scholarly journals A portrait of the early and differential mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: Findings from the first wave of a nationally representative cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 106333
Author(s):  
Emily K. Jenkins ◽  
Corey McAuliffe ◽  
Saima Hirani ◽  
Chris Richardson ◽  
Kimberly C. Thomson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nationally Representative

Moral injury and peri- and post-military suicide attempts among post-9/11 veterans

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Shira Maguen ◽  
Brandon J. Griffin ◽  
Dawne Vogt ◽  
Claire A. Hoffmire ◽  
John R. Blosnich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Moral Injury ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Military Suicide ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Our goal was to examine the association between moral injury, mental health, and suicide attempts during military service and after separation by gender in post-9/11 veterans. Methods A nationally representative sample of 14057 veterans completed a cross-sectional survey. To examine associations of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs; witnessing, perpetrating, and betrayal) and suicidal self-directed violence, we estimated two series of multivariable logistic regressions stratified by gender, with peri- and post-military suicide attempt as the dependent variables. Results PMIE exposure accounted for additional risk of suicide attempt during and after military service after controlling for demographic and military characteristics, current mental health status, and pre-military history of suicidal ideation and attempt. Men who endorsed PMIE exposure by perpetration were 50% more likely to attempt suicide during service and twice as likely to attempt suicide after separating from service. Men who endorsed betrayal were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide during service; however, this association attenuated to non-significance after separation in the fully adjusted models. In contrast, women who endorsed betrayal were over 50% more likely to attempt suicide during service and after separation; PMIE exposure by perpetration did not significantly predict suicide attempts before or after service among women in the fully adjusted models. Conclusions Our findings indicate that suicide assessment and prevention programs should consider the impact of moral injury and attend to gender differences in this risk factor in order to provide the most comprehensive care.

On the question of non-medical cognitive enhancers among in-school adolescents: prevalence, predictors and potential health-related harms

2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Janssen ◽  
Stanislas Spilka ◽  
Olivier Le Nézet ◽  
Jalpa Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Related Substance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Cognitive Enhancers ◽  
Prevention Programmes ◽  
Nationally Representative

AbstractLittle is known about the use of non-medical cognitive enhancers (NCEs) in the general population, and even less among youth. The study utilises a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of adolescents attending high schools to provide a comprehensive overview of NCEs and to assess risk factors such as socio-demographics, schooling, mental health and related substance use among French adolescents. A total of 6692 students attending high school (secondary schools) answered an anonymous questionnaire collecting information on demographics, health, psychoactive substance uses (neuroleptics, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, illicit substances) and patterns of sociability. The use of cognitive enhancers appears to be an underestimated phenomenon among youth. Prevalence of use is heavily gender-influenced, with females twice as likely to use NCEs than males. More than daily school commitments, the use of cognitive enhancers is related to the proximity of the national secondary education examination. Moreover, mental health, use of prescribed anxiolytics and other psychoactive substances are significantly independently associated with the use of cognitive enhancers, particularly among females. The unregulated use of cognitive enhancers is a predictor of potential mental frailty and a substance-based response to stressful events, a behaviour likely to persist during adulthood. The study underpins the lack of contextual and comparable data. Systematic monitoring of younger students in neighbouring countries is required to develop reliable prevention programmes.

scholarly journals Socio-Economic Status, Mental Health Difficulties and Feelings about Transition to Secondary School among 10–11 Year Olds in Wales: Multi-Level Analysis of a Cross Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Moore ◽  
Lianna Angel ◽  
Rachel Brown ◽  
Jordan van Godwin ◽  
Britt Hallingberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Emotional Difficulties ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
New School ◽  
Behavioural Difficulties ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Nationally Representative

AbstractTransition between primary and secondary school represents an important milestone in young people’s development. While most young people look forward to this transition, it is a source of anxiety for many. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of 2218 children in 73 schools in Wales, this study aimed to understand the extent to which 10–11 year old children worried about and/or looked forward to their imminent transition to secondary school, the things they worried about and/or looked forward to, and how feelings about transition differed by socioeconomic status, as well as by emotional and behavioural difficulties. About a third of children reported being quite or very worried about transition to secondary school, while approximately two-thirds reported looking forward to it quite a bit or very much. These items were only moderately correlated, with many children both looking forward to and worrying about transition, or neither. Major sources of worry about transition centred around bullying and impact on existing friendships, while forming new friendships or joining existing friends in their new school were key things children looked forward to. Children from poorer backgrounds, attending poorer schools and reporting more emotional difficulties were significantly more likely to report worries about transition. Children from poorer families, and children reporting more emotional difficulties and behavioural difficulties, were less likely to look forward to transition. Interventions to support children in transition to secondary school need to be sensitive to the needs of children from poorer backgrounds and children with mental health difficulties.

scholarly journals Depression and loneliness during COVID-19 restrictions in the United States, and their associations with frequency of social and sexual connections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Rosenberg ◽  
Maya Luetke ◽  
Devon Hensel ◽  
Sina Kianersi ◽  
Debby Herbenick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Nationally Representative

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of depression and loneliness during the US COVID-19 response, and examine their associations with frequency of social and sexual connections. Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of American adults (n=1010), aged 18-94, running from April 10-20, 2020. We assessed depressive symptoms (CES-D-10 scale), loneliness (UCLA 3-Item Loneliness scale), and frequency of in-person and remote social connections (4 items, e.g. hugging family member, video chats) and sexual connections (4 items, e.g. partnered sexual activity, dating app use). Results: One-third of participants (32%) reported depressive symptoms, and loneliness was high [mean (SD): 4.4 (1.7)]. Those with depressive symptoms were more likely to be women, age 20-29, unmarried, and low-income. Frequent in-person connections were associated with lower depression and loneliness; frequent remote connections were not. Conclusions: Depression and loneliness were elevated during the early US COVID-19 response. Those who maintained frequent in-person, but not remote, social and sexual connections had better mental health outcomes. While COVID-19 social restrictions remain necessary, it will be critical to expand mental health services to serve those most at-risk and identify effective ways of maintaining social and sexual connections from a distance.

scholarly journals Self-compassion buffers the adverse mental health impacts of COVID-19-related threats: Results from a cross-sectional survey at the first peak of Hong Kong’s outbreak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobo Hi Po Lau ◽  
Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan ◽  
Siu-Man Ng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Self Compassion

COVID-19 has brought tremendous and abrupt threats to various aspects of our daily lives, from school and work to interpersonal relationships. Self-compassion is put forth as a salutogenic perspective on oneself that buffers the adverse mental health impacts of these threats. During the peak of a local outbreak in Hong Kong in Spring 2020, 761 participants completed questionnaires on self-compassion, perceived threats, as well as perceived benefits and psychological distress. Controlling for demographic variables, negative indicators of self-compassion (aka self-coldness) was found to intensify the impacts of threats on psychological distress. The positive indicators of self-compassion also moderated the link between threats and perceived benefits, such that perceived benefits tend to be less related to threats in participants with higher self-compassion. Our findings highlight the impacts of both positive and negative indicators of self-compassion on the adjustment to such unprecedented challenges, and point to the possibility of enhancing people’s resilience through fostering self-compassion and alleviating self-coldness.

scholarly journals Change in time spent visiting and experiences of green space following restrictions on movement during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of UK adults

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044067
Author(s):  
Hannah Burnett ◽  
Jonathan R Olsen ◽  
Natalie Nicholls ◽  
Richard Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Specific Outcome ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk

ObjectivesGreen space positively influences health and well-being; however, inequalities in use of green space are prevalent. Movement restrictions enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic could have exacerbated existing inequalities regarding who visits green space. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how movement restrictions have changed the time spent visiting green space and experience of green space in the United Kingdom (UK) and how these differed by individual-level demographic characteristics.Design and outcome measuresA nationally representative cross-sectional survey administered through YouGov between 30 April and 1 May 2020. Data were collected on the time spent visiting green space and change in the experience of green space, including missing social interaction, increased physical activity and feeling greater mental health benefits in green space. Demographic information was collected on sex, age, ethnicity, social grade and dog ownership. Associations between specific outcome variables and predictors were assessed using logistic regression.SettingUK, with population weights applied.Participants2252 adults aged 18 years and over.ResultsOverall, 63% of respondents reported a decrease in time spent visiting green space following movement restrictions. Lower social grade respondents were less likely to visit green space before and after restrictions were enforced (OR: 0.35 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.51); OR: 0.77 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.95)). Female respondents were more likely than male respondents to agree that green space benefited their mental health more following restrictions (PP: 0.70 vs 0.59). Older (65+ years) respondents were less likely than middle-aged (25–64 years) respondents to have visited green space following the restrictions (OR: 0.79 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.98)).ConclusionsInequalities in green space use were sustained, and possibly exacerbated, during movement restrictions. Our findings emphasise the importance of green spaces remaining open globally in any future ‘lockdowns’/pandemics. Further investigation is required to determine how visit patterns and experiences change through the different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

scholarly journals Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e042871
Author(s):  
Anne C Gadermann ◽  
Kimberly C Thomson ◽  
Chris G Richardson ◽  
Monique Gagné ◽  
Corey McAuliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Families With Children ◽  
At Home

ObjectivesIn the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, school/child care closures and employment instability have created unprecedented conditions for families raising children at home. This study describes the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with children in Canada.Design, setting and participantsThis descriptive study used a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of adults living in Canada (n=3000) to examine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes among parents with children <18 years old living at home (n=618) were compared with the rest of the sample. Data were collected via an online survey between 14 May to 29 May 2020.Outcome measuresParticipants reported on changes to their mental health since the onset of the pandemic and sources of stress, emotional responses, substance use patterns and suicidality/self-harm. Additionally, parents identified changes in their interactions with their children, impacts on their children’s mental health and sources of support accessed.Results44.3% of parents with children <18 years living at home reported worse mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 35.6% of respondents without children <18 living at home, χ2 (1, n=3000)=16.2, p<0.001. More parents compared with the rest of the sample reported increased alcohol consumption (27.7% vs 16.1%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=43.8, p<0.001), suicidal thoughts/feelings (8.3% vs 5.2%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.0, p=0.005) and stress about being safe from physical/emotional domestic violence (11.5% vs 7.9%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.1, p=0.005). 24.8% (95% CI 21.4 to 28.4) of parents reported their children’s mental health had worsened since the pandemic. Parents also reported more frequent negative as well as positive interactions with their children due to the pandemic (eg, more conflicts, 22.2% (95% CI 19.0 to 25.7); increased feelings of closeness, 49.7% (95% CI 45.7 to 53.7)).ConclusionsThis study identifies that families with children <18 at home have experienced deteriorated mental health due to the pandemic. Population-level responses are required to adequately respond to families’ diverse needs and mitigate the potential for widening health and social inequities for parents and children.

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