University of Bath, UK (July 2022) - Study highlights heavy mental health burden of Covid-19 for ‘shielders’

Title:

Study highlights heavy mental health burden of Covid-19 for ‘shielders’

 

Published:

University of Bath, 1 July 2022

https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/study-highlights-heavy-mental-health-burden-of-covid-19-for-shielders/

 

From the press release:

Research from a new study suggests that health anxiety among the clinically vulnerable groups who shielded at home has risen since the first pandemic wave, despite developments in viral treatment and the roll-out of the vaccination programme.  

 

The new study, authored by psychologists at the University of Bath, is the first to use validated measures of mental health to focus on the effects of the pandemic for those who have been shielding or continue to shield. It finds that health anxieties among these groups grew in line with the length of time they spent indoors.

Universities of Bath and Lancaster - Fears over technology ‘addictions’ and ‘disorders’ may be unjustified, shows research

Title:

Fears over technology ‘addictions’ and ‘disorders’ may be unjustified, shows research 

 

Published:

University of Bath, 13 June 2022 (Updated: 14 June 2022)

https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/fears-over-technology-addictions-and-disorders-may-be-unjustified-shows-research/

 

From the press release:

Questionnaires and scales measuring how we interact with smartphones, social media and gaming should not be used to demonstrate links with mental health and wellbeing, according to research from the Universities of Bath and Lancaster.

Note:

This research was published in Computers in Human Behavior.

Understanding post-conflict mental health needs and co-producing a community-based mental health intervention for older adults in Colombia: a research protocol [Scholarly Article - BMC Health Services Research, 2022]

Title: 

Understanding post-conflict mental health needs and co-producing a community-based mental health intervention for older adults in Colombia: a research protocol  

 

Authors: 

Clarissa Giebel, Maria Isabel Zuluaga, Gabriel Saldarriaga, Ross White, Siobhan Reilly, Erica Montoya, Dawn Allen, Ginger Liu, Yeferson Castaño-Pineda & Mark Gabbay  

 

Published: 

BMC Health Services Research, Volume 22, Article number: 253 (24 February 2022) 

https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-07645-8   

 

Abstract: 

Background 

Older adults in Colombia have seen a number of stressful life events – including the Colombian armed conflict, forced misplacement and recently COVID-19. These events likely have had and are having a substantial impact on people’s mental health and well-being, whilst mental health care provision in Colombia is not sufficient and often access is limited and unaffordable. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand the impact of stressful life events on the mental health of older adults living in Colombia, and co-produce, pilot, and evaluate a community-based mental health intervention in Turbo.  

 

Methods 

This 3-year international mixed-methods study comprises of three phases: Phase I will explore the impact of stressful life events on the mental health of older adults living in Colombia, and their mental health needs, via quantitative needs assessments and qualitative interviews and focus groups; Phase II will involve synthesising the findings from Phase I as well as conducting a systematic review and qualitative interviews with experts into implementing mental health interventions in LMICs to co-produce a community-based mental health intervention with older adults and local community group leaders and care providers; Phase III will involve the piloting and evaluation of the mental health intervention via quantitative and qualitative assessments. Co-production and public involvement underpin each element of this project.  

 

Discussion 

Appropriate mental health care is as important as physical health care, but this study also looks at how we might integrate these findings into community-level public health initiatives for application both within Colombia and more widely in both LMICs and more developed countries. This study protocol will act as a guide for the development and adaptation of psychosocial mental health interventions in different cultures and contexts.

 

An investigation into the wellbeing of optometry students [Preprint - medRxiv, March 2022]

Title:

An investigation into the wellbeing of optometry students 

 

Authors:

Anne Vorster, Barbara M Hamlett, Janike le Roux, Janke Blount, Jane Knoesen,  & Lauren S Coetzee

 

Published:

medRxiv, 20 March 2022

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.17.22272543v1

 

[Note: This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review.]

 

From the abstract:

Introduction 

Wellbeing is synonymous with positive mental health and impacts the efficacy of student learning. The wellbeing of optometry students is an understudied topic. The wellbeing of optometry students studying in a blended undergraduate course during the COVID-19 pandemic was also unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the status of optometry students’ wellbeing during COVID-19, by identifying their experiences of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Moreover, to determine to what extent students experience these symptoms and what specific factors influenced their wellbeing.

Beauty and wonder of science boosts researchers’ well-being: Appreciating the phenomena they study helps scientists to persevere in the face of setbacks [Nature, March 2022]

Title: 

Beauty and wonder of science boosts researchers’ well-being: Appreciating the phenomena they study helps scientists to persevere in the face of setbacks  

 

Author: 

Brian Owens  

 

Published: 

Nature, 17 March 2022 

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00762-8   

 

From the article: 

Scientists’ ability to experience wonder, awe and beauty in their work is associated with higher levels of job satisfaction and better mental health, finds an international survey of researchers.

 

Factors That Predispose Undergraduates to Mental Issues: A Cumulative Literature Review for Future Research Perspectives [Scholarly Article - Frontiers in Public Health, February 2022]

Title:

Factors That Predispose Undergraduates to Mental Issues: A Cumulative Literature Review for Future Research Perspectives 

 

Authors:

Pierpaolo Limone & Giusi Antonia Toto

Learning Science Hub, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

 

Published:

Frontiers in Public Health, 16 February 2022

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.831349/full

 

Abstract:

Distress and mental health issues among college students is an emerging topic of study. The aim of this research work is to illustrate academic and social risk factors and how they prove to be predictors of anxiety and depressive disorders. The methodology used is a cumulative literature review structured over 10 systematic phases, and is replicable. Showing considerable potential for cumulative research, the relevance of this study reflects the concern of the academic community and international governments. The articles selected range from categorization of disorders in relation to mental health, to reporting the condition of rhinestones and difficulties of students in university contexts. In conclusion, the research focusses upon predisposing, concurrent or protective factors relating to the mental health of university students, so that institutions can act on concrete dynamics or propose targeted research on this topic.

Food security on the college campus [Scholarly article - JAFSCD, January 2022]

Title:

Food insecurity on the college campus

 

Author:

Mark Lapping

University of Southern Maine

Published:

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD),  19 January 2022

https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/1045

Abstract:

It is often said that one’s college years are “the best years of your life.” For a growing number of students facing food insecurity, these years may be anything but. These two very different books provide useful counterpoints on campus food inse­curity, a growing phenomenon only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Henry’s volume uses an ethnographic approach of interviewing over 90 students who use the food pantry at her university, the University of North Texas, Denton. Broton and Cady focus on essays and case studies of what a number of institutions are doing to address the issue of campus food insecurity. Together they provide both a balanced treatment of the subject and some remarkably interesting insights and strategies that other college communities can utilize. . . .

James Cook University, Singapore - New mothers and their parents: How past parenting affects new mothers

Title:

New mothers and their parents: How past parenting affects new mothers

Published:

James Cook University, Singapore, 16 February 2022

https://www.jcu.edu.sg/news/releases/How-past-parenting-affects-new-mothers

 

From the media release:

Becoming a parent for the first time can be both exciting and daunting. First-time parents frequently grapple with mixed emotions and a changing identity, as they think about what kind of parent they will be and whether they might repeat mistakes made by their own parents.

Effects of medical school on mental health and sleep habits [Preprint - medRxiv, January 2022]

Title:

Effects of medical school on mental health and sleep habits

Authors:

Blake McKinley, Bryan Daines, Mitchell Allen, Kayd Pulsipher,  View ORCID ProfileIsain Zapata & Benjamin Wilde 

[All the authors are from the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ivins, Utah, USA]

 

Published:

medRxiv, 14 January 2022

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.13.22269102v1

 

Note:

This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.

 

Abstracts:

BACKGROUND and OBJECTIVES 

This study aims to define changes in anxiety and depression among medical students while evaluating the association of sleep habits and other risk factors, including exercise habits and a diagnosis of chronic disease. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was also evaluated.  

 

DESIGN 

A cohort of first- and second-year medical students was evaluated longitudinally using survey methods to quantify changes from pre-medical school and summer break to each semester in medical school throughout years one and two.  

 

METHODS 

Data was analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) on the numeric responses of General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Additional assessments evaluated exercise habits, chronic disease, and impact of COVID-19 Pandemic.  

 

RESULTS 

Depression, anxiety, and sleep habits displayed a cyclical change that was associated with the academic cycle. The COVID-19 pandemic was never significant. Medical students who had a chronic disease diagnosis had increased severity. Exercise did not play a role.  

 

CONCLUSION 

The main driver for depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality was the academic cycle, while the COVID-19 pandemic did not have an impact on mental health.

 

United Nations (UN) - World misses most 2020 mental health targets: WHO [Blog post includes link to Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030]

Title:

World misses most 2020 mental health targets: WHO

 

Published:

United Nations (UN), 8 October 2021

https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102492

 

From the article:

* At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting a growing need for mental health support, there has been a worldwide failure to provide people with the services they need, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded.

 

* The global targets reported on in the Mental Health Atlas are from WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, which contained targets for 2020.  

 

This plan has now been extended to 2030 and includes new targets for the inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support in emergency preparedness plans, the integration of mental health into primary health care, and research on mental health.

Also see

 

Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 

 

INDIA - COVID-19 and psychological distress: Lessons for India [Scholarly Article - PLOS ONE, August 2021]

Title:

COVID-19 and psychological distress: Lessons for India 

 

Authors:

Vaijayanthee Anand, Luv Verma, Aekta Aggarwal, Priyadarshini Nanjundappa & Himanshu Rai 

Published:

PLOS ONE, 4 August 2021

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255683

 

Abstract:

Purpose 

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly altered the routine of life and caused unanticipated changes resulting in severe psychological responses and mental health crisis. The study aimed to identify psycho-social factors that predicted distress among Indian population during the spread of novel Coronavirus.  

 

Method 

An online survey was conducted to assess the predictors of distress. A global logistic regression model was built, by identifying significant factors from individual logistic regression models built on various groups of independent variables. The prediction capability of the model was compared with the random forest classifier.  

 

Results 

The respondents (N = 1060) who are more likely to be distressed, are in the age group of 21-35 years, are females (OR = 1.425), those working on site (OR = 1.592), have pre-existing medical conditions (OR = 1.682), do not have health insurance policy covering COVID-19 (OR = 1.884), have perceived seriousness of COVID-19 (OR = 1.239), have lack of trust in government (OR = 1.246) and whose basic needs’ fulfillment are unsatisfactory (OR = 1.592). The ones who are less likely to be distressed, have higher social support and psychological capital. Random forest classifier correctly classified 2.3% and 17.1% of people under lower and higher distress respectively, with respect to logistic regression.  

 

Conclusions 

This study confirms the prevalence of high distress experienced by Indians at the time of COVID-19 and provides pragmatic implications for psychological health at macro and micro levels during an epidemiological crisis.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in Germany: longitudinal observation of different mental health trajectories and protective factors [Scholarly Article - Translational Psychiatry, 2021]

 

Title:

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in Germany: longitudinal observation of different mental health trajectories and protective factors 

 

Authors:

K. F. Ahrens, R. J. Neumann, B. Kollmann, J. Brokelmann, N. M. von Werthern, A. Malyshau, D. Weichert, B. Lutz, C. J. Fiebach, M. Wessa, R. Kalisch, M. M. Plichta, K. Lieb, O. Tüscher & A. Reif 

 

Published:

Translational Psychiatry, 17 July 2021

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-021-01508-2

 

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting measures can be regarded as a global stressor. Cross-sectional studies showed rather negative impacts on people’s mental health, while longitudinal studies considering pre-lockdown data are still scarce. The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 related lockdown measures in a longitudinal German sample, assessed since 2017. During lockdown, 523 participants completed additional weekly online questionnaires on e.g., mental health, COVID-19-related and general stressor exposure. Predictors for and distinct trajectories of mental health outcomes were determined, using multilevel models and latent growth mixture models, respectively. Positive pandemic appraisal, social support, and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation were positively, whereas perceived stress, daily hassles, and feeling lonely negatively related to mental health outcomes in the entire sample. Three subgroups (“recovered,” 9.0%; “resilient,” 82.6%; “delayed dysfunction,” 8.4%) with different mental health responses to initial lockdown measures were identified. Subgroups differed in perceived stress and COVID-19-specific positive appraisal. Although most participants remained mentally healthy, as observed in the resilient group, we also observed inter-individual differences. Participants’ psychological state deteriorated over time in the delayed dysfunction group, putting them at risk for mental disorder development. Consequently, health services should especially identify and allocate resources to vulnerable individuals.

 

Psychological well-being program efficacy on meaning-in-life in a sample of University of Jeddah students [Scholarly Article - Journal of Psychology in Africa, June 2021]

Title:

Psychological well-being program efficacy on meaning-in-life in a sample of University of Jeddah students

 

Authors:

Ferial M. Alhaj-Mahmoud & Somia A. Ahmad

 

Published:

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Volume 31, Issue 3, 29 June 2021

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14330237.2021.1927337

 

Abstract:

This study investigated the efficacy of a theory-based psychological well-being program on meaning-in-life of Arabic students. Using a pre-post-test design, we assigned 68 of 136 students to the intervention and another 68 students to the control condition. The intervention ran over four weeks, with meaning-in-life outcome measures three times during those four weeks. Following repeated measures ANOVA, results showed that the psychological well-being program significantly increased meaning-in-life scores in students who took the intervention, compared to the control group. Results support the theoretical relationship between meaning-in-life and psychological well-being among Arabic culture students. 

JAPAN - Surveys highlight COVID-19 impact on student mental health [University World News, June 2021]

Title:

JAPAN - Surveys highlight COVID-19 impact on student mental health 

 

Author:

Suvendrini Kakuchi  

 

Published:

University World News, 3 June 2021

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20210603094302106

 

From the article:

New research has indicated that many university students in Japan face mental health issues stemming from long periods of lockdown and social distancing to contain the COVID-19 virus, with 60% of student respondents saying they are unhappy at university and face an uncertain future because of an economic downturn due to lockdowns.

 

The effects of work resources and career adaptability on employee health: A case of sample of teachers in South Africa [Scholarly Article - SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, March 2021]

Title:

The effects of work resources and career adaptability on employee health: a case of sample of teachers in South Africa

 

Authors:

Herring Shava, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

&

Willie T. Chinyamurindi, University of Fort Hare, South Africa

 

Published:

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology (SAJIP), 3 March 2021

https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/1816

 

Abstract 

Orientation: There is a rise in health-related challenges within the confines of the organisation. Strategies are needed not just from a human resources practitioner but also a theoretical basis in finding solutions to such challenges.  

 

Research purpose: Firstly, to determine the effects that work resources have on employee health and its two facets of physical and mental health. Secondly, to determine if career adaptability moderates the relationship between work resources and employee health.  

 

Motivation for the study: Studies exist in the literature that focus on the intersection of individual and organisational factors on health constructs such as mental health. Further, such studies continue to be an issue of inquiry especially within the public service professions such as teaching.  

 

Research approach/design and method: A quantitative research approach utilising a survey data collection technique was utilised. Simple linear regression and a hierarchical regression were performed to analyse the data.  Main findings: Work resources do predict employee mental and physical health. Further, career adaptability does not moderate the relationship between work resources and employee health among teachers.  

 

Practical/managerial implications: Based on the findings, recommendations are made that assist not just teachers but also those engaged in creating a context in which teachers can thrive from a management perspective.  

 

Contribution/value-add: The findings help us focus on the notion that in rural high schools of South Africa, a supportive work environment for assisting teachers to utilise work resources for organisational functioning, in a manner that is friendly to their mental and physical health is needed.

CANADA - Students anxious over Toronto mental health tactics [Times Higher Education, April 2021]

Title:

Students anxious over Toronto mental health tactics

 

Author:

Paul Basken

 

Published:

Times Higher Education, 20 April 2021

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/students-anxious-over-toronto-mental-health-tactics

From the article:

University tries to allay fears that reporting mental health issues could result in students being barred from campus.

A looming mental health pandemic in the time of COVID-19? Role of fortitude in the interrelationship between loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction among young adults [Scholarly Article - South African Journal of Psychology, 2021]

Title:

A looming mental health pandemic in the time of COVID-19? Role of fortitude in the interrelationship between loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction among young adults

 

Authors:

Tyrone Pretorius & Anita Padmanabhanunni

Published: 

South African Journal of Psychology, 8 April 2021

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0081246321991030

Abstract:

This study investigates loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction among a sample of young adults in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the role of fortitude in the interrelationship between these variables. Fortitude refers to the psychological strength to manage stress and stay well, and it is derived from positive appraisals of self, family, and support from others. Participants included 337 young adults who completed four self-report questionnaires: the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Satisfaction with Life scale, and the Fortitude Questionnaire. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the direct, indirect, mediating, and moderating role of fortitude on psychological outcomes. The results demonstrated unprecedented levels of anxiety, loneliness, and reduced life satisfaction among the sample. These levels were significantly higher than those encountered in previous studies in other contexts, as well as in studies of similar populations conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women reported higher levels of psychological distress than men. The results confirmed the mediating role of fortitude; however, they also suggested that the predictors (loneliness and anxiety) are the mediated pathways and fortitude is causally antecedent to loneliness and anxiety. These findings suggest a looming mental health crisis among young adults in South Africa and identify potential targets for intervention efforts. A strengths-based approach that focuses on enhancing individuals’ appraisals of coping and support may serve to build fortitude and potentially mitigate adverse mental health outcomes.

 

Research led by University of Oxford - 1 in 3 Covid-19 survivors develop neurological or psychiatric problems within 6 months – study [RT, April 2021]

Title:

1 in 3 Covid-19 survivors develop neurological or psychiatric problems within 6 months – study

 

Published:

RT, 7 April 2021

https://www.rt.com/news/520354-covid-neurological-psychiatric-problems/

 

From the article:

A horrifying new study has found that one in three survivors of Covid-19 have been diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition in the six months since beating the disease.

 

Becoming a Xhosa traditional healer: The calling, illness, conflict and belonging [Scholarly Article - South African Journal of Psychiatry, 2021]

Title:

Becoming a Xhosa traditional healer: The calling, illness, conflict and belonging

 

Authors:

Alberta S.J. van der Watt, Sarah V. Biederman, Jibril O. Abdulmalik, Irene Mbanga, Pricilla Das-Brailsford & Soraya Seedat

 

Published:

South African Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 27, a1528 (Published online: 4 March 2021)

https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1528

 

From the abstract:

Background: 

Traditional healers (THs) are an important part of the healthcare system in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their training, experiences of becoming healers and their perceived roles in society is critical.  

 

Aim: 

This study aimed to explore the experience of becoming a TH, including accepting the calling, and sheds light on how the experience is conceptualised within the cultural and communitarian context of THs.  

 

Setting: 

This study was conducted amongst Xhosa THs in the Western Cape, South Africa.  

 

Methods: 

In-depth phenomenological interviews (n = 4) were conducted with Xhosa THs and analysed using Giorgi’s descriptive pre-transcendental Husserlian phenomenological analysis. 

Most students say their mental health suffered in pandemic (by Wachira Kigotho)

Title:

Most students say their mental health suffered in pandemic 

 

Author:

Wachira Kigotho  

 

Published:

University World News, 5 March 2021

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20210305085025296

 

From the article:

On average 56% of university students worldwide said their mental health suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a survey of about 17,000 students in 21 countries that was conducted for Chegg.org, an educational technology and textbook rental firm in the United States.  

 

Brazil had the highest percentage saying their mental health suffered, at 76%, followed closely by the United States (75%), Canada (73%) and the United Kingdom (70%).