The interplay between mothers’ and children behavioral and psychological factors during COVID-19: An Italian study

Italy has been the first nation outside of Asia to face the COVID-19 outbreak. To limit viral transmission of infection, by March 10th, 2020, the Italian Government has ordered a national lockdown, which established home confinement, home (smart) working, and temporary closure of non-essential businesses and schools. The present study investigated how these restrictive measures impacted mothers and their pre-school children's behavioral habits (i.e., sleep timing and quality, subjective time experience) and psychological well-being (i.e., emotion regulation, self-regulation capacity). An online survey was administered to 245 mothers with pre-school children (from 2 to 5 years). Mothers were asked to fill the survey thinking both on their habits, behaviors, and emotions and on those of their children during the quarantine, and retrospectively, before the national lockdown (i.e., in late February). A general worsening of sleep quality and distortion of time experience in both mothers and children, as well as increasing emotional symptoms and self-regulation difficulties in children, was observed. Moreover, even when the interplay between the behavioral and psychological factors was investigated, the factor that seems to mostly impact both mothers' and children's psychological well-being was their sleep quality. Overall, central institutions urgently need to implementing special programs for families, including not only psychological support to sustain families with working parents and ameliorating children's management.

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Exploring the relationship between sleep quality, emotional well-being and aggression levels in a European sample

Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research ◽

10.1108/jacpr-08-2016-0239 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 167-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lara Freitag ◽

Jane L. Ireland ◽

Isabella J.M. Niesten

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Clinical Population ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Content Type ◽

Sleep Quantity ◽

The Relationship

Purpose Sleep deprivation is well known to negatively affect mood, cognition and behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between sleep quantity, subjective sleep quality and aggression, hostility and well-being levels among adults in a non-clinical population. Design/methodology/approach In total, 201 participants aged 18 and above from Germany, UK and the Netherlands completed an online survey consisting of a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index along with measures of psychological well-being, implicit and explicit aggression, and intent attributions. Findings Sleep disturbances were related to decreased levels of psychological well-being. Subjective poor sleep quality predicted increased hostile attributions. The overall sleep experience, however, was not associated with aggression levels. Nevertheless, both a poor sleep experience and low sleep quality were related to increased reactive aggression, but only in British participants. Practical implications The importance of perceived sleep quality rather than sleep quantity in predicting hostile and aggressive behaviours is indicated. The quality of sleep and perception of this quality should be the focus of clinical intervention to limit unwanted behavioural impacts. The importance of accounting for sleep quality perception in intervention that examines attributional biases such as hostility is indicated. Differences across countries should be identified and accommodated for in intervention. Originality/value This is the first study to consider a role for sleep quality (including perception) and sleep quantity in relation to aggression and hostility in a cross-country European sample.

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Asthmatic children and their mothers in COVID-19 pandemic: psychosocial impact of the virus outbreak in a post lockdown scenario

10.21203/rs.3.rs-121350/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daniela Di Riso ◽

Silvia Spaggiari ◽

Elena Cambrisi ◽

Valentina Ferraro ◽

Silvia Carraro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Control Sample ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychosocial Impact ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Chronically Ill Children ◽

Temporary Closure ◽

The Impact

Abstract Italy has been the first country outside Asia to struggle with the COVID-19 outbreak. To contain the transmission of the virus, by March 10th, 2020, the Italian Government imposed strict domestic quarantine policies and temporary closure of non-essential businesses and schools. Although growing literature explored the impact of the pandemic on non-referred children and families, few studies focused on the psychosocial impact of Covid-19 in chronically ill children and their caregivers. Methods. The present study investigated asthma control and children and mothers’ psychological functioning (i.e.: psychological well-being, fear of contagion, and mothers’ Covid-19 related fears) in 45 asthmatic children aged 7-to-14, compared to a control sample. They were administered an online survey after the lockdown (from the 28th May to 23rd August 2020). Results. Results showed higher levels of concern for contagion for asthmatic children, but no difference in psychosocial functioning. Mothers reported more Covid-19 related fears, and greater worries according to the resumption of their children’s activities. Moreover, they indicated a global worsening in their psychological well-being during the lockdown. Furthermore, as to the clinical sample, the multivariate regression model showed that a worsening of mothers' psychological and children’s physical well-being was associated with a worsening of children’s psychological well-being during the lockdown. Conclusions. The results of this study indicate that mothers of asthmatic children can be more prone to experience psychological fatigue in a pandemic scenario. Special programs should be scheduled to sustain caregivers of chronically ill children.

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Psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic in low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of older persons in Thailand

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047650 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e047650

Author(s):

Wiraporn Pothisiri ◽

Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Low Income ◽

Older Persons ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Ageing Society ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 situation in Thailand was controlled with various social measures. Much of the information covered in the media and in studies focused on the public health and economic aspects of the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the psychological well-being of older people, which is important especially in an ageing society categorised as low income or middle income due to the limits of economic and healthcare resources.SettingThe impact of COVID-19 on older persons in Thailand, an online survey, taken across nine provinces within the five regions of the country.ParticipantsInformation was collected from 1230 adults aged at least 60 years old.If an older person was illiterate, unable to access the internet or had a disability preventing them from responding to the survey, an intermediary residing in the community conducted the survey interview.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe analysis focused on the worries of older adults and the factors associated with psychological distress experienced during the pandemic using logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe majority of people aged at least 60 years old experienced psychological distress during COVID-19. Employment loss (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.38), inadequate income (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.44) and debt incursion (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.57 to 4.80) were detrimental to psychological well-being. The negative changes in the perception of their health status (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.99) and decreased life satisfaction (OR 1.49, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.87) also weighed on older Thais. The protective factors for psychological well-being were residing in rural areas (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.61) and being married (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.01).ConclusionObserving the concerns of the older population is important for introducing policies that can alleviate their precarious financial and health statuses.

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Physical Activity as a Predictor of the Level of Stress and Quality of Sleep during COVID-19 Lockdown

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5811

Author(s):

Anna Lipert ◽

Remigiusz Kozłowski ◽

Dariusz Timler ◽

Michał Marczak ◽

Kamila Musiał ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Online Survey ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Quality Of Sleep ◽

Low Level ◽

The Government

Background: The coronavirus pandemic and the government restrictions significantly disturbed the daily functioning of people, thereby influencing healthy behaviors, such as physical activity—the core indicator of well-being. This study evaluates the associations between physical activity (PA), the level of stress and quality of sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: An online survey was distributed during the governmental lockdown in April 2020 and included measures for assessing physical activity, stress and sleep. The surveyed participants included all adults aged 18 years and over. The final data were collected from the 1959 respondents using: International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Findings: Almost half of the respondents indicated a low level of PA, performing only 60 min of PA daily. Most of the participants reported a moderate or high level of stress (57% and 29%, respectively) and 64% of them reported poor quality of sleep. People with low levels of stress performed on average 85.1 min/day of walking (WPA), 40.9 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) or 52.6 min/day of vigorous PA (VPA). People with good quality of sleep performed 82.9 min/day of WPA, 43.6 min/day MPA and 40.5 min/day VPA. Interpretation: The results from the study indicate that the volume of daily PA may be a predictor of the level of stress and sleep quality in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. To retain a low level of stress and good quality of sleep, a lifestyle that allows to achieve a moderate level of physical activity should be maintained. The optimal daily dose of PA is at least 70 min per day, involving different intensities.

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The Unique Role of Sleep Quality in Older Adults’ Psychological Well-Being

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464810392226 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 587-607 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bridget L. Hanson ◽

Joelle C. Ruthig

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Unique Role

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Examining the role of passion in university students’ academic emotions, self-regulated learning and well-being

Journal of Adult and Continuing Education ◽

10.1177/14779714211037359 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 147797142110373

Author(s):

Anna Sverdlik ◽

Sonia Rahimi ◽

Robert J Vallerand

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Adult Students ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Academic Emotions ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Self Regulated Learning ◽

Regulated Learning

University students’ passion for their studies has been previously demonstrated to be important for both their academic performance and their personal well-being. However, no studies to date have explored the role of passion for one’s studies on both academic and personal outcomes in a single model. The present research sought to determine the role of passion in adult university students’ self-regulated learning and psychological well-being (Study 1), as well as the process by which passion shapes these outcomes, namely academic emotions, in Study 2. It was hypothesised that harmonious passion would positively predict both self-regulated learning and psychological well-being in Study 1. Furthermore, the mediating role of academic emotions between passion and outcomes was tested using a prospective design over time in Study 2. Results provided support for the proposed model. Implications for future research and practice focusing on the role of passion in facilitating adaptive emotions, use of self-regulation and well-being in adult students are discussed.

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Relationship between self-care activities, stress and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-cultural mediation model

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048469 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e048469

Author(s):

Elkin Luis ◽

Elena Bermejo-Martins ◽

Martín Martinez ◽

Ainize Sarrionandia ◽

Cristian Cortes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Online Survey ◽

Self Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Active Role ◽

Total Sample ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Sociodemographic Variables ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesTo examine the mediation role of self-care between stress and psychological well-being in the general population of four countries and to assess the impact of sociodemographic variables on this relationship.DesignCross-sectional, online survey.ParticipantsA stratified sample of confined general population (N=1082) from four Ibero-American countries—Chile (n=261), Colombia (n=268), Ecuador (n=282) and Spain (n=271)—balanced by age and gender.Primary outcomes measuresSociodemographic information (age, gender, country, education and income level), information related to COVID-19 lockdown (number of days in quarantine, number of people with whom the individuals live, absence/presence of adults and minors in charge and attitude towards the search of information related to COVID-19), Perceived Stress Scale-10, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale-29 and Self-Care Activities Screening Scale-14.ResultsSelf-care partially mediates the relationship between stress and well-being during COVID-19 confinement in the general population in the total sample (F (3,1078)=370.01, p<0.001, R2=0.507) and in each country. On the other hand, among the evaluated sociodemographic variables, only age affects this relationship.ConclusionThe results have broad implications for public health, highlighting the importance of promoting people’s active role in their own care and health behaviour to improve psychological well-being if stress management and social determinants of health are jointly addressed first. The present study provides the first transnational evidence from the earlier stages of the COVID-19 lockdown, showing that the higher perception of stress, the less self-care activities are adopted, and in turn the lower the beneficial effects on well-being.

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