scholarly journals Media consumption and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown: a UK cross-sectional study across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Author(s):  
Ruth D Neill ◽  
Carolyn Blair ◽  
Paul Best ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Cherie Armour

Abstract Aim As individuals adjust to new ‘norms’ and ways of living during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a continuing need for up-to-date information and guidance. Evidence suggests that frequent media exposure is related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine whether COVID-19 related media consumption is associated with changes in mental health outcomes. Methods This paper presents baseline data from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. The cross-sectional study data was collected using an online survey following the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with some other basic information collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of socio-demographic and media specific factors on anxiety and depression. Results The study suggested that media usage is statistically significantly associated with anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales with excessive media exposure related to higher anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion This study indicated that higher media consumption was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Worldwide it should be acknowledged that excessive media consumption, particularly social media relating to COVID-19, can have an effect on mental health. However, as this was a cross-sectional study we cannot infer any directionality as we cannot infer cause and effect; therefore, future research involving longitudinal data collection and analyses of variables over time is warranted.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Neill ◽  
Carolyn Blair ◽  
Paul Best ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Cherie Armour

As individuals adjust to new ‘norms’ and ways of living during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a continuing need for up-to-date information and guidance. This has elevated the importance of media channels, such as social media and traditional media. Evidence suggests that frequent media exposure is related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. The aim of this study is to determine whether COVID-19 related media consumption is associated with changes in mental health outcomes. This paper presents baseline data from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. The results showed a statistically significant correlation between COVID-19 media exposure and increases in anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). The study suggested that media usage is statistically significantly associated with anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales with excessive media exposure related to higher anxiety and depression scores.


2021 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
Amit Kumar Mital ◽  

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has posed a public health threat to the whole world. The frontline line workers including police personnel involved in COVID-19 management and containment are at risk of mental health problems. Aims: To estimate mental health problems like stress, anxiety, and depression in police personnel and to determine their underlying drivers.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among police personnel of city Rohtak in April 2020. 8 police stations and 13 check-posts were selected randomly by lottery method. Depression, Anxiety and Stress-21 Scale was used. Statistical analyses were undertaken using MS Excel, Epi Info, and R software. Results: 298 policemen were screened for mental problems. Their mean age was 39 ± 9.7 years. 20.1%, 13.8%, and 3.4% had stress, anxiety, and depression respectively. 172 (57.7%) respondents were not satisfied with their COVID duty hours. 239 (80.2%) subjects believed that they are at risk of getting the infection due to their duties in COVID-19 containment zones. About 68.8% of participants believed that their families were at risk of getting the infection because of their COVID-19 duty. The study subjects who were not satisfied with their duty hours had 2.4 and 3.5 times more risk of stress and anxiety as compared with those who were satisfied with them. Conclusion: Policemen are at significant risk for stress, anxiety, and depression due to COVID related duties. Identifiable risk factors were number of working hours per day, dissatisfaction with duty hours, and risk of contracting corona infection due to COVID-19 duty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Joel Rey U. Acob ◽  
Hidayat Arifin ◽  
Yulis Setiya Dewi

Background: COVID-19 considered as a global health crisis poses mental health problems among individual and specifics to students.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the depression, anxiety, and stress levels among students amidst COVID-19 pandemic in Philippines.Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Region 8, Eastern Visayas Philippines. A total of 311 tertiary respondents randomly selected both private and government owned higher education institutions. The data compilation was done using online questionnaires through Google Forms with validated version of the Stress, Anxiety and Depression Scales 21 (DASS21) is used to calculate students' level of stress, anxiety and, depression with their socio-demographic featuresResults: We revealed that depression, anxiety and stress are instituted in 18.6 %, 35.1 % and 2.85% of students, respectively, amidst the COVID – 19 pandemics. The symptoms of disorders were moderate to extremely severe in 6.1%, 23.5%, and 0.6% of the study sample, respectively. Age, gender, marital status and family history of illness are significantly different with age group 20 and below, females, singles, and families with no history of illness displaying high level of anxiety. Results also established an association between anxiety and family’s monthly income and history of illness. The higher the monthly income and no presence of illness of families, the more anxious the person.Conclusion: Finally, the variables used, explained only 1.5% depression, 3.4% anxiety and 1.4% stress in this time of COVID-19 outbreak. It is therefore recommended to essentially develop community-based mental health program for preventive purposes.


Author(s):  
Hari Krishnan R. ◽  
Hanitha Rajasekar ◽  
Suganthi S.

Background: The whole world became still, when a major pandemic COVID-19 started its toll across all developed and developing countries. It has caused both physical and emotional disturbances among all age groups. This study was done to evaluate the parental mental health in COVID-19 as this group is not given much importance. The major mental health problems associated with COVID-19 among parents are due to online classes which has caused depression, anxiety and stress.Methods: A cross-sectional study done among all parents, especially those of whose children are attending online class were included in the study. Convenient sampling was used to select 204 participants, GHQ 12 questionnaire was used for data collection on mental health status among parents.Results: Overall prevalence of parents with better mental health <19 was 108 (52.9%) and prevalence of parents with poor mental health >19 was 96 (47.1%).Conclusions: This study concluded that parental age of 31 to 40 years who are employed and have children studying in primary school to have a poor mental health status. The most important contributing factors for poor parental health were online classes for children and work place stress.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puthy PAT ◽  
Linda Richter-Sundberg ◽  
Bhoomikumar Jegannathan ◽  
Kerstin Edin ◽  
Miguel San Sebastian

Abstract Background: incarceration and mental health problems are empirically known to have a strong association. Many studies have confirmed the high prevalence of mental health problems among young prisoners in particular, yet none have been conducted in Cambodia. Objectives: this study aimed first to assess the prevalence of mental health problems and suicidal expressions among young prisoners, and second, to determine the risk factors associated with these two outcomes in Cambodia. Method: a cross-sectional study among 572 young male prisoners between the ages of 15 and 24 from three prisons was conducted. Sociodemographic data and detailed information on participants’ profiles were gathered, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Attitude towards Suicide (ATTS) questionnaires were applied. Results: anxiety-depression affected 52.10% of the respondents with a similar prevalence of withdrawal depression, somatic complaints, social problems, and aggressive behaviours (around 46%). Mental health problems were strongly associated with younger age, lower educational background, and less time spent in prison. Around half (51.05%) considered life to be meaningful while 16.26% had thoughts about their own death, and 12.06% expressed wishes to die. Suicide ideation, planning, and attempts were reported by almost 6.82%, 1.75% and 2.80% of participants respectively. Prisoners who used drugs prior to imprisonment thought about death significantly more than their counterparts while suicide ideation was reported to be significantly lower among prisoners with higher education. Conclusion: the prevalence of mental health problems among young male prisoners was considerably high, while suicide expressions were reported to be lower compared to studies from other countries. This study highlights the need for implementing preventive interventions integrated into the prison health care system to im­prove the mental health of young prisoners.


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