Psychological Distress and Happiness of Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender People During the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic: Is There a Need for Public Health Policy Intervention?

Since the global onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the disease has significantly impacted mental health. This impact is likely to be further exacerbated for groups who were already marginalized. This paper shares results from a broader study of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in Bali, Indonesia and includes a focus on psychological distress and happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic; applying sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics as potential mediators. Psychological distress and the level of happiness were measured by The Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to September 2020. Of the 416 participants, complete data were available for 363 participants. The majority of participants were aged 26–40 years, currently single, were born outside Bali, were currently living in an urban area, and over one-third were living with HIV. While all were MSM, the majority identified as homosexual/tend to be homosexual (71.3%), however 54 (14.9%) identified themselves as heterosexual. The majority (251, 69.1%) reported moderate to very high psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The binary logistic regression analysis identified five factors to be significantly associated with higher psychological distress: being a student, reporting higher levels of stigma, had ever experienced discrimination, felt better prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and less happy than the average person. When homosexual were compared with heterosexual participants, those who identified themselves as being homosexual reported significantly lower psychological distress compared to those identified themselves as heterosexual, which may be associated with these participants not disclosing their status as MSM and the stigma around MSM. Those who considered themselves to be less happy than the average person (316, 87.1%) were more likely to live with a partner and to report moderate to very high psychological distress. Based on the findings, interventions should focus on strategies to reduce stigma, provide non-discriminatory services, and improve access to essential health services.

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Trends in the Prevalence of Psychological Distress Over Time: Comparing Results From Longitudinal and Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595696 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Butterworth ◽

Nicole Watson ◽

Mark Wooden

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Survey Data ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Psychological Distress ◽

Distress Scale ◽

Very High ◽

Over Time

Background: While there is discussion of increasing rates of mental disorders, epidemiological research finds little evidence of change over time. This research generally compares cross-sectional surveys conducted at different times. Declining response rates to representative surveys may mask increases in mental disorders and psychological distress.Methods: Analysis of data from two large nationally representative surveys: repeated cross-sectional data from the Australian National Health Survey (NHS) series (2001–2017), and longitudinal data (2007–2017) from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. Data from each source was used to generate weighted national estimates of the prevalence of very high psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10).Results: Estimates of the prevalence of very high psychological distress from the NHS were stable between 2001 and 2014, with a modest increase in 2017. In contrast, the HILDA Survey data demonstrated an increasing trend over time, with the prevalence of very high distress rising from 4.8% in 2007 to 7.4% in 2017. This increase was present for both men and women, and was evident for younger and middle aged adults but not those aged 65 years or older. Sensitivity analyses showed that this increase was notable in the upper end of the K10 distribution.Conclusions: Using household panel data breaks the nexus between declining survey participation rates and time, and suggests the prevalence of very high psychological distress is increasing. The study identifies potential challenges in estimating trends in population mental health using repeated cross-sectional survey data.

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The prevalence of psychological distress and relationships with social fragmentation and isolation: a geospatial study and survey in rural Australia

10.1101/2020.11.12.20230771 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Forcadela ◽

Nasser Bagheri ◽

Claudia Slimings

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Spatial Autocorrelation ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Psychological Distress ◽

Social Fragmentation

AbstractPurposeThere is limited data on the effects of social isolation on rural mental health. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of psychological distress in a rural area of Australia while exploring the association between psychological distress and social isolation at the individual and area level.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey of 408 adult volunteers was conducted across rural south-eastern New South Wales from October 2019 to April 2020. The Kessler 10 was used to measure psychological distress, while area-level social fragmentation was assessed using the family (ANSFIfam) and mobility (ANSFImob) components of the Australian Neighbourhood Social Fragmentation Index. The number of different occupations of people known socially was used to assess individual-level social isolation. Spatial analysis was performed to identify any spatial autocorrelation.ResultsThe prevalence of high psychological distress in the sample was 29%. Using logistic regression models, there was little evidence of a relationship between high psychological distress and ANSFIfam (odds ratio (OR)=0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.93–1.03), or ANSFImob (OR=1.04, 95%CI=0.99–1.09). High psychological distress also did not appear to be associated with number of occupations known socially (OR=1.00, 95%CI=0.99–1.00). There was no significant spatial autocorrelation of psychological distress or social fragmentation at the postal area level.ConclusionThe results suggest that social fragmentation or isolation may not have a significant effect on psychological distress in a rural setting. Nevertheless, further investigation of the effects of social isolation on mental health in rural areas is warranted.

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Prevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B infection in the HIV-infected population of France, 2004

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.13.22.18888-en ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

Author(s):

C Larsen ◽

G Pialoux ◽

D Salmon ◽

D Antona ◽

Y Le Strat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Drug Users ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hcv Rna ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infected Population ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics

Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of HCV and HBV co-infection among HIV-infected adults in France and describe the epidemiological characteristics of co-infected patients and their clinical management. A one-day national cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2004. A random and proportional probability sample design was used, based on the number of AIDS cases reported since 1999 by hospital wards. Weighted estimations were computed. HIV-infected adults (out/in-patients) were included after consent. Data were collected on demographic criteria, HIV, HCV and HBV infections, as well as on antiviral therapies. Overall, 1849 HIV-infected patients were included. The prevalence of anti-HCV or HCV RNA positivity (HCV co-infection) was 24.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21.3-27.6] and varied from 3.1% in men who had sex with men to 92.8% in injecting drug users (IDUs). The prevalence of positive HCV RNA was 17.0% [95% CI:14.7-19.4]. The prevalence of HBs antigen (Ag) or HBV DNA positivity was 7.0% [95% CI: 5.9-8.1] and varied with the continent of birth from 2.1% in Northern Africa to 10.8% in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of HIV-HCV-HBV co-infection was 1.6% [95% CI: 1.0-2.4], mostly IDUs (83.3%). A severe liver disease (cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma) was diagnosed in 24.7% of the positive HCV RNA patients.This study confirmed the burden of HCV infection in French HIV-infected patients and described for the first time in France the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-HBV co-infection. Furthermore, it stresses the severity of liver disease related to HCV in HIV-infected population.

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Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24776 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽

Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽

Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽

Thanh Vo Van ◽

Toi Phung Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Survey Study ◽

Limited Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

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Poor social support and loneliness in chronic headache: Prevalence and effect modifiers

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/03331024211020392 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 033310242110203

Author(s):

Maria Lurenda Westergaard ◽

Cathrine Juel Lau ◽

Karen Allesøe ◽

Anne Helms Andreasen ◽

Rigmor Højland Jensen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Chronic Headache ◽

Medication Overuse ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Poor Social Support ◽

Very High

Objective To explore the prevalence of poor social support and loneliness among people with chronic headache, and how these might be effect modifiers in the relationships between chronic headache and stress, medication overuse, and self-rated health. Background Poor social support and loneliness are consistently linked to worse health outcomes. There are few epidemiologic studies on their effect on headache. Methods The Danish Capital Region Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey, was conducted in 2017. Participants were asked about headache, pain medication use, social support, loneliness, perceived stress, and self-rated health. Data were accessed from sociodemographic registers. Logistic regression analyses were performed to test for effect modification. Results The response rate was 52.6% (55,185 respondents) and was representative of the target population. People with chronic headache were more likely to report poor social support and loneliness compared to those without chronic headache ( p < 0.0001 for both). Odds ratios for the combination of chronic headache and poor social support were very high for stress (odds ratio 8.1), medication overuse (odds ratio 21.9), and poor self-rated health (odds ratio 10.2) compared to those without chronic headache and with good social support. Those who reported both chronic headache and loneliness had a very high odds ratio for stress (odds ratio 14.4), medication overuse (odds ratio 20.1), and poor self-rated health (odds ratio 15.9) compared to those without chronic headache and low loneliness score. When adjusted for sociodemographic factors, poor social support and loneliness were not significant effect modifiers in almost all these associations. Loneliness was a significant effect modifier in the association between chronic headache and medication overuse, but exerted greater effect among those who did not report they were lonely. Conclusion Poor social support and loneliness were prevalent among people with chronic headache. The combination of chronic headache and poor social support or loneliness showed higher odds ratios for stress, medication overuse, and poor self-rated health compared to those with good social support and low loneliness scores. The effect of loneliness in the relationship between chronic headache and medication overuse warrants further study.

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Determinants of housing demand in the Erzurum province, Turkey

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis ◽

10.1108/ijhma-11-2013-0056 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 586-602 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Erkan Oktay ◽

Abdulkerim Karaaslan ◽

Ömer Alkan ◽

Ali Kemal Çelik

Keyword(s):

Housing Prices ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Housing Demand ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Comprehensive Survey ◽

Income Expectations

Purpose – The main aim of this study is to determine the factors that influence the housing demand of households in Erzurum, northeastern Turkey. Housing demand is generally affected by several factors including housing prices, individuals’ income, expectations and choices and so on, as a means of its demographic and socio-psychological contexts. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was carried out, in which the outcome variable had binary responses such as whether to invest in housing or not. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the underlying data. Findings – The questionnaire was conducted in 2,927 households living in Erzurum city center, and 47 per cent of the respondents claimed that they would consider investing in housing in the future. The estimation results reveal that demographic or socio-economic factors that may possibly influence housing demand of the respondents are as follows: household head’s and spouse’s occupation, monthly income, the number of individuals in the family and car ownership. Originality/value – This paper involves the most comprehensive survey addressing the housing demand in the East Anatolian Region, Turkey. Additionally, this paper aims to contribute to the existing housing literature through establishing the statistical analysis of housing demand in an unstudied territory of the world.

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COVID-19 and the Risk for Increased Intimate Partner Violence Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260521997454 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052199745

Author(s):

Rob Stephenson ◽

Tanaka M.D. Chavanduka ◽

Matthew T. Rosso ◽

Stephen P. Sullivan ◽

Renée A. Pitter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Social Contact ◽

The United States ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sex With Men ◽

First Time

Stay at home orders–intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by limiting social contact–have forced people to remain in their homes. The additional stressors created by the need to stay home and socially isolate may act as triggers to intimate partner violence (IPV). In this article, we present data from a recent online cross-sectional survey with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States to illustrate changes in IPV risks that have occurred during the U.S. COVID-19 epidemic. The Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 survey was conducted online from April to May 2020. GBMSM were recruited through paid banner advertisements featured on social networking platforms, recruiting a sample size of 696 GBMSM. Analysis considers changes in victimization and perpetration of IPV during the 3 months prior to the survey (March-May 2020) that represents the first 3 months of lockdown during the COVID-19 epidemic. During the period March-May 2020, 12.6% of participants reported experiencing any IPV with higher rates of emotional IPV (10.3%) than sexual (2.2%) or physical (1.8%) IPV. Of those who reported IPV victimization during lockdown, for almost half this was their first time experience: 5.3% reported the IPV they experienced happened for the first time during the past 3 months (0.8% physical, 2.13% sexual, and 3.3% emotional). Reporting of perpetration of IPV during lockdown was lower: only 6% reported perpetrating any IPV, with perpetration rates of 1.5% for physical, 0.5% for sexual, and 5.3% for emotional IPV. Of those who reported perpetration of IPV during lockdown, very small percentages reported that this was the first time they had perpetrated IPV: 0.9% for any IPV (0.2% physical, 0.2% sexual, and 0.6% emotional). The results illustrate an increased need for IPV resources for GBMSM during these times of increased stress and uncertainty, and the need to find models of resource and service delivery that can work inside of social distancing guidelines while protecting the confidentiality and safety of those who are experiencing IPV.

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Risk perception and psychological state of healthcare workers in referral hospitals during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-021-00706-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Migisha ◽

Alex Riolexus Ario ◽

Benon Kwesiga ◽

Lilian Bulage ◽

Daniel Kadobera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological State ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Referral Hospitals

Abstract Background Safeguarding the psychological well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial to ensuring sustainability and quality of healthcare services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs may be subject to excessive mental stress. We assessed the risk perception and immediate psychological state of HCWs early in the pandemic in referral hospitals involved in the management of COVID-19 patients in Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in five referral hospitals from April 20–May 22, 2020. During this time, we distributed paper-based, self-administered questionnaires to all consenting HCWs on day shifts. The questionnaire included questions on socio-demographics, occupational behaviors, potential perceived risks, and psychological distress. We assessed risk perception towards COVID-19 using 27 concern statements with a four-point Likert scale. We defined psychological distress as a total score > 12 from the 12-item Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). We used modified Poisson regression to identify factors associated with psychological distress. Results Among 335 HCWs who received questionnaires, 328 (98%) responded. Respondents’ mean age was 36 (range 18–59) years; 172 (52%) were male. The median duration of professional experience was eight (range 1–35) years; 208 (63%) worked more than 40 h per week; 116 (35%) were nurses, 52 (14%) doctors, 30 (9%) clinical officers, and 86 (26%) support staff. One hundred and forty-four (44%) had a GHQ-12 score > 12. The most common concerns reported included fear of infection at the workplace (81%), stigma from colleagues (79%), lack of workplace support (63%), and inadequate availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (56%). In multivariable analysis, moderate (adjusted prevalence ratio, [aPR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–4.0) and high (aPR = 3.8, 95% CI 2.0–7.0) risk perception towards COVID-19 (compared with low-risk perception) were associated with psychological distress. Conclusions Forty-four percent of HCWs surveyed in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients during the early COVID-19 epidemic in Uganda reported psychological distress related to fear of infection, stigma, and inadequate PPE. Higher perceived personal risk towards COVID-19 was associated with increased psychological distress. To optimize patient care during the pandemic and future outbreaks, workplace management may consider identifying and addressing HCW concerns, ensuring sufficient PPE and training, and reducing infection-associated stigma.

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The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Providers in Obstetrics: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.632999 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Lidia Del Piccolo ◽

Valeria Donisi ◽

Ricciarda Raffaelli ◽

Simone Garzon ◽

Cinzia Perlini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Survey Study ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Gynecology And Obstetrics ◽

The Individual

Objective: To assess the psychological distress of healthcare providers (HCPs) working in the field of obstetrics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify factors associated with psychological distress at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational level.Design: Cross-sectional survey study.Setting: Four University hospitals in Italy.Participants: HCPs working in obstetrics, including gynecologists, residents in gynecology and obstetrics, and midwives.Methods: The 104-item survey Impatto PSIcologico COVID-19 in Ostetricia (IPSICO) was created by a multidisciplinary expert panel and administered to HCPs in obstetrics in May 2020 via a web-based platform.Main Outcome Measures: Psychological distress assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) included in the IPSICO survey.Results: The response rate to the IPSICO survey was 88.2% (503/570), and that for GHQ-12 was 84.4% (481/570). Just over half (51.1%; 246/481) of the GHQ-12 respondents reported a clinically significant level of psychological distress (GHQ-12 ≥3). Psychological distress was associated with either individual (i.e., female gender, stressful experience related to COVID-19, exhaustion, and the use of dysfunctional coping strategies), interpersonal (i.e., lower family support, limitations in interactions with colleagues), and organizational (i.e., reduced perception of protection by personal protective equipment, perceived delays on updates and gaps in information on the pandemic) factors in dealing with the pandemic.Conclusions: Results confirm the need for monitoring and assessing the psychological distress for HCPs in obstetrics. Interventions at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational level may relieve the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and foster resilience skills in facing emotional distress.

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