Exploring course experiences that predict psychological distress and mental wellbeing in Australian undergraduate and graduate coursework students

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Wendy Larcombe ◽  
Chi Baik ◽  
Sue Finch
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Graduate Coursework ◽  
Course Experiences

scholarly journals Mental wellbeing in the German old age population largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown: results of a representative survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
Life Situation ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Older individuals are at increased risk of a severe and lethal course of COVID-19. They have typically been advised to practice particularly restrictive social distancing (‘cocooning’), which has sparked much debate on the consequences for their mental wellbeing. We aimed to provide evidence by conducting a representative survey among the German old population during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods A computer-assisted standardized telephone interview was conducted in a randomly selected and representative sample of the German old age population (n = 1005; age ≥ 65 years) during the first lockdown in April 2020. Assessments included sociodemographic factors, aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown, attitudes towards COVID-19, and standardized screening measures on depression, anxiety, somatization, overall psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory/BSI-18) and loneliness (UCLA 3-item loneliness scale). Sampling-weighted descriptive statistics and multiple multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results Participants were M = 75.5 (SD = 7.1) years old; 56.3% were women. At data collection, COVID-19 lockdown had been in force for M = 28.0 (SD = 4.8) days. Overall, older individuals were worried about COVID-19, but supportive of the lockdown. Mean BSI-18 scores were 1.4 for depression, 1.6 for anxiety and 2.2 for somatization as well as 5.1 for global psychological distress. These figures did not indicate worse mental wellbeing, given normative values established by studies before the pandemic (2.0, 1.6, 2.4, 6.0, respectively). The prevalence of loneliness was 13.1%, which also fell within a range of estimates reported by studies before the pandemic. There were only few significant associations of aspects of the personal life situation during lockdown and attitudes towards COVID-19 with mental wellbeing. Resilience explained a large amount of variance. Conclusions In the short-term, the mental wellbeing of the German old age population was largely unaltered during COVID-19 lockdown, suggesting resilience against the challenging pandemic situation. Our results refute common ageist stereotypes of “the weak and vulnerable older adults” that were present during the pandemic. Long-term observations are needed to provide robust evidence.

scholarly journals Factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aziz Rahman ◽  
Nazmul Hoque ◽  
Sheikh M Alif ◽  
Masudus Salehin ◽  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Distress Scale

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the personal, professional and social life of Australians with some people more impacted than others. Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among residents in Australia, including patients, frontline health and other essential service workers, and community members during June 2020. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10); level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S); and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the extent of psychological distress, level of fear and coping strategies while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Among 587 participants, the majority (391, 73.2%) were 30-59 years old and female (363, 61.8%). More than half (349, 59.5%) were born outside Australia and two-third (418, 71.5%) completed at least a Bachelor’s degree. The majority (401, 71.5%) had a source of income, 243 (42.3%) self-identified as a frontline worker, and 335 (58.9%) reported financial impact due to COVID-19. Comorbidities such as pre-existing mental health conditions (AOR 3.13, 95% CIs 1.12-8.75), increased smoking (8.66, 1.08-69.1) and alcohol drinking (2.39, 1.05-5.47) over the last four weeks, high levels of fear (2.93, 1.83-4.67) and being female (1.74, 1.15-2.65) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Perceived distress due to change of employment status (4.14, 1.39-12.4), alcohol drinking (3.64, 1.54-8.58), providing care to known or suspected cases (3.64, 1.54-8.58), being female (1.56, 1.00-2.45), being 30-59 years old (2.29, 1.21-4.35) and having medium to high levels of psychological distress (2.90, 1.82-5.62) were associated with a higher level of fear; while healthcare service use in the last four weeks was associated with medium to high resilience. Conclusions: This study identified individuals who were at higher risk of distress and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic specifically in the State of Victoria, Australia. Specific interventions to support the mental wellbeing of these individuals should be considered in addition to the existing resources within primary healthcare settings.

A descriptive study of mental health and burnout among Nigerian medical students

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110577
Author(s):  
Olatunde Olayinka Ayinde ◽  
Eniola Racheal Akinnuoye ◽  
Andrew Molodynski ◽  
Oliver Battrick ◽  
Oye Gureje
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Mental Health Conditions

Background: Increasing attention is being paid to medical students’ mental wellbeing globally due in part to their exposure to stressors inherent in medical education and the numerous reports of elevated rates of mental health conditions in this population. Aims: This study aimed to identify stressors and determine prevalence rates of psychiatric morbidity, substance use and burnout in a sample of Nigerian medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 505 medical students from 25 Nigerian medical schools completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, short version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the CAGE questionnaire and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). Result: The most commonly reported sources of stress were study (75.6%), money (52.3%) and relationships (30.1%). Nine students (1.8%) had received a mental health diagnosis prior to medical school but this number had increased to 29 (5.7%) whilst in medical school, with the majority being cases of anxiety and depressive disorders. The prevalence of psychological distress was 54.5%, but <5% of affected students had received any help for their mental health conditions. Twenty five students (5%) met criteria for problematic alcohol use and 6% had used cannabis. The proportions of students who met criteria for disengagement and exhaustion domains of the OLBI were 84.6% and 77.0% respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of psychological distress and burnout is high among medical students. Interventions for medical students’ well-being should be tailored to their needs and should target risk factors related to personal, organisational and medical school academic structure attributes.

Mental Wellbeing and Psychological Distress in the UK During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison Across Time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Knowles ◽  
Nicola Gray ◽  
Ann John ◽  
Chris O&apos;Connor ◽  
Jennifer Pink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
The Uk

A cross-sectional, face-to-face, community survey of mental health and deprivation in post-recession Ireland: a rising tide lifts all boats?

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
G. M. Sorin ◽  
C. Darker ◽  
L. Whiston ◽  
A. O’Callaghan ◽  
J. M. Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Positive Mental Health ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face

Objective To assess community mental health in suburban Dublin in 2018, 5 years after Ireland’s economic recession ended. Methods A cross-sectional, face-to-face, household survey was conducted in a random cluster sample of 351 households in Tallaght, a deprived suburb of Dublin. Results A majority of respondents (61.3%) reported stress over the previous 12 months, with a higher rate in areas of high (66.9%) compared to lower deprivation (55.5%). Deprivation was not related to rates of loneliness (20.2%), feeling depressed (20.2%), loss of interest (19.7%) or anxiety (22.5%). Mean score for positive mental health (59.3/100, with a higher score indicating better mental health) was lower than that reported in a national sample in 2007 (68/100); positive mental health was associated with not living with a person with chronic illness, self-identifying as ‘non-Irish’ and greater age. Mean score for psychological distress (76.7/100, with a higher score indicating less distress) was also lower than that in 2007 (82/100); less psychological distress was associated with not living with a person with chronic illness or disability, greater age and identifying as non-Irish. The rate of ‘probable mental illness’ over the previous 4 weeks (13.1%) was higher than in 2007 (7%). Conclusions Our findings emphasise the high prevalence of stress, especially in deprived suburban areas; the centrality of carer burden in determining mental wellbeing; and associations between positive mental health on the one hand and greater age and identifying as non-Irish on the other.

scholarly journals Mixed Reality Technology as a Delivery Mechanism for Psychological Intervention in Adolescents With Asthma: A Qualitative Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110083
Author(s):  
Kelsey Sharrad ◽  
Zoe Kopsaftis ◽  
Andrew Tai ◽  
Nicola Spurrier ◽  
Ross Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Asthma Management ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Asthma Prevalence ◽  
Evidence Based

Australia has one of the highest asthma prevalence rates in the world, with this chronic and debilitating condition affecting one in nine people. The health and mental wellbeing of young people with asthma are worse than not only their peers without asthma but also worse than that of people with asthma at other ages. Psychological interventions could be beneficial in treating symptoms of elevated psychological distress in patients with asthma. However, evidence suggests that engagement with mental health services is low in this population. Technology-based solutions that engage youth may overcome barriers to service uptake for both mental health and asthma management. To fast-track the successful translation of evidence-based treatment into practice, interactive, mixed-reality technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and holographic technology may provide a novel, low-cost solution, yet to date, methodological rigor in the evaluation of mixed reality for this purpose is lacking. To evaluate the perceived usability and acceptability of these technologies, mixed reality tools will be developed by the author team to deliver a component of a psychological intervention for treatment of elevated psychological distress among young people with asthma. Qualitative research will be conducted through one-on-one interviews with young people with asthma, parents/caregivers of young people with asthma, and with health professionals, during which participants will have time to interact with the resources. Moderator guides will be used to direct interviews, and will be supplemented with a questionnaire, including Likert-type measures of usability and acceptability to facilitate triangulation of data. Understanding and data obtained through this study will be used to develop version 2.0 mixed reality tools, which will be tested for feasibility in a RCT. Improving access to and uptake of evidence-based treatments for elevated psychological distress in young people with asthma may reduce the burden of this highly prevalent disease.

scholarly journals Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers in Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 400-406
Author(s):  
Okechukwu B. Anozie ◽  
Johnbosco I. Nwafor ◽  
Ephraim I. Nwokporo ◽  
Chidi U. Esike ◽  
Richard L. Ewah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcome ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Mental Health Outcome ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
The Impact

Background: Globally, mental health issues have become one of the predominant public health concerns as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of frontline healthcare workers has not been fully described in Nigeria. Aim: To determine the mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among frontline healthcare workers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: This was an online cross-sectional study conducted among 315 frontline healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The mental health outcome of the participants was assessed using the short form of the Mental Health Continuum (MHC-SF). Results: The prevalence of mental health outcome for different categories was 47% (n = 148) for flourishing, 28.3% (n = 89) for moderate and 24.7% (n = 78) for languishing mental health. The predictors of languishing mental health outcome were being married (OR = 3.12, 95%CI 1.67 - 4.09, p = 0.035), a physician (OR = 4.09, 95%CI 1.98 - 5.61, p = 0.002), a nurse (OR = 2.21, 95%CI 0.05 - 0.24, p < 0.001), limited access to personal protective equipment (OR = 3.25, 95%CI 1.62 - 6.22, p = 0.043) and self-isolation and quarantine due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 3.03, 95%CI 0.02 - 0.95, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Nigeria’s frontline healthcare workers, especially physicians and nurses, are experiencing COVID-19 related psychological distress. There is need to develop and implement interventions to reduce the impact of prolonged psychological distress on long-term mental wellbeing in healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aziz Rahman ◽  
Nazmul Hoque ◽  
Sheikh M Alif ◽  
Masudus Salehin ◽  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Distress Scale

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the personal, professional and social life of Australians with some people more impacted than others. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.Methods: This cross-sectional online survey was conducted among residents in Australia, including patients, frontline health and other essential service workers, and community members during Jun-2020. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the extent of psychological distress, level of fear and coping strategies while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Among 587 participants, the majority (391, 73.2%) were 30-59 years old and female (363, 61.8%). More than half (349, 59.5%) were born outside Australia and two-third (418, 71.5%) completed at least a Bachelor’s degree. The majority (401, 71.5%) had a source of income, 243 (42.3%) self-identified as a frontline worker, and 335 (58.9%) reported financial impact due to COVID-19. Comorbidities such as pre-existing mental health conditions (AOR 3.13, 95% CIs 1.12-8.75), increased smoking (8.66, 1.08-69.1) and alcohol drinking (2.39, 1.05-5.47) over the last four weeks, high levels of fear (2.93, 1.83-4.67) and being female (1.74, 1.15-2.65) were associated with a higher levels of psychological distress. Perceived distress due to change of employment status (4.14, 1.39-12.4), alcohol drinking (3.64, 1.54-8.58), providing care to known or suspected cases (3.64, 1.54-8.58), being female (1.56, 1.00-2.45), being 30-59 years old (2.29, 1.21-4.35) and having medium to high levels of psychological distress (2.90, 1.82-5.62) were associated with a higher level of fear; while healthcare service use in the last four weeks was associated with medium to high resilience. Conclusions: This study identified individuals who were at higher risk of distress and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Australia. Specific interventions to support the mental wellbeing of these individuals should be considered in addition to the existing resources within primary healthcare settings.

scholarly journals Psychological distress, fear and coping among Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257304
Author(s):  
Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni ◽  
Shalimar Abdullah ◽  
Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah ◽  
Mohammed Shahjahan Kabir ◽  
Sheikh M. Alif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Suspected Case ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Distress Scale ◽  
The Impact

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has enormously affected the psychological well-being, social and working life of millions of people across the world. This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress, fear and coping strategies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among Malaysian residents. Methods Participants were invited to an online cross-sectional survey from Aug-Sep 2020. The study assessed psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, level of fear using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders. Results The mean age (±SD) of the participants (N = 720) was 31.7 (±11.5) years, and most of them were females (67.1%). Half of the participants had an income source, while 216 (30%) identified themselves as frontline health or essential service workers. People whose financial situation was impacted due to COVID-19 (AOR 2.16, 95% CIs 1.54–3.03), people who drank alcohol in the last four weeks (3.43, 1.45–8.10), people who were a patient (2.02, 1.39–2.93), and had higher levels of fear of COVID-19 (2.55, 1.70–3.80) were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress. Participants who self-isolated due to exposure to COVID-19 (3.12, 1.04–9.32) and who had moderate to very high levels of psychological distress (2.56, 1.71–3.83) had higher levels of fear. Participants who provided care to a family member/patient with a suspected case of COVID-19 were more likely to be moderately to highly resilient compared to those who did not. Conclusion Vulnerable groups of individuals such as patients and those impacted financially during COVID-19 should be supported for their mental wellbeing. Behavioural interventions should be targeted to reduce the impact of alcohol drinking during such crisis period.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document