Decline In Well-being Research Articles

Assessing the Mental Well-Being and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Pre-Veterinary Undergraduates at a Land-Grant Institution.

Recent research conducted within the veterinary profession has reported higher rates of depression and stress than the general US population. While this decline in mental well-being has been documented in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students and veterinary professionals, there is a lack of research on the mental well-being of the pre-veterinary population. This gap led us to conduct a survey in the fall of 2021 utilizing the DASS-21 and ATSPPH-sf inventories to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and help-seeking stigma in pre-veterinary students to better understand when the decline in veterinary mental well-being begins. A pre-test survey was completed by 233 pre-veterinary students in September, and an identical post-test survey was completed by 184 pre-veterinary students in November. From the pre- and post-test data, depression, anxiety, and stress scores increased as students advanced in academic status during their undergraduate degree. Juniors reported the highest averages of depression, anxiety, and stress compared with their peers. In the post-test, sophomores and juniors exhibited higher rates of depression than freshmen, and juniors and seniors exhibited higher rates of stress than freshmen. Current VMCAS applicants exhibited higher levels of stress than non-VMCAS applicants in the pre-test and lower levels of stress in the post-test. In both the pre-test and post-test data, respondents averaged a neutral attitude toward help-seeking. Based on these results, a decline in pre-veterinary mental well-being occurs as students' progress in their undergraduate career and should be further studied to assess its impact on Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and veterinary professional well-being.

A self-monitoring wellbeing screening methodology for keyworkers, ‘My Personal Wellbeing’, using an integrative wellbeing model

BackgroundThe detrimental impact of Covid-19 has led to an urgent need to support the wellbeing of UK National Health Service and care workers. This research develops an online diary to support the wellbeing of staff in public healthcare in real-time, allowing the exploration of population wellbeing and pro-active responses to issues identified.MethodsThe diary was co-produced by NHS and care stakeholders and university researchers. It was based on an integrative model monitoring mental health symptoms as well as wellbeing indicators. Diary users were encouraged to reflect on their experience confidentially, empowering them to monitor their wellbeing. The data collected was analysed using Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests to determine any significant wellbeing trends and issues.ResultsA statistically significant decline in wellbeing (P < 2.2E-16), and a significant increase in symptoms (P = 1.2E-14) was observed. For example, indicators of post-traumatic stress, including, flashbacks, dissociation, and bodily symptoms (Kruskal-Wallis P = 0.00081, 0.0083, and 0.027, respectively) became significantly worse and users reported issues with sleeping (51%), levels of alertness (46%), and burnout (41%).ConclusionsThe wellbeing diary indicated the value of providing ways to distinguish trends and wellbeing problems, thus, informing how staff wellbeing services can determine and respond to need with timely interventions. The results particularly emphasised the pressing need for interventions that help staff with burnout, self-compassion, and intrusive memories.

Danger Zone or Newfound Freedoms: Exploring Women and Girls' Experiences in the Virtual Space during COVID-19 in Iraq.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, women and girls across the globe faced increased reliance on the digital space to access education, social support, and health and gender-based violence (GBV) services. While research from the last three years has explored how women and girls navigated and responded to their new virtual reality, minimal evidence has been generated from low-resource settings where access to technology may be limited. Further, no studies to date have examined these dynamics in Iraq, where women and girls already face numerous threats to safety due to various forms of structural violence and patriarchal family structures. This qualitative study aimed to examine women and girls' experiences in the digital space during COVID-19 in Iraq, including the benefits and risks of engagement as well as how access to the digital space was controlled. Data for the present analysis come from the authors' larger multi-country study investigating women and girls' safety and access to GBV services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures employed to control the spread of the virus. In Iraq, semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted virtually with fifteen GBV service providers. Following the translation and transcription of interviews, the thematic analysis highlighted several benefits and challenges women and girls experienced as they tried to access and utilize technology for schooling, support services, and obtaining and spreading information. While many women and girls increasingly and successfully relied on social media to spread awareness of GBV cases, key informants noted that women and girls also faced increased risks of experiencing electronic blackmail. In addition to a substantial digital divide in this context-which manifested as differential access to technology by gender, rural/urban status, and socioeconomic status-intrahousehold control of girls' access to and use of technology left many adolescent girls unable to continue schooling and contributed to their further marginalization and consequent decline in well-being. Implications for women's safety and mitigation strategies are also discussed.

The impact of time spent working from home on affective commitment in the workplace: The mediating role of social relationships and collective aims.

Working from home has become increasingly prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating new challenges for organizations and employees. According to the latent deprivation model proposed by Jahoda, work provides latent benefits alongside its material rewards, and losing such benefits leads to a decline in well-being. Organizational affective commitment, or affective commitment within the organization, is a prominent concept in organizational psychology that is linked to lower workforce fluctuation and increased work performance. The present research examined the impact of time spent working from home on affective commitment by examining Jahoda's "latent functions," including social contact and collective purpose, representing an innovative application of the latent deprivation model in the context of home office. Using an online questionnaire, we collected data from 456 participants (239 female and 217 male) who had been employed for at least 2 years and who had spent a proportion of their time working from home in March and April 2021. The data were analyzed using a path model, in which the potential adverse effect of time spent in home office on affective commitment to the workplace was mitigated by latent functions. Specifically, we found that more time spent in home office was associated with a decrease in social contact, the impact of which on affective commitment was mediated through the perception of collective purpose. Our findings emphasize the role of the latent benefits of work experienced by employees even when working from home, and the role of those benefits in supporting employees' commitment to the workplace. We argue that a deeper understanding of such factors is vital, as working from home is expected to remain widespread even after the pandemic.

The longitudinal development of students' well-being in adolescence: The role of perceived teacher autonomy support.

Although a decline in adolescents' well-being has repeatedly been reported, longitudinal evidence for this development is rare and time-varying factors like teacher autonomy support that could be associated with this trend have sparsely been investigated. Therefore, the present study examined how the temporal development of perceived autonomy support from their German language arts teachers is related to changes in four different facets of students' well-being. Longitudinal data from 3446 adolescents from Germany (NSchools =178) on five measurement points (Grades 5-9) were analyzed using latent growth curve models. Satisfaction with school, enjoyment of school, and self-rated health decreased over time, while social integration remained stable. Perceived teacher autonomy support also declined between Grades 5 and 9. Furthermore, baseline levels of perceived teacher autonomy support and facets of well-being were positively related. Finally and most importantly, our results indicated that changes in perceived teacher autonomy support were positively associated with the development of satisfaction with school, enjoyment of school, and self-rated health, but not social integration. The findings suggest that perceived teacher autonomy support plays an important role in the development of students' well-being in adolescence.

The association between music preferences and well-being after the Fukushima disaster: A cross sectional study.

Those affected by the Fukushima disaster have reported a decline in well-being. Although listening to music is expected to promote well-being, no study has revealed this association after a disaster. This study's objective is to clarify the association between well-being and music listening habits in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. A self-report online survey was conducted with 420 residents who were asked to rate five types of well-being: life satisfaction, positive emotion, negative emotion, psychological distress, and mental health changes after the Fukushima disaster. To meet inclusion criteria, the participants had to be research company monitors between the ages of 20 and 59 living in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the survey. Their music listening habits (e.g., recent favorite music) and demographic information (e.g., evacuation experience due to the disaster: 20.7%) were also collected. We examined the associations between wellbeing and music listening habits, by univariate analysis followed by logistic analysis with adjustment for covariates. Positive emotions were significantly associated with any type of music listening habits participants practiced. We also observed gender and age differences between the associations. This study provides foundational insights into the role of music in improving post-disaster well-being.

Experience and Behaviour(s) of Students who use Nyaope Drug at a South African University

Background: The use of illicit drugs affects people globally. The use of nyaope (whonga) has been increasing in South Africa amongst the youth, especially university students. Its use is associated with a wide range of negative consequences, such as poor academic performance, theft, rape, risky sexual behaviours, and social dysfunctionality. Aim: This study sought to explore the self-reported experiences of students who use nyaope. Setting: The setting was the University of Limpopo. Methods: The health belief model (HBM) was used as a theoretical paradigm in this study. A qualitative research approach with a phenomenological, exploratory design was used. The researchers wanted to obtain first-hand in-depth information. The sample of six participants was purposively selected. Criteria of trustworthiness were used to ensure the rigour of the findings. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. This study was conducted from 01 March 2019 to June 2019. Results: Four major themes emerged from the analysis, which were supported by existing evidence. The main themes that arose were reasons for nyaope use and excessive drug use were: Decline in mental and psychological well-being and Intentions to stop using nyaope. The sub-themes were: Peer pressure, Academic pressure, Decline in academic performance, Isolation from others, Discrimination by peers and others and Criminal activities. Conclusion: Participants reported experiencing a decline in academic performance, deteriorating relationships with others, poor physical and psychological well-being, behavioural changes and perceiving that they were discriminated against.

Association Between Sleep Quality, Musculoskeletal Pain and Physical and Psychosocial Well-Being Among Employees Working from Home

COVID-19 has perplexed the world into an unexpected state of affairs. With the implementation of nationwide lockdown, people have begun to ‘Work for Home’ in many employment sectors. Though the policy has managed to keep people safe from the devastating effects of the virus, it has, however, imposed most employees into a sedentary lifestyle. The current situation has resulted in disordered sleep, musculoskeletal pain, physical and psychosocial well-being decline due to irregular work hours, and mental health issues due to corona phobia. The current study aims to find the correlation between sleep duration, musculoskeletal pain, and physical and psychosocial well-being in employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. One hundred fifty-three samples from the North India region were studied in a correlation study. Subjects working from home for at least one month or more and only due to COVID-19 lockdown were excluded, while those with any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or neurological disorder were excluded. Questionnaires employed were Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (for sleep quality), Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire (CPGQ) (for pain intensity), and Short Form-12 (SF-12) Questionnaire (for physical and psychosocial well-being). Scores were calculated, and Pearson’s correlation was found. One hundred fifty-three samples (mean age= 32.73±5.55, mean height=167±9.22, mean weight=67.2±13.7, mean BMI=23.9±3.97) were evaluated, which revealed a higher negative correlation coefficient value between MSK pain intensity and PCS value (-0.535) describing that the pain increased with deterioration in sleep, and sleep quality and MCS value (-0.423) stating that the psychosocial well-being worsened with the decline in sleep quality; while a highly positive correlation was established with the sleep quality and pain intensity scores (0.420) depicting that pain degraded the physical well-being. A weak correlation was reported in the relationship between the intensity of MSK pain with sleep quality (-0.218) and PCS score (-0.323), suggesting no significant impact (significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). A significant correlation has been established between sleep quality, the intensity of musculoskeletal pain, and the physical and psychosocial well-being of employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

THE IMPACT OF SLEEP ON MINDFULNESS, WELL-BEING, AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN MIDDLE TO OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS

Abstract The decline in physical and mental well-being is common with age. The negative impact of poor quality of sleep and depressive symptomatology contributes to the decline in well-being among middle to older adults. African Americans are more likely to report a decrease in well-being as they age. They are also disproportionately affected by poorer sleep quality and may be at greater risk for depressive symptomatology. Dispositional mindfulness is linked to improved well-being. Research has shown dispositional mindfulness is related to adaptive health behaviors, improved sleep quality, and reduced negative affect. Mindfulness allows engagement of early regulation of intense emotional responses because of nonjudgmental acceptance of thoughts and emotions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of mindfulness on physical/mental well-being and depressive symptomatology through sleep. 131 African American participants were recruited for the study, with an average age of 58 years. The results showed a significant effect of mindfulness on well-being and depressive symptoms. Additionally, the impact of mindfulness on mental and physical well-being was mediated by sleep quality (B = .7920, CI [.1482, 1.6702]) and sleep disturbance (B = 2.874, CI [.1582, 6.335]). The results also showed an indirect effect of mindfulness on depressive symptoms through sleep quality (B = –6.139 CI [-12.871, -.5298]). This study demonstrates the positive impact of mindfulness on well-being and depressive symptomatology. Sleep quality also plays an important role in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and physical/mental well-being and depressive symptomatology in middle to older African Americans.

WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-PERSON EFFECTS OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ON WELL-BEING

Abstract Good health and positive social relationships are significant resources in well-being. However, little is known about how intrapersonal changes and interpersonal differences in health and social relationships are associated with well-being in later life. This study aimed to examine within- and between-person effects of physical health and social relationships with family, friends, and neighbors (social support and companionship) on well-being. We analyzed longitudinal data from a representative sample of older Japanese adults aged 74 to 86 years (N=1388). The results from multilevel models showed that decline in health (intrapersonal changes) was associated with lower well-being. Nevertheless, there was the interaction effect of social relationships with family and neighbors (between-person differences) in the relationship between health and well-being change. Among participants with lower social support from family and neighbors, the negative association between decline of health and well-being was stronger. Conversely, participants with higher social support reported higher well-being regardless of physical health change. Contrastingly, among participants with higher companionship with family and neighbors, participants reported higher well-being at the time of maintaining or increasing physical health. For participants with lower companionship, health change was not associated with well-being. These findings suggest social support has a preventive effect on well-being in the face of declining health, while companionship has a facilitative impact on well-being in good health. The results also suggest relationships with neighbors as well as family play an important role in well-being in very late life.

MAKING “NONESSENTIAL” FAMILY/VOLUNTEER CAREGIVING ESSENTIAL IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES

Abstract For individuals living in long-term care (LTC), loneliness is often a concern. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this is only exacerbated as strict restrictions are put in place on visits between residents and their loved ones and on volunteer presence. Understanding how these changes affect residents, family caregivers, and volunteers is paramount to best implement changes with regards to how family/volunteer caregiving presence is managed during pandemics. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the response to COVID-19 that pertains to the family caregiver and volunteer presence in LTC and increase the evidence about the impact of reduced levels of family caregivers and volunteers on residents, caregivers, and volunteers. A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers and volunteers. Of these interviews, 49 were one-time interviews and 15 were weekly interviews over a 5-month period to examine the impact of the ever-changing pandemic restrictions on caregivers, volunteers, and residents. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interviews and two independent researchers coded each interview. Results highlight the importance of connections in LTC, the feeling that human rights were neglected, the importance of flexibility amongst staff, the role of caregivers as advocates for residents, increased caregiver guilt, and resident decline in physical and emotional well-being. The role of family caregivers and volunteers as essential in LTC homes will be discussed and recommendations to revisit policies on the family caregiver and volunteer presence to improve the preparedness for future pandemics and outbreaks will be presented.

Resource Perceptions and Employee Well-Being during the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Role of Personal Control as a Moderator

This paper used Hobfoll’s conservation of resources (COR) theory to investigate the extent to which interpersonal and financial resources predict the well-being of salaried employees in the United States. Data were collected from a nationally representative survey of adults in the United States conducted by the RAND Corporation . Two measures of well-being (depressive symptoms and life satisfaction), along with an actual loss of financial resources and a perceived lack of interpersonal and financial resources, were examined. The role of perceived control as a moderator in the relationship between resource deficit perceptions and well-being was also examined. The results of the regression analysis indicate that the perceived lack of resources was associated with a decline in well-being. Perceived control was found to buffer the negative effects of resource deficit perceptions. Employees with high levels of perceived control showed less of a reduction in well-being than those with low levels of perceived control as the perceived deficit of resources increased. The study also revealed that actual loss of resources, measured as a decrease in wages, is associated with a decrease in life satisfaction but is not associated with depressive symptoms. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our research on the relationship between resource deficits and well-being during a public health crisis.

Dynamika zmian zasobów osobistych studentów pedagogiki funkcjonujących w warunkach pandemii COVID-19

Introduction : The COVID-19 pandemic that started in March 2020 had a considerable impact on the functioning of higher education and the psychological wellbeing condition of students. Research Aim : The aim of the presented research is to describe the dynamics of changes in selected personal resources: experienced stress, mental well-being, mental resilience and satisfaction with studies of students of pedagogy, in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method : Research studies were conducted among 337 students of education in three time periods: in the first quarter of 2019–122 students, then in the first phase of the pandemic in June 2020 – 91 students and in June 2021 – 124 people. The following research tools were used: the PPS-10 scale to measure stress, the WEMBS scale to assess mental well-being, the RS-14 scale to determine the psychological resilience, and the Academic Satisfaction questionnaire. Results : More than half of the surveyed students experienced a high level of stress. In 2019–2021, mental well-being remained stable, mental resilience decreased, and satisfaction with studies increased. As stress increases, there is a decline in mental resilience and mental well-being. Stress and mental resilience are significant predictors of the mental well-being of students. Conclusion : Almost 60 percent of the surveyed students of pedagogy had personal resources that allowed them to adequately adapt to a pandemic situation. The ability to deal with stress in a pandemic crisis plays a key role.

Peranan Stres Akademik Terhadap Subjective Well-Being dengan Perceived Social Support sebagai Moderator pada Mahasiswa Magang Atau Bekerja

In this era of rapid growth on technology literacy, students as a bridge between the world of school and work hold great responsibilities and are required to work in a fast-paced environment, more complex than their predecessors. As students who are doing internships or working, they have two responsibilities, namely academic and professional at the same time. This can cause students to experience poor learning patterns due to lack of time management skills and tend to multi-task. Those who have many academic and other demands but are unable to cope with them will experience academic stress. In addition, time management is closely related to the work-life balance phenomenon. This can affect the low subjective well-being. Thus, academic stress can affect the decline of subjective well-being in students who are doing internships or working. This study aims to examine the relationship between academic stress and subjective well-being moderated by perceived social support. Data was collected by distributing questionnaires using the Perceived Academic Stress Scale (PAS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) with 387 participants using linear regression quantitative research design. The result shows that p &lt; 0.05 for regression and p &gt; 0.05 for moderation analysis. Thus, show that there is an influence between academic stress and subjective well-being and social support cannot strengthen the effect of academic stress and subjective well-being.&#x0D;

Patients with affective disorders profit most from telemedical treatment: Evidence from a naturalistic patient cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic telemedicine became essential in maintaining diagnostic procedures and treatment in psychiatry. However, it is still an open question if telemedicine is a feasible treatment option for all groups of psychiatric patients alike. This prospective monocentric observational trial was conducted to assess the general applicability of telemedical treatment in a naturalistic psychiatric outpatient cohort and to identify groups of disorders and clusters of psychopathology that respond particularly well to telemedical treatment considering sociodemographic characteristics and patients' perspectives. Patients were recruited April 2020-April 2021 and asked to fill out the WHO-5 and the SCL-90R at baseline, after 4-6 and 8-12 weeks and a feedback-survey. Additionally, medical records, psychopathology, psychosocial functioning, and socio-demographic data were analyzed. Primary outcomes were well-being, psychopathology and functioning during treatment. Secondly, diagnostic groups and psychopathology linked to a superior treatment-response were determined with respect to patients' subjective experiences. Out of 1.385 patients, 254-mostly with hyperkinetic (35.3%) and depressive disorders (24.6%)-took part. Well-being and SCL-90R total scores improved substantially (both p < 0.001). CGI and GAF scores were worse in depressed subjects (both p < 0.05). Improvement was mainly seen in depressed patients; chronic disorders experienced a decline in well-being. Sociodemographic characteristics could not explain this difference. Particularly female (r = 0.413) patients found telepsychiatry equivalent to conventional treatment. The more virtual sessions participants attended the more likely they were to find telepsychiatry equal to conventional treatment (r = 0.231). Telemedicine is an effective treatment for patients with depression under naturalistic conditions. Telemedical consultations are a simple and reliable way of monitoring symptom severity and directing treatment choices during the treatment of depressive disorders. Patients with depression benefited more from telemedical treatment compared to participants with chronic non-episodic psychiatric disorders. Future research needs to concentrate on improving telemedical treatment options suited for the latter conditions. Psychiatric telemedicine yielded overall high degrees of satisfaction among users.

"Football- It's in Your Blood"-Lived Experiences of Undertaking Recreational Football for Health in Older Adults.

Physical inactivity is prevalent in older adults and contributes to age-related decline in function, health, well-being, and quality of life. Recreational football for older adults has shown promise for promoting health benefits. This study explores the lived experiences of older adults engaging in a walking and recreational football intervention and identifies factors that affect behaviours and can encourage change in this population. A purposive sample (n = 14; aged 67 ± 5 years) of the lived experiences of those participating in a recreational football intervention took part in two focus groups. The participants' responses were grouped into three-time reflecting specific points in their lives: what stopped them from playing football, what got them playing, and what is needed for them to continue playing in the future. Within each of these time points in their lives, themes were identified. The key findings and practical recommendations were that football needs to be adapted and local, that the priority to play football changes over time, and that football itself is a fundamentally intrinsic motivator; 'it's in your blood'. The findings can be used to inform future interventions, encourage participation, and advise on the best practices for key stakeholders in the physical activity domain.

Immediate and delayed effects of everyday racial discrimination on mental health among Black college students: A mixed-methods approach

Experiences of racial discrimination significantly contribute to both mental and physical health outcomes. In this mixed-methods study, we examine both the immediate and delayed effect of discrimination experienced in daily life. Black students at a predominantly White university reported instances of racial discrimination, affect, anxiety, and depression several times per day over 4 weeks ( N = 114); this was followed by qualitative focus groups ( N = 25). Reporting an instance of discrimination corresponded with an acute decline in psychological wellbeing (higher negative affect, anxiety, and depression), consistent with previous work. However, this effect did not carry forward to later assessments during the same day or the following day as expected. Instead, positive affect temporarily increased in the hours following experiences of discrimination. Qualitative focus groups revealed social support, emotional reflection and processing, and feelings of taking action as important factors contributing to this bump in positive affect.

The impact of COVID-19 on persons with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic with its restrictions touched the daily life of most people. While everyday social life becomes difficult for citizens with economic and cultural capital, it becomes even worse for persons with mental health (MHD) and substance use disorders (SUD), who are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. In this project, we aim to explore the impact of the pandemic on persons MHD/SUD, nearer, how the lockdown effected their daily life and further, the utilization of health care services under the consecutive waves of the pandemic. Methods The project has two parts: First we conducted 17 individual interviews and one focus group with persons with MHD/SUD, using thematic analysis. Second, we merged the Norwegian Patient Register, the Register for Infectious Diseases and data from Statistics Norway. We matched data of 41500 individuals with MHD/SUD after gender, age and health region with a sample from the general population as a control group and study the health care service utilization under the consecutive waves of the pandemic in Norway in 2020-2021. Results Within the qualitative study, we identified four interrelated main themes: (1) The COVID-19 outbreak as a perceived challenge, (2) A decline in mental health and well-being, (3) Increased substance use challenges, and (4) Diverse experiences with health and social services. The results show further that people with MHD/SUD have challenges with digital tools and/or do not have the appropriate equipment. Persons with MHD/SUD face greater barriers in accessing the health care system compared to the general population as a control group. Results of the register study are still preliminary. Conclusions Persons with MHD/SUD face major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic There is reason to believe that new pandemics will emerge in the future. In this context, it is essential to gain knowledge of how to care for vulnerable groups in society and how to reach them in emergencies. Key messages • Continuous maintenance of low-threshold services for persons with MHD/SUD during a pandemic is essential. • Improvement of digital skills of service users or alternatives to digital consultations should be considered.

Mental health and well-being of students at TU Dresden

Abstract Background University life can be a particularly challenging phase in the development of young adults. Current research shows that mental disorders occur more frequently in students compared to workers of the same age. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem. The TUDo! Study, done in cooperation with the FU Berlin, aimed to assess the health status of students at TU Dresden, with a focus on mental health. Methods In 2020/2021 students at TU Dresden (excluding students in the medical school) completed an online-based questionnaire. Validated questionnaires, e.g. the PHQ 4 (depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder) and the ERI student (student gratification crisis) were used. We evaluated descriptively and analytically, according to the questionnaire-specific specifications. Results A total of 2,683 students (12.3%) at the TU Dresden took part in the survey. The majority of study participants were female (n = 1,507; 56.7%) and had an average age of 22.9 years (SD = 4.3). 32.8% (n = 856/2,611) of the participating students reported a depressive syndrome and 32.5% (n = 848/2,612) a generalized anxiety disorder. Almost half of participating students (40,0%; n = 515/1,310) indicated an imbalance between effort (E) and reward (R) (ER ratio&amp;gt;1). 51.23% (n = 693/1,50) of respondents reported a decline of mental well-being because of the coronavirus pandemic. Discussion Unlike similar studies, this study shows that TU Dresden students were particularly affected with regards to perceived psychological stress and complaints. The existing differences seem to be partly due to the coronavirus pandemic. These results indicate that universities should regularly check their studying conditions and provide appropriate preventive measures. Key messages • Students are at higher risk than workers of the same age for mental health problems. • Students reported a decline in mental well-being due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Is happiness possible in a degrowth society?

Degrowth, i.e., a planned reduction in environmental impacts and economic scale, is increasingly discussed as a viable option for achieving sustainability. Yet, opponents counter that degrowth entails declines in economic standards, which will, in turn, reduce individual happiness and collective wellbeing. Our study explores the existing theoretical debate empirically, examining the case of Japan. There long-term decline in economic standards has not led to long-term decline in subjective wellbeing, thus bolstering the case for degrowth.