scholarly journals Employment Uncertainty and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Initial Social Distancing Implementation: a Cross-national Study

Author(s):  
Mary Ruffolo ◽  
Daicia Price ◽  
Mariyana Schoultz ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in the work environment and employment uncertainty. This paper reports on a cross-national comparison of four countries (Norway, UK, USA and Australia) and examines the differences in mental health between those individuals employed and those not employed during the social distancing implementation. Methods Participants (N = 3,810) were recruited through social media in April/May 2020 and were invited to complete a self-administered electronic survey over a 3-week period. Differences between those employed and those not employed with regard to their sociodemographic characteristics and mental health were investigated with chi-square tests, independent t tests, and one-way analysis of variances (ANOVAs). Results Compared with their counterparts, participants who were employed reported lower levels of mental health distress (p < 0.001), higher levels of psychosocial well-being (p < 0.001), better overall quality of life (p < 0.001), and lower levels of overall loneliness, social loneliness, and emotional loneliness (p < 0.001). Small to medium but consistent differences (Cohen’s d = 0.23–0.67) in mental health favor those with employment or those who were retired. Conclusion Further study is needed to assess mental health over time as the COVID-19 pandemic and employment uncertainty continues.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Bazett-Jones ◽  
Micah C. Garcia ◽  
Jeffery A. Taylor-Haas ◽  
Jason T. Long ◽  
Mitchell J. Rauh ◽  
...  

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the sporting and exercise activities of millions of youth. Running is an activity that could be maintained while social distancing restrictions were implemented during the pandemic. However, a recent study has indicated that youth runners reported lower running distance, frequency, and intensity during COVID-19. The reason for this reduction and the impact on overall well-being is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if the social distancing restrictions during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic influenced running motives, socialization, wellness and mental health in youth long-distance runners.Methods: A customized, open online questionnaire was provided to runners 9–19 years of age who participated in long-distance running activities including team/club cross-country, track and field (distances ≥800 m), road races, or recreational running. Participants responded to questions about demographics, motive for running, and wellness (sleep quality, anxiety, running enjoyment, food consumption quality) 6-months before as well as during social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19. Wilcoxon signed rank tests compared differences for ratio data and Chi-square tests were used to compare proportions before and during COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: A total of 287 youth long-distance runners (male = 124, female = 162, unspecified = 1; age = 15.3 ± 1.7 years; running experience = 5.0 ± 2.3 years) participated. Compared to their pre-COVID-19 responses, youth long-distance runners reported lower overall motivation to run (p &lt; 0.001) and changes to most motive rankings (p &lt; 0.001 to p = 0.71). The proportion of youth running alone increased during COVID-19 (65.8%) compared to pre-COVID-19 (13.8%, p &lt; 0.001). Youth long-distance runners also reported less running enjoyment (p = 0.001), longer sleep duration (p &lt; 0.001), lower sleep quality (p = 0.05), more anxiety (p = 0.043), and lower food quality consumed (p &lt; 0.001) during COVID-19 social distance restrictions.Conclusion: The COVID-19 social distancing restrictions resulted in significant decreases in motivation and enjoyment of running. The removal of competition and team-based interactions likely had a role in these decreases for this population. Continuing team-based activities (e.g., virtual) during social distancing may help with maintaining motivation of youth long-distance runners. Reduced running occurred concurrently with reduced overall well-being of youth long-distance runners during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
pp. 215686932110085
Author(s):  
Laura Upenieks

Beliefs about the probability of educational success tend to be very optimistic in the United States. However, scholars are beginning to uncover mental health consequences associated with quixotic hope—the unrealistic outstripping of expectation by aspiration. Using longitudinal data from Waves 1 and 3 of the National Study of Youth and Religion, this study asks, (1) does religiosity promote or diminish the likelihood of quixotic hope? and (2) does religious attendance and closeness to God mitigate long-term mental health consequences of quixotic hope? Results show that weekly religious attendance had a modest negative relationship with the likelihood of experiencing quixotic hope, while increasing religious attendance over time attenuated the negative mental health consequences of quixotic hope on increases in depression. Closeness to God neither predicted quixotic hope nor played a moderating role for depression. As educational expectations rise, regular religious practice may help protect the emotional well-being of youth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orpha de Lenne ◽  
Laura Vandenbosch ◽  
Steven Eggermont ◽  
Kathrin Karsay ◽  
Jolien Trekels

Author(s):  
Christina E. Miyawaki ◽  
Erin D. Bouldin ◽  
Christopher A. Taylor ◽  
Lisa C. McGuire

One in four Baby Boomers fills the informal caregiver role in the United States. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Baby Boomers who are informal caregivers for people living with dementia and compare their physical and mental health status to caregivers for persons with conditions other than dementia using 2015–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 10,602). We identified caregiving status (assisting a family member/friend with a long-term illness or disability in the past month, managing personal care, and not caring for a child/grandchild) and whether the care recipient’s major health condition was dementia. We calculated weighted estimates and used chi-square tests and log-binomial regression for comparisons of selected characteristics. Among Baby Boomer caregivers, 15.4% were caring for someone with dementia. Dementia caregivers were more likely to be female, caring for a parent/parent-in-law, and providing care longer than caregivers for persons without dementia. After adjusting for sociodemographic and caregiving characteristics, the prevalence of fair/poor health, frequent mental distress, and chronic conditions were similar across types of caregivers. Although no differences in caregiver’s physical and mental health by care recipient’s dementia status were found, we should underscore the importance of maintaining Baby Boomer caregivers’ health and well-being.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Akihiro Masuyama ◽  
Daichi Sugawara ◽  
Nuntaporn Karawekpanyawong ◽  
Phanida Juntasopeepun ◽  
Surinporn Likhitsathian ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Saberian ◽  
S. Hajiaghajani ◽  
R. Ghorbani ◽  
B. Behnam

Background:The mission of every University is to educate professionals to improve the quality of well being of body and mind of the society's members. To approach this important issue, Universities needs healthy employee to enable them to educate healthy qualified and well trained. This study was aimed to evaluate the status of mental health of Semnan University of medical sciences employees.Material and methods:This is a descriptive- analytical performed in a cross- sectional study. Samples were 414 employee. data were collected trough a self - reporting questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data were analyzed by spss and also mean, standard deviation, absolute & relative frequency were detected. Chi-square, Pearson & Spearman correlation coefficient at the level of 5% and logistic regression analysis was used for analysis.Findings:Total of 28.6% suffers from mental disorder. The most were working in treatment setting (41%). People aged 40-49 were 29.3 %, women were 37.4%, University undergraduate 40.7%, not married single 60%, 20 or more year work experienced 35.2%, had the most prominent mental disorder. Interpretation logistic regression showed that index of gender, level of education, and occupation has significant influence over mental disorder.Conclusion:The degree of mental disorder is 2.5 more than the statistics reported by WHO, but is similar with those reported in Iran. More investigation needs to better understanding the higher prevalence of mental disorder among women, university undergraduate, government employee and those working in treatment setting. The result of these studies can lead to find solution to resolve this problem.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 3209-3218
Author(s):  
Jinhua Liu ◽  
Hongsheng Chen ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Zhigang Li

Objective This study investigated the effect of the number of close friends (within and outside of social housing neighbourhoods) on the emotional well-being of men and women in social housing neighbourhoods in China. Methods Data (n = 535) were collected in 13 social housing neighbourhoods in Guangzhou from September to December 2013 using the random sample method. The t-test, chi-square test, and linear regression analysis were used to analyse the factors influencing residents’ emotional well-being. Results Having a greater number of close friends living within the social housing neighbourhood had a significantly positive association with the respondents’ emotional well-being (regression coefficient = 0.473). The number of close friends living in nearby neighbourhoods was only positively related to women’s emotional well-being (coefficient = 0.433). Conclusions These results highlight the importance of friendship for residents’ emotional well-being. Especially for women, friendship outside the social housing neighbourhood is essential for good mental health. This conclusion is based on analysis of cross-sectional data, and reflects the directionality of social associations. The mental health of the poor warrants greater attention in China.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailaja Bandla ◽  
NR Nappinnai ◽  
Srinivasagopalan Gopalasamy

Background: Floods are the most common type of natural disaster, which have a negative impact on mental health. Following floods, survivors are vulnerable to develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Aim: The aim is to study the psychiatric morbidity in the persons affected by floods during December 2015. Materials and methods: This study was carried out in Chennai and Cuddalore. In total, 223 persons who were directly exposed to floods were assessed. PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and World Health Organization–Five Well-Being Scale (WHO-5) were used in the study. Chi-square test was used to compare the means. Results: Overall, psychiatric morbidity was found to be 45.29%; 60 (26.9%) persons had symptoms of PTSD. Anxiety was found in 48 (27.4%) and depression was found in 101 (45.29%) persons; and 11 (4.9%) persons have reported an increase in substance abuse. Conclusion: Following disaster like floods, there is a need for better preparedness in terms of basic necessities and medical and psychological assistance, particularly emphasizing the needs of older persons in order to prevent the development of psychiatric problems.


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