Symptoms of anxiety/depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown in the community: longitudinal data from the TEMPO cohort in France

Abstract Background To cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing restrictions where implemented in France, which could have led to social isolation. This is expected to have affected the mental health situation, including increasing risk of symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general population. Persons with prior mental health difficulties could be an especially vulnerable group, however, few studies have tested this empirically considering preexisting mental health difficulties. We examine the association between preexisting symptoms of anxiety/depression and anxiety/depression during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal community sample. Methods A longitudinal follow-up during lockdown (data collection March–June 2020) was implemented among participants of the TEMPO cohort. Prior knowledge of anxiety/depression was included from prior waves of data collection. Generalized estimation equations models were used to estimate the association between preexisting symptoms of anxiety/depression and symptoms of anxiety/depression during lockdown among 662 mid-aged individuals. Results Individuals with symptoms of anxiety/depression measured prior to lockdown had 6.73 higher odds [95% CI = 4.45–10.17] of symptoms of anxiety/depression during lockdown. Additionally, the likelihood of symptoms of anxiety/depression during lockdown was elevated among women (OR = 2.07 [95% CI = 1.32–3.25]), subjects with low household income (OR = 2.28 [1.29–4.01]) and persons who reported being lonely (OR = 3.94 [95% CI = 2.47–6.28]). Conclusions Our study underlines the role of preexisting symptoms of anxiety/depression as a vulnerability factor of anxiety/depression during lockdown. Interventions focusing on individuals with mental health difficulties as well as people feeling lonely should be considered, to reduce the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Impact of COVID-19-like symptoms on occurrence of anxiety/depression during lockdown among the French general population

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0255158 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0255158

Author(s):

Murielle Mary-Krause ◽

Joel José Herranz Bustamante ◽

Mégane Héron ◽

Astrid Juhl Andersen ◽

Tarik El Aarbaoui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Data Collection ◽

Self Report ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Health Related ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Generalized Estimation Equation ◽

Study Participants ◽

Anxiety Depression

Background The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic lead to high levels of morbidity and mortality around the globe. Consequences of this outbreak and possible associated infection are an increase in mental health disorders and an increased likelihood of internalizing problems, particularly depression. However, to date few studies have tested this hypothesis while taking into account individuals’ preexisting mental health difficulties. Methods We used longitudinal data collected among 729 persons in the context of the French TEMPO cohort between March and June 2020 (7 waves of data collection). COVID-19-like symptoms as well as anxiety/depression (assessed by the Adult Self Report), were reported at each wave of data collection. To study the relationship between COVID-19-like symptoms and anxiety/depression, we used generalized estimation equation (GEE) models controlled for socio-demographic and health-related characteristics, including anxiety/depression prior to 2020. Results Overall, 27.2% of study participants reported anxiety/depression during lockdown. 17.1% of participants reported COVID-19-like symptoms during the course of follow-up, 7.3% after the beginning of lockdown, with an average number of 2.7 symptoms, and 3.6% reported respiratory distress. In multivariate analyses, nearly all the considered indicators of COVID-19-like symptoms were associated with higher odds of symptoms of anxiety/depression (symptoms Yes/No: OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.08–2.55; symptoms after the beginning of lockdown: OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.03–3.52; number of symptoms: OR for each additional symptom = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.02–1.39. This relationship exists after taking into account prior symptoms of anxiety/depression, which are associated with a 5-fold increased likelihood of psychological distress. And this impact is stronger among men than women. Conclusions Our study shows higher risk of anxiety/depression among persons who experienced COVID-19-like symptoms, even after accounting for prior mental health difficulties. COVID-19 infection could have both a direct and indirect impact on the occurrence of psychological difficulties, and this association should be studied in greater detail.

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The psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health in the general population

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcaa201 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (8) ◽

pp. 531-537 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

G Serafini ◽

B Parmigiani ◽

A Amerio ◽

A Aguglia ◽

L Sher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Psychological Reactions ◽

Chinese City ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact

Abstract As a result of the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a situation of socio-economic crisis and profound psychological distress rapidly occurred worldwide. Various psychological problems and important consequences in terms of mental health including stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, uncertainty during COVID-19 outbreak emerged progressively. This work aimed to comprehensively review the current literature about the impact of COVID-19 infection on the mental health in the general population. The psychological impact of quarantine related to COVID-19 infection has been additionally documented together with the most relevant psychological reactions in the general population related to COVID-19 outbreak. The role of risk and protective factors against the potential to develop psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals has been addressed as well. The main implications of the present findings have been discussed.

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Racial Discrimination Predicts Mental Health Outcomes Beyond the Role of Personality Traits in a Community Sample of African Americans

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702620957318 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 216770262095731

Author(s):

Yara Mekawi ◽

Courtland S. Hyatt ◽

Jessica Maples-Keller ◽

Sierra Carter ◽

Vasiliki Michopoulos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

African Americans ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Community Sample ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Hierarchical Regression

Despite a consistent body of work documenting associations between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes, the utility and validity of these findings have recently been questioned because some authors have posited that personality traits may account for these associations. To test this hypothesis in a community sample of African Americans ( n = 419, age: M = 43.96 years), we used bivariate relations and hierarchical regression analyses to determine whether racial discrimination accounted for additional variance in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms beyond the role of personality. Bivariate relations between personality traits and racial discrimination were small and positive (i.e., rs ≈ .10). Regression results demonstrated that racial discrimination accounted for variance in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress independent of personality traits ( ps < .01). These results suggest that personality traits do not fully explain associations between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes, further supporting the detrimental impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of African Americans.

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Sex Difference in the Association between Electronic Cigarette Use and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking among U.S. Adolescents: Findings from the PATH Study Waves 1–4

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1695

Author(s):

Zongshuan Duan ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Jidong Huang

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Estimation Equations ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Prospective Association

E-cigarettes are the most-used tobacco products among U.S. adolescents. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents using e-cigarettes are at elevated risk for initiating cigarette smoking. However, whether this risk may differ by sex remains unknown. This study analyzed data from Wave 1 to 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey. Generalized estimation equations (GEE) were performed to estimate the associations between baseline e-cigarette use and subsequent cigarette smoking, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health conditions, and other tobacco use. Effect modifications by sex were examined. Multivariate analyses showed that, among baseline never cigarette smokers, past-30-day e-cigarette use at baseline waves was significantly associated with past-30-day cigarette smoking at follow-up waves (aOR = 3.90, 95% CI: 2.51–6.08). This association was significantly stronger for boys (aOR = 6.17, 95% CI: 2.43–15.68) than for girls (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.14–8.33). Additionally, using other tobacco products, older age, and having severe externalizing mental health problems at baseline were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of cigarette smoking at follow-up. The prospective association between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking differs by sex among U.S. adolescents. Sex-specific tobacco control interventions may be warranted to curb the youth tobacco use epidemic.

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Sexual Violence and Mental Health: An Analysis of the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion Using a Feminist Lens

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/10778012211012097 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107780122110120

Author(s):

Paige McAllister ◽

Amber Vennum

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Cultural Narratives ◽

Self Blame ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Undergraduate Women ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Feminist Theories ◽

Anxiety Depression

Feminist theories describe how women who experience sexual violence often internalize cultural narratives which can lead to self-blame and disconnection. Self-compassion has the potential to provide a buffer against these negative outcomes. This study explored self-compassion as a mediator of the association between experiencing sexual violence and negative mental health outcomes. The sample consisted of 368 undergraduate women. A path analysis revealed that experiencing sexual violence prior to the beginning of the semester was positively associated with self-criticism, anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms at the end of the semester directly and indirectly through self-compassion mid-semester. Clinical and research implications are also discussed.

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Identifying mental health difficulties in children & young people: the role of schools

10.13056/acamh.13021 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Good Place ◽

Early Signs ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

Schools may be a particularly good place to pick up on the early signs of mental health difficulties. Emma Soneson and Tamsin Ford outline the reasons for this

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Understanding the Mental Health Needs of a Community-Sample of UK Women Veterans

Illness Crisis & Loss ◽

10.1177/10541373211070487 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105413732110704

Author(s):

Laura Josephine Hendrikx ◽

Charlotte Williamson ◽

Julia Baumann ◽

Dominic Murphy

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Community Sample ◽

Women Veterans ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Health Needs ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

Women are often underrepresented or entirely missing from veteran research, and there remains limited understanding of their mental health needs. The present study investigated the mental health needs of a community sample of UK women veterans. A total of 750/1680 (44.6%) participants completed an online survey. Data was collected on sociodemographic and military factors, mental health and wellbeing, and childhood adversity. Findings revealed a high prevalence and comorbidity of mental health difficulties, including common mental health difficulties (28.6%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (10.8%). Women veterans who were older, not working, held a lower rank during service, perceived less social support and experienced greater loneliness were more likely to report such difficulties. Results further revealed high childhood and military adversity, and wellbeing difficulties. Such findings provide insight into the needs of women veterans and have implications for providing appropriate support. Considerations of the generalizability of findings are discussed.

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Can Old Dogs be Taught New Tricks or Will Sea Directors be Allowed to Monitor?

Journal of Education ◽

10.1177/002205747916100304 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 161 (3) ◽

pp. 23-39

Author(s):

Philip R. Jones ◽

R. Wayne Mooers

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Mental Retardation ◽

Public Sector ◽

Data Collection ◽

Residential Programs ◽

Related Services ◽

State Education ◽

Three Stages

State education agencies have evolved through at least three stages: inspectorial; data collection; and consultation. SEA personnel for the most part have felt quite comfortable in the more recent “friendly helper” or “white hat” role rather than the “black hat” role of the inspectorial stage. PL 94-142 now places the SEA in a monitoring (inspectorial) phase not only for LEAs but for all public and nonpublic day or residential programs providing special education and related services. SEA standards must be enforced at the LEA level, which many existing SEA staff may find uncomfortable or objectionable. The problem is deeper, however, when the private sector, or other public sector agencies such as corrections, mental health, mental retardation, developmental disabilities, public health, and welfare, also have an accountability to the SEA. This article will present many concerns in the above areas, suggest possible solutions, and more importantly, examine the need for a new breed of SEA staff.

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