scholarly journals Loneliness and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk factors and associations with psychopathology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asle Hoffart ◽  
Sverre Urnes Johnson ◽  
Omid V. Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Norwegian Population ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Psychopathology Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

Background: The mitigation strategies employed against the COVID-19 pandemic have severe mental health consequences. In particular, as a result of the social distancing protocols, loneliness is likely to increase. This study investigates (a) potential risk and resilience factors for loneliness in the Norwegian population during the strict social distancing non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) implemented against the pandemic and (b) the associations between loneliness and psychopathology symptoms. Methods: A survey was disseminated online to the adult Norwegian population when strict social distancing measures had been implemented for two weeks. The resulting sample of 10061 respondents was unproportionate in terms of gender and educational level and thus sensitivity analyses were conducted. The levels of loneliness were compared across demographic sub-groups, and regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk and resilience factors for loneliness and associations between loneliness and psychopathology symptoms. Results: Among the stable factors, being single and having a psychiatric diagnosis were related to more loneliness with small effect sizes. Among the state risk factors, more rumination and worry in general were associated with stronger loneliness, showing a medium effect size. Among the coping behaviors examined, doing new things at home not done otherwise was negatively related to loneliness, with a small effect size. Loneliness was associated with both depression and anxiety with small effect sizes when all potential confounders and psychiatric diagnosis were controlled for. The relationship to depression was more marked than the relationship to anxiety. Conclusions: The findings suggest that singles and those with a psychiatric diagnosis were most affected by loneliness during the implementation of social distancing measures to impede the coronavirus. The results support the link between loneliness and depression and anxiety symptoms. The results of the analysis of potential risk and resilience factors point to intervention targets for reducing loneliness during pandemic crises. Keywords: loneliness, risk factors, resilience factors, depression, anxiety, COVID-19, social distancing measures

scholarly journals Loneliness and Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors and Associations With Psychopathology

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asle Hoffart ◽  
Sverre Urnes Johnson ◽  
Omid V. Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Potential Risk ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Norwegian Population ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Psychopathology Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

Background: The mitigation strategies employed against the COVID-19 pandemic have severe mental health consequences. In particular, as a result of the social distancing protocols, loneliness is likely to increase. This study investigates (a) potential risk and resilience factors for loneliness in the Norwegian population during the strict social distancing non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) implemented against the pandemic and (b) the associations between loneliness and psychopathology symptoms.Methods: A survey was disseminated online to the adult Norwegian population when strict social distancing measures had been implemented for 2 weeks. The resulting sample of 10,061 respondents was unproportionate in terms of gender and educational level and thus sensitivity analyses were conducted. The levels of loneliness were compared across demographic sub-groups, and regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk and resilience factors for loneliness and associations between loneliness and psychopathology symptoms.Results: Among the stable factors, being single and having a psychiatric diagnosis were related to more loneliness with small effect sizes. Among the state risk factors, more rumination and worry in general were associated with stronger loneliness, showing a medium effect size. Among the coping behaviors examined, doing new things at home not done otherwise was negatively related to loneliness, with a small effect size. Loneliness was associated with both depression and anxiety with small effect sizes when all potential confounders and psychiatric diagnosis were controlled for. The relationship to depression was more marked than the relationship to anxiety.Conclusions: The findings suggest that singles and those with a psychiatric diagnosis were most affected by loneliness during the implementation of social distancing measures to impede the coronavirus. The results support the link between loneliness and depression and anxiety symptoms. The results of the analysis of potential risk and resilience factors point to intervention targets for reducing loneliness during pandemic crises.

scholarly journals Risk and Resilience Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Snapshot of the Experiences of Canadian Workers Early on in the Crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Coulombe ◽  
Tyler Pacheco ◽  
Emily Cox ◽  
Christine Khalil ◽  
Marina M. Doucerain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Resilience Factors

Research highlights several risk and resilience factors at multiple ecological levels that influence individuals’ mental health and wellbeing in their everyday lives and, more specifically, in disaster or outbreak situations. However, there is limited research on the role of these factors in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. The present study examined if and how potential risk factors (i.e., reduction in income, job insecurity, feelings of vulnerability to contracting the virus, lack of confidence in avoiding COVID-19, compliance with preventative policies) and resilience factors (i.e., trait resilience, family functioning, social support, social participation, and trust in healthcare institutions) are associated with mental health and well-being outcomes, and whether these resilience factors buffer (i.e., moderate) the associations between risk factors and said outcomes. One to two weeks after the government recommended preventative measures, 1,122 Canadian workers completed an online questionnaire, including multiple wellbeing outcome scales in addition to measures of potential risk and resilience factors. Structural equation models were tested, highlighting that overall, the considered risk factors were associated with poorer wellbeing outcomes, except social distancing which was associated with lower levels of stress. Each of the potential resilience factors was found to have a main effect on one or more of the wellbeing outcomes. Moderation analysis indicated that in general these resilience factors did not, however, buffer the risk factors. The findings confirm that the COVID-19 crisis encompasses several stressors related to the virus as well as to its impact on one’s social, occupational, and financial situation, which put people at risk for lower wellbeing as early as one to two weeks after the crisis began. While several resilience factors emerged as positively related to wellbeing, such factors may not be enough, or sufficiently activated at that time, to buffer the effects of the numerous life changes required by COVID-19. From an ecological perspective, while mental health professionals and public health decision-makers should offer/design services directly focused on mental health and wellbeing, it is important they go beyond celebrating individuals’ inner potential for resilience, and also support individuals in activating their environmental resources during a pandemic.

A Comparison of Depressive Symptoms in Medical and Psychology Students in Germany – Associations with Potential Risk and Resilience Factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Tordis Kindt ◽  
Nadja Rabkow ◽  
Lilith Pukas ◽  
Lea Keuch ◽  
Alexandra Sapalidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Resilience Factors

Background: Previous studies have shown that medical students are more prone to suffer from symptoms related to depression than other students. Even though there is some evidence that psychology students also experience such symptoms, research concerning the mental health of future psychologists is scarce. Objective: The aims of this study were threefold: (a) to determine the prevalence of symptoms related to depression among medical and psychology students (b) to investigate risk factors, which may have a potential influence on the development of depressive symptoms and (c) to examine resilience factors in order to indicate possible approaches to improve the mental health of the students. Methods: A total of 673 medical and psychology students completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to assess depressive symptoms, a neuroticism scale, and a standardized questionnaire for 13 risk and eight resilience factors derived from the literature. Results: While the results of previous research concerning the prevalence of depressive symptoms could be replicated for medical students (22% exceeding the cut-off in the BDI-II), psychology students demonstrated an even higher prevalence (28%). Ten potential risk factors and five potential resilience factors could be identified, which also showed a cumulative effect: The more risk factors students reported, the more depressive symptoms they experienced; the inverse effect was observed for resilience factors. Conclusions: Not only medical but also psychology students show elevated depressive symptomatology. In the university context, notably, the pressure to perform represents a potential risk factor, whereas the presence of just two resilience factors such as emotional support and study satisfaction contribute to a decrease of symptoms.

Examining the Relationship Between Latinas’ Perceptions About What Constitutes Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence Victimization

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanti J. Kulkarni ◽  
Elizabeth F. Racine ◽  
Blanca Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Male Partner ◽  
Verbal Aggression ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Cultural Perceptions ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
The Relationship

Domestic violence is a serious issue for U.S. Latinas. Better understanding of the potential risk or protection that cultural perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence may convey can help strengthen interventions. Therefore, a convenience sample of 93 Latinas was surveyed about their current levels of domestic violence victimization, acculturation, and demographics, as well as about whether 5 behavioral scenarios constituted domestic violence. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationships between the 5 perception items and domestic violence victimization. After adjusting for established risk factors, only viewing male partner stalking and female verbal aggression as domestic violence were significantly associated with decreased domestic violence victimization. Findings can be integrated into the development and implementation of culturally competent interventions targeting Latinas.

scholarly journals Wellbeing and cognition are coupled during development: A preregistered longitudinal study of 1137 children and adolescents

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delia Fuhrmann ◽  
Anne-Laura Van Harmelen ◽  
Rogier Kievit
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Time Estimate ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Puberty Onset ◽  
Bidirectional Interactions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Over Time

Wellbeing and cognition are linked in adulthood, but how the two domains interact during development is currently unclear. Using a complex systems approach, we preregistered and modelled the relationship between wellbeing and cognition in a prospective cohort of 1137 children, aged 6 - 7 up to 15 years. We found bidirectional interactions between wellbeing and cognition that unfold dynamically over time. Higher externalizing symptoms in childhood predicted fewer gains in planning over time (estimate = - 0.24, p = .019), whereas higher childhood vocabulary predicted smaller increases in loneliness over time (estimate = -0.62, p = < .001). These interactions were characterized by modifiable risk and resilience factors: Relationships to parents, friendship quality, socioeconomic status and puberty onset were all linked to both cognitive and wellbeing outcomes. As such, cognitive and wellbeing are inextricably intertwined in during development and can be modified by social and biological factors.

scholarly journals Emotional Responding and Adversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Buqo
Keyword(s):  
Health Conditions ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Emotional Responding ◽  
Adverse Life Event ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
The Relationship

The experience of emotions is a ubiquitous human experience, as is the experience of adversity. In the aftermath of an adverse life event, a variety of emotional experiences can occur. This chapter reviews the relationship between emotional responding and adversity within the science of emotion and resilience. Current literature on possible emotional responses to adversity are reviewed, including literature on both resilience and psychopathology. Multiple trajectories following the experience of various types of potentially traumatic events are outlined, including predictors for each of these trajectories. In addition, forms of psychopathology in emotional responding after adversity are discussed, including posttraumatic stress disorder, prolonged grief disorder, adjustment disorders, and other mental health conditions. Information regarding risk and resilience factors for each disorder are discussed, and evidence regarding treatment is briefly summarized.

scholarly journals The Clinical Values of Serum Markers in the Early Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Boan Li ◽  
Tongsheng Guo ◽  
Zhiqiang Sun ◽  
Xiaohan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Hepatic Cirrhosis ◽  
Serum Markers ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Early Prediction ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Golgi Protein ◽  
The Relationship

The early prediction values of diagnostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear at present. This study evaluated the prediction value of ten serum markers in HCC. A total of 109 cases of hepatic cirrhosis patients were followed up for 36 months and the relationship between the lifetime risk of developing HCC and levels of serum markers was analyzed. 31.2 (34/109) percent of hepatic cirrhosis patients developed HCC during the study’s timeframe. Higher alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-fetoprotein-L3 (AFP-L3), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and AFP-L3/AFP ratio levels are potential risk factors for malignization in hepatic cirrhosis patients (RR=2.99, 2.92, 2.72, and 2.34); serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) level of hepatic cirrhosis patients decreased significantly after developing HCC (t=2.212;p=0.041). The detection of ALT, AFP, AFP-L3, and GP73 has a certain guiding significance to predict the risk of HCC in hepatic cirrhosis patients.

Meta-Analysis on Incidence of Inhibitors in 1,945 Previously Untreated Patients Treated with Recombinant Factor VIII Products: Is There a Difference?

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 289-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo G. Mantovani ◽  
Matteo Rota ◽  
Paolo Cortesi ◽  
Katharina Steinitz ◽  
Armin Reininger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
High Titer ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Antihemophilic Factor

Abstract Introduction. Recent large cohort studies have shown data on inhibitor incidence in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with hemophilia A treated with recombinant factor VIII concentrates (rFVIII), which disputed previous reports or clinical trials. Aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the risk of inhibitor development in this patient population in order to clarify the relationship between the rFVIII product used and the development of FVIII inhibitors. Methods. We carried out a systematic literature search in electronic databases (Medline through PubMed, EMBASE) for studies published from 1 January 1988 to 31 January 2015. We aimed to identify clinical studies (both prospective and retrospective) investigating the relationship between rFVIII product used and the development of FVIII inhibitors in PUPs and minimally treated patients (MTPs), with less than 5 previous exposure days, with severe (FVIII<1%) and moderate (FVIII1-5%) hemophilia. We conducted the systematic review in accordance with the MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. The primary outcome measure of this meta-analysis was the development of clinically relevant inhibitory antibodies, while the secondary outcome measure was the development of a high-titer inhibitor, which was defined as a peak titer of at least 5 Bethesda units per millimeter (BU/mL) up to the 75th exposure day. We computed pooled meta-analytic estimates according to the rFVIII product used by using the inverse-variance method, assuming a fixed, or a random-effects model if significant between-studies heterogeneity was present. Heterogeneity was measured using Cochrane Q statistics and Higgins I-squared statistics, i.e. the ratio of true heterogeneity between studies compared to the total observed variation. Results. We identified 717 papers through database searches (538 from PubMed; 181 from EMBASE), of which 662 papers were excluded for the following reasons: duplicates (n=49); title and/or abstract not relevant for the endpoint of this study (n=231); review articles (n=131); letter to the editor (n=33); case-reports (n=98); animal studies (n=40); and others (n=80). Fifty-five (55) full-text papers were retrieved for detailed evaluation, plus eight additional papers identified through review of reference lists of the retrieved articles. Of these, 47 articles were excluded after full-text evaluation (incompleteness of data, multiple publications on the same cohort); sixteen (16) studies were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of all inhibitors (571 inhibitors out of 1,945 PUPs/MTPs), including high titer (>5 BU/mL) and low titer (≤ 5 BU/mL), in the overall population considered was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.23-0.31) with significant heterogeneity (I-squared: 68.9%, p<0.01). Considering only inhibitors in PUPs with severe hemophilia (353 inhibitors out of 1,223 PUPs), the pooled estimate of all inhibitors was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.23-0.32) with significant heterogeneity (I-squared: 64.9%, p<0.01). The heterogeneity observed was due to differences of inhibitor incidence among studies for the same product used. Pooled inhibitor incidence estimates among products used ranged from 0.23 to 0.42 with overlapping confidence intervals, in the absence of heterogeneity (p=0.28). Similar patterns were observed in subpopulations of patients with high titer inhibitors or low titer inhibitors. Only few studies reported inhibitor hazard ratios with the different products used, adjusted to slightly different potential risk factors (Gouw et al, 2007, Gouw et al, 2013, Calvez et al, 2014, Collins et al, 2014). Meta-analysis of these studies showed PUPs/MTPs treated with Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) (Advate, Baxalta US Inc., Westlake Village, CA 91362) had a pooled inhibitor hazard ratio estimate of 0.63 (95% CI 0.48-0.83) as compared to Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) (Kogenate FS, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Whippany, NJ 07981). The pool estimates of other products used and tested were not significantly different. Conclusions. The incidence of inhibitors in PUPs/MTPs included in this meta-analysis was 27%. Although significant heterogeneity among studies was observed, no significant differences among products were found. Differences between products used were found only by considering hazard ratios in which potential risk factors were considered. Disclosures Mantovani: Baxalta Innovation GmbH: Consultancy. Rota:Baxalta Innovations GmbH: Consultancy. Cortesi:Baxalta Innovations GmbH: Consultancy. Steinitz:Baxalta Innovations GmbH: Employment. Reininger:Baxalta Innovations GmbH: Employment. Gringeri:Baxalta Innovations GmbH: Employment.

scholarly journals Well-Being and Cognition Are Coupled During Development: A Preregistered Longitudinal Study of 1,136 Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262110302
Author(s):  
Delia Fuhrmann ◽  
Anne-Laura van Harmelen ◽  
Rogier A. Kievit
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Puberty Onset ◽  
Bidirectional Interactions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Over Time

Well-being and cognition are linked in adulthood, but how the two domains interact during development is currently unclear. Using a complex systems approach, we preregistered and modeled the relationship between well-being and cognition in a prospective cohort of 1,136 children between the ages of 6 to 7 years and 15 years. We found bidirectional interactions between well-being and cognition that unfold dynamically over time. Higher externalizing symptoms in childhood predicted fewer gains in planning over time (standardized estimate [β] = −0.14, p = .019), whereas higher childhood vocabulary predicted smaller increases in loneliness over time (β = −0.34, p ≤ .001). These interactions were characterized by modifiable risk and resilience factors: Relationships to parents, friendship quality, socioeconomic status, and puberty onset were all linked to both cognitive and well-being outcomes. Thus, cognition and well-being are inextricably intertwined during development and may be malleable to social and biological factors.

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