Perceived Stress, Stressors, and Mental Distress Among Doctor of Pharmacy Students

We conducted an online survey to assess stress levels, stressors, coping strategies, and mental distress among first year professional Doctor of Pharmacy students at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. We used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS10) to measure perceived stress and the Health-related Quality of Life Scale (HRQOL-14) to assess physical and mental health. Self-reported stress levels among our respondents were elevated, significantly higher than among other populations as reported in previous studies, and exceeded the threshold benchmarked as being unhealthy. Mental health scores were negatively correlated with stress levels, exceeded the threshold for frequent mental distress, and were significantly higher than in comparison groups as reported in previous studies. Examinations were ranked the most stressful events and spending time with family ranked as the most effective stress reliever. Further specific investigation is needed to identify probable contributors to distress and to solicit recommendations to help students alleviate their stress and strengthen their mental health.

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Effect of COVID-19 on perceived stress among Bangladeshi people

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-07-2020-0042 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Mimma Tabassum ◽

Md Iftakhar Parvej ◽

Firoz Ahmed ◽

Farzana Zafreen ◽

Samina Sultana

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Stress ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Content Type ◽

Short Period ◽

Stress Levels

Purpose COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious threat to peoples’ physical and mental health because of its high death toll all over the world within a very short period. As a result, people may be psychologically stressed, which can affect their quality of life. The main purpose of this study is to quantify the level of stress among the adults (age 18 and above) including all gender, religions and races of Bangladesh during this devastating pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This online survey-based study collected demographic data and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to determine stress levels over past one month. The total numbers of respondents are 1,148 from May 29, 2020 to June 12, 2020; using the PSS to assess stress levels and to identify the potential variables having association with level of psychological stress, multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed. Findings A scary proportion (81%) of respondents suffered from substantial amount psychological stress during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is an undeniable signal for us that, every 4 out of 5 respondents in our study is suffering from different level of psychological stress during this time. Comparing the level of stress, this study finds that elderly (60 and above), women, front-line workers (doctor and other health-care professionals) and second-line workers (public service holders, police and defense and banks or financial institutes) have high psychological stress compared to the other respondents. Originality/value This study will help policymakers to provide relevant mental health intervention strategies to cope with this challenge efficiently.

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Examination of sleep health dimensions and their associations with perceived stress and health in a UK sample

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdz016 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah F Allen ◽

Umair Akram ◽

Jason G Ellis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Daytime Functioning ◽

Principle Components Analysis

Abstract Background Sleep health is a relatively new multidimensional concept, however, there is no consensus on its underlying dimensions. A previous study examined potential indicators of sleep health using an aggregated sleep health measure. However, the psychometric properties are yet to be determined. The primary aim was to assess the factor structure, reliability and validity of this measure. A secondary aim was to explore the relationships with perceived stress, and physical and mental health. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 257 adults from the UK aged 18–65 (78.4% female, mean age = 29.39 [SD = 11.37]). Participants completed 13 Sleep health items, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, Insomnia Severity Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and SF-12 Health Survey. Results The measure exhibited good internal consistency (α = 0.785) and construct validity as determined by associations with existing measures. Principle components analysis produced four factors e; sleep quality (α = 0.818), sleep adaptability (α = 0.917), sleep wellness (α = 0.621) and daytime functioning (α = 0.582). Adaptability (β = −241) was strongest predictor of perceived stress, and daytime functioning was strongest predictor of physical (β = 0.322) and mental health (β = 0.312). Conclusions Sleep health is a multidimensional construct comprising four distinct but related dimensions. The importance of sleep health in terms of perceived stress and mental and physical health is highlighted.

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Predictors of stress among a sample of Egyptian healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Middle East Current Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s43045-021-00164-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nermin Mahmoud Shaker ◽

Noha Sabry ◽

Muhammad Abdullatif Alkasaby ◽

Menan Rabie

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Public Health Emergencies ◽

Stress Levels

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous effect on people’s mental health. Healthcare workers were on the front lines in response to this crisis; therefore, they were among the most affected by the pandemic. The study aims to assess the stress perceived by healthcare workers and possible factors contributing to it, hoping that more efforts will be exerted to support the well-being of healthcare workers during public health emergencies. A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted. Data were collected from 118 healthcare professionals working with COVID-19 patients during the peak of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Most of the respondents (75.2%) scored much higher stress levels than average, and 19.5% had slightly higher levels of stress. Most respondents were afraid of infecting their family and close ones (77.1 %), and about half of the respondents were afraid of getting infected (47.5%). Regression analysis revealed that the only significant independent variable predicting developing higher stress levels among the participants was assigning them to tasks outside their specialty. Conclusions Healthcare workers are at high risk of developing mental health problems during public health emergencies. Their well-being is essential for the quality of services they provide. More efforts are needed to ensure the well-being of healthcare workers and to prepare them for such emergencies. Preparing healthcare workers before redeployment through training and providing PPEs will help to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health.

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The Influence of Human–Animal Interactions on Mental and Physical Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in the U.K.: A Qualitative Exploration

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 976 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Shoesmith ◽

Lion Shahab ◽

Dimitra Kale ◽

Daniel S. Mills ◽

Catherine Reeve ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Free Text ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Human Animal ◽

Human Animal Interaction ◽

Animal Interaction ◽

The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context.

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Public Concerns during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multicultural Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents in Three Countries

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10081577 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1577

Author(s):

Alona Emodi-Perlman ◽

Ilana Eli ◽

Nir Uziel ◽

Joanna Smardz ◽

Anahat Khehra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Culturally Different ◽

Patient Health

(1) Background: this study aimed to evaluate the worries, anxiety, and depression in the public during the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in three culturally different groups of internet survey respondents: Middle Eastern (Israel), European (Poland), and North American (Canada). (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the mentioned countries during the lockdown periods. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on personal concerns, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A total of 2207 people successfully completed the survey. (3) Results: Polish respondents were the most concerned about being infected. Canadian respondents worried the most about their finances, relations with relatives and friends, and both physical and mental health. Polish respondents worried the least about their physical health, and Israeli respondents worried the least about their mental health and relations with relatives and friends. Canadian respondents obtained the highest score in the PHQ-4, while the scores of Israeli respondents were the lowest. (4) Conclusions: various factors should be considered while formulating appropriate solutions in emergency circumstances such as a pandemic. Understanding these factors will aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation, and uncertainty on the well-being and mental health of culturally different societies.

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COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa153 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Brenda R Whitehead

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

And Coping

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

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Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives of Mental Health Practices With Clients in Stroke Rehabilitation

OTJR Occupation Participation and Health ◽

10.1177/1539449218759627 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 181-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Emily K. Simpson ◽

Narissa M. Ramirez ◽

Brittany Branstetter ◽

Aileen Reed ◽

Evan Lines

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Occupational Therapy ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Health ◽

The United States ◽

Health Needs ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Mental Health Practices

Following a stroke, depression and anxiety may negatively affect recovery and decrease quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are distinctly qualified to address both the physical and psychosocial sequelae of a stroke, including clients’ mental and emotional health. This study explored the ways in which OT practitioners address the mental health needs of clients post stroke. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used to collect both survey and focus group data. In all, 754 OT practitioners across the United States completed an online survey, and 10 practitioners participated in focus groups. Practitioners considered their clients’ mental health needs to be a priority (68.17%); however, only 56.64% were satisfied with the care they provided related to mental and emotional health. They identified barriers that included limited time, increased productivity standards, expectations related to physical recovery, and poor educational preparation. Practitioners are motivated to improve their provision of mental health services to clients post stroke. To address the conflict between practice realities and professional values, education programs should better integrate curricular components that focus on physical and mental health.

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Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Perceived Stress Scale Measures

Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health ◽

10.1007/s44197-021-00014-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 377-388

Author(s):

Nuha Alwaqdani ◽

Hala A. Amer ◽

Reem Alwaqdani ◽

Fahad AlMansour ◽

Hind A. Alzoman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

High Stress ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Perceived Stress Scale ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Stress Scale ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Stress Levels

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and of considerable concern among health care workers (HCWs). Being particularly at increased risk for exposure, HCWs worry about becoming infected as well as infecting co-workers, patients and family members. Such distress and panic may have destructive effects on individuals and may last long after the pandemic situation leading to depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to measure and investigate the prevalence of the factors affecting psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among HCWs. Methods A self-administered online survey—including perceived stress scale (PSS) questions—was disseminated among HCWs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SA) between1st June and 30th July 2020. Results A total of 469 HCWs responded to the survey for a high response rate (93.8%). The PSS revealed that 15.8% of the respondents were suffering from high stress levels, 77.2% were suffering from moderate stress levels and 7% with low stress levels. Females and junior frontline staff reported more severe stress levels. Participation on the pandemic team shows significant impact on stress levels. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress levels among HCWs and affects their psychological wellbeing. Designing programs promoting HCWs mental health are crucial and emotional and psychological support strategies should be part of every public health crisis management plan.

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Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-08-2020-0110 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Annika McGivern ◽

Stephen Shannon ◽

Gavin Breslin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

History Of

Purpose This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being. Findings In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores. Practical implications Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport. Social implications Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being. Originality/value This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.

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