Fear Of Symptoms Research Articles

Design and evaluation of a mobile-based intervention for Maya adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on mental health. International organisations have emphasised the vulnerability of indigenous people. Digital Mental Health approaches deliver online therapy as an evidence-based, effective, and accessible treatment option for common mental health problems. However, the evidence regarding these approaches is limited in indigenous populations. The objective of this study is to describe the design, development, and evaluation of the efficacy of a self-applied online intervention regarding the psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fear of COVID-19 in a sample of the Maya population. Method: A prospective longitudinal quantitative study was designed, where a single group was measured before and after receiving the online intervention. This study took place from April to September 2021 and consisted of six sessions delivered via WhatsApp in Spanish and Mayan. Results: The initial assessment was implemented with 82 participants who were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Scale for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale; 18 participants remained in the intervention for the post-assessment. Statistical differences were observed in PRE and POST measures of depression and anxiety, but not in fear of COVID-19. Conclusions: This study produced positive results for the first online mental health intervention implemented in the Latin American indigenous population. Future studies might consider developing similar interventions for other indigenous communities in Latin America.

THE EFFECT OF PEER MENTORING MODEL USED TO TEACH PERIPHERAL INTRAVENOUS CATHETER PLACEMENT ON KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, SELF-CONFIDENCE, SATISFACTION AND FEAR OF NURSING STUDENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of peer mentoring model used to teach peripheral intravenous catheter placement on knowledge, skills, self-confidence, satisfaction and symptoms of fear of nursing students.
 Method: This is a controlled, randomized, parallel group and single center study. The Shapiro-Wilk Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Mann-Whitney U Test were used for the analysis of the data. The EtaSquared value was used for the effect value of the data.
 Results: When peripheral intravenous catheter knowledge and skills of students were evaluated, there was no statistical difference between the knowledge and skill mean scores of the students in the peer mentoring model group (n=50) and the students in the traditional teaching model (n=51) (p=0.389). When the scores for satisfaction about peripheral intravenous catheter insertion procedures were analysed, a significant difference was found between the groups with an effect value below the medium level (p=0.048, η2=0.038). When the students' self-confidence scores were evaluated, a significant difference was found the groups with an effect value the medium level (p=0.004, η2=0.078). The students in the control group experienced more often symptom of feeling tense compared to the students in the experimental group (p=0.004).
 Conclusion: This study found that the peer mentoring model was as effective as the traditional teaching model in gaining skills of peripheral intravenous catheter placement, and the students' self-confidence and satisfaction were higher.

Fear, Anxiety and Depression among Bosnia and Herzegovina Citizens during the Third Wave of COVID-19.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, fear, anxiety, and depression have become global concerns among the wider public. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with COVID-19, to assess influencing factors that lead to the development of these mental health conditions and to examine any changes in the mental health patterns of the society since the initial study a year ago in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Method : An anonymous online survey based on Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patients Health Questionnaires (PHQs) was conducted in the general population of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results: From 1096 subjects, 81.3% were females, 33.8% had a high school degree, 56.4% were married, 53.4% were engaged in intellectual labor, 42.3% experienced fear, 72.9% had anxiety symptoms and 70.3% had depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and their mean age was 35.84 ± 10.86. Half (50.1%) of the subjects were COVID-19 positive and 63.8% had COVID-19 symptoms when responding to the questionnaire. Experiencing COVID-19 related fear (OR = 1.972) and having moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 9.514) were associated with the development of mild to severe anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were in turn associated with the development of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 10.203) and COVID-19 related fear (OR = 2.140), respectively, thus creating a potential circulus vicious. COVID-19 positive subjects (OR = 1.454) were also more likely to develop mild to severe anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of fear, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms rose dramatically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were interconnected and were significantly associated with age, gender, marital status and COVID-19 status. Therefore, an urgent mental health intervention is needed for the prevention of mental health problems.

A review of common mental health problems in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted people's lives, neurobiological health, and general well-being throughout the world. South Asian countries have experienced high frequencies of psychiatric concerns that have worsened during the pandemic. This review aimed to determine the aggregated prevalence of common mental health problems (e.g., depression, fear, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and suicidal tendencies) and their associated factors among community populations in South Asian countries. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was undertaken using multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Global Health, Google Scholar and ResearchGate to retrieve articles. Overall, 22 articles were included. The prevalence of concerns ranged widely with respect to estimates of symptoms of depression (10.2-85.9%), fear (38.5-88.8%), anxiety (8.1-62.5%), stress (10.56-91.77%), and insomnia (13.32-53.45%). In addition, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was estimated to range between 5% and 8%. Factors associated with mental health concerns included socio-demographic, behavioral and health-related measures, and COVID-19 pandemic-related stressors. The findings suggest poor mental health among general populations in South Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, identifying individuals with mental health concerns and implementing interventions including mental health counseling appear warranted among these populations.

Afraid to vomit? The relationship between temperamental fear, emetophobia symptoms, and the impact of sex.

Emetophobia, the specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV), is an anxiety disorder associated with persistent fear of emesis. The temperament of fear is evident in phobic and anxiety disorders, which behaviorally manifests through sensitivity in the fight, flight, freeze system (FFFS). The present study aimed to test specific associations between these constructs. Undergraduate students (N= 186) completed self-report measures assessing symptoms of emetophobia, the FFFS, and general anxiety. Correlational analyses were used to test initial relations, followed by regression analyses to assess unique contribution of temperamental fear to the emetophobia symptom experience. Significant positive correlations were found between emetophobia symptoms with anxiety symptoms and the overall temperament of fear. However, only the fight response of the FFFS was significantly associated with symptoms of emetophobia. Further regression analyses demonstrated that the fight response did not uniquely predicted emetophobia symptoms above and beyond anxiety. However, post-hoc analyses illustrated sex moderated the relationship between temperamental fear and emetophobia symptoms, such that the relationship was significantly stronger for male participants than female participants. Results of this study expand upon the current conceptualization of emetophobia to incorporate underlying temperamental vulnerabilities and sex differences, which may function to exacerbate and/or maintain symptoms. Keywords: emetophobia; specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV); fight, flight, freeze system (FFFS); fight, flight, freeze questionnaire (FFFQ); sex differences

Psychological impact of hypnosis for pregnancy and childbirth: A systematic review

BackgroundThe use of hypnosis as a complementary therapy in the perinatal field is expanding, however, there is little research for its impact on perinatal mental health. Here, we review studies that evaluate the effect of hypnosis on women's mental health and subjective experiences. MethodsA systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA protocol for articles with experimental designs of hypnosis that measured their impact on several psychological variables, such as the presence of symptoms of anxiety, depression or fear of childbirth. Studies were evaluated according to the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Checklists (CASP), and analyzed for their designs and intervention themes. ResultsSeven studies were included and six themes emerged: preparation for birth and unexpected events; change in the perception and experience of pain; pregnant body as a natural process; connection with the baby during pregnancy; development of inner resources; and progressive relaxation and guided imagery. Although results were partly mitigated, most studies found positive effects of hypnosis in alleviating anxiety, depression, and fear towards birth, empowering women with a higher sense of confidence and improving the overall emotional experience. Two studies also indicate encouraging outcomes in postnatal wellbeing. ConclusionWhile it is still argued as to what extent hypnosis has positive effects on physical aspects of labor, the empowerment and the increase in confidence associated with hypnosis seem to bring a significant contribution to a more positive subjective experience of pregnancy and childbirth, and on women's overall wellbeing in the perinatal period.

Elizabeth Gilbert's Self-Healing Efforts from Past Trauma in the Novel Eat Pray Love

This study aims to determine the symptoms of trauma experienced by Elizabeth Gilbert and how Gilbert's efforts to reconcile her trauma. The data source used in this study is the novel Eat Pray Love. While the method used in this research is descriptive analysis method. The theory used to examine the symptoms of trauma and Elizabeth Gilbert's reconciliation efforts is the trauma theory by Cathy Caruth and the concept of acting out and working through from LaCapra. The data analysis technique was carried out by reading the novel Eat Pray Love, classifying the data into tables based on predetermined variables, analyzing the data, and finally writing conclusions. The results of this study are the symptoms that appear in response to the traumatic events experienced by Gilbert such as symptoms of fear, anxiety, depression, and the desire to hurt oneself to the desire to commit suicide. In an effort to reconcile his trauma, Gilbert travels to three countries, avoids things that are potentially traumatic, and testifies by writing novels based on his life experiences.

COVID-19-Related Functional Impairment in a Community Sample of Korean Adults: Associations With Depression, COVID-19 Infection Fear, and Resilience.

We aimed to determine the effects of depression, COVID-19 infection fear, and resilience on COVID-19-related functional impairment. We obtained data from 476 community-dwelling adults aged 20-69 years living in Jeju, South Korea, and evaluated the relationships between COVID-19-related functional impairment (work/school, social, and home life) and sociodemographic and healthrelated characteristics, COVID-19-related life changes (financial difficulties since the pandemic, employment change, interpersonal conflict), and clinical characteristics, including depression, COVID-19 infection fear, and resilience. Functional impairment in the home life domain was associated with marital status and monthly income. Greater work/school, social, and home life functional impairment was significantly associated with all COVID-19-related life changes. Regression analysis indicated that resilience modulated the positive associations of COVID-19-related functional impairment with symptoms of depression and COVID-19 infection fear when relevant factors were controlled for. Our results suggest the importance of clinical characteristics, including depression, COVID-19 infection fear, and resilience for understanding functional impairment related to COVID-19. These results have important implications for interventions aimed at reducing depression and COVID-19 infection fear, and enhancing resilience.

Tingkat Kecemasan Pasien Dan Keluarga Yang Rawat Inap Di RSPW Malang Selama Pandemi Covid-19

Increased anxiety is a common mental health problem during Covid-19. Anxiety can cause symptoms of insomnia, poor concentration, irritability, reduced productivity, interpersonal conflict, stigma, and fear of transmission to vulnerable groups. The purpose of this study was to identify the anxiety level of patients and families who were treated at Panti Waluya Sawahan Malang Hospital during the pandemic.Covid-19. This type of research is descriptive with a cross-sectional approach. The study population was all patients and their families who were treated at RSPW Malang during Covid-19, with a total sampling technique of 20 people. The research variable is the level of anxiety. The instrument used was a questionnaire containing the general identity of the respondent, including the respondent's name, age, gender, and education. The anxiety level instrument uses the HRS-A (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety) which consists of 14 question items. Data were analyzed descriptively and presented in a frequency table. The results of the study found that 70% of respondents had a moderate level of anxiety. Further research is suggested to study other factors related to anxiety in patients and families in the hospital.

Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Immunocompromised Patients- A Detailed Review

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been stressful for everyone across the globe and even more so for the immunocompromised population, bringing with it an enormous emotional impact on their lives. Fear and anxiety regarding this novel disease created a state of panic among the public. The aim was to review published cases of COVID-19 and to discuss pandemic related anxiety and stress in immunocompromised populations and describe their presentations, diagnostic processes, clinical characteristics and outcomes. Methods: Using specific keywords a review of scientific literature was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar including systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case series, and case reports. Of 35 articles, 22 studies were reviewed. Results: Of the 22 studies involved, a few of the studies had significant data. Among 603 ovarian cancer patients, 88.6% were worried, 51.4% anxious, and 26.5% depressed due to COVID-19 related delay in care. Among 167 people living with HIV patients, 25% reported generalized anxiety disorder. In another cross-sectional study with 500 respondents, anxiety (aOR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.25–2.40, p-value = 0.001), depression and anxiety (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.28–2.53, p-value <0.001), and mental health deterioration (aOR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.48–2.55, p-value <0.001) on basis of fear of the COVID pandemic was noted. Conclusion: As a conclusion, these articles demonstrated that patients with immunocompromised states had more symptoms of anxiety and fear as compared to the immunocompetent patients. Most of the patients had concerns of fear about future health implications, concern over social implications, and possible financial difficulties encountered and remained infectious for a longer duration with severe anxiety symptoms.

Fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression and suicide among elderly patients with chronic physical or mental diseases

Older age renders individuals vulnerable during public emergency crises. Considering that older adults are a highly heterogeneous and continuously growing demographic subgroup, this study aimed to assess the mental health impact of COVID-19 on two groups of older patients: a group of chronic physical disease and a group of chronic mental disease. A total of 102 patients completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and several questions regarding demographic characteristics. Suicidality was assessed by the 9th item of the PHQ-9. According to the results, older chronic disease patients showed higher levels of fear, whereas anxiety and depressive symptoms were present mainly in the group of older psychiatric patients. Suicidality was reported from a subtotal of 25.4% that was composed of 7.8% chronic disease patients and 17.6% psychiatric patients. Chronic physical disease and higher anxiety predicted more severe COVID-19-related fear.

Functional Impairment in Individuals Exposed to Violence Based on Electronical Forensic Medical Record Mining and Their Profile Identification: Controlled Observational Study.

Little is known about the functional consequences of violence when directly assessed as a primary outcome, and even less about how consistently these consequences are evaluated in a judicial context. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the importance of a functional approach to health in 2001 with the release of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). In most European countries, forensic physicians assess individuals exposed to violence to evaluate the outcomes of violence, providing certified medical evidence for magistrates' sentencing decisions. This evaluation involves a mix of objective, subjective, and contextual elements, such as reported symptoms of fear, pain, and details of the assault. Quantifying these subjective elements with scales could enhance their interpretation and application in a judicial context. This study aims to (1) characterize and (2) assess 6 scales measuring subjective elements of functional impairment among individuals exposed to violence. We conducted a retrospective study that included individuals exposed to violence examined in a French department of forensic medicine over 12 months. A typology of violence encountered in medical settings was built based on the mining of electronic health records and the use of pattern recognition algorithms. The optimal number of violence types was determined using a robust and stable clustering approach, involving sample resampling and a multimetric scheme. Patients were then paired according to their homogeneous profiles, and the intra- and interrater reproducibility of the scales was evaluated. All pain, fear, and life threat scales were significantly associated with higher functional impairment, suggesting that these measures contribute to the overall assessment of functional impairment. The intra- and interrater reproducibility of scales among similar situations of violence was measured, ranging from mild to good, with coefficients of concordance between 0.46-0.66 and 0.43-0.66, respectively. Individuals reporting intimate partner violence showed higher scores in both fear and perception of a life threat during the assault and medical interview, while individuals reporting battery by multiple unknown assailants presented higher scores only in perception of a life threat during the assault. We identified 5 remarkably stable profiles of situations of violence, consistent with clinical practice. Pain, fear, and life threat scales were related to functional impairment according to expert knowledge and demonstrated fair reproducibility under real-life conditions for similar situations of violence. Subjective elements related to functional impairment in individuals exposed to violence can be quantified using Likert scales during medical interviews.

Esther Greenwood Mental Disorder in Sylvia Plath's Novel The Bell Jar

This article discusses the mental disorder experienced by Esther Greenwood as the main character in the novel The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. This study was conducted to reveal the picture of mental disorders experienced by Esther Greenwood by analyzing the symptoms of depression experienced by her. The approach used in this research is literary psychology with qualitative descriptive methods. Based on research using the theory from Lubis (2016), the symptoms of depression character Esther Greenwood in the novel The Bell Jar are emotional symptoms, cognitive symptoms, fear symptoms and psychic symptoms.Keywords: Depression, Mental Disorders, Literary Psychology, The Bell Jar.

Comparison between emerging adults and adults in terms of contamination fear, post-COVID-19 PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity.

The present study compared Chinese emerging adults and adults regarding the association between contamination fear, posttraumatic stress disorder post-COVID-19 and psychiatric comorbidity after controlling for demographic and trauma exposure variables. 1089 Chinese civilians (M = 382; F = 707) with a mean age of 26 years (M = 26.36, SD = 8.58) were recruited from different provinces in China via an online survey posted on mainstream Chinese social networking platforms. They completed a demographic page with questions on trauma exposure, the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Results showed that 12.7%, 68.7% and 18.6% met criteria for full, partial and no PTSD, respectively. Emerging adults reported significantly lower levels of symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, somatic problems, anxiety and fear of contamination than adults. In both emerging adults and adults, contamination fear was correlated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity. High educational attainment was significantly correlated with psychiatric comorbidity in emerging adults, but with PTSD in adults. Length of quarantine was correlated with psychiatric comorbidity only in adults. In conclusion, both emerging adults and adults developed varying levels of contamination fear, posttraumatic stress and general psychological symptoms following the outbreak of COVID-19. Emerging adults were more resilient than adults in coping with distress.

Factors associated with anti-retroviral therapy adherence among patients living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic causes fear and anxiety symptoms on some vulnerable populations such as patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). Physical distancing (during consultation in the clinic) and isolation restrictions will likely have a negative impact on/disruption to all care continuum services of HIV diseases although healthcare services and access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) have continued to operate.ObjectiveTo investigate the factors associated with ART adherence among PLWH during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted on 324 PLWH who had been on ART for at least 6 months between June 2020 and January 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview participants to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and other factors.ResultsOf 324 PLWH taking ART, 264 (81.48%) had high adherence (≥95%) and 60 (18.52%) had low adherence (< 95%). Factors independently associated with high ART adherence were employment status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.030, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.010–0.088; p < 0.001), type of antiretroviral (ARV) (AOR: 3.101, 95% CI: 1.137–8.456; p = 0.027), family support (AOR: 0.157, 95% CI: 0.052–0.475; p = 0.001), the perception that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts the ability to attend clinics (AOR: 7.339, 95% CI: 1.46–36.79; p = 0.015), and the perception that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts the ability to take ART (AOR: 10.611, 95% CI: 2.98–37.72; p < 0.001).ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, factors associated with high ART adherence among PLWH attending the Hospital of Wangaya in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia were employment status, ART type [non-fixed dose combination (FDC)], family support, and the perception that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts the ability to attend clinics and to take ART.

Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the Fear of Coronavirus Vaccination Scale in the Prospective Study among a Representative Sample of Polish, Israeli, Slovenian, and German Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although concerns about harm and side effects are among the most important factors determining vaccine hesitancy, research on the fear of vaccination is sparse. The purpose of this study is a validation the Fear of Coronavirus Vaccination Scale (FoCVVS), adapted from the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. A representative sample of 1723 young adults aged 20–40 from Poland, Israel, Slovenia, and Germany participated during two time-points of the third COVID-19 pandemic wave. The online survey included demographic variables and several well-being dimensions, including gender, vaccination status, fear of coronavirus (FoCV-19S), physical health (GSRH), life satisfaction (SWLS), and perceived stress (PSS-10), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed at T1, and confirmatory analysis (CFA) at T2. The second-order two-factor structure demonstrated the best fit and very good discriminant and convergent validation. The general factor of the FoCVVS included two subscales assessing the emotional and physiological symptoms of fear of vaccination. Unvaccinated people showed higher levels of fear of vaccination than those vaccinated. A vaccination status, fear of vaccination T1, and fear of COVID-19 T1 were significant predictors of fear of vaccination T2. Vaccination-promoting programs should be focused on decreasing fear and enhancing the beneficial effects of vaccination.

Network analysis of the relationships between conspiracy beliefs towards COVID-19 vaccine and symptoms of fear of COVID-19 in a sample of latin american countries.

The present study examined how conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines specifically relate to symptoms of fear of COVID-19 in a sample of four South American countries. A total of 1785 people from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru participated, responding to a sociodemographic survey, the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19 S) and the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale-COVID-19 (VCBS-COVID-19). Network analysis identified the most important symptoms of fear and conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines (nodes) and the associations between them (edges). In addition, the robustness of the network of these indicators of centrality and the possible differences in the structure and connectivity of the networks between the four countries were evaluated. The results suggest that the nodes with the highest centrality were items 2 and 5 of the FCV-19 S and item 2 of the VCBS-COVID-19. Likewise, item 6 is the belief that most predicts conspiracy beliefs about vaccines against COVID-19; while item 6 was the symptom that most predicts fear of COVID-19. The findings strongly support cross-cultural similarities in the networks across the four countries rather than differences. Although it was expected that a higher presence of symptoms of fear of COVID-19 may lead people to compensate for their fear by believing in conspiratorial ideas about vaccines and, consequently, rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, the results do not clearly show this relationship. This could lead other researchers to generate evidence to explain the differences between Latin American countries and countries in other contexts in terms of vaccination rates. This evidence could be useful to develop policies favoring vaccination against COVID-19 that are more contextualized to the Latin American region, characterized by social instability and economic recession during the pandemic.

Prevalence and associated factors for elevated fear and depressive symptoms among the private service holders in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background and AimsThe ongoing public health emergency has created incredible fear of getting the infection and a terrible psychological burden among all levels. The pandemic has severely affected private job holders' economic status and lifestyle factors in Bangladesh. Here we aimed to assess fear and depressive symptoms among private job holders in Bangladesh during the Covid‐19 pandemic and associated risk factors.MethodsWe conducted this online cross‐sectional survey between January 15, 2021, and March 15, 2021, among 510 private job holders aged above 18 years. We followed the convenience sampling method for data collection. We assessed sociodemographic factors and two psychometric parameters. We applied the Fear of Covid‐19 Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 to assess increased fear and depressive symptoms, respectively. Chi‐square test, independent sample t‐test, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed for data analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of increased fear and depressive symptoms were 86.27% and 42.16%, respectively. Factors associated with increased fear among private job holders during COVID‐19 were economic class, obesity, on‐time salary, company's downsizing policy, salary reduction, home office, and transportation facilities. However, depressive symptoms were associated with marital status, education level, residence area, the organizational practice of health safety rules, company performance, on‐time salary, health insurance, downsizing, salary reduction policy, organization type, transportation, and mental health support at work. The present study also noticed some interrelations among the above factors with mental health issues.ConclusionBased on the present findings, we recommend actionable items to improve the mental health of private job holders in Bangladesh due to the ongoing pandemic. Authorities can develop mental health support programs and efficient Covid‐19 response systems. The policymakers and regulatory bodies might take some initiatives to promote mental health in the private sector in Bangladesh.

Psychological effects and associated factors among vaccinated and unvaccinated general population against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh.

BackgroundThe global effort to develop herd immunity in the general public against the COVID-19 pandemic is currently ongoing. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies on how the COVID-19 vaccine affects mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The present study investigated the psychological effects and associated factors among vaccinated and unvaccinated general populations against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh.MethodsA nationwide online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Bangladesh from June 23 to December 25, 2021. The frequency of symptoms of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and fear was assessed using the Bangla versions of the GHQ-12, PHQ-2, GAD-2, PSS-4, PC-PTSD-5, ISI, and FCV-19S scales, respectively.ResultsThe study included 3,013 persons from all eight divisions of Bangladesh, with 1,272 (42.2%) being vaccinated and 1,741 (57.8%) being unvaccinated. Compared with unvaccinated populations, vaccinated populations had significantly lower prevalence rates of psychological distress (36.4 vs. 51.5%), depression (21.1 vs. 37.9%), anxiety (25.1 vs. 44.9%), stress (19.4 vs. 30.4%), PTSD (29.4 vs. 38.3%), insomnia (18.7 vs. 39.4%), and fear symptoms (16.1 vs. 27.5%). Among vaccinated populations, respondents who lived in nuclear families were significantly associated with higher risk of psychological distress (AOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.78), depression (AOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.11–1.98), anxiety (AOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.21–1.98), and fear (AOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.11–1.83) symptoms. Participants who lost family members, friends, or colleagues due to the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly higher risk of symptoms of psychological distress (AOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.02–1.79), anxiety (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11–1.87), and PTSD (AOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.24–2.19). On the other hand, unvaccinated populations who lived in the Dhaka division were significantly associated with an increased risk of depression (AOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.40–2.52), anxiety (AOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.15–2.47), stress (AOR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.12–2.88), and insomnia (AOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.20–2.94) symptoms. Except for PTSD and fear symptoms, unemployed participants had considerably higher rates of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia symptoms (e.g., psychological distress: AOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.10–2.62; depression: AOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.37–2.19).ConclusionsThis study recommends immunizing unvaccinated populations as soon as possible to prevent infection and boost mental health. Vulnerable people needed special care, health-related education, and psychological assistance.

Fear learning and generalization during pandemic fear: How COVID-19-related anxiety affects classical fear conditioning with traumatic film clips

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted our daily lives. Worldwide, people were confronted with health, financial, and existential fears or trauma-like experiences. Recent studies have identified an increase in stress, anxiety, and fear symptoms in connection with the pandemic. Furthermore, fear learning processes are central mechanisms in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Patients commonly show impairments not only in fear learning but also in its generalization. Thus, pandemic-related anxiety may constitute a risk factor for both enhanced fear acquisition and generalization. In a pre-registered online study with a final sample of 220 healthy university students, we investigated whether participants with higher COVID-19-related anxiety (COVID-Anxiety) show impaired fear learning and generalization. For this purpose, we used a differential fear conditioning paradigm with a traumatic film clip as the unconditioned stimulus (US) and collected US-expectancy as the main measure of interest. Participants with high COVID-Anxiety show a tendency toward poorer discrimination between the reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS+) and the unreinforced conditioned stimulus (CS−) during acquisition and significantly poorer discrimination patterns during generalization. Furthermore, participants with high COVID-Anxiety show greater general fear throughout the whole experiment. Our results show that the subjective effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being are associated with impairments in both fear learning and fear generalization. As expected, high COVID-Anxiety leads to poorer performance in stimulus discrimination and greater levels of fear, which might contribute to a higher risk of anxiety disorders. German clinical trial registerDRKS00022761.