scholarly journals COVID-19 vaccines and mental distress

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256406
Author(s):  
Francisco Perez-Arce ◽  
Marco Angrisani ◽  
Daniel Bennett ◽  
Jill Darling ◽  
Arie Kapteyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Baseline Level ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
P Value ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression

Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought about large increases in mental distress. The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is expected to significantly reduce health risks, improve economic and social outcomes, with potential benefits to mental health. Purpose To examine short-term changes in mental distress following the receipt of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods Participants included 8,003 adults from the address-based sampled, nationally representative Understanding America Study (UAS), surveyed at regular intervals between March 10, 2020, and March 31, 2021 who completed at least two waves of the survey. Respondents answered questions about COVID-19 vaccine status and self-reported mental distress as measured with the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Fixed-effects regression models were used to identify the change in PHQ-4 scores and categorical indicators of mental distress resulting from the application of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Results People who were vaccinated between December 2020 and March 2021 reported decreased mental distress levels in the surveys conducted after receiving the first dose. The fixed-effects estimates show an average effect of receiving the vaccine equivalent to 4% of the standard deviation of PHQ-4 scores (p-value<0.01), a reduction in 1 percentage point (4% reduction from the baseline level) in the probability of being at least mildly depressed, and of 0.7 percentage points (15% reduction from the baseline level) in the probability of being severely depressed (p-value = 0.06). Conclusions Getting the first dose of COVID-19 resulted in significant improvements in mental health, beyond improvements already achieved since mental distress peaked in the spring of 2020.

scholarly journals Acute and longer-term psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19: longitudinal evidence from a population-based study of US adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Daly ◽  
Eric Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has produced a considerable public health burden but the impact that contracting the disease has on mental health is unclear. In this observational population-based cohort study, we examined longitudinal changes in psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19.MethodsParticipants (N = 8,002; Observations = 139,035) were drawn from 23 waves of the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative survey of American adults followed-up every two weeks from April 1 2020 to February 15 2021. Psychological distress was assessed using the standardized total score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).ResultsOver the course of the study 576 participants reported testing positive for COVID-19. Using regression analysis including individual and time fixed effects we found that psychological distress increased by 0.29 standard deviations (p <.001) during the two-week period when participants first tested positive for COVID-19. Distress levels remained significantly elevated (d = 0.16, p <.01) for a further two weeks, before returning to baseline levels. Coronavirus symptom severity explained changes in distress attributable to COVID-19, whereby distress was more pronounced among those whose symptoms were more severe and were slower to subside.ConclusionsThis study indicates that testing positive for COVID-19 is associated with an initial increase in psychological distress that diminishes quickly as symptoms subside. While COVID-19 may not produce lasting psychological distress among the majority of the general population it remains possible that a minority may suffer longer-term mental health consequences.

scholarly journals Trajectories of Mental Distress Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Kira E Riehm ◽  
Calliope Holingue ◽  
Emily J Smail ◽  
Arie Kapteyn ◽  
Daniel Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Populations At Risk ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Federal Poverty Line ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies have found that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected population-level mental health. Longitudinal studies are necessary to examine trajectories of change in mental health over time and identify sociodemographic groups at risk for persistent distress. Purpose To examine the trajectories of mental distress between March 10 and August 4, 2020, a key period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants included 6,901 adults from the nationally representative Understanding America Study, surveyed at baseline between March 10 and 31, 2020, with nine follow-up assessments between April 1 and August 4, 2020. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to examine the association between date and self-reported mental distress (measured with the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire) among U.S. adults overall and among sociodemographic subgroups defined by sex, age, race/ethnicity, household structure, federal poverty line, and census region. Results Compared to March 11, the odds of mental distress among U.S. adults overall were 1.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65–2.07) times higher on April 1 and 1.92 (95% CI = 1.62–2.28) times higher on May 1; by August 1, the odds of mental distress had returned to levels comparable to March 11 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66–0.96). Females experienced a sharper increase in mental distress between March and May compared to males (females: OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.85–2.82; males: OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.15–2.02). Conclusions These findings highlight the trajectory of mental health symptoms during an unprecedented pandemic, including the identification of populations at risk for sustained mental distress.

scholarly journals Arts, mental distress, mental health functioning & life satisfaction: fixed-effects analyses of a nationally-representative panel study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senhu Wang ◽  
Hei Wan Mak ◽  
Daisy Fancourt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Arts Participation ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Arts Engagement

Abstract Background. Arts engagement within communities is ubiquitous across cultures globally and previous research has suggested its benefits for mental health and wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether these benefits are driven by arts engagement itself or by important confounders such as socio-economic status (SES), childhood arts engagement, previous mental health, personality, or self-selection bias. The aim of this study is to use fixed effects models that account for unidentified time-constant confounding measures to examine the longitudinal association between arts (frequency of both arts participation and cultural attendance), mental distress, mental health functioning and life satisfaction. Methods. Data from 23,660 individuals (with a mean age of 47 years) included in the UK Understanding Society wave 2 (2010-2012) and wave 5 (2013-2015) were analyzed. Aside from controlling for all time-constant variables using the fixed-effects models, we additionally adjusted for time-varying demographic factors (e.g. age and marital status), health behaviors and social support variables. Results. After controlling for all time-constant variables and identified time-varying confounders, frequent arts participation and cultural attendance were associated with lower levels of mental distress and higher levels of life satisfaction, with arts participation additionally associated with better mental health functioning. Health-related and social time-varying factors were shown to partly but not wholly explain the observed associations. Conclusion. Arts engagement amongst the population as a whole may help enhance positive mental health and life satisfaction, and protect against mental distress. These results are not explained by any time-constant confounding factors.

scholarly journals 562The “quiet revolution” and mental health? Associations between household-employment configurations and mental-health across 17 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania King ◽  
Yamna Taouk ◽  
Tony LaMontagne ◽  
Doctor Humaira Maheen ◽  
Anne Kavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male Breadwinner ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression

Abstract Background Despite evidence that employed women report more time pressure and work-life penalties than employed men and other women, scant attention has been paid to the possible health effects of female labour-force participation. Methods This analysis examined associations between household labour-force arrangements and the mental health of men and women using 17 waves of data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics Survey. Mental health was measured using the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). A five-category measure of household employment configuration was derived: dual full-time employed, male-breadwinner, female-breadwinner, shared part-time employment (both part-time) and male full-time/female part-time (1.5-earner). Using fixed effects regression methods, we examined the within-person effects of household employment configuration on mental health, controlling for time-varying confounders. Results For men, being in the female-breadwinner configuration was associated with poorer mental health compared to being in the 1.5-earner configuration (b-1.98, 95%CI -3.36, -0.61). The mental health of women was poorer when in the male-breadwinner configuration, compared to when in the 1.5-earner arrangement (b-0.89, 95%CI -1.56, -0.22). Conclusions The mental health of both men and women is poorer when not in the labour-force, either as a man in the female-breadwinner arrangement, or as a woman in the male-breadwinner arrangement. Key messages These results suggest that the mental health of women and men benefits from labour-force participation. The results are noteworthy for women, because they pertain to a sizeable proportion of the population who are not in paid employment, and highlight the need for policy reform to support women’s labour-force participation.

Abstract 174: The Longitudinal Effect of Medicaid Expansion on 30-Day Readmissions for Heart Failure and Acute Myocardial Infarction - Insights from Hospital Compare

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankeet S Bhatt ◽  
Azalea Kim ◽  
William K Bleser ◽  
Robert Saunders ◽  
Zubin J Eapen
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
P Value ◽  
Unplanned Readmission ◽  
Medicaid Expansion ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Effective Coverage ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression ◽  
Hospital Compare

Background: The emergency department (ED) is a primary access point for hospital admissions/ readmissions. Recent analyses have found that state-level Medicaid expansion is associated with higher ED volumes and longer ED length of stay (LOS). Increased ED congestion has been proposed to lead to higher readmission rates, though this has not been empirically evaluated. We examined the association of Medicaid expansion with readmission rates for AMI and HF specifically given that these readmissions are prevalent, publicly reported, and subject to financial penalties. Methods: We utilized the Hospital Compare database to construct a panel of US acute care hospitals offering ED services over three time intervals: 10/01/2012-09/30/2013, before any Medicaid expansion effective coverage dates (“Period 1”); 10/1/2013-9/30/2014 and 10/1/2014-9/30/2015, after Medicaid expansion effective coverage dates (“Periods 2 and 3”). We used multivariate linear fixed-effects regression to evaluate the independent effect of Medicaid expansion on absolute unplanned 30-day case-mix adjusted readmission rates for AMI and HF. Fixed effects regression adjusts for time-invariant confounders by design and potential time-variant confounders were included as covariates, including year fixed effects to control for temporal variation. Standard errors were clustered on states. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the interaction between Medicaid expansion and ED LOS with respect to the primary outcome. Results: Our model examined 2,257 hospitals for AMI and 2,947 hospitals for HF. Overall, within-hospital 30-day unplanned readmission rates for AMI and HF decreased over the three defined periods. AMI readmission rates decreased by 1.37% (95% CI: -1.46% to -1.27%) from Period 1 to Period 3. HF readmission rates decreased by 1.07% (95% CI: -1.21% to -0.93%) from Period 1 to Period 3. All p-values were <0.001. Medicaid expansion effective coverage dates did not affect within-hospital readmissions rates for AMI (ARR -0.09%; 95% CI: -0.22% to 0.04%; p-value 0.162) or HF (ARR -0.03%; 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.15%; p-value 0.770). A sensitivity analysis showed no interaction between Medicaid expansion and ED LOS with respect to the primary outcome (p value = 0.190 for AMI, p-value = 0.255 for HF). Conclusion: Among hospitals with publicly reported outcomes in the Hospital Compare database, readmission rates for AMI and HF decreased from 2012-2015. Medicaid expansion was not associated with significant within-hospital differences in 30-day readmission rates for AMI and HF. There was no interaction by ED LOS. Our results offer evidence to quell concerns that Medicaid expansion, by increasing ED LOS, may adversely impact unplanned readmission rates. Further studies are needed to evaluate factors affecting within-hospital readmission rates.

Short-Term Temporal Clustering of Police-Reported Violent Offending and Victimization

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Aaltonen ◽  
Janne Kivivuori ◽  
Laura Kuitunen
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Criminal Offending ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Temporal Clustering ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
Daily Data ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Total Data ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression ◽  
Violent Offenses

Objectives: To examine short-term associations between offending and victimization using daily data on criminal offenses. We also examine the within-individual association between several types of offenses and victimization and see whether incidents closer together in time are more likely reflect revenge motives. Method: We use total data on all victims ( n = 88,106) and offenders ( n = 60,584) in police-reported assaults in Finland during 2007–2009 to examine temporal clustering of the two outcomes. Monthly panel data ( n = 4,886) on offending and victimization are analyzed with fixed-effects regression models, while revenge motives are derived from detailed case descriptions ( n = 299). Results: The risk of violent victimization is higher in months following criminal offending. Although the offending rates directly before and after victimization are low on absolute terms, we find that these rates are higher around the time of victimization. Violent offenses closer to victimization incidents are more likely to include the same parties in opposite roles. Conclusions: Criminal offending increases the risk of victimization in a state-dependent matter. Closer analysis of situational and motivational dynamics of victimization and offending requires temporally detailed data, as a substantial share of the victim–offender overlap is explained by incidents that take place on the same day, complicating the analysis of the temporal sequence of those events.

scholarly journals Arts, mental distress, mental health functioning & mental wellbeing: fixed-effects analyses of a nationally-representative panel study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senhu Wang ◽  
Hei Wan Mak ◽  
Daisy Fancourt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Arts Participation ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Arts Engagement

Abstract Background Arts engagement within communities is ubiquitous across cultures globally and previous research has suggested benefits for mental health and wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether these benefits are due to the confounding impact of factors such as socio-economic status (SES), childhood arts engagement, previous mental health, personality, or self-selection bias. So this study used fixed effects models that account for even unidentified time-constant confounding measures to examine the longitudinal association between arts (frequency of both arts participation and cultural attendance), mental distress, mental health functioning, and mental wellbeing. Methods Data from 23,660 individuals (with a mean age of 47 years) included in the UK Understanding Society wave 2 (2010-2012) and wave 5 (2013-2015) were analyzed. Changes in frequencies of art engagement were related to changes in mental health within individual over time whilst accounting for time-varying confounders. Results After controlling for all time-constant variables and identified time-varying confounders, frequent arts participation and cultural attendance were associated with lower levels of mental distress and higher levels of life satisfaction, with arts participation additionally associated with higher mental health functioning. Health-related and social time-varying factors were shown to partly but not wholly explain the observed associations. Conclusion Arts engagement amongst the population as a whole may help enhance positive mental health and wellbeing, and protect against mental distress. These results are not explained by any time-constant confounding factors.

scholarly journals Refuting the myth of a ‘tsunami’ of mental ill-health in populations affected by COVID-19: Evidence that response to the pandemic is heterogenous, not homogeneous

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Shevlin ◽  
Sarah Butter ◽  
Orla McBride ◽  
Jamie Murphy ◽  
Jilly Gibson Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Research Consortium ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background: The current study argues that population prevalence estimates for mental health disorders, or changes in mean scores over time, may not adequately reflect the heterogeneity in mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic within the population.Methods: The COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study is a longitudinal, nationally representative, online survey of UK adults. The current study analysed data from its first three waves of data collection: Wave 1 (March 2020, N=2025), Wave 2 (April 2020, N=1406) and Wave 3 (July 2020, N=1166). Anxiety-depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (a composite measure of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7) and COVID-19 related PTSD with the International Trauma Questionnaire. Changes in mental health outcomes were modelled across the three waves. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify subgroups of individuals with different trajectories of change in anxiety-depression and COVID-19 PTSD. Latent class membership was regressed on baseline characteristics.Results: Overall prevalence of anxiety-depression remained stable, while COVID-19 PTSD reduced between Waves 2 and 3. Heterogeneity in mental health response was found, and hypothesised classes reflecting (i) stability, (ii) improvement, and (iii) deterioration in mental health were identified. Psychological factors were most likely to differentiate the improving, deteriorating and high-stable classes from the low-stable mental health trajectories. Conclusions: A low-stable profile characterised by little-to-no psychological distress (‘resilient’ class) was the most common trajectory for both anxiety-depression and COVID-19 PTSD. Monitoring these trajectories is necessary moving forward, in particular for the ~30% of individuals with increasing anxiety-depression levels.

Ridership Ramp-Up? Initial Ridership Variation on New Rail Transit Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (10) ◽  
pp. 82-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Elizabeth Shinn ◽  
Carole Turley Voulgaris
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Short Term ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression

Conventional wisdom within the transit industry suggests that measuring the performance of a transit project immediately after project opening may not capture all the project’s benefits, since it takes time for a project to realize its short-term ridership potential, a process commonly referred to as ridership ramp-up. Though this idea is both intuitive and appealing, especially for projects that seem to be underperforming in their initial years, there is a need for empirical analysis to determine the typical magnitude and extent of ridership ramp-up to better account for ramp-up in ridership forecasting and transit project evaluation. The purpose of this study was to meet this need by evaluating variations in ridership in the initial years after project opening for 55 rail transit projects in the United States. We applied a fixed-effects regression model to predict 1-year increases in ridership in each of the first 5 years after project opening, controlling for variation in gas prices, population, income, and unemployment. We found highly variable and statistically significant increases in ridership in the first 2 years after project opening that may be attributable to ridership ramp-up. These findings could support decisions about how to account for ridership ramp-up in forecasting and performance evaluation for rail transit projects.

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