scholarly journals Public Concerns during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multicultural Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents in Three Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1577
Author(s):  
Alona Emodi-Perlman ◽  
Ilana Eli ◽  
Nir Uziel ◽  
Joanna Smardz ◽  
Anahat Khehra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Culturally Different ◽  
Patient Health

(1) Background: this study aimed to evaluate the worries, anxiety, and depression in the public during the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in three culturally different groups of internet survey respondents: Middle Eastern (Israel), European (Poland), and North American (Canada). (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the mentioned countries during the lockdown periods. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on personal concerns, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A total of 2207 people successfully completed the survey. (3) Results: Polish respondents were the most concerned about being infected. Canadian respondents worried the most about their finances, relations with relatives and friends, and both physical and mental health. Polish respondents worried the least about their physical health, and Israeli respondents worried the least about their mental health and relations with relatives and friends. Canadian respondents obtained the highest score in the PHQ-4, while the scores of Israeli respondents were the lowest. (4) Conclusions: various factors should be considered while formulating appropriate solutions in emergency circumstances such as a pandemic. Understanding these factors will aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation, and uncertainty on the well-being and mental health of culturally different societies.

Public concerns during the COVID-19 lockdown – a multicultural cross-sectional study in three countries (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alona Emodi-Perlman ◽  
Ilana Eli ◽  
Nir Uziel ◽  
Joanna Smardz ◽  
Anahat Khehra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Culturally Different ◽  
Patient Health

BACKGROUND In late December 2019, a new pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection, began to spread around the world. The new situation gave rise to severe health threats, economic uncertainty, and social isolation, causing potential deleterious effects on the physical and mental health of the people. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate worries, anxiety and depression in the public during the initial Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19; Coronavirus) pandemic lockdown in three culturally different communities: Middle Eastern (Israel), European (Poland) and North American (Canada). METHODS A cross-sectional online anonymous survey was conducted simultaneously in Israel, Poland and Canada during the lockdown periods in these countries. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on original personal concerns regarding the Coronavirus pandemic and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) which is a brief screening tool used for assessing anxiety and depression. A total of 2207 people successfully completed the survey. The data obtained from the survey were statistically analysed. RESULTS The results of the survey showed that Poles were the most concerned about being infected by the virus, with higher scores found among women and elders. Canadians worried the most about their finances, relations with relatives and friends and both physical and mental health, while Poles, despite being the most concerned about virus contamination, worried the least about their physical health and Israeli worried the least about their mental health and relations with relatives and friends. Canadians obtained the highest total score in PHQ-4, as well as in both the anxiety and depression subscales of the questionnaire, while the scores of Israelis were the lowest. All the findings were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that various factors should be considered while formulating appropriate solutions in emergency circumstances such as a pandemic. Understanding these factors will aid in the development of response strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation and uncertainty on the well-being and mental health of culturally different societies.

scholarly journals The Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and the Well-Being of Polish Students: The Risk Factors of the Emotional Distress during COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 944
Author(s):  
Dariusz Juchnowicz ◽  
Jacek Baj ◽  
Alicja Forma ◽  
Kaja Karakuła ◽  
Elżbieta Sitarz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Scale

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a significant impact on both physical and mental health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to (1) evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress levels among students from Polish universities during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) assess the risk factors of the higher intensity of emotional distress. We conducted an online survey using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess well-being. The study included 2172 respondents (73% female, 27% male) with a mean age of 22.1 ± 2.2. Moderate to extremely severe scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were reported by 43.4%, 27.3%, and 41.0% of the respondents, respectively. Higher scores of DASS-21 were related to female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 3.01), studying sciences (OR = 2.04), co-residence with the roommates (OR = 1.25), suffering from a mental disorder (OR = 5.88), loneliness (OR = 293.30), the usage of psychiatric support before pandemic (OR = 8.06), poor economic situation (OR = 13.49), and the lower scores were found for being currently employed (OR = 0.4). This study highlights an urgent need for (1) crisis-oriented psychological and psychiatric support for students during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) preparing appropriate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of students for a possible similar situation in the future.

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

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.

scholarly journals Mental Health, Sense of Coherence, and Interpersonal Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 3708
Author(s):  
Stefanie Jung ◽  
Jonas Kneer ◽  
Tillmann H. C. Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Western Country ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Patient Health

Preliminary data indicates that the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic may have a substantial impact on mental health and well-being. We assessed mental health in response to the lockdown in Germany between 1 April 2020 and 15 April 2020 using a cross-sectional online survey (n = 3545) with a mixed-methods approach. We found increased levels of psychosocial distress (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) stress module), anxiety, depressive symptoms (PHQ-4), irritability, and a decrease in overall well-being (WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)), sense of coherence (Short Form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-L9)), sexual contentment, and sleep quality. The four-week-prevalence of interpersonal violence was yet at 5% and included verbal, physical, and sexual violence. Participants reported finding comfort in family, friends, conversation, exercise, and activity. Findings are also in line with research showing that women seem to have more trouble coping with the pandemic and lockdown measures. Our observations demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures lead to a mental health burden even in a highly developed Western country and should, therefore, be taken seriously. The findings for interpersonal violence are alarming. Thus, we should sharpen our focus on the matter and activate and enhance supporting systems to help protect those affected.

scholarly journals Loneliness, mental health and COVID-19 in the Spanish population

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
Berta Ausín ◽  
Clara González-Sanguino ◽  
Miguel Ángel Castellanos ◽  
Jesús Saiz ◽  
Carolina Ugidos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Spanish Population ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Data

The study aim was to assess the effects of the health emergency and the stay-at-home restrictions on loneliness variables in the Spanish population during the initial stage of COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey of 3480 people. From March 14, 2020, screening tests were used to evaluate sociodemographic and COVID-19-related data on loneliness, social support, the presence of mental health symptoms, discrimination, and spiritual well-being. Descriptive analyses were conducted and linear regression models were constructed. A negative association was found between loneliness and being older, being partnered, having children, being a university graduate, being retired or still working, having stronger religious beliefs, believing that information provided about the pandemic was adequate, having social support, and having self-compassion. Actions that promote social support and further studies on loneliness in groups of older people are needed to prevent the pandemic having a stronger impact on mental health and well-being.

scholarly journals Global Imperative of Suicidal Ideation in 10 Countries Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teris Cheung ◽  
Simon Ching Lam ◽  
Paul Hong Lee ◽  
Yu Tao Xiang ◽  
Paul Siu Fai Yip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Uk

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a detrimental impact on individuals' psychological well-being; however, a multi-country comparison on the prevalence of suicidal ideation due to the virus is still lacking.Objectives: To examine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among the general population across 10 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study which used convenience sampling and collected data by conducting an online survey. Participants were sourced from 10 Eastern and Western countries. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to measure the outcome variable of suicidal ideation. Ordinal regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors associated with suicidal ideation.Results: A total of 25,053 participants (22.7% male) were recruited. Results from the analysis showed that the UK and Brazil had the lowest odds of suicidal ideation compared to Macau (p < 0.05). Furthermore, younger age, male, married, and differences in health beliefs were significantly associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for joint international collaboration to formulate effective suicide prevention strategies in a timely manner and the need to implement online mental health promotion platforms. In doing so, the potential global rising death rates by suicide during the pandemic can be reduced.

scholarly journals Associations among Solo Dining, Self-Determined Solitude, and Depression in South Korean University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7392
Author(s):  
Sunjoo Jang ◽  
Haeyoung Lee ◽  
Seunghye Choi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
South Korean

Although solo dining motivated by self-determined solitude can be a positive and healthy experience for individuals, solo dining that is not motivated by self-determined solitude can trigger physical and mental health problems. This study examined the associations among solo dining, self-determined solitude, and depression in university students. Accordingly, an online survey was conducted on 372 university students. The results show that students who live alone, those in poor health, and those with more frequent solo dining experiences had higher depression scores than others. Whereas satisfaction with solo dining was high when voluntary solitude was high, female students displayed higher depression scores when they had low self-determined solitude or high non-self-determined solitude, and when they had a higher frequency of eating lunch alone, compared to their male counterparts. University undergraduates who live and dine alone, owing to non-self-determined solitude, are highly vulnerable to mental health problems, including depression. Hence, interventions that foster social connectedness and entail the identification of factors accounting for students’ non-self-determined solitude should be developed.

scholarly journals Smartphone addiction and associated factors among postgraduate students in an Arabic sample: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asem A. Alageel ◽  
Rayyan A. Alyahya ◽  
Yasser A. Bahatheq ◽  
Norah A. Alzunaydi ◽  
Raed A. Alghamdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Postgraduate Students

Abstract Background Smartphone addiction, as with other behavioral addictions, is associated with social, physical, and mental health issues. In this article, we investigated the prevalence of smartphone addiction among postgraduate students and evaluated its correlation with social demographics, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and nicotine dependence. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among Middle Eastern postgraduate students, determine the factors associated with smartphone addiction, and estimate the incidence rate of major depressive disorder (MDD), ADHD, insomnia, and nicotine addiction among postgraduate students with smartphone addiction. Methods As part of a cross-sectional online survey, participants were given a self-questionnaire divided into six sections: Socio-demographics, Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) for Depression, Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire (FTCd), and the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1). Results Of the 506 patients, 51.0% of the participants demonstrated smartphone addiction. A significant association was also observed between extensive smartphone use and MDD (P = 0.001). Of the smokers in this study, 41.5% were addicted to smartphones (P = 0.039). Smartphone addicts had approximately two times the chance of having insomnia (OR = 2.113) (P = 0.013). In addition, they showcased more ADHD symptoms (OR = 2.712) (P < 0.001). Conclusions We found a positive association among insomnia, depression, adult ADHD, and smartphone addiction, which confirms the findings reported in the previous studies. Therefore, we encourage the scientific community to further study the impacts of smartphone addiction on the mental health of postgraduate students.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical and Mental Health of 5-12 Years Old Children from Parents’ Perspective: A cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-102
Author(s):  
Isha Tajane ◽  
Aamena Golwala ◽  
Devanshi Nangia ◽  
Isha Chavan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychosocial Wellbeing ◽  
Crisis Recovery ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced children to spend increased amounts of time at home resulting in adverse effects on their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. Parents need to be aware about the changes in the mental and physical health of the children. Objectives: To identify the physical and mental health problems the children are facing because of the lockdown and to assess the awareness of such problems amongst the parents. Design: A cross sectional online survey was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental health of the children from parents' perspectives. Setting: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Main Outcome Measure: Parent reported questionnaire. Results and conclusion: There were a significant increase in the number of hours spent on mobile phones, sitting, and sleeping during the lockdown as compared to before the lockdown whereas the number of hours spent on physical activity significantly decreased and also impacted their mental health. By taking part in the survey, the parents of the children became aware of the changes occurring in their child. These findings can guide immediate programmatic and policy efforts to preserve and promote child health during the COVID-19 outbreak and crisis recovery period, and to inform strategies to mitigate potential harm during future pandemics.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Disorders Among Postgraduate Students in an Arabic Sample: A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asem A. Alageel ◽  
Rayyan A. Alyahya ◽  
Raed A Alghamdi ◽  
Ban A. Alzaid ◽  
Aryaf. S Alsubaie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Patient Health

Abstract Background: Depression and anxiety are indicators of mental health and quality of life. Studies found a high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among specific populations, such as medical students, residents and fellows. However, postgraduate students unarguably suffer from many private and career life stressors. Unfortunately, research about the prevalence of depression and anxiety among postgraduate students are greatly lacking.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey; a self-questionnaire divided into five sections. Socio-demographic characteristics, the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item (GAD7), insomnia and suicide. Results: The number of participants was 1,005, The prevalence of depression and GAD that warrant treatments are 27.4% and 23.6%, respectively. Most of the participants who screened positive for depression and GAD were not aware of having these disorders. Females were at a higher risk of depression (OR: 1.5, 95% CL: 1.10 to 2.15) and GAD (OR:1.49, 95% CL 1.07 to 2.07). Insomnia is associated significantly with depression (P<0.001) and GAD (P<0.001). Depression increases the risk for active suicide thoughts (OR= 7.453) (P<0.001). Limitations: Due to the nature of cross-sectional studies, causal relationships cannot be identified.Conclusion: We have identified a higher prevalence of depression and GAD among postgraduate students compared with the general population. However, they appear to be underrepresented in mental health literature, so further research is necessary.

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