scholarly journals Stress Levels and Mental Well-Being among Slovak Students during e-Learning in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1356
Author(s):  
Anna Rutkowska ◽  
David Liska ◽  
Błażej Cieślik ◽  
Adam Wrzeciono ◽  
Jaroslav Broďáni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Depression Level ◽  
Life Education ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Nutrition Habits

The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has forced far-reaching changes in higher education. Isolation from peers and distance learning have significantly limited interpersonal contacts, which might have affected the mental well-being of students. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the level of perceived stress during e-learning among Slovak students and to identify the variables that have the most significant impact on mental health among students. The study included 3051 participants, 1773 women (58%) and 1278 (42%) with a mean age of 22.37 years. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) were used to measure the severity of stress and depression level. In addition, an author’s survey was used assessing the areas of social life, education skills, economic field, nutrition habits, and drugs. Almost all study participants were characterized by increased stress level and 47% of them were depressed. Moreover, isolation affected women more, especially in terms of social life and economics. It seems necessary to implement appropriate support programs for students, which could have the potential to improve their psychological condition.

Efficacy of ‘Foundations’, a Digital Mental Health App to Improve Mental Well-Being, during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Principle Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Catuara-Solarz ◽  
Bartlomiej Skorulski ◽  
Inaki Estella ◽  
Claudia Avella-Garcia ◽  
Sarah Shepherd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Proof Of Principle

BACKGROUND Against a long-term trend of increasing demand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in common mental disorders. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for scalable, evidence-based interventions to support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based app in adults with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and stress in a randomised control trial that took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. METHODS Adults with mild to severe anxiety and moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. Participants in the intervention arm were given access to the app, Foundations, for the duration of the 4-week study. All participants were required to self-report a range of validated measures of mental well-being (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience scale [CD-RISC-10]; 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Office of National Statistics Four Subjective Well-being Questions [ONS-4]; World Health Organisation-5 Well-Being Index [WHO-5]) and sleep (Minimal Insomnia Scale [MISS]) at baseline and weeks 2 and 4; and, in addition, on perceived stress weekly (10-item Perceived Stress Score [PSS]). RESULTS 136 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=62) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n=74) on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.35 [SD 4.43]; control group: -0.23 [SD 3.24]; t134= 1.71 , P=.04), resilience (CD-RISC score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.79 [± SD 4.08]; control group: -0.31 [± SD 3.16]; t134 -3.37, P<.001), sleep (MISS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.16 [± SD 2.67]; control group: -0.26 [± SD 2.29]; t134= 2.13, P=.01), and mental well-being (WHO-5 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.53 [5.30]; control group: -0.23 [± SD 4.20]; t134= -2.16, P=.02) within 2 weeks of using Foundations, with further improvements emerging at week 4. Perceived stress was also reduced within the intervention group, although the results did not reach statistical significance relative to the control group (PSS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -2.94 [± SD 6.84]; control group: -2.05 [± SD 5.34]; t134= 0.84, P=.20). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that the digital mental health app, Foundations, can improve measures of mental well-being, anxiety, resilience, and sleep within 2 weeks of use, with greater effects after 4 weeks. It therefore offers potential as a scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solution to enhance mental well-being, even during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Well-Being Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Perceived Health

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chian Teh ◽  
Josephine A. Archer ◽  
Weining Chang ◽  
SH Annabel Chen
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

Finding Meaning in Life After a Cancer Diagnosis: What Is the Role of Financial Strain?

2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732110074
Author(s):  
Sarah Alonzi ◽  
Laura M. Perry ◽  
Michael Hoerger
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Finding Meaning ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Mental Well Being

Finding meaning in life is important for maintaining physical and mental well-being. Obtaining a deeper understanding of activities that patients with cancer find meaningful is essential in improving cancer care and increasing meaning in life in these individuals. The sample of the present study consisted of patients with cancer ( N = 61) who reported their levels of financial strain and listed types of activities that they found most meaningful as a part of an online study. Participants engaged in activities that could be grouped into four broad domains (companionship, personal responsibility, recreation, and existential). In addition, results showed that financial strain was associated with higher preference for activities in the existential domain and lower preference for activities in the recreation domain. Future researchers could extend this study by exploring why certain activities are found to be more meaningful and how to combat the influence of financial strain in cancer.

scholarly journals Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic–Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2228
Author(s):  
Elke Humer ◽  
Christoph Pieh ◽  
Thomas Probst ◽  
Ida-Maria Kisler ◽  
Wolfgang Schimböck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Second Wave

Telephone emergency services play an important role in providing low-threshold, anonymous crisis intervention free of cost. The current study aims to examine the mental well-being and perceived stress level of counselors as well as the main topics of helpline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. In the current study, 374 counselors were recruited within the Austrian nationwide organization TelefonSeelsorge during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Austria. The mental well-being (WHO-5) and perceived stress-level (PSS-10) were assessed and counselors were asked about the frequency of different topics thematized by callers and changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Compared to a reference group of the Austrian general population, counselors experienced less stress (13.22 vs. 16.42) and higher mental well-being (66.26 vs. 57.36; p < 0.001). The most frequent topics during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria were loneliness and mental health. More calls were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 and especially the topics loneliness, mental health, professional activities and relationships were reported to be thematized more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before (p < 0.001). The results contribute to an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telephone crisis intervention.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Mental Well-Being and Working Life among Faroese Employees

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4775
Author(s):  
Annika H. Davidsen ◽  
Maria S. Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Work Ability ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

The societal changes caused by COVID-19 have been far-reaching, causing challenges for employees around the world. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 restrictions on mental well-being, working life, family life and social life among Faroese employees within a broad range of professions. A total of 1328 Faroese employees answered an anonymous self-report survey from 13 April to 4 May 2020. Employee mental well-being was only modestly affected by the restrictions and the respondents had a mean score of 50.7 on the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale where a score between 41–44 is found to correspond with possible depression. Work commitment, work and family life, work satisfaction and work ability were all rated significantly worse after the COVID-19 outbreak than before (all p values < 0.005). Contrary to previous research, employees in health services assessed their work ability significantly higher than employees in teaching, and child and youth care (p < 0.05). Working parents had higher levels of stress and assessed their work ability significantly lower than employees without children (p < 0.05), and women tended to be more worried than men because of the pandemic. In conclusion, the overall mental well-being of Faroese employees was on an average level during lock-down in April and May 2020. Their working life seemed, however, to be worse than usual.

scholarly journals Affirming Basic Psychological Needs Promotes Mental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak

2020 ◽  
pp. 194855062094270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Cantarero ◽  
Wijnand A. P. van Tilburg ◽  
Ewelina Smoktunowicz
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Ability To Work ◽  
Mental Well Being

We tested if challenges to basic psychological needs (BPN) for autonomy, competence, and relatedness during the COVID-19 pandemic undermine people’s mental well-being. Furthermore, we tested if an intervention, affirmation of these psychological needs, enhances mental well-being. Results of Study 1 ( N = 153) showed that higher levels of satisfaction of BPN were related to higher well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak. In Study 2 ( N = 215), we employed an online intervention enhancing these BPN. We found increased mental well-being through bolstered relatedness in particular. The intervention also decreased perceived stress. Both studies showed that mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is positively related to the ability to work as usual and the number of people contacted via phone or internet but not in person.

scholarly journals Digital Overuse and Addictive Traits and Their Relationship With Mental Well-Being and Socio-Demographic Factors: A National Population Survey for Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Bellis ◽  
Catherine A. Sharp ◽  
Karen Hughes ◽  
Alisha R. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Mental Well Being

Introduction: Population health concerns have been raised about negative impacts from overuse of digital technologies. We examine patterns of online activity predictive of Digital Overuse and Addictive Traits (DOAT). We explore associations between DOAT and mental well-being and analyse how both relate to self-reported changes in self-esteem, perceived isolation, and anxiety about health when individuals use the internet for health purposes.Methods: A cross-sectional nationally representative household survey of adults using stratified random sampling (compliance 75.4%, n = 1,252). DOAT was measured using self-reported questions adapted from a social media addiction scale (failure to cut down use, restlessness when not using, and impact on job/studies and home/social life in the last year), combined into a single DOAT score. Higher DOAT score was defined as &gt;1 standard deviation above population mean. The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale was used to measure mental well-being. Analyses were limited to those with internet access (n = 1,003).Results: Negative impacts of digital technology use on work and home/social lives were reported by 7.4% of respondents. 21.2% had tried but failed to cut down use in the past year. Higher DOAT was associated with higher social media and internet use but also independently associated with greater risks of low mental well-being. Higher DOAT was associated with both improvement and worsening of self-esteem, perceived isolation and anxiety about health when using the internet for health reasons, with no change in these outcomes most likely in those with lower DOAT. Lower mental well-being was associated with a similar bi-directional impact on perceived isolation and was also associated with worsening self-esteem.Conclusions: Substantial proportions of individuals report negative impacts on home, social and working lives from digital technology use, with many trying but failing to cut down use. Individuals with higher DOAT may experience improvements or worsening in self-esteem and other measures of mental well-being when using the internet for health purposes. From a public health perspective, a greater understanding of risk factors for digital overuse, its impacts on well-being and how to reasonably limit use of technology are critical for a successful digital revolution.

scholarly journals Well-being of academic staff in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Steenhout ◽  
Sven Van Laere ◽  
Lara Vesentini ◽  
Johan Bilsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract The 2020 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic introduced unprecedented disruptions in both working conditions and social life. This lead to a variety of additional stressors for academics. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 measures on academics, introduced during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in Belgium, and to verify possible intervening variables in coping with these measures (stress management). The position, family and home situation of the respondents was checked. A cross-sectional study design was used. The study included 1837 respondents from the different Belgian universities. The overall mental and physical well-being amongst academics was lower during the SARS-CoV-2 measures. The results of a hierarchical regression suggest that decline in physical health is associated with an increase in tasks at home, sickness, less options to plan work and breaks, the self-perceived lower quality of teaching and research and the fear that the measures create a backlog at work. Furthermore, having kids had a negative effect on the work/private life balance, which in turn had an effect on physical well-being. A decline in mental well-being was associated with a fading boundary between work and private life, the necessity to take on more house-keeping tasks, sickness, the fear that the disruptions would create a backlog at work, less control over the work planning and less periods of pause during work.

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