Gender Differences in Psychological Stress Factors of Physical Therapy Degree Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health and quality of life of male and female physical therapy students at the European University of Madrid. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted including a range of tests capturing different domains: 36-item Short Form Health Survey, six-item state version of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Three Items Loneliness Scale, four-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory revised version, and Sleep Quality Numeric Rating Scale. (3) Results: A total of 151 students completed the study, consisting of 78 females and 73 males. Gender differences were observed on most of the domains evaluated. Female participants showed worse levels of general health perception, quality of life, depression symptoms, anxiety, stress, experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility, sleep quality and loneliness compared to male physical therapy students. (4) Conclusions: The results of this study support the need of psychological interventions as preventive programs in situations such as COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study comprise of improving knowledge, awareness, and self-coping strategies or other psychological domains oriented to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on mental health and health-related quality of life in university students, especially among female ones.

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Changes in the Health of Adolescent Athletes: A Comparison of Health Measures Collected Before and During the CoVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-0739.20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy A. McGuine ◽

Kevin Biese ◽

Scott J. Hetzel ◽

Labina Petrovska ◽

Stephanie Kliethermes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Adolescent Athletes ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Measures

ABSTRACT Context: In the spring of 2020, schools closed to in-person teaching and sports were cancelled to control the transmission of CoVID-19. The changes that took place to the physical and mental health among young athletes during this time remain unknown, however. Objective: Identify changes in the health (mental health, physical activity and quality of life) of athletes that occurred during the CoVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sample recruited via social media. Patients or Other Participants: 3243 Wisconsin adolescent athletes (age=16.2±1.2 yrs., female=58% female) completed an online survey in May 2020 (DuringCoVID-19). Health measures for this cohort were compared with previously reported data for Wisconsin adolescent athletes (n=5231, age=15.7±1.2, 47% female) collected in 2016–2018 (PreCoVID-19). Main Outcome Measure(s): Demographic information included: sex, grade and sports played. Health assessments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) to identify depression symptoms, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for health related quality of life (HRQoL). Univariable comparisons of these variables between groups were made via t-tests or chi-square tests. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each group were estimated by survey weighted ANOVA models. RESULTS: Compared to PreCoVID-19, a larger proportion of the During-CoVID-19 participants reported rates of moderate to severe levels of depression (9.7% vs 32.9%, p<0.001). During-CoVID-19 participants reported 50% lower (worse) PFABS scores (mean:12.2 [95%CI: 11.9, 12.5] vs 24.7 [24.5, 24.9] p<0.001) and lower (worse) PedsQL total scores compared to the PreCoVID-19 participants (78.4 [78.0, 78.8] vs. 90.9 [90.5, 91.3] p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the CoVID-19 pandemic, adolescent athletes reported increased symptoms of depression, decreased physical activity and decreased quality of life compared to adolescent athletes in previous years.

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Quality of life in Hungarian polio survivors

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1007/s10389-020-01459-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erika Viktória Miszory ◽

Melinda Járomi ◽

Annamária Pakai

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Sample Selection ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Emotional Role ◽

The Difference ◽

Polio Survivors

Abstract Aim The number of Hungarian polio patients can be estimated at approximately 3000. Polio infection is currently affecting people 56–65 years of age. The aim of the study was to reveal the quality of life of patients living with polio virus in Hungary. Subject and methods The quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in January–April 2017 among polyomyelitis patients living in Hungary. In the non-random, targeted, expert sample selection, the target group was composed of patients infected with poliovirus (N = 268). We have excluded those who refused to sign the consent statement. Our data collection method was an SF-36 questionnaire. Using the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 22 program, descriptive and mathematical statistics (χ2-test) were calculated (p < 0.05). Results The mean age of the members of the examined population is 63.5 years; 68.1% were women and 31.90% were men. The majority of the respondents were infected by the polyovirus in 1956 (11.9%), 1957 (24.3%), and 1959 (19.5%). Polio patients, with the exception of two dimensions (mental health, social operation), on the scale of 100 do not reach the “average” quality of life (physical functioning 23 points, functional role 36 points, emotional role 47 points, body pain 48 points, general health 42 points, vitality 50 points, health change 31 points). Conclusion The quality of life of polio patients is far below the dimensions of physical function, while the difference in mental health compared to healthy people is minimal. It would be important to educate health professionals about the existing disease, to develop an effective rehabilitation method.

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Impact of repeat flooding on mental health and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis of the English National Study of Flooding and Health

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031562 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e031562 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clare E French ◽

Thomas D Waite ◽

Ben Armstrong ◽

G. James Rubin ◽

Charles R Beck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

National Study ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Probable Depression

ObjectiveTo assess the association between flooding/repeat flooding and: (1) psychological morbidity (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) and (2) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 6 months post-flooding.DesignCross-sectional analysis of data from the English National Study of Flooding and Health.SettingCumbria, England.ParticipantsQuestionnaires were sent to 2500 residential addresses at 6 months post-flooding; 590 people responded.OutcomesProbable depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, probable anxiety using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale and probable PTSD using the short-form PTSD checklist (PCL-6). HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L. Mental health outcomes were analysed using logistic regression; HRQoL dimensions using ordinal regression; and summary index/Visual Analogue Scale scores using linear regression.ResultsOne hundred and nineteen participants had been flooded, over half of whom were experiencing a repeat flooding event (54%; n=64). Mental health outcomes were elevated among flooded compared with unaffected participants (adjusted OR for probable depression: 7.77, 95% CI: 1.51 to 40.13; anxiety: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.18 to 14.70; PTSD: 14.41, 95% CI: 3.91 to 53.13). The prevalence of depression was higher among repeat compared with single flooded participants, but this was not significant after adjustment. There was no difference in levels of anxiety or PTSD. Compared with unaffected participants, those flooded had lower EQ-5D-5L index scores (adjusted coefficient: −0.06, 95% CI: −0.12 to −0.01) and lower self-rated health scores (adjusted coefficient: −6.99, 95% CI: −11.96 to −2.02). There was, however, little difference in HRQoL overall between repeat and single flooded participants.ConclusionsInterventions are needed to help minimise the impact of flooding on people’s mental health and HRQoL.

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A scoping review of palliative care outcome measures in interstitial lung disease

European Respiratory Review ◽

10.1183/16000617.0080-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (161) ◽

pp. 210080

Author(s):

Rebecca A. Gersten ◽

Amanda C. Moale ◽

Bhavna Seth ◽

Judith B. Vick ◽

Hannah Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Physical Health ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Social Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Outcome

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) confers a high mortality and symptom burden, substantially impacting quality of life. Studies evaluating palliative care in ILD are rapidly expanding. Uniform outcome measures are crucial to assessing the impact of palliative care in ILD. This scoping review evaluates existing outcome measures in general health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical health, mental health, social health and advance care planning (ACP) domains in patients with ILD. Articles in English with quantitative assessment of at least one measure of general HRQoL, physical health, mental health, social health or ACP in patients with ILD were included. Searches across three databases yielded 3488 non-duplicate articles. 23 met eligibility criteria and included three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or secondary analysis of an RCT (13%), three cross-sectional studies or secondary analysis of cross-sectional study (13%), one prospective study (4%) and 16 retrospective studies (70%). Among eligible articles, 25 distinct instruments were identified. Six studies assessed general HRQoL (26%), 16 assessed physical health (70%), 11 assessed mental health (48%), six assessed social health (26%) and 16 assessed ACP (70%). The ability to compare results across studies remains challenging given the heterogeneity in outcome measures. Future work is needed to develop core palliative care outcome measures in ILD.

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Health-related quality of life of middle-aged and elderly people with hypertension: A cross-sectional survey from a rural area in China

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246409 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246409

Author(s):

Qi Chen ◽

Li Ran ◽

Mengying Li ◽

Xiaodong Tan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Objective To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of middle-aged and elderly people with hypertension in Enshi, China, and to explore the important correlates defining HRQoL. Methods From April through July 2018, a self-monitoring intervention program for hypertension control was implemented in a remote area of central China. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey which included demographic characteristics, the Health-related Quality of Life Survey, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Survey. Univariate analysis was performed by analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of HRQoL in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients. In the multivariate analysis, the variables with P≤0.05 in the single factor analysis were combined with the professional significance to establish a multiple linear regression model. Results Information from 500 participants was available for analysis. Among them, the scores of PCS and MCS was 31.66 ± 9.50 and 41.38 ± 10.69, respectively. Multivariable regression analyses showed that higher education and sleep quality, and moderate physical activity (30 minutes for at least five days a week) had a positive influence on PCS scores. Higher monthly family income (3,000–5,000 ¥) and sleep quality, regular tea-drinking, having 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days a week were positively associated with MCS scores. Conclusion The overall HRQoL for rural middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients in Xuan’en county of Hubei province was poor. Effective relevant measures for the above factors were urgently needed to improve the quality of life for the elderly in rural areas. Awareness of these relevant factors could help health care professionals provide better supportive care.

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Gender Differences in Symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, Mental Health, Cognitive Performance, Pain-Cognition, and Positive Health in Spanish Fibromyalgia Individuals: The Al-Ándalus Project

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2016/5135176 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Víctor Segura-Jiménez ◽

Fernando Estévez-López ◽

Alberto Soriano-Maldonado ◽

Inmaculada C. Álvarez-Gallardo ◽

Manuel Delgado-Fernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Working Memory ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Tender Points ◽

Positive Health ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Objective. To test the gender differences in tenderness, impact of fibromyalgia, health-related quality of life, fatigue, sleep quality, mental health, cognitive performance, pain-cognition, and positive health in Spanish fibromyalgia patients and in age-matched nonfibromyalgia individuals from the same region. To test the optimal cut-off score of the different tender points for women and men.Methods. A total of 405 (384 women) fibromyalgia versus 247 (195 women) nonfibromyalgia control participants from southern Spain (Andalusia) took part in this cross-sectional study. The outcomes studied were assessed by means of several tests.Results. In the fibromyalgia group, men showed better working memory than women (all,P<0.01), whereas sleep latency was lower in women compared to men (P=0.013). In the nonfibromyalgia group, men showed higher pain threshold in all the tender points (all,P<0.01), except in right and left lateral epicondyle. Furthermore, men showed better working memory than women (all,P<0.01), whereas memory performance was better in women compared to men (all,P≤0.01).Conclusion. The results of the present study do not support consistent evidence of gender differences in fibromyalgia-related symptoms. However, it seems that detriment of some symptoms (especially pain) in fibromyalgia men compared with their nonfibromyalgia counterparts is greater than those of fibromyalgia women compared with their nonfibromyalgia peers.

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Quality of Life in OCD: Differential Impact of Obsessions, Compulsions, and Depression Comorbidity

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674370304800202 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 72-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Mario Masellis ◽

Neil A Rector ◽

Margaret A Richter

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Depression Severity ◽

Differential Impact ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Cross Sectional Design

Objective: An anxiety disorder severely affects the sufferer's quality of life (QOL), and this may be particularly true of those with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This study examines the differential impact of obsessions, compulsions, and depression comorbidity on the QOL of individuals with OCD. Method: Forty-three individuals diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria and experiencing clinically significant obsessions and compulsions completed measures of QOL, obsessive–compulsive symptom severity, and depression severity. Results: Obsession severity was found to significantly predict patient QOL, whereas the severity of compulsive rituals did not impact on QOL ratings. Comorbid depression severity was the single greatest predictor of poor QOL, accounting for 54% of the variance. Conclusions: Given the importance of these symptoms, treatments that directly target obsessions and secondary depression symptoms in OCD are warranted. However, replication of these findings in a prospective cohort study is required, because although the the current study's cross-sectional design allows for the examination of the associations among obsessions, depression, and QOL, it cannot establish their temporal framework (that is, causal relations).

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The Health Of Us Adolescent Athletes During Covid-19 Related School Closures And Sport Cancellations

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/478-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy A. McGuine ◽

Kevin M Biese ◽

Labina Petrovska ◽

Scott J Hetzel ◽

Claudia Reardon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Poverty Level ◽

Adolescent Athletes ◽

School Closures ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Context: In the spring of 2020, US schools closed to in-person teaching and sports were cancelled to control the transmission of COVID-19. It is critical to understand the mental and physical health of adolescent athletes during this time. Objective: Describe the health of athletes during COVID-19 related school closures and sport cancellations. Design: Cross sectional. Setting: A national sample recruited via social media. Patients or Other Participants: 13,002 US adolescent athletes (age=16.3+1.2 yrs., female=53.1%) completed an anonymous online survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): Demographic information included: sex, grade, sports played and zip code. Assessments included the: General Anxiety Disorder-7 Item (GAD-7) for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) for depression, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for quality of life. Mental health, physical activity and quality of life variables were compared between sex, grade, sports played and poverty level using means and 95%CI from the survey weighted ANOVA. Results: Females reported a higher prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms (females=43.7% vs. males=28.2%). The PFABS score (mean [95%CI] was highest (best) for grade 9 (14.5 [14.0,15.0]) and lowest for grade 11 (10.9 [10.5,11.3]. The prevalence of depression symptoms was highest in team sport (74.1%) and lowest for individual sport participants (64.9%). The total PedsQL score was lowest (worst) for athletes from counties with the highest poverty levels (high=74.5[73.7,75.3], middle=78.9[78.0,79.8], low=78.3 [77.4,79.1]). Conclusions: The health of US adolescents during the COVID-19 related school closures and sport cancellations varied to differing degrees depending on sex, grade level, type of sport participation and level of poverty. Health policy experts should consider these findings when creating and implementing policies to improve the health of adolescents in the US in the future.

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Gender differences at presentation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Sweden

BMC Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12890-019-0994-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dimitrios Kalafatis ◽

Jing Gao ◽

Ida Pesonen ◽

Lisa Carlson ◽

C. Magnus Sköld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Lung Function ◽

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Smoking History ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with poor prognosis mainly affecting males. Differences in clinical presentation between genders may be important both for the diagnostic work-up and for follow-up. In the present study, we therefore explored potential gender differences at presentation in a Swedish cohort of IPF-patients. Methods We studied patients included in the Swedish IPF- registry over a three-year period from its launch in 2014. A cross-sectional analysis was performed for data concerning demographics, lung function, 6- min walking test (6MWT) and quality of life (QoL) (King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (K-BILD) score). Results Three hundred forty- eight patients (250 (72%) males, 98 (28%) females, median age 72 years in both genders) were included in the registry during the study period. Smoking history (N = 169 (68%) vs. N = 53 (54%), p < 0.05), baseline lung function (Forced vital capacity, % of predicted (FVC%): 68.9% ± 14.4 vs. 73.0% ± 17.7, p < 0.05; Total lung capacity, % of predicted (TLC%): 62.2% ± 11.8 vs. 68.6% ± 11.3%, p < 0.001) were significantly different at presentation between males and females, respectively. Comorbidities such as coronary artery disease (OR: 3.5–95% CI: 1.6–7.6) and other cardiovascular diseases (including atrial fibrillation and heart failure) (OR: 3.8–95% CI: 1.9–7.8) also showed significant differences between the genders. The K- BILD showed poor quality of life, but no difference was found between genders in total score (54 ± 11 vs. 54 ± 10, p = 0.61 in males vs. females, respectively). Conclusions This study shows that female patients with IPF have a more preserved lung function than males at inclusion, while males have a significant burden of cardiovascular comorbidities. However, QoL and results on the 6MWT did not differ between the groups. These gender differences may be of importance both at diagnosis and follow- up of patients with IPF.

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Factors associated with quality of life and work ability among Finnish municipal employees: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035544 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e035544

Author(s):

Elina Bergman ◽

Eliisa Löyttyniemi ◽

Saana Myllyntausta ◽

Päivi Rautava ◽

Päivi Elina Korhonen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Occupational Stress ◽

Work Ability ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Sector Employees ◽

University Level ◽

Good Sleep

ObjectivesQuality of life (QoL) and work ability are elementary parts in defining the well-being of an employed person. The aim of this study was to demonstrate factors associated with QoL and self-reported work ability among public sector employees, while taking into account several confounding factors, including sleep quality, occupational stress and psychological symptoms.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Finland among 710 employees (89% women, mean age 49 (SD=10) years) from 10 municipal work units in 2015. Information about the participants was collected by physical examination, self-administered questionnaire and from medical history. QoL was assessed with the EUROHIS-Quality of Life 8-item index and work ability with the Work Ability Score (WAS).ResultsThe EUROHIS-QOL mean score among all participants was 4.07 (95% CI 4.03 to 4.11). QoL was positively associated with good sleep quality, cohabiting, university-level education and lower body mass index (BMI), and negatively associated with occupational stress, depression and/or anxiety and disease burden. Work ability was reported good or excellent by 80% of the participants and the WAS mean score among all participants was 8.31 (95% CI 8.21 to 8.41). Work ability was positively associated with good sleep quality, younger age, lower BMI and university-level education, and negatively associated with occupational stress and disease burden.ConclusionsOccupational stress and self-reported sleep quality were strongly associated with both QoL and work ability among Finnish public sector employees. These findings highlight the need for screening and handling of work stress and sleep problems in occupational and primary healthcare.

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