scholarly journals The pandemic is not occurring in a vacuum: The impact of COVID-19 and other disasters on workforce mental health in Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Tegan Podubinski ◽  
Kristen M. Glenister
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Recruitment Strategy ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disaster Exposure

Abstract Objective: Prior to COVID-19, many Australians experienced extreme bushfires, droughts and floods. A history of experiencing these events might be a risk factor for increased psychological distress during COVID-19. This study aimed to provide insight into the mental health of Australian workers during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, with an additional focus on whether previous disaster exposure and impact from that disaster is a risk factor for increased psychological distress. Methods: A snowball recruitment strategy was used. Participants (n = 596) completed an online survey, which included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21, and questions related to mental health and disaster exposure. Results: Overall, 19.2%, 13.4% and 16.8% of participants were experiencing moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress symptoms respectively. Multiple regression found that higher depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were associated with a pre-existing mental health diagnosis; only higher stress symptoms were associated with having experienced a disaster, with impact, in addition to COVID-19. Conclusions: People who have experienced impact from an additional disaster might need additional support to protect their mental health during COVID-19. A focus on the cumulative mental health impacts of multiple disasters, and the implications for organisational communities where recovery work is undertaken, such as schools and workplaces, is needed.

scholarly journals Self-reported psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Nepal: findings from an online survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Gautam ◽  
Ramesh P. Adhikari ◽  
Aman Sen Gupta ◽  
Rajan Kumar Shrestha ◽  
Pitambar Koirala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
The Past ◽  
Psychological Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background A lower respiratory tract infection caused by novel coronavirus termed as Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) was first identified in China and subsequently took the form of pandemic. Studies on disease outbreak in the past and recent COVID-19 outbreak have demonstrated increased psychological distress and adverse impacts on mental health and psychological wellbeing of people. However, the impact of COVID-19 on psychological wellbeing of people in Nepal hasn't been studied adequately. So, this paper aims to report the findings from a social media survey on psychological impacts of COVID-19 in Nepal. Methods Data were collected through social media from 2082 Nepalese respondents between 23rd April, 2020 and 3rd May, 2020. A total of 2014 respondents who were currently residing in Nepal were included in the analysis. Results The study suggested that half of the respondents suffered from at least one symptom of psychological distress whereas 32% suffered from two or more symptoms of psychological distress such as restlessness, fearfulness, anxiety and worry and sadness in the past 2 weeks preceding the survey date. The findings further suggested that respondents having lower family income, residing in rented room, and participants from province 2 were more likely to suffer from both single and multiple symptoms of psychological distress. Conclusion The study has shown high prevalence of psychological distress amongst the Nepalese respondents following COVID-19 outbreak. Appropriate mental health and psychosocial support response needs to be instituted to adequately respond to psychological impacts of the epidemic.

scholarly journals Psychological distress and resilience in a sample of Adolescents and Young Adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Jacobson ◽  
Rebecca Mulholland ◽  
Nicola Miller ◽  
Laura Baker ◽  
Daniel Glazer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBACKGROUNDAdolescents and young people (AYA) with cancer are at greater risk of psychological distress which can impact treatment. COVID-19 has resulted in changes to cancer care delivery and AYA have been disproportionately affected by economic and educational effects of COVID-19, potentially impacting on mental health. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on AYA with cancer is important to inform care.METHODSOnline survey of 16-24 year olds receiving cancer treatment at 8 cancer centres in the UK in December 2020. We measured: self-perceived increased anxiety since COVID-19, impact of COVID-19 on treatment, life and relationships and used the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-8), 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD) and the 2-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC).RESULTS112 AYA participated (17.8% of total eligible). 62.8% were female, 67.3% were 21-24 years. 83% were white. 59.8% had previously experienced mental health difficulties. 67.9% received cancer treatment during the pandemic and 33.9% were diagnosed during the pandemic. 78.6% reported COVID-19 having a significant impact on their life, 55.4% on their key relationship and 39.3% on their treatment. 79% reported experiencing some degree of increased anxiety since COVID-19.43.4% had moderate-severe PHQ-8 scores and 37.1% for GADS-7. Self-report of impact on life was associated with greater anxiety during COVID-19 and moderate-severe PHQ-8 score (OR 3.64, 95% CI 2.52 to 19.40, p <0.01; OR 5.23, 95%CI 1.65 to 16.56, p < 0.01). Impact on relationships was associated with greater anxiety and moderate-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 score (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.54, p = 0,03; OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.32 to 15.17, p<0.01; OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.25, p =0.03). Greater CD-RISC score was associated with lower risk of anxiety and mod-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 scores (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.41 to 0.81, p <0.01; OR 0.55 95% CI 0.4 to 0.72, p <0.01; OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.69, p <0.01)CONCLUSIONSWe found high levels of psychological distress in AYA with cancer, which is important knowledge for clinical teams working with this age group. Perceived impact of COVID-19 on relationships and life was predictive of poorer mental health, with resilience a potential protective factor.

scholarly journals Parental psychological distress associated with COVID-19 outbreak: A large-scale multicenter survey from Turkey

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097024
Author(s):  
Alperen Bıkmazer ◽  
Muhammed Tayyib Kadak ◽  
Vahdet Görmez ◽  
Uğur Doğan ◽  
Zeynep Dilara Aslankaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Multicenter Survey ◽  
The Impact

Aims Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents ( n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p < .001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p < .001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p = .012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p < .001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p = .043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p < .001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p < .001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p < .001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on the lives and mental health of Australian adolescents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie H. Li ◽  
Joanne R. Beames ◽  
Jill M. Newby ◽  
Kate Maston ◽  
Helen Christensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThere has been significant disruption to the lives and mental health of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and lifestyle impact of the pandemic on Australian adolescents, using an online survey, administered during the outbreak. Self-report surveys were administered online to a sample of 760 Australian adolescents aged 12–18 years assessing impact on a range of domains including behaviour, education, relationships, lifestyle factors (exercise, technology use, and sleep), and mental health outcomes (psychological distress, loneliness, health anxiety and well-being). Results showed that three quarters of the sample experienced a worsening in mental health, since the pandemic began, with negative impacts reported on learning, friendships and family relationships. There were also high higher levels of sleep disturbance, psychological distress and health anxiety, relative to normative samples. Effects on mental health were worse among those who reported a previous diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety relative to those without no such history. Adolescents are already vulnerable to the onset of mental illness at this developmental stage, and the current research underscores the need to find rapid and accessible ways to support adolescent mental health during times of crisis.

Cross-Cultural comparisons of psychosocial distress in the USA, South Korea, France, and Hong Kong during the initial phase of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Dean ◽  
Ivy Fei Tso ◽  
Anne Giersch ◽  
Hyeon-seung Lee ◽  
Tatiana Baxter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Outcome ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in the worldwide disruption of everyday life but the impact and response to the pandemic have not been uniform. Many countries rapidly deployed physical-distancing mandates to curb the spread of the COVID-19; others did not. Whilst social distancing strategies are necessary to reduce the transmission of the virus, it is also important to examine unintended psychiatric consequences of social isolation. We examined psychological distress in four countries with distinct public health strategies (South Korea, Hong Kong, France and the United States) to identify common and region-specific factors that may contribute to mental illness. From March to July June 2020, an online survey of demographics, general health, mental health, loneliness and social networks was conducted. Overall, younger age, greater concern for COVID, and increased loneliness predicted worse psychological outcome, although the magnitudes of the effects were not uniform among the four countries. We also observed notable differences in psychological distress; Hong Kong, with the strictest lockdown mandate, suffered the most drastic worsening of mental health outcome. To explain differential exacerbations of psychological distress around the globe during the pandemic, contributions of social unrest, economic uncertainty, and disruption to regular routine should be considered.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress and Resilience in a Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Jacobson ◽  
Nicola Miller ◽  
Rebecca Mulholland ◽  
Laura Baker ◽  
Daniel Glazer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BACKGROUND: Adolescents and young people (AYA) with cancer are at greater risk of psychological distress which can impact treatment. COVID-19 has resulted in changes to cancer care delivery and AYA have been disproportionately affected by economic and educational effects of COVID-19, potentially impacting on mental health. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on AYA with cancer is important to inform care. METHODS: Online survey of 16-24 year olds receiving cancer treatment at 8 cancer centres in the UK in December 2020. We measured: self-perceived increased anxiety since COVID-19, impact of COVID-19 on treatment, life and relationships and used the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-8), 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD) and the 2-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC). RESULTS: 112 AYA participated (17.8% of total eligible). 62.8% were female, 67.3% were 21-24 years. 83% were white. 59.8% had previously experienced mental health difficulties. 67.9% received cancer treatment during the pandemic and 33.9% were diagnosed during the pandemic. 78.6% reported COVID-19 having a significant impact on their life, 55.4% on their key relationship and 39.3% on their treatment. 79% reported experiencing some degree of increased anxiety since COVID-19.43.4% had moderate-severe PHQ-8 scores and 37.1% for GADS-7. Self-report of impact on life was associated with greater anxiety during COVID-19 and moderate-severe PHQ-8 score (OR 3.64, 95% CI 2.52 to 19.40, p <0.01; OR 5.23, 95%CI 1.65 to 16.56, p < 0.01). Impact on relationships was associated with greater anxiety and moderate-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 score (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.54, p = 0,03; OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.32 to 15.17, p<0.01; OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.25, p =0.03). Greater CD-RISC score was associated with lower risk of anxiety and mod-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 scores (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.41 to 0.81, p <0.01; OR 0.55 95% CI 0.4 to 0.72, p <0.01; OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.69, p <0.01) CONCLUSIONS: We found high levels of psychological distress in AYA with cancer, which is important knowledge for clinical teams working with this age group. Perceived impact of COVID-19 on relationships and life was predictive of poorer mental health, with resilience a potential protective factor.

scholarly journals Effects of the lockdown on the mental health of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Results from the COMET collaborative network

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fiorillo ◽  
Gaia Sampogna ◽  
Vincenzo Giallonardo ◽  
Valeria Del Vecchio ◽  
Mario Luciano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented traumatic event influencing the healthcare, economic, and social welfare systems worldwide. In order to slow the infection rates, lockdown has been implemented almost everywhere. Italy, one of the countries most severely affected, entered the “lockdown” on March 8, 2020. Methods The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) network includes 10 Italian university sites and the National Institute of Health. The whole study has three different phases. The first phase includes an online survey conducted between March and May 2020 in the Italian population. Recruitment took place through email invitation letters, social media, mailing lists of universities, national medical associations, and associations of stakeholders (e.g., associations of users/carers). In order to evaluate the impact of lockdown on depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, multivariate linear regression models were performed, weighted for the propensity score. Results The final sample consisted of 20,720 participants. Among them, 12.4% of respondents (N = 2,555) reported severe or extremely severe levels of depressive symptoms, 17.6% (N = 3,627) of anxiety symptoms and 41.6% (N = 8,619) reported to feel at least moderately stressed by the situation at the DASS-21. According to the multivariate regression models, the depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms significantly worsened from the week April 9–15 to the week April 30 to May 4 (p < 0.0001). Moreover, female respondents and people with pre-existing mental health problems were at higher risk of developing severe depression and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Although physical isolation and lockdown represent essential public health measures for containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are a serious threat for mental health and well-being of the general population. As an integral part of COVID-19 response, mental health needs should be addressed.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress among Residents in Nigeria during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 8-21
Author(s):  
Chisom Adaobi Nri-Ezedi ◽  
Chioma Phyllis Nnamani ◽  
Nonye Ijeoma Ezeh ◽  
Chioma Okechukwu ◽  
Oluwatoyin Fasesan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Psychological Distress Scale ◽  
Distress Scale ◽  
The Impact

Background: During an epidemic, an associated rise in mental health concerns is usually observed. The impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on mental health of adults residing in Nigeria is unknown. The current study attempts to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among adult residents in Nigeria and explore any potential risk factors. Methodology: An online survey developed with Google form was distributed to willing respondents using social media platforms between the time period of 24th of April to 30th of May 2020. Kessler psychological distress scale was used to assess for prevalence of mental health morbidity. Results: Overall, 815 adults responded to the survey, of which 344 (42.2%) were males and 471 (57.8%) females with a Male: Female ratio of 1:1.4. Overall, the top 3 sources of information on facts concerning COVID-19 were television (28.1%), WhatsApp (16.5%) and health care providers (14.3%), while the least source of information was the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) (0.8%). 47.3% of the respondents had psychological distress: medium risk (41.4%) and high risk (5.9%). Significant predictors include age, occupation, income, working status, and perception of how likely the respondent believe that he or she can be infected with the disease. Conclusion: A high prevalence of psychological distress was detected among adults living in Nigeria. This calls for an urgent review of the existing national protocol on the management of COVID-19 to include strategies and programs that will promptly detect and address the mental health needs of at-risk populations.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽  
Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Vo Van ◽  
Toi Phung Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged &lt;18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e043397
Author(s):  
Austen El-Osta ◽  
Aos Alaa ◽  
Iman Webber ◽  
Eva Riboli Sasco ◽  
Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document