DASS-21 Scale Research Articles

Nature Tourism and Mental Well-Being: Insights from a Controlled Context on Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Recent studies have underscored the importance of tourism in enhancing individuals’ mental well-being through engagement with nature. This article examines the impact of nature-based tourism on alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among a group of 67 university students who exhibited extremely severe levels of these disorders. Participants were assessed both before and after a nature tourism experience in the Tinajillas Río Gualaceño Protected Forest, Ecuador. Mental health changes were evaluated using the DASS-21 scale, with assessments conducted pre- and post-activity, revealing significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress levels, with large and clinically relevant effect sizes. However, a 6-month follow-up indicated that these long-term benefits diminished and no longer held clinical significance, suggesting the need for more frequent interventions to sustain positive effects. This study concludes that nature-based tourism serves as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving mental well-being in the short term, although its sustainability requires continuous interaction with nature. These findings provide empirical support for nature-based tourism as a mental health strategy and highlight the importance of integrating it into public health policies and tourism management strategies.

The Effect of War on the Mental Health of Afghan Refugees, Quetta, Baluchistan

This study explores the mental health conditions, specifically depression, anxiety, and stress, among Afghan refugees residing in Quetta, Baluchistan. Using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the study assesses the prevalence and severity of these conditions in a sample of 100 refugees. The results indicate that a significant number of respondents experience moderate to severe levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, with higher concentrations of moderate and extremely severe conditions. The correlation analysis reveals strong positive relationships between stress, anxiety, and depression, suggesting that these conditions are interlinked. Reliability tests of the DASS-21 scale show acceptable levels of internal consistency, ensuring the validity of the findings. These findings highlight the urgent need for mental health interventions to address the growing mental health concerns among Afghan refugees in Baluchistan.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms (DASS-21) in Elderly Women in Association with Health Status (SHSQ-25): A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/Objectives: International studies state that older adults are at an increased risk of mental health symptoms and disorders (depression, anxiety, and stress), especially elderly women aged >65 years. The literature on this topic is scarce, and there is a need for studies that investigate the associations between mental health issues and overall health in elderly women. This study aimed to investigate depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in elderly women in association with health status. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Klaipeda, Lithuania, in 2020. The survey included elderly women (n = 306) aged 65 to 80 years studying at the Third Age University in Klaipeda city. The DASS-21 and SHSQ-25 scales were used for the survey. Associations and correlations between both scale indicators were calculated. Results: Sociodemographic factors such as age, marital status, and place of residence were not statistically significant in terms of mental health, except for women living alone, who had slightly lower levels of depressive symptoms (p = 0.015). Mental health issues were quite common; almost half of the participants had higher than normal levels of anxiety (49.0%) and depression (48.4%), and one-third (29.8%) experienced stress. A strong positive correlation was observed between mental health symptoms and physical health, with anxiety having the greatest effect size on fatigue (Cohen's d = 0.950, p < 0.001), cardiovascular symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.757, p < 0.001), and mental status (Cohen's d = 1.036, p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms had a large effect size on fatigue (Cohen's d = 0.764, p < 0.001) and mental status (Cohen's d = 0.816, p < 0.001), while stress had a moderate effect size on all health domains. Conclusions: The findings highlight that anxiety symptoms are a major contributor to mental health conditions and overall health in elderly women. This study's results emphasise the need for targeted interventions to address mental health challenges in elderly women.

Psychometric properties and validation of the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-18) in a sample of Moroccan university students

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a sample of Moroccan students. Method: A total of 208 Moroccan students participated in this study. The dimensionality of the DASS-21 scale was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed using the Stress Perception (PSS-10), State Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10) scales. Results: Correlation analyses between Depression, Anxiety, and Stress subscales showed significant results. The exploratory factor analysis results confirmed the DASS’s three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between the DASS-18 sub-dimensions and the three scales for Stress (PSS-10), Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10). Conclusion: In line with previous work, the results of this study suggest that the DASS-18 reflect adequate psychometric properties, making it an appropriate tool for use in the university context.

Pengembangan Layanan Konseling Mahasiswa UIN Walisongo Semarang Berbasis Expert System

In the era of Society 5.0, numerous aspects must be adjusted due to the current societal conditions, where the use of internet-based media such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets has become prevalent. Various services across multiple sectors have migrated from manual to digital formats. One of the services offered by the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Humanities (FUHUM) at UIN Walisongo Semarang is the laboratory, with one of its divisions being the FUHUM Therapy Center (FTC). This research develops a counseling service information system using an Expert System, a branch of Artificial Intelligence. The research was conducted using the Waterfall method to build a web-based system. Assessment was carried out using the DASS-21 scale, a brief standardized assessment consisting of 21 items that detect three types of mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, and stress. The system's output provides recommendations for self-therapy or meeting with a counselor based on the classification of students' mental health disorders. From the experiment conducted on 18 students, 4 (22.2%) were found to be in normal condition, 1 (5.6%) had mild disorders, 6 (33.3%) had moderate disorders, 6 (33.3%) had severe disorders, and 1 (5.6%) had very severe disorders. The implementation of this system is expected to contribute as a foundation for decision-making in designing strategic programs that support academic activities and enhance academic and student services.

Mental Health Status Among Perimenopausal Women in Urban Slums: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Menstruation is linked to psychological issues, particularly during its cessation. The premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal stages of a woman's life are associated with a higher likelihood of mental health concerns. This study aims to assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as identify factors associated with these conditions among perimenopausal women living in urban slums. Material and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted over the course of one year among urban slum women in their perimenopausal age, who were identified through a preliminary survey. The DASS-21 scale questionnaire was used to assess their mental health status. To examine the association between various factors and stress, anxiety, and depression, the Chi-square test was applied, with a significance level set at a p-value less than 0.05. Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the OR. Results A total of 148 perimenopausal urban slum women participated in the study, of whom 89 (60.1%) were homemakers, 85 (57.4%) had completed primary schooling, and 63 (42.6%) had comorbidities. The mean age of the participants was 43.6 years, and the mean age of menarche was 12.4 years. Regarding mental health, 124 women (83.8%) experienced moderate stress, 112 women (75.7%) had moderate anxiety, and 82 women (55.4%) reported severe depression. Age and marital status were significantly associated with depression, while educational status was notably associated with stress. Conclusions The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among perimenopausal women, with factors such as educational status, marital status, and age being significantly associated with their mental health. It is essential to raise awareness about the commonality of mental health issues during the perimenopausal stage and provide strategies to help women cope with these challenges.

The darker perspective behind skin lightening practices and its effect on mental Health

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In Pakistan, individuals seem to have a strong preference for a light skin tone due to it being one of the criteria that defines “beauty” universally. There is a plethora of research that has investigated the implications of darker skin color and the role media and culture has played in it. The current study aims to find out the reasons people seek fairer skin tones as well as the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among them in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted over a period of 6 months in the dermatology OPD of Fatima Hospital Baqai Medical University, Karachi where 250 individuals participated (196 = females, 54 = males) by non-probability purposive sampling. Just over 60% (172 individuals) of the sample size indicated that they fell in the dark skin color category. The results suggest that anxiety, depression, and stress have a significant association with skin tone (p-value&lt; 0.05).RESULTS: The reasons for adopting skin-lightening treatments were diverse;90(36%) of participants reported that they are using the treatment for fairness because of their own will,87( 35) indicated media, and 73(29) selected relatives/friends/husbands. They were also asked to fill DASS-21 scale to determine the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression that come with the pressure of seeking fair treatments. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted that skin tone is an important determinant of mental health and impacts the lives of women and men individuals with darker skin face more anxiety, depression, and stress due to sociocultural pressure.

Exploring the Effects of a Calming Herbal Tea Blend on Perioperative Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This research aimed to explore the effectiveness of consuming a calming herbal tea blend, comprising Matricaria recutita, Passiflora incarnata L., and Pimpinella anisum L., in comparison to a placebo tea infused with lemon, to ascertain whether the herbal blend possesses anxiety-reducing properties capable of alleviating perioperative anxiety. The study adopted a clinical randomized, double-blind design and collected data from volunteers undergoing elective surgery at Hospital Unimed Erechim in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 210 participants were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving the placebo tea and the other the sedative herbal tea. All participants completed a questionnaire postoperatively to assess anxiety levels, employing the adapted Portuguese version of the DASS-21 Scale (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). Results revealed no significant difference in anxiety levels between the group consuming the calming herbal tea and the group consuming the placebo tea. However, consumption of the anxiolytic herbal tea was associated with a notable increase in positive sentiments toward the surgical procedure (P = .0009). Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the DASS-21 questionnaire exhibited a preoperative profile comparable to the clinical scenarios depicted by the scale. Both the calming herbal tea and the placebo tea were found to effectively mitigate perioperative anxiety. This suggests that both options-soothing herbal tea and placebo tea-can be considered safe, efficacious, and pleasant methods for reducing preoperative fasting requirements.

PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS FUTURE SKILLED WORKFORCE: PREDICTIVE ROLE OF CYBERBULLYING AND CYBERVICTIMIZATION

The psychological health of university students, who represent the future skilled workforce, is crucial for their success in professional life after graduation and their ability to become productive individuals for themselves and society. Therefore, examining the factors that predict the psychological health of current university students, who will form the future skilled workforce, is a topic that requires further investigation. In this study, the relationships between cyberbullying, cybervictimization levels and depression, anxiety, stress levels of university students studying in private universities were examined. The study was conducted in Istanbul and 323 private university students were participated in the research. The data were obtained using the Demographic Information Form, CyberVictimization – Bullying Scale and DASS-21 Scale. Research results showed that university students' cyberbullying and cybervictimization levels predict their depression, anxiety and stress levels. The findings were evaluated and discussed within the framework.

Prevalence and Level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Frontliners Using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)-21 in a Tertiary Hospital in Manila, Philippines During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Study

Background: COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. It has affected millions globally and remains as a public health concern until today. Objectives: The study aims to identify the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among UST hospital frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)-21 scale. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 272 frontliners in a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines using the DASS-21 scale. Results: Based on data gathered from the responses of participants using the DASS-21 scale, the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among the frontliners were 28.68%, 35.66% and 14.71%, respectively. Being single, living alone, higher degree of educational attainment (postgraduate), trainees (residents and fellows) and those having pulmonary comorbidities were associated with increasing level of depression and stress. Respondents who had less work experience (less than 5 years) had significant depression; being single presented with higher anxiety; and those who had a previous COVID-19 infection had higher degree of stress. Conclusion: Several demographic and occupational characteristics, in accordance to the COVID-19 pandemic, yielded significant results regarding the presence of depression, anxiety and stress. The study recommends closer follow-up of participants which recorded high severity scores in the DASS-21 scale as well as regular psychological briefing and counseling to assess if there are other contributory factors to such responses. Ultimately, this may enlighten us on how to provide holistic care to our own hospital staff. Keywords: COVID-19, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, DASS-21 scale

Does Socioeconomic Status Moderate the Association Between Screen Time, Mobile Phone Use, Social Networks, Messaging Applications, and Mental Health Among Adolescents?

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between different screen time (ST)-related behaviors and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, this study aimed to determine the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES). This was a cross-sectional study and included data from 620 adolescents, aged 12-17 years, from the Valle de Ricote, Region of Murcia, Spain. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Overall ST, mobile phone use, social network use, and messaging application use were measured using validated questionnaires. SES was assessed using the Family Affluence Scale-III. The results indicated that overall ST was significantly associated with symptoms of depression at the mean SES (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 0.005, p = 0.023) and 1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean (B = 0.007, p = 0.011), and with stress only 1 SD below the mean (B = 0.006, p = 0.011). No significant associations were found for anxiety and stress across all socioeconomic levels. Mobile phone use exhibited a strong positive association with symptoms of depression (B = 0.891, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.530, p = 0.014), and stress (B = 0.790, p < 0.001) at 1 SD below the mean SES. Similar patterns were observed for mean SES, albeit with slightly weaker associations. Conversely, social network use was positively associated with all three DASS-21 scales, particularly at 1 SD below the mean SES, with the strongest associations found for symptoms of depression (B = 0.327, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.325, p < 0.001), and stress (B = 0.318, p < 0.001). Furthermore, messaging application use did not show significant associations with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress across any SES levels. In conclusion, social inequalities may influence the associations between various ST-related behavior and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents. These findings may have implications for the design of effective interventions to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in this population.

Depression, anxiety, and stress in the Chilean Educational System: children and adolescents post-pandemic prevalence and variables

The mental health of children and adolescents in the Chilean Educational System (ChES) has become a severe post-pandemic public health problem. This cross-sectional study, which included 1,174 children and adolescents from five Chilean regions, used the DASS-21 scale, focusing on determining the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as identifying associated risk factors. The results exposed a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress (60.2%, 63.6%, and 50.2%, respectively). Risk factors for depression involve being female, having separated parents, being in high school, having a cell phone, difficulty sleeping, ruminative thoughts, and low self-esteem. For anxiety, factors included being female, being 12 years old, owning a cell phone, having sleep problems, having ruminations, having low self-esteem, and being an atheist. For stress, factors were identified as being female, owning a cell phone, sleep problems, ruminations, low self-esteem, being atheist, as well as extensive use of social networks. The research underscores the urgent need for intervention by educational authorities, given the marked deterioration in the mental health of children and adolescent students in the ChES, to prevent long-term consequences.

The impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students based on the difference-in-differences method.

Cancer, as the second leading cause of death worldwide, poses significant challenges to human health and socio-economic development. In recent years, the incidence of cancer has shown a trend toward younger populations, drawing attention to cancer prevention education among college students. However, research on the specific impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students is limited. This study aims to explore the impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students, revealing the mediating role of disease awareness and the moderating roles of psychological resilience and cultural differences. A difference-in-differences (DID) approach was used, involving 1,670 freshmen from a Chinese university, divided into an experimental group (n = 835) and a control group (n = 835). The experimental group received a semester-long cancer prevention education program. Data were collected monthly from November 2022 to June 2023 using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and a custom Disease Awareness Scale. The study found a significant improvement in mental health scores among the experimental group, with an average increase of 14.738 points on the DASS-21 scale (p < 0.001), representing a 23% reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression levels compared to the control group. Disease awareness in the experimental group improved by 17%, as measured by the Disease Awareness Scale, with a mediation effect of 3.563 points (p < 0.001). Furthermore, psychological resilience and cultural differences moderated the impact of the education program, with those scoring higher in resilience showing an additional 8% improvement in mental health scores (moderation effect = 0.892, p < 0.001), and cultural differences accounting for a 5% variance (moderation effect = 0.756, p < 0.001) in the outcomes. This study demonstrates that systematic and scientific cancer prevention education has a significant positive impact on the mental health of college students. Universities should promote comprehensive and personalized health education strategies to improve disease awareness, foster psychological resilience, and emphasize cultural differences, thereby enhancing the overall physical and mental health of college students and promoting their holistic development. This finding provides important empirical support and theoretical basis for the design and implementation of health education in universities.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AND AFFECT SCORE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Objectives: In the modern era, internet use has turned out to be a significant arena for day-to-day life activities. Proper use of the internet is harmless, but misuse of this tool might lead to disruptions in psychological health and social relationships, yet available reports about the association between internet use and affect are inconsistent. Hence, the objective is to assess and correlate the psychological parameters with the affect score among medical college students using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS)-21 questionnaire and positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) scale. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on medical students in the age group of 17–22 years. 150 participants were recruited by random sampling. DASS-21 scale was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress, consisting of 21 items designed to measure emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. PANAS is designed to assess individuals’ positive and negative moods. Results: Pearson’s correlation of these psychological parameters with affect scores had a significant negative correlation with the positive affect score (depression [p=0.003], anxiety [p=0.01], and stress [p&lt;0.04]) and a significant positive correlation with negative affect score (depression [p&lt;0.02], anxiety [p=0.0009], and stress [p=0.01]). Students should be closely monitored with regard to their use of the internet, and also, internet addiction and psychological behaviors can be reduced by providing early counseling and interventional therapy. Conclusion: Awareness about the harmful effects of excessive internet use should be provided so as to enhance the academic performance of students.

Depression and anxiety among first-year students at Hanoi Medical University, academic year 2022-2023

Background: Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems in medical students worldwide. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of self-reported depression, and anxiety and to identify associated risk factors among first-year medical students at Hanoi Medical University. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 at Hanoi Medical University using the DASS-21 scale. Results: Among 353 participants, we found that (i) the prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety was 34.8% and 69.7%, respectively; (ii) times of exercise per week, hours of sleep per night, and participation in clubs are some factors associated with self-reported depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety in first-year medical students is notably higher than normal young people in Vietnam. Our study will provide foundations and references for future studies to explore further impacts of the academic environment on first-year medical students.

Factors Affecting Mental Health Status among Chinese Secondary School Students

Objective - This study aimed to investigate the variables affecting the mental health of Ping Mei High School students in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Methodology/Technique - 147 secondary school students from classes that will take national examinations participated in this survey. The DASS-21 scale and self-reported variables were used to evaluate the students' mental health. Findings – The study's findings indicated that relationships between teachers and students, families, and academics are all significant factors that influence mental health status. The survey also determined how well students coped with mental health issues. Junior high school students at Ping Coal Middle School in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, were concerned with mental health conditions more related to anxiety and depression, but as students, they did not show substantial symptoms of stress; male students were better than female students in terms of academics and teacher-student relationship factors, and female students were higher than male students in terms of anxiety levels; academics, family, teacher-student relationships, and coping strategies were significantly negatively correlated with depression; academics and teacher-student relationships were, respectively, significantly and mildly negatively correlated with anxiety; on the other hand, academics were significantly and mildly negatively correlated with anxiety. significantly and mildly negatively correlated with anxiety; on the other hand, academics were significantly negatively correlated with stress. Novelty - This may be related to the profile of the participants, who were high school students taking the national examination. In addition, the teacher-student relationship was also associated with depression and anxiety levels. The final finding of this study was that family factors negatively predicted depression levels among secondary school students; teacher-student relationships negatively predicted anxiety and depression levels among secondary school students. Type of Paper: Empirical JEL Classification: I10, I11, I19. Keywords: Depression；Anxiety；Stress；Mental health status Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Yi, L.J; Keat, O.B; Fei, Y.P. (2024). Factors Affecting Mental Health Status among Chinese Secondary School Students, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review, 9(3), 101 – 113. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2024.9.3(2)

Estrés, ansiedad y depresión como factores asociados a la procrastinación académica en estudiantes universitarios peruanos

The influence of stress, anxiety, and depression (SAD) on academic procrastination (AP) in the context of COVID-19 was analyzed; a predictive study in 1069 Peruvian students aged 18 to 25 from a public university recruited by non-probabilistic sampling and assessed using the Academic Procrastination Scale and the DASS-21 Scale. The results reflect significant differences in academic procrastination in favor of non-scholarship holders; likewise, for stress, anxiety, and depression in favor of: a) women, b) non-scholarship holders, c) without COVID-19 infection, and d) with family losses due to COVID-19; likewise, a positive correlation between AP and SAD (with emphasis on depression); this correlation is strengthened in the network analysis for the scholarship holder condition. Finally, regarding the analysis of structural equations: anxiety and stress are related at 0.83; both variables explain depression at 63%. On the other hand, depression is presented as a cause of PA at 0.41 and this model has an explanatory value of 17% (with adjustment indices of CMIN/df = 0.305, CFI = 1.000, SRMR = 0.006, RMSEA = 0.000 and PClose = 0.974). The study reflects the predictive capacity of the E-A-D in the behavior of higher education students regarding their academic responsibility.

Assessment of mental health disorders in individuals with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Introduction. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of individuals with chronic diseases. Contributing factors include limited access to healthcare during lockdowns, fear of infection, and heightened stress due to poorer outcomes of COVID-19 infection in this population. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of depression, anxiety, and stress in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with pre-ex&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;isting cardiovascular, malignant, chronic respiratory diseases, or diabetes mellitus.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Methods. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of the eastern region of Republic of Srpska during December 2021 and January 2022. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the DASS-21 scale, while data on comorbidities were collected through a questionnaire from an epidemiological population-genetic study conducted concurrently.&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Results.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; A total of 1,372 participants from the eastern region of Republic of Srpska were included in the study, consisting of 40.0% males and 60.0% females. Participants were aged 20 years and older, with an average age of 50.6 years. The study found that depression, anxiety, and stress were statistically significantly more prevalent among participants with pre-existing cardiovascular or chronic respiratory diseases compared to those without such conditions. Additionally, participants with a history of malignant diseases or diabetes mellitus were significantly more depressed and anxious than&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;those without these conditions.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Conclusion. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;The findings of this study may contribute to the development of policies aimed at improving mental health and preventing mental disorders in individuals with comorbidities.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Irruption of Network Analysis to Explain Dietary, Psychological and Nutritional Patterns and Metabolic Health Status in Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Overweight and Obese University Students: Ecuadorian Case.

The association between dietary nutritional patterns, psychological factors, and metabolic health status has not been investigated in university students. There are studies that include numerous variables to test hypotheses from various theoretical bases, but due to their complexity, they have not been studied in combination. The scientific community recognizes the use of Gaussian graphical models (GGM) as a set of novel methods capable of addressing this. To apply GGMs to derive specific networks for groups of healthy and unhealthy obese individuals that represent nutritional, psychological, and metabolic patterns in an Ecuadorian population. This was a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational study conducted on a sample of 230 obese/overweight university students, selected through a multi-stage random sampling method. To assess usual dietary intake, a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used; to evaluate psychological profiles (anxiety, depression, and stress), the DASS-21 scale was employed; blood pressure and anthropometric data were collected; and insulin levels, lipid profiles, and glucose levels were determined using fasting blood samples. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were applied to identify metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. Statistical analysis relied on univariate methods (frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion), and the relationships were analyzed through networks. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups. In metabolically unhealthy obese individuals, GGMs identified a primary network consisting of the influence of waist circumference on blood pressure and insulin levels. In the healthy obese group, a different network was identified, incorporating stress and anxiety variables that influenced blood pressure, anthropometry, and insulin levels. Other identified networks show the dynamics of obesity and the effect of waist circumference on triglycerides, anxiety, and riboflavin intake. GGMs are an exploratory method that can be used to construct networks that illustrate the behavior of obesity in the studied population. In the future, the identified networks could form the basis for updating obesity management protocols in Primary Care Units and supporting clinical interventions in Ecuador.

Loneliness and Mental Health During the First Covid-19 Lockdown in Romania

During the spring of 2020, Romania entered its first lockdown in response to the growing Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s impact on mental health was thus superimposed on an already epidemic risk of loneliness in developed countries. The purpose of this article was thus to measure the impact of perceived social isolation during the national lockdown on emotional distress among the general population, while also considering potential risk or buffering factors like social media usage, and romantic relationships. Featuring a cross-sectional design, data was collected from 180 participants, aged 20 – 60 years using an online questionnaire which included the DASS-21 scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Intimate Relationships Scale. Our results indicated that loneliness significantly predicted depressive, anxious and stress symptoms even when correcting for gender and age. Distancing measures had no significant effect on couples, though differences in depression and loneliness were found between those with no partner, and those who described minimal impact of social distancing measures. Number of social media sites used predicted greater depressive and anxious symptoms, even when correcting for age and gender, whereas partner intimacy presented as a protective factor for loneliness. Given the many public, individual and dyadic factors involved in mental health during a pandemic, the implications for further studies are discussed.