Indicators Of Mental Well-being Research Articles

A Study On The Effectiveness Of Workplace Health And Safety Practices Upon Employee Wellbeing At Sri Vigneshwara Cold Forge

This research paper explores effectiveness of employee workplace health and safety upon employee wellbeing which includes physical health, mental health, engagement, productivity and job satisfaction. Key variables including training programs, ergonomics measures, safety protocols and organizational support will be examined in relation to employee physical and mental wellbeing indicators such as injury rates, absenteeism, job satisfaction and stress levels. The total population is 200 and sample size is 132. The tools used for non-parametric U test, H test and Spearman Rank Correlation, Chi-square, Weighted average and Interval Estimation. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, interviews and data analysis, this research aims to suggest suitable health and safety measures for employee wellbeing for Sri Vigneshwara Cold Forge. Key words: Physical Health Impact, Safety Perception, Hazard Identification, Policy Compliance, Training Programs.

Prevalence and nature of workplace bullying and harassment and associations with mental health conditions in England: a cross-sectional probability sample survey

BackgroundEvidence on workplace bullying and harassment (WBH) in the UK has not used probability-sample surveys with robust mental health assessments. This study aimed to profile the prevalence and nature of WBH in England, identify inequalities in exposure, and quantify adjusted associations with mental health.MethodsData were from the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a cross-sectional probability-sample survey of the household population in England. Criteria for inclusion in the secondary analysis were being aged 16–70 years and in paid work in the past month (n = 3838). Common mental disorders (CMDs) were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised and mental wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Analyses were weighted. We examined associations between past-year WBH and current CMD using multivariable regression modelling, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Interaction terms tested for gender differences in associations. The study received ethical approval (ETH21220–299).ResultsOne in ten employees (10.6%, n = 444/3838) reported past-year experience of WBH, with rates higher in women (12.2%, n = 284/2189), those of mixed, multiple, and other ethnicity (21.0%, n = 15/92), and people in debt (15.2%, n = 50/281) or living in cold homes (14.6%, n = 42/234). Most commonly identified perpetrators of WBH were line managers (53.6%, n = 244/444) or colleagues (42.8%, n = 194/444). Excessive criticism (49.3%, n = 212/444), verbal abuse (42.6%, n = 187/444), and humiliation (31.4%, n = 142/444) were the most common types. WBH was associated with all indicators of poor mental health, including CMD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.65, 95% CI 2.02–3.49), and 11 of 14 mental wellbeing indicators, including lower levels of confidence (aOR 0.57, 0.46–0.72) and closeness to others (aOR 0.57, 0.46–0.72). Patterns of association between WBH and mental health were similar in men and women.ConclusionsThese findings reinforce a need for more cohesive UK legislation against WBH; guidance on recognition of bullying behaviours for employees, managers, and human resources, focusing on prevention and early intervention, and increased awareness of the impact of WBH on mental health among health service practitioners. Limitations include reliance on cross-sectional data collected before pandemic-related and other changes in workplace practices. Longitudinal data are needed to improve evidence on causality and the longevity of mental health impacts.

Religious Doubt and Mental Well-Being in Later Life: Is Humility a Protective Resource?

This study sought to integrate the study of virtue into the study of religious doubt and mental health by considering how a salient virtue, humility, may moderate the relationship between religious doubt and lower mental well-being. Drawing on data from a national sample of midlife and older adults ( N = 1,443) from the United States, regression results suggest that religious doubts were associated with greater depression and lower life satisfaction, and that humility was independently associated with lower depression and greater life satisfaction. Humility was also found to buffer the pernicious association between religious doubt and both indicators of mental well-being. Taken together, our study makes an important contribution by adding the study of the virtue of humility to a growing body of work on religious doubt. The process of dealing with religious doubt is complex and difficult, but the attempt to develop the virtue of humility may be efficacious in thwarting the deleterious consequences of managing the ebbs and flows of faith.

The interrelationship between pain, life satisfaction and mental health in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury, in the context of a developing country

Study designCross-sectional, analytical study design using a conveneient sampling strategy.ObjectivesTo examine the interrelationship between pain, life satisfaction and indices of negative mental well-being amongst the traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) population.SettingWestern Cape Rehabilitation Center in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsParticipants (n = 70) were adults (mean age of 36.3, SD = 9.2) with TSCI. Participants completed the following instruments: 10 satisfaction items from the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version, short forms of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a one-item measure of pain intensity taken from the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Data Set and the interference scale of the Brief Pain Inventory.ResultsCorrelational analysis (Pearson r) demonstrated that all the indices of mental well-being as well as the two indices of pain was significantly negatively related to life satisfaction. In addition, life satisfaction mediated the relationship between pain intensity and depression as well as anxiety. Life satisfaction only mediated the relationship between pain interference and depression but not anxiety.ConclusionsAn improvement in life satisfaction may lead to improvements in pain interference, pain intensity as well as psychological distress, amongst persons suffering from TSCI Future research should focus on assessing measures/treatment which may improve life satisfaction in the TSCI population.

A Literature Review of Health and Mental Well-being Indicators and Its Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa (2014-2022)

A Literature Review of Health and Mental Well-being Indicators and Its Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa (2014-2022)

Subjective well-being among PhD students in mainland China: the roles of psychological capital and academic engagement.

The mental well-being of PhD students is a major concern in higher education. However, very few studies have investigated the influencing factors of PhD students' subjective well-being (SWB) - an important indicator of mental well-being. Even no study on the influencing factors of PhD students' SWB has been undertaken in mainland China. Based on job demands-resources theory, the present study pioneers the investigation of the relationship between PhD students' psychological capital (PsyCap; comprising self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism) and SWB (comprising positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) in mainland China. It further examined the mediating role of academic engagement (comprising vigor, dedication, and absorption) in this relationship. PhD students (n = 376) from two comprehensive universities in Jiangsu province responded to an online survey. The results showed that (1) self-efficacy was positively associated with life satisfaction, hope was positively associated with positive affect, optimism was significantly associated with all three dimensions of SWB, but resilience was not significantly associated with any of the three SWB dimensions; and (2) dedication mediated the relationship between hope and life satisfaction and that between optimism and negative affect and life satisfaction, but vigor and absorption did not mediate any of the PsyCap-SWB relationships. Limitations and practical implications of this study are discussed.

TRANSITIONING TO WIDOWHOOD: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN MODERATING WELL-BEING OVER TIME

Abstract Prior studies indicate that widowhood may bring declines in both physical and mental health, but that social support may buffer against these declines. Social integration has also been found to alleviate widows’ depressive symptoms over time. However, less is known about whether social integration moderates the trajectory of well-being declines over longer periods of time post-widowhood. This study investigates whether social integration moderates the relationship between the transition to widowhood and changes in physical and mental well-being over time. A series of longitudinal multilevel models were run with data from participants (n=244-246) from five waves of the Social Integration and Aging study, collected every two years between 2013 and 2021. Depressive symptoms and subjective happiness were indicators of mental well-being, whereas basic and instrumental activities of daily living and total number of diseases were indicators of physical well-being. Social integration was assessed with the Social Integration in Later Life Scale (SILLS). Social integration moderated the relationship between widowhood and depressive symptoms such that increases in social integration resulted in greater reductions of depression scores over time among widows as compared to non-widows. Social integration similarly buffered against declines in physical functioning (i.e., increased basic activities of daily living) over time after widowhood occurred. No interaction effects of social integration on the relationship between widowhood and happiness or other physical well-being outcomes were found. These findings suggest social integration may be important for maintaining mental well-being and some aspects of physical health as older adults adjust to widowhood.

Prevalence and nature of workplace bullying and harassment and associations with mental health conditions in England: a cross-sectional probability sample survey

BackgroundEvidence on workplace bullying and harassment (WBH) in the UK has not used probability-sample surveys with robust mental health assessments. This study aimed to profile the prevalence and nature of WBH in England, identify inequalities in WBH exposure, and quantify adjusted associations with mental health. MethodsData were from the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a cross-sectional probability-sample survey of the household population in England, interviewed with verbal informed consent. Criteria for inclusion in the secondary analysis were being aged 16–70 years and in paid work in the past month (n=3838). Common mental disorders were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised and mental wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Analyses were weighted. We examined associations between past-year WBH and current common mental disorders using multivariable regression modelling, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Interaction terms tested for gender differences in associations. The study received ethics approval (ETH21220–299). FindingsOne in ten employees (10·6% (weighted), n=444/3838) reported past-year experience of WBH, with rates higher in women (12·2%, n=284/2189); those of mixed, multiple, and other ethnicity (21·0%, n=15/92); and people in debt (15·2%, n=50/281) or living in cold homes (14·6%, n=42/234). Most commonly identified perpetrators of WBH were line managers (53·6%, n=244/444) or colleagues (42·8%, n=194/444). Excessive criticism (49·3%, n=212/444), verbal abuse (42·6%, n=187/444), and humiliation (31·4%, n=142/444) were the most common types. WBH was associated with all adverse mental health indicators, including common mental disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2·65, 95% CI 2·02–3·49), and 11 of 14 mental wellbeing indicators, including lower levels of confidence (aOR 0·57, 0·46–0·72) and of closeness to others (aOR 0·57, 0·46–0·72). Patterns of association between WBH and mental health were similar in men and women. InterpretationThese findings reinforce a need for more cohesive UK legislation at the national level; guidance on recognition of bullying behaviours for employees, managers, and human resources at the organisational level, focusing on prevention and early intervention, and increased awareness of the impact of WBH on mental health among health-service practitioners. Study limitations include reliance on cross-sectional data collected before pandemic-related and other major changes in workplace practices. Longitudinal data are needed to improve evidence on causality and the longevity of mental health impacts. FundingUK Prevention Research Partnership.

The Solution-focused Intervention for Mental health to promote adolescent mental well-being

Abstract With its compensatory mandate, the school is essential for health-promoting interventions. There are evaluated programs available that prevent mental problems, mental illnesses and various risk behaviours. However, there is a dearth of evaluated interventions designed to promote mental well-being in adolescents, which are adapted for upper secondary school. It was against this background that the development and evaluation of the Solution-focused Intervention for Mental health (SIM) began in 2018. This presentation will briefly overview the intervention, its components, design and results from feasibility studies. As an intervention programme, SIM consists of group-based coaching that starts from the core components and indicators of mental well-being and enjoying school. Thus, the intervention is based on a normative model of mental well-being; however, the dialogue conducted during the nine two-hour weekly group sessions is based on the solution-focused approach and its techniques. Specially trained teachers facilitating the content and process during group sessions lead SIM. The SIM programme is manual-based and designed to help students discover, explore, practice and develop existing personal resources in order to strengthen hedonic and eudemonic well-being. The teacher uses solution-focused coaching techniques to encourage the students to practise and discover how to utilise their existing resources. By focusing on what works small steps can be taken towards a desired future using indicators of well-being and solution-focused techniques. SIM has so far been tested in feasibility studies in 2019 (n∼140), 2021 (n∼200) and 2023 (n∼50). Results from focus group interviews, session scales ratings and pairwise testing of changes in well-being after compared to before interventions show promising results with increased well-being and total effect sizes ranging from Coheńs d of 0.19 to 0.59. SIM is now ready to be properly evaluated in a randomised controlled trial.

Social Capital and Mental Wellbeing of Older People Migrating along with Adult Children in Shenzhen, China.

The phenomenon of 'older people migrating along' (OPMA) with adult children is a unique outcome of social changes that have occurred in China. These individuals generally experience different challenges and needs associated with mental wellbeing. However, there is limited research on the relationship between the social capital and mental health of OPMA in China. This study aims to examine the mental health status of OPMA and the effects of bonding social capital and bridging social capital on their mental wellbeing in China by conducting a quantitative research survey among 399 OPMA participants. We found that bonding social capital correlated to only one indicator of mental wellbeing, subjective happiness. Bridging social capital had significant relationships with four mental health indicators, namely, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), subjective happiness, and life satisfaction. Through strengthening bridging social capital, these older adults can benefit from more opportunities for participation in formal or informal organizations in their communities and improve their mental wellbeing.

O.1.1-4 The relationships of mental well-being with physical activity during the COVID-19 in older adults

Abstract Purpose Negative mental well-being may hinder, and positive mental well-being facilitate physical activity (PA) when one’s daily routines are compromised. COVID-19 posed challenges to both mental well-being and PA, in Finland especially for those over 70, who faced the strictest restrictions. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the relationships of mental well-being with PA during the COVID-19 in two cohorts of different ages. Methods Data came from two population-based studies. Participants of the longitudinal TRAILS study (N = 162, 58% women, 60-61 years) were representative of their age cohort. Participants of the randomized controlled trial PASSWORD (N = 272, 60% women, 72-88 years) had attended a year-long multicomponent physical training intervention during 2017-2019. Self-reported changes in PA (increased vs. no change/decreased; decreased vs. no change/increased) and PA frequency (1-7; from “not at all” to “approximately daily”) during the COVID-19 were collected from April 2020 to June 2020 (PASSWORD) or July 2021 (TRAILS). Positive mental well-being was assessed by positive affect from the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF, score 1-5). Negative mental well-being indicators were negative affect (I-PANAS-SF, score 1-5) and depressive symptoms (TRAILS: General Behavioral Inventory, score 0-3; PASSWORD: Geriatric Depression Scale, score 0-15). Relationships between mental well-being and PA were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, adjusted by sex and, in PASSWORD, age. Results Positive affect was positively associated with increased PA (odds ratio (OR)=1.751-2.661, p = 0.013-0.034) and PA frequency (B = 0.489-0.550, p < 0.001-0.009) in both studies, and inversely with decreased PA in the PASSWORD (OR = 0.633, p = 0.024). Higher negative affect and depressive symptoms were associated with decreased PA in the PASSWORD (OR = 2.134, p = 0.004 and OR = 1.310, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, depressive symptoms were associated with lower PA frequency in both studies (TRAILS: B=-0.876, p = 0.004; PASSWORD: B=-0.105, p = 0.002). Conclusions Positive mental well-being was consistently and positively associated with PA during COVID-19 in older adults. Higher negative mental well-being was more clearly associated with poor PA behaviors in the older cohort facing stronger restrictions. Supporting positive mental well-being may be as important as reducing negative mental well-being to facilitate physically active lifestyle among older adults during exceptional circumstances. Funding The Academy of Finland (323541; 296843).

Positive psychology interventions can improve mental health for chronic pain patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective This study examines the efficacy of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) for patients with chronic pain through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PPIs are defined as strategies that involve focusing on positive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that improve mental health by increasing mental well-being and reducing psychological distress. Design The search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases. Main Outcome Measures Subjective, psychological, and social well-being were used as indicators of mental well-being, and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were used as indicators of psychological distress. Results: Nine studies were included. Eight studies evaluated subjective well-being, seven evaluated depression, and three evaluated anxiety symptoms. No studies examined psychological well-being, social well-being, or stress. PPIs were found to be effective in promoting subjective well-being post-treatment (Hedges’ g = 0.40; 95% CI [0.06, 0.73]) and reducing anxiety (Hedges’ g = −0.32, 95% CI [-0.59, −0.06]), but no significant results were found for depression (Hedges’ g = −0.23, 95% CI [-0.50, 0.04]). Conclusion The included investigations, while limited, suggest the utility of PPIs in mitigating the psychological consequences of chronic pain. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to implement PPI practices.

Effects of Fasting on the Physiological and Psychological Responses in Middle-Aged Men.

Tracking changes in the body during fasting takes into account indicators of mental well-being and physiological parameters. The aim of the study was to measure psychological and physiological reactions, along with their mutual relations, caused by 8 days of water-only fasting. Fourteen men aged 35 to 60 participated in the study, divided into two groups, younger and elder. In addition to physiological parameters, psychological data were collected using four different tests. The obtained results confirmed reduction in body weight, systolic blood pressure, resting diastolic blood pressure and glucose level, and increase in resting heart rate, cortisol and β-hydroxybutyrate concentration. However, no significant psychological changes were observed under the influence of fasting intervention. A significant interaction effect occurred for the state anxiety variable determined before and after the fasting intervention for both groups. Moreover, negative correlations between physiological (cortisol) and psychological factors of subjectively assessed stress were revealed. The only effect on cognitive ability was seen when responding to simple tasks. The study confirmed the beneficial effect of 8 days of water-only fasting on physiological variables without affecting mental well-being. The relatively high level of well-being after fasting intervention was independent of the physiological indicators of stress.

Embracing life's challenges: Developing a tool for assessing resilient mindset in second wave positive Psychology

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the Resilient Mindset Scale (RMS), a brief tool designed to measure resilient mindset among Turkish individuals. Additionally, the study aims to explore the relationship between resilient mindset and mental well-being among adolescents and young adults, providing further evidence in this domain. The exploratory factor analysis, conducted with a sample of 327 participants, revealed that the RMS has a unidimensional structure consisting of six items that effectively measure core indicators of a resilient mindset. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis, conducted with a sample of 338 participants, confirmed the one-factor structure, demonstrating a good-data model fit with strong factor loadings and internal reliability estimates. Further analyses demonstrated moderate to strong correlations between resilient mindset and mental well-being indicators. Moreover, the latent variables path model revealed that the measurement model had a moderate to strong predictive effect on positive academic functioning, psychological well-being, and psychological distress. These findings establish the psychometric reliability and validity of the RMS as a measurement tool for assessing a resilient mindset among adolescents and young adults. Mental health providers can integrate the concept of a resilient mindset into therapeutic approaches and interventions to foster resilience and enhance mental well-being.

I can see (myself) clearly now: Exploring the mediating role of self-concept clarity in the association between self-compassion and indicators of well-being.

Is there a connection between loving oneself, knowing oneself, and mental well-being? Self-compassion-a construct that consists of self-kindness, acknowledgment of common humanity, and mindfulness-is associated with numerous positive outcomes including indicators of mental well-being. However, little research exists exploring the mechanism(s) by which self-compassion operates to influence these outcomes. It is possible that self-concept clarity, or the extent to which one's self-beliefs are clearly defined and stable, acts as such a mechanism. In the current study, we explored the mediating role of self-concept clarity in the associations between self-compassion and three indicators of mental well-being: perceived stress, depressive symptomatology, and life satisfaction. Self-compassion was significantly associated with each of the three indicators of well-being. Additionally, self-concept clarity statistically mediated the relationships between self-compassion and depressive symptomatology, perceived stress, and satisfaction with life. The results of this study suggest a potential mechanism by which self-compassion is associated with greater well-being.

A review of health and mental well-being indicators and its assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Health and mental well-being are shaped by multiple factors which should be considered for a wholistic assessment. This need is strengthened considering that health is not just the absence of illness but a complete state of well-being. This fact leads to a sharp turn to psychological measures for understanding and ascertaining the construct which has been explored extensively in developed countries. Understanding the construct through the sub-Saharan African lense becomes necessary for accuracy in the assessment to improve the population’s health mental-well-being and to reduce the risk of those impending effects in case of the reverse. With the need for comprehension across multiple factors, scientific consensus is considered necessary for reflexivity and applicability, deployable at medium-scale level. Adapting the POWER framework while leveraging the Web of Science data base complemented with random Google-led searches, this paper reviewed related literature on mental health and well-being revealing that the construct is fast gaining attention in sub-Saharan African space with heavy reliance on western-developed/validated assessment instruments majorly deployed as paper-pencil. The adaptive forms which are largely non-existent becomes a direction for research considering the need for accuracy in mental well-being and a framework for action to ensure transdisciplinary science of sustainability which is fast-gaining relevance for tackling complex problems in a bid to promote health and mental well-being in a targeted population.

Associations of time spent gardening with mental wellbeing and life satisfaction in mid-to-late adulthood

There is relatively limited research investigating the mental health benefits of gardening. In this cross-sectional study, survey data from 4,919 middle-aged and older adults (46–80 years, 57% women) from Brisbane, Australia, were used to examine the associations of time spent gardening (0, 1–149 or ≥150 min/week) with indicators of mental wellbeing (measured with the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale) and singe-item measure of life satisfaction. We also investigated whether such associations differed between younger and older age groups (≤63 years and >64 years). Multilevel linear regression models were used to control for individual- and area-level confounders (e.g., gender, neighbourhood disadvantage). Of all participants, 37% reported no gardening, 42% reported gardening for 1–149 min weekly, and 21% reported ≥150 min of weekly gardening. Compared to participants who did not engage in gardening, those who gardened for ≥150 min per week were more likely to report better mental wellbeing (β = 0.64, 95% CI [0.35, 0.93], p < .001; range 7–35) and life satisfaction (β = 0.33, 95% CI [0.18, 0.48], p <. 001; range 1–10). Stratified analyses revealed that these effects were stronger for participants aged 64 years and older. These findings contribute to a burgeoning body of research that indicates gardening may be beneficial for mental health and life satisfaction, that gardening for at least 2.5 hrs per week is linked with better mental health outcomes, and that gardening may be particularly beneficial for older adults.

Swiping Away Your Well-Being? Examining Well-Being Indicators Among TikTok Account Holders

Social media platforms continue to increase in popularity and number. Although many associations between social media and user health interactions have been explored, little to no research has investigated TikTok, a recently released social media platform, and its individual interactions with user mental and physical well-being variables. To address this gap, we administered an online questionnaire to a group of college students (n = 407) at Brigham Young University – Idaho about their social media use, mental, and physical well-being. We observed potential differences among TikTok account holders and non-TikTok users using a series of independent-samples t tests with Bonferroni correction. Although TikTok account holders reported higher negative mental well-being indicators than their nonuser counterparts in almost all measured areas, these relationships were only consistent among female TikTok account holders. Conversely, our findings of significantly higher reported consumption of sugary drinks across our entire sample, t(403) = 3.41, p = .001, d = 0.33, only maintained significance among male participants, t(141) = 3.04, p &lt; .001, d = 0.50. As such, female TikTok account holders reported consistently worse mental health and well-being indicators than non-TikTok users. Building on our findings, we call for future research to better understand the nature of these relationships for both TikTok and other social media users’.

Worries about inadequate medical treatment in case of a COVID-19 infection: the role of social inequalities, COVID-19 prevalence and healthcare infrastructure

BackgroundThis study investigates individual and regional determinants of worries about inadequate medical treatment in case of a COVID-19 infection, an important indicator of mental wellbeing in pandemic times as it potentially affects the compliance with mitigation measures and the willingness to get vaccinated. The analyses shed light on the following questions: Are there social inequalities in worries about inadequate medical treatment in case of a COVID-19 infection? What is the role of the regional spread of COVID-19 infections and regional healthcare capacities?MethodsBased on data derived from the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP), a representative sample of the German population aged 18 years and over, we estimated multilevel logistic regression models with individual-level (level 1) and regional-level (level 2) variables. The regional variables of interest were (a) the number of COVID-19 infections, (b) the number of hospital beds as an overall measure of the regional healthcare capacities, and (c) the number of free intensive care units as a measure of the actual capacities for treating patients with severe courses of COVID-19.ResultsWomen, older respondents, persons with migrant background and those with a lower socioeconomic status were more likely to report worries about inadequate medical treatment in case of a COVID-19 infection. Moreover, respondents with chronic illness, lower subjective health and those who consider COVID-19 as a threat for their own health were more likely to report worries. In addition, also regional characteristics were relevant. Worries were more common in poorer regions with higher COVID-19 infections and worse health infrastructure as indicated by the number of hospital beds.ConclusionsThe analysis not only indicates that several social groups are more concerned about inadequate medical treatment in case of a COVID-19 infection, but also highlights the need for considering regional-level influences, such as the spread of the virus, poverty rates and healthcare infrastructure, when analyzing the social and health-related consequences of the pandemic.

Loneliness in pregnant and postpartum people and parents of children aged 5 years or younger: a scoping review

BackgroundDespite evidence that loneliness increases during times of transition, and that the incidence of loneliness is highest in young adults, loneliness during pregnancy and new parenthood has not been developed as a program of research. Because loneliness research has primarily focused on older adults and other high-risk populations, the concept of loneliness and its effects on this population are not well understood, leaving a gap in our understanding of the psychosocial needs and health risks of loneliness on pregnant people and new parents. A scoping review has been completed in order to map and synthesize the literature on loneliness experienced during pregnancy and the first 5 years of parenthood prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsTo address the aim of this review, a wide net was cast in order to detect experiences of perinatal or parental loneliness and/or instances where loneliness was measured in this population. Among the inclusion criteria were loneliness in people who were pregnant, who were parents in the postpartum period, or who had children aged 5 years or younger. A search for literature was conducted in December 2020 using nine databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Elsevier), SCOPUS (Elsevier), Cochrane Library including CENTRAL (Wiley), CINAHL (Ebscohost), PsycINFO (Ebscohost), Dissertations & Theses Global (ProQuest) and Sociological s (ProQuest), and the Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate).ResultsPerinatal and parental loneliness studies are limited and have rarely been targeted and developed through a program of research. Loneliness inquiry in this population was frequently studied in relation to other concepts of interest (e.g., postpartum depression). Alternatively, the importance of loneliness emerged from study participants as relevant to the research topic during qualitative inquiry. Across studies, the prevalence of loneliness ranged from 32 to 100%. Loneliness was commonly experienced alongside parenting difficulties, with parents feeling as though they were alone in their struggles.ConclusionsAs loneliness has been called a sensitive indicator of mental wellbeing, we believe screening will help healthcare professionals identify common difficulties and early signs of depression experienced during pregnancy and parenthood.Systematic review registrationThe protocol is available on Open Science Framework at DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BFVPZ.