scholarly journals Sextech Use as a Potential Mental Health Reprieve: The Role of Anxiety, Depression, and Loneliness in Seeking Sex Online

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 8924
Author(s):  
Alexandra S. Marcotte ◽  
Ellen M. Kaufman ◽  
Jessica T. Campbell ◽  
Tania A. Reynolds ◽  
Justin R. Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Important Pathway ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Mental Well Being

Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have long been recognized as global mental health concerns. To temporarily relieve psychological distress, self-soothing behavior is common, including engagement in sexual behaviors that are linked to positive mental well-being. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated many mental health ailments alongside physical distancing regulations, we specifically examined online sexual behavior via the use of emergent digital sexual technologies, or sextech. In a 2019 study of 8004 American adults, we assessed whether people experiencing higher anxiety, depression, and/or loneliness were more likely to engage in sextech use. Furthermore, we examined whether anxiety or depression mediated the association between loneliness and sextech use, as loneliness is one contributor to anxiety and depression. People with higher anxiety and depression were more likely to engage in sextech. However, those who were more lonely were less likely to engage with sextech, suggesting the aforementioned patterns were not due to lack of social connection. Our findings suggest people with mental health struggles may be drawn to interactive, digital forms of sexual behavior as a means of alleviating symptoms through distraction or self-soothing. This insight offers an important pathway for expanding the scope of mental health interventions, particularly as technology becomes increasingly prevalent and accessible in everyday life.

scholarly journals Identifying key targets for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing: replicable results from four UK cohorts

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (14) ◽  
pp. 2389-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stochl ◽  
E. Soneson ◽  
A.P. Wagner ◽  
G.M. Khandaker ◽  
I. Goodyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Signal Improvement

AbstractBackgroundAn increasing importance is being placed on mental health and wellbeing at individual and population levels. While there are several interventions that have been proposed to improve wellbeing, more evidence is needed to understand which aspects of wellbeing are most influential. This study aimed to identify key items that signal improvement of mental health and wellbeing.MethodsUsing network analysis, we identified the most central items in the graph network estimated from the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Results were compared across four major UK cohorts comprising a total of 47,578 individuals: the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network, the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, the Northern Ireland Health Survey, and the National Child Development Study.ResultsRegardless of gender, the three items most central in the network were related to positive self-perception and mood: ‘I have been feeling good about myself’; ‘I have been feeling confident’; and ‘I have been feeling cheerful’. Results were consistent across all four cohorts.ConclusionsPositive self-perception and positive mood are central to psychological wellbeing. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health interventions might best promote psychological wellbeing by prioritising the improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence and cheerfulness. However, empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed.

scholarly journals Burden of predominant psychological reactions among the healthcare workers and general during COVID-19 pandemic phase: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaskar Thakur ◽  
Mona Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Psychological Reactions ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Anxiety Depression

ABSTRACTAimPresent systematic review and meta-analysis examined the burden of psychological reactions predominantly anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia during novel COVID-19 pandemic phase among the frontline healthcare, non-frontline healthcare and general.MethodologyPubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS were searched for studies between Jan 1, 2020 to May 25, 2020. Brief protocol of the systematic review was registered with the PROSPERO database, (CRD42020186229).Any study that reported the burden of at least one of psychological reactions including anxiety or depression or stress or insomnia was eligible. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistic and results were synthesized using random effect meta-analysis.ResultsOut of 52eligible studies, 43 reported anxiety, 43 reported depression, 20 reported stress and 11 reported insomnia. Overall prevalence for anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia were 26.6%, 26.2%,26.2% and 34.4% respectively. Anxiety and depression were found highest among the COVID-19 patients (43.3% and 51.75 respectively). Apart from COVID-19 patients, prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia were found highest among the frontline healthcare (27.2%, 32.1%,55.6% and 34.4% respectively) as compared to general healthcare workers (26.9%, 15.7%, 7.0% and 34.0% respectively) and general population (25.9%, 25.9%,25.4% and 29.4% respectively).ConclusionAnxiety and depression were found highest among the COVID-19 patients. Apart from COVID-19 patients, the anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia were more prevalent among frontline healthcare workers compared to general. Such increased prevalence is prompting towards the global mental health emergency. Therefore a call of urgent attention and pan-region effective mental-health intervention are required to mitigate these psychological reactions.

Research watch: Coronavirus (COVID-19), mental health and social inclusion in the UK and Ireland

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mental Well Being

Purpose This paper aims to examine recent papers on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including implications for some of the groups of people already less included in society. Design/methodology/approach A search was carried out for recent papers on mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings Two papers describe surveys of adults in the UK and Irish Republic in the first days of lockdown. Low income and loss of income were associated with anxiety and depression. These surveys could not examine distress in Black and minority ethnicities, who have higher death rates from COVID-19. Two surveys of children and young people report distress and what can help. One paper summarises a host of ways in which the pandemic may affect mental well-being in different groups, and what might help. Another calls for research to understand how to protect mental well-being in various groups. Originality/value These five papers give a sense of the early days of the pandemic, especially in the UK. They also highlight the needs of some specific groups of people, or the need to find out more about how these groups experience the pandemic. They suggest some ways of trying to ensure that everyone has the best chance to thrive in the aftermath of the pandemic.

scholarly journals Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningyuan Guo ◽  
Tzu Tsun Luk ◽  
Sai Yin Ho ◽  
Jung Jae Lee ◽  
Chen Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Mental Well Being

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been associated with anxiety and depression, but few explored its mental well-being correlates that could co-occur with or be independent of mental symptoms. We studied the associations of PSU with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being in Hong Kong Chinese adults in a probability-based survey (N = 4054; 55.0% females; mean age ± SD 48.3 ± 18.3 years). PSU was measured using Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using General Anxiety Disorder screener-2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Mental well-being was measured using Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). Multivariable regression analyzed associations adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Associations of PSU with mental well-being were stratified by symptom severity of anxiety (GAD-2 cutoff of 3) and depression (PHQ-2 cutoff of 3). We found that PSU was associated with higher odds of anxiety and depression symptom severity and lower scores of SHS and SWEMWBS. Associations of PSU with lower SHS and SWEMWBS scores remained in respondents who screened negative for anxiety or depression symptoms. To conclude, PSU was associated with anxiety, depression, and impaired mental well-being. Associations of PSU with impaired mental well-being could be independent of anxiety or depression symptoms.

scholarly journals PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS IN EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra KASIANOVA ◽  
◽  
Myroslava FILONENKO ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Quantitative Parameters ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Educational Conditions

The article presents a study of screening the psychological wellbeing of students and the need to develop effective methods of psychological prevention and correction of negative mental states. The analysis of qualitative and quantitative parameters of mood, level of anxiety and depression of students is carried out. The influence of mood on the level of anxiety and depression of the studied students was studied. KEY WORDS: mental health, students, well-being, anxiety, depression, stress.

scholarly journals Loneliness and Depression among Women in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10698
Author(s):  
Anna Idzik ◽  
Anna Leńczuk-Gruba ◽  
Ewa Kobos ◽  
Mariola Pietrzak ◽  
Beata Dziedzic
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many changes in the functioning of people all over the world in a short period of time. According to a WHO report (2020), it is women who are at a particular risk of the negative effects of the pandemic, especially in terms of mental health. Aim of study: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, irritability, and loneliness among adult women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a representative sample of women in Poland (n = 452). The data were collected using the HADS-M scale and the R-UCLA scale. Results: A low level of loneliness was found in 37.3% of the women, moderate in 38.9%, moderately high in 22.3% and very high in 1.3% of women. Self-rating of physical and mental health was significantly positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and irritability in HADS-M, and loneliness in R-UCLA. As the severity of loneliness increased, so did Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores on all subscales (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study group presented with mental well-being disorders in the form of anxiety and depression. Two in three women experienced loneliness.

scholarly journals Social and Psychological Consequences of COVID-19 Online Content at a Lockdown Phase—Europe and Asia Comparison

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9198
Author(s):  
Marta R. Jabłońska ◽  
Karolina Zajdel ◽  
Radosław Zajdel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

After more than a year in a pandemic world, more than 171 million people worldwide have been infected and over 3.5 million have died. The number of those who have suffered mentally due to the pandemic is well above this number. The virus, lockdowns, forced quarantines, and problems related to jobs and everyday functioning have left their mark on mental health. Additionally, the massive spread of COVID-19 content of varying quality in social media is exacerbating this impact. On the other hand, in times of social distancing, these media are an important link with other people and a source of social support. The impact of the COVID-19 content in social media still requires further exploring. This influence on mental health may also vary geographically. There are more and more reports of discrimination against Asians due to COVID-19. We conducted a survey during lockdown in which 1664 respondents took part. After analyzing the impact of COVID-19 content in social media on the level of life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression, we compared this impact between European and Asian respondents. The results showed that dealing with these contents affects the level of anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Although most often these relations turned out to be negative, we have also identified those indicating a positive impact. This was particularly noticeable among Asian respondents, who additionally showed a lower relationship between reading COVID-19 content and their mental well-being than European respondents.

scholarly journals The mental health of NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-wave cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes H. De Kock ◽  
Helen Latham ◽  
Richard Gregory Cowden ◽  
Breda Cullen ◽  
Katia Narzisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Health Board ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Over Time

Abstract: Background Health and social care workers(HSCWs) are at risk of experiencing adverse mental health (MH) outcomes (e.g., higher levels of anxiety and depression) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This can have a detrimental impact on quality of care, the national response to the pandemic and its aftermath. Aims A longitudinal design provided follow-up evidence on the MH(changes in the prevalence of disease over time) of NHS staff working in a remote health board in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated the determinants of MH outcomes over time. Method A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted from July to September 2020. Participants self-reported levels of depression(PHQ-9), anxiety(GAD-7), and mental well-being(WEMWBS) at baseline and again 1.5 months later. Results The analytic sample of 169 participants, working in community(43%) and hospital(44%) settings reported substantial levels of probable clinical depression, anxiety and low mental well-being(MWB) at baseline(depression:30.8%, anxiety:20.1%, low-MWB:31.9%). Whilst the MH of participants remained mostly constant over time, the proportion of participants meeting the threshold for clinical anxiety increased to 27.2% at follow-up. Multivariable modelling indicated that working with, and disruption due to COVID-19 were associated with adverse MH changes over time. Conclusions HSCWs working in a remote area with low COVID-19 prevalence, reported similar levels of substantial anxiety and depression as those working in areas of the UK with high rates of COVID-19 infections. Efforts to support HSCW MH must remain a priority and should minimize the adverse effects of working with, and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Mental Health Profiles of Danish Youth Soccer Players: The Influence of Gender and Career Development

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Andreas Kuettel ◽  
Natalie Durand-Bush ◽  
Carsten H. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Youth Soccer ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Health Profiles

The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate gender differences in mental health among Danish youth soccer players, (b) to discover the mental health profiles of the players, and (c) to explore how career progression and mental health are related. A total of 239 Danish youth elite soccer players (M = 16.85, SD = 1.09) completed an online questionnaire assessing mental well-being, depression, anxiety, along with other background variables. Female players scored significantly lower on mental well-being and had four times higher odds of expressing symptoms of anxiety and depression than males. Athletes’ mental health profiles showed that most athletes experience low depression while having moderate mental well-being. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores generally increased when progressing in age, indicating that the junior–senior transition poses distinct challenges to players’ mental health, especially for female players. Different strategies to foster players’ mental health depending on their mental health profiles are proposed.

Utilitarian Psychiatric Ethics

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sridhar Venkatapuram
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Suffering ◽  
Attractive Candidate ◽  
The Face ◽  
Main Components ◽  
The Right ◽  
Mental Well Being

Utilitarianism is often expressed as the moral dictum, “Do that which produces the greatest good for the greatest number.” It is seemingly an attractive candidate for psychiatric ethics for two reasons. First, in the face of such overwhelming human suffering due to mental illness, doing the greatest good seems intuitively the right approach; helping more people rather than fewer seems right and rational. Second, the “good” that utilitarianism seeks to produce is often understood to be happiness or a positive mental state. Producing the greatest mental well-being possible seems in line with the functioning of psychiatry. Utilitarian ethics seems ready-made for guiding psychiatry as it faces the challenge of improving global mental health. This chapter lays out some of the history and main tenets of utilitarianism, its three main components of consequentialism, welfarism, and sum ranking, and relate them to psychiatry. Some of the major critiques of utilitarianism follow.

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