Mental health symptoms among the nurses of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on healthcare staff and caused serious psychological distress. We aimed to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Bangladeshi nurses, as well as the relationship between occupational factors and mental health symptoms. We conducted a cross-sectional study among registered nurses in Bangladesh. We used the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to assess mental health symptoms. Results Among the 547 nurses included in the study, the prevalence of mild to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress was 50.5%, 51.8%, and 41.7% respectively, and 61.9% of the respondents reported mild to severe psychological impact for COVID-19. Psychological symptoms were more prevalent among female nurses than male nurses (p <0.05). Linear regression revealed that having complete personal protective equipment (PPE) during working was significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (p <0.05). Facing any emotional abuse working in the COVID-19 pandemic situation was significantly associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and greater psychological impact of the outbreak (p <0.05). Conclusions A high prevalence of mental health symptoms was observed in nurses. We recommend the implementation of mental well-being interventions and ensuring a proper work environment for nurses during the pandemic.

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Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the United Arab Emirates

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.633230 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Leila Cheikh Ismail ◽

Maysm N. Mohamad ◽

Mo'ath F. Bataineh ◽

Abir Ajab ◽

Amina M. Al-Marzouqi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

University Graduates ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken unprecedented precautionary measures including complete lockdowns against COVID-19 to control its spread and ensure the well-being of individuals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 and societal lockdown measures on the mental health of adults in the UAE. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English and Arabic online questionnaire between May and June 2020. The psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the social and family support impact was evaluated using questions from the Perceived Support Scale (PSS). A total of 4,426 participants (3,325 females and 1,101 males) completed the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score was 28.0 ± 14.6, reflecting a mild stressful impact with 27.3% reporting severe psychological impact. Over 36% reported increased stress from work, home and financial matters. Also, 43–63% of the participants felt horrified, apprehensive or helpless due to COVID-19. Females, younger participants, part-timers, and college or University graduates were more likely to have a high IES-R score (p < 0.05). The majority of participants reported receiving increased support from family members, paying more attention to their mental health, and spending more time to rest and relax. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the UAE residents and highlight the need to adopt culturally appropriate interventions for the general population and vulnerable groups, such as females and younger adults.

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Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Malaysian families: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050523 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. e050523

Author(s):

Zarina Thasneem Zainudeen ◽

Intan Juliana Abd Hamid ◽

Muhd Nur Akmal Azizuddin ◽

Firdaus Farhani Abu Bakar ◽

Salina Sany ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Job Security ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Family ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveTo investigate the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian families.DesignA cross-sectional study performed using an anonymous online questionnaire distributed through social media, email and the Department of Social Welfare.SettingMalaysian families were invited to answer the questionnaires. The sampling was performed between 12 May 2020 and 9 June 2020.InterventionThe psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES). The mental health status was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) 21.Main outcome measure(1) Psychological impact on Malaysian families. (2) Prevalence of mental health status of Malaysian families during COVID-19 pandemic.ResultA total of 409 Malaysian families have responded (409 parents and 348 children), 154 respondents (38%) reported high psychological impact (score 14) for psychological construct and 189 respondents (46%) reported high psychological impact (score 6) for behavioural construct. A significantly higher proportion of respondents with not permanent employment status of the family lead reported high psychological impact. The prevalence of anxiety reported from family respondents was 23%. Forty-five children answered the DASS-21 questionnaire; 28.5% reported anxiety, 31.4% reported depression and 13.3% reported stress. The job security status of the family lead was found to be the predictive factor for the mean total IES-R score (psychological construct) and ethnicity for mean total CRIES-8 and CRIES-13.ConclusionRates of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic were high. Findings suggest that urgent measures to ensure job security among Malaysian families are important to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial and mental health outcomes.

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The current pandemic, a complex emergency? Mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on highly vulnerable communities in Guatemala

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211027212 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110272

Author(s):

Dana Alonzo ◽

Marciana Popescu ◽

Pinar Zubaroglu-Ioannides

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Health Resources ◽

Health Impact ◽

Continuous Variables ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Complex Emergency ◽

The Impact

Background: On March 5th, Guatemala declared a ‘State of Calamity’ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown measures were initiated. The psychological consequences of these measures are yet to be fully understood. There is limited research on the psychological impact of the virus in the general population, and even less focused on Latin America and high-risk communities characterized by poverty, limited mental health resources, and high rates of stigma around mental illness. The goal of this study is to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 across several highly vulnerable districts in Guatemala. Methods: A semi-structured phone interview was conducted of 295 individuals in multiple districts in Guatemala City to assess self-perceived mental health consequences related to the pandemic. Sociodemographic, medical, and mental health data were collected. Chisquares and t-tests used for categorical and continuous variables, as appropriate, to describe the sample. Binary logistic regressions were estimated to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health symptoms (anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, escalation of pre-existing mental health symptoms, and a sense of safety). Results: The results indicate high levels of anxiety and stress in all target communities. Significant differences based on gender, age, and the number of children in the household were identified: women and older adults experience higher rates of stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic; while families with greater number of children experience higher levels of burnout. Conclusion: Contextualizing the current pandemic as a complex emergency can help inform further studies focusing on socioeconomic challenges and higher vulnerabilities as preconditions affecting the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Given the limited available resources for mental health care in Guatemala, informal networks of care may play an important role in meeting the needs of those individuals experiencing increased psychological distress resulting from the pandemic.

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Increase of internalized mental health symptoms among adolescents during the last three decades

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 925-931 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ida Blomqvist ◽

Eva Henje Blom ◽

Bruno Hägglöf ◽

Anne Hammarström

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Response Rate ◽

Self Report ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Previous studies suggest an overall increase of adolescent mental health symptoms globally since the 1980s until today, especially an increase of internalizing symptoms in girls. Due to methodological limitations of these studies, further studies are warranted to obtain a more solid knowledgebase. Methods This study was cross-sectional and compared two separate but geographically identical groups of adolescents in a middle-sized industrial municipality in Northern Sweden at two time-points [(i) 1981, n = 1083, (505 girls, 577 boys), response rate 99.7%; (ii) 2014, n = 682, (338 girls, 344 boys), response rate 98.3%]. All students in their last year of compulsory school were included. The same self-report questionnaire, consisting of four sub-scales (functional somatic-, anxiety-, depressive symptoms and conduct problems), was used at both occasions. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA and general linear model. Results Symptoms of anxiety and depression and functional somatic symptoms, increased among both boys and girls from 1981 until 2014 (P < 0.001 for all subscales), and the increase of these symptoms was higher in girls. Conduct problems were significantly higher in boys in 1981 and decreased over time so that in 2014 there was no longer a significant difference between boys and girls regarding conduct problems (P = 0.286). Conclusion In this population-based study spanning over 30 years, both girls and boys showed increasing internalizing problems, while conduct problems decreased. To halt this trend, we need a deeper understanding of the impact of the major societal changes that have occurred during the last three decades.

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Psychological responses and lifestyle changes among pregnant women with respect to the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764020952116 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002076402095211 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yingfei Zhang ◽

Zheng Feei Ma

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Event Scale ◽

Early Stages ◽

The Impact

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a profound impact on health and well-being of populations. However, there are limited studies that have investigated the psychological aspects of vulnerable groups including pregnant women amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese pregnant women from February 2020 until March 2020. Methods: Our study was conducted using a modified validated online questionnaire comprising of sociodemographic, the Impact of Event Scale (IES), attitude and mental health-related questions towards COVID-19. Results: A total of 560 women were included. The overall mean age and IES of women was 25.8 ± 2.7 years and 31.4 ± 13.7. Moreover, 67.1% of them had IES ⩾26. Psychological impact seemed to be more severe in women in second trimester of pregnancy (the highest IES) ( p = .016). There was a significant association between trimesters of pregnancy and some indicators of negative health impacts (including increased stress from work, increased stress from home, feeling apprehensive and helpless during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic) (all p < .05). Conclusions: Our results reported moderate-to-severe stressful impact among Chinese pregnant women. We recommend that appropriate measures should be taken to address the maternal mental health issues.

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Mental Health of the General Population during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Tale of Two Developing Countries

Psychiatry International ◽

10.3390/psychiatryint2010006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 71-84

Author(s):

Cuiyan Wang ◽

Mohammad A. Fardin ◽

Mahmoud Shirazi ◽

Riyu Pan ◽

Xiaoyang Wan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Health Information ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

Background: This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological impact, anxiety and depression between people from two developing countries, Iran and China, and to correlate mental health parameters with variables relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although China and Iran are developing countries based on the World Bank’s criteria, these two countries are different in access to resources and health care systems. We hypothesized that Iranians would show higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress as compared to Chinese. Methods: This study collected information related to the COVID-19 pandemic including physical health, precautionary measures and knowledge about the pandemic. We also used validated questionnaires such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health status. Results: There were a total of 1411 respondents (550 from Iran; 861 from China). The mean IES-R scores of respondents from both countries were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). Significantly more Iranians believed COVID-19 was transmitted via contact, practised hand hygiene, were unsatisfied with health information and expressed less confidence in their doctors, but were less likely to wear a facemask (p < 0.001). Significantly more Iranians received health information related to COVID-19 via television while Chinese preferred the Internet (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This cross-country study found that Iranians had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression as compared to Chinese. The difference in reported measures between respondents from Iran and China were due to differences in access to healthcare services and governments’ responses to the pandemic.

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Psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown among students and workers of a Spanish university

10.31234/osf.io/2sc84 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paula Odriozola-González ◽

Álvaro Planchuelo-Gómez ◽

María Jesús Irurtia-Muñiz ◽

Rodrigo de Luis-García

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

The University ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 in the university community during the first weeks of confinement. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The emotional impact of the situation was analyzed using the Impact of Event Scale. An online survey was fulfilled by 2530 members of the University of Valladolid, in Spain. Moderate to extremely severe scores of anxiety, depression, and stress were reported by 21.34%, 34.19% and 28.14% of the respondents, respectively. A total of 50.43% of respondents presented moderate to severe impact of the outbreak. Students from Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences & Law showed higher scores related to anxiety, depression, stress and impact of event with respect to students from Engineering & Architecture. University staff presented lower scores in all measures compared to students, who seem to have suffered an important psychological impact during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to provide timely crisis-oriented psychological services and to take preventive measures in future pandemic situations, mental health in university students should be carefully monitored.

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Psychological Impact of the Quarantine-Induced Stress during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak among Italian Athletes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238867 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8867

Author(s):

Alessandra di Cagno ◽

Andrea Buonsenso ◽

Francesca Baralla ◽

Elisa Grazioli ◽

Giulia Di Martino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Team Sport ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Induced Stress ◽

The Impact ◽

Gender Type

The 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak caused home confinement, as well as training and sport competitions withdrawals. The prolonged inactivity impact, and lack of in-person interactions among teammates-coaches, could negatively affect athletes. Total of 1508 self-selected Italian athletes, 338 children (aged 10.52 ± 1.31), 499 adolescents (aged 14.17 ± 1.13), and 671 adults (aged 27.59 ± 10.73), completed the Impact of Event Scale (IES-8, IES-15, and IES-R, respectively). Differences by gender, type of sport (individual vs. team), and competitive level (elite vs. amateur) were examined. One-way ANOVAs showed, in adults, significant differences between genders for perceived stress impact total score (TS; p = 0.017) and avoidance behavior, with higher scores in women (p = 0.045). Between individual and team sport, significant differences were found in TS (p = 0.038) and hyperarousal (p = 0.030), with higher results in individual. Adult elite athletes showed significantly higher scores in hyperarousal (p = 0.020) than amateurs. Significant differences were found between gender in adolescents for avoidance (p = 0.011), and between competitive levels in children, for intrusion (p = 0.020). These evidences may raise awareness on distress effects of COVID-19 lockdown among athletes and suggested applying specific well-being protocols during the activity resumption, considering gender, type of sport, and competitive level.

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Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Among the General Population in Jordan

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.618993 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Moawiah Khatatbeh ◽

Aws Khasawneh ◽

Hasan Hussein ◽

Omar Altahat ◽

Fadwa Alhalaiqa

Keyword(s):

Family Member ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Average Score ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Psychological Burden ◽

Cross Sectional Design ◽

The Impact

Objective: Pandemics are claimed to result in certain stressors. However, the potential psychological impact of a pandemic is often overlooked. The current study aimed to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Jordanians and to evaluate the influence of the socio-demographic variables on this impact.Method: The current study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design using the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R) via a web-based questionnaire. The researchers utilized convenience sampling which led to a total of 2,854 participants from the 12 governorates of Jordan.Results: The average score of the participants' responses on the IES-R questionnaire turned out to be 22.5 ± 11.7. Females were found to have more than double the odds of having an increased IES-R score [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2, confidence interval (CI) = 1.76–2.67] and participants who were older than 65 years had triple the odds of having the same risk compared to young adults aged 18–25 years (OR = 3.1, CI = 1.3–7.4). Significantly, having a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 placed individuals at a 7-fold higher risk of having an increased IRS-R score compared to their counterparts who did not have a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 (OR = 7, CI = 3.7–13.3).Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant level of psychological burden on Jordanians, especially among females. Governments should collaborate with psychiatrists, mental health professionals and local institutions to offer high-quality, timely crisis-oriented psychological services to the affected individuals for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID-19 and the Mental Health of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab157 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alyson L Mahar ◽

Christina R Rindlisbacher ◽

Megan Edgelow ◽

Shailee Siddhpuria ◽

Julie Hallet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Military Training ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Canadian Armed Forces ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Background There are no data on the impact of COVID-19 and associated public health measures, including sheltering at home, travel restrictions, and changes in health care provision, on the mental health of older veterans. This information is necessary for government and philanthropic agencies to tailor mental health supports, services, and resources for veterans in the peri- and post-pandemic periods. The objective of this study was to compare mental health symptoms between Canadian Armed Forces (CAFs) veterans and the general Canadian older adult population in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of older adults in the national Canadian COVID-19 Coping Study. Individuals aged 55 years and older were eligible. A convenience sample of older adults was recruited through a web-based survey administered between May 01, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Canadian Armed Force military service history status (yes/no) was ascertained. The eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the three-item Loneliness Scale were used to measure mental health symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression compared the odds of screening positive for depression, anxiety, and loneliness between veterans and non-veterans. Results Of 1,541 respondents who answered the final question (87% survey completeness rate), 210 were veterans. Forty percent of veterans met criteria for at least one of the mental health diagnoses compared to 46% of non-veterans (P = .12). The odds of reporting elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were similar for veteran and non-veteran respondents after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Veterans’ report of mental health symptoms was similar to the general population Spring 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although veterans’ military training may better prepare them to adapt in the face of a pandemic, additional research is needed to understand the longitudinal impacts on physical and mental health.

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