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.

Introduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Philip J. Lazarus ◽  
Shannon M. Suldo ◽  
Beth Doll
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Whole Child ◽  
Mental Health Service Delivery ◽  
School Based

In this introduction, the authors discuss the purpose of this book, which is (a) to provide school-based mental health professionals with the knowledge and tools to help promote students’ emotional well-being and mental health, (b) to describe how to implement new models of mental health service delivery in schools, and (c) to prescribe practical strategies that bolster the likelihood that our youth will thrive in school and in life. The authors recommend conceptualizing student mental health through a dual-factor model that encompasses both promoting wellness and reducing pathology. They advocate for a change in educational priorities—one that supports the whole child, in mind, body, and spirit. They then discuss the prevalence of psychological distress in youth, risk and resilience research, the dual-factor model of mental health, happiness studies, new frameworks for the delivery of services, and the organization and structure of the text.

scholarly journals Promoting Mental Health among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Youth: Implications for Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Reciprocal Relationships ◽  
Optimal Intervention ◽  
Mental Well Being

The experiences of adolescents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) are situated in pervasive heterosexism. The potential for oppression of LGBQ youth of color and/or those holding non-Christian beliefs, are exponentially increased. Historical, social, political, and cultural contexts also influence experiences of marginalization. The ecological perspective, combined with risk and resilience theory, form a conceptual basis to clarify the reciprocal relationships between LGBQ youth and their environments. Together, these theories assist in locating optimal intervention points for mental health professionals, ensuring the best possible outcomes for this population. Utilizing these theoretical frameworks, the author discusses the importance of recognizing and advocating for strategies to promote health and mental well-being among LGBQ youth.

scholarly journals Get Vigorous with Physical Exercise and Improve Your Well-Being at Work!

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6384
Author(s):  
Ester Gil-Beltrán ◽  
Isabella Meneghel ◽  
Susana Llorens ◽  
Marisa Salanova
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Practical Level

The aim of this study is to investigate whether people who exercise regularly have higher levels of psychological well-being at work. Doing physical exercise is a habit that not only has consequences for physical and mental health, but it can also have positive consequences for organizations because physical exercise makes it easier for the employee to recover from physical, mental, and emotional effort during the workday, thus showing higher levels of engagement the next day. Through the analysis of structural equation models in a sample of 485 workers from different Spanish and Latin American companies, this study shows that subjects who exercise more have higher levels of vigor in physical exercise, which is positively related to high levels of well-being at work. This means that organizations that promote activities related to physical exercise among their employees are building a process of resource recovery, which, through the vigor of these activities, makes workers feel less stressed and more satisfied, thus experiencing greater well-being at work. Therefore, at a practical level, these results suggest that the practice of physical exercise is a tool for organizations that want to promote their employees’ psychological well-being.

scholarly journals Association Between Psoriasis with Arthritis and Hearing Impairment in US Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-594
Author(s):  
Yevgeniy R. Semenov ◽  
Esther Y. Hsiang ◽  
Amy Huang ◽  
Christina M. Herbosa ◽  
Xuan Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
National Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Provider ◽  
Nutrition Examination Survey ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Increased Risk

Objective.Emerging data has linked inflammatory arthritis with hearing impairment (HI). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between psoriasis with arthritis (PsA) and HI in the US population. Given the known association of HI and depression, a secondary aim is to investigate the effect of PsA on mental well-being.Methods.Cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for adults aged ≥ 20 years (n = 10,747). Association of PsA with above outcomes was examined using multivariable generalized linear and ordinal logistic regression models, adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities. Structural equation models examined the extent to which HI mediated the effect of PsA on mental health.Results.Individuals with PsA were more likely to report hearing difficulties (OR 1.50, p = 0.043), visit a mental health provider (OR 1.62, p = 0.084), have 1.62 more days of poor mental health over the previous month (p = 0.033), and have depression (OR 2.01, p = 0.015) compared to controls. HI mediated 6.5%, 8.3%, and 5.0% of the effect of PsA on the above mental health outcomes, respectively.Conclusion.PsA is independently associated with a significantly increased risk of HI, which partially mediates an association with worsened psychiatric outcomes.

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 Inmate Mental Health and the Pains of Imprisonment

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy G. Edgemon ◽  
Jody Clay-Warner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Data ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
State Prisons

We use national data on 5,552 inmates and the 214 state prisons in which they reside to examine how prison conditions are associated with mental health symptoms net of individual-level factors. Structural equation models indicate that prison overcrowding and punitiveness are positively related to both depression and hostility, while the availability of work assignments is negatively related to both mental health indicators. The proportion of inmates whose home is more than 50 miles from the prison was positively associated with depression. Inmates reported higher levels of hostility when the prison did not allow television and there was a recent prison suicide. These results suggest the importance of examining a wide range of prison deprivations in research on inmate well-being to lay the groundwork for understanding the mechanisms through which prison deprivations are linked to mental health.

scholarly journals Identifying resilience factors of distress and paranoia during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Jensen Mækelæ ◽  
Niv Reggev ◽  
Natalia Bezerra Dutra ◽  
Ricardo M. Tamayo ◽  
Renata Pereira de Felipe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Lack Of Control ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
Mental Well Being

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has affected all countries with more than 100 million confirmed cases and over 2.1 million casualties by the end of January 2021 worldwide. A prolonged pandemic can harm global levels of optimism, regularity, and sense of meaning and belonging of people, yielding adverse effects on individual's mental health as represented by worry, paranoia, and distress. Here we studied resilience, a successful adaptation despite risk and adversity, in five countries: Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Israel and Norway. In April 2020, over 2500 participants were recruited for an observational study measuring protective and obstructive factors for mental health. More than 800 of these participants also completed a follow-up study in July.We found that thriving, keeping a regular schedule, engaging in physical exercise and less procrastination served as factors protecting mental well-being. Risk factors were financial worries and a more negative mindset, e.g. feeling a lack of control. Longitudinally, we found no increase in distress or paranoia despite an increase in expectation how long the outbreak and the restrictions will last, suggesting respondents engaged in healthy coping and adapting their life to the new circumstances. Thus, our data shines some light on the mostly depressive news during the pandemic. Humans adapt and despite adversity there are protective factors that policy makers should leverage on.

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