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Berg-Beckhoff G, Bask M, Jervelund SS, Guldager JD, Quickfall A, Rabiee Khan F, Oddsson G, van der Wel KA, Sarasjärvi KK, Olafsdottir S, Buffel V, Skalická V, Van de Velde S. Political stringency, infection rates, and higher education students' adherence to government measures in the Nordic countries and the UK during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prev Med 2022; 164:107245. [PMID: 36075491 PMCID: PMC9444587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Understanding predictors of adherence to governmental measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 is fundamental to guide health communication. This study examined whether political stringency and infection rates during the first wave of the pandemic were associated with higher education students' adherence to COVID-19 government measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom. Both individual- and country-level data were used in present study. An international cross-sectional subsample (n = 10,345) of higher-education students was conducted in May-June 2020 to collect individual-level information on socio-demographics, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, and COVID-19-related concerns, including adherence to government measures. Country-level data on political stringency from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker and national infection rates were added to individual-level data. Multiple linear regression analyses stratified by country were conducted. Around 66% of students reported adhering to government measures, with the highest adherence in the UK (73%) followed by Iceland (72%), Denmark (69%), Norway (67%), Finland (64%) and Sweden (49%). Main predictors for higher adherence were older age, being female and being worried about getting infected with COVID-19 (individual-level), an increase in number of days since lockdown, political stringency, and information about COVID-19 mortality rates (country-level). However, incidence rate was an inconsistent predictor, which may be explained by imperfect data quality during the onset of the pandemic. We conclude that shorter lockdown periods and political stringency are associated with adherence to government measures among higher education students at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Berg-Beckhoff
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; University hospital of the University of Southern Denmark, Hospital South West Jutland, Denmark.
| | - M Bask
- Uppsala University, Department of Sociology, Box 624, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S S Jervelund
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Public Health, Section for Health Services Research, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - J D Guldager
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy, University College South Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - A Quickfall
- Primary and Early Years Initial Teacher Education, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK
| | - F Rabiee Khan
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & life sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
| | - G Oddsson
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Akureyri, Borgir v/Norðurslóð, Akureyri 600, Iceland
| | - K A van der Wel
- Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - K K Sarasjärvi
- University of Helsinki, Doctoral Programme in Population Health, P.O. Box 4, Yliopistonkatu 3, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Olafsdottir
- Department of Sociology, University of Iceland, Oddi v/Sturlugötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - V Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family, and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Skalická
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - S Van de Velde
- Centre for Population, Family, and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Van de Velde S, Buffel V, van der Heijde C, Çoksan S, Bracke P, Abel T, Busse H, Zeeb H, Rabiee-khan F, Stathopoulou T, Van Hal G, Ladner J, Tavolacci M, Tholen R, Wouters E. Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An examination of the association with various social risk factors across multiple high- and middle-income countries. SSM Popul Health 2021; 16:100936. [PMID: 34611543 PMCID: PMC8484180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Higher-education students face substantial risks for developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic or experiencing exacerbated pre-existing depressive symptoms. This study uses data from the COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study, which collected data through a non-representative convenience sample in 125 higher-education institutions (HEI) across 26 high- and middle-income countries (N: 20,103) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the prevalence of depressive symptoms in higher-education students. We find substantial cross-national variation in depressive symptoms, with lowest mean levels established in the Nordic countries and France, while highest mean levels of depressive symptoms were found in Turkey, South Africa, Spain and the USA. Elevated risk for depressive symptoms was found in female students, students with fewer social support resources and in a more disadvantaged socioeconomic position, and students with a migrant background. COVID-19 related stressors, such as reduced social contact, increased financial insecurity, and academic stress explained a relatively larger proportion of the variance in depressive symptoms compared to non-COVID-19 related stressors. This finding shows that not the pandemic itself, but rather the secondary effects of the pandemic relate to students' mental health. Our results enable HEIs to be better equipped to target groups that are particularly at risk during a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Van de Velde
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - V. Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | | | - S. Çoksan
- Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler Mahallesi, Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1, 06800, Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
| | - P. Bracke
- Health & Demographic Research, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - T. Abel
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - H. Busse
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - H. Zeeb
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bibliotheksstr, 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - F. Rabiee-khan
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Westbourne Road, Birmingham, B15 3TN, UK
| | - T. Stathopoulou
- National Centre for Social Research, 9 Kratinou & Athinas St., 10552, Athens, Greece
| | - G. Van Hal
- Department of Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - J. Ladner
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - M. Tavolacci
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - R. Tholen
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - E. Wouters
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - for the C19 ISWS consortium
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Student Health Services, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler Mahallesi, Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1, 06800, Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
- Health & Demographic Research, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Gent, Belgium
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Westbourne Road, Birmingham, B15 3TN, UK
- National Centre for Social Research, 9 Kratinou & Athinas St., 10552, Athens, Greece
- Department of Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bibliotheksstr, 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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Abstract
Abstract
Background
We will present the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study (C19 ISWS). The C19 ISWS is a cross-sectional multi-country study that collected data on higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak (spring 2020).
Methods
The dataset allows to describe (1) the living conditions, financial conditions and academic workload before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) the current level of mental well-being and changes in healthy lifestyles, (3) perceived stressors, (4) resources (e.g., social support and economic capital), (5) COVID-19 related knowledge, and (6) attitudes towards COVID-19 measures implemented by the government and higher education institution (HEI). The dataset additionally includes information about COVID-19 measures taken by the government and HEI that were in place during the period of data collection.
Results
As a large international consortium of 26 countries and 110 higher education institutions (HEIs), we successfully developed and executed an online student survey during or directly after the initial peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusions
The collected data provide a comprehensive and comparative dataset on student well-being. In this article, we present the rationale for this study, the development and content of the survey, the methodology of data collection and sampling, and the limitations of the study. In addition, we highlight the opportunities that the dataset provides for advancing social science research on student well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in varying policy contexts. Thus far, this is the first cross-country student well-being survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a unique dataset that enables high priority and socially relevant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Van De Velde
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - P Bracke
- Health & Demographic Research Group, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - G Van Hal
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - E Wouters
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Buffel V. The Scale-Up of Diabetes and Hypertension Care (SCUBY) - large-scale evaluation using routine health information systems. Eur J Public Health 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The SCUBY project aims to (1) change the organization of primary health care for diabetes and hypertension in order to (2) improve the outcome of chronic care in three countries (Belgium-Slovenia-Cambodia). These two aims require two types of data, namely data on the organization of care and data on the chronic illness outcomes. It can however be challenging to (1) gather all these data (from various sources) on both the organization and outcomes and (2) create cross-culturally valid datasets. The presentation will present the strategy of SCUBY to gather data and discuss the issues of cross-cultural validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Buffel
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Zapata Moya AR, Buffel V, Navarro Yáñez CJ, Bracke P. Social inequality in morbidity, framed within the current economic crisis in Spain. Int J Equity Health 2015; 14:131. [PMID: 26572127 PMCID: PMC4647807 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-015-0217-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inspired by the 'Fundamental Cause Theory (FCT)' we explore social inequalities in preventable versus relatively less-preventable illnesses in Spain. The focus is on the education-health gradient, as education is one of the most important components of an individual's socioeconomic status (SES). Framed in the context of the recent economic crisis, we investigate the education gradient in depression, diabetes, and myocardial infarction (relatively highly preventable illnesses) and malignant tumors (less preventable), and whether this educational gradient varies across the regional-economic context and changes therein. METHODS We use data from three waves of the Spanish National Health Survey (2003-2004, 2006-2007, and 2011-2012), and from the 2009-2010 wave of the European Health Survey in Spain, which results in a repeated cross-sectional design. Logistic multilevel regressions are performed with depression, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and malignant tumors as dependent variables. The multilevel design has three levels (the individual, period-regional, and regional level), which allows us to estimate both longitudinal and cross-sectional macro effects. The regional-economic context and changes therein are assessed using the real GDP growth rate and the low work intensity indicator. RESULTS Education gradients in more-preventable illness are observed, while this is far less the case in our less-preventable disease group. Regional economic conditions seem to have a direct impact on depression among Spanish men (y-stand. OR = 1.04 [95 % CI: 1.01-1.07]). Diabetes is associated with cross-regional differences in low work intensity among men (y-stand. OR = 1.02 [95 % CI: 1.00-1.05]) and women (y-stand. OR = 1.04 [95 % CI: 1.01-1.06]). Economic contraction increases the likelihood of having diabetes among men (y-stand. OR = 1.04 [95 % CI: 1.01-1.06]), and smaller decreases in the real GDP growth rate are associated with lower likelihood of myocardial infarction among women (y-stand. OR = 0.83 [95 % CI: 0.69-1.00]). Finally, there are interesting associations between the macroeconomic changes across the crisis period and the likelihood of suffering from myocardial infarction among lower educated groups, and the likelihood of having depression and diabetes among less-educated women. CONCLUSION Our findings partially support the predictions of the FCT for Spain. The crisis effects on health emerge especially in the case of our more-preventable illnesses and among lower educated groups. Health inequalities in Spain could increase rapidly in the coming years due to the differential effects of recession on socioeconomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Zapata Moya
- Centre for Urban Political Sociology and Policies, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - V Buffel
- Health and Demographic Research (HeDeRa), Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - C J Navarro Yáñez
- Centre for Urban Political Sociology and Policies, Department of Sociology, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. de Utrera, km. 1, 41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - P Bracke
- Health and Demographic Research (HeDeRa), Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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Buffel V, Van de Velde S, Bracke P. Professional care seeking for mental health problems among women and men in Europe: the role of socioeconomic, family-related and mental health status factors in explaining gender differences. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2014; 49:1641-53. [PMID: 24802317 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-014-0879-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This comparative study examines cross-national variation in gender differences in primary and specialized mental health care use in Europe. We investigate to what extent socioeconomic, family-related, and mental health factors explain the gender difference, and how the impact of these groups of determinants on gender differences in mental health care use varies between countries. METHODS Data from the Eurobarometer 248 (2005-2006) for 29 European countries is used and country-specific logistic regression analyses are performed. RESULTS Gender differences in professional care seeking are largely need based. In almost one-third of the countries examined, the gender difference is mainly attributable to women's poorer mental health status. However, in some countries, family and socioeconomic characteristics also have an independent contribution to the gender difference in mental health care use. Women's higher likelihood of a lower socioeconomic position, might partly explain their higher primary care use, while in some countries, it restricts their specialized care use. In addition, some social conditions, as having children and being widowed, seem to function in a few countries as suppressors of women's care use. CONCLUSIONS Our study has shown that the gender difference in mental health care use, with women having a higher care use, is not a consistent European phenomenon and is dependent on the type of care provider, with greater gender inequity in the use of primary health care. The social roles adopted by men and women have in some countries on top of the mental health status a relevant influence on the greater tendency among women to contact a care provider. How the socioeconomic and family characteristics moderate the relation between gender and mental health care use is not straightforward and country dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Buffel
- Research Group HeDeRA, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Ghent, Belgium,
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