scholarly journals Health Status Perception of People Close to Retirement Age: Relationship with Mental Health and Healthy Habits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Monge-Martín ◽  
Fernando Caballero-Martínez ◽  
Maria João Forjaz ◽  
Manuel J. Castillo ◽  
Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Sleep Habits ◽  
Work Activity ◽  
Healthy Habits

Abstract Background: The ageing of today's society intensifies the need for the correct and healthy ageing of the elderly, in order to ensure their overall well-being. Practical strategies are needed to acquire healthy habits at this stage of life. The aim of this study is to analyse the life habits of subjects close to retirement age and the factors that could influence these habits (gender, physical and mental health). Methods: A national (Spain) observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, in which people close to retirement age are surveyed. The online survey included matters regarding socio-demographic, family, work, leisure, social participation and health indicators. Results: The study comprised of 1,700 participants (581 working; 714 retired), average age = 63 years (DT 5.7); 52% women. Most reported having a satisfactory social life (90%), living in pairs (74%), not smoking (80%), following a Mediterranean diet (73%) and taking medicines daily (70%). Disability (WHODAS-12) was higher in men (8.2 vs 6.5, p<0.001) although women showed more health problems and depression (mild-severe) (27% vs 17%, p<0.001), with a healthier diet and lower physical/work activity. The multivariate model showed a significant association of health status (EQ-VAS) with disability level, number of chronic diseases, sleep habits, exercise, diet, and alcohol consumption. When the level of depression was introduced, age and being a woman were also found to be related. In the subgroup of those retired or working (n=1295), retirees reported a better health status, associated with less disability, fewer chronic illnesses, lower depression, good eating and sleeping habits, and exercise. Conclusions: The results show that retirement does not necessarily mean worse health, but rather an opportunity in life to reinforce favourable health activities and correct those lifestyle factors that deteriorate it. This, together with the differences observed according to gender in the perception of clinical and psychological health, will allow for the design of strategies that promote healthy ageing.

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of psychosocial distress among seafarers during COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Baygi ◽  
Nami Mohammadian Khonsari ◽  
Arash Agoushi ◽  
Saeed Hassani Gelsefid ◽  
Armita Mahdavi Gorabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychosocial Distress ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In the context of growing concerns about seafarers’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of psychosocial distress among seafarers of ocean-going vessels during the current health emergency. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 470 multinational seafarers working on two oil tanker international shipping companies. Psychosocial distress was assessed by using Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21). General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assessed genral psychiatry disorders and self-rate anxiety. Perceived health status was assessed by a single-item question. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between demographic and work-related variables with mental health outcomes. Results Overall, 439 out of 470 invited seafarers with a mean age of 34.5 (SD: 8.05) participated in this study (participation rate: 93.4%). The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of depression, anxiety, stress, self-rated anxiety, general psychiatric disorders, and poor perceived health status was 12.3% (9.4–15.7), 11.6% (8.7–15.0), 5.9% (3.9–8.5), 2.1% (0.9–3.8), 42.6% (38.0–47.4), and 4.3% (2.6–6.6), respectively. In the multivariate model, by increasing the duration of stay (per month) on board, the odds of depression increased by 20% (OR: 1.20 (95% CI: 1.02–1.40)). Also, non-officer seafarers experienced significantly lower psychosocial distress such as anxiety and stress levels than officers. Conclusion High prevalence of depression, anxiety, and general psychiatric disorders among seafarers during COVID-19 was observed. Our findings also highlight the factors that need to be considered to protect seafarers’ mental well-being. Further studies to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on psychological health issues at sea are recommended.

scholarly journals Mental health and sleep habits/problems in children aged 3–4 years: a population study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumie Horiuchi ◽  
Kentaro Kawabe ◽  
Yasunori Oka ◽  
Kiwamu Nakachi ◽  
Rie Hosokawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sleep Habits ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Wake Time ◽  
Health Group

Abstract Background Sleep is essential for mental health at all ages, but few studies have investigated the importance of sleep for mental health in early childhood. Therefore, this study examined the association between mental health and sleep habits/problems in children aged 3–4 years. Methods Children aged 3 to 4 years who were living in the community (n = 415; 211/204 boys/girls) were recruited for this study. Their mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and their sleep habits/problems were evaluated using the Child and Adolescent Sleep Checklist. Results Based on the total difficulties score of the SDQ, the children were divided into two groups: a poor mental health group (n = 76) and a control group (n = 339). In terms of sleep habits, which included total sleep time, bedtime, wake time, and nap conditions, there were no differences between the two groups. Regarding sleep-related problems, however, anxiety before going to sleep (p = 0.026), circadian rhythm abnormalities (p = 0.014), and sleepiness during classes outside of naptimes (p = 0.031) were significantly higher in the poor mental health group than in the control group. Multiple regression analysis showed that poor mental health status was significantly associated with sleepiness and snoring (p = 0.017 and p = 0.018, respectively). Conclusions The mental health status of 3–4-year-old children was associated with sleep-related problems, namely sleepiness and snoring. Healthcare providers should pay attention to children’s irregular sleep-wake patterns; moreover, interventions for appropriate sleep hygiene will reduce the psychological burden on both children and their families.

scholarly journals How managers experience situations involving employee mental ill-health

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 442-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Martin ◽  
Megan Woods ◽  
Sarah Dawkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Issue ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Mental health conditions such as depression are prevalent in working adults, costly to employers, and have implications for legal liability and corporate social responsibility. Managers play an important role in determining how employees’ and organizations’ interests are reconciled in situations involving employee mental ill-health issues. The purpose of this paper is to explore these situations from the perspective of managers in order to develop theory and inform practice in workplace mental health promotion. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Australian managers who had supervised an employee with a mental health issue. Interview transcripts were content analyzed to explore themes in managers’ experiences. Findings Managing an employee with a mental health issue involves becoming aware of the issue, taking action to understand the situation and develop an action response, implementing the response and managing the ongoing situation. Each of these tasks had a range of positive and negative aspects to them, e.g., managing the situation can be experienced as both a source of stress for the manager but also as an opportunity to develop greater management skills. Practical implications Understanding line managers’ experiences is critical to successful implementation of HR policies regarding employee health and well-being. HR strategies for dealing with employee mental health issues need to consider implementation support for managers, including promotion of guiding policies, training, emotional support and creating a psychosocial safety climate in their work units or teams. Originality/value The insights gained from this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding psychosocial safety climate, an emergent theoretical framework concerned with values, attitudes and philosophy regarding worker psychological health. The findings also have important implications for strategic human resource management approaches to managing mental health in the workplace.

scholarly journals COVID-19: exploring impacts of the pandemic and lockdown on mental health of Pakistani students

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10612
Author(s):  
Gul Muhammad Baloch ◽  
Sheela Sundarasen ◽  
Karuthan Chinna ◽  
Mohammad Nurunnabi ◽  
Kamilah Kamaludin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Male Student ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Higher Educational Institutions ◽  
College And University ◽  
Higher Educational

Background As of the present, the twenty-first century is experiencing what may be one of its most devastating events, in respect to infected and dead people by the virus. Now known to the world as COVID-19, the devastating disease of what has become a pandemic started its spread from Wuhan, China and swiftly engulfed the whole world with almost 11 million cases, in a span of around six months. It has not only increased the global burden of disease but has heavily dented many social institutions, including education. Methods This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent measures of lockdown, quarantine, and social distancing have affected students. We look specifically into the effects on individuals’ mental health, that is, the stress and anxiety levels of college and university students using the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Results Among 494 respondents, 61% were females, and the majority (77.3%) of the students were in the age group of 19–25 years. Among the respondents, 125 (25.3%), 45 (9.1%) and 34 (6.9%) experienced minimal to moderate, severe, and most extreme levels of anxiety, respectively. The variables of gender, age and year of study were significant at the 0.25 level by univariate analyses. Nevertheless, the ordinal regression indicates that only gender was significant. The odds of a female student being more anxious are higher compared to a male student (OR = 1.779, 95% CI [1.202–2.634], P = 0.004). The most prominent stressors attained from the qualitative feedback from the Pakistani students are associated with online teaching, concerns about their academic performance and completion of the current semester, uncertainty related to exam dates, and the status of the following semester. Conclusions This study will add to the existing body of literature on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social and psychological health of students. The study outcomes will provide basic data for further applied and action research and a framework for universities and policy makers in Pakistan and the neighboring countries in the region with the same cultural contexts. Thus, relevant health interventions can be designed for better mental health and educational attainments of students from higher educational institutions. This pathological pandemic may well lead to another pandemic of mental and behavioral illness. All stakeholders should join force regardless of pre-existing differences and inequalities to ensure the well-being of future generations, specifically students from higher educational institutions. The long-lasting impacts and the aftermath of this pandemic will unquestionably need further and future investigations. Keywords: Anxiety, students, mental health, COVID-19, Pakistan

scholarly journals Spiritual Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Coppola ◽  
Nadia Rania ◽  
Rosa Parisi ◽  
Francesca Lagomarsino
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Spiritual Well Being

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, people and families experienced a new and sudden situation that forced them to stay in their homes for a long period (February 25- May 26). In this context, many people found themselves in great difficulty, not only because of the fear of contagion or the economic problems deriving from the closure of production activities but also because the virus profoundly changed the way of life in society. The “Social distancing” concept became central in all personal relationships, including close family relationships. In this situation, our paper seeks to understand the role of spirituality and religiosity in reacting to this difficult situation and in particular on the physical and psychological health of the people involved. The data we present here are part of a multidisciplinary research with a quantitative theoretical framework. As the data was collected during the first Italian lockdown, a total of 1,250 adults from all over Italy participated in the on-line questionnaire. Among the main results it emerged that the participants perceived lower levels of spiritual well-being and mental health than the pre-pandemic situation with a significant gender difference; in fact, women perceived lower mental health than men. At the same time, it is evident that spirituality and religious practices are a protective factor connected not only with psychological and mental but also physical health. Finally, it appears evident that the family is a protective factor with respect to mental health, even in a period so full of stress factors, those who did not live alone and especially those who had to take care of small children reported higher perceived mental health and a greater ability to activate coping resources.

scholarly journals Factors Related to Mental Health During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Pinedo ◽  
Isabel Vicario-Molina ◽  
Eva González Ortega ◽  
Andrés Palacios Picos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
And Gender

The COVID-19 disease has forced governments to adopt exceptional measures. The lockdown decreed in Spain in 2020 required citizens to stay confined at home, which might have affected their mental health. The objective is to identify factors that influenced adults' mental health during this period. A sample of 3,508 adults from the Spanish general population completed an online survey that collected sociodemographic data and information about daily planning and activities, healthy habits, loneliness, coping humor and mental health. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. According to the results, the proposed model showed good fit values, and latent variables explained 30% of the variance in mental health. Loneliness, coping humor, healthy habits, age and gender had a significant weight in the prediction of mental health during lockdown. Area of residence, number of days of confinement and number of people in the household were not related to mental health. This study addresses the effect of COVID-19 and social distancing measures by identifying risk and protective factors for the development of mental health difficulties. There is a need to target specific and early interventions aimed at mitigating the psychological impact of the pandemic while increasing well-being, especially in more vulnerable groups.

scholarly journals Mental Health and Well-Being During the First vs. Second COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Cyprus

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 40-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danae Papageorgiou ◽  
Angelos P. Kassianos ◽  
Marios Constantinou ◽  
Demetris Lamnisos ◽  
Christiana Nicolaou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract. Introduction: Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries imposed strict governmental lockdowns. Research investigating the psychological impact of pandemic-induced lockdowns is accumulating, though to date no study has examined the psychological health and associated parameters of well-being in countries that underwent additional lockdowns as the pandemic continued into resurgence “waves.” Aim: The present study provides an overview of the psychological impact of COVID-19 across the two lockdowns in the Cypriot population. Methods: In total, 957 participants completed an online survey during the first lockdown, 134 of whom completed a similar survey again during the second lockdown. The outcomes assessed included stress, positive and negative affect, and well-being. Results: The results indicated no population-wide severe reactions in the participants. Repeated measures analyses showed similar mental health levels during both the first and the second lockdowns. Further inspection of participants’ scores indicated that, for all mental health variables, approximately half of the participants improved, while the other half deteriorated. Discussion: Perceived social support and psychological flexibility predicted most psychological outcomes during both lockdowns. Further research is necessary to understand the continuing effects of the pandemic and associated lockdowns on mental health.

scholarly journals Compassionate Coach and Psychological Quality of Life in Portuguese Athletes: Effect of Mediating Variables

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Sara Oliveira ◽  
Marina Cunha ◽  
António Rosado ◽  
Cláudia Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Social Safeness ◽  
Emotional Processes ◽  
Proposed Model

This study aimed to test a model that hypothesized that the compassionate coach, as perceived by the athletes, has an impact on athlete-related social safeness and psychological health, through shame and self-criticism. The sample comprised 270 Portuguese adult athletes, who practiced different competitive sports. The path analysis results confirmed the adequacy of the proposed model, which explained 45% of the psychological health’s variance. Results demonstrated that athletes who perceive their coaches as more compassionate tend to present higher levels of social safeness (feelings of belonging to the team) and of psychological health, through lower levels of shame and self-criticism. These novel findings suggest the importance of the adoption of supportive, warm, safe, and compassionate attitudes from coaches in athletes’ mental health. This study also offers important insights by suggesting that feelings of acceptance and connectedness in team relationships may be at the root of athletes’ emotional processes and well-being.

scholarly journals Mental health status of refugee children

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Lemonjava ◽  
K Antia ◽  
M Lobjanidze ◽  
T Lobjanidze
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Health State ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Host Countries

Abstract Background A number of refugees and asylum seekers have increased dramatically in recent years. More than 250 million people worldwide are considered as refugees (United Nations High Commission for Refugees, 2018), among whom more than 50% are children. General health and especially psychological health of the refugee and asylum seeking children are an emerging, however, not well explored issues. In this study, we aimed to review the literature on the psychological health of refugee children. Methods We performed a literature search and descriptive analysis of studies published until July 2019, through MEDLINE and Science Direct databases. We identified literature on psychological health state of refugee and asylum seeking children. We analysed results of 16 studies. Results The study found that refugee children are facing severe psychological health issues, such as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, behavioural problems. We identified 3 phases of psychological trauma and stress among refugee children: stress due to conflict in their home countries, stress during migration, and upon the arrival to host country. Our analysis reviled integration difficulties such as racism and bulling as important stress factors for the refugee children. Studies found that prevalence of PTSD is more than 54% among refugee children residing in Norway, significantly higher than in reference population. The studies identified the need of regular mental health assessment and preventive care, psychological counselling services for the refugee children. All included studies showed significantly higher stress among refugee children when compared to local children in host countries. Conclusions Rehabilitation services and follow-up supportive programs should be implemented to improve the mental health status of refugee children; these interventions will also contribute to their better integration. Key messages Screening and regular monitoring provided by host countries healthcare system is crucial to identify high risk children. More research is needed to better investigate the psychological health state and needs of refugee children.

scholarly journals Should Psychological Distress Screening in the Community Account for Self-Perceived Health Status?

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 526-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Schmitz ◽  
Alain Lesage ◽  
JianLi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
Screening Performance

Objective: Psychological distress questionnaires are often used as screening instruments for mental disorders in clinical and epidemiologic settings. Poor physical health may affect the screening properties of a questionnaire. We evaluate the effect of self-perceived health status on the screening performance of the Kessler K10 and K6 scales in a community sample. Methods: We used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). Psychological distress was measured by the 6–item (K6) and the 10–item (K10) Kessler instrument. Depression and anxiety disorders were assessed using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (1–month estimates). Optimal cut-off points regarding health status were determined by finding the K6 and K10 values that allowed for the best balance between sensitivity and specificity. Stratum-specific likelihood ratios (SSLRs) were computed to define strata with discriminating power. Results: There was a strong association between the screening performance of the K6 and K10 scales and self-perceived health status: for the K10 scale, a cut-off point of 5/6 yielded the best balance between sensitivity and specificity for subjects with excellent or very good health status, while a cut-off point of 14/15 yielded the best balance between sensitivity and specificity for subjects with poor health status. Conclusions: The combination of the K6 and K10 scales, with a self-rated health status item, may improve screening properties of the 2 scales.

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