scholarly journals Factors predicting anxiety and depression symptoms among migrant workers in the Greater China area during the early COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrian Liem

This study briefly reported the prevalence and factors predicting anxiety and depression symptoms among migrant workers in the Greater China area. An online survey was conducted between February and March 2020 among Indonesian migrant workers in Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Data from 491 participants were analyzed using a series of hierarchical logistic regression. The prevalence rates for clinically meaningful symptoms of anxiety and depression were 31.8% and 26.9%, respectively. Factors predicting anxiety symptoms were age, marital status, income level, educational level, and Cantonese fluency. Older participants, married, have higher income and education, and are more fluent in Cantonese were less likely to experience anxiety than their counterparts. Factors predicting depression symptoms were age, marital status, English fluency, and Cantonese fluency. Older participants, married, and more fluent in English and Cantonese were less likely to experience depression than their counterparts. Stakeholders should consider these findings in public health planning to make it more inclusive for migrant workers.

Author(s):  
Fabiana Silva Ribeiro ◽  
Flávia H. Santos ◽  
Luis Anunciação ◽  
Lucas Barrozo ◽  
Jesus Landeira-Fernandez ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency of international concern, and the main measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 were social distancing, quarantine, and self-isolation. Although these policies are effective in containing the spread of the virus, they might represent a challenge to psychological well-being, increasing levels of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms. Aims: We explored the frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms during COVID-19 restrictions and associations with sociodemographic factors in a Brazilian sample. Method: Data of a total of 936 Brazilian adults (68.2% women) aged 18 to 77 years old (M = 38.95, SD = 13.91) were collected through an online survey. Results: In general, we observed a frequency of 17.36% for severe anxiety and 66.13% for severe depression symptoms, in which younger participants (18–39 years old) and women showed higher scores in anxiety and depression scales compared to older age groups. Logistic regressions showed that women were more likely to present severe symptoms of anxiety (20.4%) compared to men (10.9%), as well as respondents in the educational sector (24.3%) compared to those in the health sector (10%). Conclusions: We highlight the importance of mental health professionals in developing strategies to help younger adults to mitigate the effects of social restriction.


Author(s):  
Roy Rillera Marzo ◽  
Emilio Quilatan Villanueva III ◽  
Udita Chandra ◽  
Mila Nu Nu Htay ◽  
Rajeev Shrestha ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has caused an extraordinary situation, especially for the healthcare workers (HCWs), leading to increased psychological stress. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of different grades of anxiety and depression across different centers in the Philippines and identify demographic factors associated with them. Design and Method: A cross-sectional, web-based, multi-center study was conducted among HCWs of Philippines from April 20- May 20, 2020. The study instruments used were the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Risk perception scores were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression was done to identify factors significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression determined. Results: A total of 516 HCWs were included in the study. Most of them have anxiety symptoms (70.74%), but only half of them have symptoms of depression (50.97%). In addition, gender, age, marital status, living status, occupation, work premises, and availability of mental health services were significantly associated with the participants’ anxiety symptoms; In contrast, gender, marital status, occupation, and work premises were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion: This study reiterates the fact and demonstrates that COVID-19 has disrupted the mental well-being of HCWs in the Philippines. Majority of HCW was psychologically affected by COVID-19. Therefore, there is a dire need to address mental illness amongst HCWs and frame guidelines based on proven algorithms to overcome these mental illnesses.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristel Tardif-Grenier ◽  
Isabelle Archambault ◽  
Véronique Dupéré ◽  
Amy Marks ◽  
Elizabeth Olivier

Abstract Background Adolescents, especially girls, are more at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms and it can be assumed that the stress and social isolation experienced during confinement has had negative consequences on adolescents’ mental health. However, not all of them experienced confinement in the same way. This study is aimed at determining which sociodemographic characteristics (age, family composition, achievement), confinement habits (schedule, new hobby, sleep duration, cellphone and computer use, sports, schoolwork), and sources of support (parents and teachers) are associated with more or less internalized symptoms (anxiety and depression) in Canadian adolescents. Given the increased vulnerability of girls, the results take gender into account. Methods Between April 8 and 30 (2020) and through an online survey, 895 Canadian adolescents (74% girls) aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.73) were recruited. Path analysis was performed to identify significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics, confinement habits, and support variables with internalized symptoms. Independent samples t-tests and invariance tests were conducted to compare boys and girls. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 and Mplus8. Results Certain confinement habits (time spent using cellphones, doing sports and schoolwork, finding a new hobby) and support (parents working outside the home) variables were significantly and negatively associated with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Regarding the sex differences, girls had higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, used their cellphones more, while boys used their computers more. Only the association between sleep duration and physical symptoms of anxiety significantly differed between boys and girls. However, it was not significant for both groups. Conclusions The results of this study help to better understand the experience of adolescents in confinement and how it is different for boys and girls. It sheds light on the characteristics and habits likely to characterize those who are more at risk of experiencing distress and thus make it possible to better support adolescents during this difficult period.


2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward G. Spilg ◽  
Cynda Hylton Rushton ◽  
Jennifer L. Phillips ◽  
Tetyana Kendzerska ◽  
Mysa Saad ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, confront healthcare workers (HCW) with increased exposure to potentially morally distressing events. The pandemic has provided an opportunity to explore the links between moral distress, moral resilience, and emergence of mental health symptoms in HCWs. Methods A total of 962 Canadian healthcare workers (88.4% female, 44.6 + 12.8 years old) completed an online survey during the first COVID-19 wave in Canada (between April 3rd and September 3rd, 2020). Respondents completed a series of validated scales assessing moral distress, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and moral resilience. Respondents were grouped based on exposure to patients who tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to descriptive statistics and analyses of covariance, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate if moral resilience moderates the association between exposure to morally distressing events and moral distress. Factors associated with moral resilience were also assessed. Findings Respondents working with patients with COVID-19 showed significantly more severe moral distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms (F > 5.5, p < .020), and a higher proportion screened positive for mental disorders (Chi-squared > 9.1, p = .002), compared to healthcare workers who were not. Moral resilience moderated the relationship between exposure to potentially morally distressing events and moral distress (p < .001); compared to those with higher moral resilience, the subgroup with the lowest moral resilience had a steeper cross-sectional worsening in moral distress as the frequency of potentially morally distressing events increased. Moral resilience also correlated with lower stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms (r > .27, p < .001). Factors independently associated with stronger moral resilience included: being male, older age, no mental disorder diagnosis, sleeping more, and higher support from employers and colleagues (B [0.02, |-0.26|]. Interpretation Elevated moral distress and mental health symptoms in healthcare workers facing a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic call for the development of interventions promoting moral resilience as a protective measure against moral adversities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S490-S490
Author(s):  
L. Aguado ◽  
A. Porras ◽  
P. Calvo ◽  
A. Tomita ◽  
J. Burns ◽  
...  

IntroductionIt is easy to find texts, in scientific literature, studying the adaptation of immigrants from developing countries in western countries. However, in these globalization times that we are living, few are the studies performed on members from developed countries emigrating to the third world.Objectives/AimsTo evaluate the factors predisposing to the onset of anxiety or depression symptoms in Spanish immigrants living in South Africa.MethodsThis is an exploratory study with a sample of 51 Spanish residents in South Africa between 24 and 57 years (44% male, 56% female), 44% of which were living there for more than two years. An online survey was administered, collecting data related to reasons and conditions for their moving to the country and traumatic events living during the stay. For the screening of depression and anxiety symptoms Hopkins Symptom Scale (HSCL-25) was used. Finally, we carried about several analysis using Chi2 test. For statistical analysis SPSS was utilized.ResultsThirty percent of the sample showed positive scores on anxiety symptoms scale, and 24% scored positive for depression. Job related items as being unemployed (P < 0.001) was associated to symptoms of depression. Insecurity/violence (P < 0.021) and race discrimination (P < 0.009) were the main factors related to anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsFactor related to employment, security and discrimination, has been significantly associated to the onset of anxiety and depression symptoms. Other factors related to the moving to the country or social relationships have shown no relations. More studies are needed to provide information about adaptation and factors related to mental health in Occidental immigrants in developing countries.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Ziqin Liang ◽  
Claudia Mazzeschi ◽  
Elisa Delvecchio

The challenges and consequences of COVID-19 imposed massive changes in adolescents’ daily routines (e.g., school closures, home confinement, and social distancing rules), which impacted their mental health. This longitudinal study aimed to better understand the changes in adolescents’ internalizing symptoms and the underlying mechanisms of parental stress due to COVID-19. We asked 1053 parents of adolescents to complete an online survey during the second and fifth weeks and at the end of home confinement (i.e., four weeks later). Results showed that parents reported their adolescents’ anxiety and depression symptoms were more severe at Time 2 than at the first administration. Anxiety symptoms slightly decreased at Time 3, while there was no significant change in depression symptoms. Moreover, parents’ expressive suppression mediated the association between parental stress and adolescents’ anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The findings suggest that as restriction increased, adolescents’ anxiety and depression became more severe. Moreover, due to the link between parental stress and adolescents’ internalizing disorders helping families to cope with the distress due to the pandemic may have a positive impact on parents, the child, and the family as a whole (i.e., the family climate).


Author(s):  
Michael Owusu Budu ◽  
Emily J. Rugel ◽  
Rochelle Nocos ◽  
Koon Teo ◽  
Sumathy Rangarajan ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in anxiety and depression levels across broad populations. While anyone can be infected by the virus, the presence of certain chronic diseases has been shown to exacerbate the severity of the infection. There is a likelihood that knowledge of this information may lead to negative psychological impacts among people with chronic illness. We hypothesized that the pandemic has resulted in increased levels of anxiety and depression symptoms among people with chronic illness. We recruited 540 participants from the ongoing Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study in British Columbia, Canada. Participants were asked to fill out an online survey that included the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression symptoms. We tested our hypothesis using bivariate and multivariable linear regression models. Out of 540 participants, 15% showed symptoms of anxiety and 17% reported symptoms of depression. We found no significant associations between having a pre-existing chronic illness and reporting higher levels of anxiety or depression symptoms during COVID-19. Our results do not support the hypothesis that having a chronic illness is associated with greater anxiety or depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results were similar to one study but in contrast with other studies that found a positive association between the presence of chronic illness and developing anxiety or depression during this pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Deli ◽  
Simone Aeschlimann ◽  
Grazia Ceschi

Like employees of any company or organization, humanitarian aid workers (HAW) are subject to mental health (MH) issues, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. MH issues can be challenging at individual and organizational levels and, ultimately, can also have adverse consequences on the people HAW try to help.The objectives of this study were to measure the point prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms among HAW and compare the results to those found in the literature.A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on 432 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) employees, both national and international, deployed in three countries. Results show an overall prevalence for PTSD symptoms ranging from 11.3% to 14.6%, for anxiety symptoms from 13.0% to 56.7%, and for depression symptoms from 19.9% to 41.9%. Sub-group analyses show that risk factors of developing PTSD are being national rather than international staff, being younger rather than older, and having a lower income/salary rather than a higher one. Anxiety risk factors are being a woman, not being in a relationship, working in Lebanon and Myanmar rather than Nigeria, being younger rather than older, and having a higher income/salary rather than a lower one. Depression risk factors are not being in a relationship, being national staff rather than international staff, working in Lebanon and Myanmar rather than Nigeria, being younger rather than older, and being senior rather than junior staff.Further investigation is needed to assess additional key variables in order to better pinpoint risk and protective factors, target the sub-groups most at risk, and suggest adequate psychosocial support in order to reduce MH issues prevalence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (suppl 2) ◽  
pp. 4157-4168
Author(s):  
Edson Zangiacomi Martinez ◽  
Fabrícia Mabelle Silva ◽  
Thais Zanin Morigi ◽  
Miriane Lucindo Zucoloto ◽  
Thaise Lucena Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with poor physical and mental health. The article aims to assess the changes in the habits of the Brazilian participants engaged in physical activities in relation to their practices, due the measures of social distancing during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. The secondary objective was to describe their levels of anxiety and depression. The questionnaire used in this online survey included demographic information, questions about self-perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 in the life routines and the 14-item Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. A total of 1,613 adults completed the questionnaire between May 11 and 15, 2020. Of those, 79.4% reported that the measures to contain the epidemic had any impact on their physical activities, and many had to interrupt or decrease the frequency of their practices. Participants who felt a higher impact of quarantine on their physical activities tend to have higher prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Individuals who practiced physical activities reported that social distance had a high influence on their practices. Furthermore, changes in these habits are associated with high levels of poor mental health.


2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110253
Author(s):  
Amanda E. Halliburton ◽  
Michele B. Hill ◽  
Bryan L. Dawson ◽  
Jennifer M. Hightower ◽  
Hailey Rueden

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the college experience and substantially impacted emerging adults’ navigation of this life stage. This concurrent mixed-methods study used an online survey, distributed to a southeastern university shortly after the transition to remote learning, to explore and understand college-attending emerging adults’ experiences during COVID-19. A total of 1,220 students ( Mage = 20.9) participated, and the diversity of the demographics was largely consistent with the university population. Participants completed questionnaires about psychopathology and COVID-related stressors, and they were given an opportunity to provide feedback to the university about the adjustment to COVID-19. The most common stressors included loss of routine, lack of social contact, and work/finances. Approximately two-thirds of participants reported anxiety and depression symptoms in the moderate to severe range, and about one-third reported suicidality. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for the ongoing crisis and offer recommendations for universities and college counselors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document