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Wong SM, Chen EY, Suen YN, Ho W, Chan SK, Lee EH, Chan KT, Lui SS, Wong MT, Hui CL. Increased psychological distress among young people before and during the fifth wave of COVID-19 after two years of pandemic in Hong Kong: a 6-month longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:433. [PMID: 37322448 PMCID: PMC10267546 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04933-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite over two years of COVID-19 worldwide, the outbreak of the Omicron variant has given rise to an unprecedented surge of infection with diverse lockdown measures implemented globally. Whether the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19 could further affect mental health in the population after nearly two years of the pandemic remains to be addressed. Furthermore, whether changes in smartphone overuse behaviours and physical activity - both of which are particularly relevant to young people - would together contribute to changes in distress symptoms during this wave of COVID-19 was also examined. METHODS A total of 248 young people from an ongoing household-based epidemiological study in Hong Kong who completed their baseline assessments prior to the Omicron variant outbreak, i.e., fifth wave of COVID-19 (July-November 2021), were invited for a 6-month follow-up study during this wave of infection (January-April 2022) (mean age = 19.7 years, SD = 2.7; 58.9% females). At both time points, levels of global distress symptoms, perceived stress, smartphone overuse, frequency of engagement in vigorous physical activity, and other potential risk and protective factors were assessed. RESULTS The proportion of young people presenting moderate-to-severe distress (6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥ 5) significantly increased from 45.6 to 54.4% during the fifth wave of COVID-19 (p < 0.010). Significantly increased levels of smartphone overuse and reduced days of vigorous physical activity were also observed during the fifth wave. Notably, increased smartphone overuse and reduced physical activity both additively and interactively contributed to elevated distress at 6 months, even after accounting for demographic characteristics, psychiatric history, childhood adversity, as well as baseline distress symptoms, resilience, and recent personal stressors. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19, specifically the Omicron outbreak, can further aggravate mental distress even after a protracted period of the pandemic. Awareness of the dynamic nature of COVID-19 is necessitated to address the pressing mental health needs of populations. Supporting young people in healthier patterns of smartphone use and physical activity can be helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie My Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Yh Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
| | - Y N Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Winky Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sherry Kw Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Edwin Hm Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - K T Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon Sy Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael Th Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Christy Lm Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Wong SM, Chen EY, Wong CS, Suen YN, Chan DL, Tsang SH, Wong TY, Cheung C, Chan KT, Lui SS, Wong MT, Chan SK, Lee EH, Myin-Germeys I, Hui CL. Impact of smartphone overuse on 1-year severe depressive symptoms and momentary negative affect: Longitudinal and experience sampling findings from a representative epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong. Psychiatry Res 2022; 318:114939. [PMID: 36343577 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Smartphone overuse can have detrimental impacts on youth mental health. How it may be longitudinally associated with depressive symptoms and functioning, and with daily momentary affect, remains to be investigated. A total of 3,033 young people were consecutively recruited from a large-scale epidemiological youth mental health study in Hong Kong. A subsample (n = 936) was followed-up after 1 year, with experience sampling data collected from 177 participants. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine the prospective associations between smartphone overuse and depressive symptoms, with multilevel models fitted to examine its associations with momentary affect. The prevalence of smartphone overuse in the Hong Kong youth population was 29.3%. Smartphone overuse was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and functional impairments both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The associations between smartphone overuse and 1-year depressive symptoms were significant, even when accounting for baseline symptoms, social media use, and other risk and protective factors. Baseline depressive symptoms, in contrast, were not associated with 1-year smartphone overuse after adjusting for baseline smartphone overuse. Smartphone overuse was also significantly associated with higher levels of momentary negative affect, even when accounting for depressive symptoms. Strategies to mitigate the impact of smartphone overuse can have important long-term implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie My Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Yh Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Corine Sm Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Y N Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dorothy Lk Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Samantha Hs Tsang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - T Y Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Charlton Cheung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - K T Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon Sy Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael Th Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sherry Kw Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Edwin Hm Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Inez Myin-Germeys
- Department for Neurosciences, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christy Lm Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Jo S, Baek IC, Fava M, Mischoulon D, Hong JP, Kim H, Park MJ, Kim EJ, Jeon HJ. Association of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and other addictive behaviors: A nationwide community sample of Korean adults. Psychiatry Res 2021; 304:114133. [PMID: 34352593 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Smartphone is one of the essential items. However, it may negatively affect a user's mental health when it is overused. The study aimed to investigate associations of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and the relationship with other addictive behaviors and disorders. A total of 2,509 subjects were randomly selected through a one-person-per-household method. Smartphone Overuse Screening Questionnaire (SOS-Q) and the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) were used. Linear regression and Pearson correlation analyses were performed to evaluate associations of smartphone overuse with depression, anxiety, and relationship with other addictive psychiatric disorders respectively. Among 2509 participants, 138 (14.76%) demonstrated smartphone overuse. Participants who used their smartphones for more than three hours a week were more likely to be single and females compared to those who used their smartphones for less than three hours a week. Smartphone overuse showed significant associations with depression, anxiety disorder, and a significant relationship with internet and game overuse, alcohol dependence, and nicotine dependence disorder. Internet-related behavior showed the strongest relationship with smartphone overuse. Although the sample size was adequate, a large number of subjects did not complete the questionnaire. People with psychiatric disorders should be advised to use smartphones in moderation.
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Kim B, Han SR, Park EJ, Yoo H, Suh S, Shin Y. The Relationship between Mother's Smartphone Addiction and Children's Smartphone Usage. Psychiatry Investig 2021; 18:126-131. [PMID: 33517617 PMCID: PMC7960748 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2020.0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As smartphone use is becoming more common, the age of initial exposure to devices is becoming younger. Young children's screen use is influenced by various factors; it is more directly dependent on family environment than school-aged children. Our study aimed to examine the effect of mother's smartphone addition on their child's smartphone use. METHODS Participants were from the Kids Cohort for Understanding of internet addiction Risk factors in early childhood (K-CURE) study. Adult smartphone addiction self-diagnosis scale was used to evaluate smartphone addiction degree of mother. Child's smartphone use was assessed by parental questionnaire. Using logistic regression analysis, we examine the association between mother's smartphone addiction and child's smartphone use. RESULTS After adjusting for other factors, mother's smartphone addiction is related with early smartphone exposure of children. Highrisk group's children was exposed to smartphone earlier than low risk group (adjusted OR, 0.418; p=0.021). Contrary to expectation, there is no correlation between mother's smartphone addiction and child's smartphone use time. CONCLUSION Our study explain that mother's smartphone addiction can affect early smartphone exposure on children. Based on our findings, further study might explore the effect of early smartphone exposure on children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - So Ra Han
- Department of Psychology, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejeong Yoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyeon Suh
- Department of Psychology, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunmi Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sojib Bin Zaman
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise & and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Radwan NL, Ibrahim MM, Mahmoud WSED. Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study. J Phys Ther Sci 2020; 32:65-71. [PMID: 32082032 PMCID: PMC7008026 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.32.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
[Purpose] This study investigated the interaction effects between the levels of
smartphone use and hand dominance on handgrip, pinch strengths, and functional hand
performance in children. [Participants and Methods] A total of 60 children aged between 9
and 15 were assigned into two groups: Group A (high-frequency smartphone users) and Group
B (low-frequency smartphone users). Use levels were determined according to the smartphone
addiction scale-short version. A hand dynamometer and pinch gauge were used to measure
handgrip and pinch strength respectively. Functions of the upper extremity and hand were
scored using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire.
[Results] Group A participants had reduced measurements in hand grip and pinch strength,
especially in the dominant hand. However, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and
Hand scores indicated that hand function was decreased in the dominant hand whether the
child was a high- or low-frequency smartphone user. [Conclusion] Results indicated that
high levels of smartphone use diminished hand and pinch-grip strengths as well as and hand
function. That is, hand and pinch-grip strengths were reduced in the dominant hands of
high-frequency smartphone users. However, hand functions were affected in the dominant
hands among both high and low-level smartphone users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia L Radwan
- Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.,Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University: Riyadh, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa M Ibrahim
- Department of Physical Therapy for Growth and Development Disorders in Children and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.,Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University: Riyadh, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed Salah El-Din Mahmoud
- Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University: Riyadh, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
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Chen PL, Pai CW. Pedestrian smartphone overuse and inattentional blindness: an observational study in Taipei, Taiwan. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:1342. [PMID: 30595132 PMCID: PMC6311895 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6163-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Smartphone addiction has become a crucial social issue. Past studies have indicated that phone use such as talking or texting while walking constitutes a dual task that may cause pedestrians inattentional blindness and impair their awareness of surroundings. Methods This study investigated the influence of various smartphone tasks (calling, music listening, texting, playing games, and web surfing) on the smartphone overuse and inattentional blindness of pedestrians in Taipei, Taiwan. Pedestrian smartphone overuse was observed and recorded via WiFi cameras to determine whether pedestrians were using their smartphones when crossing a street with a signal. After crossing the street, pedestrians were interviewed to obtain additional information regarding demographics, smartphone tasks, data plan, and screen size. Pedestrians were classified into the case (distracted) and control (undistracted) groups. By determining whether pedestrians saw something unusual—a clown walking the opposite direction—and heard the national anthem played by the clown, inattentional blindness and deafness were examined. Pedestrians’ situational awareness was assessed by ascertaining whether they remembered how many seconds remained before the crossing signal upon arriving at the curb. Results In total, 2556 pedestrians crossed the street and underwent the interview. Smartphone overuse and inattentional deafness were the commonest among music listeners. Playing Pokémon Go gaming was the task most associated with inattentional blindness. Logistic regression models revealed that contributing factors to smartphone overuse and inattentional blindness were a large smartphone screen (≥5 in), unlimited mobile Internet data, and being a student. The interactions of gaming with being a student and with unlimited data were significantly associated with smartphone overuse, inattentional blindness and deafness, and situational awareness. Conclusions Listening to music was the smartphone task most associated with pedestrian smartphone overuse and inattentional deafness. Pokémon Go was the most associated task with inattentional blindness and reduced situational awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Ling Chen
- Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Pai
- Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Shing Street, Taipei, Taiwan.
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