Increased Psychological Distress during COVID-19 and Quarantine in Ireland: A National Survey

Background: The emergence of the coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) resulted in a global pandemic. The psychological impact of an epidemic is multifaceted and acute, with long-term consequences. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey-based design was employed, assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 on members of the Irish public during the quarantine period of COVID-19 in Ireland. Participants were invited to complete the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) retrospectively (prior to quarantine) and during the quarantine period, as well as measures of illness perceptions, well-being, and a bespoke measure (the Effects of COVID Questionnaire, ECQ), which assessed perceptions of COVID-related stresses associated with personal concerns, caring for children, caring for aging parents, as well as gratitude. Results: A total of n = 1620 entered the survey platform, with a total of n = 847 surveys completed by members of the Irish public. Entry into COVID-19 quarantine was associated with significant increases in clinically significant symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. The ECQ reliably assessed a range of COVID-19-related stresses and had large and significant correlations with the DASS-21. Conclusions: The COVID-19 quarantine was associated with stresses and significant increases in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a national Irish cohort. The public require increased access to mental health services to meet this increase in COVID-19-related psychological distress.

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Predictors of Mental Health Status among Quarantined COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9101271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1271

Author(s):

Abdulaziz A. Alodhayani ◽

Khalid M. Almutairi ◽

Fahda A. Alshobaili ◽

Adel F. Alotaibi ◽

Ghadah Alkhaldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Pandemic Preparedness ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Arab Region ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Government

Background: The negative psychological impact of COVID-19 in the general population has been well documented. Similar studies among those who were infected and who underwent quarantine remain scarce, particularly in the Arab region. The present study aims to fill this gap. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals who were quarantined in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities were invited to participate in an online survey. All consenting participants answered a generalized questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, as well as a five-part questionnaire that assessed the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress. Results: A total of 335 suspected/confirmed COVID-19 individuals (198 males and 137 females) participated. Being female is associated with increased risk of depression (odds ratio OR 1.8 (confidence interval, CI 1.1–3.1; p = 0.03)) as well as being employed by the government (OR 2.8 (CI 1.1–7.0; p = 0.03)). Level of education (OR 2.3 (CI 1.0–5.4; p = 0.049)) and employment in government (OR 3.0 (CI 1.2–7.8; p = 0.02)) were significantly associated with distress. Increasing age (45 years and above) appeared to be protective against distress (OR 0.2 (CI 0.02–0.69; p = 0.008)), as well anxiety and sleep pattern (OR 0.3 p < 0.05). Conclusion: Findings of the present study highlight that infected COVID-19 populations are at higher risk for acute and detrimental psychological well-being during quarantine and/or self-isolation. Identification of the coping mechanisms of older adults during periods of distress may prove beneficial in the pandemic preparedness of younger generations.

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Young adults’ coping strategies against loneliness during the COVID-19-related quarantine in Greece

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daab053 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Adrianos Golemis ◽

Panteleimon Voitsidis ◽

Eleni Parlapani ◽

Vasiliki A Nikopoulou ◽

Virginia Tsipropoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Daily Routine ◽

Cross Sectional

Summary COVID-19 and the related quarantine disrupted young adults’ academic and professional life, daily routine and socio-emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study focused on the emotional and behavioural responses of a young adult population during the COVID-19-related quarantine in April 2020, in Greece. The study was conducted through an online survey. A total of 1559 young adults, aged 18−30 years, completed Steele’s Social Responsibility Motivation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about compliance with instructions, quarantine-related behaviours and coping strategies. According to the results, participants displayed a relatively high sense of social responsibility (M = 16.09, SD = 2.13) and a trend towards moderate feeling of loneliness (M = 2.65, SD = 1.62); young women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. The majority complied with instructions often (46.4%) or always (44.8%). Significantly more women created a new social media account and used the social media longer than 5 h/day, compared with men. Resorting to religion, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted higher levels of social responsibility; humour, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted lower levels of loneliness. Conclusively, COVID-19 is expected to have a significant psychological impact on young adults. Currently, Greece is going through the second quarantine period. This study raises awareness about loneliness in young adults during the COVID-19-related quarantine and highlights the importance of developing online programmes, attractive to younger people, to nurture adaptive coping strategies against loneliness.

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Psychological Distress Among the U.S. General Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.642918 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Christi J. Guerrini ◽

Sophie C. Schneider ◽

Andrew G. Guzick ◽

Gifty N. Amos Nwankwo ◽

Isabel Canfield ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Healthy Behaviors ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Amazon's Mechanical Turk

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant global toll on emotional well-being, but evidence of mental health impacts in the United States remains limited. In April 2020, we conducted an exploratory survey of U.S. residents to understand prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress during the pandemic. Data collection was conducted using Qualtrics, an online survey platform, and U.S. adult respondents were recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform. Among 1,366 respondents, 42% (n = 571) reported clinically significant anxiety and 38% (n = 519) reported clinically significant depression. Factors associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms included Hispanic/Latino ethnicity; younger age; lower income; employment as or living with a health care worker-first responder; caregiver status; SARS-CoV-2 infection status; decreased frequency of engagement in healthy behaviors; and changed frequency of engagement in unhealthy behaviors. That some of these factors are associated with elevated distress during the pandemic is not yet widely appreciated and might be useful in informing management of mental health care resources.

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Short and Long Haul Pilots Rosters, Stress, Sleep Problems, Fatigue, Mental Health, and Well-Being

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.5812.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 92 (10) ◽

pp. 786-797

Author(s):

Marion Venus ◽

Martin grosse Holtforth

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Time Pressure ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Fatigue Severity ◽

Health And Well Being

OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to compare short haul (SH) and long haul (LH) pilots regarding sleep restrictions and fatigue risks on flight duty, stress, sleep problems, fatigue severity, well-being, and mental health. METHOD: There were 406 international SH and LH pilots who completed the cross-sectional online survey. Pilots sleep restrictions and fatigue-risk profiles (e.g., time pressure, late arrivals, minimum rest), sleep problems, fatigue severity, well-being, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and common mental disorders (CMD) were measured and compared for SH and LH pilots. RESULTS: Although SH and LH pilots were scheduled for only 51.465.4% of the legally allowed duty and flight hours, 44.8% of SH pilots reported severe fatigue (FSS 4 to 4.9), and an additional 31.7% high fatigue (FSS 5), compared with 34.7% and 37.3% LH pilots. Considerable sleep problems in 8 nights/mo were reported by 24.6% SH vs. 23.5% LH pilots. Positive depression screenings were reported by 18.1% SH and 19.3% LH pilots. Positive anxiety screenings were reported by 9.6% SH and 5% LH pilots. Of all investigated pilots, 20% reported significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, and 7.23% had positive depression and anxiety screenings. LH pilots reported significantly better well-being than SH pilots. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that even far less duty and flight hours than legally allowed according to flight time limitations lead to high levels of fatigue, sleep problems, and significant mental health issues among pilots. SH pilots were even more affected than LH pilots. Pilots fatigue should be considered an immediate threat to aviation safety and pilots fitness to fly by promoting fatigue and burnout. Venus M, grosse Holtforth M. Short and long haul pilots rosters, stress, sleep problems, fatigue, mental health, and well-being. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(10):786797.

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More Than a Deadly Virus: COVID-19 and Its Psychological Impact on American and Canadian Dental Practitioners

European Journal of Dental and Oral Health ◽

10.24018/ejdent.2021.2.6.121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 32-38

Author(s):

Jasbir D. Upadhyaya ◽

Vimi Sunil Mutalik ◽

Mê-Linh Lê ◽

Dieter J. Schönwetter

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Work Experience ◽

Media Coverage ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cognitive Responses ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dental Practitioners

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected dental professionals, thus contributing to adverse psychological outcomes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the psychosocial state of American and Canadian dental practitioners, with special emphasis on their affective well-being (both during lockdown and after re-opening), behavioral impact and cognitive responses. Methodology: Dental practitioners in Canada and USA were invited to participate in an online survey after the initial lockdown period. The questions evaluated the pandemic’s effect on affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses. Results: A total of 587 practitioners completed the online survey. The strongest emotions experienced during the lockdown were sadness followed by fear. Female practitioners, those in the 35-44 age group, and those with less work experience reported higher scores on fear. Following lockdown, participants reported higher anticipation. Males expressed higher feelings of disgust and anger during both phases. Canadians were trustful of the situation in both phases of the pandemic, whereas the emotions of Americans were more towards disgust. About 56.7% practitioners provided teledentistry during lockdown, mainly through video calling, with Canadians being significantly more involved than the American participants. The highest scores for participants’ experiences during lockdown were for a lack of social interaction, followed by concern for contracting infection, and stress from distressing media coverage. Most practitioners were very receptive of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: The emotions and behaviors of dental practitioners varied significantly during and after the initial lockdown, highlighting their psychosocial state during the pandemic. The scarcity of literature focusing on these basic emotions during similar outbreaks calls attention for pursuing more research in these areas as they significantly contribute to the overall psychological health of professionals, especially in times of crises. Given the emotions reported by dental practitioners, it would be of value to develop standardized protocols and provide remote psychological support during such periods of uncertainty.

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Sensitivity and Concurrent validity of the Japanese Version of the Euthymia Scale: A Clinimetric Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-146117/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natsu Sasaki ◽

Danilo Carrozzino ◽

Daisuke Nishi

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Japanese Version ◽

Well Being ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Major Depressive Episodes ◽

Depressive Episodes

Abstract Background: The present study was conducted to examine the clinimetric sensitivity of the Japanese version of the Euthymia Scale (ES-J). The concurrent validity of the ES-J was also tested.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to determine the presence of past or current major depressive episodes (MDE). Pearson’s correlation coefficients were performed to examine the concurrent validity of the ES-J. At the same time, its clinimetric sensitivity was evaluated using both the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multivariate regression models. Results: A total of 1030 eligible participants completed the survey. The ES-J differentiated healthy subjects from those with a past or current history of MDE, subjects with current MDE from those with sub-threshold symptoms of depression, and healthy participants from subjects with moderate to severe symptoms of psychological distress. The associations between the ES-J and measures of psychological well-being, resilience, life satisfaction, and social support were significantly positive. A negative relationship between the ES-J and measures of psychological distress was also found. Limitations: The main limitations included utilizing the cross-sectional design, excluding Item Response Theory analyses, using the population-based sample, and using only self-reported online questionnaires.Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicated that the ES-J is a valid and highly sensitive clinimetric index, which can be used as a screening measure in the clinical process of assessment of recovery, particularly when symptoms are expected to be mild and/or when dealing with subclinical symptoms of psychological distress and depression.

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A survey to evaluate mental well being and coping strategies of adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangalore, India

Journal of Student Research ◽

10.47611/jsrhs.v10i2.1835 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Arna Bhattacharya ◽

DR Jigyansa Ipsita Pattnaik ◽

DR Suhas Chandran

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Development Stage ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Brief Cope ◽

And Coping ◽

Mental Well Being

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the lifestyle of adolescents. Adolescence is a development stage of high vulnerability that can impact well-being later in life. Mental health plays an important role in one’s quality of life. Understanding coping mechanisms helps make a person safe and resilient from psychological distress. The present study aims to evaluate the mental well-being and coping strategies used by adolescents in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a school in Bangalore, India via an online survey, circulated via the class teacher. Participants included 222 adolescents with ages ranging from 13 to 19. The DASS-21 and Brief COPE scales were used to assess mental well-being and coping mechanisms respectively. The questionnaire concluded with validated general lifestyle related questions. This included inquiring relationships between students and their families, friends, academic performance, social media consumption etc. The data was collected over a period of one month. Results: In the DASS-21 scoring, 31.9% (n=69), 24.8% (n=55) and 5.4% (n=12) received scores indicating extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Females were statistically found to be more depressed and anxious than males. Behavioural disengagement and self blame were commonly used coping mechanisms by those who were found to be psychologically distressed. Conclusions: Psychological distress has been observed in adolescents in varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be addressed in order to prevent further distress. Keywords: adolescents, covid-19, mental well being, DASS-21, Brief COPE, depression, anxiety, stress

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Associations of Fear of COVID-19 and Depression with Internet Addiction in Korean Adults: A Cross-sectional Online Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35801 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sun Hwa Shin ◽

Jung Jae Lee

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Internet Addiction ◽

Internet Use ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Population Based ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ehealth Literacy ◽

Korean Adults

BACKGROUND Internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased exponentially, resulting in increasing prevalence of Internet addiction. The negative effects of Internet addiction on health including psychological distress have become more prevalent during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to investigate the associations between Internet addiction and psychological distress, including the fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and depression, in Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 14th to 18th May 2021. Potential adult survey respondents aged 20 years or older were randomly extracted from one of the largest online survey panels in Korea, matching Korean national demographical proportions (i.e., region, gender, and age). 1,155 participants were recruited. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the participants’ characteristics and analyze the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) respectively. RESULTS 11.17%, 15.15% and 37.23% of the Korean adults were at risk of Internet addiction, COVID-19 fear, and depression respectively. Internet addiction was positively associated with COVID-19 fear (aOR=3.25, 95% CI [2.10, 5.04]) and depressive symptoms (aOR=6.40, 95% CI [4.15, 9.86]). Moreover, the participant group with high COVID-19 fear and depression had a 10.22 times higher odds ratio for Internet addiction (aOR=10.22, 95% CI [5.88, 17.77]), compared with the group with low COVID-19 fear and depression. CONCLUSIONS Addictive use of the Internet was significantly associated with psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. Development of public health strategies that mitigate addictive Internet use and increase eHealth literacy will be useful to secure the public’s psychological well-being.

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University students and study habits

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/ipm.2021.28 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

C. Clarke ◽

M. Mullin ◽

D. McGrath ◽

N. Farrelly

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Potential Role ◽

Trinity College ◽

Well Being ◽

Study Habits ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Postgraduate Students ◽

Trinity College Dublin ◽

Global Pandemic

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to understand the variables or study habits that inform study in undergraduate and postgraduate students attending Trinity College Dublin. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional anonymous online survey was used to gather data to explore student study habits. Survey 1 was completed by participants in April 2019 and survey 2 was completed by participants in April 2020, during the COVID-19 restrictions. Results: A total of 1557 participants completed survey 1 in 2019, and 1793 participants completed survey 2 in 2020. In both surveys a majority reported using caffeine, library study, sleep pattern adjustment and excercise to aid academic performance. Survey 2 participants reported COVID-19 resulted in increased difficulty studying (91%). In particular loss of structure and routine was negatively impacted by the pandemic (92%), and increased feelings of stress were reported (75%). Conclusions: Our study suggests a potential role of the college environment as a target for the implementation of interventions to promote student learning, healthy study habits and well-being. The global pandemic has resulted in additional challenging demands for universities to serve an essential role in supporting college students study habits.

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Assessment of Psychological Distress among General Population during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Lockdown – An Indian Study

Journal of Medical Sciences and Health ◽

10.46347/jmsh.2021.v07i01.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lakshmi V Pandit ◽

Neil M Salian ◽

Aishwarya M Salian

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Institutional Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Distress Scale

Objective: In December 2019, the world experienced spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Measures to contain spread included movement restrictions (Lockdown), quarantine for contacts, and institutional care for those infected. Fear of contracting the infection, mortality rates, experience of a lockdown, and economic concerns exposed people to great stress. On this background, the present study was conducted to assess psychological distress in these times. Methods: Consenting individuals comfortable to respond to an online survey were included as subjects. The study is cross-sectional in design; descriptive analysis and Chi-square tests were done. Socio demographic details were collected. Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale was administered to assess psychological well-being. Results Psychological distress was seen in 68% of the sample, ranging from mild-to-severe, across all age group, except in those below 18 years. Those aged 30–59 years experienced psychological distress before lockdown as well. Females experienced more distress than males, as well as those of the group with lower income. Conclusions: Responsibility of maintaining psychological well-being rests with each of us. Healthcare workers and mental health professionals need to identify and address psychological issues in the population during this period. Governmental organizations must take on the responsibility to educate the public through newspapers, television, and social media about the importance of maintaining positive psychological health and contribute to the same by honest journalism.

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