The effect of resilience on the relationship between perceived stress and change in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland, Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110623
Author(s):  
Lucy Tudehope ◽  
Patricia Lee ◽  
Nicola Wiseman ◽  
Febi Dwirahmadi ◽  
Ernesta Sofija

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of stress and alcohol consumption. This study examined the effect of resilience on the relationship between stress and changes in alcohol consumption in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. A cross-sectional survey of 502 adults in Queensland, Australia (mean age = 45.68 (16.61)), found 23.9% of individuals had increased their alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic. Regression modelling demonstrated a significant association between perceived stress and change in alcohol consumption. The study also revealed resilience was a moderating factor, where high levels of resilience buffered against increases in alcohol consumption associated with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Green ◽  
Jennifer Huberty ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
Chad Stecher

BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been declared an international public health emergency with potentially long-lasting effects on mental health. There is a need to identify effective strategies to buffer the negative mental health impact of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE To examine the regional differences in mental health and perceptions of COVID-19 in light of the state-level prevalence of COVID-19 cases, estimate the associations between perceptions of COVID-19 and health behavior engagement (i.e., physical activity, mindfulness meditation) and mental health, and explore the mediating effect of health behavior engagement on the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a sample of US adult paying subscribers to the Calm app (data collection April 22 to June 3, 2020). The survey assessed perceptions of COVID-19, health behavior engagement, and mental health (i.e., perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety and depression). Statistical analyses were performed using R software. Differences in perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health by location were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic and OLS models regressed mental health and health behavior on COVID-19 perceptions, and Causal Mediation Analysis was used to estimate the significance of mediation effects. RESULTS The median age (N=8392) was 47 (SD=13.8) years. Mid-Atlantic region (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) participants reported higher levels of stress, more severe depression symptoms, were more worried about COVID-19, paid more attention to COVID-19 news, and had more stress-related to social distancing recommendations than participants living in other regions. The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and perceived stress was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (P<.001) and strength of meditation habit (P<.001). The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (P<.001) and strength of meditation habit (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings describe the mental health impact of COVID-19 and outline how continued participation in health behaviors such as physical activity and mindfulness meditation may buffer against worsening mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These data have important implications for public health agencies and health organizations to promote the maintenance of health habits to reduce the residual mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeni Green ◽  
Jennifer Huberty ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
Chad Stecher

Abstract Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been declared an international public health emergency with potential long-lasting effects on mental health. The purpose of this survey was to examine the regional differences in mental health and perceptions of COVID-19 in light of the state-level prevalence of COVID-19 cases, estimate the associations between perceptions of COVID-19 and health behavior engagement (i.e., physical activity, mindfulness meditation) and mental health, and explore the mediating effect of health behavior engagement on the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a sample of US adult paying subscribers to the Calm app (data collection April 22 to June 3, 2020). The survey assessed perceptions of COVID-19, health behavior engagement, and mental health (i.e., perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety and depression). All statistical analyses were performed using R software. Differences in perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health by location were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic and OLS models regressed mental health and health behavior on COVID-19 perceptions, and Causal Mediation Analysis was used to estimate the significance of mediation effects. Results: Median age (N=8392) was 47 (SD=13.8) years. Mid-Atlantic region participants reported higher levels of stress, more severe depression symptoms, were more worried about COVID-19, paid more attention to COVID-19 news, and had more stress related to social distancing recommendations than participants living in other regions. The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and perceived stress was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (p<.001) and strength of meditation habit (p<.001). The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (p<.001) and strength of meditation habit (p<.001). Conclusions: Our findings describe the mental health impact of COVID-19 and outline how continued participation in health behaviors such as physical activity and mindfulness meditation may buffer against worsening mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These data have important implications for public health agencies and health organizations to promote the maintenance of health habits to reduce the residual mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason G. Ellis ◽  
Sarah Allen ◽  
Michael Perlis ◽  
Michael Grandner ◽  
Maria Gardani ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to determine whether normal sleepers with vulnerability to insomnia, via high sleep reactivity, demonstrate more sleep-related dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours and poorer psychological health compared to those who are not vulnerable. Further, the influence of stress on the relationship between sleep reactivity and psychological health was also examined. A cross-sectional survey of 737 young adult ‘normal’ sleepers from the general population was undertaken. Results indicated normal sleepers vulnerable to insomnia demonstrated more sleep-related dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours as well as poorer psychological health compared to those not vulnerable. Furthermore, the relationship between sleep reactivity and psychological health was moderated by perceived stress over the previous month and life events over the previous year. Therefore, identifying and supporting those who are vulnerable to insomnia may be a fruitful avenue for preventative public health campaign to mitigate both insomnia and poor psychological health.


Author(s):  
Karla Liliana Pérez-Sosa ◽  
Edgar Felipe Lares-Bayona

Alcohol is a toxic substance associated with acute and chronic disorders affecting the Central Nervous System and significantly altering brain function. Objective: To determine the relationship between cognitive impairment and alcohol consumption in university students of the Juárez University of the State of Durango. Methodology: It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative, non-probabilistic study, for convenience. A database was designed on the results obtained in a clinical interview on alcohol consumption and the application of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Contribution: The evaluation of cognitive functions show similar results, the male sex presented a better score in Attention and the female one in Orientation. More involvement was identified in the Deferred Memory functions in both groups. In relation to alcohol consumption, the cognitive functions evaluated show lower levels. The female gender was more evident cognitive impairment in relation to alcohol consumption being statistically significant (p <0.025). Alcohol consumption is a risky behavior that deserves to be recognized by the main actors about neurocognitive effects. Alcohol consumption prevention programs and cognitive diagnostic tools are appropriate strategies to reduce risk behaviors in mental health.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Yan Luo ◽  
Cho Rong Won ◽  
Jiyoung Lee ◽  
Jeongwon Baik

BACKGROUND The use of social media or social networking sites (SNS) is increasing across all age groups, and one of the primary motives of using SNS is to seek health-related information. Although previous research examining the effect of SNS use on depression exist, studies regarding the effect of SNS use for health purpose on depression is limited. OBJECTIVE Our study aims to explore the relationship between SNS use for health purpose and depression across the four age groups (18-34 years old, 35-49 years old, 50-64 years old, and above 65 years old). METHODS A sample of 6,789 adults aged 18 and older was extracted from a 2017 and 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Univariate and bivariate analyses to examine the association between each variable and four age groups were conducted. Multiple linear regression analyses to predict depression level among participants with use of SNS for health purpose were conducted. RESULTS SNS use for health purpose and depression were positively associated for three age groups but not for those 65 years or older (=0.13, P<0.05; =0.08, P<0.05; =0.09, P<0.05). Income and self-reported health status indicated an inverse relationship for all age groups. The relationship with marital status differed based on age group with 18 and 34 years old showing an inverse relationship (=-0.13, P<0.01) while 65 years or older showing a positive relationship (=0.06, P<0.05). Gender was positively associated among those in the 35-49 years old (=0.09, P<0.05) and 65 years or older (=0.07, P<0.05). Being Non-Hispanic White was positively associated with depression among 50-64 years old (=0.07, P<0.001) and 65 years or older (=0.08, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Age-tailored education on determining accurate and reliable information shared via SNS is needed to reduce depressive symptoms.


Author(s):  
Rumi Tano ◽  
Hiroko Miura ◽  
Katsuo Oshima ◽  
Kanako Noritake ◽  
Hideki Fukuda

Objective: The need to make sense of coherence in placement support for student dental hygienists has been shown. On this basis, this study investigated the relationship between the sense of coherence of student dental hygienists and their view of the profession and attitude to work in order to clarify how they perceive their prospects for employment. Methods: The subjects were graduation-year students at all of the dental hygienist training institutions in Japan, and anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were sent to the institutions by post in 2019. The results were analyzed by χ2 tests, as well as one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparisons using Tukey’s test, with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: Of 6270 questionnaires that were returned, 6264 were analyzed. The sense of coherence (SOC) component senses were manageability (F(26,221) = 5306.06, p < 0.01), meaningfulness (F(26,222) = 4373.48, p < 0.01), and comprehensibility (F(26,216) = 3986.12, p < 0.01), with meaningfulness scoring significantly higher than the other two (p < 0.01). Analysis with SOC scores divided into the low, medium, and high groups showed a relationship between the SOC of student dental hygienists and their view of the profession and attitude to work (p < 0.01), such that higher SOC scores were associated with a better view of the profession and a better attitude to work (F(26,225) = 282.18, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that education that increases SOC in dental hygienist training programs may positively affect future prospects for student dental hygienists.


2020 ◽  
pp. 009862832097989
Author(s):  
Michael T. Geier

Background: Previous research suggests a relationship between teacher behaviors and students’ effort. However, it is not clear what role the students’ expectations (i.e., importance of teacher behaviors) play in this relationship. Objective: Utilizing the teacher behavior checklist, this study sought to investigate whether teacher behaviors mediate the relationship between the importance students set on teacher behaviors and students’ effort. Further, the study explored which specific behaviors influence students’ effort. Method: Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed ( N = 159) using mediation analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression. Results: There was evidence that teacher behaviors mediate the relationship between the importance students set on teacher behaviors and students’ effort. Four of the 28 teacher behaviors had a significant relationship to students’ effort: creative and interesting, enthusiastic about teaching, happy/positive/humorous, and promotes critical thinking. Conclusion: Knowing students’ expectations (i.e., the importance of teacher behaviors) is essential to increasing students’ effort. Teaching Implications: Happy/positive/humorous had a negative relationship with students’ effort, while creative and interesting, enthusiastic about teaching, and promotes critical thinking showed a positive relationship with students’ effort.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 449-449
Author(s):  
Victoria Chen ◽  
Alysson Light

Abstract Possible selves are defined as “personalized representations of one’s self in future states” (Cross & Markus, 1991). Research has also found that thinking frequently about possible selves predicts lower well-being, whereas thinking clearly about possible selves is associated with higher well-being (McElwee & Haugh, 2010). However, possible selves differ across the lifespan (Hooker & Kaus, 1994; Cross & Markus, 1991) and life stages can impact exploration of possible identities (Arnett, 2000). Thus we hypothesize that the relationship between thought about possible selves and well-being differs across the lifespan. In a cross-sectional survey, 240 participants (age range: 18-92) reported on frequency and clarity of possible selves, as well as general self-clarity (Campbell et al., 1996). Results indicate curvilinear moderation by age of the link between possible self-clarity and well-being, with the association being stronger among midlife adults than among younger adults and older adults. Also, as clarity of feared possible selves increases, self-concept clarity decreases. Similarly, frequency of thinking about feared possible selves was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity. However, clarity and frequency of thought about hoped-for positive possible selves had no correlation with self-concept clarity.


Author(s):  
Hai Minh Vu ◽  
Tung Thanh Tran ◽  
Giang Thu Vu ◽  
Cuong Tat Nguyen ◽  
Chau Minh Nguyen ◽  
...  

Traffic collisions have continuously been ranked amongst the top causes of deaths in Vietnam. In particular, drinking has been recognized as a major factor amplifying the likelihood of traffic collisions in various settings. This study aims to examine the relationship between alcohol use and traffic collisions in the current context of Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 413 traffic collisions patients in six health facilities in the Thai Binh Province to investigate the level of alcohol consumption and identify factors influencing alcohol use among these patients. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scale was used to determine the problematic drinking behavior of the participants. The percentage of patients having problematic drinking was more than 30%. Being male, having a high household income, and working as farmer/worker were risk factors for alcohol abuse. People causing accidents and patients with a traumatic brain injury had a higher likelihood of drinking alcohol before the accidents. This study highlights the necessity of more stringent laws on reducing drink-driving in Vietnam. In addition, more interventions, especially those utilizing mass media like educational campaign of good behavior on social networks, are necessary to reduce alcohol consumption in targeted populations in order to decrease the prevalence and burden of road injuries.


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