Coping Styles, Mental Health, and the COVID-19 Quarantine: A Nationwide Survey in Poland

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 that began from March 2020 is yet to be contained. Consequences of the ongoing pandemic may have a negative impact on the mental health of affected individuals. This particularly refers to those quarantined. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is currently one of the biggest health issues worldwide, a higher demand emerges for research concentrating on the worsening of psychological well-being among the general and the quarantined population, as well as on individual coping strategies that may moderate the occurrence of psychopathologies.Method: Data were collected within the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Participants represented quarantine (+) and quarantine (–) groups. Quarantine (+) group, different from quarantine (–), consisted of people who experienced it themselves or someone close to them did after contacting an infected individual. To measure psychopathological symptoms a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used. For measuring PTSD symptoms, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used. This study followed the coping strategies manifested among the participants using the MiniCope questionnaire.Results: A total of 2,036 individuals participated in this study. Quarantine (+) individuals had significantly higher total and subscales GHQ-28 scores (anxiety, insomnia, and somatic symptoms) as well as a higher IES-R arousal score. The quarantine (+) individuals were more likely to use self-distraction as a coping strategy. This research identified positive and negative correlations between presented coping styles and manifested psychopathology.Conclusion: This nationwide study suggests occurrence of negative effects on mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. It is observed on most of the measured psychopathological symptoms. The present research provides a line of action that should be followed in the future in case of another epidemic and in the event restrictions like quarantine have to be introduced again.

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Coping Strategies and Psychopathological Responses Among Medical and Non-medical Professionals – a Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.663224 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marta Ciułkowicz ◽

Julian Maciaszek ◽

Błażej Misiak ◽

Anna Pałȩga ◽

Joanna Rymaszewska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Well Being ◽

Medical Professionals ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Event Scale ◽

Medical Career ◽

The Impact

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was announced on March 11th, 2020, due to a surge of newly confirmed cases that significantly impacted populations worldwide, both directly and indirectly. Based on past epidemics research, the mental health implications of introduced restrictions should be expected and adequately addressed irrespective of the practiced profession.Objective: The study aimed to explore psychopathological responses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concerning coping strategy clusters during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical and non-medical workers.Methods: A cross-sectional web survey of the general population of internet users was performed from March 16th to April 26th, 2020, in Poland during the first peak of COVID-19 cases. A sample of 1,831 professionally active respondents, 64.0% of which pursuing a medical career, filled out General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and MiniCOPE, along with the socio-demographic questionnaire exploring personal as well as the work-related possibility of direct exposure to contagion and availability of proper protection, contact with the infected without accurate protective measures as well as the adequacy of workers when compared settings.Results: Individuals labeled with specific clusters had significantly different psychopathological manifestations. Irrespective of performed job maladaptive cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 and IES-R scores on total subscales and all subscales compared to those representing the non-specific and adaptive cluster. Similar findings were observed concerning the frequency of the GHQ-28 positive score. Moreover, the non-specific cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 total scores among medical professionals. However, GHQ-28 positive scores were significantly more frequent in medical workers using adaptive clusters when compared to non-specific. Such relations were not observed in the non-medical group.IES-R total and subscales' scores did not significantly vary within medical and non-medical groups when adaptive and non-specific clusters were compared. Pursuing a non-medical career was found to be a determinant of lower scores, while female sex was observed to be determinant of higher scores in both GHQ-28 and IES-R scales.Conclusions: Positive screening for psychopathological and PTSD symptoms was expected regardless of the analyzed groups' coping strategies. Given the dramatically developing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, support initiatives grounded in research evidence may be essential for maintaining the mental well-being and resilience of both the medical and non-medical workforce.

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COPING STRATEGIES AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE LGBTQ WITH HIV/AIDS – A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Psychological Thought ◽

10.37708/psyct.v14i2.583 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 308-338

Author(s):

Muhammad Ashraff Ahmad ◽

Azmawaty Mohamad Nor ◽

Harris Shah Abd Hamid ◽

Anne Noor Sri Juwaneeta Jamaludin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Coping Strategy ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological State ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Positive Coping ◽

The Impact

Facing stigma on both HIV and sexuality by the larger society puts significant pressure and stress on the LGBTQ living with HIV to cope with their diagnosis. The promotion of coping strategies as an intervention to increase well-being among PLHIV needs to consider current findings to remain relevant. This systematic review took 17 articles from 2008 to 2018 to provide a comprehensive analysis of issues that influenced coping strategies and investigate the association of the chosen coping strategy with their mental health. The results indicated that the impact of double stigma amplifies the challenge faced by the LGBTQ community to deal with their HIV diagnosis and had a significant impact on their mental health wellbeing. Both positive and negative coping styles were present as coping strategies employed with positive coping being used more as a chosen strategy. Each presenting coping strategy was reviewed, with depression and anxiety becoming the baseline indicator to reflect mental health status. This systematic review also revealed that the positive coping strategy does not necessarily lead to a positive psychological state as it is dependent on the changeability of the stressor faced. The findings emphasized the complexities in untangling the influence of coping on wellbeing among PLHIV. More attention should be paid to the mechanisms of stressor appraisal in selecting a more suitable coping strategy.

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Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042093 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2093

Author(s):

Tina Vilovic ◽

Josko Bozic ◽

Marino Vilovic ◽

Doris Rusic ◽

Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Family Physicians ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Well Being ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

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Exploring the quality of life and psychological symptoms of university students in Cyprus during the Covid-19 pandemic

JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH ◽

10.24297/jssr.v17i.9112 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 110-121

Author(s):

Hadjicharalambous Demetris ◽

Loucia Demetriou ◽

Koulla Erotocritou

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Family Income ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Negative Impact ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Well Being ◽

Idioms Of Distress

The onset of the infectious disease Covid19 originating in Wuhan, China, took over the world in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic in January 2020. Empirical evidence resulting from relevant research illustrated that the effects of the pandemic itself but also of the strict measures to contain the spread of the virus on the mental health and well-being of affected populations were just as unanticipated as the pandemic itself. Data led to the identification of six idioms of distress: (1) Demoralization and pessimism towards the future, (2) anguish and stress, (3) self-depreciation, (4) social withdrawal and isolation, (5) somatization, (6) withdrawal into oneself. Our research explores the psychological impact of the Covid19 pandemic on college students and their quality of life. The study took place in Cyprus with 356 young participants, whereas 256 were female (72%) and 100 were male (28%). They all completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 and the Life Satisfaction Inventory (LSI). The present study's findings revealed that six factors, including residence without family, the deterioration of the financial situation of the family, the loss of employment, the deterioration of social relationships, young age, and gender, have significantly affected in a negative way the mental health and quality of life of young people. Research findings revealed that the strict lockdown and physical/social isolation measures had a significant adverse effect on our sample, whereas participants showed increased symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and somatization. Young adults who lost their jobs during the pandemic or had a significant decrease in their family income, and students who stayed away from their families, experienced a negative impact on their quality of life and had to cope with more mental health problems.

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Environmental Stressors: The Mental Health Impacts of Living Near Industrial Activity

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/002214650504600306 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 289-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Liam Downey ◽

Marieke Van Willigen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Toxic Release Inventory ◽

Neighborhood Disorder ◽

Industrial Activity ◽

Individual Level ◽

The Poor ◽

The Impact

A growing literature examines whether the poor, the working class, and people of color are disproportionately likely to live in environmentally hazardous neighborhoods. This literature assumes that environmental characteristics such as industrial pollution and hazardous waste are detrimental to human health, an assumption that has not been well tested. Drawing upon the sociology of mental health and environmental inequality studies, we ask whether industrial activity has an impact on psychological well-being. We link individual-level survey data with data from the U.S. Census and the Toxic Release Inventory and find that residential proximity to industrial activity has a negative impact on mental health. This impact is both direct and mediated by individuals' perceptions of neighborhood disorder and personal powerlessness, and the impact is greater for minorities and the poor than it is for whites and wealthier individuals. These results suggest that public health officials need to take seriously the mental health impacts of living near industrial facilities.

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Impact of COVID-19 on public mental health and the buffering effect of sense of coherence

10.31219/osf.io/4ptfz ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Schäfer ◽

Roxanne Sopp ◽

Christian Schanz ◽

Marlene Staginnus ◽

Anja S. Göritz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Negative Impact ◽

High Stress ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

Change Score ◽

Stress Group ◽

Psychopathological Symptoms ◽

Traumatic Distress ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction. It is claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on mental health. However, to date, prospective studies are lacking. Moreover, it is important to identify which factors modulate the stress response to the pandemic. Previously, sense of coherence (SOC) has emerged as a particularly important resistance factor. Objective. This prospective study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and to investigate the ability of pre-outbreak SOC levels to predict changes in psychopathological symptoms.Methods. The study assessed psychopathological symptoms and SOC before and after the COVID-19 outbreak as well as post-outbreak COVID-19-related traumatic distress in a German-speaking sample (N=1,591). Bivariate latent change score (BLCS) modelling was used to analyse pre-to-post outbreak changes in psychopathological symptoms and the ability of SOC to predict symptom changes.Results. Overall, there was no change in psychopathological symptoms. However, on individual-respondent level 10% experienced a clinically significant increase in psychopathological symptoms, and 15% met cut-off criteria for COVID-19-related traumatic distress. Using BLCS modelling, we identified a high-stress group experiencing an increase in psychopathological symptoms and a decrease in SOC and a low-stress group showing the reversed pattern. Changes in SOC and psychopathological symptoms were predicted by pre-outbreak SOC and psychopathological symptom levels. Conclusions. Although mental health was stable in most respondents, a relevant proportion of the sample experienced increased psychopathological symptoms due to COVID-19. Since higher SOC was predictive of smaller changes in symptom levels, SOC training might be a promising approach to enhance resistance to stressors.

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COVID-19: impact on the mental health of university students

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213789 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 4891

Author(s):

Priyanka Aswal ◽

Parvesh Singh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Entire Country ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Detrimental Impact

Background: Ever since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, education institutions in the entire country were shut down. This shutdown of universities caused the students to stay at home which caused a detrimental impact on their mental health.Methods: This survey-based study aims to decipher the impact the lockdown has caused on the mental well-being of the students. The survey was conducted through a set of online questionnaires.Results: The results of the study show that the students suffered from various psychological problems. Anxiety and stress were the most prevalent amongst mental illnesses and were reportedly increased due to uncertainty about future prospects like job and graduation.Conclusions: The study confirms that the pandemic has had a negative impact on the psychological health of the patients and has amplified stress and fear amongst them.

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COVID-19 and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Communities: A Complex Relationship Without Just Cause

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance ◽

10.2196/22581 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. e22581

Author(s):

Peter Phiri ◽

Gayathri Delanerolle ◽

Ayaat Al-Sudani ◽

Shanaya Rathod

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Risk ◽

Social Risk Factors ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact ◽

Minority Ethnic

Emerging evidence has indicated a negative and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Previous studies have already reported that biological and social risk factors increase disease susceptibility, particularly in BAME communities. Despite frontline workers in ethnic minority communities in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service attempting to quell the pandemic, disproportionate numbers of BAME physicians and other health care workers have died of COVID-19. This unprecedented situation highlights ethical and moral implications, which could further augment the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. While the government attempts to mitigate the rate of virus transmission, certain key factors inadvertently augment the negative impact of the pandemic on the mental health and general well-being of BAME communities. This study examined the available literature to explore the association between, and the wider impact of, COVID-19 on BAME communities. Furthermore, this study aims to raise awareness and provide a deeper insight into current scientific discussions.

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The Impact of Study Mode (Online vs. Hybrid) on Early Symptoms of Depression and Coping Strategies among University Students in Poland in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic—Preliminary Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11121578 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1578

Author(s):

Anna Drelich-Zbroja ◽

Anna Jamroz-Wiśniewska ◽

Maryla Kuczyńska ◽

Monika Zbroja ◽

Weronika Cyranka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Mental States ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Early Symptoms ◽

Study Mode ◽

And Coping ◽

The Impact

Introduction: mental health has been one of the most important issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic; mental disorders can be exacerbated by isolation during lockdowns or online learning. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between non-clinical (early) symptoms of depressed moods, personality traits, and coping strategies, as well as whether the learning mode (online versus hybrid) differentiates the experiences of these early symptoms and coping strategies. Methods: 114 university students aged 19 to 34, whose education model was changed from stationary to hybrid or online due to COVID-19 restrictions, participated in the study. The participants completed the online questionnaire, which consisted of two sections: (1) demographic questions to characterize the subjects and 44 questions based on the literature review. (2) Mini-COPE Inventory. Results: the study showed that the fully online study mode has a negative impact on the mental health of students; hybrid students are more likely to use active and positive coping strategies, which effectively help to control negative thoughts and/or reduce negative mental states. Conclusions: the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant psychological effects that will extend to coming years; therefore, implementing systemic psychological care is of utmost importance.

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Psychological responses and lifestyle changes among pregnant women with respect to the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764020952116 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002076402095211 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yingfei Zhang ◽

Zheng Feei Ma

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Event Scale ◽

Early Stages ◽

The Impact

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a profound impact on health and well-being of populations. However, there are limited studies that have investigated the psychological aspects of vulnerable groups including pregnant women amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese pregnant women from February 2020 until March 2020. Methods: Our study was conducted using a modified validated online questionnaire comprising of sociodemographic, the Impact of Event Scale (IES), attitude and mental health-related questions towards COVID-19. Results: A total of 560 women were included. The overall mean age and IES of women was 25.8 ± 2.7 years and 31.4 ± 13.7. Moreover, 67.1% of them had IES ⩾26. Psychological impact seemed to be more severe in women in second trimester of pregnancy (the highest IES) ( p = .016). There was a significant association between trimesters of pregnancy and some indicators of negative health impacts (including increased stress from work, increased stress from home, feeling apprehensive and helpless during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic) (all p < .05). Conclusions: Our results reported moderate-to-severe stressful impact among Chinese pregnant women. We recommend that appropriate measures should be taken to address the maternal mental health issues.

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