Adverse Psychological Outcomes Research Articles

A Multimethod Exploration of Moral Distress and Moral Injury Among Health Care Assistants Working in Psychiatric Settings

Moral distress and moral injury among health workers yield adverse physical, psychological, and labor force outcomes. Research is limited on how psychiatric healthcare assistants experience these issues. In this multi-method study, we conducted a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews to examine moral distress and injury among psychiatric healthcare assistants. Almost half screened positive for moral injury. Three qualitative themes emerged: 1) hierarchies prevent contributions to care; 2) trust as a factor in de-escalating patient violence; and 3) navigating psychosocial challenges. Further research is recommended to investigate how to best support and inform practice and policy changes for psychiatric healthcare assistants.

Parental Expectations and Fear of Negative Evaluation Among Indian Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Maladaptive Perfectionism

Background: Contrary to traditional notions of emerging adulthood as a period free from parental pressures, the prolonged transition to adulthood in contemporary society implies that parental influence remains a significant factor in the lives of emerging adults. This presents a potential challenge to emerging adults, as navigating independence while managing parental expectations can result in adverse psychological outcomes. The present study examined the relationship between perceived parental expectations and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and the mediating role of maladaptive perfectionism. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 466 emerging adults from India between 18 and 25 years old. They responded to the Perception of Parental Expectations Inventory, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism-Brief Scale, and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation–Straightforward Items Scale. Results: Correlation analyses revealed significant, positive associations between perceived parental expectations, maladaptive perfectionism, and FNE. Findings from regression analyses indicated that increased perceptions of parental expectations and maladaptive perfectionism predicted increased levels of FNE. The relationship between perceived parental expectations and FNE was fully mediated by maladaptive perfectionism. Conclusion: A key reason for heightened perceptions of parental expectations associated with increased FNE is that emerging adults tend to adopt unrealistic perfectionistic standards. Maladaptive perfectionism represents a vital intervention target for individuals who perceive elevated parental expectations and are at risk for FNE, offering promising avenues for promoting well-being in emerging adults.

Interpersonal Racism and Child Neglect: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Distress and Social Support

The Palestinian minority in Israel has endured sociopolitical stressors (e.g., ethnonational racism, discrimination, oppression, and political violence) throughout the decades, which have adverse psychological and behavioral outcomes. In this study, we examine the association between interpersonal racism (IPR) among Palestinian parents in Israel and their child neglect, the mediating role of psychological distress on this relationship, and the moderating role of perceived social support (PSS) on the mediated effect of psychological distress on this relationship. A systematic sample of 770 parents (500 mothers and 270 fathers) aged 21–66 was recruited to fill out a self-administered questionnaire composed of several instruments. The results indicate that parents’ IPR experiences are associated with an increased risk of child neglect, and this relationship is mediated by psychological distress. Results also show that in low or medium levels of PSS, psychological distress reports in relation to racism exposure are the highest. Yet, surprisingly, this effect strengthens at high levels of PSS. In comparison, the positive effect of psychological distress on child neglect strengthens in lower levels of PSS, showing a protective role of PSS. Finally, PSS moderates the mediation model’s indirect effect; IPR is related to increased psychological distress, and in turn, to a greater risk of child neglect when perceiving low or medium levels of social support. The study underlines the negative consequences of IPR on child neglect and contributes new knowledge to the literature. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm and extend these findings, which could have important clinical implications for treating parents facing racism and potential child neglect.

A Contemporary Analysis of Mental Well-being Among Living Donor Kidney Applicants.

Living donation is paramount for expanding the donor pool. The aim of this study was to assess changes over time in self-reported mental health of living donor kidney applicants in efforts to inform patient-centered discussions with potential donors. Kidney donor applications from 2017 through 2021 were compiled. Data included age, gender, race, ethnicity, applicant-recipient relationship, medical history, and medications. Trends over time were analyzed and post hoc analyses were performed. During the study period, 2479 applicants to the living donor kidney program were evaluated; 73% of applicants were female individuals. More than half of applicants were not related to their intended recipient; this fraction increased from 46% in 2017 to 58% in 2021 (P < 0.01). A similar decline in family relations was not present among Black and Latino applicants. Of all applicants, 18% reported depression and 18% reported anxiety; 20% reported taking antidepressants or anxiolytics. Depression and anxiety increased 170% (P < 0.001) and 136% (P < 0.001) from 2018 to 2019, respectively; antidepressant and anxiolytic use rose 138% (P < 0.001) between 2018 and 2020. The profile of living donor applicants has changed in recent years, with approximately 1 in 5 requiring antidepressants or anxiolytics. Predonation counseling and postdonation monitoring are imperative to decrease adverse psychological outcomes for living donors.

The Psychological Effects of Environmental Degradation on Human Well-Being

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. Through a comprehensive review of empirical studies, it revealed the pervasive nature of environmental degradation's impact on human mental health, consistently finding associations between exposure to various environmental stressors and adverse psychological outcomes. The study emphasized the interconnectedness between environmental health and human well-being, highlighting the need for holistic approaches to sustainability that integrate mental health considerations. It underscored the importance of community engagement and participatory approaches in addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation, advocating for community-based interventions to promote resilience and sustainable development. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Ecopsychology theory, Conservation Psychology theory and Stress and Coping theory may be used to anchor future studies on the psychological effects of environmental degradation on human well- being. The study offered valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It emphasized the need for an integrated theoretical framework that accounted for the multidimensional nature of environmental degradation and its psychological impacts. The recommendations highlighted the importance of integrating mental health considerations into environmental conservation efforts, promoting nature-based interventions, and prioritizing evidence-based policy reforms. Community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and longitudinal research were identified as key strategies for addressing the psychological effects of environmental degradation and fostering resilience. Overall, the study provided a comprehensive roadmap for advancing understanding and addressing the complex interplay between environmental change and mental health outcomes.

Examining the Impacts of Corporal Punishment in Secondary Schools: Unraveling Psychological Repercussions on Students

Background: Corporal punishment in educational settings is a controversial issue that has been shown to impact student mental health adversely. Despite global movements against its use, physical disciplinary methods are still prevalent in many parts of the world, including the Kohat District of KPK, Pakistan. Understanding the psychological repercussions of these practices is crucial for fostering healthier learning environments. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychological effects of corporal punishment on male students in government secondary schools in the Kohat District of KPK, Pakistan, focusing on its impact on fear, self-confidence, anxiety, aggression, and suicidal thoughts. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed using a purposive non-probability sample of 120 male students from grades 9 and 10 who had experienced corporal punishment three to five times within an academic year. Data collection was conducted through structured face-to-face interviews utilizing closed-ended questions. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 was used for data analysis, with the Chi-square test applied to examine associations between exposure to corporal punishment and various psychological impacts. Results: The study revealed significant findings, with 68.3% of participants reporting increased fear, 70% decreased self-confidence, 45% heightened anxiety, 59.2% increased aggression, and 67.5% experiencing suicidal thoughts due to corporal punishment. The statistical significance of these associations was confirmed with p-values less than 0.05. Conclusion: The data indicate that corporal punishment is associated with several adverse psychological outcomes in students. These findings highlight the need for policy changes and the adoption of alternative disciplinary methods that promote mental health and well-being in educational settings.

"Association between perinatal mood disorders of parents and child health outcomes".

Perinatal mood disorders affect both parents, impacting their children negatively. Little is known on the association between parental perinatal mood disorders and pediatric outcomes in Japan considering relevant covariates. Our objective was to investigate the association between paternal and maternal perinatal mood disorders and adverse physical and psychological child outcomes by the age of 36 months, adjusting for covariates such as the child's sex, age of parent at child's birth, perinatal mood disorders of the other parent, and perinatal antidepressant use. We identified parents in the JMDC Claims Database in Japan from 2012 to 2020. Perinatal mood disorders were defined using International Classification of Diseases, 10th codes for mood disorders during the perinatal period combined with psychiatric treatment codes. We evaluated the association between parental perinatal mood disorders and pediatric adverse outcomes by the age of 36 months using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for the covariates. Of the 116,423 father-mother-child triads, 2.8% of fathers and 2.3% of mothers had perinatal mood disorders. Paternal perinatal mood disorders were not significantly associated with adverse child outcomes. After adjusting for paternal perinatal mood disorders and antidepressant use, maternal perinatal mood disorders were associated with delayed motor development, language development disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and behavioral and emotional disorders (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.65 [1.01-2.69], 2.26 [1.36-3.75], 4.16 [2.64-6.55], and 6.12 [1.35-27.81], respectively). Paternal perinatal mood disorders were not associated with adverse child outcomes in this population. Maternal perinatal mood disorders were associated with multiple child outcomes.

The role of specific emotion dysregulation facets in the association between child violence exposure and psychopathology.

African Americans living in low-income urban environments are disproportionately exposed to violence compared to other racial groups. Child exposure to community violence is linked to adverse psychological outcomes, including externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Emotion dysregulation may be one psychological process through which externalizing and internalizing behaviors develop in the context of childhood violence exposure. However, limited research exists on how different aspects of emotion dysregulation are affected by community violence exposure in children. The present study examined whether violence exposure was indirectly associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors via facets of emotion dysregulation in a sample of 94 African American mother-child dyads. Mothers and children completed measures to assess child community violence exposure, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and emotion dysregulation (anger, sadness, and worry dysregulation). Results indicated that maternal report of child community violence exposure was indirectly associated with externalizing behaviors via anger dysregulation and internalizing behaviors via worry dysregulation. Child report of community violence exposure was also indirectly associated with externalizing behavior via anger dysregulation; however, there were no significant associations with internalizing behavior. These findings suggest that certain components of emotion dysregulation serve as an indirect pathway of influence for community violence exposure on child behavior, and the pathways differ between externalizing and internalizing behavior outcomes. Emotion dysregulation may serve as an important potential treatment target in reducing long-term risks associated with violence exposure in urban communities of color. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 6–9-Year-Old Children of Visnagar: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objective The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing is extremely high, yet it is largely ignored. Significant adverse medical and psychological outcomes are associated with sleep-related respiratory disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Treatment and an early diagnosis will aid in averting additional severe consequences. Our study aimed to assess prevalence of OSA among 6–9-year-old children in Visnagar.Methods The approval of the school authorities and ethics committee was received. A sample size of 455 was determined. Clinical inspection was used to determine the prevalence of OSA in children aged 6 to 9 years using the “FAIREST-6” and BEARS criteria. The cases were classified as mild, moderate, or severe. By employing the chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, inferential statistics were calculated.Results Prevalence of 8.13% (n = 37) among sample of 453 participants was observed. Gender predilection was found to be in 43.2% (n = 16) among females and 56.8% (n = 21) among males. Those diagnosed with OSA were categorized as mild 17 (45.94%), moderate 12 (32.43%), and severe 8 (21.62%).Conclusions OSA prevalence was determined 8.13% in the Visnagar population of children and adolescents aged 6 to 9 years using the FAIREST and BEARS questionnaire.

Beyond Parental Acceptance and Rejection: A Commentary on the Findings From Empirical Studies on Forgiveness and Vengeance in the Muslim World

Drawing on the framework of interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory), this special issue edited by Ronald P. Rohner, Sumbleen Ali, and Jennifer E. Lansford explores forgiveness and vengeance within the context of the Muslim world. Examination of the precursors of forgiveness and vengeance holds significance because vengeance typically correlates with adverse physical and psychological health outcomes. We suggest ways to advance research outlined in the special issue, such as assessing cross-cultural invariance and using diverse research designs. Moreover, increasing the diversity of socioeconomic status in studies conducted in the Muslim world and exploring hypotheses in high-income countries are necessary for contextually nuanced research. Overall, this special issue offers valuable insights into the dynamics of forgiveness and vengeance and highlights the role of culture and gender on psychological well-being across diverse contexts.

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Personnel in United Arab Emirates

Given the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse psychological outcomes are expected to occur among healthcare personnel (HCPs). However, little is known about these outcomes within Ras al Khaimah, UAE. This study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare personnel from different hospitals and clinics in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE. An online questionnaire was distributed to healthcare personnel within Ras al Khaimah, UAE, through an institutional email that enabled them to enroll in the study after giving informed consent. Likert scale was used to calculate the relation between demographic factors and 13 variables of psychological distress. An unpaired t-test was applied. This study shows that 31.7% of HCPs in RAK report moderate to high levels of anxiety due to concerns of potential workplace exposure, 41.6% are afraid of infecting their families and 13.1% find themselves feeling isolated from their families. Those who were younger than 45 years old, unmarried people and having more than two children were more likely to experience psychological distress than their counterparts. While the adverse psychological impact within this population is not as severe as what was noted in different populations in other countries, they must be addressed. It is important to ensure that HCPs have the appropriate physical and mental resources to persevere through similar stressful periods in the future.

Understanding Food Insecurity as a Determinant of Health in Pregnancy Within the United States: An Integrative Review.

Food insecurity is a major public health concern in the United States, particularly for pregnant and postpartum individuals. In 2020, ∼13.8 million (10.5%) U.S. households experienced food insecurity. However, the association between food security and pregnancy outcomes in the United States is poorly understood. The purpose of this review was to critically appraise the state of the evidence related to food insecurity as a determinant of health within the context of pregnancy in the United States. We also explored the relationship between food insecurity and pregnancy outcomes. PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Food and Nutrition Science databases were used. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies about food (in)security, position articles from professional organizations, and policy articles about pregnancy outcomes and breastfeeding practices. Studies conducted outside of the United States and those without an adequate definition of food (in)security were excluded. Neonatal health outcomes were also excluded. Included articles were critically appraised with the STROBE and Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklists. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Inconsistencies exist in defining and measuring household food (in)security. Pregnant and postpartum people experienced several adverse physiological and psychological outcomes that impact pregnancy compared with those who do not. Intersections between neighborhood conditions and other economic hardships were identified. Findings regarding the impact of food insecurity on breastfeeding behaviors were mixed, but generally food insecurity was not associated with poor breastfeeding outcomes in adjusted models. Inconsistencies in definitions and measures of food security limit definitive conclusions. There is a need for standardizing definitions and measures of food insecurity, as well as a heightened awareness and policy change to alleviate experiences of food insecurity.

BDNF Val66Met polymorphism moderates negative symptom expression of bully victimization through resilience in Taiwanese youth

ABSTRACT Bully victimization is known to cause adverse psychological outcomes; however, resilience may mitigate the more adverse effects. Little is known regarding the role played by BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in youth resilience against psychological harm caused by bully victimization. In this cross-sectional study, a community sample of 598 participants (M age = 20.1 ± 1.4 years, 48.8% males) completed the questionnaire on bully victimization, resilience, and psychological symptoms. Salivary genomic DNA was genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. A path analysis was used to test the mediating role of resilience in the association between bully victimization and psychological symptoms. Furthermore, the BDNF genotype was added to the model to explore its moderating effects on the mediating role of resilience in the path with 5000 bootstrapped samplings using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Results revealed a significant indirect effect via resilience that accounted for 17.2% of the association between bully victimization and psychological symptoms. While the Val66Met polymorphism interacted with bully victimization to predict resilience scores, bully victimization was more strongly associated with poor resilience (F = 4.59, p = 0.03) in subjects with the Met/Met genotype (β=-3.22, p < 0.001), as compared to participants with other genotypes (β=-1.33, p = 0.051). Findings suggest a gene-environment interaction effect on psychological resilience in bully-victimized youth.

The Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Unintended Pregnancy Among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Childhood abuse has been associated with adverse medical, psychological, behavioral, and socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. Despite this, limited research explores the connection between childhood abuse and unintended pregnancy during adulthood. Notably, existing studies have predominantly focused on high-income countries, leaving a significant gap regarding low- and middle-income nations. This study aims to investigate the impact of childhood physical, sexual, and psychological abuse on the prevalence of unintended pregnancies and explore the interaction effects of childhood abuse on unintended pregnancy occurrences. The cross-sectional survey study was conducted between October 2015 and January 2016 in the Chandpur District of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 426 married women aged 15–49 years who had at least one child of six months or younger. The assessment of child abuse pertains to the mother’s own experiences of childhood abuse and not abuse inflicted on her child. The prevalence of childhood physical, psychological, and sexual abuse was 37%, 26%, and 15%, respectively. About 25.1% of their most recent pregnancies were unintended. Notably, women with a history of childhood sexual abuse were twice as likely to experience unintended pregnancy compared to those without such a history. Furthermore, a dose-response connection was observed between the combined exposure of all categories of childhood abuse and a higher risk of unintended pregnancy. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as comprehensive sex education, accessible mental health support, and improved child protection frameworks, to address the potential repercussions of maternal childhood abuse and reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies.

“I Done Been Through a Lot of Stuff and I Done Seen a Lot of Things”: A Qualitative Analysis of Chronic Stress and Violence Among Justice-Involved Black Men

In the United States, low-income Black men endure substantial stressors shaped by their social ecology (e.g., impoverished neighborhoods) and societal systems (e.g., criminal legal system) that produce racialized harm over the course of their lives. Although the stress literature has demonstrated a strong relationship between stressors and adverse health consequences, much remains unknown as to how low-income Black men experience trauma and adversity. This study draws on semistructured interviews with 20 men to understand how they experience and cope with trauma. Findings reveal that Black men experience multiple and enduring stressors—childhood trauma, interpersonal violence, loss of loved ones to violence, and police violence, throughout their lives. Participants’ chronic exposure to trauma resulted in adverse psychological outcomes including desensitization, hypervigilance, and fatalism. Finally, how low-income Black men responded to trauma, sometimes resulted in additional adversity and further involvement in the criminal legal system.

Use of self-figure drawing as a screening tool to identify child sexual abuse, eating disorders, and suicidality

ABSTRACT Childhood sexual abuse is a significant risk factor for adverse psychological outcomes such as eating disorders, as well as suicidal attempts and ideation. Detecting these phenomena at an early stage is crucial for improving prognosis. The current study investigated indicators of childhood sexual abuse, eating disorders, and suicidal tendencies as reflected in the self-figure drawings of 130 Slovakian adolescents treated for eating disorders or hospitalized after attempted suicide and a group of healthy controls. Kruskal Wallis test findings indicated that the drawings made by the hospitalized adolescents contained a higher number of indicators associated with childhood sexual abuse, eating disorders, and suicidal tendencies than those from the healthy control group. Similarly, the hospitalized adolescents had higher somatic dissociation scores on the MSDQ than the healthy controls. Logistic regression and decision tree models indicated that child sexual abuse could be predicted by both the drawing indicators and the somatic dissociation scores.

Self-management Elucidates How Practicing Physical Exercises Influences the Health Related Quality of Life of Independently Dwelling Older Adults.

According to active aging theory, self-management plays a pivotal role for well-being of older adults as they navigate the aging process. The current quasi-experimental study, employing a between-within design, examines the impact of guided group physical training on changes in self-management and its subsequent effect on quality of life among a sample of independently living old adults. We assessed balance, strength, mobility, self-management, and quality of life were among 149 older adults (123 females, 26 males), mean age = 77.21. Half of the participants then began a 6 months of chair exercise training, consisting of one session per week. However, the training program was interrupted after 22 sessions due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, participants were re-evaluated following the initial lockdown announcement but before its implementation. Show first, that practicing physical exercises, among the intervention group, led to increases in the three measured physiological abilities-balance, strength and movement-as well self-management and physical and mental quality of life. Second, the physiological abilities, were fully indirectly associated through self-management with physical and mental quality of life. The present findings provide a clear understanding of the role of self-management as a psychological outcome of reflected physical activity, as well as a mediator for health related quality of life. Further, self-management abilities among older adults can be regarded as a protective factor against adverse psychological outcomes at times of trauma.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – a qualitative study

BackgroundIndividuals living with and beyond cancer are at heightened risk of adverse psychological and social outcomes and experiences. In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic presented a unique set of social circumstances with the potential to exacerbate the challenges faced by this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the impact on psychological and social aspects of their lives.MethodsFrom a pool of participants from a larger health behaviours study thirty participants were purposively sampled for characteristics including: diagnostic group (breast, prostate and colorectal cancers), gender, time since diagnosis and age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone to discuss their experience of living through the pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted using a needs-based approach to detail the fundamental needs expressed by this population in relation to their mental health and quality of life during the pandemic.ResultsThree fundamental needs underpinned the experiences expressed by participants: the need to feel safe; particularly in relation to risk of contracting COVID-19 and their ongoing cancer monitoring; the need to feel connected; to the people, places, activities and practices of everyday life; and the need to make the most out of life; specifically in context of having already endured cancer and cancer treatment. Participant experiences are described in relation to how they impacted each of these three needs.ConclusionsPeople living with and beyond cancer have past and ongoing experiences that make them vulnerable to adverse psychosocial reactions and outcomes. Support for this population needs to provide greater clarity of risk, clearer guidelines specific to their personal circumstances, and regular updates on scheduling of important follow up care and monitoring.

Short and long-term menstrual, reproductive, and mental health outcomes after the intrauterine use of chitosan tamponade or the Bakri balloon for severe postpartum hemorrhage: an observational study

Objective This retrospective follow-up study analyzes the effect of intrauterine postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) therapy on menstrual, reproductive, and mental health outcomes. Methods All women who delivered at a university hospital between 2016 and 2021 with PPH and who needed intrauterine therapy were included. A questionnaire on well-being, menses, fertility, and reproductive outcomes was mailed to the patients. Those who did not reply were surveyed by telephone. Results A total of 214 women treated with chitosan-covered gauze (group A) and 46 women treated with a balloon tamponade (group B) were recruited, and their short-term courses were analyzed. For long-term follow-up, 71 women of group A (33%) and 21 women of group B (46%) could be reached. A total of 89% of group A and 95% of group B had regular menstrual bleeding in the most recent 12 months; 27% (group A) and 29% (group B) were trying to conceive again, and all of them did so successfully. There were 12 deliveries, 3 ongoing pregnancies, 3 miscarriages, and 2 terminations of pregnancies (TOP) in group A and 4 deliveries, 1 miscarriage, and 2 TOPs in group B. More than half of our study participants was sorted into grade II or III of the Impact of Events Scale, indicating they experienced clinical impacts in the form of psychological sequelae. One-quarter of patients had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion Chitosan gauze as well as balloon tamponade appear to have few adverse effects on subsequent menstrual and reproductive function. Women after PPH are at increased risk of long-term adverse psychological outcomes.

Effect of Smartphone Usage during Night Time on Sleep Patterns of Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Introduction: Excessive smartphone usage among adolescents and young adults has been consistently linked to poor sleep. Moreover, smartphone overuse has been associated with daytime tiredness, longer sleeps latency, and reduced sleep duration. The significance of addressing poor sleep among adolescents and young adults is underscored by recent research linking it to adverse physical and psychological health outcomes, such as mood disturbances, impaired cognitive function, and increased risk incidence of hypertension and diabetes. Aim: To evaluate the effects of smartphone usage on sleep quality among individuals using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and hypnogram data. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, sleep patterns were assessed using the PSQI questionnaire and Prime Nap sleep tracker app (version 1.1.4). The study was conducted by Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The data was collected in the form of a hypnogram and the study was conducted in the participants’ homes (under domicile conditions) in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India from March 2020 to April 2020. A total of 60 participants (both male and female) in the age group of 15-25 years were recruited and divided into two groups: one comprising 30 individuals with regular prolonged exposure to smartphone screens at night, and the other consisting of 30 individuals who experienced minimal or no smartphone exposure once they prepared to sleep. Descriptive statistics were applied to the collected data using Microsoft Excel and IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25.0. Results: Adding up the average scores of the seven factors gives a global PSQI score from 0 to 21, with 0-4 indicating good sleep and 5-21 indicating poor sleep. Among those who used smartphones regularly at night time, 20 participants (66.67%) had PSQI score &gt;5 and poor sleep quality, 24 participants (80%) had prolonged sleep latency, 18 participants (60%) had poor sleep duration, 27 participants (90%) had sleep disturbances, and 22 participants (73.33%) had increased daytime dysfunction. Hypnogram abnormalities were seen in &gt;15 participants (50%) of subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of smartphone addiction is widely acknowledged in the medical literature, highlighting the need for its assessment, especially among adolescents and young adults. The study reveals that poor sleeping habits among participants were attributable either to a lack of awareness or neglect. By recognising the importance of adequate sleep, improvement in the quality of daily activities can be made by reducing daily screen time, consequently alleviating both physical and mental stress. Furthermore, the findings have implications for individuals whose work involves prolonged exposure to computer screens, especially during night time.