scholarly journals Mental Health of Keyworkers in the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-sectional Analysis of a Community Cohort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran Ayling ◽  
Ru Jia ◽  
Trudie Chalder ◽  
Adam Massey ◽  
Elizabeth Broadbent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Sectional Analysis

AbstractObjectivesPrevious pandemics have resulted in high levels of psychological morbidity among frontline workers. Here we report on the early mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on keyworkers in the UK, as assessed during the first six weeks of nationwide social distancing measures being introduced. Comparisons are made with non-keyworkers, and psychological factors that may be protective to keyworkers’ mental health are explored.DesignCross-sectional analysis of a community cohort study.MethodsDuring April 2020, keyworkers (n=1559) and non-keyworkers (n=1436) completed online measures of depression, anxiety, and stress levels as well as explanatory demographic and psychological factors hypothesised to be related to these mental health outcomes.ResultsKeyworkers reported significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress than pre-pandemic population norms. Compared to non-keyworkers, keyworkers were more likely to worry about COVID-19 and perceived they were at higher risk from the virus. This was particularly evident for health and social care keyworkers. Younger keyworkers and those in a clinically increased risk group were more likely to report poorer mental health. Lower positive mood, greater loneliness and worrying more about COVID-19 were all associated with poorer mental health outcomes amongst keyworkers.ConclusionsThe mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on keyworkers in the UK has been substantial. Worry about COVID-19 and perceived risk from COVID-19 in keyworkers are understandable given potential increased exposure to the virus. Younger and clinically vulnerable keyworkers may benefit most from any interventions that seek to mitigate the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic.

scholarly journals The English national cohort study of flooding and health: cross-sectional analysis of mental health outcomes at year one

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas David Waite ◽  
Katerina Chaintarli ◽  
Charles R. Beck ◽  
Angie Bone ◽  
Richard Amlôt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Sectional Analysis

scholarly journals Financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK up to 2018: rapid review of evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 977-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayla McCloud ◽  
David Bann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Stress ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionIn the United Kingdom and many other countries, debt accrued during higher education has increased substantially in recent decades. The prevalence of common mental health problems has also increased alongside these changes. However, it is as yet unclear whether there is an association between financial stress and mental health among higher education students.MethodsWe conducted a rapid review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Eligible studies were English-language publications testing the association between any indicator of financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK. Papers were located through a systematic search of PsychINFO, PubMed and Embase up to November 2018.ResultsThe search strategy yielded 1272 studies—9 met the inclusion criteria. A further two were identified through hand-searching. The median sample size was 408. Only three of seven studies found an association between higher debt and worse mental health. There was a consistent cross-sectional relationship between worse mental health and both experience of financial difficulties (seven of seven studies) and debt worry/financial concern (four of five studies), though longitudinal evidence was mixed and limited to six studies.ConclusionAmong higher education students in the UK, there is little evidence that the amount of debt is associated with mental health. However, more subjective measures of increased financial stress were more consistently associated with worse mental health outcomes. Nevertheless, the identified evidence was judged to be weak; further research is required to examine whether links between financial stress and mental health outcomes are robust and causal in nature.

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

2020 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals O5C.3 The mental health impact of deployment to iraq and afghanistan: what does the current data show?

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A46.1-A46
Author(s):  
Sharon Stevelink ◽  
Margaret Jones ◽  
Lisa Hull ◽  
David Pernet ◽  
Shirlee MacCrimmon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The longer term mental health outcomes of UK serving and ex-serving personnel have been the subject of much speculation. The latest research findings from the third phase of a longitudinal study will be presented, which is the only military cohort study of its kind in the UK. Data was collected among 8093 personnel between 2014 and 2016. The study examined the prevalence of mental disorders and alcohol misuse, whether rates differed between serving and ex-serving regular personnel and the impact of various deployment exposures. The prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder was 6.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5–6.9), 21.9% (95% CI 20.8–23.0) for common mental disorders and 10.0% (95% CI 9.2–10.9) for alcohol misuse. Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and self-reported role during deployment were associated with significantly worse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse in ex-serving regular personnel but not in currently serving regular personnel. There was no association with number of deployments for any outcome. The findings highlight the importance of the continued monitoring of following personnel throughout their military career and beyond. The implications of the study outcomes will be discussed in the light of the mental health provision for serving and ex-serving personnel.

scholarly journals Longitudinal changes in home confinement and mental health implications: A 17-month follow-up study in England during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feifei Bu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Daisy Fancourt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Study ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Longitudinal Patterns ◽  
Containment Policy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant behavioural changes, one of which is increased time spent at home. Although official lockdowns were typically short-term and allowed people to leave their homes for exercise and essential activities, some individuals did not leave their home for prolonged periods due to a range of factors including clinical vulnerability. This study aimed to explore longitudinal patterns of such ‘home confinement’ across different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, and its associated predictors and mental health outcomes.MethodsData were from the UCL COVID -19 Social Study. The analytical sample consisted of 25,390 adults in England who were followed up for 17 months from March 2020 to July 2021. Data were analysed using growth mixture models.ResultsOur analyses identified three classes of growth trajectories, including one class showing a high level of persistent home confinement (24.8%), one changing class with clear alignment with national containment policy/advice (32.0%), and one class with a persistently low level of confinement (43.1%). A range of factors were found to be associated the class membership of home confinement trajectories, such as age, gender, income, employment status, social relationships and health. The class with a high level of confinement had the highest number of depressive and anxiety symptoms at the end of the follow-up independent of potential confounders.ConclusionsThere was substantial heterogeneity in longitudinal patterns of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a striking proportion of our sample maintained a high level of home confinement over the course of 17 months, even during periods when containment measures were eased or removed and when infection rates were low. They also had the worst mental health outcomes. This group warrants special attention in addressing the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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