Binge Eating and Binge Drinking in Emerging Adults During COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: An Examination of Protective and Risk Factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110585
Author(s):  
Dora Bianchi ◽  
Roberto Baiocco ◽  
Sara Pompili ◽  
Antonia Lonigro ◽  
Anna Di Norcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Contextual Risk ◽  
Lower Education ◽  
Related Stress

This study investigated binge behaviors during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, exploring individual and contextual risk factors. Participants were 1925 emerging adults ( M age = 24.18, SD age = 2.75; 71.9% women), recruited during the national lockdown in Italy. An online survey investigated binge behaviors both prior and during quarantine. Binge drinking significantly diminished during quarantine, while binge eating episodes did not vary in frequency. However, participants with pre-existent binge eating disorder (BED) reported a worsening in BED symptoms. Lower education, lower SES, job suspension due to lockdown, and higher pandemic-related stress were associated to an increase in binge behaviors during home confinement, whereas living with family was a protective factor. Participants reporting co-occurrent binge behaviors also had significantly higher pandemic-related stress and lower perceived support during home confinement, in comparison with no-binge participants. The study provides new insights about protective and risk factors for binge behaviors in emerging adults during COVID-19 lockdown.

scholarly journals Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9189
Author(s):  
Elyse R. Grossman ◽  
Sara E. Benjamin-Neelon ◽  
Susan Sonnenschein
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Drinking Behaviors ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Linear Regressions

Emerging but limited evidence suggests that alcohol consumption has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed: (1) whether drinking behaviors changed during the pandemic; and, (2) how those changes were impacted by COVID-19-related stress. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with a convenience sample of U.S. adults over 21 years in May 2020. We conducted adjusted linear regressions to assess COVID-19 stress and alcohol consumption, adjusting for gender, race, ethnicity, age, and household income. A total of 832 responded: 84% female, 85% White, and 72% ages 26–49. Participants reported consuming 26.8 alcohol drinks on 12.2 of the past 30 days. One-third of participants (34.1%) reported binge drinking and 7.0% reported extreme binge drinking. Participants who experienced COVID-19-related stress (versus not) reported consuming more drinks (β = 4.7; CI (0.2, 9.1); p = 0.040) and a greater number of days drinking (β = 2.4; CI (0.6, 4.1); p = 0.007). Additionally, 60% reported increased drinking but 13% reported decreased drinking, compared to pre-COVID-19. Reasons for increased drinking included increased stress (45.7%), increased alcohol availability (34.4%), and boredom (30.1%). Participants who reported being stressed by the pandemic consumed more drinks over a greater number of days, which raises concerns from both an individual and public health perspective.

scholarly journals Stressful Experiences in University Predict Non-suicidal Self-Injury Through Emotional Reactivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe A. Hamza ◽  
Abby L. Goldstein ◽  
Nancy L. Heath ◽  
Lexi Ewing
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Specific Risk ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
History Of ◽  
Stressful Experiences

Theoretical perspectives on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; direct and deliberate self-injury without lethal intent such as self-cutting or hitting) have long underscored the affective regulating properties of NSSI. Less attention has been given to the processes through which individuals choose to engage in NSSI, specifically, to regulate their distress. In the present study, we tested one theoretical model in which recent stressful experiences facilitates NSSI through emotional reactivity. Further, we tested whether the indirect link between stressful experiences and NSSI was moderated by several NSSI specific risk factors (e.g., having friends who engage in NSSI). Given the widespread prevalence of NSSI among community-based samples of adolescents and emerging adults, we surveyed 1,125 emerging adults in first-year university at a large academic institution (72% female, Mage = 17.96, 25% with a recent history of NSSI at Time 1). Participants completed an online survey three times (assessments were 4 months apart), reporting on their recent stressful experiences in university, emotional reactivity, NSSI, as well as three NSSI specific risk factors (i.e., close friend engagement in NSSI, high self-disgust, and low fear of pain). As expected, path analysis revealed that there was a significant indirect effect of recent stressful experiences on NSSI engagement, through emotional reactivity. However, this effect was maintained across moderator analyses. These novel findings underscore the salient role of proximally occurring stressors in the prediction of NSSI among emerging adults in university, and can inform developing theoretical perspectives on NSSI.

scholarly journals Adverse Psychological Reactions and Psychological Aids for Medical Staff During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinji Su ◽  
Xiaoyun Ma ◽  
Shun Liu ◽  
Shaogang Liu ◽  
Bernard A. Goodman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Reactions ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 caused panic and psychological stress throughout the World. We investigated the extent of adverse psychological reactions in two medical staff groups in China, and explored the importance of online psychological assistance for them.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was utilized to assess anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to match sex and age between the two groups. Differences in the prevalence of adverse psychological reactions between the two groups were compared by a Chi-square test. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to search for associated adverse psychological reaction factors of two groups.Results: A total of 2,920 medical staff took part in the survey, including 470 frontline and 2,450 non-frontline medical staff. The risk of the frontline group experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia-early, insomnia-middle, and insomnia-late were 1.16, 1.28, 1.26, 1.22, 1.28 times those of the non-frontline group after PSM. For frontline medical staff, the spinsterhood state (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.00–1.51; P = 0.05) was a risk factor for anxiety. Bachelor or college degree (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.24–4.02, P = 0.01) and a contact history with COVID-19 patients (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.10–2.40; P = 0.02) were risk factors for insomnia. For non-frontline medical staff, being a woman (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08–2.06, P = 0.01) was a risk factor for anxiety, whilst being in a middle age group was a protective factor for anxiety (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50–0.99, P = 0.04) and depression (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.93, P = 0.02). Being a woman (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14–1.89, P = 0.003) and working in a COVID-19 unit (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11–1.54, P = 0.001) were risk factors for insomnia, whilst the spinsterhood state (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67–0.95; P = 0.01) was a protective factor for insomnia. Online forms of psychological aid were all popular with medical staff.Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in frontline medical staff was significantly higher than in the non-frontline group. Appropriate intervention methods should be adopted according to the different influencing factors of the two groups. Online psychological aid was the preferred mechanism for relieving psychological problems.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Anxiety of Adolescents Aged 13–16 Years: A Comparative Analysis of Longitudinal Data From China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Qin ◽  
Yueyue Ding ◽  
Jing Gao ◽  
Yun Wu ◽  
Haitao Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Somatic Anxiety ◽  
Learning Anxiety

Background: Adolescence is an important stage of psychological development, and the psychological and mental problems of many adults are affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. The aim of this study was to understand the psychological status of this group during the epidemic, and to determine the risk factors leading to psychological stress, as well as protective factors.Methods: An online survey was run on April 2, 2020. The participants were 254 adolescents aged 13–16 years from a junior high school in Jiangsu, China. The results were compared with the pre-epidemic data, which came from the psychological status survey routinely carried out by the school. Mental health variables were assessed via the Mental Health Test that included one validity subscale and eight content subscales.Results: The number of adolescents with poor mental health increased significantly from 12.3 to 24.2%. There was significant increase in learning anxiety (33.7 vs. 56.4%), sensitivity tendency (19.8 vs. 46%), somatic anxiety (13.9 vs. 40.7%) and phobia tendency (4.4 vs. 10.1%). During the epidemic, there were significant differences between adolescents with normal and poor mental health in family structure, personality, relationship with siblings, daily exercise time, and risk of family members coming in contact with COVID-19. Living in stem family, no siblings, and risk of contracting COVID-19 from family members were significant risk factors for teenagers with poor mental health. Risk of contracting COVID-19 from family members was the most influential risk factor for learning anxiety, self-blaming tendency, sensitivity tendency, and somatic anxiety. Exercising for ≥1 h per day was a significant protective factor for poor mental health.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 epidemic, adolescents aged 13–16 years have had psychosocial problems, especially learning anxiety, sensitivity tendency, somatic anxiety, and phobia tendency, as well as risk factors for developing them. Our study provides insights for potential interventions.

scholarly journals COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle changes: A United Kingdom (UK) retrospective case-control study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Alvergne ◽  
Gabriella Kountourides ◽  
Austin Argentieri ◽  
Lisa Agyen ◽  
Natalie Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Menstrual Bleeding ◽  
White Background ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
The Uk

Objectives. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of menstrual changes following vaccination against COVID-19, (2) to test potential risk factors for any such changes, and (3) to identify patterns of symptoms in participants' written accounts. Design. A secondary analysis of a retrospective online survey titled The Covid-19 Pandemic and Women's Reproductive Health , conducted in March 2021 in the UK before widespread media attention regarding potential impacts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on menstruation. Setting. Participants were recruited via a Facebook ad campaign in the UK. Participants. Eligibility criteria for survey completion were age greater than 18 years, having ever menstruated and currently living in the UK. In total, 26,710 people gave consent and completed the survey. For this analysis we selected 4,989 participants who were pre-menopausal and vaccinated. These participants were aged 28 to 43, predominantly from England (81%), of white background (95%) and not using hormonal contraception (58%). Main outcome measure. Reports of any menstrual changes (yes/no) following COVID-19 vaccination and words used to describe menstrual changes. Results. Among pre-menopausal vaccinated individuals (n=4,989), 80% did not report any menstrual cycle changes up to 4 months after their first COVID-19 vaccine injection. Current use of combined oral contraceptives was associated with lower odds of reporting any changes by 48% (OR = 0.52, 95CI = [0.34 to 0.78], P<0.001). Odds of reporting any menstrual changes were increased by 44% for current smokers (OR = 1.16, 95CI = [1.06 to 1.26], P<0.01) and by more than 50% for individuals with a positive COVID status [Long Covid (OR = 1.61, 95CI = [1.28 to 2.02], P<0.001), acute COVID (OR = 1.54, 95CI = [1.27 to 1.86], P<0.001)]. The effects remain after adjusting for self-reported magnitude of menstrual cycle changes over the year preceding the survey. Written accounts report diverse symptoms; the most common words include 'cramps', 'late', 'early', 'spotting', 'heavy' and 'irregular', with a low level of clustering among them. Conclusions. Following vaccination for COVID-19, menstrual disturbance occurred in 20% of individuals in a UK sample. Out of 33 variables investigated, smoking and a previous history of SARS-CoV-2 infection are found to be risk factors while using oestradiol-containing contraceptives was found to be a protective factor. Diverse experiences were reported, from menstrual bleeding cessation to heavy menstrual bleeding.

scholarly journals Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dora Bianchi ◽  
Roberto Baiocco ◽  
Antonia Lonigro ◽  
Sara Pompili ◽  
Marta Zammuto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Introduction This study investigated the relationships of pandemic-related stress and coping strategies with different kinds of sexting (i.e., experimental, risky, and emotional) during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Italian context. Methods A sample of 1929 emerging adults (Mage = 24.17, SDage = 2.75; 71.6% girls) completed an online survey about their sexting behaviors during the national lockdown in Italy. Data were gathered in April/May 2020, from 6th to 11th week of home confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were performed. Results Pandemic-related stress directly predicted only risky and emotional sexting. Experimental and emotional sexting were positively predicted by social support, and negatively predicted by turning to religion. Risky and emotional sexting were positively predicted by avoidance, and negatively predicted by problem solving. Adaptive coping (i.e., social support) mediated the relationships from pandemic-related stress to both experimental and emotional sexting. Maladaptive coping (i.e., avoidance and problem solving) mediated the relationships from pandemic related-stress to risky and emotional sexting. Conclusions Sexting was a coping tool during COVID-19 lockdown, showing both adaptive and maladaptive facets. Policy Implications Findings suggest new directions for implementing programs of sexual education and safer Internet use targeted to young people.

scholarly journals Risk factors for self-reported delinquency in emerging adulthood

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Hill ◽  
Arjan A.J. Blokland ◽  
Victor R. van der Geest
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Risk Effects ◽  
Two Factors

The goal of this study is to examine risk factors for delinquency in emerging adulthood, highlighting any differences between those generally found for adolescent delinquent behaviour. The importance of examining risk factors for this age group is discussed, given recent changes in the nature of the early adult years, and the fact that, although the majority of adolescent offenders desist during adulthood, there remain a high number of offenders in the early adult years. Risk effects for self-reported delinquency were examined in a general population sample of emerging adults (age 18–24). A range of risk factor measures, such as peer delinquency, need for autonomy, parental support and substance use, were used to predict reporting of at least one arrestable offence in a six-month period beginning a year later. In the full model, parental social support, alcohol use and a measure of self-control, aggression and criminal attitude all significantly predicted delinquency. We conclude that a good relationship with parents continues to be an important protective factor and that alcohol use continues to indicate problems with delinquency during emerging adulthood, similarly to during adolescence. These two factors are discussed as being suitable issues for interventions. We also discuss the theoretical implications of our findings.

scholarly journals Being the Family Caregiver of a Patient With Dementia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Zucca ◽  
Valeria Isella ◽  
Raffaele Di Lorenzo ◽  
Camillo Marra ◽  
Annachiara Cagnin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Psychological Disturbances ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
The Family ◽  
Containment Measure ◽  
Lower Education ◽  
The Impact

Background: Family caregivers of patients with dementia are at high risk of stress and burden, and quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have increased the risk of psychological disturbances in this population. The current study was carried out during the national lockdown declared in March 2020 by the Italian government as a containment measure of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and is the first nationwide survey on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the mental health of dementia informal caregivers.Methods: Eighty-seven dementia centers evenly distributed on the Italian territory enrolled 4,710 caregiver–patient pairs. Caregivers underwent a telephone interview assessing classical symptoms of caregiver stress and concern for the consequences of COVID-19 infection on patient’s health. We calculated prevalence of symptoms and regressed them on various potential stress risk factors: caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle, patients’ clinical features, and lockdown-related elements, like discontinuity in medical care.Results: Approximately 90% of caregivers reported at least one symptom of stress, and nearly 30% reported four or more symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms were concern for consequences of COVID-19 on patient’s health (75%) and anxiety (46%). The main risk factors for stress were identified as a conflicting relationship with the patient and discontinuity in assistance, but caregiver’s female sex, younger age, lower education, and cohabitation with the patient also had an impact. Availability of help from institutions or private individuals showed a protective effect against sense of abandonment but a detrimental effect on concern about the risk for the patient to contract COVID-19. The only protective factor was mild dementia severity, which was associated with a lower risk of feeling isolated and abandoned; type of dementia, on the other hand, did not affect stress risk.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the large prevalence of stress in family caregivers of patients with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic and have identified both caregivers and situations at a higher risk of stress, which should be taken into account in the planning of interventions in support of quarantined families and patients.

Low Back Pain in Commercial Airline Pilots

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 940-947
Author(s):  
Matthias Albermann ◽  
Maria Lehmann ◽  
Christian Eiche ◽  
Joachim Schmidt ◽  
Johannes Prottengeier
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
German Population ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Airline Pilots ◽  
Acute Low Back Pain ◽  
Commercial Airline ◽  
Negative Effect

BACKGROUND: In their working life, airline pilots are exposed to particular risk factors that promote nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Because of the varying incidence internationally, we evaluated the point prevalences of acute, subacute, and chronic nonspecific LBP, as well as the current prevalences in German airline pilots. Furthermore, we compared the prevalence to the general German population and to European counterparts.METHODS: An anonymous online survey of 698 participating German airline pilots was evaluated. The impairment between groups was analyzed. Prevalences from our data were compared to existing data.RESULTS: The following point prevalences were found: 8.2% acute, 2.4% subacute, 82.7% chronic LBP; 74.1% of all individuals were suffering from current LBP when answered the questionnaire. A total time spent flying greater than 600 h within the last 12 mo was significantly related to acute nonspecific LBP. Individuals with any type of LBP were significantly impaired compared to those unaffected. It was found that German airline pilots suffer more often from current LBP than the general population and have a higher point prevalence of total LBP than their European counterparts.CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation showed a surprisingly high, previously unidentified, prevalence of nonspecific LBP in German airline pilots. Why German airline pilots suffer more often from LBP remains uncertain. The number of flying hours appears to have a negative effect on developing acute low back pain, but causation cannot be concluded. Other risk factors could not be confirmed.Albermann M, Lehmann M, Eiche C, Schmidt J, Prottengeier J. Low back pain in commercial airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):940947.

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