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Botella-Juan L, Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Amezcua-Prieto C, Mateos-Campos R, Ayán-Pérez C, Molina AJ, Ortiz-Moncada R, Delgado-Parrilla A, Blázquez-Abellán G, Delgado-Rodríguez M, Alonso-Molero J, Fernández-Villa T. Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic use - UniHcos project. Alcohol 2024; 120:133-141. [PMID: 38969249 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prevalence rates and self-reported changes in patterns of alcohol use among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic alcohol use. A serial cross-sectional study based on the uniHcos project was carried out. Data from 10 518 first-year university students (73.3% female, mean age 19 (SD = 1.6)) collected between 2012 and 2022 were analysed. The evolution of the pooled prevalence rates during the time series was analysed and the risk of problematic alcohol consumption was assessed using the AUDIT. Also, self-reported changes in alcohol use patterns during the pandemic were assessed. According to the results, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of alcohol use in the past 30-days was reduced (76.3% in 2019 vs. 63.7% in COVID-19) increasing again in the New Normal period. Thus, a similar pattern in the practice of binge drinking was observed. Regarding the AUDIT score, 21.7% (95%CI 20.9, 22.6) of the students had harmful alcohol consumption, with a higher proportion among males. In the multivariable logistic models, a higher AUDIT score was significantly associated (p-value < 0.001) with being male and living with roommates. According to self-reported changes in consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher proportion of participants with harmful use reported an increase in alcohol consumption compared to those at low-risk (43% vs 19%). Finally, despite the overall reduction in drinking prevalence during COVID-19, changes were not equal for all students and depended on their previous level of problematic drinking, highlighting that this should be considered in the development of strategies against alcohol use in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Botella-Juan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - María Morales-Suárez-Varela
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Carmen Amezcua-Prieto
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Ramona Mateos-Campos
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences. Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carlos Ayán-Pérez
- Well-Move Research Group, Department of Special Didactics, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio José Molina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rocío Ortiz-Moncada
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food and Nutrition Research Group, Universidad de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Ana Delgado-Parrilla
- Centre for Research on Natural Resources, Health, and Environment (RENSMA), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Gemma Blázquez-Abellán
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Health Sciences, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Jessica Alonso-Molero
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Tania Fernández-Villa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Barbosa BCR, de Deus Mendonça R, Machado EL, Meireles AL. Co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors and their implications for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study with university students. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1596. [PMID: 38877471 PMCID: PMC11179395 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The university years are a critical period for young adults, as they are more exposed to obesogenic behaviors and experience stressful situations that compromise their mental health. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and evaluate the association between the combined occurrence of obesogenic behaviors among university students. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on students from a public university in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from July to August 2020 using an online questionnaire. The outcome variables (anxiety and depression symptoms) were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors was measured based on irregular consumption of fruits and vegetables, frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior. A Venn diagram was used for the exploratory analysis. To verify the association between the outcome and explanatory variables, a directed acyclic graph model was constructed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS A total of 1,353 students aged 18-24 years participated in this study. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were present in 46.1% and 54.6% of the participants, respectively. The most prevalent combination of obesogenic behaviors was frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior (17.2%). The greater the number of simultaneous obesogenic behaviors, the higher the chance to present symptoms of anxiety [OR: 2.81 (95%CI: 1.77-4.46)] and depression [OR: 3.46 (95%CI: 2.20-5.43)]. CONCLUSION These findings reinforce the need to take actions to promote mental health in the university environment in conjunction with programs to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve the physical and mental well-being of students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Carolina Rafael Barbosa
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Research and Study Group on Nutrition and Public Health, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Raquel de Deus Mendonça
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Research and Study Group on Nutrition and Public Health, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Elaine Leandro Machado
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Adriana Lúcia Meireles
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
- Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
- Research and Study Group on Nutrition and Public Health, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
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Cosentino C, Sarli A, Guasconi M, Mozzarelli F, Foà C, De Simone R, Argiropoulos D, Artioli G, Bonacaro A. Measuring the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 by means of the "international student well-being study questionnaire": Evidence on Italian university students. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28342. [PMID: 38560245 PMCID: PMC10981059 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic appeared as an unpredictable disruption of daily activities. This situation produced a unique mental health impact for the general population, youth, and vulnerable groups. A documented consequence has been alcohol abuse and impaired mental health. To our knowledge, no published study has yet evaluated the rates of depressive symptoms, academic frustration, and substance abuse in the Italian student population in the COVID era linking them to sociodemographic variables. Aims To investigate the incidence of depressive symptoms, academic frustration, and substance abuse students developed in one university in Northern Italy during the first COVID-19 outbreak, using a student wellbeing framework borrowed from Allardt's and Bronfenbrenner's theories. Methods Descriptive statistics, correlations, Wilcoxon test and factorial ANOVA were performed on data gathered through an online questionnaire sent to a convenience sample of university students. Data collection occurred between 18 May and June 21, 2020. Results According to the framework used, Being was the dimension of sociodemographic variables, Having was economic support and Loving was social support. Students experienced academic frustration and related depressive symptoms. Male gender seemed to be less affected by the depressive syndrome. With regard to economic support and related repercussions on depressive symptoms, students who reported that they could not obtain a loan showed significantly higher depressive symptoms. Students benefiting from greater financial support showed less academic frustration. Age appeared to be a predictor of academic frustration since young students proved to be the most frustrated. The examined students' population showed a significant decrease in alcohol and cigarettes consumption. Conclusions Having and Being dimensions influenced depression and academic frustration. Having and Loving dimensions were related with use of substances. The study findings support the implementation of interventions to help students, at a psychological, social, financial level aiming at fostering the quality of students' educational life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cosentino
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
| | - Annavittoria Sarli
- University of Parma, Department of Law, Politics and International Studies, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimo Guasconi
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
- “Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale” of Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Fabio Mozzarelli
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
- “Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale” of Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Chiara Foà
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Dimitris Argiropoulos
- University of Parma, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanna Artioli
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonio Bonacaro
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Parma, Italy
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Alalalmeh SO, Hegazi OE, Shahwan M, Hassan N, Humaid Alnuaimi GR, Alaila RF, Jairoun A, Tariq Hamdi Y, Abdullah MT, Abdullah RM, Zyoud SH. Assessing mental health among students in the UAE: A cross-sectional study utilizing the DASS-21 scale. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:101987. [PMID: 38405042 PMCID: PMC10891328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.101987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The escalating worldwide concerns for mental health, significantly amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates understanding the impact on vulnerable populations, such as university students. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and implications of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). Methods This study utilized convenience sampling to investigate the mental health of undergraduates in UAE universities using a bilingual DASS-21 questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Multinomial Logistic Regression to analyze relationships between sociodemographic variables and mental health scores. Results The study examined 332 students, with most female participants (81 %, n = 269) and individuals aged 18-20 (89.8 %, n = 298). It revealed higher mean DASS scores among females: Depression (M = 15.80, p = 0.030), Anxiety (M = 17.63, p < 0.001), and Stress (M = 22.61, p < 0.001). Fourth-year students exhibited the highest DASS scores for depression (M = 30.33, p = 0.002), anxiety (M = 21.33, p = 0.002), and stress (M = 27.00, p = 0.005). Younger participants aged 18-20 had an odds ratio (OR) of 4.925 for depression, indicating they were approximately five times more likely to experience depression. Conclusions This study reveals gender, age, and academic-year variations in depression, anxiety, and stress among UAE university students. Specifically, our findings indicate higher levels of anxiety and stress among females and reveal academic-year and age-related patterns in mental health conditions. University support services in the UAE should better address student needs, including counseling focused on high school to university transition challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer O Alalalmeh
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Omar E Hegazi
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nageeb Hassan
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ghala Rashid Humaid Alnuaimi
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raghd F Alaila
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ammar Jairoun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang 11500, Malaysia
- Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai 67, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yomna Tariq Hamdi
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mina Thamer Abdullah
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roaa Mohammed Abdullah
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samer H Zyoud
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Ajman University, P.O. Box 346 Ajman, United Arab Emirates
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Ballestar-Tarín ML, Ibáñez-del Valle V, Mafla-España MA, Navarro-Martínez R, Cauli O. Salivary Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cortisol Associated with Psychological Alterations in University Students. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:447. [PMID: 38396487 PMCID: PMC10887844 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040447] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent evidence reported mental health issues in university students such as anxiety and depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality. Decreased plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels have been proposed as a biomarker of depressive symptoms, whereas cortisol levels are an index of energy mobilization and stress and have been linked to sleep quality. Given that salivary biomarkers represent an interesting new field of research, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate salivary BDNF and cortisol levels in university students to assess whether they have associations with psychological disturbances such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and stress level. METHODS Salivary BDNF and cortisol levels were measured by specific immunoassays in 70 students whose mental health was also evaluated on the same day through the evaluation of anxiety and depression symptoms (Goldberg scale), sleep quality (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and Athens Insomnia Scale), and stress (self-perceived stress scale) and healthy lifestyle habits (alcohol consumption, smoking, regular exercise, and body mass index) were also measured. Multivariate regression analyses were performed in order to identify the strengths of associations between psychological alterations and the concentrations of BDNF, cortisol, and other variables. RESULTS Salivary BDNF levels were significantly higher in students with more depressive symptoms, whereas no significant differences were found for cortisol levels. When performing the binary logistic regression model, BDNF levels are included as a predictor variable for a high-depressive-symptoms burden (p < 0.05). Students with worse sleep quality on the Pittsburg Scale had higher cortisol levels (p < 0.05). The subdomains of sleep latency and sleep medication were those significantly associated with salivary cortisol levels in logistic regression analyses (OR = 15.150, p = 0.028). Sleep medication only appeared to be related to cortisol levels (OR = 185.142, p = 0.019). Perceived stress levels and anxiety symptoms were not associated with BDNF or cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS BDNF could play a key role in the pathophysiology of mood-related disorders, and elevation of its peripheral levels could contribute to protecting neurons from the development of mental illness. Higher salivary cortisol levels measured in the morning are accompanied by poorer sleep quality. More research is needed, focusing on salivary biomarkers of disorders related to depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality as a potential tool for the diagnosis and prevention of mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Luisa Ballestar-Tarín
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (M.L.B.-T.); (M.A.M.-E.); (R.N.-M.)
- Nursing Care and Education Research Group in (GRIECE) GIUV 2019-456, Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Vanessa Ibáñez-del Valle
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (M.L.B.-T.); (M.A.M.-E.); (R.N.-M.)
- Frailty Research Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Rut Navarro-Martínez
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (M.L.B.-T.); (M.A.M.-E.); (R.N.-M.)
- Frailty Research Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Hematology, University General Hospital, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (M.L.B.-T.); (M.A.M.-E.); (R.N.-M.)
- Frailty Research Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Bintabara D, Singo JB, Mvula M, Jofrey S, Shayo FK. Mental health disorders among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in the area with no mandatory lockdown: a multicenter survey in Tanzania. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3451. [PMID: 38342933 PMCID: PMC10859363 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53885-5] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a major public health concern worldwide. It forced many countries to enforce lockdowns, leading to the closure of higher learning institutions. The abrupt shift in the lifestyle of students had a profound impact on their mental health. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mental health conditions among university students in Tanzania during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 425 students from six medical universities and colleges in Tanzania completed an online survey and was included in the analysis. The questionnaire consisted of validated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) questions (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) assessing the presence of mental health symptoms: depression, anxiety, and stress. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to explain the factors associated with mental health conditions. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all inferential analyses. The median age (interquartile range) of the participants was 24 (22-26). The prevalence of mental health conditions was 28.94%, 54.12%, and 15.06% for depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively, while the prevalence of having any mental health condition was 58.59%. In an adjusted regression model, being in the fourth and fifth years of study and living with a spouse were significantly associated with increased odds of depression: AOR = 5.99 (1.31-27.47), AOR = 5.52 (1.18-25.81), and AOR = 1.84 (1.08-3.15), respectively. Moreover, studying in private universities and living with a spouse were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety: AOR = 2.35 (1.72-2.76), and AOR = 2.32 (1.20-4.50), respectively. The likelihood of stress was only among participants studying in private universities; AOR = 2.90 (1.60-5.27). The study revealed alarmingly high rates of mental health conditions among medical students in Tanzania during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest the need for regular checkups for medical students regarding their mental health status. Additionally, it recommends that the government and other stakeholders establish mental health services within the universities for the effective prevention of the rising burden of mental health problems among universities in Tanzania and other countries with similar settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deogratius Bintabara
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
- Tanrep Research Consultancy Limited, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Joseph B Singo
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Mathew Mvula
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Sichone Jofrey
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Festo K Shayo
- Tanrep Research Consultancy Limited, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Richardson L, Long E, Goodfellow C, Milicev J, Gardani M. Starting an undergraduate degree amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method egocentric network study on student loneliness. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297953. [PMID: 38306333 PMCID: PMC10836688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Students who began their undergraduate university studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic (the 'COVID cohort'), may have been particularly at risk for experiencing increased loneliness. This study employed an exploratory egocentric network and mixed-methods approach to investigate the links between social networks and loneliness in the COVID cohort. Of sixty-one respondents meeting inclusion criteria for the study, fifty-eight first-year undergraduate students from the September 2020 intake at a large Scottish University provided egocentric network data via an online survey, as well as responses to three open-ended questions which were aimed at generating qualitative data about participants' experiences of starting university in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate analyses suggest that having a larger social network, and higher satisfaction with that network, was associated with reduced loneliness. We additionally explored these associations in subsamples of students living on-campus and living off-campus. Our qualitative data adds valuable insight into the impact that pandemic-related social-distancing restrictions had on limiting students' opportunities for meeting their peers and forging meaningful social connections at university. Limitations of this study include a small sample size and an exploratory approach requiring further investigation and replication. However, in the context of universities continuing to use hybrid teaching models, this study provides useful initial insights, highlighting potential avenues for institutions to support students in developing social connections in the transition to higher education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Richardson
- Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Emily Long
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Claire Goodfellow
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Jelena Milicev
- MRC / CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Maria Gardani
- School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Herres J, Ortelli O, Rodriguez I, Onyewuenyi AC. Factors associated with perceived stress and depressive symptoms among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023:1-12. [PMID: 38015144 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2266039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had detrimental effects on college students' psychosocial well-being due to campus closures starting in Spring 2020. This study examined changes in perceived stress and depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic using longitudinal data collected from students over the 2019-2020 academic year. We also compared data from this sample in Fall 2019 (N = 282) to data collected from another sample in Fall 2020 (N = 240). Latent change modeling showed increases in stress during Spring 2020. Additionally, the Fall 2020 sample had higher levels of stress than the Fall 2019 sample. Differences in stress and depressive symptoms did not depend on underrepresented minority (URM) status, income, gender, or membership in Greek life or other organizations. However, third- and fourth-year students and student-athletes experienced more stress during the pandemic. Findings suggest an adverse and differential impact of the pandemic on students' psychosocial well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Herres
- Department of Psychology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, USA
| | - Olivia Ortelli
- Department of Psychology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, USA
| | - Isabel Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, USA
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Litwic-Kaminska K, Błachnio A, Kapsa I, Brzeziński Ł, Kopowski J, Stojković M, Hinić D, Krsmanović I, Ragni B, Sulla F, Limone P. Resilience, Positivity and Social Support as Perceived Stress Predictors among University Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6892. [PMID: 37835162 PMCID: PMC10572749 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have been trying to identify which personal resources can contribute to minimizing the mental health costs in students incurred due to the restrictions that disrupted safety and predictability in their academic lives. The aim of the study was to verify if and how individual factors (resilience and positivity) and socio-environmental factors (social support and nationality) allow prediction of the level of perceived stress. University students (n = 559) from Poland, Serbia, and Italy were surveyed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the Positivity Scale (PS), and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-12). Personal resources-positivity, resilience, and support-were found to be positively interrelated and significantly associated with stress levels. Additionally, gender and nationality differentiated stress levels. A general linear model (GLM) showed that levels of perceived stress are best explained by resilience, positivity, tangible support, and gender. The results obtained can strengthen students' awareness of personal resources and their protective role in maintaining mental health, as well as contribute to the creation of prevention-oriented educational activities. Nationality was not a significant predictor of the level of perceived stress, which highlights the universality of examined predictors among university students from different countries and suggests that interventions aimed at enhancing these resources could benefit students across different cultural contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aleksandra Błachnio
- Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-867 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Izabela Kapsa
- Faculty of Political Science and Administration, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-671 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Brzeziński
- Faculty of Pedagogy, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Jakub Kopowski
- Faculty of Computer Science, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Milica Stojković
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Darko Hinić
- Department of Psychology, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Ivana Krsmanović
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Benedetta Ragni
- Department of Humanistic Studies, Learning Science Hub, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (B.R.); (F.S.); (P.L.)
| | - Francesco Sulla
- Department of Humanistic Studies, Learning Science Hub, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (B.R.); (F.S.); (P.L.)
| | - Pierpaolo Limone
- Department of Humanistic Studies, Learning Science Hub, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (B.R.); (F.S.); (P.L.)
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10
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Kelada L, Schiff M, Gilbar O, Pat-Horenczyk R, Benbenishty R. University students' psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structural equation model of the role of resource loss and gain. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:3012-3028. [PMID: 37459279 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we aimed to determine whether university students' loss and gain in resources during the pandemic mediated the relationships between COVID-19 exposure/concern and depression and anxiety. In 2021, 7013 Israeli university students completed online questionnaires. We assessed the data using structural equation modeling. We found that resource loss was directly related to concern (β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were both directly related to loss of resources (depression: β = 0.75, p < 0.001; anxiety: β = 0.69, p < 0.001) and concern (depression: β = 0.06, p < 0.001; anxiety: β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Resource loss had an indirect effect on the relationships between concern and depression (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) and concern and anxiety (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). COR theory may help explain the mechanisms behind university students' mental health during the pandemic and provides a framework to better understand preparedness for future pandemics, epidemics, and major disasters. Governments and universities should help prevent the loss of resources during future emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Kelada
- School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Randwick, Australia
| | - Miriam Schiff
- School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ohad Gilbar
- School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ruth Pat-Horenczyk
- School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rami Benbenishty
- School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Universidad Andres Bellow, Santiago, Chile
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Ibáñez-Del Valle V, Navarro-Martínez R, Cauli O. Association between Depressive Symptoms and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Nursing Students. Nutrients 2023; 15:3158. [PMID: 37513576 PMCID: PMC10383405 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
With university admission, there are major changes in students' daily habits that can lead to mental health problems. In this respect, adherence to a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet (MD), can be very beneficial. The present study examines the associations between adherence to the MD and mental health among Spanish nursing students (n = 289). Sociodemographic data and life habits were collected electronically using a self-administered questionnaire. The participants also completed the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS-14) and the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS). The percentage of anxiety and depression symptoms was high: 45.3% (n = 131) and 46.4% (n = 134), respectively. Only 35.6% reported good adherence to the MD (score ≥ 9). The statistical analysis showed poor adherence to the MD to be significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms (p = 0.013) and the total score on the GADS (p = 0.039). A multivariable regression model analysis identified the depression subscale score as a predictor variable, with a mean risk of low adherence to the MD being 0.803 times (95%CI: 0.666-0.968, p = 0.021) among participants with greater depressive symptoms. These results support the implementation of prevention programs in universities focused on health and mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Ibáñez-Del Valle
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Chair of Active Ageing, University of Valencia, 4610 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rut Navarro-Martínez
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Chair of Active Ageing, University of Valencia, 4610 Valencia, Spain
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Chair of Active Ageing, University of Valencia, 4610 Valencia, Spain
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12
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Zammitti A, Russo A, Ginevra MC, Magnano P. "Imagine Your Career after the COVID-19 Pandemic": An Online Group Career Counseling Training for University Students. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13010048. [PMID: 36661620 PMCID: PMC9855113 DOI: 10.3390/bs13010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced the psychological well-being of people around the world; university students have experienced feelings of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the intolerance of uncertainty, and a worsened quality of life, related to the reduction of social contacts. Scholars all around the world widely suggest the need to take care of this issue, proposing solutions to support students' adjustment in the post-pandemic period. The literature on positive psychology and the life design approach has identified multiple psychological resources, the character strengths, that can sustain people's life satisfaction and well-being in changing contexts, including their university experience. We proposed an online group career counseling intervention for 30 Italian university students (experimental group) to promote university students' psychological resources and mitigate the long-term negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on life satisfaction. The other 30 students formed the control group. We found that the students engaged in the online group career counseling intervention evidenced, at the post-test, higher levels than the pre-test of (a) resilience, (b) subjective risk intelligence, (c) career adaptability, (d) self-efficacy, (e) optimism, (f) hope, (g) life satisfaction, and lower levels than the pre-test of (h) fears of COVID-19 pandemic. No differences at Time 1 and Time 2 were found in the control group. Implications for future research and practice will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Zammitti
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy
| | - Angela Russo
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Ginevra
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Magnano
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Morvay-Sey K, Trpkovici M, Ács P, Paár D, Pálvölgyi Á. Psychological Responses of Hungarian Students during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11344. [PMID: 36141616 PMCID: PMC9517411 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811344] [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: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Changes in daily life and academic training has led to uncertainty in the higher education student population during COVID-19. The goal of the study was to examine the impacts of the pandemic on Hungarian students. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by using self-report questionnaires collected in Google Forms. Eight-hundred-and-twenty-seven students (25.29 ± 8.09) took part anonymously. The respondents rate their overall physical and mental health on a 5-point Likert scale and validated scales were used: Well Being Index (WHO-5); Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS); and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS 24.0, results were considered at a significance level p ≤ 0.05. (3) Results: Positive correlation was found between MAAS and WHO-5 (r = 0.363, p < 0.001) negative correlation between MAAS and PSS-14 (r = -0.448, p < 0.001), and negative correlation between WHO-5 and PSS-14 (r = -0.671, p < 0.001). Females had higher PSS-14 mean score (32.51 ± 10.16) than males (27.71 ± 10.19; p < 0.001; Z = -5703), males (60.92 ± 12.10) had higher MAAS level than females (57.31 ± 12.51; p < 0.001; Z = -3589). No difference was found in gender regarding WHO-5 mean scores. Athletes (7.03 ± 3.27) differ significantly from non-athletes (6.00 ± 3.04) in WHO-5 (p < 0.001; Z = -4.349) and MAAS level (p = 0.012; Z = -2.498), but showed no difference in PSS-14 (p = 0.101; Z = -1.641). Students rated mental (3.01 ± 0.99) worse than physical health (3.49 ± 0.98; p < 0.001, r = 0.426) and the narrowing of social relationships worse (3.83 ± 1.26) than physical (p < 0.001, r = -0.212) and mental health (p < 0.001, r = -0.408). Females had worse mental health (2.96 ± 9.94) than males (3.20 ± 0.99; p = 0.003; Z = -2.924) and rated the narrowing of social relationships worse (3.90 ± 1.23) than males (3.59 ± 1.35; p = 0.006; Z = -2.730). (4) Conclusions: The pandemic has negatively impacted students, and it may have long-term consequences on their mental and physical health and education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kata Morvay-Sey
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.3., 7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Melinda Trpkovici
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.4, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Pongrác Ács
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.3., 7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dávid Paár
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.3., 7621 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Pálvölgyi
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Vörösmarty u.4, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
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14
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Yee E, Jung C, Cheriberi D, Choi M, Park W. Impacts of Transitioning to an Online Curriculum at a Graduate School in South Korea Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10847. [PMID: 36078561 PMCID: PMC9518161 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on the impacts of implementing an online curriculum at a graduate school in South Korea in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A framework distinguishing impacts to academic, educational, and institutional stakeholders from the virtualization of curricula as well as general COVID-19 prevention measures is invoked to help understand the impacts of these changes. These impacts are sourced from general graduate school operations, course evaluations for two compulsory courses, and unofficial interviews with students and professors. A statistical evaluation of the course evaluations suggested no significant difference between the online format of 2020 and the traditional in person formats in prior years in terms of academics and education. Unofficial meetings with students and faculty revealed technical issues throughout 2020, which many could not be resolved due to the variety of different computer systems at the school as well as limited technical support. Most importantly, students stated they were suffering from prolonged mental and emotional distress such as feeling isolated. Lessons learned include having academic institutions prepare for difficulties in technical support, educational infrastructure investments, compliance, as well as student body mental health.
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