Discrimination as a predictor of poor mental health among LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analysis of the online Queerantine study

ObjectivesTo assess the mental health and experiences of discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignData come from a cross-sectional online survey targeted at LGBTQ+ people, which collected data on mental health, experiences of discrimination and a number of other pandemic-related experiences. To examine the association between sexual orientation and gender and mental health and experiences of discrimination, we conducted regression analyses that adjusted for a range of sociodemographic variables.SettingA web-based survey was used to collect data between the end of April and mid July 2020.ParticipantsAn analytical sample of 310 LGBTQ+ respondents aged 18 and above.Main outcome measuresWe assessed mental health with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale and with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D-10). We asked respondents about discriminatory experiences because of their LGBTQ+ identity during the coronavirus pandemic.ResultsPerceived stress scores among our LGBTQ+ sample were high (mean: 7.67; SD: 3.22). Based on a score of 10 or more on the CES-D-10, the majority of participants had high levels of depressive symptoms (72%). Around one-in-six respondents reported some form of discrimination since the start of the pandemic because they were LGBTQ+ (16.7%). The average score for perceived stress increased by 1.44 points (95% CI 0.517 to 2.354) for respondents who had experienced discrimination versus those who had not. Similarly, the odds of exhibiting significant depressive symptomology increased threefold among those who had experienced discrimination compared with those who had not (OR: 3.251; 95% CI 1.168 to 9.052).ConclusionsThe LGBTQ+ community exhibited high levels of depression, stress and experienced discrimination during the coronavirus pandemic. High levels of poor mental health were partially explained by experiences of discrimination, which had a large, consistent and pernicious impact on mental health.

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The mental health and experiences of discrimination of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial findings from the Queerantine Study

10.1101/2020.08.03.20167403 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dylan Kneale ◽

Laia Becares

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Explanatory Variable ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Average Score ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Depressive Symptomology ◽

Gender Diverse ◽

And Gender

Objective: To assess mental health status and experiences of discrimination among a sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer people (LGBTQ+, the + including those who don't identify with any such label) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional web-based survey. Setting: Responses were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic between April 27th and July 13th. Participants: 398 LGBTQ+ respondents forming an analytical sample of 310 in the main models. Methods: We used a combined measure of gender identity or expression and sexual orientation as the main explanatory variable. We assessed mental health with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), and with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D-10). We measured experiences of discrimination with a battery of questions that asked respondents whether they had experienced a set of discriminatory experiences because of their LGBTQ+ identity during the coronavirus pandemic. Experiences of discrimination was considered a mediating factor and examined both as an outcome as well as an explanatory variable. Models were adjusted for a range of demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results: The prevalence of depression and stress were both high, with the majority of the sample exhibiting significant depressive symptomology (69%). Around one-in-six respondents reported some form of discrimination since the start of the pandemic because they were LGBTQ+ (16.7%). In regression models, the average score for perceived stress increased by 1.44 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.517-2.354) for those who had experienced an instance of homophobic or transphobic harassment, compared to respondents who had not. Similarly, the odds of exhibiting significant depressive symptomology (CES-D-10 scores of 10 or more) increased three-fold among those who had experienced harassment based on their gender or sexuality compared to those who had not (OR: 3.251; 95% CI: 1.168-9.052). These marked associations remained after adjustment for a number of socioeconomic and demographic covariates. Cis-female respondents who identify as gay or lesbian had the lowest scores for perceived social or depressive symptoms; conversely transgender and gender diverse individuals had the highest scores. Conclusions: We found high levels of stress and depressive symptoms, particularly among younger and transgender and gender diverse respondents. These associations were partially explained by experiences of discrimination which had a large, consistent and pernicious impact on stress and mental health.

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Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Perceived Stress in Postpartum Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Lockdown

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094627 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4627

Author(s):

Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico ◽

Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez ◽

Maribel Sánchez-Martínez ◽

Otilia Perichart-Perera ◽

Carolina Rodríguez-Hernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Online Survey ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Mexican Women ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prevalence Of Depression

The COVID-19 lockdown represents a new challenge for mental health researchers and clinical practitioners. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress in postpartum Mexican women. The study included 293, 4–12-week postpartum women over the age of 18. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Trait-State Trait Anxiety Inventory (T-STAI), and Ten Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), which are all questionnaires validated for the Mexican population, were applied using a web-based online survey. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the maternal age was 29.9 ± 6.3 years; the EPDS score: 11 ± 6, T-STAI score: 41.7 ± 12.3, and PSS-10 score: 17.1 ± 7. The prevalence (95% CI) of the postpartum depression symptoms was 39.2% (34–45%), trait anxiety symptoms were found among 46.1% (32–43%) of the participants, and moderate and high perceived stress were in 58% (52–64) and 10.9% (7.8–15) of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and perceived stress was higher among postpartum Mexican women during the COVID-19 outbreak than before the lockdown. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring perinatal mental health during pandemics and the need to design effective psychologic interventions for these patients.

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Exploring multilevel social determinants of depressive symptoms for Tanzanian adolescents: evidence from a cross-sectional study

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2020-216200 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jech-2020-216200

Author(s):

Leah Prencipe ◽

Tanja AJ Houweling ◽

Frank J van Lenthe ◽

Tia M Palermo ◽

Lusajo Kajula

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Low Income ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Cross Sectional

BackgroundDepression has substantial and enduring impacts for adolescents, particularly those living in poverty. Yet, evidence on its determinants in low-income countries remains scarce. We examined the social determinants of depressive symptoms for Tanzanian adolescents.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data for 2458 adolescents (aged 14–19), to describe associations with depressive symptoms within and across five domains—demographic, economic, neighbourhood, environmental and social-cultural—using linear mixed models. We estimated depressive symptoms using the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, which ranges from 0 to 30 and increases with additional symptoms.ResultsFactors associated with depressive symptoms in the fully adjusted models included experiencing five or more household economic shocks (β=2.40; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.32), experiencing droughts/floods (β=0.76; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.17), being in a relationship (β=1.82; 95% CI 1.30 to 2.33), and having moderate (β=1.26; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.71) or low (β=2.27; 95% CI 1.81 to 2.74) social support. Exclusive schooling was protective compared with being engaged in both school and paid work (β=1.07; 95% CI 0.05 to 2.61) and not engaged in either (β=0.73; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.22). Household size and relationship status were more important factors for girls, while employment status, and extreme precipitation were more important for boys.ConclusionMental health is associated with determinants from multiple domains. Results suggest that environmental shocks related to climate change contribute to poor mental health in adolescents, highlighting an important area for intervention and research.

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Predictors of Interest in Participation in an Animal-Assisted Activity Program among Elderly Citizens

Society and Animals ◽

10.1163/15685306-12341407 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 213-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Oriel J. Strickland ◽

Stacie Davidson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Activity Program ◽

And Gender

Animal-Assisted Activity Programs have been shown to improve physiological and mental health outcomes among program participants. The purpose of this study was to assess the significance of gender, depression, and companion animal attitudes as predictors of interest in participation in an animal-assisted activity program. The participants were 62 residents (average age 82 years) at assisted-living centers who responded to survey measures including the Pet Attitude Scale (pas), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (ces-d), and a newly developed scale to measure interest in an animal assisted activity program. Pet attitudes and gender significantly predicted willingness to participate in the program. These results provide a contribution to the literature, which has not yet documented predictors of interest in participation in such a program among elderly citizens.

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A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors that Influence the Detection of Depression in Older Primary Care Patients

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1614.2005.01563.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 262-265 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jon J Pfaff ◽

Osvaldo P Almeida

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Older Patients ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Self Report ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Summary Sheet

Objective: To determine the characteristics of depressed older patients whose mental health status is detected by their general practitioner (GP). Method: Cross-sectional analytical design of 218 patients scoring above the cut-off (≥ 16) of the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D), from a sample of 916 consecutive patients aged 60 years or over attending one of 54 randomly selected GPs in Western Australia. Prior to their medical consultation, patients completed a self-report questionnaire, which included questions about depressive symptomatology (CES-D). Following the consultation, general practitioners recorded the patient's presenting complaint(s), medication information, and mental health details on a patient summary sheet. Results: Among these 218 patients, 39.9% (87/218) were correctly classified as depressed by their GP. Detection of depressive symptomatology was associated with patients who acknowledged taking sleeping tablets (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3–5.4), had CES-D scores indicative of major depression (≥ 22) (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.4–5.6) and were thought to be at risk for suicide (OR = 35.1, 95% CI = 4.5–274.2). Conclusions: While GPs are most apt to detect depression among older patients with prominent mental health symptoms, many patients in this age group silently experience significant depressive symptomatology and miss the opportunity for effective treatment. The routine use of screening tools in primary care is recommended to enhance the detection rate of depression in older adults.

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Associations between self-reported changes in physical activities and sedentary behaviors and changes in mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.13374.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 103

Author(s):

Cillian McDowell ◽

Mark Ward ◽

Christine McGarrigle ◽

Aisling O'Halloran ◽

Sarah Gibney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Sedentary Behaviours ◽

Do It Yourself

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and containment strategies employed to limit its spread have profoundly impacted daily life. Emerging evidence shows that mental health worsened compared to pre-pandemic trends. In this study, we examine associations of self-reported changes in physical activities and sedentary behaviors with mental health changes during the COVID-19 pandemic among older Irish adults. Methods: This study used data from Wave 5 (2018) and the COVID-19 study (July–November 2020) of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 8-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; Perceived stress, using the 4‐item Perceived Stress Scale. Participants reported perceived changes in participation in physical activities and sedentary behaviours before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Linear regressions examined separate associations between changes in physical activities and sedentary behaviours and changes in perceived stress/depressive symptoms. Adjustment included demographics, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, chronic diseases and stress/depressive symptoms at Wave 5. Results: Among 2,645 participants (mean age, 68.2yrs; 56% female), 19.5% (95%CI: 18.2–20.9) reported clinically significant depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to before the pandemic, reduced and no exercise at home and walking were associated with increased depressive symptoms and stress. A reduction in home DIY (do it yourself) was also associated with both depression and stress while doing no DIY at all was associated with increased stress but not depressive symptoms (all p<.05). Reduced hobbies and reading were associated with higher depressive symptoms, and both reduced and increased screen time were associated with increased depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Greater decreases in mental health were seen among those who reported negative changes in their physical and sedentary activities. These findings have important implications for mental health care both as we transition back to normal life and for responses to future pandemics.

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Mental Health and Psychological Impact during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey of Portuguese Higher Education Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010337 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 337

Author(s):

Carlos Laranjeira ◽

Maria Anjos Dixe ◽

Olga Valentim ◽

Zaida Charepe ◽

Ana Querido

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Higher Education ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Education Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Portuguese Higher Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant psychological impact on vulnerable groups, particularly students. The present study aims to investigate the mental and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors in a sample of Portuguese higher education students. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 1522 higher education students selected by convenience sampling. The survey assessed mental health symptoms as well as sociodemographic variables, health-related perceptions, and psychological factors. Results were fitted to binary and multivariable logistic regression models. The overall prevalences of stress, anxiety, and depression were 35.7%, 36.2%, and 28.5%, respectively. Poor mental health outcomes were related with being female, having no children, living with someone with chronic disease, facing hopelessness, and lacking resilient coping. Future studies focusing on better ways to promote mental health and wellbeing among students are warranted. It is necessary to gather more evidence on the post-pandemic mental health using robust study designs and standardized assessment tools.

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Examination of sleep health dimensions and their associations with perceived stress and health in a UK sample

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdz016 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah F Allen ◽

Umair Akram ◽

Jason G Ellis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Daytime Functioning ◽

Principle Components Analysis

Abstract Background Sleep health is a relatively new multidimensional concept, however, there is no consensus on its underlying dimensions. A previous study examined potential indicators of sleep health using an aggregated sleep health measure. However, the psychometric properties are yet to be determined. The primary aim was to assess the factor structure, reliability and validity of this measure. A secondary aim was to explore the relationships with perceived stress, and physical and mental health. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 257 adults from the UK aged 18–65 (78.4% female, mean age = 29.39 [SD = 11.37]). Participants completed 13 Sleep health items, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, Insomnia Severity Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and SF-12 Health Survey. Results The measure exhibited good internal consistency (α = 0.785) and construct validity as determined by associations with existing measures. Principle components analysis produced four factors e; sleep quality (α = 0.818), sleep adaptability (α = 0.917), sleep wellness (α = 0.621) and daytime functioning (α = 0.582). Adaptability (β = −241) was strongest predictor of perceived stress, and daytime functioning was strongest predictor of physical (β = 0.322) and mental health (β = 0.312). Conclusions Sleep health is a multidimensional construct comprising four distinct but related dimensions. The importance of sleep health in terms of perceived stress and mental and physical health is highlighted.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the adult population in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-sectional study

10.31234/osf.io/chw5d ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hasan Al Banna ◽

Abu Sayeed ◽

Satyajit Kundu ◽

Enryka Christopher ◽

M Tasdik Hasan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regressions ◽

Economy And Education ◽

The Impact

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has imposed threats on both physical andmental health since its outbreak. This study aimed to explore the impactof the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among a representativesample of home-quarantined Bangladeshi adults. A cross-sectional designwas used with an online survey completed by a convenience samplerecruited via social media. A total of 1,427 respondents were recruited,and their mental health was assessed by the DASS-21 measure. Theprevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms was 33.7%and 57.9%, respectively, and 59.7% reported mild to extremely severelevels of stress. Perceptions that the pandemic disrupted life events,affected mental health, jobs, the economy and education, predictions ofa worsening situation, and uncertainty of the health care system capacitieswere significantly associated with poor mental health outcomes.Multivariate logistic regressions showed that sociodemographic factorsand perceptions of COVID-19 significantly predict mental health outcomes.These findings warrant the consideration of easily accessible lowintensitymental health interventions during and beyond this pandemic.

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Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analysis of risk perceptions and mental health in a student cohort

10.1101/2020.12.21.20248467 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ru Jia ◽

Holly Knight ◽

Holly Blake ◽

Dame Jessica Corner ◽

Chris Denning ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sectional Analysis

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined the COVID-19 risk perceptions and mental health of university students on returning to campus in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn online survey was completed during the first four weeks of the academic year (October 2020) by 897 university students. The survey included demographics and measures of experiences of COVID-19 testing, self-isolation, shielding, perceived risk, mental health and indices capturing related psychological responses to the pandemic.ResultsWe observed higher levels of depression and anxiety, but not stress, in students compared with pre- pandemic normative data, but lower than levels reported earlier in the pandemic in other similar cohorts. Depression, anxiety and stress were independently associated with greater loneliness and reduced positive mood. Greater worry about COVID-19 was also independently associated with anxiety and stress. Female students and those with pre-existing mental health disorders were at greatest risk of poor mental health outcomes.ConclusionAlthough students perceived themselves at only moderate risk of COVID-19, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among university students should remain a concern. Universities should provide adequate support for students’ mental health during term-time. Interventions to reduced loneliness and worry, and improve mood, may benefit students’ overall mental well-being.

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