Subjective Physical Health Research Articles

Long-term course and factors influencing work ability and return to work in post-COVID patients 12 months after inpatient rehabilitation

BackgroundRehabilitation plays a crucial role in restoring work ability and facilitating the reintegration of post-COVID patients into the workforce. The impact of rehabilitation on work ability and return to work (RTW) of post-COVID patients remains poorly understood. This study was conducted to assess the work ability and RTW of post-COVID patients before rehabilitation and 12 months after rehabilitation and to identify physical and neuropsychological health factors influencing RTW 12 months after rehabilitation.MethodsThis longitudinal observational study included 114 post-COVID patients with work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection who underwent inpatient post-COVID rehabilitation with indicative focus on pulmonology and/or psychotraumatology (interval between date of SARS-CoV-2 infection and start of rehabilitation: M = 412.90 days). Employment status, work ability, and the subjective prognosis of employment (SPE) scale were assessed before rehabilitation (T1) and 12 months after rehabilitation (T4). The predictors analysed at T4 were functional exercise capacity, physical activity, subjective physical and mental health status, fatigue, depression, and cognitive function. Longitudinal analyses were performed via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Logistic and linear regression analyses identified predictors of work ability and return to work (RTW), whereas mediation analyses examined the relationships between these predictors and work ability.ResultsAt T4, the median of WAI total score indicated poor work ability, which significantly worsened over time (p < 0.001; r = 0.484). The SPE scale significantly increased from T1 to T4 (p = 0.022, r = -0.216). A total of 48.6% of patients had returned to work 12 months after rehabilitation. Fatigue was identified as the main predictor of reduced work ability and RTW, with each unit increase in fatigue severity decreasing the odds of RTW by 3.1%. In addition, physical capacity and subjective health status were significant predictors of perceived work ability.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the significant challenges that post-COVID patients face in regaining work ability and achieving successful RTW 12 months after rehabilitation. Fatigue appears to be an important predictor of work ability and RTW. To optimize recovery and enhance both biopsychosocial health and work ability, it is crucial to develop and implement personalised interventions that address fatigue, improve physical capacity, and support mental health.Trial registrationThis study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register under DRKS00022928.

Factors Influencing Suicidal Ideation in Young and Middle-aged Adults in Korea: A Nationwide Study

Abstract Objectives This study aims to analyze various factors influencing suicidal ideation among young (19-39 years) and middle-aged (40-64 years) adults using nationwide longitudinal data in South Korea, which has the highest suicide rate among OECD countries for more than 20 years. Methods An analysis was conducted using the WAVE II data (2016-2017) from a nationwide longitudinal study on the mental health of suicide survivors (LoSS). The sample included 2,002 participants (1,290 young adults, 712 middle-aged adults) recruited through stratified proportional quota sampling. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing suicidal ideation in each age group. Results In young adults, being female, having a high school education or lower, being unmarried/divorced/widowed, and having higher levels of depression were positively associated with suicidal ideation. Higher levels of social support and better subjective physical health were negatively associated with suicidal ideation. In middle-aged adults, being unemployed, living alone, drinking alcohol more than once a week, and having higher levels of depression were positively associated with suicidal ideation, while higher levels of social support were negatively associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusions Factors influencing suicidal ideation differ between young and middle-aged adults. Age-specific suicide prevention strategies considering these factors are needed to promote social health and stability in South Korea. Key messages • Different factors influence suicidal ideation in young and middle-aged adults in South Korea. • Age-specific suicide prevention strategies are necessary to effectively address suicidal ideation and promote social health and stability in South Korea.

Sibling Availability, Sibling Sorting, and Subjective Health Among Chinese Adults

Despite rising numbers of only children in China, little is known about their family dynamics and well-being in adulthood—for example, how often they marry other only children and whether those in siblingless families have worse or better health than others. Theoretical expectations produce opposing predictions: siblings might provide social and emotional support and reduce parental caregiving pressures, but only children might receive more support from parents and grandparents. Using the 2010 China Family Panel Study, we examine marital sorting on Chinese adults’ number of siblings and test whether sibling availability and sibling sorting are associated with subjective physical and mental health. Despite general perceptions that China has an exceedingly high prevalence of adults with no siblings that might produce very small families, results demonstrate a low prevalence of siblingless couples (i.e., both spouses are only children). Married adults with no siblings or siblings-in-law have better subjective physical health but similar levels of subjective mental health relative to their counterparts with siblings. The health advantages of siblingless marital unions are greater for rural and female adults. Declining sibling prevalence in China will shape future family demographic dynamics but appears less detrimental to population health than sometimes assumed.

A Comparison of Loneliness and Social Support among South African Older Persons during a Pandemic

Pandemics, such as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in March 2020, have a negative impact on older persons’ (60 years and older) physical and mental health. Research on the effects of Covid-19 on older persons’ experience of loneliness and self-reported social support has predominately originated from the Global North. Applying the strengths perspective, the present study aimed to determine and compare the loneliness and social support among South African older persons during a pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was operationalised to collect data from community-dwelling older persons (n = 139) and older persons residing in residential care facilities (n = 99) through purposive sampling across five South African provinces. A loneliness scale was used to measure the respondents’ overall loneliness, including emotional and social loneliness. A social support scale was used to measure the availability of social support across four domains. The survey focused on social contact, number of close friends/relatives, socio-demographics, and subjective physical and mental health, respectively. Independent samples t-tests were run to explore any statistically significant differences between the two groups. Community-dwelling older persons were found to present with marginally higher levels of loneliness. No statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups. Community-dwelling older persons measured higher on social support than their peers in residential care. Two domains of social support, namely, affectionate support and positive social interaction, were found to be significantly different (p &lt; 0.01). Based on the study’s results, implications for strengths-based gerontological social work services in resource-constrained settings during a pandemic were delineated.

Young adults from disadvantaged groups experience more stress and deterioration in mental health associated with polycrisis.

The recent polycrisis (COVID-19, Ukraine war, climate change, economic crisis) has been associated with mental health through cumulative stress, with young people being particularly vulnerable. We surveyed 403 college students from Poland to examine their psychological responses to the experienced crises. The results showed that polycrisis was associated with worse mental health of college students from disadvantaged groups (based on gender, sexual orientation, and financial situation) compared to other college students, in four areas: sense of proximity to the crises, stress caused by the crises, sense of responsibility for mitigating the crises, and experiencing everyday moral dilemmas regarding the crises. These young adults also suffered more in terms of negative affectivity, depressive symptoms, and subjective physical and mental health. Our findings suggest that when discussing public mental health perspectives, it is important to consider consequences of cumulative stress and its greater impact on young people from disadvantaged groups.

Worry and ruminative brooding: associations with cognitive and physical health in older adults.

Mental health conditions are associated with cognition and physical function in older adults. We examined whether worry and ruminative brooding, key symptoms of certain mental health conditions, are related to subjective and/or objective measures of cognitive and physical (cardiovascular) health. We used baseline data from 282 participants from the SCD-Well and Age-Well trials (178 female; agemean = 71.1 years). We measured worry and ruminative brooding using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale-brooding subscale. We assessed subjective physical health using the WHOQOL-Bref physical subscale, and objective physical health via blood pressure and modified versions of the Framingham Risk Score and Charlson Comorbidity Index. With subjective and objective cognition, we utilized the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and a global composite (modified Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite, PACC5, with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, category fluency, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2, and either the California Verbal Learning Test or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We conducted linear regressions, adjusted for education, age, sex and cohort. Worry and ruminative brooding were negatively associated with subjective physical health (worry: β = -0.245, 95%CI -0.357 to -0.133, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = -0.224, 95%CI -0.334 to -0.113, p < 0.001) and subjective cognitive difficulties (worry: β = 0.196, 95%CI 0.091 to 0.302, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = 0.239, 95%CI 0.133 to 0.346, p < 0.001). We did not observe associations between worry or ruminative brooding and any measure of objective health. Worry and ruminative brooding may be common mechanisms associated with subjective but not objective health. Alternatively, cognitively unimpaired older adults may become aware of subtle changes not captured by objective measures used in this study. Interventions reducing worry and ruminative brooding may promote subjective physical and cognitive health; however, more research is needed to determine causality of the relationships.

LONELINESS IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN PUERTO RICO DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN UNDEREXAMINED PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

Abstract Loneliness is a critical public health problem, yet it is under-examined among older adults in Puerto Rico. We explored sociodemographic and health-related risks for loneliness using data from a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices COVID-19 study of Older Adults in Puerto Rico study. We conducted telephone and face-to-face interviews (January - December 2021) with a nonprobability sample of adults aged 60+ in Puerto Rico (n= 213). Data collection included measures of objective and subjective physical and mental health. We used generalized linear regression analyses to explore main effects of salient demographic and health factors on loneliness. Missing data were treated with Multiple Imputation. Prevalence of loneliness (3-item TILS) was 36.3% . Widowhood (β=.832, SE=.38, p=.029), low household income (&amp;lt;$12,500; β=.691, SE=.23, p=.003), psychological distress (β=.141, SE=.03, p&amp;lt;.001) were positively associated with greater loneliness. Living alone (β=-.664, SE=.27, p=.015) and higher sense of community (β=-.067, SE=.01, p&amp;lt;.001) were negatively associated with loneliness. Pandemic specific challenges (e.g., someone close diagnosed or hospitalized with COVID-19) and other common predictors (e.g., age, female, self-rated health) were not significant. We consider that contextual (e.g., outmigration, under-resourced aging and healthcare infrastructure) and cultural factors (e.g., familism) may help shape predictors and their effects on loneliness. Mainland US and Puerto Rican researchers and practitioners should collaborate on examining loneliness narratives, their impact on health, and implementation of culturally appropriate and contextually feasible interventions in Puerto Rico.

Transitions in sense of coherence among middle-aged women raising adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A longitudinal study was conducted among Japanese women raising adolescents to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their sense of coherence (SOC) and to provide suggestions for supporting them. The SOC scores of 138 pairs of middle-aged women and their children (junior high school students) were compared at two time points: 2019 (before the pandemic, T1) and 2020 (during the pandemic, T2). Overall, the women's SOC did not change, whereas the adolescents' SOC increased. In contrast, 44% of the women's SOC scores decreased during the pandemic; no differences were detected between the SOC maintenance and increase group (G1) and the SOC decrease group (G2) in mental health, subjective physical health, social capital, and job status, and the child variables were not related. Multiple regression analysis of G1 and G2 with SOC at T2 as the dependent variable showed that for G2, at T1, having good mental and physical health conditions, a rich social capital, and having a job were positively associated with SOC during the pandemic. Middle-aged Japanese women, who often work as informal workers, are easily laid off and are involved in care work. Thus, the change in their socioeconomic status due to the pandemic may have been severe. Given the long-term social impact of the pandemic, it is necessary to consider support for women, including economic and social support such as employment and building human connections.

Self-rated physical health predicts mortality in aging persons beyond objective health risks

Previous studies on self-rated health and mortality have usually not differentiated between physical and mental health, respectively have not considered physical diseases. This study aims to determine self-rated physical and mental health from middle to old age, examine associations with mortality adjusted for objective risk factors and assess effect modification by gender. In a large population-based sample (N = 14,993 at baseline), self-rated physical and mental health were rated separately by a single-item. Associations to mortality were modelled by Cox regressions, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Most participants rated their physical (79.4%), resp. mental health (82.3%) as good. Poor self-rated physical health was lowest in the youngest group (19.6%, age 35–44), and highest in midlife (29.1%, age 55–64). Poor self-rated mental health was lowest among the oldest (18.5%), and highest from 45 to 54 years (29.3%). Poor self-rated physical, but not mental health was predictive of mortality when adjusting for objective risk factors. Male gender and poor self-rated physical health interacted (RERI 0.43 95%-CI 0.02–0.85). Self-rated physical health was best in the youngest and worst in the midlife group, this pattern was reversed regarding self-rated mental health. Poor self-rated physical, but not mental health was predictive of mortality, adjusting for objective risk factors. It was more strongly predictive of mortality in men than in women. Poor subjective physical health ratings, should be taken seriously as an unfavorable prognostic sign, particularly in men.

Life events related to the German reunification and their associations with psychosocial health in a sample of northeast Germany

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate (1) the type and frequency of reported life events of the East German population related to the German reunification and (2) their associations with psychosocial health. Methods: Data of 2247 participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania was used.These qualitative responses were analysed using quantitative content analysis. Their associations with subjective physical and mental health, optimism, social support, depressive symptoms, and chronic stress were examined. Results: Eight life event categories were identified (education, employment-related changes, material changes, new opportunities, personal life events, politics, separations, reunifications). Especially, experiencing new opportunities was associated with a higher level of optimism as well as a lower level of depressive symptoms and chronic stress. Conclusions: In this study, events frequently described in the literature (e.g., employment-related and social changes) were confirmed and systematized.The observed associations of these events with psychosocial factors should be examined further in future studies.

Effects of fear of cancer recurrence on subjective physical and mental health in breast cancer patients: The intermediary role of heart rate variability.

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and psychological distress are common psychological problems in breast cancer (BC) patients and ultimately affecting their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Heart rate variability (HRV) can reflect the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. However, the pathways through which HRV influences between FCR and HRQoL are unclear. This study preliminarily explored the intermediary role of HRV in FCR and HRQoL in BC patients. A total of 101 BC patients participated in this study. HRV parameters were measured by a 5-min dynamic electrocardiogram. FCR, psychological distress and HRQoL were evaluated by the Fear of disease progression simplified scale (FOP-Q-SF), Distress thermometer and SF-36 concise health survey. The intermediary effect model was established to test the intermediary effect of high frequency-HRV (HF-HRV) on FCR and HRQoL. FCR and psychological distress were negatively correlated with HRV in the time domain, negatively correlated with HF-HRV in the frequency domain, and positively correlated with low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF). HF-HRV had a partial mediating effect on the FCR and physical health and mental health, with effects of 30.23% and 9.53%, respectively. FCR and psychological distress are correlated with HRV parameters in the time domain and the frequency domain, and we preliminarily believe that parasympathetic nerves play an important intermediary role between FCR and subjective physical and mental health. This may provide intervention information for improving the HRQoL of BC patients.

How does debt shape health outcomes for older Americans?

The deleterious effects that debt can have on health outcomes are well documented, yet comprehensive studies of the debt-health link for older adults remain limited even as their indebtedness has increased dramatically in recent decades. Additionally, the literature cannot explain the causal pathway linking poor health with debt. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2016), we examine a range of physical and mental health measures and assess how they may be shaped by the amount and type of debt held by older adults. To address the likely endogeneity of debt and health, we employ marginal structural models, developed specifically as an identification strategy in the presence of possible endogeneity, alongside population-averaged models that allow us to compare outcomes for populations with and without debt without relying on unverifiable assumptions regarding the underlying population distribution as is the case with random- and fixed-effects models. Findings indicate that carrying any debt has a negative effect on a range of health outcomes for older adults, including objective and subjective physical and mental health. In addition, the more debt older adults carry, the more detrimental it is for their health. Finally, the type of debt matters: while secured debt has a limited, if any, negative impact on health outcomes, unsecured debt has a substantial negative impact on health. Policymakers should design policies that promote the prudent use of debt and discourage carrying large debt burdens, especially unsecured debt, into retirement as this would promote better health outcomes for older Americans.

From good sleep to health and to quality of life – a path analysis of determinants of sleep quality of working adults in Abu Dhabi

BackgroundSleep quality has significant impacts on many aspects of quality of life. Therefore, identifying the association of sleep quality with that quality of life domains could lead to deeper insights for social policymakers and professionals to enhance their understanding of the lives of Abu Dhabi working adults. This research focuses on sleep quality among working people in Abu Dhabi. The direct and indirect associations of sleep quality with various quality-of-life domains such as income and housing, physical and mental health, sport and activities, eating habits and obesity, work-life balance, online hours, and social connections are investigated and discussed.MethodsData were drawn from 36,515 full-time employees in both public, and private sectors, obtained from the third Abu Dhabi Quality of Life (QoL) survey aimed to cover all community members using online platforms. Informed by international research on sleep quality, preliminary investigation using correlation analysis and simple regression identified many well-being variables deemed necessary for inclusion in the path model. Path analysis was then performed.ResultsThe final path model produced excellent fit measures. The significant variables directly associated with sleep quality included sleeping hours, social connection, satisfaction with income, satisfaction with residence, subjective physical and mental health, income satisfaction, satisfaction with the surrounding environment, frequency of eating healthy food, work-life balance, and online time. In addition, most variables recorded an indirect association to sleep quality through subjective health.ConclusionsThe importance of multidimensional linkages between many well-being factors influencing sleep quality and subjective health is underscored.

Physical Activity versus Selected Health Behaviors, Subjective Physical and Psychological Health and Multimorbidity in a Large Cohort of Polish Seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Results of the National Test for Poles’ Health )

National Test for Poles' Health is an online study conducted on a large group of Polish Internet users. For the purpose of this study, 64,732 subjects (48.8% female) over 65 years old were included. Subjects provided answers on the level of physical activity (PA) they engage in, prevalence of non-communicable diseases (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, cancer) and subjective physical and psychological health. Additionally, their Body Mass Index (BMI) and prevalence of multimorbidity was assessed. We found that older people who engage in at least 2 h of physical activity/week had significantly lower prevalence of hypertension, obesity and heart diseases than those who engaged in 1-1.5 h/week or less than 1 h/week. Multimorbidity was present in 33.2% of subjects from the most active group and 52.6% of the least active ones. Subjective physical and psychological health was rated as "very good" by 26.6% and 41.2%, respectively, by subjects from the most active group. Only 9.1% of the least active subjects rated their physical health as "very good" and only 27.4% rated their psychological health as such. Regular physical activity may be a helpful tool in combating the reduced well-being of older people affected by the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, over 65% of respondents claimed to engage in less than 1 h of PA a week or less.

The association between gut-health promoting diet and depression: A mediation analysis

BackgroundRecent research has highlighted the relevance of a gut-health promoting diet as a possible treatment and prevention for depression. A dietary pattern with consumption of fermented food and high consumption of dietary fiber can promote gut health, physical health, and might even improve mental health. This study aimed to investigate the interrelationship among diet, physical health, and depression. MethodsThis study used a nationally representative sample (N = 16,572) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018). Dietary information was collected by dietary recall interviews. Depression was assessed by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Subjective physical health was indicated by self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI). Objective physical health was indicated by BMI measured by trained health technicians. Path analysis was used to test the association between diet and depression, and the mediating roles of self-reported BMI and BMI measured by technicians. ResultsConsumption of probiotic foods and higher intake of fiber were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Both subjective and objective physical health significantly mediated the relationship between variables of diet and mild depressive symptoms. Subjective physical health also significantly mediated the relationship between high intake of dietary fiber and lower likelihood of reporting severe depressive symptoms. ConclusionDespite being cross-sectional in nature, this study presented evidence that gut-health promoting diets may reduce depressive symptoms through improving physical health. These findings provide preliminary support to diet programs for preventing depression and diet programs as an alternative or supplementary treatment of depression.

Self-Efficacy, Perceived Stress, and Individual Adjustment among College-Attending Emerging Adults

In a large, ethnically diverse sample of college-attending emerging adults (N = 693; ages 18–29), the current study examines associations between self-efficacy and individual adjustment (academic satisfaction, depressive symptoms, subjective physical health, and loneliness), directly and indirectly through perceived stress. Moderated mediation effects by sex, ethnicity, school year, and first-generation status were also explored. Using PROCESS, results show that self-efficacy was directly related to adjustment, and indirectly related through lower stress. Sex moderated the associations between self-efficacy and stress as well as stress and depressive symptoms; the relations were stronger in women. School year moderated how stress was associated with academic satisfaction in that the negative association was not found among the fourth-year students, but in all other peers. First-generation status moderated the negative association of self-efficacy and stress, with it being greater for first-generation college students compared to their peers. In addition, self-efficacy was positively related to academic satisfaction for first-generation students, but no relation was found for other students.

Are Attitudes towards COVID-19 Pandemic Related to Subjective Physical and Mental Health?

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between a person's psychological distress, subjective physical health and their attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation was performed on the basis of data from two waves of the Saxon Longitudinal Study, carried out in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2021. The number of study participants in both waves was 291. We tested in autoregressive cross-lagged models the stability of the respondents' health status before and during the pandemic and reviewed their influence on attitudes towards COVID-19. Our results show that COVID-19-related concerns are controlled by subjective physical health, while pandemic denial is linked to psychological distress. In an unknown and critical situation, with limited control over the situation, the strategy of avoidance or suppression may be used by individuals for protection by psychologically downplaying the stressor and danger.

Subjective Physical Fitness And Subjective Health With The Prevalence Of Subjective Well-being: A Cross-sectional Study Of Japanese

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported a positive association/relationship between subjective physical fitness and subjective health with subjective well-being. However, no studies have identified this association/relationship among the Japanese population. PURPOSE: This study investigated the association/relationship between subjective subjective physical fitness and subjective health with subjective well-being among the Japanese population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an internet survey targeting Japanese residents. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 551 Japanese consisting of 256 men (mean age = 52) and 296 women (mean age = 54). Subjective physical fitness, subjective health, and subjective well-being, and demographic characteristics of the study participants such as sex, age, occupation, area of residence, marital status, presence or absence of children, and educational background were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. The participants answered the internet survey question “How happy are you?” as subjective well-being. A logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between subjective physical fitness and subjective health with prevalence of the subjective well-being. Odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The results indicated that 433 (78.6%) of the study participants reported that they were happy with their subjective wellbeing. The odds ratio (95% CI) for participants who reported high subjective physical fitness was 2.85 (1.66 − 4.88). The odds ratio (95% CI) for the group with high subjective health was 2.50 (1.51 − 4.12). CONCLUSION: The results of this cross-sectional study showed that men and women living in Japan who reported high level of subjective physical fitness and high level of subjective health have higher levels of subjective well-being.

Alcohol use and cannabis use trajectories and sexual/gender minority disparities in young adulthood.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young people may use alcohol or cannabis (A/C) at higher rates that non-SGM peers, but little is known about whether SGM young adults experience poorer health, psychosocial, and other outcomes at similar levels of A/C use. We used longitudinal survey data from a community cohort recruited from California middle schools in 2008 (average age 11.5) and followed across 12 waves through 2020. Participants reported on past-month A/C use at each wave. Individuals also reported SGM status as well as outcomes in multiple domains in Wave 12. Sequelae of change models tested differences in intercept and slope for A/C use trajectories from Waves 1-12 across SGM groups, and simultaneously examined differences in outcomes by SGM status adjusting separately for A/C trajectories. SGM (n = 445) and non-SGM (n = 2,089) groups did not differ on baseline probability of A/C use. SGM individuals showed steeper increases in probability of cannabis but not alcohol use over time. Adjusting for trajectories of A/C use, SGM individuals had significant disparities relative to non-SGM peers with respect to: Employment and economic stability, criminal justice involvement, social functioning, subjective physical health, behavioral health, and perceived unmet mental health treatment need. At the same levels of A/C use from middle school through young adulthood, SGM individuals show disparities in multiple domains compared to non-SGM peers. Targeted efforts to reduce substance use in conjunction with other structural disadvantages experienced by SGM youths are needed to address the emergence of disparities in young adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Quality of Life in Schoolchildren, Their Parents and Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychosomatic Health, Teachers’ and Parents’ Burnout Along with the Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms

The COVID-19 pandemic and the related changes in the implementation of educational activities affected three groups of the school community: schoolchildren, their parents and teachers. The purpose of this study is to assess psychological functioning in these groups in the period before returning to full-time face-to-face education. The study involved 88 schoolchildren, 99 parents and 36 teachers from Poland. Life satisfaction, subjective physical and mental health complaints as well as the quality of life were assessed in students. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, teachers’ and parental burnout were also studied. Additionally, the usage of such maladaptive coping strategies as rumination was assessed in teachers. The analysis revealed that lower levels of psychological well-being were shown by girls (compared to boys) and schoolchildren from grades 7 to 8 (compared to younger pupils). Teachers scored relatively high on the anxiety/depressive symptoms and work burnout scales. In contrast, parents had lower levels of anxiety/depressive symptoms and the level of parental burnout was average.Among the participants of the educational process, pupils in the higher grades (7–8), especially girls, as well as teachers had poorer well-being. We suggest that measures should be taken to provide psychological support to these risk groups.