scholarly journals Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Portuguese and Swiss Higher-Education Students: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Querido ◽  
Djamel Aissaoui ◽  
Maria Dos Anjos Dixe ◽  
Françoise Schwander-Maire ◽  
Tanya Cara-Nova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Education Students

BACKGROUND Higher-education students are particularly vulnerable to both everyday stressors and mental health problems. Public health emergencies may generate a range of unforeseen potential stressors for vulnerable individuals and communities. The current pandemic has apparently led to an increase in psychiatric symptoms among these students. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study is to characterize the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Portuguese and Swiss higher-education students. METHODS This project will use a mixed methods sequential explanatory design in Portugal and Switzerland, with two consecutive phases. During Phase I, a quantitative study will assess the psychological responses of higher-education students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sampling method will be used for collecting information from students. The association between variables will be determined with univariable and multivariable analyses. During Phase II, qualitative data will be collected in order to understand the determinants of psychological stress and the strategies adopted by students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to identify their opinions and feelings about the teaching-learning process during quarantine. In this phase, participants will be selected using a maximum-variation sampling method. Data from focus group discussions will be coded and inductively analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Finally, quantitative and qualitative results will be merged during interpretation to provide complementary perspectives. RESULTS This paper describes and discusses the protocol for this mixed methods study, which will be completed in December 2021. This study was formally approved by the local ethics committee (CE/IPLEIRIA/22/2020) in Portugal and authorized by the Swiss Association of Research Ethics Committees, swissethics (CER-VD-2020-02889). CONCLUSIONS This research can contribute to the development of teaching tools and methods that reinforce positive mental health strategies, hope, and adaptive coping among students, and to the development of a class on mental health interventions in the context of catastrophic and traumatic events. This project will also help government stakeholders as well as health and education professionals safeguard the psychological well-being of students facing an expanding COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/28757

scholarly journals Women’s experiences of diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a mixed-methods study in general practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (694) ◽  
pp. e322-e329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C Hillman ◽  
Carol Bryce ◽  
Rachel Caleychetty ◽  
Jeremy Dale
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common lifelong metabolic condition with serious associated comorbidities. Evidence points to a delay in diagnosis and inconsistency in the information provided to women with PCOS.AimTo capture women’s experiences of how PCOS is diagnosed and managed in UK general practice.Design and settingThis was a mixed-methods study with an online questionnaire survey and semi-structured telephone interviews with a subset of responders.MethodAn online survey to elicit women’s experiences of general practice PCOS care was promoted by charities and BBC Radio Leicester. The survey was accessible online between January 2018 and November 2018. A subset of responders undertook a semi-structured telephone interview to provide more in-depth data.ResultsA total of 323 women completed the survey (average age 35.4 years) and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women. There were five key themes identified through the survey responses. Participants described a variable lag time from presentation to PCOS diagnosis, with a median of 6–12 months. Many had experienced mental health problems associated with their PCOS symptoms, but had not discussed these with the GP. Many were unable to recall any discussion about associated comorbidities with the GP. Some differences were identified between the experiences of women from white British backgrounds and those from other ethnic backgrounds.ConclusionFrom the experiences of the women in this study, it appears that PCOS in general practice is not viewed as a long-term condition with an increased risk of comorbidities including mental health problems. Further research should explore GPs’ awareness of comorbidities and the differences in PCOS care experienced by women from different ethnic backgrounds.

scholarly journals Financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK up to 2018: rapid review of evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 977-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayla McCloud ◽  
David Bann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Stress ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionIn the United Kingdom and many other countries, debt accrued during higher education has increased substantially in recent decades. The prevalence of common mental health problems has also increased alongside these changes. However, it is as yet unclear whether there is an association between financial stress and mental health among higher education students.MethodsWe conducted a rapid review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Eligible studies were English-language publications testing the association between any indicator of financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK. Papers were located through a systematic search of PsychINFO, PubMed and Embase up to November 2018.ResultsThe search strategy yielded 1272 studies—9 met the inclusion criteria. A further two were identified through hand-searching. The median sample size was 408. Only three of seven studies found an association between higher debt and worse mental health. There was a consistent cross-sectional relationship between worse mental health and both experience of financial difficulties (seven of seven studies) and debt worry/financial concern (four of five studies), though longitudinal evidence was mixed and limited to six studies.ConclusionAmong higher education students in the UK, there is little evidence that the amount of debt is associated with mental health. However, more subjective measures of increased financial stress were more consistently associated with worse mental health outcomes. Nevertheless, the identified evidence was judged to be weak; further research is required to examine whether links between financial stress and mental health outcomes are robust and causal in nature.

scholarly journals Mental Health and Psychological Impact during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey of Portuguese Higher Education Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira ◽  
Maria Anjos Dixe ◽  
Olga Valentim ◽  
Zaida Charepe ◽  
Ana Querido
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant psychological impact on vulnerable groups, particularly students. The present study aims to investigate the mental and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors in a sample of Portuguese higher education students. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 1522 higher education students selected by convenience sampling. The survey assessed mental health symptoms as well as sociodemographic variables, health-related perceptions, and psychological factors. Results were fitted to binary and multivariable logistic regression models. The overall prevalences of stress, anxiety, and depression were 35.7%, 36.2%, and 28.5%, respectively. Poor mental health outcomes were related with being female, having no children, living with someone with chronic disease, facing hopelessness, and lacking resilient coping. Future studies focusing on better ways to promote mental health and wellbeing among students are warranted. It is necessary to gather more evidence on the post-pandemic mental health using robust study designs and standardized assessment tools.

scholarly journals Mental Health Prediction Models Using Machine Learning in Higher Education Institution

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1782-1792
Author(s):  
Sofianita Mutalib, Et. al.
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Support Vector Machine ◽  
Decision Tree ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Education Students

Today, mental health problem has become a grave concern in Malaysia. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2017, one in five people in Malaysia suffers from depression, two in five from anxiety, and one in ten from stress. Higher education students are also at risk of being part of the affected community. The increased data size without proper management and analysis, and the lack of counsellors, are compounding the issue. Therefore, this paper presents on identifying factors in mental health problems among selected higher education students. This study aims to classify students into different categories of mental health problems, which are stress, depression, and anxiety, using machine learning algorithms. The data is collected from students in a higher education institute in Kuala Terengganu. The algorithms applied are Decision Tree, Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, Naïve Bayes, and logistic regression. The most accurate model for stress, depression, and anxiety is Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, and Neural Network, respectively.

scholarly journals The Clinical Impacts of Mobile Mood-Monitoring in Young People With Mental Health Problems: The MeMO Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muna Dubad ◽  
Farah Elahi ◽  
Steven Marwaha
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Young People ◽  
Quantitative Study ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Therapeutic Engagement ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Limited evidence suggests that mobile mood-monitoring can improve mental health outcomes and therapeutic engagement in young people. The aim of this mixed methods study was to explore the clinical impacts of mobile mood-monitoring in youth with mental health problems, using a publicly accessible app.Methods: Twenty-three patients with mental health problems and 24 young people without mental health problems participated in the quantitative study. Participants monitored their mood using a mood-monitoring app twice a day for 3 weeks, which was preceded by a 3-week baseline period. Outcome measures included momentary and retrospective assessments of affect regulation (all participants) and therapeutic engagement (patients only). Following the quantitative study, patients (n = 7) and their clinicians (n = 6) participated in individual interviews. Interview data was analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Use of the mood-monitoring app significantly reduced momentary negative mood (p < 0.001) and retrospectively assessed impulsivity across all 47 participants (p = 0.001). All other outcomes showed no significant difference. Qualitative feedback similarly indicated the potential of apps to improve problems with impulsivity in patients. Furthermore, apps may aid communication, promote empowerment, and ameliorate memory difficulties in clinical appointments.Conclusions: This mixed methods study demonstrated the potential utility of apps for clinical practice. Apps may potentially be an interventional tool, or at a minimum, an adjunct to existing treatments. Data was collected from a small sample size over a short study duration, limiting the generalisability of findings and inferences regarding long-term effects. Potential sources of bias in the qualitative study (e.g., researcher bias) should also be considered.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Coping Study: A longitudinal mixed-methods study of mental health and well-being among older US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay C. Kobayashi ◽  
Brendan Q. O’Shea ◽  
Jasdeep S. Kler ◽  
Raphael Nishimura ◽  
Caroline B. Palavicino-Maggio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Us States ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health And Well Being

ObjectiveTo describe the methodology and baseline cohort characteristics of the COVID-19Coping Study, a longitudinal mixed-methods study of US adults aged ≥55.MethodsParticipants were recruited through online multi-frame non-probability sampling in Apriland May, 2020. The baseline questionnaire focused on the effects of COVID-19 ondaily life and mental health. Monthly follow-ups will be conducted for one year.FindingsIn total, 6,938 adults participated across all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, andPuerto Rico (mean [SD] age: 67.3 [7.9]; 64% female). Two in three adults reportedleaving home only for essential purposes in the past week (population-weightedproportion: 69%; 95% CI: 68%-71%). One-quarter of older adults in work before thepandemic reported reduced work hours or income (25%; 95% CI: 22%-27%). One inthree screened positive for depression (32%; 95% CI: 30%-34%) and anxiety (29%;95% CI: 28%-31%).ConclusionsWe observed substantial self-reported effects of COVID-19 on daily life and prevalentmental health symptoms in this cohort.Policy ImplicationsData may inform policies to support mental health and well-being among older adultsduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

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