Young adults’ coping strategies against loneliness during the COVID-19-related quarantine in Greece

Summary COVID-19 and the related quarantine disrupted young adults’ academic and professional life, daily routine and socio-emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study focused on the emotional and behavioural responses of a young adult population during the COVID-19-related quarantine in April 2020, in Greece. The study was conducted through an online survey. A total of 1559 young adults, aged 18−30 years, completed Steele’s Social Responsibility Motivation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about compliance with instructions, quarantine-related behaviours and coping strategies. According to the results, participants displayed a relatively high sense of social responsibility (M = 16.09, SD = 2.13) and a trend towards moderate feeling of loneliness (M = 2.65, SD = 1.62); young women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. The majority complied with instructions often (46.4%) or always (44.8%). Significantly more women created a new social media account and used the social media longer than 5 h/day, compared with men. Resorting to religion, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted higher levels of social responsibility; humour, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted lower levels of loneliness. Conclusively, COVID-19 is expected to have a significant psychological impact on young adults. Currently, Greece is going through the second quarantine period. This study raises awareness about loneliness in young adults during the COVID-19-related quarantine and highlights the importance of developing online programmes, attractive to younger people, to nurture adaptive coping strategies against loneliness.

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Social Media Activities, Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Their Interactions on People’s Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8931 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yang Yang ◽

Keqiao Liu ◽

Siqi Li ◽

Man Shu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Regulation Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the general population’s life worldwide. People may spend more time on social media because of policies like “work at home”. Using a cross-sectional dataset collected through an online survey in February 2020, in China, we examined (1) the relationships between social media activities and people’s mental health status and (2) the moderation effect of emotional-regulation strategies. The sample included people aged ≥18 years from 32 provinces and regions in China (N = 3159). The inferential analyses included a set of multiple linear regressions with interactions. Our results showed that sharing timely, accurate, and positive COVID-19 information, reducing excessive discussions on COVID-19, and promoting caring online interactions rather than being judgmental, might positively associate with the general public’s psychological well-being. Additionally, the relationships between social media activities and psychological well-being varied at different emotion-regulation strategy levels. Adopting the cognitive reappraisal strategy might allay the adverse relationships between certain social media activities and mental health indicators. Our findings expanded the theory of how social media activities can be associated with a human being’s mental health and how it can interact with emotion-regulation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How are Young Adults in Pakistan dealing with COVID-19: An Online Survey Assessing the Impact of Demographic Characteristics and Sources of Information on Awareness and Behaviors

10.21203/rs.3.rs-433946/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ria Angeline Martins ◽

Russell Seth Martins ◽

Syeda Maryam Zehra Zaidi ◽

Scheryar Saqib ◽

Aiman Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Young Adult ◽

Online Survey ◽

Close Contact ◽

Adult Population ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Young Adult Population ◽

And Behaviors ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background:The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a large majority of Pakistan’s population, with one particular demographic of stakeholders being the country’s young adult population. Our study looks to understand levels COVID-19-related awareness, perceptions, and behaviors, and sources of COVID-19-related knowledge, amongst Pakistan’s young adult population.Methods:This survey was conducted by the Aga Khan University over July-October 2020, via a Google Form disseminated on multiple social media platforms. All respondents aged between 18-35 years and currently residing in Pakistan were included.Results:The questionnaire received a total of 406 responses with the respondents having a mean age of 25.15 ± 5.80 years. 52.5% of the respondents were currently students. The vast majority relied on social media (83.7%), internet blogs/websites (83.3%) and newspapers/television (70.7%) as major sources of information regarding COVID-19. The highest percentage of individuals believed spread was possible through contaminated surfaces (95.3%), while 86.4% believed spread was possible via inhalation of droplets, and 52.0% via close contact with asymptomatic individuals. Alarmingly, 21.9% believed that transmission was possible through contact with packages shipped from China, and 16% believed COVID-19 could be contracted by eating food in Chinese restaurants. Moreover, 24.1% believed COVID-19 to be a biological weapon designed in a laboratory, while 23.9% were unsure.Conclusions: Our survey revealed some deficiencies in the understanding of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, along with racial biases and the prevalence of misinformation. Since young adults play an important role in the global response to the pandemic, our study suggests interventions that target the young adults in Pakistan in an attempt to increase their awareness about the pandemic and help them cope with its effects.

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Coping Strategies and Psychopathological Responses Among Medical and Non-medical Professionals – a Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.663224 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marta Ciułkowicz ◽

Julian Maciaszek ◽

Błażej Misiak ◽

Anna Pałȩga ◽

Joanna Rymaszewska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Well Being ◽

Medical Professionals ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Event Scale ◽

Medical Career ◽

The Impact

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was announced on March 11th, 2020, due to a surge of newly confirmed cases that significantly impacted populations worldwide, both directly and indirectly. Based on past epidemics research, the mental health implications of introduced restrictions should be expected and adequately addressed irrespective of the practiced profession.Objective: The study aimed to explore psychopathological responses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concerning coping strategy clusters during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical and non-medical workers.Methods: A cross-sectional web survey of the general population of internet users was performed from March 16th to April 26th, 2020, in Poland during the first peak of COVID-19 cases. A sample of 1,831 professionally active respondents, 64.0% of which pursuing a medical career, filled out General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and MiniCOPE, along with the socio-demographic questionnaire exploring personal as well as the work-related possibility of direct exposure to contagion and availability of proper protection, contact with the infected without accurate protective measures as well as the adequacy of workers when compared settings.Results: Individuals labeled with specific clusters had significantly different psychopathological manifestations. Irrespective of performed job maladaptive cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 and IES-R scores on total subscales and all subscales compared to those representing the non-specific and adaptive cluster. Similar findings were observed concerning the frequency of the GHQ-28 positive score. Moreover, the non-specific cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 total scores among medical professionals. However, GHQ-28 positive scores were significantly more frequent in medical workers using adaptive clusters when compared to non-specific. Such relations were not observed in the non-medical group.IES-R total and subscales' scores did not significantly vary within medical and non-medical groups when adaptive and non-specific clusters were compared. Pursuing a non-medical career was found to be a determinant of lower scores, while female sex was observed to be determinant of higher scores in both GHQ-28 and IES-R scales.Conclusions: Positive screening for psychopathological and PTSD symptoms was expected regardless of the analyzed groups' coping strategies. Given the dramatically developing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, support initiatives grounded in research evidence may be essential for maintaining the mental well-being and resilience of both the medical and non-medical workforce.

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Impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown on pharmacy students’ productivity and their coping strategies in a developing country: An online survey in Nigerian universities

Pharmacy Education ◽

10.46542/pe.2020.202.249259 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 249-259

Author(s):

Abdulmuminu Isah ◽

Deborah Oyine Aluh ◽

Abubakar Abba ◽

Patrick Ogbonna Chukwu ◽

Ebere Mercy Okpara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Pharmacy Students ◽

School Life ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

Main Challenge ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria led to a national lockdown that resulted in the suspension of academic activities. Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown on pharmacy students’ productivity and their coping strategies. Methods: This study involved the cross-sectional collection of responses from undergraduate students of six Nigerian schools of pharmacy. Data was collected using a structured, validated questionnaire in the form of Google form. The data was entered into a statistical product and service solutions software (SPSS, version-25) for analysis. Results: A total of 808 students responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the students’ responses (757, 93.7%) showed that their reading duration had decreased during the lockdown. The most missed variable during the closure by students was ‘school life’ (303, 37.5%). The use of social media (133, 16.5%) was the most common coping strategy. The majority of the students, 544 (67.3%), agreed to participate in the virtual mode of learning. The cost of data was the main challenge to online learning by the students (288, 36.0%). Conclusion: This study shows that the productivity of pharmacy students decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown. Social media and business activities were the most common coping mechanisms of pharmacy students. Pharmacy students were willing to accept virtual learning despite possible challenges.

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The impact of the COVID-19 "Infodemic" on Well-being: Social media practices during the pandemic - a cross-sectional study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27920 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Iffat Elbarazi ◽

Basema Saddik ◽

Michal Grivna ◽

Faisal Aziz ◽

Deena Al Souri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The World ◽

The Impact ◽

Media Practices

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in the world of information and digital literacy. The amount of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 that has circulated through social media (SM) since January 2020 is notably significant and it has been linked to rising levels of anxiety and fear amongst SM users. The COVID-19 'infodemic' was singled out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several newly published studies as one of the causes of anxiety, depression, and fear amongst the global population OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess SM practices during COVID-19 and investigates their impact on well-being. METHODS An online infodemic cross-sectional survey was distributed via different SM platforms in the United Arab Emirates and other countries. Adults above 18 years of age were invited to complete an online survey that covered multiple domains, including the WHO-5 Well-being Index. RESULTS The study sheds light on the use of SM during the pandemic and its impact on well-being throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic. Out of 993 participants, 73% were females, 76% were non-Emirati, 91% university graduates, and 50% were employed in various occupations, of which 20% were health care professionals. Participants indicated that they acquired COVID-19 related information primarily from social media, of which WhatsApp was the most accessed. Most participants reported sharing the information after the verification. The mean well-being score was 12.6 ±5.6 with 49% of participants had poor well-being (WHO-5 score <12.5). The adjusted linear regression showed that Facebook usage was negatively associated with well-being score. Also, high time-usage was associated with poorer well-being. When adjusting for other factors, including low confidence in information around COVID-19 and poor knowledge overall, SM usage was significantly associated with poorer well-being CONCLUSIONS Social media practices during emergencies and disasters may impact public well-being. Authorities are advised to step in to minimize the spread of misinformation and more frequent use of social media, as it may influence well-being leading to increased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. Public health specialists, information technology and communication experts should collaborate to limit the infodemic effect on communities.

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Increased Psychological Distress during COVID-19 and Quarantine in Ireland: A National Survey

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9113481 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 3481 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tom Burke ◽

Anna Berry ◽

Laura K. Taylor ◽

Owen Stafford ◽

Eddie Murphy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Illness Perceptions ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Aging Parents ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Clinically Significant

Background: The emergence of the coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) resulted in a global pandemic. The psychological impact of an epidemic is multifaceted and acute, with long-term consequences. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey-based design was employed, assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 on members of the Irish public during the quarantine period of COVID-19 in Ireland. Participants were invited to complete the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) retrospectively (prior to quarantine) and during the quarantine period, as well as measures of illness perceptions, well-being, and a bespoke measure (the Effects of COVID Questionnaire, ECQ), which assessed perceptions of COVID-related stresses associated with personal concerns, caring for children, caring for aging parents, as well as gratitude. Results: A total of n = 1620 entered the survey platform, with a total of n = 847 surveys completed by members of the Irish public. Entry into COVID-19 quarantine was associated with significant increases in clinically significant symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. The ECQ reliably assessed a range of COVID-19-related stresses and had large and significant correlations with the DASS-21. Conclusions: The COVID-19 quarantine was associated with stresses and significant increases in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a national Irish cohort. The public require increased access to mental health services to meet this increase in COVID-19-related psychological distress.

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More Than a Deadly Virus: COVID-19 and Its Psychological Impact on American and Canadian Dental Practitioners

European Journal of Dental and Oral Health ◽

10.24018/ejdent.2021.2.6.121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 32-38

Author(s):

Jasbir D. Upadhyaya ◽

Vimi Sunil Mutalik ◽

Mê-Linh Lê ◽

Dieter J. Schönwetter

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Work Experience ◽

Media Coverage ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cognitive Responses ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dental Practitioners

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected dental professionals, thus contributing to adverse psychological outcomes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the psychosocial state of American and Canadian dental practitioners, with special emphasis on their affective well-being (both during lockdown and after re-opening), behavioral impact and cognitive responses. Methodology: Dental practitioners in Canada and USA were invited to participate in an online survey after the initial lockdown period. The questions evaluated the pandemic’s effect on affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses. Results: A total of 587 practitioners completed the online survey. The strongest emotions experienced during the lockdown were sadness followed by fear. Female practitioners, those in the 35-44 age group, and those with less work experience reported higher scores on fear. Following lockdown, participants reported higher anticipation. Males expressed higher feelings of disgust and anger during both phases. Canadians were trustful of the situation in both phases of the pandemic, whereas the emotions of Americans were more towards disgust. About 56.7% practitioners provided teledentistry during lockdown, mainly through video calling, with Canadians being significantly more involved than the American participants. The highest scores for participants’ experiences during lockdown were for a lack of social interaction, followed by concern for contracting infection, and stress from distressing media coverage. Most practitioners were very receptive of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: The emotions and behaviors of dental practitioners varied significantly during and after the initial lockdown, highlighting their psychosocial state during the pandemic. The scarcity of literature focusing on these basic emotions during similar outbreaks calls attention for pursuing more research in these areas as they significantly contribute to the overall psychological health of professionals, especially in times of crises. Given the emotions reported by dental practitioners, it would be of value to develop standardized protocols and provide remote psychological support during such periods of uncertainty.

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Insights for Fostering Resilience in Young Adults With Multiple Sclerosis in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Emergency: An Italian Survey

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.588275 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Valeria Donisi ◽

Alberto Gajofatto ◽

Maria Angela Mazzi ◽

Francesca Gobbin ◽

Isolde Martina Busch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Young Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Needs ◽

Italian Regions

Objective: Recent evidence has demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the mental health of the general population. The psychological consequences might be even more severe for patients with special healthcare needs and psychological vulnerabilities due to chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, we aimed to explore the psychological impact of this pandemic and of the subsequent healthcare service changes on young adults with MS living in Italy and to examine their coping strategies and preferences regarding psychological support in the aftermath of the pandemic.Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional, web-based survey advertised on social networks. We report both quantitative (descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA) and qualitative data (inductive content analysis).Results: Two hundred and forty-seven respondents (mean age 32 ± 7 years), mainly with relapsing–remitting MS, from all Italian regions participated. Participants felt more worried, confused, sad, and vulnerable because of the disease “during” the pandemic in comparison to their self-evaluation of the period “before” the COVID-19 outbreak. Similarly, their perception of control over MS decreased “during” the pandemic in comparison to the retrospective evaluation of the period “before” the COVID-19 outbreak (p < 0.01). Canceled/postponed visits/exams were listed as the most frequent MS management changes, with modified/postponed pharmacological treatment representing the most stressful change. Psychological support in dealing with pandemic-related fears and improving MS acceptance and well-being was considered extremely important by almost 40% of the respondents. Different coping strategies were mentioned in the qualitative section of the survey, with social support, hobbies, and keeping busy being the most frequent ones.Conclusions: Considering the enormous impact of the pandemic on young adults with MS, we urge MS clinical centers to implement psychological support programs that address the potentially long-lasting psychological negative impact, thus fostering the therapeutic alliance that is being threatened by the infection prevention measures imposed during the pandemic, and promoting psychological resources for adaptively managing future waves of COVID-19.

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A survey to evaluate mental well being and coping strategies of adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangalore, India

Journal of Student Research ◽

10.47611/jsrhs.v10i2.1835 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Arna Bhattacharya ◽

DR Jigyansa Ipsita Pattnaik ◽

DR Suhas Chandran

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Development Stage ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Brief Cope ◽

And Coping ◽

Mental Well Being

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the lifestyle of adolescents. Adolescence is a development stage of high vulnerability that can impact well-being later in life. Mental health plays an important role in one’s quality of life. Understanding coping mechanisms helps make a person safe and resilient from psychological distress. The present study aims to evaluate the mental well-being and coping strategies used by adolescents in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a school in Bangalore, India via an online survey, circulated via the class teacher. Participants included 222 adolescents with ages ranging from 13 to 19. The DASS-21 and Brief COPE scales were used to assess mental well-being and coping mechanisms respectively. The questionnaire concluded with validated general lifestyle related questions. This included inquiring relationships between students and their families, friends, academic performance, social media consumption etc. The data was collected over a period of one month. Results: In the DASS-21 scoring, 31.9% (n=69), 24.8% (n=55) and 5.4% (n=12) received scores indicating extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Females were statistically found to be more depressed and anxious than males. Behavioural disengagement and self blame were commonly used coping mechanisms by those who were found to be psychologically distressed. Conclusions: Psychological distress has been observed in adolescents in varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be addressed in order to prevent further distress. Keywords: adolescents, covid-19, mental well being, DASS-21, Brief COPE, depression, anxiety, stress

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How Social Comparison on Instagram Affects Well-Being. Perspectives from a Study Conducted During the Lockdown

Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Ephemerides ◽

10.24193/subbeph.2020.2.01 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 5-19

Author(s):

Delia Cristina Balaban ◽

Dorin Francisc Spoaller

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Comparison ◽

Online Survey ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Direct Impact ◽

Upward Comparison ◽

Downward Comparison

"During the Spring of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries ordered lockdowns. The limitations of movement contributed to the rise of social media activity. The present research focused on how the active use of Instagram had an impact on well-being during the first lockdown in Romania. Aiming to explore how active Instagram use contributes to users' self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and loneliness during an unprecedented situation of a lockdown, we conducted an online survey in April 2020 on young adults (N=411) in Romania. Findings showed that actively using Instagram during the lockdown did not have a significant direct impact on self-esteem and satisfaction with life, but significantly decreased loneliness. Upward comparison of Instagram active users contributed to the increase in self-esteem but decreased the values of satisfaction with life and increased loneliness. The downward comparison had no significant impact on self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and loneliness. Keywords: social media, well-being, Instagram, social comparison, COVID-19 pandemic. "

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