scholarly journals Psychological Stressors Predicting Increased Drinking During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Longitudinal National Survey Study of Workers in Finland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atte Oksanen ◽  
Iina Savolainen ◽  
Nina Savela ◽  
Reetta Oksa
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Cyberbullying Victimization ◽  
Psychological Stressors ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Aims The global crisis caused by the outbreak of a novel coronavirus rapidly increased working remotely in many countries. The aim of this study was to analyze psychological stressors predicting increased drinking during the COVID-19 crisis. Also, individual and socio-demographic differences were analyzed. Methods A nationally representative sample of Finnish workers (N = 1308) was collected before the crisis in September–October 2019 and 82.02% of them responded to a follow-up survey conducted in March–April 2020. Increased drinking was the outcome variable and it was measured with the AUDIT-C before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Predictors measured before the crisis included cyberbullying victimization at work, psychological distress, burnout and work climate. Additional measures included personality factors, socio-demographic factors and occupational information. Results One-fourth of Finnish workers (25.37%) reported increased drinking during the COVID-19 crisis. Cyberbullying victimization at work and psychological distress before the crisis predicted increased drinking during the crisis. Conscientious workers and those working in educational and health and welfare sectors were less likely to increase drinking, while increased drinking was most common among workers under 30 years of age. Conclusions Psychological stressors are risk factors for increased drinking in unusual times such as the COVID-19 crisis. Cyberbullying victimization at work and psychological distress were found as major risk factors. The results suggest that preventive work should be done at workplaces. This is particularly important if alcohol consumption is used as a means of coping during a stressful time.

Psychological stressors predicting increased hazardous drinking during the COVID-19 crisis: A longitudinal national survey study of workers in Finland (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atte Oksanen ◽  
Iina Savolainen ◽  
Nina Savela ◽  
Reetta Oksa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Hazardous Drinking ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Cyberbullying Victimization ◽  
Psychological Stressors

BACKGROUND The global crisis caused by the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapidly increased working remotely in many countries. Hazardous drinking during lockdown has caused worry among experts and increased consumption might be more prevalent among workers facing mental health risks prior to the crisis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze increased hazardous drinking during the COVID-19 crisis. The analysis focused on investigating whether mental health risks such as cyberbullying victimization at work, burnout and psychological distress experienced prior to the crisis predicted increased hazardous drinking during the crisis. We also investigated individual and socio-demographic differences in increased hazardous drinking during the COVID-19 crisis. METHODS A nationally representative sample of Finnish workers (N = 1,308) was collected before the crisis in September–August 2019 and 82.02% of them responded to a follow-up survey conducted in March–April 2020. Increased hazardous drinking was the outcome variable and it was measured with the AUDIT-C before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Predictors included cyberbullying victimization at work, psychological distress, burnout, work climate, and personality factors. Number of socio-demographic factors including occupational information were also investigated. RESULTS Approximately one fourth of Finnish workers (25.37%) reported increased hazardous drinking during the COVID-19 crisis. Cyberbullying victimization at work and psychological distress before the crisis predicted increased hazardous drinking during the crisis. Conscientious workers and those working in educational and health and welfare sectors were less likely to increase hazardous drinking, while increased hazardous drinking was most common among workers under 30 years of age. CONCLUSIONS Psychological stressors are risk factors for hazardous drinking in unusual times such as the COVID-19 crisis. Cyberbullying victimization at work and psychological distress were found as major risk factors. The results suggest that preventive work should be done at workplaces. This is particularly important if alcohol consumption is used as a means of coping during a stressful time, as increased alcohol drinking for the purpose of coping may persist even after the stressor is gone.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Anxiety—A Longitudinal Survey Study of Psychological and Situational Risks among Finnish Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 794
Author(s):  
Iina Savolainen ◽  
Reetta Oksa ◽  
Nina Savela ◽  
Magdalena Celuch ◽  
Atte Oksanen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Recent Change ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Work Culture ◽  
Work Community ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Situational Predictors ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

Background: The COVID-19 crisis has changed the conditions of many all over the globe. One negative consequence of the ongoing pandemic is anxiety brought about by uncertainty and the COVID-19 disease. Increased anxiety is a potential risk factor for wellbeing at work. This study investigated psychological, situational, and socio-demographic predictors of COVID-19 anxiety using longitudinal data. Methods: A nationally representative sample of Finnish workers (N = 1308) was collected before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Eighty percent of the participants responded to the follow-up study (N = 1044). COVID-19 anxiety was measured with a modified Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Psychological and situational predictors included perceived loneliness, psychological distress, technostress, personality, social support received from the work community, and remote working. A number of socio-demographic factors were also investigated. Results: Perceived loneliness, psychological distress, technostress, and neuroticism were identified as robust psychological predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. Increase in psychological distress and technostress during the COVID-19 crisis predicted higher COVID-19 anxiety. A recent change in their field of work and decreased social support from work communities predicted COVID-19 anxiety. Women and young people experienced higher anxiety. Conclusions: Different factors explain workers’ COVID-19 anxiety. Increased anxiety can disrupt wellbeing at work, emphasizing the organizations’ role in maintaining an inclusive and caring work culture and providing technical and psychological support to workers during crisis.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Anxiety – A Longitudinal Survey Study of Psychological and Situational Risks among Finnish Workers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iina Savolainen ◽  
Reetta Oksa ◽  
Nina Savela ◽  
Magdalena Celuch ◽  
Atte Oksanen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Recent Change ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Work Culture ◽  
Work Community ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Situational Predictors ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

Background: COVID-19 crisis has changed the conditions of many throughout the globe. One negative consequence of the on-going pandemic is anxiety brought by uncertainty and the COVID-19 disease. Increased anxiety is a potential risk factor for wellbeing at work. This study investigated psychological, situational, and socio-demographic predictors of COVID-19 anxiety using longitudinal data. Methods: Nationally representative sample of Finnish workers (N = 1308) was collected before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Eighty percent of the participants responded to the follow-up study (N=1044). COVID-19 anxiety was measured with a modified Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Psychological and situational predictors included perceived loneliness, psychological distress, technostress, personality, social support received from work community, and remote working. Also, number of socio-demographic factors were investigated. Results: Perceived loneliness, psychological distress, technostress, and neuroticism were identified as robust psychological predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. Increase in psychological distress and technostress during the COVID-19 crisis predicted higher COVID-19 anxiety. Recent change in work field and decreased social support from work community predicted COVID-19 anxiety. Women and young people experienced higher anxiety. Conclusions: Different factors explain workers’ COVID-19 anxiety. Increased anxiety can disrupt wellbeing at work, emphasizing organizations’ role in maintaining an inclusive and caring work culture and providing technical and psychological support to workers during crisis.

Consumption of carbonated soft drinks among Ghanaian adolescents: associations with socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress

2021 ◽  
pp. 026010602199693
Author(s):  
Prince Atorkey ◽  
Mariam Akwei ◽  
Winifred Asare-Doku
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Soft Drink ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Health Risk Factors ◽  
Soft Drink Consumption ◽  
Carbonated Soft Drinks ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Carbonated soft drinks consumption is associated with weight gain and other chronic diseases. Aim: To examine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with carbonated soft drink consumption among adolescents in selected senior high schools in Ghana. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Participants consisted of 1756 school-going adolescents sampled using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress were associated with consumption of soft drinks. Results: The prevalence of carbonated soft drinks consumption was 34.9%. Males (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59–0.92); p = 0.007), and participants with high socio-economic status (OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.48–0.97); p = 0.033) had smaller odds for consumption of soft drinks. Also, adolescents in Senior High School (SHS) 3 (OR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.53–0.97); p = 0.034) and SHS 4 (OR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.91); p = 0.014) had smaller odds for soft drinks intake compared to those in SHS 1. Health risk factors associated with greater odds of high soft drink consumption were tobacco use (OR = 1.68, (95% CI 1.07–2.65); p = 0.025), fast food consumption (OR = 1.88, (95% CI 1.47–2.41); p = 0.011) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.43, (95% CI 1.02–1.99); p = 0.039). Consuming adequate fruit (OR = 0.19 (95% CI 0.15–0.24); p = 0.000) and adequate vegetable (OR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.34–0.87); p = 0.011) were associated with lower odds for soft drink consumption. Adolescents who reported feeling anxious had smaller odds for soft drink intake (OR = 0.65, (95% CI 0.47–0.91); p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings from this study show that socio-demographic characteristics, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with the soft drink consumption among adolescents in Ghana. Interventions aimed at reducing soft drink consumption and other health risk factors are needed.

scholarly journals Acute and longer-term psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19: longitudinal evidence from a population-based study of US adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Daly ◽  
Eric Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has produced a considerable public health burden but the impact that contracting the disease has on mental health is unclear. In this observational population-based cohort study, we examined longitudinal changes in psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19.MethodsParticipants (N = 8,002; Observations = 139,035) were drawn from 23 waves of the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative survey of American adults followed-up every two weeks from April 1 2020 to February 15 2021. Psychological distress was assessed using the standardized total score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).ResultsOver the course of the study 576 participants reported testing positive for COVID-19. Using regression analysis including individual and time fixed effects we found that psychological distress increased by 0.29 standard deviations (p <.001) during the two-week period when participants first tested positive for COVID-19. Distress levels remained significantly elevated (d = 0.16, p <.01) for a further two weeks, before returning to baseline levels. Coronavirus symptom severity explained changes in distress attributable to COVID-19, whereby distress was more pronounced among those whose symptoms were more severe and were slower to subside.ConclusionsThis study indicates that testing positive for COVID-19 is associated with an initial increase in psychological distress that diminishes quickly as symptoms subside. While COVID-19 may not produce lasting psychological distress among the majority of the general population it remains possible that a minority may suffer longer-term mental health consequences.

Dataset: Does loneliness, self-esteem and psychological distress correlate with problematic internet use? A Bangladeshi survey study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Mamun ◽  
Sharif Hossain ◽  
Mst. Sabrina Moonajilin ◽  
Mohammed Tanvir Masud ◽  
Jannatul Mawa Misti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Researchers have claimed that problematic internet use (PIU) and internet addiction (IA) is a global mental health problem. However, little research has addressed this issue in Bangladesh and no previous study has examined the relationship between PIU and potential psychological risk factors.Aim: The present study examined the prevalence of PIU and its associated risk factors including socio-demographic variables, internet use behaviors, and other psychological variables including loneliness, self-esteem, and psychological distress.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Bangladeshi students (N = 605). Measures included the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Rosenberg's SelfEsteem Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire.Results: Using a cut-off score of ≤60 (out of 100) on the IAT, the prevalence of PIU was 16.5% (n = 100). Regression analysis showed that sleep disturbance (more or less than 6-7 hours sleeping time), not using internet for academic purposes, and online chatting were risk factors for PIU. Loneliness and psychological distress were positively correlated with PIU, whereas self-esteem was negatively correlated.Conclusions: The present study highlights that PIU among Bangladeshi university students is an issue of concern and that targeted prevention is needed among emergingadults to help overcome the potentially negative effects of problematic internet use.

scholarly journals Psychological distress and quality of life: rationale and protocol of a prospective cohort study in a rural district in Bangaladesh

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e016745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Nazim Uddin ◽  
Sunil Bhar ◽  
Abdullah Al Mahmud ◽  
Fakir M Amirul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Human Ethics ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

IntroductionA significant proportion of the global burden of disease has been attributed to mental and behavioural disorders. People with mental disorders (MDs) have lower levels of health-related quality of life than those without MDs. Several studies have shown that in low-resource countries, a range of social determinants including poor health literacy is critical in the epidemiological transition of disease outcome. There is a lack of evidence of MDs literacy, the prevalence and risk factors of common mental health conditions, or any validated instruments to measure psychological distress or evaluate the quality of life in rural areas of Bangladesh.AimsThe aims of this study are: (1) report the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) of MDs; (2) estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for psychological distress; (3) measure association of psychological distress and other socio-demographic factors with quality of life and (4) test the feasibility to use Kessler 10-item (K10) and WHO Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires in rural Bangladesh for measuring psychological distress and quality of life.Methods and analysisA sample of 1500 adults aged 18–59 years and 1200 older adults aged 60–90 years will be interviewed from a multistage cluster random sample. Each participant will go through a face-to-face interview to assess their awareness and KAP of MDs. Information about the participant’s sociodemographic and socioeconomic status will be collected along with the psychological distress (K10) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. Internal consistency, validity, reliability and item discrimination of K10 and WHOQOL-BREF instruments will be determined by using Rasch analysis and regression techniques.Ethics and disseminationHuman Ethics Approval was received from the Swinburne University of Technology Human Ethics Committee. Results of this research will be disseminated via scientific forums including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

Associations Between Dutch LGBT Hate Crime Experience, Well-Being, Trust in the Police and Future Hate Crime Reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-182
Author(s):  
Allard R. Feddes ◽  
Kai J. Jonas
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Hate Crime ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Crime Victims ◽  
Crime Reporting ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Reporting Intentions

Abstract. LGBT-related hate crime is a conscious act of aggression against an LGBT citizen. The present research investigates associations between hate crime, psychological well-being, trust in the police and intentions to report future experiences of hate crime. A survey study was conducted among 391 LGBT respondents in the Netherlands. Sixteen percent experienced hate crime in the 12 months prior. Compared to non-victims, victims had significant lower psychological well-being, lower trust in the police and lower intentions to report future hate crime. Hate crime experience and lower psychological well-being were associated with lower reporting intentions through lower trust in the police. Helping hate crime victims cope with psychological distress in combination with building trust in the police could positively influence future reporting.

Potential of Selected Indian Herbs for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 06 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra Verma ◽  
Vaibhav Misra ◽  
Dileep Tiwari ◽  
Prakash S. Bisen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Withania Somnifera ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Tinospora Cordifolia ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
First Case ◽  
Ocimum Tenuiflorum ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction: Many environmental risk factors are associated with some form of chronic inflammation. The spread of COVID-19 across the world has impacted every one of us. The first case of coronavirus was reported on 30 January 2020 in India originating from China. Study Area: India has a tremendous capacity to deal with the coronavirus outbreak because of its high immunity and climatic conditions. Maintaining social distancing and hand washing is not a sufficient step for preventing COVID-19. Indian system of traditional medicine has a potential worth to enhance immunity, which can resist a novel coronavirus. Material & Methods: A detailed study was carried out by analyzing national and international scientific databases (PubMed, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science, Mendeley), thesis, and recognized books. Only Indian herbs with high immunity resistant power were analyzed. Epidemiologic studies with information on COVID-19 risk factors and precautions also considered for study purposes. Results: Some herbs like Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi), Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice), Curcuma domestica Vahl (Turmeric), Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy), Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Cinnamon (Dalchini), Shoot of Triticumaestivum Linn. (Wheatgrass), Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), can help in boosting immunity for COVID-19 disease. Discussion: Despite the shreds of evidence for the efficacy of these herbs in treating coronavirus induced infections; the proper dose with ideal timing for such interventions needs to verify in clinical trials. Researchers must have to take the privilege to explore the potential of herbs to reduce such epidemics of environmental threats.

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