Factors linked to changes in mental health outcomes among Brazilians in quarantine due to COVID-19

AbstractThe 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis of global proportions with a significant impact on the country of Brazil. The aims of this investigation were to track changes and risk factors for mental health outcomes during state-mandated quarantine. Adults residing in Brazil (n = 360, 37.9 years of age, 68.9% female) were surveyed at the start of quarantine and 1 month later. Outcomes assessed included perceived stress, state anxiety and depression. Aside from demographics, behaviors and attitudes assessed included exercise, diet, use of tele-psychotherapy and number of COVID-19 related risk factors, such as perceived risk of COVID-19, information overload, and feeling imprisoned. Overall, all mental health outcomes worsened from Time 1 to time 2, although there was a significant gender x time interaction for stress. 9.7% of the sample reported stress above the clinical cut-off (2 SD above mean), while 8.0% and 9.4% were above this cutoff for depression and anxiety, respectively. In repeated measures analysis, female gender, worsening diet and excess of COVID-19 information was related to all mental health outcomes. Changes in diet for the worse were associated with increases in anxiety. Exercise frequency was clearly related to state anxiety (0 days/week > 6 days/week). Those who did aerobic exercise did not have any increase in depression. Use of tele-psychotherapy predicted lower levels of depression and anxiety. In multiple regression, anxiety was predicted by the greatest number of COVID-19 specific factors. In conclusion, mental health outcomes worsened for Brazilians during the first month of quarantine and these changes are associated with a variety of risk factors.

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Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Housing Insecurity

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211043588 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110435

Author(s):

Katherine E. Marçal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Well Being ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Depression And Anxiety

The present study investigated pathways from childhood exposure to mothers’ intimate partner violence (IPV) to adolescent depression and anxiety. Further, the study examined whether housing insecurity mediated the link from IPV exposure to mental health outcomes. Data came from the Years 5, 9 and 15 interviews of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study; the analytic sample was limited to mothers with at least partial custody of children ( N = 2,425). Structural equation modeling with latent variables investigated research questions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) identified observed indicators for latent constructs, and a path analysis tested direct and indirect pathways from IPV exposure to adolescent depression and anxiety. IPV exposure at age five was associated with increased housing insecurity at age nine, which was associated with increased adolescent depression and anxiety at age 15. Although IPV exposure was not directly associated with either mental health outcome, housing insecurity mediated the link from IPV exposure to adolescent depression. Findings point to the long-term consequences of exposure to intimate partner violence in childhood, highlighting pathways to mental disorder in adolescence. The present study emphasizes the need for policies that protect survivors of IPV from eviction and homelessness, empower them to leave abusers without fear of losing their housing, and promote healthy child development in the wake of family violence.

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Addressing Adolescent Mental Health after Disasters: The Critical Role of Chronic Stressors

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x1900027x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (s1) ◽

pp. s4-s4

Author(s):

Elizabeth Newnham ◽

Xue Gao ◽

Elizabeth Nathan ◽

Mark Boyes ◽

Feng Jiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Southern China ◽

Critical Role ◽

Trauma Exposure ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Chronic Stressors

Introduction:Prolonged conditions of chronic stress have the potential to cause mental health difficulties and disrupt developmental processes for children and adolescents. Natural disasters disproportionately affect low-resource areas, yet little is known about the interaction between trauma exposure, chronic stressors, and mental health.Aim:To determine the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety among adolescents affected by earthquakes in China and Nepal, and examine the specific roles of trauma exposure and chronic stressors across the three mental health outcomes.Methods:A school-based, cross-sectional study of 4,215 adolescents (53% female, ages 15-19 years) was conducted in disaster-affected areas of southern China and Nepal. Participants completed a series of translated and culturally adapted standardized assessments. Mixed effects logistic regression analyses were conducted for each mental health outcome.Results:The overall rate of PTSD was 22.7% and was higher among Nepalese participants (China: 19.4% vs. Nepal: 26.8%, p<0.001), but did not differ between genders (China: p=0.087 and Nepal: p=0.758). In both countries, the level of trauma exposure was a significant risk factor for PTSD, depression, and anxiety (China: OR’s 1.09-1.18 and Nepal: OR’s 1.08-1.13). Chronic stressors significantly improved the model and further contributed to mental health outcomes (China: OR’s 1.23-1.26 and Nepal: OR’s 1.10-1.23). Multilevel risk and protective factors across all mental health outcomes will be presented.Discussion:While there are limited opportunities to protect adolescents from disaster exposure, there is significant potential to address the effects of ongoing economic insecurity, domestic violence, and school cessation that are likely to worsen mental health outcomes. Programs that identify chronic stressors for adolescents in disaster-affected settings, and work to address poverty and violence, will have cascading effects for mental health, development, and security.

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Initial cohort characteristics and protocol for SIGMA: An accelerated longitudinal study of environmental factors, inter- and intrapersonal processes, and mental health in adolescence

10.31234/osf.io/jp2fk ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Olivia J Kirtley ◽

Robin Achterhof ◽

Noëmi Hagemann ◽

Karlijn Susanna Francisca Maria Hermans ◽

Anu Pauliina Hiekkaranta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Daily Life ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Background: Over half of all mental health conditions have their onset in adolescence. Large-scale epidemiological studies have identified relevant environmental risk factors for mental health problems. Yet, few have focused on potential mediating inter- and intrapersonal processes in daily life, hampering intervention development. Objectives: To investigate 1) the impact of environmental risk factors on changes in inter- and intrapersonal processes; 2) the impact of altered inter- and intrapersonal processes on the development of (sub)clinical mental health symptoms in adolescents and; 3) the extent to which changes in inter- and intrapersonal processes mediate the association between environmental risk factors and the mental health outcomes in adolescents.Methods: ‘SIGMA’ is an accelerated longitudinal study of adolescents aged 12 to 18 from across Flanders, Belgium. Using self-report questionnaires, experience sampling, an experimental task, and wearables, we are investigating the relationship between environmental risk factors (e.g. trauma, parenting), inter- and intrapersonal processes (e.g. real-life social interaction and interpersonal functioning) and mental health outcomes (e.g. psychopathology, self-harm) over time. Results: N= 1913 adolescents (63% female) aged 11 – 20, from 22 schools, participated. The range of educational trajectories within the sample was broadly representative of the Flemish general adolescent population.Conclusions: Our findings will enable us to answer fundamental questions about inter- and intrapersonal processes involved in the development and maintenance of poor mental health in adolescence. This includes insights regarding the role of daily-life social and cognitive-affective processes, gained by using experience sampling. The accelerated longitudinal design enables rapid insights into developmental and cohort effects.

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Loneliness in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional results from The COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study

10.31234/osf.io/j2pce ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jenny Groarke ◽

Emma Berry ◽

Lisa Graham-Wisener ◽

Phoebe McKenna-Plumley ◽

Emily McGlinchey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Psychological Wellbeing ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Loneliness is a significant public health issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lockdown measures limiting social contact. The UK public are worried about the impact of these measures on mental health outcomes. Understanding the prevalence and predictors of loneliness at this time is a priority issue for research. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional online survey design. Method: Baseline data collected between March 23rd and April 24th 2020 from UK adults in the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study were analysed (N = 1963, 18-87 years, M = 37.11, SD = 12.86, 70% female). Logistic regression analysis was used to look at the influence of sociodemographic, social, health and COVID-19 specific factors on loneliness. Results: The prevalence of loneliness was 27% (530/1963). Risk factors for loneliness were younger age group (OR: 4.67 – 5.31), being separated or divorced (OR: 2.29), meeting clinical criteria for major depression (OR: 1.74), greater emotion regulation difficulties (OR: 1.04), and poor quality sleep due to the COVID-19 crisis (OR: 1.30). Higher levels of social support (OR: 0.92), being married/co-habiting (OR: 0.35) and living with a great number of adults (OR: 0.87) were protective factors. Conclusions: Rates of loneliness during the initial phase of lockdown were high. Risk factors were not specific to the COVID-19 crisis. Findings suggest that supportive interventions to reduce loneliness should prioritise younger people and those with mental health symptoms. Improving emotion regulation and sleep quality may be optimal initial targets to reduce the impact of COVID-19 regulations on mental health outcomes.

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Mental health of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and evidence-based frameworks for mitigation: A rapid review

10.1101/2021.01.03.21249166 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ajay Major ◽

Fay J Hlubocky

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Care Workers ◽

Pubmed Database

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the mental health of health care workers (HCWs), and optimal strategies to provide psychological support for HCWs are not currently established. Aims: To rapidly review recently-published literature on the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Query of all quantitative research through the PubMed database on the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic which utilized validated mental health instruments. 723 articles were screened and 87 articles were included. Results: Nearly all included studies were cross-sectional, survey-based assessments of the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness. Only one interventional study was identified. Prevalence of mental health outcomes varied widely: 7.0-97.3% anxiety, 10.6-62.1% depression, 2.2-93.8% stress, 3.8-56.6% post traumatic stress, 8.3-88.4% insomnia, and 21.8-46.3% burnout. Risk and protective factors were identified in personal and professional domains, including degree of COVID-19 exposure, adequacy of protective equipment, and perception of organizational support. Conclusions: The myriad risk factors for poor mental health among HCWs suggests that a comprehensive psychosocial support model with individual- and organization-level interventions is necessary. Further longitudinal research on specific evidence-based interventions to mitigate adverse mental health outcomes among HCWs is urgently needed as the pandemic continues.

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Mental health outcomes among front and second line health workers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

10.1101/2020.04.16.20067801 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rodolfo Rossi ◽

Valentina Socci ◽

Francesca Pacitti ◽

Giorgio Di Lorenzo ◽

Antinisca Di Marco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Health Workers ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Female Gender ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Associated Risk Factors

AbstractIn this study, we report on mental health outcomes among health workers (HWs) involved with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.Data on mental health on 1379 HWs were collected between March 27th and March 31th 2020 using an on-line questionnaire spread throughout social networks, using a snowball technique along with sponsored social network advertisement. Key mental health outcomes were Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms (PTSD), severe depression, anxiety, insomnia and perceived stress.PTSD symptoms, severe depression, anxiety and insomnia, and high perceived stress were endorsed respectively by 681 (49.38%), 341 (24.73%), 273 (19.80%), 114 (8.27%) and 302 (21.90%) respondents. Regression analysis show that younger age, female gender, being a front-line HWs, having a colleague deceased, hospitalised or in quarantine were associated with poor mental health outcomes.This is the first report on mental health outcomes and associated risk factors among HWs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, confirming a substantial proportion of health workers involved with the COVID-19 pandemic having mental health issues, in particular young women, first-line HWs.

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Mental Health Outcomes Among Healthcare Workers and the General Population During the COVID-19 in Italy

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608986 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rodolfo Rossi ◽

Valentina Socci ◽

Francesca Pacitti ◽

Sonia Mensi ◽

Antinisca Di Marco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Female Gender ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Second Line ◽

Front Line ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Traumatic Symptoms

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers in Italy have been exposed to an unprecedented pressure and traumatic events. However, no direct comparison with the general population is available so far. The aim of this study is to detail mental health outcomes in healthcare workers compared to the general population.Methods24050 respondents completed an on-line questionnaire during the contagion peak, 21342 general population, 1295 second-line healthcare workers, and 1411 front-line healthcare workers. Depressive, anxious, post-traumatic symptoms and insomnia were assessed. Specific COVID-19 related potential risk factors were also considered in healthcare workers.ResultsDepressive symptoms were more frequent in the general population (28.12%) and front-line healthcare workers (28.35%) compared to the second-line healthcare workers (19.98%) groups. Anxiety symptoms showed a prevalence of 21.25% in the general population, 18.05% for second-line healthcare workers, and 20.55% for front-line healthcare workers. Insomnia showed a prevalence of 7.82, 6.58, and 9.92% for the general population, second-line healthcare workers, and front-line healthcare workers, respectively. Compared to the general population, front-line healthcare workers had higher odds of endorsing total trauma-related symptoms. Both second-line healthcare workers and front-line healthcare workers had higher odds of endorsing core post-traumatic symptoms compared to the general population, while second-line healthcare workers had lower odds of endorsing negative affect and dissociative symptoms. Higher total traumatic symptom score was associated with being a front-line healthcare worker, having a colleague infected, hospitalized, or deceased, being a nurse, female gender, and younger age.ConclusionThis study suggests a significant psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Italian general population and healthcare workers. Front-line healthcare workers represent a specific at-risk population for post-traumatic symptoms. These findings underline the importance of monitoring and intervention strategies.

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Food Insecurity and Mental Health Trajectories During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Evidence

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1578 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 408-409

Author(s):

Dexia Kong ◽

Peiyi Lu ◽

Elissa Kozlov ◽

Mack Shelley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Data ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Mixed Effect ◽

Health Trajectories ◽

Over Time

Abstract The extent to which food insecurity impacts changes in mental health outcomes over time in the context of Covid-19 remains unknown. Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative survey, the objectives of the present study were to: (1) assess the prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. adults amid the Covid-19 pandemic; and (2) investigate the relationships between food insecurity statuses and changes in mental health outcomes over time as the pandemic unfolds. Longitudinal data from the Internet-based Understanding Coronavirus in America survey collected bi-weekly between April and December 2020 were used (n=4,068, 15 repeated measures). Adult respondents (aged ≥18) were asked about their food insecurity experiences and stress/anxiety/depressive symptoms. Linear mixed-effect models examined changes in mental health outcomes over time among groups with various food insecurity statuses. Overall prevalence of food insecurity was 8%. Food insecurity was consistently associated with higher levels of stress/anxiety/depressive symptoms (p<0.001). Stress/anxiety/depressive symptoms declined over time among food-secured U.S adults. However, mental health trajectories of respondents with various food insecurity categories, including food insecurity status, persistent food insecurity, and food insecurity of higher severity and longer duration, remained stable or worsened over time. Moreover, the mental health gap between food-secured and food-unsecured participants widened over time. Food insecurity represents a pressing public health problem during the Covid-19 pandemic with substantial mental health implications. Persistent and severe food insecurity may contribute to mental health disparity in the long term. Food insecurity reduction interventions may alleviate the estimated alarming mental health burden as the pandemic unfolds.

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The impact of whole-of-diet interventions on depression and anxiety: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980014002614 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 2074-2093 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

Rachelle S Opie ◽

Adrienne O’Neil ◽

Catherine Itsiopoulos ◽

Felice N Jacka

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Randomised Controlled Trials ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveNon-pharmacological approaches to the treatment of depression and anxiety are of increasing importance, with emerging evidence supporting a role for lifestyle factors in the development of these disorders. Observational evidence supports a relationship between habitual diet quality and depression. Less is known about the causative effects of diet on mental health outcomes. Therefore a systematic review was undertaken of randomised controlled trials of dietary interventions that used depression and/or anxiety outcomes and sought to identify characteristics of programme success.DesignA systematic search of the Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed and PyscInfo databases was conducted for articles published between April 1971 and May 2014.ResultsOf the 1274 articles identified, seventeen met eligibility criteria and were included. All reported depression outcomes and ten reported anxiety or total mood disturbance. Compared with a control condition, almost half (47 %) of the studies observed significant effects on depression scores in favour of the treatment group. The remaining studies reported a null effect. Effective dietary interventions were based on a single delivery mode, employed a dietitian and were less likely to recommend reducing red meat intake, select leaner meat products or follow a low-cholesterol diet.ConclusionsAlthough there was a high level of heterogeneity, we found some evidence for dietary interventions improving depression outcomes. However, as only one trial specifically investigated the impact of a dietary intervention in individuals with clinical depression, appropriately powered trials that examine the effects of dietary improvement on mental health outcomes in those with clinical disorders are required.

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