scholarly journals Leisure and problem gaming behaviour among children and adolescents during school closures caused by COVID-19 in Hong Kong: A school-based quantitative survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimin Zhu ◽  
Yanqiong Zhuang ◽  
Paul Lee ◽  
Jessica Li ◽  
Paul Wai-Ching Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Young People ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Gaming Addiction ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Problematic Gaming

BACKGROUND School closures during COVID-19 may have exacerbated students’ loneliness, addictive behaviour, and poor mental health. These mental health issues confronting young people are of public concern. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to examine the association between loneliness and gaming addiction among young people in Hong Kong and to investigate how familial factors, psychological distress, and gender differences moderate the relationships. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2020 when school reopened after 6 months of school suspension. Participants were 2,863 children and adolescents in primary (grades 4-6) and secondary (grades 7-8) schools (female: 52.5%). Chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and independent-samples t-tests were performed to compare the difference of distribution in gaming addictions across gender, age, and other socio-demographic characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that relate to excessive or pathological gaming, separately, in comparison with leisure gaming. RESULTS Approximately 88% of the participants played video games during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of excessive and pathological game addiction was 20.9% and 5.3%, respectively. More male students had gaming addiction symptoms than females. The multinomial logistic regressions showed that feeling lonely was associated with more problematic gaming behaviours, and the association was stronger for older female students. Low socioeconomic status, less parental support and supervision, and poor mental health were risk factors for gaming addiction, especially among primary school students. After being adjusted for depressive symptoms, loneliness was negatively associated with gaming addiction. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness was associated with gaming addiction and the finding of this study suggested that the association was similar across gender and age among young people. Familial support and supervision during school closures can protect young people from developing problematic gaming behaviour. Results of the study have implications for prevention and early intervention for policy makers and game developers.

The changes of suicidal ideation status among young people in Hong Kong during COVID-19: A longitudinal survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimin ZHU ◽  
Yanqiong Zhuang ◽  
Paul Lee ◽  
Wong Wai Ching
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Young People ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Psychological Well Being

Background: Pandemics affect the physical and mental well-being of all potentially at-risk individuals. The secondary consequences of measures to prevent the outbreak (i.e., school closures) have extensive impact on young people globally. This longitudinal study examines changes of suicidal ideation status among adolescents during COVID-19.Method: A follow-up after nine-months of a school-based survey among 1,491 secondary students was conducted during COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Psychological well-being, psychological factors, family support, and COVID-19-related experiences were examined.Findings: The prevalence of suicidal ideation were 24% and 21% among the participants before and during COVID-19, respectively. In particular, 897 (65.0%) remained non-suicidal, 193 (14.0%) recovered from being suicidal, 148 (10.7%) newly reported being suicidal, and 143 (10.4%) remained suicidal. Respondents who remained suicidal were found to have significantly higher depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and social anxiety; fixed mindset; lower meaning of life and self-control; and lower parental support and supervision than the other groups. Participants with suicidal ideation reported more negative perceptions about the pandemic than non-suicidal participants. Logistic regression showed that participants with higher trait anxiety and higher stress from self-expectations in the baseline survey predicted higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation than the non-suicidal students at follow-up.Conclusion: Poor psychological well-being, lower level of family support, and negative impacts of the pandemic were consistently associated with students’ presence of suicidal ideation during the pandemic. Further intervention studies are needed to examine the effects of the mental health consequences of COVID-19 on youth mental health and to promote positive youth well-being.

The Influence of Positive Affect on Mental Health of Undergraduates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in the Context of Smoke-free Campus in Chinese Mainland

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 5055-5073
Author(s):  
Dong Yile
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Young People ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Family Relationship ◽  
Chinese Mainland ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
The Creation

In recent years, more and more young people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have come to universities in Chinese Mainland for higher education. However, due to the differences in political, economic and cultural environment between Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions and Chinese Mainland, these young people have encountered psychological problems such as examination anxiety, interpersonal loneliness and lack of sense of meaning in life due to the related learning and life difficulties in Chinese mainland universities, which affect their growth and success. Many of the students originally thought that smoking was used in a more secluded environment to relieve stress, psychological counseling and energy recovery, but in fact smoking brings more harm. In the creation of a smoke-free campus, a variety of measures are adopted to give full play to the positive emotions of students to promote their mental health, which will help to achieve the creation of a smoke-free campus and share a healthy life on the campus. Based on the survey of a total of 658 undergraduates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in H University on their positive affect and mental health, the following conclusions are drawn through data analysis: undergraduates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in Chinese Mainland have positive affect at the upper-middle level, negative affect and overall affect at the lower-middle level; some undergraduates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in Chinese mainland universities have middle-level mental health status and significant differences in grade and family relationship satisfaction; family relationship satisfaction has an important impact on students' emotional and mental health; the negative emotional performance and mental health of senior students, science students and students with low family relationship satisfaction need more attention from educators. Correlation analysis shows that positive affect is positively correlated with health concerns, energy status, satisfaction and interest in life, mood status, control of emotions and behaviors, relaxation and tension, and total score of mental health (P < 0.01). Regression analysis shows that positive affect has significant positive predictive effects on six factors in mental health, such as "health concerns", "satisfaction and interest in life", "energy", "mental state", "control of emotions and behaviors", "relaxation and tension" and mental health. The enlightenment of this study lies in the suggestions that actions should be taken from the two levels of school education and home-school combination to strengthen the cultivation of positive affect of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan undergraduates in Chinese mainland universities, so as to improve their mental health level.

scholarly journals Is there an association between diet and depression in children and adolescents? A systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundus Khalid ◽  
Claire M. Williams ◽  
Shirley A. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Unhealthy Diet

AbstractThis review critically evaluates previous studies investigating the association between dietary intake of children and young people and depression and related mental health problems. A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane. A total of twenty studies were identified that met inclusion criteria and were subsequently rated for quality. The studies used a range of methods to measure dietary intake and mental health. Important potential confounding variables (e.g. socio-economic status) were often not included or controlled. There were also inconsistencies in the use of key constructs, which made comparisons between studies difficult. Despite some contradictory results, overall there was support for an association between healthy dietary patterns or consumption of a high-quality diet and lower levels of depression or better mental health. Similarly, there was a relationship between unhealthy diet and consumption of low-quality diet and depression or poor mental health. However, where significant relationships were reported, effect sizes were small. Future research on the relationship between diet and mental health in young people should use more clearly defined constructs to define diet and include or control for important confounders.

scholarly journals Prepregnancy Depression and Breastfeeding Duration: A Look at Maternal Age

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordyn T. Wallenborn ◽  
Anny-Claude Joseph ◽  
Whitney C. Graves ◽  
Saba W. Masho
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Breastfeeding Duration ◽  
Pregnancy Risk ◽  
Care Models ◽  
History Of

Background. In the United States, major depressive disorder affects one in five women aged 20-40 years. During these childbearing years, depression can negatively impact maternal behaviors that are crucial for infant growth and development. This study examined the relationship between prepregnancy depression and breastfeeding duration by maternal age. Methods. Data from Phase 7 (2012-2013) of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (N=62,483) were analyzed. Prepregnancy depression was dichotomized while breastfeeding duration was categorized as never breastfed, breastfed 8 weeks or less, and breastfed more than 8 weeks. Maternal age was a significant effect modifier; therefore, results were stratified by maternal age. Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. For women aged 20-24, 25-29, and 30-34 years with prepregnancy depression, the odds of never breastfeeding and breastfeeding 8 weeks or less were significantly higher than in women with no history of prepregnancy depression. Notably, among women aged 25-29 with prepregnancy depression, the odds of never breastfeeding and breastfeeding 8 weeks or less were 93% (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.93, 95% CI =1.57-2.37) and 65% (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.37-1.99) higher compared to women with no history of prepregnancy depression, respectively. Conclusions. Having a history of poor mental health before pregnancy may increase the likelihood of premature breastfeeding cessation. A woman’s mental health status before pregnancy should be considered in reproductive and prenatal care models. Efforts should be made to understand challenges women of specific age groups face when trying to breastfeed.

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH RISKS REGARDING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PEER PRESSURE

2021 ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
Jasna Kudek Mirošević ◽  
Mirjana Radetić-Paić ◽  
Ivan Prskalo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The University

Given that adolescents and young people spend most of their time in the educational system, advancements in neurodevelopmental research emphasize the important and complex role of peers’ influence on adolescents’ behaviour, suggesting that supportive programmes led by peers have a strong potential benefit (King, & Fazel, 2019). In many cases peers are the most important source of social support, and are therefore an important target group to investigate the factors of risk, signs of poor mental health and ways to assess their health behaviour and awareness of the care which should be taken regarding their mental health, as well as the resources and prevention models. The wish is to study whether there are differences regarding the mental behaviour in certain characteristics of susceptibility to peer pressure as a risk for the mental health of students of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and students of the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb, Division of Petrinja (N=440). The set hypothesis states that there is a statistically significant difference among students of the faculty in Pula and those in Petrinja in their assessment of certain features of peer pressure susceptibility as a possible risk for mental health. The results obtained at the x2-test showed a statistically significant difference between certain peer pressure features among students regarding their study environment linked to hanging out with peers who consume drugs and being tempted to try them, getting involved in risky behaviours if their peers ask them to, and betting or gambling because their friends also do that. The results indicate that in smaller communities social control and conformity in the students’ behaviour is more present due to their wish to fit in a peer group as well as possible, suggesting the need for strengthening the positive health behaviour of young people during their whole education in order to secure a healthy and productive adult population.

scholarly journals Promotion of mental health in young adults via mobile phone app: study protocol of the ECoWeB (emotional competence for well-being in Young adults) cohort multiple randomised trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Newbold ◽  
F. C. Warren ◽  
R. S. Taylor ◽  
C. Hulme ◽  
S. Burnett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Emotional Competence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Self Help

Abstract Background Promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people is a major global priority. Building emotional competence (EC) skills via a mobile app may be an effective, scalable and acceptable way to do this. However, few large-scale controlled trials have examined the efficacy of mobile apps in promoting mental health in young people; none have tailored the app to individual profiles. Method/design The Emotional Competence for Well-Being in Young Adults cohort multiple randomised controlled trial (cmRCT) involves a longitudinal prospective cohort to examine well-being, mental health and EC in 16–22 year olds across 12 months. Within the cohort, eligible participants are entered to either the PREVENT trial (if selected EC scores at baseline within worst-performing quartile) or to the PROMOTE trial (if selected EC scores not within worst-performing quartile). In both trials, participants are randomised (i) to continue with usual practice, repeated assessments and a self-monitoring app; (ii) to additionally receive generic cognitive-behavioural therapy self-help in app; (iii) to additionally receive personalised EC self-help in app. In total, 2142 participants aged 16 to 22 years, with no current or past history of major depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis will be recruited across UK, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. Assessments take place at baseline (pre-randomisation), 1, 3 and 12 months post-randomisation. Primary endpoint and outcome for PREVENT is level of depression symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at 3 months; primary endpoint and outcome for PROMOTE is emotional well-being assessed on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale at 3 months. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, well-being, health-related quality of life, functioning and cost-effectiveness are secondary outcomes. Compliance, adverse events and potentially mediating variables will be carefully monitored. Conclusions The trial aims to provide a better understanding of the causal role of learning EC skills using interventions delivered via mobile phone apps with respect to promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people. This knowledge will be used to develop and disseminate innovative evidence-based, feasible, and effective Mobile-health public health strategies for preventing poor mental health and promoting well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.org). Number of identification: NCT04148508 November 2019.

scholarly journals Young people’s perspectives on the symptoms asked for in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey

Childhood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-467
Author(s):  
Anette Wickström ◽  
Sofia Kvist Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Everyday Problems

Although young people in Sweden report good health, there is an increase in self-reported symptoms. However, there is uncertainty regarding what these symptoms signify. Using interviews with 15-year-olds, this research examines what the symptoms asked for in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey represent. The analyses takes inspiration from a performative understanding of surveys. It demonstrates that while problems such as feeling low and nervousness are reported as poor mental health, some participants refer them to deep-seated problems and others to everyday challenges. The results points to the necessity of reporting from symptom scales with caution to avoid the pathologisation of everyday problems.

scholarly journals Preventive digital mental health interventions for children and young people: a review of the design and reporting of research

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aislinn D. Bergin ◽  
Elvira Perez Vallejos ◽  
E. Bethan Davies ◽  
David Daley ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Real World ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Children And Young People

Abstract Digital health interventions (DHIs) have frequently been highlighted as one way to respond to increasing levels of mental health problems in children and young people. Whilst many are developed to address existing mental health problems, there is also potential for DHIs to address prevention and early intervention. However, there are currently limitations in the design and reporting of the development, evaluation and implementation of preventive DHIs that can limit their adoption into real-world practice. This scoping review aimed to examine existing evidence-based DHI interventions and review how well the research literature described factors that researchers need to include in their study designs and reports to support real-world implementation. A search was conducted for relevant publications published from 2013 onwards. Twenty-one different interventions were identified from 30 publications, which took a universal (n = 12), selective (n = 3) and indicative (n = 15) approach to preventing poor mental health. Most interventions targeted adolescents, with only two studies including children aged ≤10 years. There was limited reporting of user co-design involvement in intervention development. Barriers and facilitators to implementation varied across the delivery settings, and only a minority reported financial costs involved in delivering the intervention. This review found that while there are continued attempts to design and evaluate DHIs for children and young people, there are several points of concern. More research is needed with younger children and those from poorer and underserved backgrounds. Co-design processes with children and young people should be recognised and reported as a necessary component within DHI research as they are an important factor in the design and development of interventions, and underpin successful adoption and implementation. Reporting the type and level of human support provided as part of the intervention is also important in enabling the sustained use and implementation of DHIs.

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