Subjective Health Assessment Research Articles

Coping with challenges of the first months of COVID-19 pandemic among medical university community: a mixed-method study from Poland.

Universities played a significant role in meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with both students and staff having to identify and use available coping resources. The main aim of the study was to describe the academic community's experiences of the pandemic and their impact on health and wellbeing. Related variables were also explored, such as sense of coherence (SOC), gratitude, and subjective health assessment (SHA). During the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire was sent to the community of the Medical University of Lodz. It included 4 open-ended questions on ways to remain healthy during the pandemic. The responses (N = 144) were analyzed using a general inductive approach. For the purpose of this study, the resource utilization rate (RUR) was defined and calculated based on the number of categories with responses indicating resource usage. Additionally, a Polish adaptation of the 29-item Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-29), the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), and subjective health assessment were measured. Correlations between variables were calculated. The main areas of resource identification and utilization were interpersonal relationships, views of reality, physical activity, pleasure activities, social contacts, and healthy diet. Physical activity has been found to be the most commonly-reported strategy of taking care of both health and emotional state more frequently among students than employees (p < 0.01). The RUR was strongly associated with SOC in male employees (ρ = 0.7, p < 0.05) and with GQ-6 in both male and female student groups (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.05 and ρ = 0.28, p < 0.05, respectively). Relationships between RUR and SOC seem to be gender- and age-related. The relationships between health and resource utilization are worth exploring in the university setting. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):365-78.

Using cash transfers to promote child health equity: an analysis ofLesotho's Child Grants Program.

Cash transfers (CTs) are increasingly popular tools for promoting social inclusion and equity in children in sub-Saharan Africa. However, less is known about their implications for reducing the health gap between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary children in the community. Using Lesotho's Child Grants Program (CGP) as a case study, we aim to understand better the potential for CT programmes to reduce the gap in child health in the targeted communities. Using a triple difference model, we examine to what extent CGP improved child health outcomes in eligible households compared with non-eligible households in treatment communities vs control communities and to what extent this effect varied in different population subgroups. We find that the child health gap by beneficiary children's health outcomes catching-up on the health of non-beneficiary children narrowed but that eduction was not statistically significant. However, such a 'catch-up' effect among beneficiaries was observed for selected nutrition outcomes amongst female-headed households and subjective child health assessment for comparatively more food-secure households. This study highlights the potential and limitations of CT programmes like the CGP to address health inequalities in preschool children for selected population subgroups in the community.

SUBJECTIVE AGE AND SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

This article is devoted to the results of the study of the relationship between subjective age and subjective assessment of health among women with breast cancer. The analysis of the literature showed that subjective age is a predictor of death, mental wellness, assessment of life prospects (approach of death), possibility of coping with a bad trauma (e.g. oncological disease). The research included 170 women in the age of 31 to 85 (the average age is 56,5) diagnosed with breast cancer on different stages. Summarising received data, it should be noted that the women who feel rather danger than their chronological age address to own resources and, in general their subjective health assessment is connected with role functioning based on the emotional condition and general mental health. The women with adequate perception of their age have issues with role functioning connected with physical condition as well as the women who feel older than they actually are do. The results of this research expand a notion about potential predictors for breast cancer course, besides the results can be used for building the forecast of the disease course and its outcome.

DETERMINANTS OF HAPPINESS OF OLDER MEN AND WOMEN IN SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL

Happiness denotes a subjective feeling of living a good life. It is a key to successful aging. The older adults who judge themselves as happy, remain in more advantage position to cope up with age related changes than their counterparts. The feeling of happiness in old age depends on several internal and external factors. In this light the present study has tried to examine the variation of feeling of happiness among older adults on the basis of some selected socio-economic and demographic variables. It is found that the augmentation of age, no income and subjective assessment of poor health significantly reduce the feeling among happiness among men elderly. On the other hand, loss of spouse and separate living from children have a greater impact on feeling of happiness among women older adults. Thus, the present investigation indicates that power dimensions like income or participation in family decision play more vital role in influencing happiness among elderly men, whereas, in case of women elderly.

Markers of quality of life in patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2

Objective — to investigate and analyze total white blood cell count and leukogram in an order with community-acquired pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and to establish their relationship with subjective health assessment using the SF-36 tool 1 year after hospital discharge.&#x0D; Materials and methods. A retrospective study of the medical records of 208 patients who were hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia with a negative smear test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was conducted. The main group consisted of patients with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid identification and signs of pneumonia. According to the severity of pneumonia, patients were divided into three groups: II group —patients with pneumonia of category 2 of complexity (n = 124), group III — patients with pneumonia of category 3 of complexity (n = 68), group IV — patients with pneumonia of category 4 of complexity (n = 16). The comparison group consisted of patients with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid identification and the absence of pneumonia. Charlson’s comorbidity index (Charlson Comorbidity Index) for the general prognosis of mortality was calculated using a special computer program. The general questionnaire SF-36 was used to assess the quality of life. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the Statistica 7.0 software.&#x0D; Results and discussion. Probably higher values ​​of the total number of leukocytes were established in the patients of the studied groups compared to the comparison group. At the same time, this indicator in patients of the IV group statistically significantly exceeded the similar data of the II and III groups. The increase in leukocytes as the complexity of pneumonia progressed was mainly due to segmented neutro­phils. In patients with acquired pneumonia of the 3rd and 4th severity category caused by SARS-CoV-2 1 year after discharge from the hospital, the indicators of physical and psychological components of health are likely to be lower, while increasing age is likely to be associated with a decrease in quality of life.&#x0D; Conclusions. In patients with community-acquired pneumonia caused by COVID-19, an increase in the content of leukocytes upon admission to the hospital is associated with a decrease in indicators of physical and psychological components of health 1 year after discharge from the hospital.

Influence of health status and loneliness on satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions, and distress in junior handball players

This transversal study aimed to examine the contribution of predictor variables of the construct of health status (objective and subjective assessment of health) to the variability of the criteria satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions (positive affect, negative affect), and emotional factor of distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in junior handball players. The pertinent sample consisted of 132 junior handball players in – Serbian First League. The average age of participants was 18.25 ± 0.90 years of age. The following measuring instruments were used: 1) the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – DASS-21, 2) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale – DJGLS, 3) the Satisfaction with Life Scale‒ SWLS, and 4) The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – PANAS showed satisfactory internal consistency. The conducted multiple regression analysis explained 51% of the proportion variance of the dependent variable satisfaction with life, positive and/or negative affectivity, and cognitive aspect of distress, where the only statistically significant negative predictors were loneliness and subjective assessment of health status. At the same time, when it comes to the assessment of loneliness in adolescents, these independent variables achieved significant interaction with the subjective assessment of health. This would mean that handball players, who subjectively assess their health as bad, and feel lonelier. On the other hand, the regression model did not confirm the role of the predictor variable objective assessment of health status and loneliness. This regression study has contributed to the existing literature and empirical data on the significance of the rarely explored relations between the constructs of health and well-being in the adolescent sports population. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for future research were also discussed.

Predictors of life satisfaction in elders living at home in the Czech Republic.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the life satisfaction of older people living in a home environment and to find out what predictors influence it. The research involved 1,121 older people 60 years and above from the Moravian-Silesian region who live in a home environment. The short form of the Life Satisfaction Index for the Thirds Age (LSITA-SF12) was used to assess life satisfaction. The Geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory Scale (GAI), The Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to evaluate related factors. In addition, age, gender, marital status, education, social support, and subjective health assessment were evaluated. The overall life satisfaction score was found to be 36.34 (s = 8.66). The satisfaction of older people was classified into four grades: high satisfaction (15.2%), moderate satisfaction (60.8%), moderate dissatisfaction (23.4%), and high dissatisfaction (0.6%). The predictors of the longevity of the lives of older people were confirmed, both health factors (subjective health assessment, anxiety, and depression [Model 1: R = 0.642; R2 = 0.412; p<0.000]) and psychosocial factors (quality of life, self-esteem, sense of coherence, age, and social support [Model 2: R = 0.716; R2 = 0.513; p<0.000]). In implementing policy measures, these areas should be emphasized. The availability of educational and psychosocial activities (e.g. reminiscence therapy, music therapy, group cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive rehabilitation) within the community care of the older people and university of third age is appropriate to increase the life satisfaction of the older people. An initial depression screening is also required as part of preventive medical examinations to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of depression.

Physical Activity and Health of Koreans with Spinal Cord Injury during COVID-19.

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to explore the mediating roles of resilience and physical activity (PA) levels on the subjective health of people with spinal cord injury(SCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A total of 201 Koreans with SCI completed a survey between February and April 2021. The questionnaire measured participants' PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, resilience, and subjective health assessment. The data were analyzed using SPSS, and PROCESS macro (Model 6) was used to determine the dual mediation effects. Results: PA levels before COVID-19 positively affected resilience and PA levels during COVID-19, and resilience positively affected PA levels during COVID-19 and subjective health. PA levels during COVID-19 had a positive influence on subjective health. Moreover, resilience and PA levels during COVID-19 were independent mediators of the relationship between PA levels before COVID-19 and subjective health. PA levels before COVID-19 indirectly affected subjective health through a dual-mediated pathway of resilience and PA levels during COVID-19. Conclusion: We suggest that it is necessary to promote regular PA for people with physical disabilities to enhance resilience, and thus, maintain a healthy life even during a public health crisis.

Morbidades, Autoavaliação de Saúde, Propósito e Satisfação com a Vida em Idosos

Abstract This study aims to estimate the prevalence of overall satisfaction with life regarding sense of purpose in life, morbidities, and self-reported health, and to identify their direct and indirect associations among the domains in community-dwelling older adults. The research has a cross-sectional design, and we evaluated 419 older adults. Morbidities were assessed using a dichotomous question; self-reported health and satisfaction with life were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale; and sense of purpose was assessed using the Ryff and Keyes 10-item scale. An analysis of structural equations was conducted using Path Analysis. The relationship between morbidities and overall satisfaction with life was mediated by self-reported health; purpose in life mediated the relationship between self-reported health and overall satisfaction with life. Beyond managing chronic illnesses, subjective assessments of health and well-being are key to successful aging.

Association between reasons for employment and burnout tendencies among rehabilitation technology professionals.

[Purpose] The deterioration in the psychological states of healthcare workers may impact the quality and quantity of medical care provided to patients, leading to unfavorable treatment outcomes. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between reasons for employment and the mental health status of rehabilitation technology professionals in Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire to gather relevant data. [Participants and Methods] Data from 112 rehabilitation technology professionals, including physical and occupational therapists as well as speech-language pathologists, were analyzed. Questionnaires were utilized to collect data on participant characteristics, reasons for employment, virtual competence, self-esteem, burnout levels, self-compassion responses, subjective health assessments, and feelings of isolation. [Results] Multiple regression analysis indicated that the regression coefficients of the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, the World Health Organization-five well-being index, the virtual ability scale, the self-esteem scale, and the reasons for employment scale scores were -0.168, -0.191, -0.273, -0.197, and -0.329, respectively. Additionally, structural equation modeling was used to verify the goodness-of-fit indices. The burnout scale scores exhibited a satisfactory fit with the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, the World Health Organization-five well-being index, the virtual ability scale, the self-esteem scale, and the reasons for employment, as indicated by all goodness-of-fit indices. [Conclusion] This study revealed a significant association between the reason for employment and burnout tendency, which was found to be the strongest. Therefore, it is important to know the reason for employment to ascertain burnout tendencies. Conversely, as associations were also found for several adjustment variables, it is necessary to consider not only the reasons for employment but also other factors when assessing burnout tendencies.

Influência da sobrecarga, estresse e sintomas depressivos na saúde de idosos cuidadores: estudo longitudinal

Abstract Objective to analyze the effect of burden, stress, and depressive symptoms on the health characteristics of older adult caregivers of older adults. Method A quantitative and longitudinal study was conducted with 127 older adult caregivers to analyze the effect of burden, stress, and depressive symptoms on their health characteristics. The variables assessed included health characterization, burden, depressive symptoms, and stress. A linear regression model and Poisson test were employed, with a significance level set at 5%. Results The findings revealed that an increase of one point in the burden scale score was associated with a 0.030 increase in the number of diseases (p=0.020) and an increased risk of chronic pain (p=0.005). Similarly, a one-point increase in the stress scale score was associated with a 0.058 increase in the number of diseases (p=0.001), as well as an increased risk of a poor subjective health assessment (p=&lt;0.001) and chronic pain (p=&lt;0.001). Furthermore, an increase in the score on the depressive symptoms scale was associated with an increase in the number of diseases (p=&lt;0.001), risk of falls (p=0.009), poor subjective health assessment (p=&lt;0.001), and chronic pain (p=&lt;0.001). Conclusions and implications for practice The worsening estimate in the scores of psychological variables poses a risk to the deterioration of caregivers’ physical health characteristics. The findings underscore the need for the development of public policies aimed at improving the quality of life for older adult caregivers.

Исследование субъективного качества жизни и субъективного благополучия в позднем онтогенезе

Currently, the problem of finding ways of positive/optimal functioning of the personality is becoming highly relevant. This is particularly significant in late ontogenesis. The paper deals with the results of an empirical research, the purpose of which was to study the features of subjective well-being and health-related quality of life of people aged 49-93 who permanently reside (more than 1 year) in a geriatric center. A total sample (N = 155) is analyzed in subgroups depending on gender, age (49-64 years; 65-74 years; 75-93 years) and objective health status (disability group or its absence). The following methods were used: SF-36 Health Status Survey, Subjective Happiness Scale by S. Lyubomirsky, Satisfaction with Life Scale by E. Diener. The health self-esteem is shown to be rather low and is characterized by heterogeneity, while the level of subjective well-being corresponds to the average interval. Health-related quality of life, satisfaction with life, and subjective happiness are correlated. Men rate their health higher than women on all indicators. With increasing age, health-related quality of life decreases (except for the indicator “Physical functioning” (PF)). At the same time, there are gender differences in dynamics. Health self-esteem has no connection with the objective state of somatic health, except for the indicator “Physical functioning” (PF). Satisfaction with life and subjective happiness have no correlations with chronological age, as well as they have no differences in groups of people of different ages and genders. The objective state of health does not affect satisfaction with life but affects subjective happiness. The presence of deficit aspects (high chronological age and the 1st disability group) manifests itself an increasing number of correlations between subjective well-being and health-related quality of life. In general, it can be noted that people with different objective and subjective health assessments feel happy and satisfied with their lives. This, in our opinion, is provided by relying on intrapersonal resources. The research contributes to the formation of the idea of the aging as a period of development and the subjective resources of successful aging as well.

Assessment of quality of life one year after in COVID-19 cases using the SF-36

One of the features of COVID-19 infection is a long recovery process and development of the long-term health effects of COVID-19. Therefore, the interest of scholars in ensuring patients' quality of life after treatment of COVID-19 is increasing and puts a long-term health assessment on the agenda. However, there have been limited studies examining subjective evaluation of physical and mental health of patients who have undergone COVID-19 in Kazakhstan.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;The study aims&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;to examine the subjective health assessment of patients who suffered from COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 in Nur-Sultan city using the SF-36 tool. These patients were included and observed in the research with confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases as well as their close contacts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;The study employed questionnaires of respondents through direct interviews, including common questions SF-36. The scoring was done in Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the SPSS program, version 23.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Questionnaires were administered among 64 out of 172 patients, 52 (81%) were women and 12 (19%) were men. The majority of respondents were over 40 (41%) and 31 (31%) years old. Nearly half of participants (46%) responded that their health condition was about the same as a year ago, 27% rated their health somewhat worse than a year ago, and 2%, that is, 1 participant, rated their condition as much worse than before COVID-19. Men considered themselves significantly healthier than women (p&amp;gt;0.05).&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;There is a need for additional research on "Long COVID-19" using more specific HRQoL instruments.

WOMEN’S HEALTH: PARADOXICAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN

Abstract Asian Americans are among the fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the U.S (Budiman &amp; Ruiz, 2017), but women’s healthcare is understudied. This may allow potential health disparities to go unnoticed. Our study aims to determine whether Asian American women are utilizing preventative health care services and to examine relations with self-reported health. We used data from a national sample of American women (Nf 58,934; mean age = 47.3 years; range 18 to 80+) from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We examined the recency of receiving a PAP smear, a mammogram, and the HPV test, along with subjective assessments of health. Asian American women reported less recent PAP smears, mammograms, and HPV tests, relative to their counterparts. However, Asian American women reported better general and physical health than non-Asian American women. To examine whether Asian American status contributed to health reports above and beyond that accounted for by the preventative tests and age, we conducted a 3-step hierarchical regression. Even after controls, Asian American status accounted for unique variance in health outcomes [F (1, 58,928) = 36.51, p &amp;lt; .001]. Post hoc exploratory analyses further examine the role of race in women’s preventative health care. Our findings indicate that Asian American women report less use of medical services, but better general and physical health. These results suggest that further studies are needed to explore other health behaviors that may account for better health reports among Asian American women.

GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF SUBJECTIVE HEALTH: RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH, COGNITION, AND DEPRESSION

Abstract The fact that self-rated health (SH) predicts mortality and a variety of other health outcomes independent of objective health measures generates questions about mechanisms and etiologies. SH can be considered an indicator of physical health, per se, resulting from active cognitive processing of explicit information about one’s own health and intuitive knowledge of symptoms and physical sensations. The extent to which SH taps shared cultural ideas about health should be reflected in estimates of the shared environmental component of variance (C). SH has also been associated with emotional health measures, such as neuroticism and depression. Previous analyses have been limited by sex (only women), sample size, age (range = 63-76), and failure to include cognitive function. The current analysis used data from 8291 adults ranging in age from 22 to 102 from the international Interplay of Genes and Environment Across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium to investigate the genetic architecture of SH. Genetic influences on self-rated health (SRH) were investigated in the context of CIRS (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale), MMSE (Mini-Mental Status Exam), and depression (CES-D or CAMDEX). Independent pathways modeling indicated that all genetic variance for SRH was shared with CIRS, MMSE, and depression. Comparison of groups older and younger than 74 indicated age differences in genetic architecture of SRH. Evidence suggests that the discordance between objective and subjective health increases in late adulthood, possibly as a result of greater emphasis on psychological rather than physical components of subjective health assessments by older adults.

The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial

In animal studies, β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation increases nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) concentrations and improves healthspan and lifespan with great safety. However, it is unclear if these effects can be transferred to humans. This randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial included 80 middle-aged healthy adults being randomized for a 60-day clinical trial with once daily oral dosing of placebo, 300 mg, 600 mg, or 900 mg NMN. The primary objective was to evaluate blood NAD concentration with dose-dependent regimens. The secondary objectives were to assess the safety and tolerability of NMN supplementation, next to the evaluation of clinical efficacy by measuring physical performance (six-minute walking test), blood biological age (Aging.Ai 3.0 calculator), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and subjective general health assessment [36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36)]. Statistical analysis was performed using the Per Protocol analysis with significant level set at p = 0.05. All 80 participants completed the trial without trial protocol violation. Blood NAD concentrations were statistically significantly increased among all NMN-treated groups at day 30 and day 60 when compared to both placebo and baseline (all p ≤ 0.001). Blood NAD concentrations were highest in the groups taking 600 mg and 900 mg NMN. No safety issues, based on monitoring adverse events (AEs), laboratory and clinical measures, were found, and NMN supplementation was well tolerated. Walking distance increase during the six-minute walking test was statistically significantly higher in the 300 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg groups compared to placebo at both days 30 and 60 (all p < 0.01), with longest walking distances measured in the 600 mg and 900 mg groups. The blood biological age increased significantly in the placebo group and stayed unchanged in all NMN-treated groups at day 60, which resulted in a significant difference between the treated groups and placebo (all p < 0.05). The HOMA-IR showed no statistically significant differences for all NMN-treated groups as compared to placebo at day 60. The change of SF-36 scores at day 30 and day 60 indicated statistically significantly better health of all three treated groups when compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05), except for the SF-36 score change in the 300 mg group at day 30. NMN supplementation increases blood NAD concentrations and is safe and well tolerated with oral dosing up to 900 mg NMN daily. Clinical efficacy expressed by blood NAD concentration and physical performance reaches highest at a dose of 600 mg daily oral intake. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04823260, and Clinical Trial Registry - India, CTRI/2021/03/032421.

The First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic Strengthened the "Strong" and Weakened the "Weak" Ones.

The aim of this study was to explore how the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which contact communication was severely restricted, changed psychological health indicators, such as subjective assessment of health and depression, impulsivity, stress and emotional intelligence (EI) and how that depended on age, gender, physical activity (PA), sports specificity and body mass index (BMI).We surveyed 6369 before and 2392 people during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were aged 18-74 years. Participants completed the Danish Physical Activity Questionnaire (DPAQ), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSREIT), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), subjective depression and health self-assessments. One-way and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed to assess the effect of independent variables on the dependent variables of MVPA (METs). Statistical analysis showed that restrictions during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic did not alter moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), except for a significant decrease in MVPA in women aged 18-25 years, or body mass index in women and men of different ages. An increase in depression and impulsivity was observed, especially an increase in unplanned or spontaneous activity. The restrictions during the first wave increased stress in women of all ages and, rather unexpectedly, improved health self-assessment in men.The study showed that the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic affected people's subjective assessment of health, depression, stress and impulsivity in two ways: it "weakened the weak ones" and "strengthened the strong ones".

Pre-pandemic social isolation as a predictor of the adverse impact of the pandemic on self-rated health: A longitudinal COVID-19 study in Japan

Many studies have found adverse effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic on health. Irrespective of being infected by the coronavirus, lockdowns and other measures to restrict mobility have worsened an individual's subjective health assessment. Unlike previous studies, this study examined how pre-pandemic social isolation (in the form of no interaction with others and having no social support) affected the impact of the pandemic on self-rated health in Japan. To this end, we estimated fixed-effects models using 4172 observations of 2086 individuals obtained from a three-wave Internet nationwide survey conducted in January/February 2019 and February 2020 (before the pandemic), in March 2021 (when the pandemic-related state of emergency was effective in four prefectures and just after it was lifted in six prefectures), and in October/November (a full month after the state of emergency was lifted in all prefectures). The state of emergency raised the probability of reporting poor health by 17.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.9–33.8) percentage points among the participants who had not interacted with others before the pandemic, compared with only 0.7 (95% CI: −3.1–4.5) percentage points among other participants. Similar results were obtained in the absence of social support prior to the pandemic. In conclusion, pre-pandemic social isolation was detrimental to health, suggesting that policy measures are needed to avoid social isolation to increase the resilience of public health to external shocks.

Satisfaction of life in postmenopausal women

Introduction: Experiencing life satisfaction is an undisputed human desire. The postmenopausal period usually entails certain ailments that may contribute to the weakening of the woman's psychophysical condition and thus satisfaction with life.Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to examine the life satisfaction of postmenopausal women.&#x0D; Material and methods: The research was carried out in six randomly selected gynaecological clinics and in primary care clinics in the city of Lublin. They included 510 women. A diagnostic survey was used as a test method. The research tool was a questionnaire specially prepared for this work, consisting of sociodemographic data and a standardized questionnaire Satisfaction with Life Scale.&#x0D; Conclusions: Postmenopausal women are characterized by average life satisfaction. There is a relationship between life satisfaction and the level of education, subjective assessment of the material and housing situation, subjective assessment of health and sexual activity.&#x0D; Keywords: menopause, postmenopause, life satisfaction&#x0D;

Report on the Self-perceived Health Condition of Minority Hungarians in Central and Eastern Europe

In this article, we analyze the health condition of minority Hungarians in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine using data from a transnational survey conducted in 2018-2019. The study’s main focus is on assessing the subjective health status and behavior of adult Hungarians in each region, identifying key social determinants, and investigating whether minority Hungarians’ health indicators are more similar to their respective countries or Hungary. Proxies for physical health, such as chronic illnesses, medication use, and hospitalizations, show marginal variations across regions. Age, financial status, living in rural areas, and living alone after marriage are linked to the onset of chronic diseases. Physical activity and healthy eating habits vary among regions, influenced by age, education, and marital status. Smoking rates range from 25% to 33%, with gender and age playing significant roles. Alcohol consumption patterns are affected by gender, education, income, and urban residence. In terms of mental health, we utilized the PHQ-8 depression scale, and have observed a higher prevalence of depression among minority Hungarians compared to their host countries and Hungary. Relationships and social interactions play vital roles in mental health outcomes. The subjective assessment of health reveals variations among regions, with social factors such as age, gender, education, and living arrangements influencing self-perceived health.