The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effect on the Mental Health of Doctors in India

Background and Objectives: For doctors at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to acknowledge and act on the warning signs of stress can adversely affect their professional, social and personal life. We conducted a nationwide survey of a large sample of Indian doctors to measure levels of perceived stress, identify risk factors for severe stress and assess their response to current issues related to the safety and well-being of the community. Methods: An online survey using Google forms was conducted between 1st May 2020 and 15th May 2020. The core component of the survey was the standardized Perceived Stress Scale answered on a Likert scale. Results: Out of 520 responders, 394 (76%) were under 45 years of age 101 (19%) were between 18-30 years and 37 (7%) were above 60 years. 312(60%) were male doctors and 203 (40%) were female doctors. 90% of respondents had a post-graduate degree, 48(9%) had undergraduate degree and 168(32%) had super specialty degree. 313 (60.2%) of the respondents were practising in the private sector, 169 (33%) worked in public sector hospitals and 32(7%) in charitable hospitals. 109 (21%) had low stress, while 371 (71%) and 40 (8%) reported moderate and severe stress respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed the female gender, being financially insecure and ICU a place of work as independent risk factors for severe stress. Conclusion: This is the first such survey done in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic from the Indian sub-continent and has identified factors that have the potential to adversely impact the mental health of doctors. These findings are applicable to many countries in Asia and Africa with similar healthcare systems and can act as a valuable guide for authorities to establish support systems at multiple levels for these “COVID Warriors”.

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Are Our COVID Warriors Cared-for Enough? A Nationwide Survey on Stress Among Doctors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.1101/2020.07.03.20145748 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amritha Nair ◽

Jagadeesh Menon ◽

Ashwin Rammohan ◽

Abdul R Hakeem ◽

Sathya D Cherukuri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Ethical Dilemmas ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

Well Being ◽

Severe Stress ◽

Multiple Levels ◽

Major Impediment

AbstractLimited and uneven accessibility to healthcare is a major impediment in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which continues on inexorably, across various parts of the globe. We conducted a nationwide survey of a large sample of Indian doctors to measure levels of perceived stress, identify risk factors for severe stress and assess their response to current issues related to safety and well-being of the HCP community. The survey found severely stressed doctors to be younger (<45years), of female gender working in the ICU setting and insecure regarding their finances. Concern regarding PPE shortages and ethical dilemmas of rationing care are factors inducing severe stress amongst doctors working in ICU settings. This is the first such survey done in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic from the Indian sub-continent. The findings have important implications on the International healthcare community, especially across Africa, Asia & South America where the contagion continues to wreak havoc. The survey has identified factors which adversely impact the mental health of doctors during this Pandemic. This can act as a valuable guide for governmental authorities, professional organisations and hospital managements to establish support systems at multiple levels for these “COVID Warriors”.

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COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa153 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Brenda R Whitehead

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

And Coping

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

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COVID-19 Pandemic and Personality: Agreeable People Are More Stressed by the Feeling of Missing

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010759 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10759

Author(s):

Stephan Getzmann ◽

Jan Digutsch ◽

Thomas Kleinsorge

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Big Five ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Big Five Personality Traits ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Related Individual

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain it have substantial consequences for many people, resulting in negative effects on individual well-being and mental health. In the current study, we examined whether individual changes in perceived stress relative to pre-pandemic levels depended on differences in behavior, appraisal, and experience of pandemic-related constraints. In addition, we tested whether this potential relationship was moderated by personality traits. We conducted an online survey during the end of the first lockdown in Germany in spring 2020, and assessed pandemic-related individual consequences as well as perceived stress. These data were related to the big five personality traits and to ratings of perceived stress obtained from the same participants in a study conducted before the outbreak of the pandemic, using the same standardized stress questionnaires. There was no overall increase, but a large interindividual variety in perceived stress relative to pre-pandemic levels. Increased stress was associated especially with strong feelings of missing. This relationship was moderated by agreeableness, with more agreeable people showing a higher association of the feeling of missing and the increase of perceived stress. In addition, openness and conscientiousness were positively correlated with an increase in stress. The results highlight the importance of considering personality and individual appraisals when examining the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived stress and well-being.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US College Students’ Physical Activity and Mental Health

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 272-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oliver W.A. Wilson ◽

Kelsey E. Holland ◽

Lucas D. Elliott ◽

Michele Duffey ◽

Melissa Bopp

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

College Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Significant Decline ◽

Spring Semester ◽

The Impact

Background: Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both physical activity (PA) and mental health is important to demonstrate the need for interventions. This study examined the apparent impact of the pandemic on college students’ PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Methods: From 2015 through 2020, data were collected at the beginning and end of the spring semester at a large Northeastern US university via an online survey assessing student demographics, PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Mixed ANOVA examined differences in PA and mental health changes over the spring semester between “normal” and COVID-19 circumstances. Two-way ANOVA examined the interaction between circumstance and changes in PA in relation to changes in mental health. Results: Participants (n = 1019) were predominately women and non-Hispanic white. There was a significant decline in PA and an increase in perceived stress under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances and a significant increase in depressive symptoms under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances among women. Conclusions: A significant decline in PA and mental health among college students occurred under COVID-19 circumstances, and PA did not appear to protect against deterioration in mental health. Proactive and innovative policies, programs, and practices to promote student health and well-being must be explored immediately.

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Concerns, Perceived Impact, Preparedness in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic and Health Outcomes among Italian Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211000245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110002

Author(s):

Igor Portoghese ◽

Federico Meloni ◽

Maura Galletta ◽

Ilenia Piras ◽

Ernesto D’Aloja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Job Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

Job Role ◽

The Impact

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are among the professionals at serious risk for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health. In this sense, the next public health challenge globally will be to preserving healthy HCWs during this pandemic. Aim: The present study has the aim of investigating the relationship among concerns, perceived impact, preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and the mental health of Italian physicians. Methods: From March 29th to April 15th 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques through Limesurvey platform. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regressions. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for perceived job stress were concerns about catching COVID-19 (OR = 3.18 [95% CI = 2.00-5.05] P < .001), perceived impact on job demands (OR = 1.63 [95% CI = 1.05-2.52] P < .05), perceived impact on job role (OR = 2.50 [95% CI = 1.60-3.90] P < .001), and non-working concerns (OR = 1.86 [95% CI = 1.15-3.03] P < .05). With respect to the risk factors for rumination about the pandemic emerged concerns about catching COVID-19 (OR 1.74, [95% CI = 1.12-2.71] P < .05), perceived impact on job role (OR = 1.68 [95% CI = 1.12-2.52] P < .05), and impact on personal life (OR = 2.04 [95% CI = 1.08-3.86] P < .05). Finally, the risk factors for crying at work were perceived impact on job role (OR = 2.47, [95% CI = 1.20-5.09] P < .05), rumination about the pandemic (OR = 3.027 [95% CI = 1.27-7.19] P < .01), watching colleagues crying at work (OR = 3.82 [95% CI = 1.88-7.77] P < .01), and perceived job stress (OR = 3.53 [95% CI = 1.24-10.07] P < .05). Conclusion: In general, our results highlighted that being concerned about being infected/infecting other people, carrying out new and unusual tasks, and witnessing colleagues crying at work were important risk factors for physicians’ well-being. Additional data are necessary to advance understanding of these risk factors in a long-term perspective.

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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

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10050944 ◽

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.

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An overview of current mental health in the general population of Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the COLLATE project

10.1101/2020.07.16.20155887 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Susan Rossell ◽

Erica Neill ◽

Andrea Phillipou ◽

Eric Tan ◽

Wei Lin Toh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Emotion ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Well Being ◽

Australian Community ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses significant mental health challenges globally; however, to date, there is limited community level data. This study reports on the first wave of data from the COLLATE project (COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy), an ongoing study aimed at understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of Australians. This paper addresses prevailing primary concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, current levels of negative emotions and risk factors predicting these negative emotions. On April 1st to 4th 2020, 5158 adult members of the Australian general public completed an online survey. Participants ranked their top ten current primary concerns about COVID-19, and completed standardized measures to ascertain levels of negative emotions (specifically, depression, anxiety and stress). Socio-demographic information was also collected and used in the assessment of risk factors. The top three primary concerns were all related to the health and well-being of family and loved ones. As expected, levels of negative emotion were exceptionally high. Modelling of predictors of negative emotions established several risk factors related to demographic variables, personal vulnerabilities, financial stresses, and social distancing experiences; particularly being young, being female, or having a mental illness diagnosis. The data provides important characterization of the current mental health of Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critically, it appears that specific groups in the Australian community may need special attention to ensure their mental health is protected during these difficult times. The data further suggests the need for immediate action to combat high levels of psychological distress, along with the exacerbation of mental health conditions, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. These results may provide some direction for international researchers hoping to characterize similar issues in other countries.

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Changes in emotions and worries during the Covid-19 pandemic: an online-survey with children and adults with and without mental health conditions

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health ◽

10.1186/s13034-021-00363-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Josefine Rothe ◽

Judith Buse ◽

Anne Uhlmann ◽

Annet Bluschke ◽

Veit Roessner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Responses ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Potential Health ◽

Children And Adolescent ◽

Mental Health Conditions

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has spread quickly worldwide with dramatic consequences on our daily lives. Adverse psychosocial consequences of Covid-19 might be particularly severe for children and adolescents, parents of young children and people with mental health conditions (mhc), who are more prone to the experience of psychosocial stress and who are more dependent on the access to professional psychosocial support. The present survey therefore aimed to explore perceived stress and the emotional responses of children and adolescents as well as adults with and without mhc during the social restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods The survey gathered information about 284 children and adolescent (parent-on-child-reports) and 456 adults (including 284 parents, self-reports). The participants were allocated to four groups: children and adolescents with mhc, children and adolescent without mhc, adults with mhc and adults without mhc. The survey included general questions about socio-demographic characteristics and mental health status, the CoRonavIruSHealth Impact Survey and the Perceived Stress Scale (only data on adults). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for comparing the emotional responses during the Covid-19 pandemic with emotions before the Covid-19 pandemic. Independent sample t-test were used to compare the level of perceived stress between the adult groups, linear regression analyses were conducted to examine which variables predicted perceived stress during the Covid-19 restrictions. Results An increase to the worse during the Covid-19 restrictions was observed for most emotions and worries in all four groups (children and adolescents with mhc, children and adolescents without mhc, adults with mhc, adults without mhc). Contrary to our expectations, a greater number of emotions worsened significantly for children and adolescents as well as adults without mhc as compared to those with mhc. We found higher perceived stress in parents as compared to adults without children in the same household and in adults with mhc as compared to those without mhc. Discussion Covid-19-related social restrictions and potential health risks seem to affect emotions and perceived stress in children, adolescents and adults. Especially, Covid-19 seems to be have worsened the mental well-being of children and adolescent and their families, who were mentally healthy before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Mental Health, Partnerships, and Sexual Behavior of German Students After the Third Wave During the Corona Pandemic

10.21203/rs.3.rs-842233/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Max Supke ◽

Prof. Dr. Kurt Hahlweg ◽

Krenare Kelani ◽

Prof. Dr. Beate Muschalla ◽

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychiatric Treatment ◽

Female Gender ◽

Financial Resources ◽

Third Wave ◽

The Third ◽

Health Partnerships ◽

Symptom Load

Abstract Background. The corona pandemic has drastically changed students' lives and increased their perceived stress. At the end of winter and in spring 2021, Germany experienced the third wave of the pandemic. This study aims to examine the state of students’ mental health after the third wave as well as partnerships and sex life during the pandemic. Methods. In June and July 2021, 928 students (mean age: 23.6; 63.5% females) from four universities in Germany completed an online survey. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were used to assess mood problems and worrying. Results. Our results show that 56.4% were above the cut-off value for clinically relevant mood problems, 35.7% for worrying and 33.4% were above both cut-off values simultaneously (≥10). The female gender, higher study stress, low financial resources, higher strain due to corona and more loneliness were associated with severe symptoms, whereas higher life satisfaction, more sleep, and psychological/psychiatric treatment were related to better mental health. Students who started studying in the pandemic showed slightly more mood problems than longer enrolled students. The vast majority (89.3%) of all students were happy with their current relationship. While half of the students noted no change in their relationship, a quarter each reported improvement or deterioration. Every third single student has had less sex and in every fifth partnership it came to more sex during the pandemic. Conclusion: Students´ mental health seems to be worse compared to pre-pandemic data and also compared to the first wave data, especially concerning mood problems (depressive symptoms). Women are significantly more burdened than men. It should be further investigated whether rates of symptom load will be lower again when universities reopen and study life becomes normal.

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Risk factors and protective factors of mental health during COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in adult Indian population- A cross-sectional study

10.1101/2020.06.13.20130153 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jayakumar Saikarthik ◽

Ilango Saraswathi ◽

Thirusangu Siva

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Status ◽

Online Survey ◽

Indian Population ◽

Health Workers ◽

Female Gender ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Mild Depression ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractBackgroundThe novel Corona virus has derailed the entire world and various steps have been taken by the health authorities to tackle this pandemic. Nationwide lockdown has been imposed to control the spread of COVID-19 outbreak in India, which could have psychological impact on the population.AimOur study aims to study the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak & subsequent lockdown on mental health status of adult Indian population along with identifying the high-risk groups.MethodologyAn online survey was conducted during 3rd phase of lockdown gathering details about sociodemographic variables, practice of precautionary measures, awareness and concerns regarding COVID-19 and mental health status of the participants through DASS21 questionnaire from 873 adults.ResultsThe prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were 18.56%, 25.66%, and 21.99% respectively including higher number of participants with mild depression (15.1%) and stress (14.5%) and moderate anxiety (16.3%). Female gender, age <25 years, unemployment, self-business, employed in private sector, lack of formal education, larger household size, parenthood (>2 kids) were associated with increased likelihood of negative mental health. Confidence in physician’s ability to diagnose COVID-19 infection, decreased self-perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19, lesser frequency of checking for information on COVID-19 and satisfaction of information received were protective against negative mental health.ConclusionThis landmark study identified the protective and risk factors of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic, to help authorities and mental health workers to strategize and deliver interventional methods to maintain psychosocial wellbeing of the population.

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