Observed effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life satisfaction, psychological distress and loneliness of Australian carers and non-carers

Using six waves of longitudinal data, we investigate wellbeing, psychological distress and loneliness differences between informal carers and non-carers in the context of COVID-19-related policy changes in Australia. Wellbeing levels fluctuated along with the virus case numbers. Free childcare temporarily alleviated the disparity between carers and non-carers, but by its cessation, carers, in particular, reported lower wellbeing and higher psychological distress. Wage subsidies and income supports had opposing effects for carers’ and non-carers’ mental health but decreased the loneliness of both groups. Victorians, living in the state where the second wave of infections in Australia was concentrated, experienced worse outcomes than other Australians.

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Exploring the Contributions of School Belonging to Complete Mental Health Screening

The Educational and Developmental Psychologist ◽

10.1017/edp.2016.8 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 16-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kathryn Moffa ◽

Erin Dowdy ◽

Michael J. Furlong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

School Belonging ◽

Health Screening ◽

Mental Health Screening ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Screening Process ◽

Global Life Satisfaction ◽

Complete Mental Health

Considering the many positive outcomes associated with adolescents’ sense of school belonging, including psychological functioning, it is possible that including an assessment of school belonging within a complete mental health screening process could contribute to the prediction of students’ future mental health status. This exploratory study used complete mental health screening data obtained from a central California high school (N= 1,159). At Time 1 (T1) schoolwide screening was used to identify complete mental health groups by applying a dual-factor strategy and concurrently measuring students’ school belonging. One year later at Time 2 (T2), social-emotional wellbeing and internal distress were assessed. Cross-sectional T1 results indicated that there were significant differences in school belonging between students who reported low global life satisfaction and those who reported average or high global life satisfaction, regardless of reported level of psychological distress. A comparison of T1 to T2 data revealed that global life satisfaction and psychological distress were predictive of wellbeing and internal distress. However, contrary to study expectations, school belonging at T1 added little to the prediction of T2 psychological distress beyond the information already provided by the T1 dual-factor screening framework. Implications for practice and future directions are discussed.

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Personal And Work-Related Correlates Of Mental Health In Slovak Women In Higher Education

Journal of Diversity Management (JDM) ◽

10.19030/jdm.v5i3.814 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Rosemary Krawczyk ◽

Jon Kalinowski

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Higher Education ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Locus Of Control ◽

Role Conflict ◽

Women In Higher Education ◽

Work Related ◽

Two Samples ◽

Mental Health Symptomatology

Two samples of Slovak women in higher education were surveyed in order to determine the extent to which the personal attributes of locus of control and life satisfaction and work-related attributes of role conflict and ambiguity are related to mental health symptomatology. The personal attribute of external locus of control correlated positively with symptoms of psychological distress. Life satisfaction correlated negatively with mental health. Role conflict and ambiguity each correlated positively with all symptoms of psychological distress. Moderating effects of locus of control and life satisfaction were not found. Results are discussed in relation to findings from similar surveys of U.S. women in higher education and with respect to changes in higher education in post-communist Central and Eastern European countries.

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How Labor Values Affect Mental Health: An Analysis From the Perspective of Social Support

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.783569 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yuliang Gu ◽

Xiaomei Chao

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Secondary School ◽

Secondary School Students ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

School Students ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Primary And Secondary School

To explore the positive and negative effects of labor values on mental health from the aspects of life satisfaction and psychological distress, and further verify the mediating role of social support. A total of 2,691 primary and secondary school students were surveyed by Labor Values Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Social Support, General Health Questionnaire and Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the results of which showed that as: (1) labor values can positively predict life satisfaction, while they are negatively correlated with psychological distress; (2) social support can play a mediating role between labor values and life satisfaction; and (3) social support can also play a mediating role in the relationship between labor values and psychological distress. This study revealed that the specific path and mechanism of labor values on mental health. This provided a reference for families and schools to further implement the education of labor values on primary and secondary school students and helped to promote the social construction of an education system that aimed at cultivating individual all-round development.

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Belief in a COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory as a Predictor of Mental Health and Well-Being of Health Care Workers in Ecuador: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20737 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xi Chen ◽

Stephen X Zhang ◽

Asghar Afshar Jahanshahi ◽

Aldo Alvarez-Risco ◽

Huiyang Dai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Conspiracy Theories ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, social media platforms have become active sites for the dissemination of conspiracy theories that provide alternative explanations of the cause of the pandemic, such as secret plots by powerful and malicious groups. However, the association of individuals’ beliefs in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 with mental health and well-being issues has not been investigated. This association creates an assessable channel to identify and provide assistance to people with mental health and well-being issues during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to provide the first evidence that belief in conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is a predictor of the mental health and well-being of health care workers. METHODS We conducted a survey of 252 health care workers in Ecuador from April 10 to May 2, 2020. We analyzed the data regarding distress and anxiety caseness with logistic regression and the data regarding life and job satisfaction with linear regression. RESULTS Among the 252 sampled health care workers in Ecuador, 61 (24.2%) believed that the virus was developed intentionally in a lab; 82 (32.5%) experienced psychological distress, and 71 (28.2%) had anxiety disorder. Compared to health care workers who were not sure where the virus originated, those who believed the virus was developed intentionally in a lab were more likely to report psychological distress and anxiety disorder and to have lower levels of job satisfaction and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS This paper identifies belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories as an important predictor of distress, anxiety, and job and life satisfaction among health care workers. This finding will enable mental health services to better target and provide help to mentally vulnerable health care workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Skin tone, life satisfaction, and psychological distress among African Americans: The mediating effect of stigma consciousness

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105320954251 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135910532095425

Author(s):

Asia T McCleary-Gaddy ◽

Drexler James

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

African American ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Skin Tone ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Stigma Consciousness ◽

African American Adults ◽

Lower Life Satisfaction

This study examined the indirect effect of skin tone on psychological distress via (1) stigma consciousness and (2) life satisfaction among African American adults (N = 780; %Female = 57.65%; Mage = 37.68). Results show indirect effects of (1) skin tone on life satisfaction and (2) skin tone on psychological distress, each via stigma consciousness. Specifically, those with darker (vs. lighter) skin tones reported increased stigma consciousness, which then predicted (1) lower life satisfaction and (2) lower levels of psychological distress. Life satisfaction did not predict psychological distress. Implications for African American mental health are discussed.

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The association of positive mental health indicators and normal body weight, Belgian HIS 2018

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.386 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

K De Ridder ◽

S Drieskens ◽

S Demarest

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Body Weight ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Positive Mental Health ◽

Normal Body ◽

Normal Body Weight ◽

Low Educated

Abstract Background An important health promotion goal is to maintain a normal body weight. However, knowledge about positive mental health indicators that might be associated with normal weight is scarce. The aim is to study positive mental health indicators and normal weight in a cross-sectional national representative population sample. Methods Study participants included adults aged ≥ 18 year (n = 6643) of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (HIS) 2018. Mental health indicators were having no psychological distress (GHQ-12<2), no self-reported anxiety or depression (EQ_5D), medium to high vitality (SF-36 vitality scale) and high to medium level of life satisfaction. BMI was calculated on self-declared height and weight. The associations were assessed through logistic regression taking into account confounding and effect modification by age, gender, educational level, health status, physical activity, daily eating of fruit and vegetables and daily consuming sugared soft drinks or sweet/salty snacks. Results 50.1% had a BMI≥25. In the crude models, all indicators were negatively associated with being obese, but there was no association between having a normal weight (versus overweight and obesity) and absence of psychological distress, absence of anxiety and depression, and medium to high vitality. Medium to high level of life satisfaction was associated with normal weight in the fully adjusted model (OR 1.3; 95%CI 1.0-1.6) but when stratified, medium to high life satisfaction was associated with normal weight only among high educated women (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.1-2.9), but not among men and low educated women. Surprisingly, among low educated women, having no psychological distress was negatively associated with normal weight (OR 0.7; 95%CI 0.5-0.9). Conclusions These preliminary results showed a variable impact of gender and educational levels on the association between positive mental health indicators and normal weight. Trends and distribution in society should be further explored. Key messages Although unequivocal associations with obesity, positive mental health is not clearly associated with normal body weight in today’s obesogenic society. The effect of a shift towards a higher BMI in society on mental health needs to be further explored.

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Positive mental health and perceived change in mental health among adults in Canada during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada ◽

10.24095/hpcdp.41.11.05 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Colin A. Capaldi ◽

Li Liu ◽

Raelyne L. Dopko

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Positive Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Community Health Survey ◽

Community Belonging ◽

Perceived Change ◽

Second Wave

Introduction Canadian surveys from spring/summer 2020 suggest the prevalence of some positive mental health (PMH) outcomes have declined compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, less is known about the state of PMH during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We compared adults’ self-rated mental health (SRMH), community belonging and life satisfaction in Fall 2020 versus 2019 in the overall population and across sociodemographic characteristics using cross-sectional data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (September–December, 2020) and the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey. We also conducted regression analyses to examine which sociodemographic factors were associated with reporting in Fall 2020 that one’s mental health was about the same or better compared to before the pandemic. Results Fewer adults reported high SRMH in Fall 2020 (59.95%) than in 2019 (66.71%) and fewer reported high community belonging in Fall 2020 (63.64%) than in 2019 (68.42%). Rated from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied), average life satisfaction was lower in Fall 2020 (7.19) than in 2019 (8.08). Females, those aged under 65 years, those living in a population centre, and those absent from work due to COVID-19 had lower odds of reporting that their mental health was about the same or better in Fall 2020. Conclusion The PMH of adults was lower during the pandemic’s second wave. However, the majority of individuals still reported high SRMH and community belonging. The findings identify certain sociodemographic groups whose mental health appears to have been more negatively impacted by the pandemic. Continued surveillance is important in ensuring mental health builds back better and stronger in Canada after the pandemic.

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Changes in Substance Use and Mental Health Burden among Women during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Germany

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189728 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9728

Author(s):

Henrike Schecke ◽

Madeleine Fink ◽

Alexander Bäuerle ◽

Eva-Maria Skoda ◽

Adam Schweda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Burden ◽

Second Wave

Unlike men, who are disproportionately affected by severe disease progression and mortality from COVID-19, women may be more affected by the economic, social and psychological consequences of the pandemic. Psychological distress and mental health problems are general risk factors for increases in the use of alcohol and other substances as a dysfunctional coping mechanism. Methods: An analysis was carried out of the female subset (n = 2153) of a population-based, cross-sectional online survey (October–December 2020), covering the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Results: Among women, 23% increased their alcohol use, 28.4% increased their nicotine use and 44% increased their illicit substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty percent reported major depressive symptoms and 23.4% symptoms of generalized anxiety. Generalized anxiety proved to be a significant predictor of increases in alcohol and nicotine use in logistic regression. Discussion: The mental health burden remained high during the second wave of COVID-19 and alcohol, nicotine and other substance use increased. However, the association between mental health and substance use was weak. Psychological distress does not seem to be the main motivator of substance use.

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Influence of Subjective/Objective Status and Possible Pathways of Young Migrants’ Life Satisfaction and Psychological Distress in China

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.612317 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yi-Chen Chiang ◽

Meijie Chu ◽

Yuchen Zhao ◽

Xian Li ◽

An Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Personal Characteristic ◽

Urban China ◽

Social Adaptation ◽

Subjective Socioeconomic Status ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Psychological Integration

Young migrants have been the major migrant labor force in urban China. But they may be more vulnerable in quality of life and mental health than other groups, due to their personal characteristic and some social/community policies or management measures. It highlights the need to focus on psychological wellbeing and probe driving and reinforcing factors that influence their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the influence of subjective/objective status and possible pathways of young migrants’ life satisfaction and psychological distress. Data on 9838 young migrants in the China Migrants Dynamic Survey were analyzed by LISREL 8.8. A total of 94.03% migrated for jobs or business. Subjective status, including subjective socioeconomic status, social adaptation, and psychological integration, had positive effects on life satisfaction, whereas social adaptation and psychological integration negatively affected psychological distress. Objective status, including objective socioeconomic status and health insurance, had adverse effects on life satisfaction, whereas they positively affected psychological distress. Social participation and city belonging had only significant positive mediating roles on life satisfaction. It is essential to increase social adaptation and decrease integration stress according to younger internal migrants’ practical needs. It is also necessary to enhance community/social resources and activities in the context of developing sustainability in the community to assist in mental health promotion.

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Mental health and wellbeing amongst people with informal caring responsibilities across different time points during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based propensity score matching analysis

10.1101/2021.01.21.21250045 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hei Wan Mak ◽

Feifei Bu ◽

Daisy Fancourt

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Social Study ◽

Population Based ◽

Time Points ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Tier System ◽

Informal Carers

AbstractAimsDue to a prolonged period of national and regional lockdown measures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been an increase reliance on informal care and a consequent increase in care intensity for informal carers. In light of this, the current study compared the experiences of carers and non-carers on various mental health and wellbeing measures across 5 key time points during the pandemic.MethodsData analysed were from the UCL COVID -19 Social Study. Our study focused on 5 time points in England: (i) the first national lockdown (March-April 2020; N=12,053); (ii) the beginning of lockdown rules easing (May 2020; N=24,374); (iii) further easing (July 2020; N=21,395); (iv) new COVID-19 restrictions (September 2020; N=4,792); and (v) the three-tier system restrictions (October 2020; N=4,526). We considered 5 mental health and wellbeing measures-depression, anxiety, loneliness, life satisfaction and sense of worthwhile. Propensity score matching were applied for the analyses.ResultsWe found that informal carers experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety than non-carers across all time points. During the first national lockdown, carers also experienced a higher sense of life being worthwhile. No association was found between informal caring responsibilities and levels of loneliness and life satisfaction.ConclusionGiven that carers are an essential national health care support, especially during a pandemic, it is crucial to integrate carers’ needs into healthcare planning and delivery. These results highlight there is a pressing need to provide adequate and targeted mental health support for carers during and following this pandemic.

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