Experience Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

How Did Levels of Psychological Distress and Perceptions of Workplace Support amongst Children’s Social Work Staff Change during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Abstract Covid-19 brought about drastic changes in day-to-day life and working practices, and had a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of the general population. Certain professional groups have also been particularly affected. This study sought to explore how levels of psychological distress and perceptions of workplace support amongst social work staff changed during the pandemic. We present the results from a series of surveys conducted in four local authorities (LAs) in England, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social workers and other social care staff (n = 62) were asked about their experiences of psychological distress, using the twelve-item General Health Questionnaire. Overall, we found the proportion of staff reporting elevated levels of psychological distress increased and, in line with previous studies involving social workers, was high relative to the general population. Yet, most staff also said they had high levels of support from managers and colleagues, whilst a small proportion reported an increased perception of workplace support during the pandemic, compared to before. We consider these findings in relation to Organisational Support Theory and reflect on the ability of LAs to provide effective support for social care staff.

COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students' Mental Health in China: Age, Gender, Chronic Health Condition and Having Infected Relative as Risk Factors.

International students in China were among the first group of individuals to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic’s impact on their mental health is underexplored. This study—utilizing web-based survey data (N = 381), presents preliminary reports using ANOVA and MIMIC analytic approaches. Following the clinical demarcation of the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), we found 24.6%, 38.3%, and 43.6% of the students to suffer mild to extreme stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Female students reported significantly higher levels of stress and depression than males. Older students’ reports of stress were more substantial than younger students. Students who reported having a relative infected with the virus (vs. those without) experienced significantly higher anxiety and stress. Those who reported having pre-existing chronic health condition(s) (vs. those without) also reported significantly higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Moreover, students with an exercise routine (vs. those without) experienced significantly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Last, our MIMIC model results indicate that foreign students’ age, gender, chronic health status, and having a relative infected with the virus constitute significant risk factors explaining variations in foreign students’ experience of psychological distress. Implications for international students’ management have been thoroughly discussed.

The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Patients Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on global health. Post-infection, patients may experience mental health difficulties and therefore require suitable psychological treatment and support. The objective of this study was to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on patients who were recovering from the physical effects of the disease, and to examine socio-demographic correlates within one month of treatment at a tertiary healthcare facility in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was employed that utilized the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5. A questionnaire was administered to 250 patients, with data collected over three months. Mild to extremely severe scores of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by approximately 43%, 52% and 42% of participants, respectively, and 8% developed PTSD. The incidence of depression, anxiety, stress or PTSD was not significantly associated with gender, age or previous interaction with COVID-19 patients. Depression was significantly associated with levels of education, severity of COVID-19 disease and a patient’s current condition. Anxiety was associated with healthcare worker status. The severity of disease and a patient’s current condition were also linked to the levels of anxiety, stress and the presence of PTSD. Collectively, these results indicate that a high percentage of patients recovering from COVID-19 experience psychological distress.

Work coping, stress appraisal, and psychological resilience: Reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic among health care providers.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between perceived stress appraisals and coping style during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting distress reaction and effects on work engagement. Method: The sample (N = 423) was 78.6% female with average age and education of 38.5 and 18.4 years, respectively. Most respondents reported working in psychology/neuropsychology (31.7%) and rehabilitation/other therapies (29.7%). Surveys were distributed via Qualtrics among health care providers via listservs and referral emails from medical providers. Measures included: the Brief COPE Inventory, Work and Well Being Survey (UWES), Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7), and the Screening Tool for Psychological Distress (STOP-D). Results: Health care workers endorsing problem-focused coping styles had lower levels of perceived threat and higher levels of perceived control in their response to the pandemic. Problem-focused coping was negatively associated with anxiety and depression in reaction to the pandemic when compared with health care workers who endorsed an emotion-focused coping style. Higher stress appraisal in response to perceived threat from the pandemic was not associated with lower work engagement or enthusiasm. Conclusions: Findings support the impact of coping style on psychological distress and work engagement during pandemic, with implications that these factors may be important considerations for mitigation of distress and burnout for health care workers during times of high stress. Initiatives to improve resiliency and wellness in health care workers may examine modifiable interventions for coping style. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study suggests that, among health care workers, using a problem focused coping style in response to COVID-19 pandemic stress mitigates experience of psychological distress and burnout. Initiatives that focus on modifiable interventions for coping styles may improve wellness in health care workers during environments of high stress, such as a chronic pandemic state. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Caregiver or care receiver: Adolescents' experience of caregiving to a parent with severe mental illness: A qualitative study

AbstractExploring the experiences of adolescent caregivers of mentally ill parents is essential to understand their challenges and identify their care needs. Using a qualitative research design, 18 caregiving adolescents shared their experiences of living with and providing care to a parent with a severe mental illness. The analysis of the interviews resulted in the emergence of three main categories: (1) emotional exhaustion with associated subthemes of ‘ongoing worries’, ‘fear of loneliness’, ‘feeling of shame and guilt’ and ‘fear of discrimination and stigma’; (2) being trapped in a difficult situation with subthemes of ‘living a compromised life’, ‘alienating from peers’ and ‘caregiver rather than care receiver; and (3) adapting to the situation with subthemes of developing new skills and growing accountability. The study findings suggest that adolescent caregivers of parents with severe mental illness experience significant challenges and psychological distress associated with their caregiving role. They need to be supported by health care providers to develop strategies to adjust to their situation and maintain health and well‐being.

How and when frontline employees positively cope with supervisor ostracism: An attributional perspective

ABSTRACT Supervisor ostracism prevails in highly stressful workplace such as hospitality settings. However, the consequences of supervisor ostracism seem disparate. Some frontline employees (FLEs) experience psychological distress and choose to leave their jobs, while others tend to engage in positive behaviors to reshape their social environments. This study provides novel insights into the consequences of supervisor ostracism from a causal explanatory perspective. We propose that ostracized FLEs are likely to adopt the tactics of job crafting and supervisor-focused ingratiation to cope with supervisor ostracism, which subsequently leads to enhanced performance outcomes. Results from a two-wave and multisource survey reveal that FLEs are motivated to craft their jobs when they make internal attribution for supervisor ostracism, which, in turn, promotes their task performance. Furthermore, when FLEs attribute supervisor ostracism to relational factors, they are likely to ingratiate their supervisors, which improves citizenship performance. Contributions to literature and management practice are also addressed.

‘Doctor, I am so stressed out!’ A descriptive study of biological, psychological, and socioemotional markers of stress in individuals who self-identify as being ‘very stressed out’ or ‘zen’

Surveys report that about three-quarters of visits to general practitioners in America are for stress-related complaints. Animal and human studies have consistently demonstrated that exposure to acute and/or chronic stress leads to the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and to the production of catecholamines and glucocorticoids. Yet, many studies performed in humans do not report significant associations between subjective feelings of stress and increases in these stress biomarkers. Consequently, it is not clear whether the stress-related complaints of individuals are associated with significant increases in these stress biomarkers. In the present study, we measured whether individuals who self-identify as being ‘very stressed out’ or ‘zen’ present differences in psychological (depression and anxiety symptoms), biological (basal and reactive levels of glucocorticoids and alpha-amylase) and socioemotional (emotion regulation, mind wandering, personality, resilience and positive mental health) factors associated with stress. Salivary levels of cortisol and alpha-amylase were obtained in the home environment and in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test in 123 adults aged between 19 and 55 years. All participants completed questionnaires assessing the psychological and socioemotional factors described above. The results showed that groups significantly differed on almost all psychological and socioemotional factors, although we found no significant group differences on biological markers of stress (cortisol or alpha-amylase). These results suggest that when people complain of being ‘very stressed out’, what they may really be alluding to is an experience of psychological distress that is related to poor emotion regulation capacities. It is thus possible that the construct of stress used by people to discuss their internal state of 'stress' is quite different than the construct of stress measured in animal and human laboratories using biomarkers of 'stress'.

Center effects, therapist effects, and international student clients' drop out from psychotherapy.

In 2019-2020, 1,075,496 international students pursued higher education in the United States. Many of these students endure unique experiences of psychological distress that accompanies their shared experience of studying abroad in the United States. Researchers have explored clinical experiences within this diverse group, with some suggesting that international students are at greater risk than students from the United States for dropping out of psychotherapy. This issue is underexplored in the extant psychotherapy literature. Therefore, we used a large, national data set and multilevel analyses to test if international students are more likely than students from the United States to drop out of psychotherapy, defined in this study as failure to attend one's last scheduled session. Data from 65,293 clients (n = 3,970 international students), 2,735 therapists, and 131 university/college counseling centers were included in the analysis. Results revealed that (a) international students are no more likely to drop out than United States domestic students, (b) on average, centers (ICC = 0.045) and therapists (ICC = 0.071) are differentially effective at preventing drop out, and (c) therapist effects on drop out differ for international students. We discuss these findings with respect to therapist and center roles in international students' drop out from treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Living with Heart Failure during the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

IntroductionHeart Failure (HF) affects 6.2 million adults in the United States and its incidence increases with age. HF is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults, with the highest readmission rates when compared to other chronic conditions representing significant economic and health impact. Psychological distress including depression is prevalent in HF patients and has been shown to contribute to negative outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has had important implications for HF patients by heightening the risk of infection and HF acute exacerbations, as well as distancing patients from their support network impacting their wellbeing and quality of life. This study aimed to explore psychosocial experiences of those living with HF during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsQualitative research study that collected information with semi-structured interviews delivered by phone and a demographics and mental health history survey mailed to patients. 30 Patients were recruited from February to May 2021. All interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo.ResultsMean age was 72.6, 73% male, and 27% female. 27% reported previous or current depression diagnosis and 23% considered symptoms to be somewhat related to HF; 17% reported anxiety diagnosis that occurred either in the past or presently with 10% considering symptoms somewhat related to HF. There were 4 major categories identified. 1. Access to Medical Services, included themes about ability to connect with providers throughout the pandemic and adjustment to novel care models; challenges with hospitalizations that lacked family support and presence; and delay in emergency care. 2. Social Life and Routines, included the most common themes described by patients and the difficulties experienced within this category. Themes about the pivotal role of socialization and social support that were lost during the pandemic commonly emerged. Additionally, the resulting changes to family structures and routines, as well as themes related to the challenges of accessing public services like restrooms. 3. Fears and Health Consequences, included themes about the fear of COVID-19 infection, the potential health consequences, and the importance of prioritizing health and follow medical advice. Most participants described a sense of relief and hope once the vaccine became available. 4. Emotional Response, included themes related to mood decline and experiences of fear and frustration. Positive themes emerged related to masking which was normalized and helpful to those immunocompromised. Moreover, some described the benefits of connecting with others either using technology or spending more physical time at home because of the quarantine.ConclusionsHF patients have high healthcare needs, often experience psychological distress, and the COVID-19 pandemic presented important challenges to this population. Based on patients’ experiences, the pandemic impacted acces to care, contributed to illness exacerbations, hospitalizations, and psychological distress, as well as interrupted social connections which are an important source of wellbeing in a population that carries several physical limitations as a result of their underlying condition.This research was funded byInstitutional/Departmental Funding.

Incremental validity of the ICD-11 personality disorder model for explaining psychological distress.

Many persons with personality disorder experience psychological distress. The International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) contains a dimensional personality disorder model that comprises personality dysfunctioning, 5 maladaptive personality trait domains, and a borderline pattern qualifier. Research on the relations between the ICD-11 personality disorder model and psychological distress is sparse. Particularly, it is unclear whether personality dysfunctioning on the one side and the more specific personality traits in ICD-11 on the other side incrementally predict psychological distress. In addition, the incremental validity of the components of the ICD-11 personality disorder model beyond the five-factor model of normal-range personality as a widely accepted personality framework has not been established. In this study, we assessed the relations between self-report measures of the ICD-11 personality disorder model and psychological distress in 2 community samples (NSample 1 = 203, NSample 2 = 226). Except anankastia, all ICD-11 personality trait domains assessed with the Personality Inventory for ICD-11 and the borderline pattern qualifier assessed with the Borderline Pattern Scale were strongly related to psychological distress. In hierarchical regressions, the personality traits in ICD-11 incrementally predicted psychological distress beyond personality dysfunctioning, and vice versa. In addition, the components of the ICD-11 personality disorder model were substantially related to psychological distress beyond the corresponding normal-range Big Five personality traits. Our results demonstrate the criterion-related and incremental validity of self-report instruments assessing the ICD-11 personality disorder model, which supports their utility for screening and assessment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

“Now I Can See Things for What They Are”: The Experiences of Adult Children of Narcissists

This study drew on the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) and narrative therapy literature to explore the experiences of adult children of narcissists (ACON) to understand how they have made sense of their own experiences and protected themselves from adversity. Data from semi-structured interviews with six individuals who identified one of their parents as a narcissist were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The experiences of these participants were captured by four themes: “It’s a brutal way to be raised,” “A way forward: it was them not me,” “I see the tentacles of how deep and far and wide it goes,” and “The lost ideal.” “Journey of healing" was identified as the overarching theme that encapsulated the essence of the participants’ experiences. This study is the first phenomenological account of this hitherto under researched cohort. It has also extended the literature on the PTMF by demonstrating its utility in formulating ACON’s experiences of psychological distress. Findings illustrate how personal narratives can be used to facilitate individual recovery. These findings can potentially aid clinicians to better understand and support ACON in clinical settings. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2022.2048285 .

Abstract P4-10-20: Quality of life in Mexican young women with locally-advanced breast cancer: A cohort study

Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young women worldwide. This population usually presents with more advanced stages at diagnosis compared to their older counterparts, exposing them to more intensive treatments which compromise their quality of life (QOL). This study aims to determine the change in QOL in young women with locally-advanced BC over time. Methods: Women aged ≤40, newly diagnosed with locally-advanced BC from 2016 to 2020 at three cancer referral centers in Mexico and accrued in the Joven & Fuerte cohort were included and asked to complete the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires at diagnosis, six months, and one year follow-up. Differences in mean values were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA tests. The Mauchly's test was employed to assess the assumption of sphericity and if violated the Huynh-Feldt correction was used. Adjustment of multiple comparisons was performed with the Bonferroni correction. Results: A total of 195 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 35 years (IQR: 32-38) were analyzed. Most patients (59%) were married or in a domestic partnership and the majority (60%) were housewives or unemployed. The distribution of clinical stages at diagnosis was: IIB (41%), IIIA (39%), IIIB (11%), and IIIC (10%). Regarding treatment modalities, most patients underwent mastectomy (n=111, 57%), neoadjuvant (n=103, 53%) or adjuvant chemotherapy (n=79, 41%), and adjuvant endocrine therapy (n=106, 54%). QLQ changes over time are shown in the Table. Most functional scales worsened significantly at six months. Although most of them improved at one year of follow-up, they did not reach baseline levels. Certain symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, financial difficulties, and arm symptoms worsened from baseline. When analyzing QLQ changes according to the different treatment modalities (mastectomy vs lumpectomy), (neoadjuvant vs neoadjuvant/adjuvant vs adjuvant chemotherapy) and (receiving hormone therapy vs not) no significant differences were found in functional scales or BC symptoms over time. Conclusion: Young women with BC experience physical and psychological distress that negatively impacts their QOL. Several BC specific domains worsened from baseline, such as body imaging, sexual satisfaction, and arm symptoms. Thus, strategies aimed at addressing these specific areas are warranted. QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 at baseline, six months and one yearMean (SEM)NumberBaselineSix monthsOne yearp valueQLQ-C30Global health status14277.76 (1.65)73.53 (1.81)78.46 (1.59)0.047Physical Functioning14290.09 (0.93)86.62 (1.16)89.20 (1.02)0.026Role Functioning14286.97 (1.53)80.16 (1.86)87.68 (1.37)<0.001Emotional Functioning14275.12 (1.72)75.47 (1.81)73.01 (1.89)0.419Cognitive Functioning14282.75 (1.75)76.88 (1.75)77.93 (1.78)0.012Social Functioning14284.04 (1.83)77.70 (1.98)80.40 (1.82)0.015Fatigue14223.79 (1.53)29.89 (1.61)26.21 (1.50)0.002Nausea and vomiting1428.22 (1.23)11.39 (1.49)5.87 (1.22)0.012Pain14222.18 (1.87)21.95 (1.92)21.13 (1.67)0.876Dyspnea14210.80 (1.81)14.55 (1.68)10.09 (1.37)0.085Insomnia14226.29 (2.33)30.75 (2.43)27.23 (2.28)0.278Appetite Loss1429.39 (1.35)11.50 (1.45)8.45 (1.27)0.203Constipation14216.67 (2.28)20.42 (2.23)16.43 (1.94)0.259Diarrhea1428.45 (1.39)8.45 (1.35)5.87 (1.22)0.233Financial Difficulties14232.86 (2.56)38.73 (2.55)35.92 (2.60)0.161QLQ-BR23Body Imaging14280.69 (2.05)74.77 (2.15)76.64 (2.12)0.029Sexual Functioning14231.81 (2.33)24.77 (1.97)30.16 (1.99)0.009Sexual Enjoyment6162.84 (3.90)50.82 (4.45)50.27 (3.71)0.012Future Perspective14252.35 (2.67)49.30 (2.76)54.23 (2.46)0.245Systemic Therapy Side Effects14222.64 (1.46)29.21 (1.45)17.00 (1.01)<0.001Breast Symptoms14223.65 (1.95)17.96 (1.58)22.52 (1.47)0.022Arm Symptoms14217.14 (1.52)16.12 (1.56)20.27 (1.54)0.063Upset by hair loss12922.48 (3.07)24.55 (3.10)5.17 (1.62)<0.001 Citation Format: Cynthia Villarreal-Garza, Bryan F Vaca-Cartagena, Andrea Becerril-Gaitan, Alejandra Platas, Melina Miaja, Fernanda Mesa-Chavez, Ana S Ferrigno, Alan Fonseca, Marlid Cruz-Ramos, Lucero Labra, Enrique Bargallo-Rocha, Alejandro Mohar. Quality of life in Mexican young women with locally-advanced breast cancer: A cohort study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-20.

Climate justice is central to addressing the climate emergency’s psychological consequences in the Global South: a narrative review

The United Nations has signalled a ‘code red’, marking climate change as an existential threat for humanity. The world is rapidly warming, and the consequences of climate change include an increase and intensification in flooding, droughts, wildfires, and other traumatic exposures. Although countries in the Global South have contributed least to global warming, they are the most vulnerable owing to historical inequities. The concept of ‘climate justice’ recognises that historical racial discrimination, class disenfranchisement, political misrecognition, and other social injustices make surviving climate change and thriving within it more challenging. This narrative review considers the psychological consequences of the climate emergency through a climate justice lens. The article discusses the unequal exposures to psychological adversities, socio-historical barriers to adaptations and, finally, institutional betrayal that complicates the experience of psychological distress. The review concludes by pragmatically discussing how psychology could support climate justice ends.

Exploring experiences of psychological distress among Iranian parents in dealing with the sexual behaviors of their children with autism spectrum disorder: a qualitative study.

Sexual behavior is influenced by social and communication deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is a serious challenge for parents who lack effective strategies for providing sexual education to their children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to explore Iranian parents' experiences of psychological distress in dealing with the sexual behaviors of their children with ASD. This qualitative study was designed following the conventional content analysis approach. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 27 parents of children with ASD aged 8–34 years. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were collected through purposeful sampling and continued until data saturation. The worries theme was extracted from data interpretation using qualitative content analysis, and this theme entailed four subthemes: 1) sexual vulnerability, 2) unintended social consequences, 3) psychological suffering, and 4) confusion about the future of a child's sex life. This study emphasized the importance of paying attention to parents' concerns about the sexual behaviors of children with ASD. Parents' psychological distress is a major obstacle to proper coping with sexual behaviors, and using coping strategies may help reduce psychological distress in parents of children with ASD. Therefore, it is necessary to design, implement, and evaluate culture-appropriate educational programs to address parents' concerns regarding the sexual health of a child with autism.

“The Usual Challenges of Work Are All Magnified”: Australian Paediatric Health Professionals’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased stress and strain on health professionals. Focussing on paediatric cardiac care, this study explored health professionals’ concerns about COVID-19, perceptions of positive and adverse effects of the pandemic on healthcare, and experiences of psychological distress.

Social Disconnection and Psychological Distress in Canadian Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly challenged many men’s mental health. Efforts to control the spread of the virus have led to increasing social disconnection, fueling concerns about its long-term effects on men’s mental health, and more specifically their experience of psychological distress. Social disconnection, psychological distress, and the relationship between them have yet to be formally explored in a Canadian male sample during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study examined whether reduced social connection among men was associated with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms (psychological distress) and whether this association was moderated by living alone. The sample consisted of 434 help-seeking Canadian men who completed standardized measures. Analyses controlled for the potentially confounding effects of age and fear of COVID-19. Findings revealed that less social connection was associated with increased psychological distress. This association was not moderated by living alone, nor was living alone directly associated with psychological distress. Younger age and fear of COVID-19 were each independently associated with psychological distress. Socially disconnected men were more likely to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms, suggesting the need for interventions focussed on men’s social connectedness, social support, and belongingness to help reduce some COVID-19-induced mental health risks.

Abstract PO-013: Racial differences in smoking rates among low-income adults living in a large urban area

Abstract PURPOSE While smoking rates have decreased nationally, they remain elevated in underserved communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate smoking rates among race/ethnic groups in Chicago and for lower income levels across segregated neighborhoods served by a network of 6 federally qualified health center clinics. METHODS The Healthy Chicago Survey, an annual telephone survey of adults conducted by the Chicago Department of Public Health (2014-2018), was used to obtain rates and correlates of smoking using weighted analyses and linearized standard errors to account for the complex survey design and differential nonresponse. We examined city-wide estimates as well as a subsample composed of lower income (defined as <200% of the poverty level) residents of 3 geographic areas which represent roughly a quarter of Chicago adults (n=3,544 weighted to represent 517,271). RESULTS City-wide Chicago adults are 36% non-Hispanic (NH) White, 29% NH Black, and 26% Hispanic/Latino and have a smoking rate of 18.6% with 60% being daily smokers. The subsample results were 7% NH White, 49% NH Black, and 39% Hispanic Latino; smoking rate 26.8%. Background characteristics most associated with smoking include middle age (30-64 years), male sex, lesbian/gay/bisexual orientation, unmarried/no partner, NH Black, some college or less education, has no personal doctor, and experiences psychological distress. These relationships were consistent citywide and within the subsample except race/ethnic differences were less pronounced for those with lower income. NH Blacks, nearly half our low-income subsample, had the highest smoking rate (35.9%; 95% CI [33.1, 38.7]), followed by NH Whites (31.0 [23.6, 39.4]) with lower rates among Hispanic/Latinos (16.0 [13.4, 19.0]). The subsample comprised three distinct regions within the city with varying levels of race/ethnic diversity. CONCLUSION While tobacco use has declined over recent years there are significant disparities based on race and income. Among lower-income adults, NH Blacks, middle-aged, and males are at greater risk for smoking-related health conditions. Our findings demonstrate the higher rates of smoking among Black, medically underserved adults in low-income communities that contribute to health disparities. Citation Format: Alana D. Steffen, Larisa A. Burke, Cherdsak Duangchan, Karriem S. Watson, Alicia K. Watson. Racial differences in smoking rates among low-income adults living in a large urban area [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-013.

Peer-Peer Cultural Value Mismatch in the Dormitory During the Transition to College: Antecedents and Correlates.

This research focuses on peer-peer cultural value mismatch - perceived mismatch between collectivistic ideologies and practices of one student and individualistic ideologies and practices of another - among students living in the dormitories during the transition to college. Two survey studies examined the antecedents and correlates of two types of mismatch: (1) reciprocation mismatch: giving or offering a material or service to one's roommate but not receiving anything in return; and (2) not thinking of the other: feeling as though roommates are not considerate of one's feelings or schedule. Study 1: A sample of 110 students in their first year of college showed that being a first-generation college student increased the likelihood of experiencing reciprocation mismatch. Both forms of mismatch predicted experiences of psychological distress, reports of academic problems, and lower grades. Study 2: A sample of 152 (76 dormitory roommate pairs) first-year college students revealed that social-class differences in parental education between dormitory roommates predicted students' experiences with reciprocation mismatch. Students of lower parental education than their roommate reported significantly more mismatch. More mismatch experience was in turn linked to significantly higher levels of academic problems during the transition to college. Implications for research, residential life, and intervention are discussed.

Exploring COVID-19 patients\u2019 experiences of psychological distress during the disease course: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease with many unknown clinical and therapeutic dimensions. Patients with COVID-19 experience a variety of psychological problems during the disease. Understanding patients’ mental condition and their distress during the disease is the first step to help these patients. So, the aim of this study was to explain COVID-19 patients’ experiences of psychological distress during the disease course.MethodsThe present qualitative research was conducted in Iran from April 2020 to April 2021 using the conventional content analysis method. The participants included patients with COVID-19, selected by the purposeful sampling method. Data was collected through 34 telephone and in-person interviews and analyzed based on the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim.ResultsQualitative data analysis led to the emergence of sources of psychological distress as the main theme as well as seven categories and seven sub-categories. The categories were the disease’s nature (the subcategories of disease’s unknown dimensions, and disease severity), the anxiety caused by preventive behaviors (the subcategories of quarantine, worry about transmitting the infection to others and obsessive thoughts related to disinfection measures), the inefficient management by the health system (the subcategories of poor health care condition and lack of spiritual care), death anxiety, stigma, anxiety after recovery, and sleep pattern disturbance.ConclusionPatients with COVID-19 experience great psychological distress during the acute phase of the disease or even long after recovery. It is suggested that psychological and spiritual counseling, as a key element of treatment and support for these patients, is provided to patients in the acute phase of the disease, as well as after recovery. National and local media should boost awareness about the disease as a dangerous yet preventable and curable infectious disease. People should follow health instructions and leave their seeing the disease as a taboo.Trial registration numberNot applicable.

Systemic inflammation and emotional responses during the COVID-19 pandemic

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population mental health is of global concern. Inflammatory processes are thought to contribute to mental ill-health, but their role in experiences of psychological distress during the pandemic has not been investigated. We tested the hypothesis that elevated inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity plasma C-reactive protein [CRP] and plasma fibrinogen) measured pre-pandemic would be positively predictive of increased depressive symptoms experienced during the pandemic. Data were analysed from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), with 3574 individuals aged >50 for CRP and 3314 for fibrinogen measured in waves 8 (2016/17) or 9 (2018/19). Depressive symptoms were measured with a short version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) pre-pandemic (2016–2019) and during the pandemic (June/July 2020). Participants with higher baseline CRP concentrations had 40% higher odds of developing depressive symptoms during the pandemic (ORadjusted = 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.73, p = 0.003) after full adjustment. Fibrinogen concentrations were also associated with depressive symptoms during the pandemic (ORadjusted = 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.46, p = 0.019), but this association was no longer significant after controlling for lifestyle factors (smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity). In this large population study, systemic inflammation measured 1–3 years pre-pandemic was associated with greater depressed mood during the early months of the pandemic. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that higher levels of inflammation increase the vulnerability of older people to impaired mental health in the presence of the widespread stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.