scholarly journals Effects of covid-19 on cognitive functioning

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Kovacic ◽  
D Lavtar

Abstract We were interested in whether the covid-19 pandemic affects cognitive functioning in addition to emotional responses. To this end, we applied four questions related to everyday activities that inevitably involve fluid cognitive abilities, e.g., problems concentrating, remembering, and switching between different mental activities. Respondents self-assessed their cognitive abilities during the covid-19 pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic on a 7-point scale (1 - much easier than before, .. 4 - the same as earlier, .. and 7 - much harder than before). The results showed that, on average, respondents estimated slightly more cognitive problems during the covid-19 pandemic period than before the pandemic (4.21, where 4 means that the respondent does not notice changes). Nearly three-quarters of the respondents(72%) did not report changes in cognitive abilities. In comparison, 7% reported improved cognitive abilities, and as many as 21% of respondents self-assessed that their cognitive abilities deteriorated during the covid-19 pandemic. There were no differences between men and women in terms of self-assessment of cognitive abilities. More significant problems with their cognitive abilities during covid-19 pandemic reported younger as compared to older respondents, students as compared to other employment groups, less educated as compared to more educated, those living alone as compared to those living in the family, those whose financial situation had deteriorated, and, as expected, those with chronic illnesses, and those who also reported depressive and mental health symptoms. The results of the survey indicate the interdependence between different demographic factors, mood and mental health problems, and self-assessed changes in cognition. Therefore, interventions to mitigate the covid-19 pandemic should include peoples' emotional response and their cognitive problems.

Author(s):  
Herbert E. Ainamani ◽  
Godfrey Z. Rukundo ◽  
Timothy Nduhukire ◽  
Eunice Ndyareba ◽  
Tobias Hecker

Abstract Background Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda. Methods A sample of 232 school-going children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.03 (SD = 3.25) was assessed on multiple forms of maltreatment using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology Exposure—Pediatric Version (pediMACE). Executive functions were assessed by the Tower of London task and working memory by the Corsi Block Tapping task, while mental health problems were assessed using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for PTSD and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Results In total, 232 (100%) of the participant reported to have experienced at least one type of maltreatment in their lifetime including emotional, physical, and sexual violence as well as neglect. We found a negative association between child maltreatment and executive functions (β = − 0.487, p < 0.001) and working memory (β = − 0.242, p = 0.001). Mental health problems did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions Child maltreatment seems to be related to lower working memory and executive functioning of affected children and adolescents even after controlling for potential cofounders. Our study indicates that child maltreatment the affects children’s cognitive functionality beyond health and well-being.


2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262097436
Author(s):  
Alice Y. Hua ◽  
Jenna L. Wells ◽  
Casey L. Brown ◽  
Robert W. Levenson

Caregiving for a person with dementia or neurodegenerative disease is associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety. As the population ages and dementia prevalence increases worldwide, mental health problems related to dementia caregiving will become an even more pressing public health concern. In the present study, we assessed emotional empathy (physiological, behavioral, and self-reported emotional responses to a film depicting others suffering) and two measures of cognitive empathy (identifying the primary emotion experienced by another person and providing continuous ratings of the valence of another person’s changing emotions) in relation to mental health (standard questionnaires) in 78 caregivers of people with dementia or neurodegenerative disease. Greater emotional empathy (self-reported emotional responses) was associated with worse mental health even after accounting for known risk factors. Neither measure of cognitive empathy was associated with mental health. A relationship between high levels of emotional empathy and poor mental health in caregivers suggests possible risk indicators and intervention targets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Fatma N. Kotb

Context: Schizophrenia is one of the perilous mental health problems. It hinders the patient’s capability of thinking clearly, making life decisions, managing their emotions, and building healthy relationships. Aim: This study aimed to explore the relationship between social cognition and sense of belonging among institutionalized schizophrenic patients. Methods: The study used a descriptive research design to achieve the aim of this study. This research carried out in the inpatient unit of Minia Hospital for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment. A convenient sample of 100 institutionalized schizophrenic patients recruited in the current study. Three tools used to collect data of this study include socio-demographic and medical data questionnaire, Observable Social Cognition Rating Scale, and Sense of Belonging scale. Results: The main findings of this study revealed that more than three fourth of schizophrenic patients had low levels of social cognition, and sense of belonging. There was a significant positive relationship between social cognition and sense of belonging of institutionalized schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: The current study concluded that institutionalized schizophrenic patients have a positive connection between their social cognition and a sense of belonging. Recommendations: The study recommended that, schizophrenic patient in a very high need for psycho-educational program for improving their cognitive abilities, which will improve their social cognition and interaction with others and enhance their sense of belonging.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert E Ainamani ◽  
Godfrey Z Rukundo ◽  
Timothy Nduhukire ◽  
Eunice Ndyareba ◽  
Tobias Hecker

Abstract Background: Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda. Methods: A sample of 232 school-going children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.03 (SD = 3.25) was assessed on multiple forms of maltreatment using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology Exposure – Pediatric Version (pediMACE). Executive functions were assessed by the Tower of London task and working memory by the Corsi Block Tapping task, while mental health problems were assessed using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for PTSD and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC).Results: In total, 232(100%) of the participant reported to have experienced at least one type of maltreatment in their lifetime ranging from having been intentionally pushed by an authority figure (89.7%, n = 208) to entering an object in the participant’s body (2.6%, n =6). We found a negative association between child maltreatment and executive functions (β = -0.487, p < .001) and working memory (β = -0.242, p = .001). Mental health problems did not mediate this relationship.Conclusions: Child maltreatment seems to be related to lower working memory and executive functioning of affected children and adolescents even after controlling for potential cofounders. Our study indicates that child maltreatment affects children’s cognitive functionality beyond health and well-being.


Author(s):  
Harriette C. Johnson ◽  
David E. Cournoyer ◽  
Betsy M. Bond

Concerns of parents of children with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems with respect to the behavior and attitudes they encounter from professionals coincide with concerns professionals have about their own behavior as set forth in professional codes of ethics. Thirty-four experts on professional ethics evaluated items on a behavioral questionnaire. Parents then used the questionnaire to rate professionals who had worked with the mental health problems of their children. Problem areas identified included informed consent, parent self-determination, and respect and compassion for parents.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Huang ◽  
David Collier ◽  
Tao Li

AbstractThe goals, prospects and methods of the Prospective Twin Registry in Southwestern China (TRiSC) are described. The aim of this study is to measure children's behavioral development and psychopathology from phenotypic, genetic and environmental perspectives. It focuses on measuring children's behavior and psychopathology from child self-reports, as well as parental and teacher informant reports, and relating it to the children's general cognitive abilities, and to the parenting style in the family. Other variables of interest such as children's temperament and parental health status are discussed, as well as plans for further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-42
Author(s):  
Ziwei Zhang

College Students’ mental health education has become the focus of the whole society, which affects the family and society, and is related to the growth of college students, family happiness and social harmony. In view of the mental health problems of college students, the article is based on the aspects of college students themselves, families, colleges and society, to explore the causes of the problems and make a verification analysis. Through strengthening college students’ self-awareness, improving the content and methods of family education, improving the mechanism of College Psychological education, and purifying the public opinion environment, it promotes the development of College Students’ mental health, and then cultivates a socialist society in China qualified builders of modernization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-245
Author(s):  
Nursel AKMAZ ◽  
Hacer ÖRSDEMİR HORTU ◽  
Kayı ELİAÇIK ◽  
Yavuz DEMİRÇELİK ◽  
Özlem ÜZÜM ◽  
...  

Chest pain is highly prevalent in adolescence, represents a considerable burden for health services, and rarely associated with cardiac disease. Since psychosocial factors are related to chest pain there is a need for exploring the accompanying family functioning and mental health problems in adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain. Here, we assessed these determinants in 68 adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain and 68 age and-sex matched control participants using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 for a brief screening for anxiety and depression and the Family APGAR Scale to assess the perception of family functioning. Adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain reported more depression, anxiety and experienced impaired family functioning (p=0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001). The results indicated that non-cardiac chest pain is a warning sign of an underlying mental health problem with accompanying family issues and it deserves further psychosocial investigation including anxiety, depression, and impaired satisfaction of the adolescents’ family’s responsiveness.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document