scholarly journals Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19

Author(s):  
Sung S Park

Abstract Objectives This study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year). Methods Data from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized. Results Adults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions. Discussion Efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 989-989
Author(s):  
Rivera R ◽  
Carballea D ◽  
Ardila A

Abstract Objective The purpose of this systematic review was to examine how emodiversity affects mental and physical health. Emodiversity has been described as an integral component of the human emotional ecosystem that can serve as a predictor for mental and physical health. Data Selection This review was conducted using the following databases: Taylor & Francis, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Central. Inclusion criteria consisted of peer-reviewed articles published in English between the years of 2011–2019. Keywords for the search included emodiversity, emotional diversity, emotion, neuroscience, physical health, and mental health. A total number of 20 articles were reviewed and 8 articles were retained. Data Synthesis Research indicated that lack of differentiated emotional experiences, specifically the continuity of negative emotional states, stimulates inflammatory responses that are associated with negative moods and traits, such as depression and anxiety. Furthermore, heightened systemic inflammation has been associated with poor health conditions, such as Type II Diabetes, insulin resistance, rheumatoid disease, and oxidative stress. On the other hand, the presence of differentiation in emotions may lead to adaptive coping and adjustment. Emodiversity is also considered a predictor of habits that may contribute positively to physical health, such as healthy diets, regular exercise, and refraining from smoking. Conclusion Articles reviewed suggest that emodiversity is a fundamental criterion for evaluating the human emotional ecosystem. Reviewed literature showed that the absence of emodiversity may be related to different mental health conditions and physical illnesses. Studies have shown that diverse emotional experiences are beneficial for mental and physical health.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumiko Kamiya ◽  
Virpi Timonen ◽  
Rose Anne Kenny

ABSTRACTBackground:The aim of this study is to examine the long-term association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and mental and physical health, especially with conditions related to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysfunction such as mood disorders, cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, pain disorders, and measures of frailty and functional mobility. In addition, we examined the impact of CSA on self-reported health and healthcare utilization.Methods:Data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing were employed (N = 8,178). The effects of CSA on mental health, physical health, and healthcare utilization in old age population were estimated by ordinal least square, logistic regression, and Poisson regression, controlling for demographic factors, childhood adversities, and behavioral health.Results:Six percent of respondents reported CSA with little variation by gender. A significant association was found between CSA and mental health. Those who reported CSA were more likely to have depression, anxiety, worry, loneliness, and low quality of life. Poor self-reported health, lung disease, arthritis, peptic ulcer, chronic pain as well as high levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were associated with CSA. Further, those who reported CSA were more likely to report doctor and hospital visits than those without a history of CSA.Conclusions:Findings from the present study show that CSA has significant long-term mental and physical consequences, whereby early life events are linked to later life health outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
S. Tomassi ◽  
M. Ruggeri

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Hammarström ◽  
Pekka Virtanen

Background and aim: Referring to the ecosocial theory and utilising the ‘natural experiment’ setting provided by the global recession at the beginning of 1990s, the aim of our study was to analyse the short- and long-term associations between trade and mental health in young students followed until mid-adulthood. Method: The study was based on two prospective cohort studies, the older and the younger Northern Swedish Cohort which both consisted of all pupils in a middle-sized industrial town in Northern Sweden. At age 21, the younger cohort entered the labour market during the deep recession of the early 1990s, while the older cohort entered the labour market during the boom of the 1980s. Both cohorts were followed up with a high response rate in mid adulthood. For this study, all students were selected at age 21. Results: At age 21, those who studied during recession had more depressive and functional somatic symptoms than those who studied during boom. The cohort differences did not remain over age: by the follow-up in early middle age the differences between the cohorts were non-significant, most notably due to decreased depressive symptoms in the younger cohort and increase of functional somatic symptoms in the older cohort. Conclusions: The short-term mental health consequences of the business cycle seem to be more extensive than limited only to those who are unemployed, even though the possible long-term consequences seem to be more complex. Thus, the macrolevel had a great short-term impact on the individual level in relation to the microlevel setting of university/school. The chronosystem was also of major importance. Future research would benefit from taking the context into account.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L. Currie ◽  
Richard Larouche ◽  
M. Lauren Voss ◽  
Erin K. Higa ◽  
Rae Spiwak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background COVID-19 has resulted in an increased demand for eHealth services globally. There is emerging evidence for the efficacy for group eHealth interventions that support population-based mental health and wellbeing, but a systematic review is lacking. The primary objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence for eHealth group counseling and coaching programs for adults. A second objective is to assess, within studies selected for our primary objective, the impact of programs that encourage PA on outcomes compared to those that do not. Methods Randomized controlled trials that assess the impact of eHealth group counseling or coaching programs on mental health, health behavior, or physical health activity among community-dwelling adults will be included. We will search the following electronic databases (from January 2005 onwards): MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, and the Central Register of Controlled Trials. The primary outcomes will be changes in mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life), behavioral health conditions (e.g., substance use, smoking, sexual behavior, eating behavior, medication adherence), and physical health conditions (e.g., coping with cancer, menopausal symptoms, arthritis pain). Secondary outcomes will be changes in physical activity. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis will be conducted. The strength of the body of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. The risk of bias in individual studies will be appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Potential sources of gender bias in included studies will be considered at all stages of the planned review. Discussion This review will contribute to the literature by providing evidence on the effectiveness of eHealth counseling and coaching programs delivered to adults in a group format. Systematic review registration The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42020187551).


Author(s):  
Adam G Gavarkovs

The link between physical inactivity and poor health outcomes is well established. Older adults are especially at risk for many health conditions, and are one of the most inactive populations in Canada. Increasing levels of neighbourhood greenness has shown a positive relationship with walking and exercise behaviours, which in turn affects both mental and physical health. Currently in Ontario, the provincial Planning Act outlines the process of parkland dedication that individual municipalities are responsible for carrying out. This policy brief will discuss the inadequacies of the current system in effectively creating greenspace for older adults, and will propose several recommendations to resolve these issues.


Author(s):  
Allison Dunne ◽  
Steve Haake ◽  
Helen Quirk ◽  
Alice Bullas

Participation in regular physical activity is a well-established strategy to support good mental wellbeing in adults with, and without, mental health conditions. The physical activity initiative parkrun is a free, weekly, timed, running and walking event which is attended by people from the local community of all abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mental wellbeing of UK parkrun participants along with their motives for taking part and the impact of participation. Mental health conditions were self-reported in 2.5% of 60,000 respondents to an online survey of parkrunners, with the most prevalent being depression and anxiety. Those with mental health conditions were more motivated than those without to first participate in parkrun to manage their health conditions and improve their mental health. Those with mental health conditions were equally motivated to improve their physical health when compared to those without, and reported similar levels of improvement. Mental wellbeing scores for those with mental health conditions were close to the normal range, suggesting that engagement in parkrun may have had a role in limiting the effect of their illness. Community initiatives could replicate parkrun’s model, and use the potential for both mental and physical health improvement, as well as health condition management, as a motivation for participation.


QUADERNI ACP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
Teresa Di Fiore ◽  
Teresa Galanti ◽  
Gloria Guidetti ◽  
Daniela Marchetti ◽  
Paola Roma ◽  
...  

Objectives: to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemicon parenting in families with pediatric age childrenand examine how parental burnout can be influenced by the presence of one or more children with certified diagnosis of full-blown physical or psychological-psychiatric pathology. Methods: the sample consisted of 970 parents with pediatric age children who were administered a questionnaire on parental burnout. Results: mothers have a higher level of burnout. A significant main effect emerged with respect to the parents’ work: manual workers have higher burnout levels during quarantine. The presence of children with a certified diagnosis is a predictor of parental burnout. Conclusions: the primary pediatrician should care of potentially risky situations that undermine children mental and physical health, especially by supervising the decline of parental care both in families with cases of manifest pathology and in those in good health conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Kedar Bahadur Rayamajhi

Stress is the mental phenomenon; caused from the various environmental factors. The main aim of this study is to explore relationship between the role-stress and mental health of government officer working under the different ministries of Nepal. The study was conducted among the 284 government officers comprising level I to III. Standard structured questionnaires were used to measure the role-stress and mental health. The study found that there was no significant difference between position regarding the impact of organizational role stress on their mental and physical health. There was no significant difference found between the class I and III at P = 1.000 followed by class I and II at P = 1.000 and class III and class II at P = 1.000. Data shows that perception of mental and physical health has no different on the basis of their position and job roles. The study observed that there is relationship between the role-stress and mental health. If role stress increased then it negatively effect in mental health. Government employee reported the effect of role stress in their daily life but study has not found the serious effect of role stress in mental health of employees because of their practices of coping mechanism. So, there is need to explore their coping mechanism to manage the stress.  Journal of Advanced Academic Research Vol. 3, No. 2, 2016, Page: 40-54


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 731-731
Author(s):  
Judith Scott ◽  
Sara Qualls ◽  
Stacy Yun

Abstract Indirect effects of stay-at-home guidelines may negatively affect mental health by reducing health self-care behaviors and engagement in social participation. This study reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults’ perceived physical and mental health and everyday health behaviors. 126 older adults participated in a county-wide telephone survey during June-July of 2020, asking about changes in mental and physical health, and adaptations in health behaviors. We investigated the effects of three negative everyday health behavior changes during the pandemic (changes in health services access, perceived changes in health, and increased social isolation) as well as two positive everyday health behaviors (adherence to stay-at-home guidelines to reduce risk, and adaptive coping activities) on mental health and COVID-related distress. Examples of active coping strategies were stockpiling resources, spiritual practices, or outreach to others. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regressions characterized the impact of COVID-19 on perceived mental health. Descriptive data included changes in health service access, changes in mental and physical health, reduced social engagement, increased adherence to guidelines, and increased adaptive coping activities. Significant predictors of mental health impact of the pandemic were changes in health service access (β = .18, p < .05), health changes (β = .25, p < .01), and adaptive coping activities (β = .21, p < .05). Findings suggest COVID-19 distress may be alleviated with improved health care access and increased social contact. Mental health challenges may also benefit from increased engagement in adaptive coping activities.


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