Poor Psychological Well-being Research Articles

Links between Household-Level Income-Generating Agricultural Intervention and the Psychological Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Affected Households in Southwestern Kenya: A Qualitative Inquiry

BackgroundAdolescent girls may experience poor psychological well-being, such as social isolation, shame, anxiety, hopelessness, and despair linked to food insecurity. ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the experiences with and perceived effects of a household-level income-generating agricultural intervention on the psychological well-being of adolescent girls in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-affected households in southwestern Kenya. MethodsWe conducted 62 in-depth interviews with HIV-affected adolescent girls and caregiver dyads in Adolescent Shamba Maisha (NCT03741634), a sub-study of adolescent girls and caregivers with a household member participating in Shamba Maisha (NCT01548599), a multisectoral agricultural and finance intervention trial aimed to improve food security and HIV health indicators. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure diversity in terms of age and location. Data were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, and uploaded into Dedoose (Sociocultural Research Consultants, LLC) software for management. Data were analyzed thematically based on reports from Dedoose. ResultsWe found evidence that a household-level structural intervention aimed at increasing food and financial security among persons living with HIV can contribute to better psychological well-being among adolescent girls residing in these households. The intervention also affected: 1) reduction of social isolation, 2) reduction of shame and stigma, 3) increased attendance and concentration in school, 4) improved caregiver mental health, and 5) reduced parental aggression and improved household communication. These associations were reported more commonly among those in the intervention arm than the control arm. ConclusionsThis study extends existing research by demonstrating how multisectoral structural interventions delivered at a household level can improve the psychological well-being of adolescents. We recommend that future research test livelihood interventions designed specifically for adolescent girls that integrate food-security interventions with other elements to address the social and psychological consequences of food insecurity holistically.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03741634.

Income loss and subsequent poor psychological well-being among the Chinese population during the early COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had major ramifications for health and the economy at both the individual and collective levels. This study examined exogenous negative changes in household income and their implications on psychological well-being (PWB) among the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData were drawn from the early China COVID-19 Survey, a cross-sectional anonymous online survey administered to the general population in China. Self-reported PWB was measured using a 5-point Likert scale with five questions related to the participants’ recent psychological state. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was employed to examine whether income loss during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with poor psychological health.ResultsThis study included 8,428 adults, of which 90% had suffered from a moderate or severe loss of household income due to the early COVID-19 pandemic. Those who had experienced moderate or severe loss of income scored significantly lower on psychological well-being than those who did not experience income loss (19.96 or 18.07 vs. 21.46; P < 0.001); after controlling for confounders, income loss was negatively associated with PWB scores (moderate income loss: B = − 0.603, P < 0.001; severe income loss: B = − 1.261, P < 0.001). An interaction effect existed between the degree of income loss and pre-pandemic income groups. Specifically, participants in the middle-income group who had suffered severe income loss scored the lowest on PWB (B = − 1.529, P < 0.001). There was also a main effect on income loss, such that participants with varying degrees of income loss differed across five dimensions, including anhedonia, sleep problems, irritability or anger, difficulty with concentration, and repeated disturbing dreams related to COVID-19.ConclusionsIncome loss during the pandemic has had detrimental consequences on psychological well-being, and the magnitude of the impact of income loss on psychological well-being varied according to previous income levels. Future policy efforts should be directed toward improving the psychological well-being of the economically vulnerable and helping them recover from lost income in the shortest time possible.

Quality of Life among Low-Income Older Residents in Subsidized Senior Housing: Rural vs. Suburban Comparisons

Older adults living in subsidized senior housing tend to be at risk for poor psychological well-being related to their advanced age and low income. This study aims to explore multilevel factors affecting perceived quality of life (QoL) among non-urban subsidized senior housing residents and to compare these factors between rural and suburban communities. Community/residential-level data were collected from the interviews with residential service coordinators (RSC) of five subsidized senior housing communities in the New England region: two rural and three suburban communities. Individual- and interpersonal-level data came from the survey with 82 residents. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. We used thematic content analyses for the interview data and multivariate ordered logit regression for the survey data. Our results showed that rural residence was positively associated with QoL (OR = 4.913, p<.01) even after controlling for all the individual-, interpersonal-, and community/residential-level factors. From RSCs’ perspectives, four main themes emerged, which could potentially contribute to better QoL among senior housing residents: access to services, social spaces for residents, inequitable connections to community resources, and social engagements among senior housing residents and with RSCs. Our findings contribute to the development of strategies to improve QoL among older adults living in rural/non-metropolitan subsidized senior housing.

A Microsimulation of Well-Being and Literacy Interventions to Reduce Scam Susceptibility in Older Adults.

Poor financial and health literacy and poor psychological well-being are significant correlates of scam susceptibility in older adults; yet, no research has examined whether interventions that target these factors may effectively reduce susceptibility. Using longitudinal data from older adults in the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) (N = 1,231), we used microsimulations to estimate the causal effect of hypothetical well-being and literacy interventions on scam susceptibility over six years. Microsimulations can simulate a randomized trial to estimate intervention effects using observational data. We simulated hypotheticalinterventions that improved well-being or literacy scores by either 10% or 30% from baseline, or to the maximum scores, for an older adult population and for income and education subgroups. Simulations suggest thathypotheticalinterventions that increase well-being or literacy cause statistically significant reductions in scam susceptibility of older adults over time, but improving well-being caused a greater-albeit not significantly different-reduction compared to improving literacy.

The Effect of Distress Tolerance Training on Problematic Internet Use and Psychological Wellbeing Among Faculty Nursing Students: A Randomized Control Trial.

Distress tolerance skills have the potential to decrease problematic internet use and improve psychological wellbeing by cognitive reframing and goal-oriented problem-solving. To assess the impact of distress tolerance training on problematic internet use and psychological wellbeing among university nursing students. A randomized control trial used at the faculty of nursing using simple random sampling method. Tools: Distress Tolerance Scale, problematic internet use questionnaire, and Ryff psychological wellbeing scale. Data were collected from 60 nursing students over a period of 4 months. Distress tolerance level was increased among study group from 20.75±14.29 to 72.75±24.09 and sustained for 3 months to 62.44 ±20.77 with statistically significant (f=7.090, p=0.006) and large effect size 0.75. When compared to no change among the control group as mean scare start by 22.35±14.29 to 23.44±16.09 and after 3 months to 21.75± 17.44 with insignificant difference (f=0.454, p=0.574). The mean score of problematic internet use shows highly statistically significant decrement in the study group between three period of time (pretest= 62.93, immediately post= 52.13, and post 3 months=52.70) with large effect size 0.78 (f=95.029, p<0.001), in compared to control group that showed insignificant no changes (pretest= 64.0±14.54, immediately post= 63.13±12.87, and post 3 months=63.53±11.36) with (f=1.012, p=0.332). In addition, the total mean score of psychological well-being was increased immediately after therapy and later for three months of therapy (pretest= 128.47, immediately post=148.77, and post 3 months= 153.60) with highly statistically significant (f=41.197, p<0.001) with effect size 0.85, compared to no change among control group (pretest=125.97±32.58, immediately post= 126.23±30.86, and post 3 months=126.43±29.78) with (f=0.208, p=0.698). Efficacy of distress tolerance skills intervention had been proven in altering poor psychological wellbeing among students with problematic internet use. It helps students to learn new skills and use more adaptive strategies to overcome distress tolerance difficulties.

Monitoring a cohort of trainees: changes over time and associations between health literacy, health behaviour and health

BackgroundFor many entrants, the initial stages of professional training are a challenge. Demands at work can lead to new physical and psychological stress, as well as new social requirements. These new requirements can influence the health behaviour and the state of health of young employees. In recent years, there have been many studies on health literacy (HL). HL represents resources and potentials that allow individuals to achieve improved control of their health and of factors that influence health. Thus, HL can influence both well-being and health. In the present study, the health of trainees in different branches (health and welfare services, office, sales, technology) is monitored over time ending in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the association between health literacy and health or health behaviour has been examined.MethodsIn 2017/18, a baseline survey (T0) was performed on trainees in various sectors (office, sales, teaching, nursing and social welfare, engineering, hairdressers), who had been contacted through vocational colleges in four federal states in north Germany. The trainees were surveyed again in the in the first year after training in 2021 (T3). Demographic data were collected, as well as information on health literacy (HLS-EU-16), health behaviour (physical exercise, nutrition, smoking and alcohol) and state of health (BMI, psychological well-being and subjective state of health). Recognition, satisfaction at work and thoughts of leaving the profession were surveyed with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Statistical analysis was performed with tests for paired samples and multivariate regression analysis in SPSS 26.Results129 data sets were evaluated, with a follow-up rate of 10.2%. 85% of the trainees were female. The mean age at follow-up was 25.6 years. 56% were employed in the health service or social welfare. 35% worked in the office, sales or engineering. At T3, 47% of the employees exhibited limited health literacy, 67% low levels of exercise and 30% risky alcohol use. 42% exhibited overweight and 42% poor psychological well-being. An association between health literacy (HL) and psychological well-being was only observed in cross-section (HL inadequate vs. HL adequate OR: 3.2 95% CI: 1.07–9.49, p = 0.037). The odds ratio relative to subjective state of health was also increased, although the association was not statistically significant (HL inadequate vs. HL adequate OR: 2.7 95% CI: 0.72–9.78, p = 0.143). In the sector for health service and social welfare, there was statistically significant deterioration over time in all COPSOQ variables (recognition, satisfaction at work, thoughts of leaving the profession).ConclusionsFor a group of trainees in the first year of work during the covid-19 epidemic, the present findings show that there is a need to prevent risky health behaviour, overweight and poor psychological well-being. Health literacy was shown to be a modifiable parameter, that apparently is associated in cross – but not in longitudinal section with the health of young employees. It would appear to be reasonable to modify developing health literacy in the setting of work and school.

Moral Injuries in Healthcare Workers: What Causes Them and What to Do About Them?

Moral injury (MI) refers to the persisting distress which may occur following exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to MI in healthcare workers, who have been found to experience more frequent PMIEs in their day-to-day work than those in other occupational groups such as the military. These events may occur on an individual, team, organizational or system level and have been associated with increased clinician burnout and distress, and poor psychological wellbeing. This paper focuses on healthcare workers' experiences of MI, including potential causes and ways to reduce them. There are myriad challenges that influence the development of MI, such as chronic understaffing and the pressure to treat high numbers of patients with limited resources. There are also multiple impacts of MI: at the individual-level, MI can lead to increased staff absences and understaffing, and prolonged patient contact with limited decision-making power. COVID-19 exacerbated such impacts, with a lack of organizational support during a time of increased patient mortality, and uncertainty and heightened pressure on the clinical frontline associated with scarce resources and understaffing. Potential methods for reduction of MI in healthcare workers include pre-exposure mitigation, such as fostering work environments which treat PMIEs in the same way as other occupational hazards and post-exposure mitigation, such as facilitating healthcare workers to process their experiences of PMIEs in peer support groups or with spiritual advisors and, if MI is associated with mental ill-health, talking therapies using trauma-focused and compassion-oriented frameworks.

My Baby, My Move+: feasibility of a community prenatal wellbeing intervention

BackgroundExcessive gestational weight gain (EGWG), insufficient prenatal physical activity and sleep, and poor psychological wellbeing independently increase risks for adverse maternal and infant outcomes. A novel approach to mitigate these risks is utilizing peer support in a community-based prenatal intervention. This study assessed the feasibility (acceptability, demand, implementation, and practicality) of a remotely delivered prenatal physical activity intervention called My Baby, My Move + (MBMM +) that aims to increase prenatal physical activity, enhance mood and sleep hygiene, and reduce EGWG.MethodsParticipants were recruited through community organizations, local clinics, and social media platforms in the Fall of 2020 and Spring of 2021. Eligible pregnant women were randomized to either the MBMM + intervention or the control group. Each group met over Zoom for 16 sessions (twice weekly for 60 min over 8 weeks) to learn either behavioral change and wellbeing knowledge and skills (MBMM +) or knowledge and skills related to parenting (control group). Multiple methods of evaluation to better understand the feasibility of the intervention were conducted.ResultsA total of 49 women (25 MBMM + intervention, 24 control) completed both pre- and post-survey assessments and were included in the analyses. A subsample of 19 (39%) intervention participants completed a combination of semi-structured interviews/surveys to assess acceptability, demand, implementation, and practicality. Participants expressed positive feedback regarding acceptability (satisfaction and intent to continue use) and were extremely likely or likely to recommend the program to a friend (demand). Implementation metrics were assessed by observation and feedback forms completed by peer leaders and demonstrated high-quality control. Findings suggest that the intervention was practical due to remote sessions and cost-effectiveness.ConclusionThe MBMM + intervention was deemed to be a feasible intervention with high acceptability, demand, implementation, and practicality. These findings can be used to inform the scalability of the intervention and implementation of a larger efficacy trial.Trial registration19–1366, initial date is on January 23, 2020.

Does emotion regulation in adolescents in residential care mitigate the association between sexual victimization and poor psychological well-being?

BackgroundChildhood sexual abuse/assault has been linked to mental health problems that affect an individual's psychological well-being. This study explores the facets of emotional regulation as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care in Eastern Spain. Furthermore, it examines the role of sex assigned at birth and being unaccompanied asylum seeker children as possible moderators of the mediation model. MethodsA total of 346 adolescents (34.1% girls, 65.9% boys) aged between 11 and 19 years old completed a battery of instruments. Parallel multiple mediation paths were tested to determine whether sexual victimization is associated to psychological well-being across emotional regulation dimensions. Moderated mediation models with sex assigned at birth and the condition of unaccompanied asylum seeker children were tested too. ResultsThis study demonstrates that high sexual victimization is associated with poor psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care through the lack of emotional clarity, non-acceptance of emotional responses, and limited access to emotional regulation strategies (β = −0.6, 95%CI = −1.26, −0.09; β = −0.38, 95%CI = −0.9, 0.002; β = −0.39, 95%CI = −0.93, −0.03, respectively). In addition, the latter indirect effect pathway was significantly moderated by the condition of being unaccompanied asylum seeker children (β = 1.46, 95%CI = 0.28, 2.84). Sex assigned at birth was not shown to be a significant moderator. ConclusionsIdentifying which mechanisms of emotional regulation mediate the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care may contribute not only to reducing the psychological distress of these adolescents but also to improving the effectiveness and efficacy of the child welfare system.

Improving Emotional Control And Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of Patients with Schizophrenia Using Spiritual Mindfulness Through SI-DEPAPU Application

Background: Schizophrenia is a major mental health problem in the world that requires more attention. Patients with schizophrenia are at higher risk of poor psychological well-being and violent behaviors as expression of anger and delusion. Mindfulness alone is considered less efficient so it needs to be developed with technology, as such further technological development regarding its application is needed.Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of spiritual mindfulness intervention through the SI-DEPAPU application on the ability to control anger and perform activities of daily living (ADL) among schizophrenic patients.Methods: This study used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with a control group. The samples were 60 schizophrenic patients randomly selected and divided into two groups. The intervention group was given four sessions of mindfulness in two weeks through the SI-DEPAPU application. This study used the anger management ability questionnaire developed by Sadipun et al. (2018) to measure the patient's ability to control anger and the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) questionnaire by Wilkinson (2016) to measure ADL. The instrument was tested for its validity among 20 schizophrenic patients with a risk of violent behaviors, and the results were valid and reliable in which the r-count r-table (0.444), the control group was given standard hospital care.Results: The results showed that the patient’s ability to control anger and perform ADL increased with p=0.000 and p=0.005, (p = 0,000 0,05) respectively. The intervention group had a higher mean score than the control group.Conclusion: Mindfulness spiritual interventions through the SI-DEPAPU application could help schizophrenic patients control anger and increase their ADL.

694-P: Differences in Diabetes-Related Stigma by Demographic Group and Intensity of Diabetes Management

The social stigma surrounding diabetes refers to the negative attitudes, discrimination, or prejudice someone may face due to their diabetes. For many people with diabetes (PWD), stigma is a major challenge and often results in significant negative consequences, such as poor psychological well-being and worse clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify groups who may be at greater risk of experiencing stigma. From October-December 2022, 10,338 adults living with diabetes in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom took an online survey assessing stigma associated with diabetes. Stigma was measured using four items about concealing or difficulty disclosing one's diabetes as well as diabetes-related embarrassment and isolation. These four items were averaged to create a composite variable on degree of stigma experienced (α = 0.87, M = 1.82, SD = 0.89). Subsequent responses were analyzed by various demographic factors and diabetes management strategies using SPSS. Stigma levels differ by intensity of diabetes management; respondents with more demanding diabetes management regimens experience greater levels of stigma. CGM users (p&amp;lt;0.001) and insulin users (p&amp;lt;0.001) experience more stigma than non-users, and PWD taking multiple daily injections experience more stigma than pump users (p=0.027). Stigma also varies across several demographic factors. French respondents report the highest stigma score, while German respondents report the lowest. Further, people with T1D experience more stigma than those with T2D (p&amp;lt;0.001). This research reveals differences in diabetes-related stigma by country and diabetes type and suggests that stigma becomes more prevalent with more intensive diabetes management. Additional research is needed to further explore experiences of stigma and identify methods of support, especially for at-risk groups. Disclosure A.Zeng: Employee; dQ&amp;A. E.Lin: Employee; dQ&amp;A. E.Cox: Employee; dQ&amp;A. E.Xu: Employee; dQ&amp;A. T.Bell: Employee; dQ&amp;A. T.L.Bristow: Employee; dQ&amp;A.

Factors that impact burnout and psychological wellbeing in Australian postgraduate medical trainees: a systematic review

BackgroundBurnout and poor psychological wellbeing are common in postgraduate medical trainees. However, data relating to Australian trainees are lacking. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise relevant research on the factors that influence burnout and psychological wellbeing in Australian postgraduate medical trainees.MethodsA systematic PRISMA search was conducted across eight databases from January 2000 to September 2021. Empirical peer-reviewed studies were included if they focused on one or more factors influencing burnout and psychological wellbeing in Australian postgraduate medical trainees. Screening was independently conducted by two reviewers at each stage of the process. Results were synthesised and analysed using a convergent qualitative synthesis process structured according to the Job Demands-Resources model of occupational stress.ResultsForty-eight papers were included in the final review. Factors impacting burnout and/or wellbeing (job demands) fell under four themes: (i) working hours and workload; (ii) the work and learning environment; (iii) inappropriate behaviour; and (iv) examinations and academic stress. A small number of job resources were identified.ConclusionBurnout and poor psychological wellbeing in Australian postgraduate medical trainees are most associated with long working hours and poor work and learning environments. There is limited research into resources that can protect against burnout and promote wellbeing. More longitudinal and qualitative research is needed to support systemic, long-term interventions that will improve the wellbeing of trainees, reduce the prevalence of burnout and ensure optimal patient care.

Pregnancy-related discrimination and expectant workers' psychological well-being and work engagement: understanding the moderating role of job resources

PurposeIn this paper, the authors apply the Job Demand-Resource Model to investigate the association between pregnancy-related discrimination (conceptualised as a job demand) and expectant workers' psychological well-being and work engagement, and the moderating role of workplace support (co-worker and supervisor social support and perceived organisational family support (POFS); conceptualised as job resources).Design/methodology/approachThe paper conducted a cross-sectional online survey of vocationally active British workers in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy using purposive sampling techniques. Participants were recruited through online forums and social media platforms. A sample of 186 was used to conduct multiple regression and moderation analysis (SPSS v28 and STATA v17).FindingsThe authors observed that higher levels of pregnancy-related discrimination were associated with poorer psychological well-being and work engagement among surveyed expectant workers. Perceived co-worker social support moderated both these relationships for psychological well-being (demonstrating a buffering effect) and work engagement (an antagonist effect). POFS and supervisor support did not moderate this association.Practical implicationsThis paper highlights the importance of pregnancy-related discrimination at work as a work stressor, necessitating its reduction as part of organisations' strategies to manage and prevent work-related stress above and beyond their legal requirements to do so under national-level equality legislation. It also sheds light on the potential value of resource-based interventions.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate pregnancy-related discrimination and work-related health outcomes within a British sample, and to explore the potential protective health and motivational value of job resources there within.

Internet Addiction and Its Association with Demographic Variables, Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-being in College Students.

Internet is an integral part of the daily life of everyone. Internet addiction (IA) is one of the major concerns, specifically among young adults. The association between IA, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being (PWB) is least studied in young adults. To evaluate IA and its association with psychological morbidity and PWB in a larger sample size. In addition, to examine the factors that are associated with IA. A total of 1287 young students were evaluated in the present study. Participants were evaluated on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Psychological Well-Being Index-22. The mean age of the study's participants is 19.5 years. The majority were female (68.9%), from nuclear families (61.8%), and belonged to urban localities (61.5%). On IAT, 15.9% had a presence of IA with a cut-off score of 50. 27.4% and 20.5% had a presence of depression and anxiety with a cut-off score of 10 on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Approximately two-thirds (66.7%) reported poor PWB. IA had a significant positive association with depression and anxiety and a negative association with PWB. Male students, the presence of depression, anxiety, and poor PWB were independent factors associated with IA. Internet addiction is highly prevalent among college students and has a significant association with anxiety, depression, and poor PWB. There is a need to develop a structured plan, educational strategy, and program to minimize IA in young adults.

Developing a System of Health Support for Young People Experiencing First-Episode Psychosis: Protocol for a Co-design Process.

People living with psychosis face a substantially increased risk of poor psychological well-being and physical health and premature mortality. Encouraging positive health behaviors from an early stage is crucial to the health and well-being of this population but is often overshadowed by symptom management within early intervention services. Experience-based co-design is a participant-centered approach that aims to combine service user narratives with service design methods to design systems of support for health and well-being. This study aims to use experience-based co-design principles to co-design a system that supports the health and well-being of young people experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP), which considers the lived experience of these people within the context of early intervention services. We also aim to develop a set of principles to guide future systems to support the health and well-being of young people experiencing FEP. Up to 15 young people living with FEP aged 16 to 24 years who are service users of early intervention services in psychosis, their immediate support networks (family or friends), and health professionals involved with early intervention services in psychosis will be invited to participate in a series of co-design workshops. Data will be collected in various forms, including expressive forms (eg, art and spoken word) and traditional methods (interview transcription and surveys), with phenomenographic and thematic analyses being used to understand these data. Furthermore, the co-design process will draw upon indigenous (Māori) knowledge and the lived experience of mental health services from the perspectives of the members of the research team. The co-design process will be evaluated in terms of acceptability from the perspective of service users via rating scales and interviews. The study will be conducted within the Lower North Island in Aotearoa New Zealand. Data collection will be performed between August 2022 and February 2023. Drawing from extended consultations with service users and service providers, we have developed a robust co-design process with which we intend to collect rich qualitative and quantitative data. The results of this process will be used to create a system of support that can be immediately applied and as preliminary evidence for funding and resource applications to deliver and evaluate a "full" version of the co-designed system of support. The co-designed system of support and accompanying set of principles will offer a potentially impactful health and well-being intervention for young people experiencing FEP in Aotearoa New Zealand. Furthermore, making the co-design process transparent will further the field in terms of providing a blueprint for this form of participant-focused research. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622001323718; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=384775&isReview=true. DERR1-10.2196/44980.

Self-Reported Changes in Personal Development and Meaning in Life among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore self-reported changes in personal development and meaning in life of older adults in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic and characteristics of the groups that reported these changes. Methods. Older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam completed a questionnaire on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were asked to rate changes in personal development and meaning in life. These variables were descriptively analysed and logistic regression analyses were used to explore characteristics of the groups that reported these changes. Results. Of the 1099 older adults (aged 62–102 years), 25.7% paid more attention to things one enjoys doing in spare time, 36.6% reflected more on important things in life, and 16.8% made less future plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-reported changes in meaning in life and personal development differed between specific subgroups of older adults. The largest changes in aspects of personal development and meaning in life were reported by older adults who experienced personal adverse experiences such as death of a loved one (ORs 2.03) and/or health problems such as functional limitations (ORs ranging from 1.59 to 2.84) and depression (ORs ranging from 1.69 to 2.77). Discussion and Implications. A substantial share of the participants reported changes in specific aspects of personal development and meaning in life. This was especially true for certain subgroups of older adults. Relatives and caregivers should be aware of changes in personal development and meaning in life since lower scores are known to be associated with poor physical, psychological, and social well-being outcomes.

Are health behaviors associated with mental health among tertiary education students? A systematic review of cohort studies

Objective To evaluate the association between health behaviors with mental health among tertiary education students. Methods Six databases were searched until September 2021 for prospective cohort studies evaluating the association between health behavior(s) (dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, alcohol intake, sleep, smoking or illicit drug use) and mental health. Two independent reviewers screened records for inclusion, extracted data and completed risk of bias assessments. Results 33 studies were included (14 assessed sleep, 14 alcohol intake, 13 physical activity, 8 smoking, 6 sedentary behavior, 4 diet, 1 illicit drug use). A consistent association between poor sleep, and physical inactivity with increased risk of poor psychological wellbeing, and between poor sleep and increased mental ill-health related outcomes was demonstrated. Conclusion Findings suggest interventions to address poor sleep and physical inactivity among students may positively impact mental health. Further research of other health behaviors, and their association with mental health, is required.

Psychological Well-Being and Care Giver Burden of Parents Having Child with Leukemia

Leukemia is one of most prevalent type of cancer among the children with age less than 15 years. Worldwide, Leukemia represents 32.5% of all types of cancer among the children. In Pakistan, 46.5% child with cancer diagnosed with leukemia. Both the mother and father are involved in the direct and indirect care of their child with leukemia Direct care is the tasks with the care of the child with leukemia and indirect care is the financial support and the facilities provided to the patients. Objective: To determine the psychological wellbeing and Care burden among parents having Children with Leukemia. Methods: A cross-sectional study designed was used. A sample of n=81 participants was recruited from Sadiq Abbasi Hospital Bahawalpur, through convenient sampling. The psychological wellbeing and care burden questionnaires were used to measure care burden and psychological wellbeing among parents having children with leukemia. Filled questionnaires were entered and analyzed through SPSS version-21. Results: Findings revealed that 71.60% participants had poor psychological wellbeing, 18.51% had fair and only 38.27% had good wellbeing during their children leukemia care. Similarly, 12.34% had low care burden, 38.27% had moderate and majority 49.38% were having high care burden. Conclusions: Majority of the parents of children with leukemia in this study were having high care burden and poor psychological wellbeing while taking care of their children

An analytical survey among academic satisfaction and mental stress of students’ in COVID-19

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of allied health sciences students in Bangalore. During the months of January and April 2022, 200 completed a survey containing measures of depression, anxiety and stress [using depression anxiety and stress-21 scale (DASS-21)] and questions regarding potential predictors such as the role of COVID-19 perception, availability of mental health support and study-related factors. The student t-test revealed factors associated with the presence of significant psychiatric symptoms. Methods: An online survey of a sample consisting of 140 students assessed sociodemographic, DASS 21 and their emotions and concerns during the outbreak. Results: Among the participants, 63,6% screened positive for moderate depression, 25% for moderate and sever anxiety and 35% and 64.7% for mild stress. Girls reported significantly more depression, anxiety, and stress than boys. Those who received mental health support reported significantly lesser depression, anxiety, and stress. Those who felt that quality of life was heavily impacted due to COVID-19 reported significantly high depression, anxiety, and stress. Most of the students were having mild degree of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: Poor psychological well-being was prevalent in allied health sciences students; however, mental health measures have been shown to significantly reduce the mental health burden academically.

The Problem of Pain in the United States: A Population-Based Characterization of Biopsychosocial Correlates of High Impact Chronic Pain Using the National Health Interview Survey

Over 20 million adults in the United States live with high impact chronic pain (HICP), or chronic pain that limits life or work activities for ≥3 months. It is critically important to differentiate people with HICP from those who sustain normal activities although experiencing chronic pain. Therefore, we aim to help clinicians and researchers identify those with HICP by: 1) developing models that identify factors associated with HICP using the 2016 national health interview survey (NHIS) and 2) evaluating the performances of those models overall and by sociodemographic subgroups (sex, age, and race/ethnicity). Our analysis included 32,980 respondents. We fitted logistic regression models with LASSO (a parametric model) and random forest (a nonparametric model) for predicting HICP using the whole sample. Both models performed well. The most important factors associated with HICP were those related to underlying ill-health (arthritis and rheumatism, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits) and poor psychological well-being. These factors can be used for identifying higher-risk sub-groups for screening for HICP. We will externally validate these findings in future work. We need future studies that longitudinally predict the initiation and maintenance of HICP, then use this information to prevent HICP and direct patients to optimal treatments. PerspectiveOur study developed models to identify factors associated with high-impact chronic pain (HICP) using the 2016 National Health Interview Survey. There was homogeneity in the factors associated with HICP by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. Understanding these risk factors is crucial to support the identification of populations and individuals at highest risk for developing HICP and improve access to interventions that target these high-risk subgroups.