Economic Stress Research Articles

Economic strain and quality of life among families with emerging adult children: The contributions of family rituals and family problem-solving communication.

Young people and their families around the world are especially vulnerable to macroeconomic hard times. This study sought to provide a more comprehensive view on how families with emerging adult children can successfully overcome economic distress. Specifically, we examined the links between economic strain-that is, the subjective perceptions of one's current and future financial situation-family ritual meaning, family problem-solving communication, and quality of life, as reported by emerging adults and their parents. Data were collected from 1017 individuals nested in 334 families living in Portugal in 2016/2017. Results from multilevel modeling provided evidence for a negative impact of economic strain on family members' quality of life (β = -0.30, p < 0.001); and for the role of family ritual meaning (β = 0.01, p = 0.022), but not family problem-solving communication, as a buffer against the negative effect of economic strain on quality of life. Findings also suggested that the subjective evaluations that family members formulated about their financial situations played a greater role than objective economic conditions (e.g., income) in establishing a deeper understanding on the impact of economic demands on individuals and families' lives in today's complex financial world. This study provides a significant contribution to family economic stress research, advancing family ritual meaning as a key family dynamic contributing to positive adaptation to economic distress. The implications of these findings for clinical interventions include the potential benefits of symbolic forms of family communication in the work carried out with economically stressed family members.

The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty infection presents a substantial economic burden in the United States: a predictive model

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are a major cause of morbidity after shoulder arthroplasty. Prior national database studies have estimated the trends of shoulder PJI up to 2012.21 Since 2012, the landscape of shoulder arthroplasty has changed drastically with the expanding popularity of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The dramatic growth in primary shoulder arthroplasties is likely paralleled with an increase of PJI case volume. The purpose of this study is to quantify the rise in shoulder PJIs and the economic stress they currently place on the American healthcare system as well as the toll they will incur over the coming decade. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried for primary and revision anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty from 2011-2018. Multivariate regression was used to predict cases and charges through the year 2030 adjusted to 2021 purchasing power parity. From 2011 to 2018, PJI was found to be 1.1% shoulder arthroplasties, from 0.8% (2011) to 1.4% (2018). Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty experienced the greatest proportion of infections at 2.0%, followed by hemiarthroplasty at 1.0% and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty at 0.3%. Total hospital charges grew 324%, from $44.8 million (2011) to $190.3 million (2018). Our regression model projects 176% growth in cases and 141% growth in annual charges by2030. This study demonstrates the large economic burden that shoulder PJIs pose on the American healthcare system, which is predicted to reach nearly $500 million in charges annually by 2030. Understanding trends in procedure volume and hospital charges will be critical in evaluating strategies to reduce shoulder PJIs.

COVID-19 Economic and Academic Stress on Mexican American Adolescents’ Psychological Distress: Parents as Essential Workers

ABSTRACT Objectives In a sample of Mexican American adolescents (N = 398; 51% females; aged 13—17), we examined the associations between psychological distress, COVID-19 household economic stress, COVID-19 academic stress, and whether these associations varied by adolescents’ gender and by parents/caregivers’ essential worker status. Method First, linear regression models assessed the main effects of household economic and academic stress on psychological distress. Second, the moderating effects of gender and parents/caregivers’ essential worker status on the association between household economic and academic stress, and psychological distress were examined. Third, the three-way interaction effect of household economic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers’ essential worker status on psychological distress as well as the three-way interaction effect of academic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers’ essential worker status on psychological distress were calculated. Results Household economic and academic stress were associated with psychological distress. However, these associations did not vary based on adolescents’ gender or parents/caregivers’ essential worker status. The three-way interaction for household economic stress, parents/caregivers’ essential worker status, and gender for psychological distress was significant. Specifically, the effects of household economic stress on psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. Furthermore, the three-way interaction among academic stress, parents/caregivers’ essential worker status, and gender was significant. Particularly, the effects of academic stress when grades were worse on adolescents’ psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. Conclusion Parents/caregivers’ essential worker status was salient among Mexican American adolescents’ mental health outcomes during COVID-19, particularly for adolescent boys.

State data security backed by Artificial Intelligence and Zero Knowledge Proofs in the context of sanctions and economic pressure

This research paper aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), state data security, and the volatile circumstances induced by sanctions and economic pressure. By undertaking a comprehensive literature review, the study not only offers a historical context of state data security mechanisms but also delves deeply into the advancements provided by AI-driven solutions. The work serves as a crucial reference for policymakers, cybersecurity experts, and academic researchers, laying a foundation for the nuanced understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations within the realms of state data security and economic stressors. Employing an analytical framework, the paper systematically distills knowledge from a wide array of sources, including academic articles, technical reports, policy briefs, and international standards. This multidimensional analysis allows for a holistic understanding of the state-of-the-art AI technologies, their applicability in fortifying state data security, and the ethical labyrinth that states must navigate. Paper underscores a multitude of challenges and ethical considerations that are often overshadowed by the technological prowess of AI. These encompass issues such as data privacy infringement, potential for mass surveillance, and ethical quandaries around bias and discrimination. The paper also throws light on the pivotal factors of accountability and transparency, essential for maintaining public trust in AI-augmented state security mechanisms. The study raises awareness about AI-driven cyber threats, focusing on the paradox of employing AI to enhance security while also becoming susceptible to advanced AI-driven cyberattacks. Paper addresses the long-term sustainability and resilience of AI-enabled security measures, particularly in the context of evolving cyber threats and the inherent instability brought about by economic pressures and sanctions. The resilience of AI algorithms and systems under these specific conditions is scrutinized, offering a forward-looking perspective on the adaptability and robustness of AI technologies in safeguarding state data.

Visual analysis of the trend of mental health changes among Chinese college students in the context of the normalisation of the new crown epidemic

Abstract Public health events are sudden, public in nature and have serious social hazards. The COVID-19 outbreak coincided with the Lunar New Year, which had a direct or indirect impact on all areas of society. Previous studies related to emergencies have found that a considerable number of college students lacked experience in dealing with emergencies, were not emotionally stable enough, lacked analysis and decision-making ability, were easily suggestible and acted more impulsively. Therefore, in this paper, based on the existing actual information, combined with the awareness and understanding of college students’ mental health, and based on the existing research results, the Hopfield-mental health model is used as a theoretical basis to study the trend of changes in college students’ mental health. The results of the study show that 83.21% of the people are more concerned about the situation of this new crown pneumonia epidemic and they think that the new crown epidemic has seriously affected their living habits; 65.45% thought that this new crown pneumonia epidemic did not have any major impact on their school life. The five sources of psychological stress, including academic, employment, economic, interpersonal relationship and love, were calculated and analysed in the model, which showed that employment stress, academic stress and economic stress were the largest sources of psychological stress among college students in this new pneumonia epidemic, accounting for 89%, 81% and 93%, respectively. They were followed by interpersonal and romantic stress, with 31% and 52%, respectively.

Can we pull resilience from the rubble? experiencing earthquakes in Mexico City

This paper serves as an introduction to focus on the meaning of resilience as a notion that hypothetically enables cities and their citizens to remain unaffected by shocks and stresses of diverse nature, but in practice, is a parsimonious representation of a highly complex human endogenous condition that is often not adequately understood and addressed due to weak or weathered disaster risk governance. Through an empirical analysis, the relevance of the occurrence of disasters such as the one produced by the Mexico City earthquake of September 19, 2017, and its relationship to the meaning of urban resilience is addressed. Since the 100 Resilient Cities program launch in 2013, several cities, including Mexico City, have adopted diverse strategies to build and become more resilient to physical, social, and economic shocks and stresses. Nonetheless, the degree of success of such strategies expressed in everyday life within the cities, regardless of what the official documents report, reveals highly heterogeneous results. In the case of Mexico City, it is evident that the appropriate strategy for attaining the desired outcome of becoming a Resilient City has not been successful. Despite setting the goal of advancing disaster risk reduction through urban and regional planning, the impact of the earthquake of September 19, 2017, proved otherwise.

Establishment and validation of a nomogram for progression to diabetic foot ulcers in elderly diabetic patients.

Many diabetic patients develop and progress to diabetic foot ulcers, which seriously affect health and quality of life and cause great economic and psychological stress, especially in elderly diabetic patients who often have various underlying diseases, and the consequences of their progression to diabetic foot ulcers are more serious and seriously affect elderly patients in surgery. Therefore, it is particularly important to analyze the influencing factors related to the progression of elderly diabetic patients to diabetic foot, and the column line graph prediction model is drawn based on regression analysis to derive the influencing factors of the progression of elderly diabetic patients to diabetic foot, and the total score derived from the combination of various influencing factors can visually calculate the probability of the progression of elderly diabetic patients to diabetic foot. The influencing factors of progression deterioration to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients based on LASSO regression analysis and logistics regression analysis, and the column line graph prediction model was established by statistically significant risk factors. The clinical data of elderly diabetic patients aged 60 years or older in the orthopedic ward and endocrine ward of the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from 2015-01-01 to 2021-12-31 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into a modeling population (211) and an internal validation population (88) according to the random assignment principle. Firstly, LASSO regression analysis was performed based on the modeling population to screen out the independent influencing factors for progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients; Logistics univariate and multifactor regressions were performed by the screened influencing factors, and then column line graph prediction models for progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients were made by these influencing factors, using ROC (subject working characteristic curve) and AUC (their area under the curve), C-index validation, and calibration curve to initially evaluate the model discrimination and calibration. Model validation was performed by the internal validation set, and the ROC curve, C-index and calibration curve were used to further evaluate the column line graph model performance. Finally, using DCA (decision curve analysis), we observed whether the model could be used better in clinical settings. (1) LASSO (Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression analysis yielded a more significant significance on risk factors for progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients, such as age, presence of peripheral neuropathy, history of smoking, duration of disease, serum lactate dehydrogenase, and high-density cholesterol; (2) Based on the influencing factors and existing theories, a column line graph prediction model for progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients was constructed. The working characteristic curves of subjects in the training group and their area under the curve (area under the curve = 0.840) were also analyzed simultaneously with the working characteristic curves of subjects in the external validation population and their area under the curve (area under the curve = 0.934), which finally showed that the model was effective in predicting column line graphs; (iii) the C-index in the modeled cohort was 0.840 (95%CI: 0.779-0.901) and the C-index in the validation cohort was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.887-0.981), indicating that the model had good predictive accuracy; the calibration curve fit was good; (iv) the results of the decision curve analysis showed that the model would have good results in clinical use; (v) it indicated that the established predictive model for predicting progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients had good test efficacy and helped clinically screen the possibility of progression to diabetic foot in elderly diabetic patients and give personalized interventions to different patients in time.

Genomic and genetic advances of oiltea-camellia (Camellia oleifera).

Oiltea-camellia (C. oleifera) is a widely cultivated woody oil crop in Southern China and Southeast Asia. The genome of oiltea-camellia was very complex and not well explored. Recently, genomes of three oiltea-camellia species were sequenced and assembled, multi-omic studies of oiltea-camellia were carried out and provided a better understanding of this important woody oil crop. In this review, we summarized the recent assembly of the reference genomes of oiltea-camellia, genes related to economic traits (flowering, photosynthesis, yield and oil component), disease resistance (anthracnose) and environmental stress tolerances (drought, cold, heat and nutrient deficiency). We also discussed future directions of integrating multiple omics for evaluating genetic resources and mining key genes of important traits, and the application of new molecular breeding and gene editing technologies to accelerate the breeding process of oiltea-camellia.

PD14-10 EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL TOXICITY ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY INCONTINENCE TREATMENT

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD14-10 EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL TOXICITY ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY INCONTINENCE TREATMENT Azizou Salami, Benjamin Green, Anna Najor, Whitney Clearwater, and Nitya Abraham Azizou SalamiAzizou Salami More articles by this author , Benjamin GreenBenjamin Green More articles by this author , Anna NajorAnna Najor More articles by this author , Whitney ClearwaterWhitney Clearwater More articles by this author , and Nitya AbrahamNitya Abraham More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003261.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a financially burdensome condition, costing US patients over 20 billion dollars annually. The individual financial burden has not been well described and warrants further study. Financial toxicity (FT) is the economic stress associated with the direct and indirect costs of treatment for a condition. Moderate-to-severe FT is associated with medication rationing and delaying care. This is the first study to characterize FT associated with the treatment of UI. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling of new patients presenting with UI at an academic practice in the Bronx, NY from April to October of 2022. The validated COST tool (Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity) was used to measure FT. “Low-FT” was defined as COST scores ≥26 and “moderate-to-severe FT” for COST scores <26, based on prior studies. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) was used to measure UI severity. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were performed using SPSS v28. RESULTS: 79 patients were surveyed. All were female, with 30% identifying as Black and 45% as Latinx. The average age was 57.2±12.4. 83% of subjects had Medicare or Medicaid and 34% had private insurance. The mean ICIQ score was 14.1±3.2, and the mean COST score was 20.1±9.9. Most participants (65.8%) had “Moderate-to-severe FT” (COST scores <26). Compared to those with low-FT, those with moderate-to-severe FT were less likely to have private insurance (p=0.004) and more likely to use public transportation (p=0.004), have a greater number of unmet social needs (p<0.001), and a higher ICIQ score (p=0.009). The groups were not significantly different in age, race, ethnicity, or insurance type. CONCLUSIONS: 66% of women with UI in our study cohort experienced moderate-to-severe FT. Worse FT was associated with worse symptoms and increased barriers to healthcare. Given the high burden of FT in this patient population, urologists should consider routinely measuring FT in patients with UI and connect them to financial resources when necessary. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e416 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Azizou Salami More articles by this author Benjamin Green More articles by this author Anna Najor More articles by this author Whitney Clearwater More articles by this author Nitya Abraham More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Caregiver preferences for physically harsh discipline of children in rural Uganda

PurposePhysically harsh discipline is associated with poor developmental outcomes among children. These practices are more prevalent in areas experiencing poverty and resource scarcity, including in low- and middle-income countries. Designed to limit social desirability bias, this cross-sectional study in rural Uganda estimated caregiver preferences for physically harsh discipline; differences by caregiver sex, child sex, and setting; and associations with indicators of household economic stress and insecurity.MethodThree-hundred-fifty adult caregivers were shown six hypothetical pictographic scenarios depicting children whining, spilling a drink, and kicking a caregiver. Girls and boys were depicted engaging in each of the three behaviors. Approximately half of the participants were shown scenes from a market setting and half were shown scenes from a household setting. For each scenario, caregivers reported the discipline strategy they would use (time out, beating, discussing, yelling, ignoring, slapping).ResultsTwo thirds of the participants selected a physically harsh discipline strategy (beating, slapping) at least once. Women selected more physically harsh discipline strategies than men (b = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26 to 0.54). Participants shown scenes from the market selected fewer physically harsh discipline strategies than participants shown scenes from the household (b = -0.51; 95% CI, -0.69 to -0.33). Finally, caregivers selected more physically harsh discipline strategies in response to boys than girls. Indicators of economic insecurity were inconsistently associated with preferences for physically harsh discipline.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of physically harsh discipline preferences warrant interventions aimed at reframing caregivers’ approaches to discipline.

Preserving Equity of Access in Times of Economic Stress

Preserving Equity of Access in Times of Economic Stress

Effects of Maternal Economic Stress on Preschoolers’ Problem Behaviors: Mediating Effects of Maternal Depression, Marital Conflict, and Positive Parenting

본 본 연구에서는 만 3~5세 유아 491명과 이들의 어머니를 대상으로 어머니가 지각하는 경제적 스트레스가 어머니의 우울, 부부갈등 및 긍정적인 양육행동을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 미치는 영향을 검증하였다. 본 연구의 주요 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 첫째, 어머니의 경제적 스트레스는 유아의 문제행동에 직접적인 영향을 미치지 않았다. 둘째, 간접적인 영향의 경우, 어머니의 경제적인 스트레스가 우울을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 이르는 경로, 부부갈등과 긍정적인 양육행동을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 이르는 경로, 어머니의 경제적인 스트레스가 우울, 부부갈등 및 긍정적인 양육행동을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 이르는 경로가 유의하였다. 하지만 어머니의 경제적인 스트레스가 부부갈등과 긍정적 양육행동 각각을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 영향을 주는 경로와 우울과 부부갈등을 통해 유아의 문제행동에 영향을 주는 경로는 유의하지 않았다. 본 연구는 유아의 문제행동에 미치는 가정환경 요인, 특히 어머니 우울의 영향력을 확인하였다는 데 의의가 있다. 본 연구의 결과는 경제적 스트레스를 경험할 경우 이로 인해 우울 수준이 높아지는 것을 차단할 필요성을 강조하며, 유아기 문제행동의 예방 혹은 감소를 위해서는 부부관계 및 양육행동을 포함한 가정환경적인 변인도 중요하지만 어머니의 우울을 예방하고 감소시키기 위한 개입 방안을 마련할 필요가 있음을 제안한다.The purpose of this study was to examine the direct effect of maternal perceptions of economic stress on preschoolers’ problem behaviors and the indirect effects through maternal depression, marital conflict, and maternal positive parenting behavior. A total of 491 mothers of 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers participated in this study, and data were collected through the mother’s report. Using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 23.0, data were analyzed using the t-test, correlations, and structural equation modeling (SEM). The main results are summarized as follows. First, maternal economic stress did not directly affect preschoolers’ problem behaviors. Second, maternal economic stress had an indirect effect on preschoolers’ problem behaviors through maternal depression, and through marital conflict and positive parenting behavior, and through depression, marital conflict, and positive parenting behavior. In other words, the economic stress that mothers recognized had indirect effects on preschoolers’ problem behaviors through maternal depression, marital conflict, and positive parenting behaviors. Our study findings emphasize the importance of maternal depression in preschoolers’ problem behaviors. The results of this study are expected to be used as an empirical foundation for developing programs to prevent preschoolers’ problem behaviors.

Factors Influencing Suicidal Ideation in Middle Aged Adults: Focused on Gender Differences

Purpose: This study investigated levels of economic stress, depression, existential well-being, and family function, and analyzed their influences on suicidal ideation in middle aged adults.Methods: This study included 217 adults aged of 40~65 years. Data were collected from July to August 2019. Data were analyzed separately according to the genders. Descriptive analysis, t-test, Cronbach’s ⍺, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression were conducted using SPSS 23.0 software.Results: The suicidal ideation of the subjects had positive correlations with economic stress and depression but negative correlations with existential well-being and family function. The most significant factor affecting suicidal ideation of middle aged men was depression (β=.68, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), with an overall explanatory power of 46.8%, while the suicidal ideation of middle aged women was substantially affected by depression (β=.53, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), marriage status (β=-.17, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.028), and presence of chronic diseases (β=.16, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.030), with an overall explanatory power of 41.6%.Conclusion: The origins of suicidal ideation in middle aged men and women were different. Therefore, suicide prevention plans, nursing interventions, and policies for middle aged adults must consider gender differences.

Need Analysis of Indian Critical Health Care Delivery in Government Sectors and Its Impact on the General Public: A Time to Revamp Public Health Care Infrastructure.

Poverty is directly linked to public health care delivery in many ways and dimensions. Every aspect of the human sphere is preplanned, but a health crisis is the only emergency which pushes humanity into severe economic stress. Therefore, every nation aims to safeguard its citizens from a health crisis. In this aspect, India needs to improve its public health infrastructure in order to protect its citizens and save them from poverty. (1) To assess the current pitfalls in public critical health care delivery, (2) to analyze whether the health care delivery matches the requirements of its population in every state, (3) to produce solutions and guidelines to overcome the stress in this priority area. Data regarding the critical care workforce, which includes critical care doctors and nurses, were taken from official websites and other sources. Critical care infrastructure data were retrieved from the Internet sources. Data were validated by consulting state government sources and cross-checked for bias elimination. The data were analyzed using the "Statistical Package for Social Sciences" software version 20, and were presented using descriptive statistics. There is a 1:10 percentage of deficit in the case of critical care workforce and infrastructure when compared with its need analysis. Critical care medicine specialists are in 1:75 when compared to other specialties. Overall, the public sector critical care needs a total boost through out of box solutions. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India spent the third most on defense in the world in 2021. India spent 76.6 billion dollars on its military in 2021, up 33% from 2012 and 0.9% from 2020. However, since India is considered a fast-growing economy, there is still a huge disparity in critical care. Without resetting critical health care, India cannot grow in welfare indices even if it is among the top gross domestic product (GDP) countries. Prabu D, Gousalya V, Rajmohan M, Dinesh MD, Bharathwaj VV, Sindhu R, et al. Need Analysis of Indian Critical Health Care Delivery in Government Sectors and its Impact on the General Public: A Time to Revamp Public Health Care Infrastructure. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(4):237-245.

Changes in socioeconomic resources and mental health after the second COVID-19 wave (2020–2021): a longitudinal study in Switzerland

BackgroundDuring the 2020/2021 winter, the labour market was under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in socioeconomic resources during this period could have influenced individual mental health. This association may have been mitigated or exacerbated by subjective risk perceptions, such as perceived risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 or perception of the national economic situation. Therefore, we aimed to determine if changes in financial resources and employment situation during and after the second COVID-19 wave were prospectively associated with depression, anxiety and stress, and whether perceptions of the national economic situation and of the risk of getting infected modified this association.MethodsOne thousand seven hundred fifty nine participants from a nation-wide population-based eCohort in Switzerland were followed between November 2020 and September 2021. Financial resources and employment status were assessed twice (Nov2020–Mar2021, May–Jul 2021). Mental health was assessed after the second measurement of financial resources and employment status, using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). We modelled DASS-21 scores with linear regression, adjusting for demographics, health status, social relationships and changes in workload, and tested interactions with subjective risk perceptions.ResultsWe observed scores above thresholds for normal levels for 16% (95%CI = 15–18) of participants for depression, 8% (95%CI = 7–10) for anxiety, and 10% (95%CI = 9–12) for stress. Compared to continuously comfortable or sufficient financial resources, continuously precarious or insufficient resources were associated with worse scores for all outcomes. Increased financial resources were associated with higher anxiety. In the working-age group, shifting from full to part-time employment was associated with higher stress and anxiety. Perceiving the Swiss economic situation as worrisome was associated with higher anxiety in participants who lost financial resources or had continuously precarious or insufficient resources.ConclusionThis study confirms the association of economic stressors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the exacerbating role of subjective risk perception on this association.

Joint Food and Water Insecurity Had a Multiplicative Effect on Women’s Depression in Urban Informal Settlements in Makassar, Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundWomen living in urban informal settlements may be particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic because of increased economic and psychosocial stressors in resource-limited environments. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the associations between food and water insecurity during the pandemic and depression among women living in the urban informal settlements in Makassar, Indonesia. MethodsWe implemented surveys at 3 time points among women enrolled in the Revitalizing Informal Settlements and their Environments trial. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—10 (CESD-10) between November and December 2019 and again between February and March 2021. Food insecurity was measured using questions from the Innovation for Poverty Action’s Research for Effective COVID-19 Reponses survey and water insecurity was measured using the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Short Form. Both were measured between August and September 2020. We built 3 multivariate quantile linear regression models to assess the effects of water insecurity, food insecurity, and joint food and water insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic on CESD-10 score. ResultsIn models with the full sample (n = 323), food insecurity (β: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.79, 2.17), water insecurity (β: 0.13; 95% CI: −0.01, 0.26), and joint food and water insecurity (β: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.43, 3.38) were positively associated with CESD-10 score. In subgroup analyses of respondents for whom we had prepandemic CESD-10 scores (n = 221), joint food and water insecurity (β: 1.96; 95% CI: 0.78, 3.15) maintained the strongest relationship with CESD-10 score. A limitation of this study is that inconsistency in respondents from households across the survey waves reduced the sample size used for this study. ConclusionsOur results find a larger association between depression and joint resource insecurity than with water or food insecurity alone, underlining the importance of addressing food and water insecurity together, particularly as they relate to women’s mental health and well-being.

Economic Stress, Employee Commitment, and Subjective Well-Being

COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented health and economic crises across the world. Millions of businesses have been obliged to shut down, and millions of jobs have been lost. These effects have created a very severe economic-related stress level, which can have consequences on psychological well-being (PWB) and economic commitment (EC). This study examined the relationships between objective and subjective indicators of income-related stress and employment-related stress and PWB and EC. The 697 participants were contacted during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample includes private-sector employees, civil service employees, self-employed, furloughed employees, and unemployed. Results show that the economic stress produced by COVID-19, as estimated by a compound of objective and subjective income-and employment-related stress, produced a negative effect on PWB (r = .21, p .001) and EC (r = .29, p .001). Multiple regression showed that subjective income-related stress was the main predictor of PWB, positive affect, and negative affect and that economic deprivation and objective employment-related stress were the predictors of EC and its three components, affective, normative, and continuity. Finally, the contribution and some practical implications of the findings are discussed.

The Differential Impact of Different COVID-19 Stressors on Complex PTSD, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and Executive Functions in Kuwait

Abstract. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential impact of various COVID-19 stressors (economic, infection fears, grief, and lockdown stressors) and their cumulative impact on peri-post-COVID-19 syndrome. Peri-post-COVID-19 syndrome (PPCS) is a mental health and cognitive syndrome associated with chronic traumatic stress, particularly COVID-19. The sample consisted of 490 Kuwaiti citizens aged 18–60 years ( M = 24.97, SD = 9.10), with 66.3% being female. Data were collected from October 2021 to January 2022. We assessed how individuals felt about COVID-19 stressors, cumulative traumatic events and stressors, complex PTSD (CPTSD), PTSD, anxiety, depression, and executive functions. A structural equation was used to test the differential and cumulative impact of COVID-19 stressors. COVID-19 cumulative stressors, especially lockdown, had the strongest correlation with CPTSD. The highest variance was accounted for by lockdown stressors ( R2 = .752). COVID-19 cumulative stressors had a medium-to-large effect on PPCS. In the affluent Kuwaiti context, lockdown stressors appear to have a greater impact on mental health and executive dysfunction than other COVID-19 stressors. In the PPCS, CPTSD appears to be the most robust outcome variable. Conceptually, the study provided preliminary evidence of the PPCS and associated cognitive deficits as powerful drivers for COVID-19 and of continuous/prolonged traumatic stress for COVID-19. The study highlighted the need for innovation in developing multiparameter intervention strategies with a pericognitive and cognitive training component to address the multiple impacts of the pandemic.

Mental health of agricultural adolescents and adults: Preliminary results of a five-year study.

Work-related stressors common to agriculture have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes among adult farmers and ranchers. However, the mental health status of agricultural youth is unknown, despite farm and ranch youth being exposed to the same occupational hazards as their adult counterparts. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety among farm adults and their adolescent child and examine the correlation between symptoms of mental health conditions and financial indicators described in the Family Stress Model (FSM). Farm families were recruited to participate in online surveys by mail, email, and social media. One adolescent and at least one adult from each family were invited to complete on online survey. Where available, validated instruments were used to collect mental health, stress, family dynamics, and household financial variables. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sample demographics and prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Pearson correlations describe associations between variables within the Family Stress Model. Farm families (N = 122) completed the online survey. The mean age of farm parents was 41.4 years (SD = 4.4) and the mean age of farm adolescents was 15.4 (1.2). A majority of farm parents and farm adolescents were male, 58.2% and 70.5%, respectively. The sample was primarily white, non-Hispanic. In this sample of farm parents and adolescents alike, 60% met the criteria for at least mild depression, based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Patient Health Questionnaire-A (PHQ-A). Similarly, among adolescents, 45.1% met the criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), as did 54.9% of adults. As a measure of economic hardship, per capita income by itself showed relatively low correlations, even with other economic measures (r = 0.11 with negative financial events, r = 0.20 with financial needs, r = 0.17 with financial situation, and r = 0.27 with debt). Parent depressed mood was in turn highly associated with adolescent depression (r = 0.83), social anxiety (r = 0.54), and generalized anxiety (r = 0.69). The results show a strong association between parent and adolescent mental health and parental depressed mood and debt. There is not a clear association between economic stress and mental health in this sample, but further work is needed to be done at a population level. Preliminary results are promising for application of the full Family Stress Model as we continue to accrue farm families into the study cohort.

The Price of Safety Versus the Cost of Living

“economic stresses may result in drivers displaying more cautious behaviors, such as adopting lower speeds and taking fewer road trips for holidays or for pleasure”