scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Stress among Estate Rubber Tappers in Southern Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-7
Author(s):  
Hemajith Tharindra ◽  
Gregory Daniel Brown ◽  
Kayla Stankevitz ◽  
Ashley Schoenfisch ◽  
Sarath Amarasinghe ◽  
...  

Background: Rubber production is an important component of the Sri Lankan economy. Prior reports have raised concerns about poverty and poor physical and social living conditions among rubber tappers.Objective: To assess rubber tappers’ psychological health and distress.Methods and Material: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 rubber tappers in two large rubber plantations in southern Sri Lanka from September to November 2014. Structured questionnaires including the Peradeniya Depression Scale (PDS) and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were administered. The prevalences of depression and stress were calculated, including across sociodemographic and work history variables of interest.Results: Each plantation contributed 150 of the 300 participants. The majority were women (n = 183, 61%) with a median age of 47 years (range 21 to 89). Based on the PDS, 9% of the rubber tappers screened positive for depression. While on the PSS-10, 10% demonstrated a high level of perceived stress. On log-binomial regression, persons who were widowed, divorced, or separated compared to being married had a higher prevalence of depression and high stress. A higher prevalence of stress was found in Tamil versus Sinhalese as well as Christian versus Buddhist participants. A higher prevalence of depression was seen in workers with over 30 years of experience compared to less experienced counterparts.Conclusions: Depression was more common in rubber tappers in this study than among other non-plantation Sri Lankan populations. Further research is needed to elucidate factors associated with psychological distress and to foster support mechanisms for the rubber tappers.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Durand-Hill ◽  
D I Ike ◽  
A N Nijhawan ◽  
A B Shah ◽  
A Dawson ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction During the COVID pandemic, the 2019-2020 cohort of final year students were invited to participate in Foundation interim Year 1 placements (FiY1). FiY1 aimed to ease transition to Foundation Year 1 doctor (FY1). We assessed the psychological impact of FiY1 on final year medical students. Method A cross-sectional survey was distributed to final year medical students in the UK between June 4th and July 4th, 2020. The survey contained the following domains: participant demographics, rationale for FiY1 participation, a checklist of the key safety principles for FiY1s, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress scale-4. Results 107 final years responded to the survey. 72.0% (n = 77) of final year students surveyed were working as FiY1s. Final year students participating in FiY1 postings had reduced rates of anxiety (29.9% vs 43.4%, P = 0.186), depression (5.2% vs 20.0%, P = 0.018) and lower perceived stress levels (5.0 vs 7.2, P < 0.001). 19.5% (15/77) FiY1s reported working beyond their competency, 27.3% (22/77) felt unsupervised, but 94.8% (73/77) of FiY1s felt the post prepared them for FY1. Conclusions Students participating in FiY1 postings felt less stressed and depressed than those not participating in the scheme and the majority felt it was preparing them for FY1.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nizar M. Mhaidat ◽  
Suleiman A. Ai-Sweedan ◽  
Karem H. Alzoubi ◽  
Sayer I. Alazzam ◽  
Mohammed N. Banihani ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:Depression is common among chronically ill patients and their relatives. In this article, we investigated the prevalence of depression among relatives of cancer patients in Jordan, and studied the relation between several socio-demographic, disease- and treatment-related factors, together with the occurrence of depression among those relatives.Method:A cross-sectional survey study was conducted at a major university hospital in Jordan. Relatives of cancer patients were interviewed for socio-demographic information, and medical records were checked for information about disease and treatment of patient. Psychological status of the relative was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS).Results:The prevalence of depression in our sample was 81.9%. Age and degree of relatedness were significantly correlated with the occurrence of depression among relatives of cancer patients. Significant correlations were also detected between depression among patient's relatives and the stage of the disease. Positive predictive factors for depression included relatives being middle aged, close relatedness, patients being in advanced disease stage, and on chemotherapy or undergoing surgery for cancer treatment.Significance of results:Depression is prevalent among relatives of cancer patients. Therefore, more attention is needed to detect changes in the psychological state of vulnerable relatives of cancer patients, in an effort to reduce the occurrence of depression.


Author(s):  
Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico ◽  
Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez ◽  
Maribel Sánchez-Martínez ◽  
Otilia Perichart-Perera ◽  
Carolina Rodríguez-Hernández ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 lockdown represents a new challenge for mental health researchers and clinical practitioners. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress in postpartum Mexican women. The study included 293, 4–12-week postpartum women over the age of 18. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Trait-State Trait Anxiety Inventory (T-STAI), and Ten Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), which are all questionnaires validated for the Mexican population, were applied using a web-based online survey. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the maternal age was 29.9 ± 6.3 years; the EPDS score: 11 ± 6, T-STAI score: 41.7 ± 12.3, and PSS-10 score: 17.1 ± 7. The prevalence (95% CI) of the postpartum depression symptoms was 39.2% (34–45%), trait anxiety symptoms were found among 46.1% (32–43%) of the participants, and moderate and high perceived stress were in 58% (52–64) and 10.9% (7.8–15) of the participants, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and perceived stress was higher among postpartum Mexican women during the COVID-19 outbreak than before the lockdown. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring perinatal mental health during pandemics and the need to design effective psychologic interventions for these patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 180 (5) ◽  
pp. 428-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Weich ◽  
Martin Blanchard ◽  
Martin Prince ◽  
Elizabeth Burton ◽  
Bob Erens ◽  
...  

BackgroundLittle is known about the effects of the physical environment on individual health.AimsThe present study tested the hypothesis that the prevalence of depression is associated with independently rated measures of the built environment, after adjusting for individuals' socio-economic status and the internal characteristics of their dwellings.MethodCross-sectional survey of 1887 individuals aged 16 years and over in two electoral wards in north London. Depression was ascertained using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES–D). The built environment was rated independently, using a validated measure.ResultsAfter adjusting for socio-economic status, floor of residence and structural housing problems, statistically significant associations were found between the prevalence of depression and living in housing areas characterised by properties with predominantly deck access (odds ratio=1.28, 95% Cl 1.03–1.58; P=0.02) and of recent (post-1969) construction (odds ratio=l.43, 95% Cl 1.06–1.91; P=0.02).ConclusionsThe prevalence of depression was associated with independently rated features of the built environment, independent of individuals' socio-economic status and internal characteristics of dwellings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alhadi M. Jahan ◽  
Marwa Mohamed ◽  
Mohammed Alfagieh ◽  
Nehal Alnawy ◽  
Muhayman Alsabiri ◽  
...  

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 were announced in Wuhan, China, the virus has spread in most countries. After one year of restrictive measures applied by governments, it is unclear how this prolonged social distancing has affected the mental health of individuals in Libya. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the levels of perceived stress, depression, sleep disturbance, and self-efficacy associated with the pandemic in Libya and their association with the demographic factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 10 and November 10, 2020 in 21 cities in Libya using an online survey. The survey collected socio-demographic variables and other important psychological variables using valid scales: namely, the Perceived Stress scale, the PROMIS Depression scale, the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scale, and self-efficacy 6-item scale. Additionally, data were collected regarding eating and smoking habits, housing and living situations, and the preparedness of the public to manage the upcoming waves of the pandemic.Results: The questionnaire was accessed 746 times, and a total of 683 completed questionnaires were analyzed (response rate of 91.6%), with ages ranging from 18 to 94 years (Mean ± SD = 27.09 ± 10.57). Among the respondents, 58.4% were females and 77% were from the age group 18–29 years. The perceived stress, depression, and sleep disturbance symptoms were high in overall population. For stress, 52.7 and 17.1% of respondents reported moderate and high stress, and for sleep quality 28.8 and 8.1% reported moderate and high sleep disturbance, respectively. For depression, the overall median score was 20 (out of 40). The perceived stress, depression, and sleep disturbance were more prevalent among females and the younger age groups (18–29 years old). The overall self-efficacy median total score was 6.67 (out of 10), with a significantly higher median total score for males than females (7 vs. 6.33, p = 0.001). About 14.5% of the respondents were regular cigarette smokers, and most of them (79.8%) described their smoking habits during the previous month as more than typical. In addition, the reported eating habits of almost half of the respondents (43%) had changed, with about one-third (29.6%) reporting that their eating habits had become less healthy during the pandemic.Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest increased levels of stress, depression, and sleep disturbances as well as COVID-19-related fear during the pandemic, especially among young females. This alarming finding urgently calls for safe and low-barrier interventions to help mentally burdened individuals. This study makes a significant contribution in providing essential data on the psychological and social impacts on the Libyan population due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.B.C.M Premarathna ◽  
J.S. Madushani ◽  
T.M.I.U.K Tennakoon ◽  
Thilini Sudeshika

Abstract Background: Headache is one of the common health problems in the world which can be frequently seen among undergraduates. The current research was mainly focused to explore the prevalence of headaches among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.Method: This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted among undergraduates of five Sri Lankan universities including various disciplines from science to non- science. A purposive sample of undergraduates was recruited to complete a self-administered questionnaire after obtaining their consent. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v25 IBM, New York, USA) and the significant differences among variables were assessed by using Chi-square test. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review committee of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.Results: The majority of respondents were males (51%, n=146) and who were following science courses (55%, n=158). Undergraduates (76%, n=218) had experienced headache. Common trigger factors were stress related to work (72%, n=171), mental fatigue (54%, n=129), and sleeplessness (33%, n=79). Undergraduates 43% (n=123) who perceived the experience of headache sought the treatments. Usage of non-prescribed medication was significantly high (73, n=90) among them. There was a statistically significant difference between the occurrence of headache for non-science students with the participation for lectures (p=0.021); health status with the academic year (p=0.00); perceived current headache problem with gender (p=0.03) and the avoidance in participating lectures with academic years (p=0.006). Conclusions: It can be concluded that most undergraduates in Sri Lankan universities have been affected by headaches. Stress-related to work, Irregular sleep behavior, mental fatigue and prolonged computer work were the most common trigger factors for headaches among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir ◽  
Ghazal Peerwani ◽  
Syed Iqbal Azam ◽  
Apsara Ali Nathwani ◽  
Romaina Iqbal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for psychological crises, especially in resource-limited settings where mental health infrastructure is already crippled. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with perceived-stress in the Pakistani population during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1679 Pakistani residents who received the study questionnaire's Google form link. A validated tool of perceived-stress scale-10 was used to screen perceived stress levels. Multiple Ordinal Regression was used to identify the factors associated perceived stress and the results are reported as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: The mean score of perceived stress was 19.32 (SD=+6.67). Most of the participants screened positive for moderate (69%) and high levels (14%) of stress, respectively. A significant interaction was seen between generalized-anxiety and the phase of the lockdown. During the complete lockdown, the odds of high-perceived stress among severely anxious participants were 44.67(95% CI: 21.33, 93.53) times than participants with no/minimal generalized anxiety. Moreover, the odds of high levels of perceived-stress among moderately anxious respondents were 15.79(95% CI: 10.19-24.28) times compared to participants with no/minimal anxiety during the smart lockdown. Conclusion: This study evidences that the pandemic was extremely distressing for the Pakistani population causing the maximum level of perceived-stress in more than half of the population. Adequate and timely interventions are needed before high-stress levels culminate into psychological disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Reile ◽  
Lembe Kullamaa ◽  
Reeli Hallik ◽  
Kaire Innos ◽  
Maarja Kukk ◽  
...  

Objective: To study the population-level mental health responses during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Estonia and analyze its socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variations among general population.Methods: This study used nationally representative data on 4,606 individuals, aged 18–79 years from a rapid-response cross-sectional survey conducted in April 2020. Point prevalence and mutually adjusted prevalence rate ratios for perceived stress from log-binomial regression analysis were presented for socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variables.Results: This study found that 52.2% of population aged 18–79 reported elevated stress levels in relation to COVID-19 outbreak. Higher levels of perceived stress were found in women, in younger age groups, in Estonians, and in those with higher self-perceived infection risk, presence of respiratory symptoms, and less than optimal health, according to self-reports.Conclusion: Although, the potential long-term health effects of the current crisis are yet unknown, the alarmingly high stress levels among people indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic might have had a widespread effect on people's mental health.


2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Bolkhir ◽  
Marci M. Loiselle ◽  
Donna M. Evon ◽  
Paul H. Hayashi

Background No studies have examined depression in primary caregivers of adult patients listed for liver or kidney transplantation. Objective To determine the prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of patients listed for liver or kidney transplantation and to compare these 2 groups. Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and a demographic questionnaire were sent out and returned by mail. Results Of 72 eligible primary caregivers, 42 (58%) participated; the participation rate was similar for caregivers of kidney and liver failure patients (21/32 [66%)] vs 21/40 [53%], P = .3). Mean caregiver age was 54.7 ± 13.6 years. Twenty-three caregivers (54.8%) were spouses, 15 (35.7%) were first-degree relatives, and 26 (62%) were women. Median depression scale score was 5.5 (0–36). Three (7%), 2 (5%), and 3 (7%) participants reported mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. Median Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score was higher among caregivers of liver versus kidney patients, but the difference was not statistically significant (9 vs 4, P = .2). Depression scale scores did not correlate with age, sex, time listed, or nature or length of relationship with the patient. The prevalence of depression in primary caregivers was 19%; of these caregivers, one third may have had severe depression. Conclusions The prevalence of moderate to severe depression in primary caregivers of liver and kidney transplant candidates is significant. The impact of depression on caregivers as well as patients, both before and after transplantation, deserves study. Screening for depression in caregivers could lead to clinical interventions that benefit caregivers and indirectly improve patient outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir ◽  
Ghazal Peerwani ◽  
Syed Iqbal Azam ◽  
Apsara Ali Nathwani ◽  
Romaina Iqbal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for psychological crises, especially in resource-limited settings where mental health infrastructure is already crippled. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with perceived stress in the Pakistani population during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1679 Pakistani residents who received the study questionnaire's Google form link. We used a validated tool of perceived-stress scale-10 to screen perceived stress levels. Multiple Ordinal Regression was used to identify the factors associated with perceived stress, and the results are reported as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: The mean score of perceived stress was 19.32 (SD=+6.67). Most of the participants screened positive for moderate (69%) and high levels (14%) of stress, respectively. A significant interaction was seen between generalized-anxiety and the phase of the lockdown. The odds of high-perceived stress among severely anxious participants were 44.67(95% CI: 21.33, 93.53) times than participants with no/minimal generalized anxiety during the complete lockdown. Moreover, the odds of high levels of perceived-stress among moderately anxious respondents were 15.79(95% CI: 10.19-24.28) times compared to participants with no/minimal anxiety during the smart lockdown. Conclusion: This study evidences that the pandemic was highly distressing for the Pakistani population causing the maximum level of perceived-stress in more than half of the population. Adequate and timely interventions are needed before high-stress levels culminate into psychological disorders.


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