PaLS Study of Sleep Deprivation and Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many people live. To assess its impact on sleep quality and quantity, blue light exposure, and the mental health of Polish university students, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. Almost half of the participants were medical students (47.62%; n = 630). The majority of students were suffering from insomnia (58.13%, n = 769). Almost every third student was sleeping less than 7 h a day (30.39%, n = 402). Our study showed that a short sleep duration correlates with poorer mental health outcomes. Respondents who declared sadness and depression were more likely to suffer from insomnia (OR = 5.6997, 95% CI: 4.3641–7.4441). Difficulty with tasks was also more likely to co-occur with insomnia (OR = 5.4723, 95% CI: 4.3007 to 6.9630). The results of this study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the deterioration of sleep quality and quantity as well as the psychological well-being of Polish students. It is important to take steps to promote proper sleeping habits to alleviate the risk of mental health disorders in this group of people.

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Vigorous physical activity, perceived stress, sleep and mental health among university students from 23 low- and middle-income countries

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2017-0116 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Supa Pengpid ◽

Karl Peltzer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

University Students ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Short Version ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractBackgroundVigorous physical activity (VPA) may be beneficial for mental health. The aim of the study was to investigate cross-sectional associations between VPA, perceived stress, sleep quality and quantity and mental health among university students.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, using anonymous questionnaires, data was collected from 15122 (42.1% male and 57.9% female) university students [mean age 20.6, standard deviation (SD) = 2.0] from 23 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia. They were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version), and measures of sociodemographic, health status, health behaviour and anthropometrics.ResultsStudents who met VPA recommendations were less likely to report perceived stress, more likely to report subjective good health and depression than students without VPA. There was no association between VPA and sleep quality and quantity and PTSD symptoms.ConclusionThis study only found partial benefits of VPA in relation to well-being of university students.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being of students in an Italian university: a web-based cross-sectional survey

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00680-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leonardo Villani ◽

Roberta Pastorino ◽

Enrico Molinari ◽

Franco Anelli ◽

Walter Ricciardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Self Rating ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Italy was the first European country to implement a national lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, this pandemic had a huge impact on the mental health of people in many countries causing similar reaction in terms of emotions and concerns at the population level. Our study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being in a cohort of Italian university students. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the period immediately after the first lockdown through the administration of a questionnaire on the personal websites of students attending their undergraduate courses at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. We used the Patient-Health-Engagement-Scale, Self-Rating-Anxiety-Scale, and Self-Rating-Depression-Scale to assess engagement, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms of our sample. Results The sample size was 501 subjects, of which 35.33% were classified as anxious and 72.93% as depressed. Over 90% of respondents had good understanding of the preventive measures despite over 70% suffered from the impossibility of physically seeing friends and partners. Around 55% of students would have been willing to contribute much more to face the pandemic. An increase in the occurrences of anxiety was associated with being female, being student of the Rome campus, suffering from the impossibility of attending university, being distant from colleagues, and being unable of physically seeing one’s partner. Performing physical activity reduced this likelihood. Conclusion University students are at risk of psychological distress in the case of traumatic events. The evolution of the pandemic is uncertain and may have long-term effects on mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to study the most effective interventions to identify vulnerable subgroups and to plan for acute and long-term psychological services to control and reduce the burden of psychological problems.

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Two-stage mental health survey of first-line medical staff after ending COVID-19 epidemic assistance and isolation

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience ◽

10.1007/s00406-021-01239-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Li Xu ◽

Dingyun You ◽

Chengyu Li ◽

Xiyu Zhang ◽

Runxu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Psychological Status ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Two Stage ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractFacing with COVID-19 epidemic such a catastrophic health emergency, the mental health status of medical staff deserves attention. We conducted a two-stage of psychological status monitoring after the end of the assistance and 14 days of isolation, further targeted the vulnerable groups in need of intervention. The study is a cross-sectional survey on 1156 Yunnan medical staff aid to Hubei. Used Cluster sampling method to collect data at 2 time points (at the end of returning from Wuhan and the 14th day of isolation), from March 18, 2020 to April 6, 2020. Female and nurse had higher rates of depressive symptoms than male and doctors and other occupations. The proportion of female with mild and above moderate anxiety levels (22.91%, 2.61%) was higher than male (17.35%, 1.03%) (p < 0.05). Female had a better impaired sleep quality (45.06%, 17.49%) more than male (28.57%, 7.94%). Medical staff supported in Wuhan and with junior professional titles reported a higher proportion of sleep quality impairment. At the 14th isolation day stage, the proportion of nurses changed from depression to health (9.15%) and from health to depression (6.1%) better than doctors. The front-line medical staffs had suffered greater psychological pressure in the treatment process of major public health emergency. Researches on the dynamic monitor for the change of psychological status after aiding epidemic areas were still in relatively blank stage. Targeting the vulnerable characteristics of aiding medical staff is significant for effective psychological intervention and sustainable operation of health system.

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Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality Are Associated with Physical Activity in Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112512 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2512 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lovro Štefan ◽

Goran Vrgoč ◽

Tomislav Rupčić ◽

Goran Sporiš ◽

Damir Sekulić

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Short Sleep Duration ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Short Sleep ◽

Long Sleep ◽

Good Sleep

The main purpose of the study was to explore the associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with physical activity (PA). In this cross-sectional study, participants were 894 elderly individuals (mean age 80 ± 3 years; 56.0% women) living in nursing homes. PA, sleep duration, and sleep quality (based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) were self-reported. The associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with PA at the nursing home level were analyzed using generalized estimating equations with clustering. Participants reporting short sleep duration (<6 h; OR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.25–0.80) were less likely to report sufficient PA, yet those reporting long sleep duration (>9 h; OR = 2.61; 95% CI 1.35–5.02) and good sleep quality (<5 points; OR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.19–2.12) were more likely to report sufficient PA. When sleep duration and sleep quality were entered into the same model, the same associations remained. This study shows that elderly individuals who report short sleep duration are less likely to meet PA guidelines, while those who report long sleep duration and good sleep quality are more likely to meet PA guidelines. Strategies aiming to improve sleep duration and sleep quality are warranted.

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Use of online cultural content for mental health and well-being during COVID-19 restrictions: cross-sectional survey

BJPsych Bulletin ◽

10.1192/bjb.2021.103 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Rebecca J. Syed Sheriff ◽

Helen Adams ◽

Evgenia Riga ◽

Andrew K. Przybylski ◽

Laura Bonsaver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Online Culture ◽

Reported Data ◽

June July ◽

The Uk ◽

Health And Well Being

Aims and method To gain a deeper understanding of the use of online culture and its potential benefits to mental health and well-being, sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on usage, perceived mental health benefits and health status were collected in an online cross-sectional survey during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK in June–July 2020. Results In total, 1056 people completed the survey. A high proportion of participants reported finding online culture helpful for mental health; all but one of the benefits were associated with regular use and some with age. Reported benefits were wide-ranging and interconnected. Those aged under 25 years were less likely to be regular users of online culture or to have increased their use during lockdown. Clinical implications There may be benefits in targeting cultural resources for mental health to vulnerable groups such as young adults.

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Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-08-2020-0110 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Annika McGivern ◽

Stephen Shannon ◽

Gavin Breslin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

History Of

Purpose This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being. Findings In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores. Practical implications Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport. Social implications Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being. Originality/value This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.

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The Continuing Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Well-Being and Mental Health of ICU Healthcare Workers in Turkey: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Later-Phase Study

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine ◽

10.1177/08850666211070740 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088506662110707

Author(s):

Huseyin Duru

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Health Issues ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Heavy Workload ◽

Median Change

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on physical well-being and mental health of ICU healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods A total of 51 ICU HCWs working at a tertiary care hospital were included in this cross-sectional study conducted before (January 2019-January 2020) and during (January 2021-April 2021) COVID-19 pandemic. Data on sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, COVID 19 history and current mental health issues via Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were recorded. Results Overall, 62.7% of participants were nurses, heavy workload (working ≥200 h/month) was reported by 76.5% of participants and previous history of COVID-19 was confirmed by 62.7%. Current mental health issues involved poor sleep quality in majority (96.1%) of participants, anxiety (51.0%), depression (51.0%) in at least half of them and a moderate degree of emotional exhaustion Heavy workload was associated with more remarkable decrease in sleep duration (median change: −0.5 vs. −1.0 h/day, P = .020), Vit B12 (median change: 60[−48-293] vs. −65[−371-262] pg/mL, P < .001) and Vit D (median change: −1.6[−13.1-20] vs. −9.7[−39.7-21.8] ng/mL, P = .004) during pandemic, while working hours per month were also significantly higher in those with versus without anxiety (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .003) and with versus without depression (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .037). Conclusion Our findings indicate high prevalence of mental health issues including anxiety and depression as well as poor sleep quality and emotional burnout among ICU HCWs, particularly those with heavy workload.

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Is sleep duration associated with self-reported overall health, screen time, and nighttime texting among adolescents?

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060519892399 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 030006051989239

Author(s):

Pernilla Garmy ◽

Therese Idecrans ◽

Malin Hertz ◽

Ann-Christin Sollerhed ◽

Peter Hagell

Keyword(s):

Sleep Duration ◽

Screen Time ◽

School Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Short Sleep Duration ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Short Sleep ◽

School Day ◽

Reported Health ◽

Health Screen

Objectives We aimed to investigate whether sleep duration is associated with self-reported overall health, screen time, and nighttime texting among Swedish adolescents. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of students (n = 1518) aged 13 to 15 years (50.7% girls) in southern Sweden. Results Fewer than 8 hours sleep duration before a school day was reported by 31% of students. The median time spent watching television and/or at the computer was 3 hours, and 43% of students reported texting at night one or more times per week. Sleeping fewer than 8 hours was significantly associated with poorer self-reported overall health, often being tired at school, increased screen time, and a habit of nighttime texting. Conclusions Short sleep duration (<8 hours) was associated with poor self-reported health, increased screen time, and nighttime texting among respondents. These results provide information for parents, educators, and school health professionals to encourage young people to adopt healthy screen habits and sleep hygiene.

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A repeated cross-sectional survey assessing university students' stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329172000392x ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agata Debowska ◽

Beata Horeczy ◽

Daniel Boduszek ◽

Dariusz Dolinski

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Adult Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Medical Psychology ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Early Stages ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background The time of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases can lead to elevated stress and mental health problems among all persons affected, and in particular those sub-groups of the population that are at an increased risk of mental health problems. One such vulnerable group constitutes university students. The aim of this study is to assess stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality among different groups of university students (medical, psychology, and other). Methods Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected survey data among a large sample of 7228 university students from Poland (mean age = 22.78, s.d. = 4.40; 81% female). Data were collected in five waves, during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe (March and April 2020). Results The results demonstrate a significant increase in depression levels as the pandemic was progressing. We also found that female students scored significantly higher than male students on depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychology students recorded the lowest scores on depression and anxiety. Young adult students (aged 18–24 years) had more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than adult students (⩾25 years). Conclusions These results provide insights into stress and mental health among university students during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings can be used for a more effective identification of students who may struggle during next stages of the pandemic and future crises.

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Emerging public health challenge in UK: perception and belief on increased COVID19 death among BAME healthcare workers

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa096 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 486-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Arumugam Moorthy ◽

Thangasamy K Sankar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Work Force ◽

Well Being ◽

Target Population ◽

Front Line ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Adequate Provision

Abstract Background Coronavirus infection Disease 19 impacted every part of the world and routine life. Recent report from the Office of national statistics in UK reported disproportionate death among Black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) population. NHS is heavily relied on the BAME work force both in front line and in the community. We attempted to explore the beliefs and perception about reported worrying issue among BAME health work force in a Diverse city of Leicester. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey using 20 questions in an electronic format. The target population was identified through Leicester Asian Doctors Society and Leicester Asian Nurses Society. The questionnaire was then distributed electronically to the members. Survey questionnaire was accessed by 372, incomplete response (172) were excluded and 200 completed responses were analysed. Results Majority of BAME workforce are routinely involved in front line duties. More than 70% were anxious about their role during this pandemic. The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply was adequate, and the support received from the local healthcare providers was more than satisfactory. The work force perceived co-morbidity, lack of PPE and testing were one of the few reasons for increased death in BAME. BAME group felt adequate provision of PPE, increased testing and improving mental health well-being is required to alleviate concerns and improve BAME working life in NHS. Conclusion BAME workforce are routinely involved in front line work and current anxiety level is very high. Adequate provision of mental health support with clear risk stratification for return to work is required urgently.

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