Mental health and associated factors in the general population of Latvia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Description The goal of the study was to assess mental health, socio-psychological and behavioural aspects in the representative sample of Latvian general population in online survey, and to identify vulnerable groups during COVID-19 pandemic and develop future recommendations. The study was carried out from 6 to 27 July 2020 and was attributable to the period of emergency state from 11 March to 10 June 2020. The protocol included demographic data and also data pertaining to general health, previous self-reported psychiatric history, symptoms of anxiety, clinically significant depression and suicidality, as well as a quality of sleep, sex, family relationships, finance, eating and exercising and religion/spirituality, and their changes during the pandemic. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale was used to determine the presence of distress or depression, the Risk Assessment of Suicidality Scale was used to assess suicidal behaviour, current symptoms of anxiety were assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y. (2021-02-04) Subject Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Keyword: COVID19, pandemic, depression, anxiety, suicidality, mental health, Latvia

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Resilience contributes to low emotional impact of the COVID-19 outbreak among the general population in Italy

10.31234/osf.io/af8u4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Vittorio Lenzo ◽

Maria Catena Quattropani ◽

Alessandro Musetti ◽

Corrado Zenesini ◽

Maria Francesca Freda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Correlational Analysis ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Resilience Factors

BackgroundThe COVID-19 outbreak is severely affecting overall mental health with unknown psychological consequences. The Italian Government has implemented a massive lockdown to decrease the spread of the virus. Although a strong psychological impact is possible, few evidences are still available. Past studies have shown that resilience decreases the negative effects of stress promoting mental health. For these reasons, this study aimed to examine depression, anxiety, and stress among the Italian general population during the phase characterizing by lockdown, and to investigate the role of resilience as a potential predictor. MethodsA total sample of 6314 Italian people participated in this study. Participants were recruited between March 10 and May 4 2020 through an online survey, the majority of whom from Northern Italy. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) (a measure of mental health status) and the Resilience Scale (RS) (a measure of resilience) were administered. Also, demographic data and lockdown related information were collected. DASS-21 cut-off scores were used to verify the mental status among the participants. Subsequently, a correlational analysis was carried out to examine relationships between DASS-21 and RS. Lastly, three hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using the three DASS-21 scales as dependent variables and the RS scales as independent variables controlling for age, gender, and education. ResultsThe prevalence of moderate to extremely severe symptoms among participants was 36.1% for depression, 28.7% for anxiety, and 35.6% for stress. Results of correlational analysis showed that resilience factors, such as meaningfulness, self-reliance, existential aloneness, and equanimity, are inversely associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Results of regression analyses indicated that all the resilience factors were statistically significant in predicting anxiety, while meaningfulness, perseverance, existential aloneness, and equanimity predicted depression and stress. ConclusionsDuring the lockdown following the COVID-19 outbreak, about a third of respondents reported moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress. The present study suggests that psychological resilience may independently contribute to low emotional distress and psychological ill-being. These findings can help explain the variability of individual responses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychological interventions to enhance resilience might provide useful approaches to overcome COVID-related emotional impact.

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Psychological Distress, Loneliness, and Boredom Among the General Population of Tyrol, Austria During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.691896 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Franziska Tutzer ◽

Beatrice Frajo-Apor ◽

Silvia Pardeller ◽

Barbara Plattner ◽

Anna Chernova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Low Income ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Short Form ◽

Health Problems ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Federal State

Background: COVID-19-related mental health problems are considered a public health challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate psychological distress, loneliness, and boredom among the general population of the federal state of Tyrol, Austria.Methods: Residents of Tyrol aged ≥ 18 years were recruited via dissemination of a link through social media and other advertisements and invited to complete an online survey from June 26th to August 20th, 2020. Next to the collection of sociodemographic and COVID-19 related variables the Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL), the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS), and the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale-Short Form (MSBS-SF) were used to assess psychological distress, loneliness, and boredom.Results: 961 participants took part in the survey (68.3% woman). Of these, 14.4% were burdened from psychological distress (BSCL), 22.6% reached a TILS score ≥ 7 and were therefore classified as severely lonely, and boredom levels lay by a mean of 25.9 ± 11.0 points in the MSBS-SF (range: 7–56). Women, singles, low-income people as well as those who were unemployed were significantly more often affected by all of the selected outcomes compared to the remaining sample and they had significantly more frequently consumed alcohol or other substances since the outbreak of the pandemic in order to feel better. In addition, young and middle-aged adults were particularly burdened by loneliness and boredom.Discussion: Our findings identify vulnerable groups and factors associated with higher psychological distress, loneliness, and boredom in the context of the pandemic. In order to prevent mental health problems it will be critical to identify options of maintaining social contacts and remaining active despite pandemic-related restrictions.

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Anxiety among the general population during Coronavirus-19 Disease in Saudi Arabia: Implications for a Mental Support Program

10.1101/2020.05.07.20090225 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Salman H. Alsaqri ◽

Mohannad J. Alkwiese ◽

Mohammed K. Aldalaykeh ◽

Mada Ibrahim Hamzi ◽

Mada Mousa Mahdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

General Population ◽

General Public ◽

Online Survey ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

The Social ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

On Line

AbstractBackgroundThe 2019 outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an worldwide health emergency that threatens mental health of general public. Research data are required to establish evidence-based approaches to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety during the outbreak. This study aimed to survey the general public in Saudi Arabia to help in understanding their levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsThe researchers performed an on-line survey using snowball sampling methods from April 1 through April 10, 2020. The online survey collected demographics information data, while the Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults (SAQ-A30) was used to measure anxiety level.ResultsThis study consisted of 709 respondents from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The general population reported mild to moderate rates of anxiety. Married respondents were associated with a significantly higher level of anxiety (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe respondents reported mild to moderate anxiety during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.Implication for practiceThe results of this study identify the implications to lower levels of anxiety that may be used during the COVID-19 outbreak to develop mental health support programs to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups.

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The impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health in general population in different areas in China

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720004717 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Mao-Sheng Ran ◽

Ru Gao ◽

Jing-Xia Lin ◽

Tian-Ming Zhang ◽

Sherry Kit Wa Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

General Population ◽

General Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Self Rating

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health status in general population in different affected areas in China. Methods This was a comparative study including two groups of participants: (1) general population in an online survey in Ya'an and Jingzhou cities during the COVID-19 outbreak from 10–20 February 2020; and (2) matching general population selected from the mental health survey in Ya'an in 2019 (from January to May 2019). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used. Results There were 1775 participants (Ya'an in 2019 and 2020: 537 respectively; Jingzhou in 2020: 701). Participants in Ya'an had a significantly higher rate of general health problems (GHQ scores ⩾3) in 2020 (14.7%) than in 2019 (5.2%) (p < 0.001). Compared with Ya'an (8.0%), participants in Jingzhou in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of anxiety (SAS scores ⩾50, 24.1%) (p < 0.001). Participants in Ya'an in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of depression (SDS scores ⩾53, 55.3%) than in Jingzhou (16.3%) (p < 0.001). The risk factors of anxiety symptoms included female, number of family members (⩾6 persons), and frequent outdoor activities. The risk factors of depression symptoms included participants in Ya'an and uptake self-protective measures. Conclusions The prevalence of psychological symptoms has increased sharply in general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. People in COVID-19 severely affected areas may have higher scores of GHQ and anxiety symptoms. Culture-specific and individual-based psychosocial interventions should be developed for those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Income-related health inequality among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence based on an online survey

International Journal for Equity in Health ◽

10.1186/s12939-021-01448-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peng Nie ◽

Lanlin Ding ◽

Zhuo Chen ◽

Shiyong Liu ◽

Qi Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Family Member ◽

Health Inequalities ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mainland China ◽

Decomposition Analysis ◽

National Sample ◽

Vulnerable Groups

AbstractBackgroundPartial- or full-lockdowns, among other interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, may disproportionally affect people (their behaviors and health outcomes) with lower socioeconomic status (SES). This study examines income-related health inequalities and their main contributors in China during the pandemic.MethodsThe 2020 China COVID-19 Survey is an anonymous 74-item survey administered via social media in China. A national sample of 10,545 adults in all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in mainland China provided comprehensive data on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness and attitudes towards COVID-19, lifestyle factors, and health outcomes during the lockdown. Of them, 8448 subjects provided data for this analysis. Concentration Index (CI) and Corrected CI (CCI) were used to measure income-related inequalities in mental health and self-reported health (SRH), respectively. Wagstaff-type decomposition analysis was used to identify contributors to health inequalities.ResultsMost participants reported their health status as “very good” (39.0%) or “excellent” (42.3%). CCI of SRH and mental health were − 0.09 (p < 0.01) and 0.04 (p < 0.01), respectively, indicating pro-poor inequality in ill SRH and pro-rich inequality in ill mental health. Income was the leading contributor to inequalities in SRH and mental health, accounting for 62.7% (p < 0.01) and 39.0% (p < 0.05) of income-related inequalities, respectively. The COVID-19 related variables, including self-reported family-member COVID-19 infection, job loss, experiences of food and medication shortage, engagement in physical activity, and five different-level pandemic regions of residence, explained substantial inequalities in ill SRH and ill mental health, accounting for 29.7% (p < 0.01) and 20.6% (p < 0.01), respectively. Self-reported family member COVID-19 infection, experiencing food and medication shortage, and engagement in physical activity explain 9.4% (p < 0.01), 2.6% (the summed contributions of experiencing food shortage (0.9%) and medication shortage (1.7%),p < 0.01), and 17.6% (p < 0.01) inequality in SRH, respectively (8.9% (p < 0.01), 24.1% (p < 0.01), and 15.1% (p < 0.01) for mental health).ConclusionsPer capita household income last year, experiences of food and medication shortage, self-reported family member COVID-19 infection, and physical activity are important contributors to health inequalities, especially mental health in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervention programs should be implemented to support vulnerable groups.

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Experiences of nurses caring for respiratory patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey study

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2021-000987 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e000987

Author(s):

Nicola J Roberts ◽

Carol A Kelly ◽

Kate A Lippiett ◽

Emma Ray ◽

Lindsay Welch

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Working Environment ◽

Survey Study ◽

British Thoracic Society ◽

Healthcare Team ◽

Free Text ◽

The Impact

BackgroundNurses have been at the forefront of the pandemic response, involved in extensive coordination of services, screening, vaccination and front-line work in respiratory, emergency and intensive care environments. The nature of this work is often intense and stress-provoking with an inevitable psychological impact on nurses and all healthcare workers. This study focused on nurses working in respiratory areas with the aim of identifying and characterising the self-reported issues that exacerbated or alleviated their concerns during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn online survey was developed consisting of 90 questions using a mixture of open-ended and closed questions. Participant demographic data were also collected (age, gender, ethnicity, number of years qualified, details of long-term health conditions, geographical location, nursing background/role and home life). The online survey was disseminated via social media and professional respiratory societies (British Thoracic Society, Primary Care Respiratory Society, Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists) over a 3-week period in May 2020 and the survey closed on 1 June 2020.ResultsThe study highlights the experiences of nurses caring for respiratory patients during the first wave of the pandemic in early 2020. Concerns were expressed over the working environment, the supply and availability of adequate protective personal equipment, the quality of care individuals were able to deliver, and the impact on mental health to nurses and their families. A high number provided free-text comments around their worries and concerns about the impact on their household; these included bringing the virus home, the effect on family members worrying about them, mental health and the impact of changing working patterns, and managing with children. Although both formal and informal support were available, there were inconsistencies in provision, highlighting the importance of nursing leadership and management in ensuring equity of access to services.ConclusionsSupport for staff is essential both throughout the pandemic and afterwards, and it is important that preparation of individuals regarding building resilience is recognised. It is also clear that psychological support and services for nurses and the wider healthcare team need to be available and quickly convened in the event of similar major incidents, either global or local.

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

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.715792 ◽

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.

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Attitudes surrounding the disclosure of mental illness

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.767 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S288-S289

Author(s):

Brishti Sengupta ◽

Pritha Dasgupta

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

General Population ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Group ◽

Medical Professionals ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Attitude Shift

AimsTo survey the effect of COVID-19 on mental health of both medical professionals and the general population, as well as attitudes surrounding the disclosure of mental illness.MethodAn online survey comprised of two questionnaires, one for medical professionals and one for the general population, were conducted via social media. Both questionnaires asked respondents of the effect of COVID-19 on their mental health, and the former asked respondents about the effect of COVID-19 on their patient group's mental health. The questionnaires went on to ask respondents about their attitudes to mental health disclosure in various scenarios, to varying groups of people. The general population group was also asked how they would react if someone else disclosed their mental illness to them.ResultThe questionnaire for the medical professionals gained 62 respondents and the one for the general population had 122 respondents, with responses from multiple nations. Overall, COVID-19 has affected everyone's mental health to a degree, and all groups had reservations about disclosing their mental health issues to others. The medical professionals were especially reluctant to disclose mental illness to their patients, but were more comfortable when it came to disclosing mental illness to colleagues. The general population, however, was much more reluctant to disclose mental health issues to their colleagues. The general population were, on the whole, willing to listen to and help anyone who came to them with mental health concerns. Both groups surveyed showed reluctance toward disclosure to the wider community.ConclusionCOVID-19 appears to significantly affect not only physical health, but mental health as well. There is at least some degree of stigma surrounding the disclosure of mental health issues. While most would be happy to help anyone who came to them with their mental health problems, there seems to be an attitude shift when people must contend with mental health issues of their own.

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Resisting stigma and evaluating realism in a direct-to-consumer advertisement for psychiatric drugs

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing ◽

10.1108/ijphm-10-2019-0069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Tara Walker

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

General Population ◽

Online Survey ◽

Bipolar Depression ◽

Online Advertising ◽

Sample Population ◽

Content Type ◽

Direct To Consumer ◽

Psychiatric Drugs

Purpose This study aims to examine how experience with mental illness influences perceptions of stigma and realism in a specific direct-to-consumer advertisement (DTCA) for bipolar depression. Design/methodology/approach An online survey had participants watch a 90 s advertisement for a prescription bipolar depression drug and then answer 24 questions about stigma, mental illness experience and the realism of the portrayals in the advertisement. Findings Findings show that people who identify as having experience with mental illness tend to see the ad as more stigmatizing and less realistic. Additionally, people who expressed more stigmatizing beliefs also tended to see more stigma present in the ad. Finally, the study reconfirms conclusions of previous research that people who have experience with mental health conditions possess fewer stigmatizing beliefs overall regarding mental illness. Research limitations/implications The sample population, while diverse in age and somewhat diverse in location, were highly educated, suggesting that they were not representative of the general population. Future studies may want to use more representative samples. A more nuanced approach to understanding experience is needed. While the sample in this study was purposively derived from communities with a higher rate of mental illness, a comprehensive experience scale to measure degrees of experience with mental illness would enhance understanding of this construct. Researchers may also want to look more deeply into the emotional responses of consumers who view these ads. To develop a greater understanding of the trajectory of DTCA, studies of online advertising for psychiatric drugs are needed. Practical implications The results of the study suggest that respondents with experience with mental illness may find ads that sell psychiatric medications unrealistic. This study presents the topic of realism in DTCA as an important construct for determining how consumers may perceive portrayals of disorders. Social implications The fact that people who have experience with mental illness found the Latuda ad to be generally unrealistic suggests that DTCA may be failing to represent mental illness in a way that demonstrates care for patients. Additionally, this research confirms that people who have had exposure to and experience with mental illness tend to hold less stigmatizing beliefs, (Link and Cullen, 1986; Corrigan et al., 2001; Angermeyer et al., 2004) a finding which supports the continuing project of increasing mental health literacy and awareness in the general population. Originality/value This study investigates the reactions of people who identify as having some experience with mental illness to see if they accept the portrayals of mental illness in DTCA or resist them by challenging their realism or identifying stigmatizing elements.

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The Meaning of Bonds: The Relationships Among Grief Rituals, Support From Relatives and Friends, and the Mental Health of Shiduers

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222820909650 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003022282090965

Author(s):

Yudi Zhang ◽

Xiaoming Jia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Prolonged Grief ◽

Grief Support ◽

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory

Previous studies have sporadically explored the effect of various bonds on the mental health of shiduers (i.e., parents who lost their only child). However, research has rarely classified different bonds to systematically describe their effects. This study administered a self-compiled questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the posttraumatic stress disorder Checklist, the Prolonged Grief Questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale to 466 shiduers. The commemoration rituals that occur soon after the loss predict a lower level of posttraumatic stress disorder. Similarly, the commemoration rituals that occur on special days predict lower levels of depression and anxiety. In contrast, the continuation of commemoration rituals on ordinary days predicts higher levels of depression and prolonged grief. Support from family members and relatives, other shiduers, and nonshiduer friends are all beneficial to shiduers’ mental health.

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