental health. Both challenges with psychological adjustment and adaptive coping strategies were identified. Social functioning was found to be an area of difficulty for children and adolescents with CD. However, there was high heterogeneity in methodology and participant characteristics between studies. This review concluded there were mixed findings regarding the HRQOL and mental health of young people with CD. However, CD and the gluten-free diet initiates a need for psychological adjustment and impacts on social functioning. The review highlights the need for the integration of physical and psychosocial care, and further research to determine the most appropriate screening measures, and the most efficacious psychological interventions for this group. Future research should continue examining changes in psychosocial outcomes over time given the increase in the availability of gluten-free foods and changes in food labeling policies.

Trends and prevalence of suicide 2017-2021 and its association with COVID-19: Interrupted time series analysis of a national sample of college students in the United States

BACKGROUND

Suicide is among the leading causes of death for college students. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on trends in suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students, and whether suicidal thoughts and behaviors were associated with COVID-19 infection and psychosocial factors.

METHODS

We analyzed 2017-2021 data from 4 waves of Healthy Minds Study including a random sample of college students (N = 354,473) from 286 U.S. institutions. We performed interrupted time series analysis to model the effect of the pandemic on trends in suicidal ideation (SI), plan (SP), and attempt (SA). At the peripandemic assessment, we utilized multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of SI, SP, and SA with COVID-19 infection and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

We observed significant decreases in SI, SP, and SA among college students from 2017 to 2021. The pandemic was significantly associated with a 1.33 percentage points reduction in SI and a 0.85 percentage points reduction in SP but was not associated with a significant reduction in SA. Adjusted associations of SI, SP, and SA with risk factors showed the significant odds ratio (OR) for suspected COVID-19 infection (SI: 1.33, SP: 1.22, SA: 1.32), severe depression (SI: 6.39, SP: 6.63, SA: 5.63), severe anxiety (SI: 3.66, SP: 3.62, SA: 3.60), COVID-19-related financial stress (SI: 1.35, SP: 1.34, SA: 1.48), food insecurity (SI: 2.12, SP: 2.13, SA: 2.79), and academic impairment (SI: 2.07, SP: 2.05, SA: 2.14) but not for test-confirmed COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Certain COVID-19 mitigation strategies might have protected college students from suicidal thoughts/behaviors.

Evaluating the efficacy of a school-based Finnish Gutsy Go programme in enhancing adolescents' positive mental health, experience of social inclusion, and social competence

Background: The Finnish Gutsy Go programme is a positive youth development intervention designed to enhance adolescents' psychosocial well-being by enabling eighth-grade students to develop and execute good deeds within the community.Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of the Gutsy Go programme on adolescents' positive mental health, experience of social inclusion, and social competence using a quasi-experimental study design.Methods: Data were collected with electronic questionnaires at baseline (n = 236 programme participants and n = 303 controls) and follow-up two weeks after the programme (n = 126, 54.2% programme participants and n = 103, 34.1% controls). Analyses included paired samples t-tests and mixed ANOVA analyses.Results: A statistically significant intragroup change across time was detected in the level of cooperation skills among programme participants (t(127) = -2.460, p = 0.015) but not among controls (t(102) = 1.088, p = 0.279). Statistically significant main effects were found for the intervention group on the experience of social inclusion (F(1, 1) = 9.34, p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.040), cooperation skills (F(1,1) = 5.28, p = 0.020, ηp2 = 0.020), and empathy (F(1,1) = 6.44, p = 0.010, ηp2 = 0.030) across time.Conclusion: The Gutsy Go programme could be beneficial in improving adolescents' experience of social inclusion, cooperation skills, and empathy. More studies are needed to address the effects of the programme more firmly.

The Physical Burden of Water Carrying and Women's Psychosocial Well-Being: Evidence from Rural Nepal

Many women in low-income countries carry heavy loads of drinking water for their families in difficult terrain. This can adversely affect their health and well-being. The present study is the first to investigate the physical burden of water carrying and women's psychosocial well-being, and how this relationship is moderated by environmental and health conditions. Trained local interviewers conducted interviews with 1001 women across five rural communities in Nepal. In addition, objective measurement was used to assess the weight carried and distance from the water source. The physical burden of water carrying was calculated from weight, distance, and frequency of trips. Its association with psychosocial well-being was modeled using generalized estimating equations. Two additional models included the terrain and uterine prolapse as moderators. The physical burden of water carrying is directly related to higher emotional distress and reduced daily functioning. This correlation was exacerbated for women carrying in hilly versus flat terrain, and for those who had uterine prolapse. Our results underline the importance of adequate water access for women's psychosocial well-being, especially for vulnerable populations such as women with impaired health (e.g., uterine prolapse) or those living in hilly terrain. The results further highlight the interconnectedness of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water access, SDG 3: health and well-being, and SDG 5: gender equality.

A qualitative exploration of psychosocial well-being experiences in a South African rural community

The aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychosocial well-being experiences of a South African rural community. The study employed a qualitative explorative-descriptive research design in which participants (n = 20) were sampled through purposive sampling and participated in a world café session. Data were analyzed thematically. The findings identify three main themes with subthemes, namely contributing factors to psychosocial well-being (such as spirituality/religion and community cohesion), hindering factors to psychosocial well-being (such as crime and unemployment), and means to promote psychosocial well-being (such as provision of infrastructure). The findings provide insight into the psychosocial well-being experiences of an understudied and vulnerable South African rural community and makes recommendations for future research.