Mental Health Of Young Adults Research Articles

Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults

Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults

Engagement, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of the Self-Care and Coach-Supported Versions of the Vira Digital Behavior Change Platform Among Young Adults at Risk for Depression and Obesity: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Adolescence and early adulthood are pivotal stages for the onset of mental health disorders and the development of health behaviors. Digital behavioral activation interventions, with or without coaching support, hold promise for addressing risk factors for both mental and physical health problems by offering scalable approaches to expand access to evidence-based mental health support. This 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated 2 versions of a digital behavioral health product, Vira (Ksana Health Inc), for their feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness in improving mental health in young adults with depressive symptoms and obesity risk factors. A total of 73 participants recruited throughout the United States were randomly assigned to use Vira either as a self-guided product (Vira Self-Care) or with support from a health coach (Vira+Coaching) for 12 weeks. The Vira smartphone app used passive sensing of behavioral data related to mental health and obesity risk factors (ie, activity, sleep, mobility, and language patterns) and offered users personalized insights into patterns of behavior associated with their daily mood. Participants completed self-reported outcome measures at baseline and follow-up (12 weeks). All study procedures were completed via digital communications. Both versions of Vira showed strong user engagement, acceptability, and evidence of effectiveness in improving mental health and stress. However, users receiving coaching exhibited more sustained engagement with the platform and reported greater reductions in depression (Cohen d=0.45, 95% CI 0.10-0.82) and anxiety (Cohen d=0.50, 95% CI 0.13-0.86) compared to self-care users. Both interventions also resulted in reduced stress (Vira+Coaching: Cohen d=-1.05, 95% CI -1.57 to --0.50; Vira Self-Care: Cohen d=-0.78, 95% CI -1.33 to -0.23) and were perceived as useful and easy to use. Coached users also reported reductions in sleep-related impairment (Cohen d=-0.51, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.01). Moreover, participants increased their motivation for and confidence in making behavioral changes, with greater improvements in confidence among coached users. An app-based intervention using passive mobile sensing to track behavior and deliver personalized insights into behavior-mood associations demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness for reducing depressive symptoms and other mental health problems in young adults. Future directions include (1) optimizing the interventions, (2) conducting a fully powered trial that includes an active control condition, and (3) testing mediators and moderators of outcome effects. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05638516; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05638516.

Linking belief in a just world and psychological capital to psychological basic needs satisfaction and mental health of young adults living with HIV: A comparative analysis

People living with HIV (PWH) have higher risks for negative experiences and emotions such as discrimination, self-blame, and denial, which make them vulnerable to mental health problems. Those living with HIV and are in the developmental stage of young adulthood (18–39 years) have added psychological challenges arising from the pressure to perform the developmental tasks of this stage, which may gratify or thwart basic psychological needs (BPNs) and impact their mental health. The study examined whether positive psychological attributes, including a belief in a just world (BJW) and psychological capital, could be resources for satisfying basic psychological needs, hence boosting the mental health of Young Adults Living with HIV (YALWH). A comparison sample of university students was also included in the study. The results show that BJW was positively directly associated with BPN satisfaction, BPN frustration, and mental health (flourishing aspect) in the student sample but not in the YALWH sample. Psychological capital was appositively associated with BPN satisfaction and flourishing in the student sample. On the other hand, psychological capital is only positively associated with BPN satisfaction and negatively with BPN frustration and distress in the YALWH sample. The serial medial analysis revealed that the effects of BJW on mental health (flourishing) are mediated by psychological capital and BPN satisfaction in both samples. On the other hand, the effects of BJW on distress are mediated by psychological capital and BPN frustration, again in both samples. Incorporating interventions for strengthening positive psychological attributes could be helpful for YALWH and other young adults to attain desirable developmental outcomes for this stage and their mental health.

Time in childhood extracurricular activity and mental health of young adults with developmental disability

BackgroundPeople with developmental disability have higher rates of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, psychological distress, or a limited sense of belonging to a community. Extracurricular activity can help children and adolescents build social connections beyond family, increasing social capital, which may promote mental health in the transition into adulthood. Little is known about such associations among people with developmental disability. ObjectiveTo examine associations of childhood extracurricular activity with mental health in young adulthood among people with and without developmental disability. MethodsData: Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID, 1968–2017), its Child Development Supplement (1997, 2002, 2007) and its Transition into Adulthood Supplement (2005–2019) (n = 2801). Time diaries measured time in activity. Outcomes were psychological distress (Kessler K6) and flourishing (Mental Health Continuum-Short Form). Adjusted linear regressions modeled associations. ResultsIn nationally representative results, 9.6 % (95 % confidence interval, CI 7.8, 11.4) had a disability. Children without disability reported more average weekly time in group activity, 125.1 min (CI 113.2, 136.9) vs. 93.6 (CI 55.1, 132.0; not significant at conventional levels). In adjusted results, “some” group activity (0–180 weekly minutes) was associated with greater flourishing for those with developmental disability (0.89; CI 0.16, 1.61). ConclusionAmong people with developmental disability, group activity in childhood was associated with greater flourishing in young adulthood. More research is needed to understand the complex nature of activity participation for children with developmental disabilities.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA'S EFFECTS UPON MENTAL WELL-BEING: INSIGHTS FROM YOUTH IN PAKISTANI CONTEXT

This research aims to investigate the nuanced association of social media with mental health in young adults from Pakistan. Using a mixed-method approach of surveys and semi-structured interviews with 18–25-year-olds (young adults) from urban/rural areas. It investigates several determinants related to its use, like social comparison, cyberbullying, sleep disturbances, and benefits of using it. Through situating the research within this cultural framework, more nuanced sympathetic of whether social media translates to poor mental health that can be gained through proper evaluation. This research, presumptive in understanding the nuance behind mental health conversations, will serve as the valuable way to deliver potential risks and benefits from exposure to different social media ends. It is predictable that these insights will inform similar future public health interventions as well as strategies to elicit responsible social media use may help in reducing the detrimental impact & enhancing the positive effects of digital technology upon mental well-being of youth in Pakistan to cater to situation in tailor-made format.

Serial Mediation Models of Future Anxiety and Italian Young Adults Psychological Distress: The Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Non-Pathological Worry.

Previous research has already examined the relationship between Future Anxiety, a construct recently introduced in Italy, and mental health in young adults, although possible mediating variables in this relationship have so far never been investigated. The present study attempts to fill this gap by exploring the incidence of Future Anxiety on psychological distress (i.e., Stress, Anxiety and Depression) in a group of 302 young Italian adults (18-30 years; M = 21.9; SD = 2.6; 49.0% males; 51.0% females), presenting and evaluating the simultaneous mediating effect of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Non-Pathological Worry. Findings highlighted how Future Anxiety had a positive and significant direct effect on Stress and Depression, but not on Anxiety. In the three serial mediation models proposed, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Non-Pathological Worry mediated the relationship between Future Anxiety and mental health outcomes. The results also confirmed the hypothesized serial mediation effect by highlighting how young adults with greater Future Anxiety experienced more Intolerance of Uncertainty, which positively affected Non-Pathological Worry levels and, in turn, exacerbated psychological distress. Finally, results indicated that female participants experienced more Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in relation to Future Anxiety compared to males. Starting from the review of main references on this subject, the results discussed provide new insights for understanding youth psychological distress. Finally, practical implications for the design of supportive interventions for this study's target group are proposed.

Prenatal exposure to air pollution and maternal depression: Combined effects on brain aging and mental health in young adulthood

IntroductionBoth maternal depression problems during pregnancy and prenatal exposure to air pollution have been associated with changes in the brain as well as worse mood and anxiety in the offspring in adulthood. However, it is not clear whether these effects are independent or whether and how they might interact and impact the brain age and mental health of the young adult offspring. MethodsA total of 202 mother–child dyads from a prenatal birth cohort were assessed for maternal depression during pregnancy through self-report questionnaires administered in the early 90s, exposure to air pollutants (Sulfur dioxide [SO2], nitrogen oxides [NOx], and suspended particle matter [SPM]) during each trimester based on maternal address and air quality data, mental health of the young adult offspring (28–30 years of age; 52% men, all of European ancestry) using self-report questionnaires for depression (Beck Depression Inventory), mood dysregulation (Profile of Mood States), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and psychotic symptoms (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire), and brain age, estimated from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and previously published neuroanatomical age prediction model using cortical thickness maps. The brain age gap estimate (BrainAGE) was computed by subtracting structural brain age from chronological age. Trajectories of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy were assessed using Growth Mixture Modeling. The interactions of prenatal depression and prenatal exposure to air pollutants on adult mental health and BrainAGE were assessed using hierarchical linear regression. ResultsWe revealed two distinct trajectories of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy: “early exposure,” characterized by high exposure during the first trimester, followed by a steady decrease, and “late exposure,” characterized by low exposure during the first trimester, followed by a steady increase in the exposure during the subsequent trimesters. Maternal depression during the first half of pregnancy interacted with NOX exposure trajectory, predicting mood dysregulation and schizotypal symptoms in young adults. In addition, maternal depression during the second half of pregnancy interacted with both NOx and SO2 exposure trajectories, respectively, and predicted BrainAGE in young adults. In those with early exposure to NOx, maternal depression during pregnancy was associated with worse mental health and accelerated brain aging in young adulthood. In contrast, in those with early exposure to SO2, maternal depression during pregnancy was associated with slower brain aging in young adulthood. ConclusionsOur findings provide the first evidence of the combined effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution and maternal depression on mental health outcomes and brain age in young adult offspring. Moreover, they point out the importance of the timing and trajectory of the exposure during prenatal development.

Mental Health of Young Adults as Predicted by Defense Style and Social Discomfort Level

Mental Health of Young Adults as Predicted by Defense Style and Social Discomfort Level

Psychological Health of Unemployed Young Jobseekers: Roles of Financial Hardship, Economic Threat, and Parental Pressure

This study investigates the interactions between financial hardship, economic threat, parental pressure, and their combined effects on psychological distress among young job seekers. A sample of 200 young people (aged 20-35 years) was used. Participants completed the Financial Hardship Scale, the Economic Threat Scale, the Parent Career-Related Behavior Checklist, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between financial hardship and economic threat (r = .24, p < .001); between parental pressure and financial hardship (r = .19, p < .05); and economic threat (r = .18, p < .05). Negative correlations were found between mental health and financial hardship (r = -.33, p < .001); economic threat (r = -.21, p < .001); and parental pressure (r = -.20, p < .001; .05). Path analysis showed that parental pressure significantly predicted financial hardship (β = .575, p < .05); economic threat (β = .248, p < .05); and psychological distress (β = 1.089, p < .001). Furthermore, financial hardship predicted economic threat (β = .337, p < .001); psychological distress (β = .411, p < .001); and economic threat also predicted psychological distress (β = .184, p < .001). These results highlight the complex interactions between family expectations, economic stress, and mental health of young adults in the labor market and suggest the need for targeted interventions and support measures.

Parenting Style as Correlates of Anxiety Among Young Adults

Abstract: This study recognizes the crucial role early familial experiences have in influencing mental health outcomes and examines the association between parenting methods and anxiety levels among young adults. In this exploratory study, a broad sample of young adults (ages 18 to 25) completed self-report questionnaires to gauge their anxiety levels and describe their parents' parenting approaches in retrospect. Incorporating Baumrind's authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting styles, the study used a comprehensive framework. The results showed a strong relationship between different parenting philosophies and young people' anxiety levels. Interestingly, those who grew up in authoritative households demonstrated reduced anxiety, underscoring the benefits of equitable parental response and engagement. On the other hand, those with histories of authoritarian or negligent parenting showed higher levels of anxiety, highlighting the possible drawbacks of excessively strict or uncaring parenting styles. In order to better understand the intricate interactions between parenting practices and anxiety consequences, the study also looked into potential mediating factors, such as attachment types and perceived social support. The findings of this study add to a more complex knowledge of the long-term effects of early experiences providing care on the mental health of young adults and could guide the development of focused therapies to lessen anxiety-related problems in this population. In the end, this study emphasizes how critical it is to take a multifaceted approach to studying the complex relationships between parenting practices and anxiety during the transition to adulthood.

Psychometric properties of the positive mental health questionnaire: short form (PMHQ-SF18) in young adults.

Positive Mental Health (PMH) plays a pivotal role in the promoting of mental health. Assessing this phenomenon is essential for early recognition and intervention in mental health. To date, only one tool was validated with 39 items to assess PMH among Portuguese young adults. This study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the short version of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) among Portuguese university students. The PMHQ Short Form was administered to a sample of 3,647 university students via an online platform. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The principal factor solution was employed because some items showed higher levels of kurtosis. Multivariate analysis was tested using the Mardia's Test, Henze-Zirkler, and Royston. Findings of content, construct validity tests, and Cronbach's alfa demonstrated the satisfactory validity and suitable reliability of the PMHQ-Short Form (PMHQ-SF). The exploratory factor analysis produced six dimensions of the PMHQ-SF with three items in each factor demonstrating adequate internal reliability. The global internal consistency was 0.92, with factors ranging between 0.60 to 0.82. The results suggest that the PMHQ-SF is reliable, easier, and more practical to complete by university students due to the shortening of the number of items. The PMHQ-SF is useful for assessing positive mental health in young adults. The final version of the instrument contains from 32 to 18 items.

Study on Predictor Variables for Different Dimensions of Mental Health among Melavoi Village of Covid-19 Affected Young Adults Living in Anantapuram District, Andhra Pradesh

Early adulthood is an extremely diverse period of life. it encompasses a wide range of lifestyle choices and responsibilities. The pandemic has impacted the mental health of young adults very severely. Covid-19 pandemic there has been an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, chronic trauma with an eventual risk of increased suicidality and suicidal behavior linking this to immune mediated mechanisms of stress. For better dealing with these psychosocial issues of different strata of the society, psychosocial crisis prevention and intervention models should be urgently developed by the government, health care personnel and other stakeholders. Apt application of internet services, technology and social media to curb both pandemic and infodemic needs to be instigated. The main focus of the study was to swot on “Study on predictor variables for different dimensions of mental health among Melavoi village of Covid-19 affected young adults living in Anantapuram district, Andhra Pradesh”. Purposive random sampling technique was selected for the study. The respondents were selected from Melavoi village of Anantapuram district, Andhra Pradesh. Male and Female who are in the age group of 18-35 years affected with Covid-19 was selected for the study. The group consists of 30 Covid-19 affected young adults of 15 males and 15 females from Melavoivillage for the study. The study found that Covid-19 outbreak made respondents to experience lot of mental health problems like emotional distress, anxiety, stress, despair, dissatisfaction, impatience irrespective of gender.

Chinese college students' mental health during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of family functioning.

Various psychological theories suggest that a supportive family environment protects the mental health of young adults during stressful life events. However, evidence is limited regarding the protective role of family support during a major public health crisis. To examine the role of family functioning on mental health among Chinese college students during first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January-March 2020, 1,555 college students (44% female, on average 19 years old) from five Chinese universities participated. Participants rated their family functioning on the Family APGAR Index and their mental health on the Psychological Questionnaires for Emergent Events of Public Health, measuring depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive-anxiety and hypochondriasis. Better family functioning was associated with having fewer psychological symptoms. In addition, we identified three mental health profiles related to the severity across the psychological symptoms: Low-level, medium-level and high-level symptom clusters. Latent profile analysis showed that as family function improved, students were, respectively, 16 to 24% more likely to be in the low-level symptom group, compared to being in the medium symptom group or the high-level symptom group. These results support the notion that family support may act as a psychological buffer for young adults during a large-scale public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effect of single mothers’ employment on their children’s mental health in young adulthood: Random effects model for longitudinal data

ObjectiveBased on a longitudinal approach, this study explores the effect of single mothers’ employment from pregnancy to their children’s preschool years on their adult children’s self-esteem and depression. MethodsThe National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) were employed to pair mothers and their adult children. We used six NLSY79 CY waves from 2004 to 2014. A total of 2,596 single mother-headed household dyads were selected. Variables repeatedly measured at six points in time were tested using the Random Effects Model. ResultsResults show that single mothers’ higher frequency of employment from pregnancy to when their children were four years old was significantly related to their children’s self-esteem and depression at above the age of 18 years.Discussion.Providing more opportunities for single mothers to get a job is necessary to enhance their children’s mental health over time. Accessible job training programs for single mothers and free provision of accessible and high-quality childcare services by the government should be focused on single mothers, particularly those who are pregnant or have children under the age of 5 years, for their children to positively develop self-esteem and reduce depression over time. The intergenerational transmission of inequality between single mothers and their adult children can be addressed by providing more opportunities for well-paying stable jobs with flexible schedules to single mothers, so they are better able to provide their children with time, support and resources.

Recoverability and estimation of causal effects under typical multivariable missingness mechanisms.

In the context of missing data, the identifiability or "recoverability" of the average causal effect (ACE) depends not only on the usual causal assumptions but also on missingness assumptions that can be depicted by adding variable-specific missingness indicators to causal diagrams, creating missingness directed acyclic graphs (m-DAGs). Previous research described canonical m-DAGs, representing typical multivariable missingness mechanisms in epidemiological studies, and examined mathematically the recoverability of the ACE in each case. However, this work assumed no effect modification and did not investigate methods for estimation across such scenarios. Here, we extend this research by determining the recoverability of the ACE in settings with effect modification and conducting a simulation study to evaluate the performance of widely used missing data methods when estimating the ACE using correctly specified g-computation. Methods assessed were complete case analysis (CCA) and various implementations of multiple imputation (MI) with varying degrees of compatibility with the outcome model used in g-computation. Simulations were based on an example from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS), where interest was in estimating the ACE of adolescent cannabis use on mental health in young adulthood. We found that the ACE is recoverable when no incomplete variable (exposure, outcome, or confounder) causes its own missingness, and nonrecoverable otherwise, in simplified versions of 10 canonical m-DAGs that excluded unmeasured common causes of missingness indicators. Despite this nonrecoverability, simulations showed that MI approaches that are compatible with the outcome model in g-computation may enable approximately unbiased estimation across all canonical m-DAGs considered, except when the outcome causes its own missingness or causes the missingness of a variable that causes its own missingness. In the latter settings, researchers may need to consider sensitivity analysis methods incorporating external information (e.g., delta-adjustment methods). The VAHCS case study illustrates the practical implications of thesefindings.

Prevalence and predictors of PTSD and resilience among Adolescents and Young Adults: Findings from the MoreGoodDays Support Program in Alberta, Canada

IntroductionAdolescents and young adults have particularly been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a rise in the incidence of mental health issues. Increased exposure to traumatic events may lead to decreased resilience and subsequently increased likely PTSD.ObjectivesThis study sets out to examine the predictors and prevalence of likely PTSD and determine the level of resilience among adolescents and young adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was adopted to collect sociodemographic and clinical information from the subscribers of MoreGoodDays. The PTSD Checklist Civilian (PCL-C) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS was respectively used to assess likely PTSD and resilience Data was analyzed with SPSS version 25 using chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results343 of MoreGoodDays subscribers who participated in the survey were about 343. Most were female (79.0%), and 13.7% were male. Overall, 95 (45.7%) of respondents had likely PTSD and 109 (51.7%) had likely low resilience. Approximately 176 (51.3%) respondents had received mental health counselling, and 64 (35.4%) expressed the desire to receive mental health counselling. When all other variables are controlled in the regression model, respondents who have received mental health counselling in the past year were 13.7 times more likely to experience likely PTSD (OR = 13.70; 95% CI: 1.23- 142.86) and 15.15 times more likely to experience low resilience than those who did not (OR = 15.15; 95% CI: 1.46- 166.67). Again, those who would like to receive mental health counselling were 20.8 times more likely to experience PTSD than those who did not (OR = 20.76; 95% CI: 2.61- 165.401) and 29.4 times more likely to experience low resilience than those who did not (OR = 29.42; 95% CI: 3.31- 261.445). Finally, those with four or more ACE scores were 6.2 times more likely to experience likely PTSD than those who had zero scores (OR = 6.24; 95% CI: 1.46- 26.67).ConclusionsMoreGoodDays subscribers were disproportionally affected by likely PTSD and low resilience, reflecting the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased ACE has been linked to low resilience, which may also lead to a rise in mental health issues. Strategies to promote resilience may reduce the incidence of likely PTSD. Educational institutions may adopt innovative mental health interventions, including psychological interventions such as mobile text technology, to support the mental health of this cohort. Policymakers and government agencies are encouraged to give the mental health of young adults and youth more prominence on their agenda.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Memories of Upbringing in Relation to Mental Health of Young Adults

Our mental well-being can be significantly affected by our recollections of our upbringing, especially our memories of how we were parented. This study focuses on the impact of memories of parenting on the mental health of young adults. The study employed the EMBU scale to measure recollections of upbringing. The scale measures emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection as the three parenting/upbringing axes. The study evaluated the mental health of 160 participants, aged between 18 and 25, using the DASS-21 scale, which includes three subscales: depression, anxiety, and stress. Pearson Correlation and Regression was used to analyze the relationship between the above mentioned variables. The results revealed significant correlations between rejection and mental health (r = .609, p < .01), warmth and rejection (r = -.350, p < .01), warmth and mental health (r = .156, p < .05), and overprotection and mental health (r = .850, p < .01). Additionally, a regression analysis showed that rejection significantly predicted mental health (β = .355, p < .001), even after controlling for overprotection. These findings suggest that higher levels of rejection are associated with poorer mental health outcomes, while warmth and overprotection have mixed relationships with mental health. Keywords: Memories of upbringing, mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, rejection, warmth & overprotection.

Adverse childhood experiences and subsequent physical and mental health among young adults: Results from six universities in China

Research has shown that individuals with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to encounter heightened risks of physical and psychological challenges later in life. However, limited research has explored the comprehensive impact on the physical and mental health of young adults. Thus, we conducted a study to investigate the associations of ACEs with the physical and mental health of 18,723 college students in China. Their physical and mental health status was assessed using self-perceived health assessments, self-reported disease diagnoses, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7-item scale. Results showed that 82.6 % of participants had experienced at least one ACE, with 10.7 % reporting exposure to four or more ACEs. Compared to participants with low ACEs exposure (≤ 1), participants with high ACEs exposure (≥ 4) had a nearly twofold increase in the odds of cardiometabolic diseases (OR [95 % CI] = 2.06 [1.55-2.74]) and fractures (2.32 [1.88-2.87]). Additionally, individuals with high ACE exposure exhibited a threefold increased odds of severe anxiety symptoms (3.78 [2.59-5.51]) and bipolar disorder/schizophrenia (3.38 [2.18-5.23]). These findings highlight ACEs as a significant risk factor for poor physical and mental health among young adults. Targeted support and interventions for individuals with multiple ACEs may help mitigate their long-term disease burden.

Religion and mental health in young adulthood: a register-based study on differences by religious affiliation in sickness absence due to mental disorders in Finland

BackgroundReligiosity and spirituality are known to be positively correlated with health. This is the first study to analyse the interrelation between religious denomination and sickness absence due to mental disorders...

Perceived Mental Health among Identified Talented and Nonidentified Students from Indian Villages, Towns, and Cities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study investigates the perception of experience of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among young adults (18–22 years of age) from different locales in India during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 1,020 participants (603 males and 417 females) with 470 identified talented students (ITS) and 550 nonidentified students (NiS) from Indian villages, towns, and cities. multivariate analysis of variance and ordinal logistic regression analysis were carried out to understand the differences between the various subcategories and the probability of having high negative emotional states among those groups. Results point toward varying levels of DAS depending on whether they were ITS or NiS, whether male or female, and whether they came from Indian villages, towns, or cities. Both similarities and dissimilarities with other studies were observed, and the results provide insights into the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of young adults in India. The importance of developing psychological support systems for all students is implicated in the findings of the study.