The effect of risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnancy on decision‑making via the Internet and prenatal care quality: A cross‑sectional multivariate analysis

Background: Risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnant women restrict access to health services, cause pregnant women to resort to alternative channels such as the Internet, and affect prenatal care quality (PCQ) negatively. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of risk perception and COVID‑19 anxiety in pregnancy on decision‑making via the Internet (DMI) and PCQ with multivariate analysis. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted with 406 pregnant women selected using the convenience sampling method in a training and research hospital, in Turkey. The data were collected using the information form, the perception of pregnancy risk questionnaire, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, the DMI Scale, and the PCQ Scale. The data obtained were subject to descriptive analysis and the multivariate analysis of variance. Results: Approximately 24.9% of the pregnant women were found to have a high perception of risk and 18% had symptoms of COVID‑19 anxiety. Pregnant women with high COVID‑19 anxiety and a higher perception of risk perceived the Internet as less influential for decision‑making (P < 0.05). Pregnant women with a high‑risk perception had lower PCQ (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings can be used to enhance mental health and resilience in pregnant women and to formulate appropriate intervention strategies. © 2023 Journal of Integrative Nursing ;Published by Wolters Kluwer ‑ Medknow.

A Comparative Study of Peripartum Mental Health Disorders between COVID-19-infected and Non-infected during the Pandemic

Introduction: This study was done to compare the prevalence of mental health disorders between COVID-19-infected and non-infected mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective was to find out the risk factors and long-term outcome of peripartum depression (PPD). Material(s) and Method(s): This was an observational and comparative study using a questionnaire-based direct interview, conducted in a tertiary hospital. After judging the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 842 subjects were selected between September 2020 to December 2020. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and COVID-19 anxiety scale (CAS) was used for evaluation of the mental health. Subjects with PPD were followed up for a year. Result(s): The mean age of the subjects was 24.8 +/- 3.9 years, 142 (16.8%) were confirmed COVID-19 positive. Overall, 317 (37.6%) had possible PPD (EPDS >=14) and 763 (90.6%) had peripartum anxiety (EPDS anxiety subscore >=4). While there was no significant difference in the prevalence of PPD (32.6% vs 39%, p = 0.12), peripartum anxiety was higher among COVID non-infected subjects (91.6% vs 86.6%, p = 0.04). Furthermore, COVID-19-related anxiety was higher among COVID-19-infected compared to the non-infected [17 (10-28) vs 15 (8-25), p = 0.00]. In multivariate analysis, medical comorbidities (p = 0.000), history of psychiatric illness (p = 0.002), domestic violence (p = 0.032) and obstetric complications (p = 0.000) were significant risk factors for PPD. Among the subjects who had PPD, only 35% still had depression after a year. Conclusion(s): This study provides an in-depth analysis of PPD and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk factors, and the long-term effects. Clinical significance: It highlights the importance of routine screening for perinatal mental health disorders and early psychiatric consultation when required.Copyright © The Author(s).

Gratitude and kindness at work as predictors of employees' mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research explored the association of perceptions of gratitude and kindness at work with well-being outcomes, such as relatedness needs satisfaction, life satisfaction, and COVID-19 anxiety among selected Filipino employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that kindness positively predicted relatedness needs satisfaction even after controlling for participants' age, gender, employment status, and length of stay in the organization. Gratitude positively predicted life satisfaction. This research underscores the mental health payoffs associated with fostering gratitude and kindness in organizational contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of obesity on Covid-19 anxiety and role of self-esteem on women in Turkish population

Background and aim: In this prospective study, it was aimed to evaluate effects of obesity on Covid-19 anxiety and role of self-esteem on women in Turkish population. Method(s): Obese (n = 184) and non-obese women (n = 219) who applied to our clinic in the first six months of 2020 were included in the study. The women included in the study were divided into two groups as having Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 or more obese according to the WHO criteria. Demographic information form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Covid-19 Anxiety Scale was used for data collection. Result(s): Most of the obese participants were housewives, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Family obesity history was more common at obese group with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Rosenberg self-esteem were lower and Covid-19 Anxiety levels were higher in obese patients with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). obesity, working status and family history were significantly correlated with Covid-19 anxiety (p<0.01). According to GLM model, only obesity had positive contribution to Covid-19 anxiety at multivariate level (p<0.05). The level of Covid-19 anxiety is higher in obese women, and the increase in self-esteem levels decreases this anxiety level. Conclusion(s): In order to reduce this burden, the news and content that indicate obesity as a risk factor in publications about the pandemic should be planned considering the self-esteem of these individuals.Copyright © Mattioli 1885.

Health-related social media use and COVID-19 anxiety in adolescence: health anxiety as covariate and moderator.

Background: Adolescents can benefit from engagement with health-related content on social media (e.g., viewing, commenting, or sharing content related to diseases, prevention, or healthy lifestyle). Nevertheless, such content may be distressing or exaggerated and present a challenge to mental well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rumination about such content may lead to COVID-19 anxiety. Yet, the individual factors that would explain the association between health-related social media use (SMU) and COVID-19 anxiety are understudied. Objective: In the current study, we aimed to fill the gap by investigating the association between health-related social media use (SMU) and COVID-19 anxiety in light of several individual factors: health anxiety, eHealth literacy, and mild and severe experience with COVID-19 infection. We (1) studied the relationship between individual factors and health-related SMU, (2) tested health anxiety as a moderator in the association between health-related SMU and COVID-19 anxiety, and (3) explored a direct effect of experience with COVID-19 on COVID-19 anxiety. Methods: Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed cross-sectional data from a representative sample of 2,500 Czech adolescents aged 11-16, 50% girls. Sociodemographic measures, health-related SMU, COVIDCOVID-19 anxiety, health anxiety, eHealth literacy, and mild and severe experience with COVID-19 infection were assessed with an anonymous online survey. The data were collected in June 2021. Results: We conducted a path analysis to test the main relationships and an additional simple-slopes analysis to explore the moderating effect of health anxiety. Higher health anxiety and eHealth literacy were associated with increased health-related SMU. The effect of experience with COVID-19 infection on both COVID-19 anxiety and health-related SMU was negligible. Health-related SMU and COVID-19 anxiety were positively associated, however, only for adolescents high in health anxiety. For other adolescents, the two variables were unrelated. Conclusion: Our findings show that adolescents with higher health anxiety and eHealth literacy engage in health-related SMU more intensively. Furthermore, for adolescents high in health anxiety, the frequency of health-related SMU is associated with the risk of COVID-19 anxiety. This is likely due to differences in media use. Adolescents with high health anxiety may use social media for content that is more likely to lead to COVID-19 anxiety compared to other adolescents. We recommend focusing on the identification of such content, which may lead to more precise recommendations regarding health-related SMU compared to cut-back on the frequency of overall SMU.

Relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and fear of death: the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty among a Turkish sample.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the salience of death in our lives. The aim of this study is to uncover potential mechanisms underlying fear of death during the pandemic. A sample of 478 volunteers (312 females and 166 males) aged 18 years and older participated voluntarily in this study. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Multidimensional Mortality Awareness Measure, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and Personal Information Form were used for data collection. The mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and fear of death was determined using the bootstrapping method. COVID-19 anxiety was associated with increased intolerance of uncertainty, and fear of death. Intolerance of uncertainty was associated with increased fear of death. Furthermore, intolerance of uncertainty partially mediated the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and fear of death. Results suggest that intolerance of uncertainty is a critical variable in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and fear of death. The current research adds to our knowledge of fear of death by investigating COVID-19 anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty. Additionally, this study underlies and contributes to the consideration of psychological health of individuals during the pandemic process. The results are discussed within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring Mental Health in Ideological and Political Education System during COVID-19 lockdown: Moderating Effect of Ambivalent Sexism and Unconscious Bias

Recently, the COVID-19 lockdown has created many issues for the world's mental health that need a foremost solution and researchers' attention. Thus, the current article analyzes the impact of COVID-19 anxiety on the mental health of Jordan's ideological and political education system. The article also investigates the moderating role of ambivalent sexism and unconscious bias among COVID-19 anxiety and mental health in Jordan's ideological and political education system. The article has applied questionnaires, the primary data collection method, to collect the data from chosen respondents. The data was collected from a population of 5346 college and university students enrolled in Jordan under political and ideological education programs. A sample size of 356 was finally obtained for this research via a self-reported survey. The article has also applied the SPSS-AMOS to check the items and variables' reliability and validity and investigated the association among understudy variables. The results revealed that COVID-19 anxiety has a negative and significant linkage with the mental health of Jordan's ideological and political education system. The findings also revealed that ambivalent sexism and unconscious bias significantly moderated the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and mental health in Jordan's ideological and political education system. The study is unique in addressing this sensitive issue in the cultural environment of GCC countries. Specifically, studies on such topics are very rare in a setting like Jordan. This study provides guidelines to the policy-establishing authorities on developing policies to improve students' mental health by eliminating COVID-19 anxiety. © (2023). All Rights Reserved.

The Arab COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS): COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and psychological symptoms in the Saudi Arabian population.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID-19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a validation of the Arabic version of the C-19ASS and to explore the association between the C-19ASS and psychological symptoms syndrome. METHOD: In Study 1, a community sample of 404 participants completed the Arabic version of the C-19ASS and results were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis. In Study 2, a community sample of 903 participants completed the Arabic version of the C-19ASS and a series of measures assessing depressed mood and anhedonia, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, construct validity and incremental validity were assessed. Associations between C-19ASS and psychological symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: Factor analysis identified a two-factor solution (i.e., C-19ASS-Perseveration and C-19ASS-Avoidance), and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model best fits the data. The Arabic version of the C-19ASS showed good internal consistency, good construct and incremental validity. COVID-19 anxiety syndrome was associated with more severe anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and health anxiety. Females had higher levels of COVID-19 anxiety syndrome than males. Participants diagnosed with COVID-19, and those who had experienced loss as a consequence of COVID-19, had higher levels of COVID-19 anxiety syndrome (Perseveration). CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic version of the C-19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to improve psychological recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic among Arabs.

Psychometric properties and psychological correlates of the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has led to the demise of millions of people worldwide; additionally, it has resulted in a significant economic and mental health burden. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, various measures have been constructed to evaluate pandemic-related fear and anxiety. The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a promising measure that assesses coping strategies (e.g., avoidance, checking, worrying and threat monitoring), termed 'COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome', in response to COVID-19 fear and anxiety. The measure has been broadly welcomed, leading to its use in Brazil (Portuguese), China, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Iran (Farsi), Italy, Saudi Arabia (Arabic), Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. To gain a better understanding of the relevance of the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the psychological correlates and psychometric properties of the C-19ASS. Through the analysis of a total of 17,789 individuals (age range 19-70; female = 33%-85%), the C-19ASS demonstrated a consistent factor structure, measurement invariance across gender and acceptable reliabilities. Furthermore, a significant association with COVID-19 anxiety, depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, psychological distress and functional impairment (work and social adjustment) during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed. When considering the Big Five personality traits, the C-19ASS and its subscales were only significantly and negatively associated with extraversion; only the total score on the measure was associated with neuroticism. The observed effect sizes ranged from very small to medium. Given that all included studies (K = 24) were cross-sectional, and due to the nature of the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome, which may well persist after the pandemic ends, it is recommended to continue screening society for the persistence of this syndrome.

Trauma-Informed Supervision and Related Predictors of Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Prelicensed Counsellors During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the current study, we examined individual factors, organizational factors, COVID-19 anxiety, and trauma-informed supervision as predictors of prelicensed counsellor burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS). In a sample of 282 prelicensed counsellors, we conducted two hierarchical regression analyses for counsellor burnout and STS. The variables of interest accounted for 38% of the variance in counsellor burnout and 32% of the variance in counsellor STS. In the model of counsellor burnout, statistically significant variables included age, caseload, setting, COVID-19 anxiety, and trauma-informed supervision. For STS, statistically significant predictor variables were age, caseload, COVID-19 anxiety, and trauma-informed supervision. Implications of the findings for prelicensed counsellors, supervisors, and counselling researchers are discussed.

Satisfaction With Life Among Vaccinated Turkish People The Role of Anxiety, Fear, and Preventive Behaviors

Introduction: Past research has shown that psychological and behavioral factors, including anxiety, fear, and preventive behaviors, are related to well-being outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet little is known about the simultaneous effects of those factors in predicting satisfaction with life among vaccinated people. Methods: This cross-sectional study is among the first to examine whether COVID-19 anxiety, fear of COVID-19, and preventive behaviors predicted satisfaction with life among the vaccinated general public in Turkey. Participants were 1,017 Turkish adults (69.71% female;mean age = 36.28, SD = 10.83 years) who completed online self-reported questionnaires. Results: Results showed that increased levels of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 significantly predicted reduced satisfaction with life over and above the effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors. Discussion: The findings suggest the importance of tailoring and implementing interventions focusing on the improvement of the well-being of people during the pandemic.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VIETNAMESE UNIVERSITY LECTURERS' BURNOUT IN ONLINE EMERGENCY CLASSROOMS AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This large-scale study aimed to investigate the impacts of underlying factors on lecturers' burnout in emergency online classrooms during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study attracted the participation of 399 lecturers conducting online emergency classrooms from 30 universities and colleges across Vietnam. Data analyses with EFA, CFA, and SEM indicated that such factors as support resources, anxiety towards emergency online teaching and Coronavirus, lecturer's technological and pedagogical content, and knowledge significantly impacted their burnout levels. In contrast, no significant difference in burnout states was found between lecturers with different demographic features, genders, and residences. The results from this study also suggested critical pedagogical implications for higher education leaders and administrators to prepare emergency online classes for sustained education in times of crisis. © 2023,Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. All Rights Reserved.

Relationship between anxiety and spiritual well-being of the elderly with hypertension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To study the relationship between anxiety and the spiritual wellbeing of hypertensive elderly patients during the corona virus disease-2019 pandemic. Method: The cross-sectional, correlational, analytical study was conducted from March to May 2022 in Lamongan Regency, East Java, Indonesia, after approval from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia, and comprised elderly hypertensive subjects aged >45 years who had good cognitive skills. Data was collected using the Geriatric Anxiety Scale and the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale. Anxiety was the independent variable, while spiritual wellbeing was the dependent variable. Data was analysed using univariate and bivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of the 200 subjects, 107(53.5%) were females and 93(46.5%) were males. Overall, 97(48.5%) were aged 45-49 years, 81(40.5%) had completed primary school, 96(48%) were farmers, 121(60.5%) had moderate anxiety and 80(40%) had moderate spiritual wellbeing. There was a significant relationship between anxiety and spiritual wellbeing (p<0.05). Age, education and occupation of the subjects had significant association with both anxiety and spiritual wellbeing (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The coronavirus disease-2019 led to decreased anxiety and increased spiritual wellbeing among the hypertensive elderly.

The Effect of COVID-19 Anxiety on General Health: the Role of COVID-19 Coping.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has unprecedently affected many aspects of people's lives including their health. This study examined the mediating effect of COVID-19 coping strategies on the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and general health. Participants (70% females) included 4624 adults (M age = 30.29 ± 10.97 years) collected through an online survey using a convenience sampling approach. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a one-factor structure for the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CFI = .98, TLI = .96, SRMR = .02, RMSEA = .09), COVID-19 Coping Scale (CFI = .97, TLI = .97, SRMR = .03, RMSEA = .12), and General Health Scale (CFI = .99, TLI = .97, SRMR = .01, RMSEA = .04) which were developed for the purpose of this study and exhibited satisfactory reliability. Findings showed that COVID-19 anxiety was negatively related with COVID-19 coping and general health. COVID-19 coping had a positive relationship with general health. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that COVID-19 coping partially mediated the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and general health. These findings shed more light on the mechanism underlying between COVID-19 anxiety and health. The findings are important for tailoring and implementing coping-based intervention strategies to reduce the impact of COVID-19 anxiety on general health.

Prepandemic relationship satisfaction is related to postpandemic COVID-19 anxiety: A four-wave study in China

The COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting impacts on people's interpersonal relationship and mental health. Using four-wave data in China (N = 222, 54.50% female, M age = 31.53, SD = 8.17), the current study examined whether prepandemic relationship satisfaction was related to postpandemic COVID-19 anxiety through midpandemic perceived social support and/or gratitude. The results showed that people's COVID-19 anxiety decreased from the peak to the trough stage of the pandemic;perceived social support increased markedly from prepandemic to the peak and remained stable subsequently, while relationship satisfaction remained unchanged throughout. Further, it was midpandemic perceived social support, not gratitude, that mediated the association between prepandemic relationship satisfaction and postpandemic COVID-19 anxiety, indicating that perceived social support played a crucial role in this process. Finally, it is suggested that perceived social support should be distinguished from gratitude as two different components of social interactions.

Can the social network bridge social distancing? Social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic

We examined the possibility that social media use during a time of social isolation, the COVID-19 pandemic, might have a more positive impact on the self than we observed prior to the pandemic. We compared the impact of social media use in the spring of 2020 with data obtained from a similar sample in the spring of 2018;contrary to our predictions, using social media was associated with similarly negative outcomes in both samples. In the pandemic sample, using social media for the purpose of connecting with others did, however, attenuate the negative effect of social media use on well-being;in addition, social media use that increased feelings of social connectedness was associated with less negative effects on well-being. Thus, social media continues to exert a negative impact on the self during a time of social isolation but may be less damaging to well-being when used to connect with others. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study examined potential benefits and limitations of social media use in combating social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that although spending 10 min on social media was associated with a negative impact on the self, both before and during the pandemic, the negative impact of social media was attenuated for individuals using social media to directly interact with others. Furthermore, social media use was associated with greater feelings of social connection, reducing its negative impact on overall well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

When COVID-19 struck the world and elite sports: Psychological challenges and support provision in five countries during the first phase of the pandemic

The authors operated in professional roles related to preparations for Tokyo 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. The purpose of this article is to share applied experiences and reflections from different parts of the world of psychological challenges and support strategies adopted in elite sports during the first phase of the pandemic (i.e., March to August 2020). Common themes included motivational issues, stress and anxiety, loss of routine, life-balance challenges among athletes, but also benefits of extended preparation time and recovery. Variations in support strategies and consequences from the effects of COVID-19 occurred across countries. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

No choice but to be essential: Expanding dimensions of precarity during COVID-19

Under COVID-19, low-wage service sector workers found themselves as essential workers vulnerable to intensified precarity. Based on in-depth interviews with a sample of 52 low-wage service workers interviewed first in Summer 2019 and then in the last two weeks of April 2020, we argue that COVID-19 has created new and heightened dimensions of precarity for low-wage workers. They experience (1) moments of what we call precarious stability, in which an increase in hours and predictable schedules is accompanied by unpredictability in the tasks workers are assigned, (2) increased threats to bodily integrity, and (3) experiences of fear and anxiety as background conditions of work and intensified emotional labor. The impacts of COVID-19 on workers' lives warrant an expanded conceptualization of precarity that captures the dynamic and shifting nature of precarious stability and must incorporate workers' limited control over their bodily integrity and emotions as core components of precarious working conditions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Asian American mental health amidst COVID-19 anti-Asian racism: Internalized racism and generational status as moderators

In a national sample of 565 Asian Americans, this study investigates whether direct experiences of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) racism or vicarious exposure (e.g., witnessing, news reports, videos, and stories) of others experiencing COVID-19 racism lead to adverse mental health outcomes above and beyond the impact of general COVID-19 stressors. We used moderated moderation models to test our hypotheses of main effects and three-way interaction effects using the PROCESS Macro in SPSS (Hayes, 2017). Our results showed that both direct and vicarious experience of COVID-related racism significantly and positively predicted depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, above and beyond the impact of general COVID-related stressors. In addition, the three-way interaction of COVID-related racism, internalized racism, and generational status was significant in three out of four models. There was a significant interaction effect such that higher levels of internalized racism mitigated the strength of the relation of COVID-related direct and vicarious racism on depression and anxiety symptoms for 1.5 and 2nd+ generation Asian Americans. For 1st generation Asian Americans, internalized racism exacerbated the impact of vicarious COVID-related racism on somatic symptoms. Our findings revealed the nature of how immigration generational status and internalized racism moderated the relations between COVID-related racism and psychological wellbeing for Asian Americans during a public health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement What is the public significance of this article?-The study shows that direct and vicarious COVID-19-related racism was detrimental to Asian Americans' mental health. Additionally, the study revealed that the risk for adverse mental health outcomes depends on internalized racism beliefs and generational status, jointly. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Motivations to play and mental health in video game players

Over decades research has been conducted to measure connections between playing video games and mental health. Fewer studies have examined individual differences in motivations to play video games as an explaining factor in negative mental health symptoms experienced by adult gamers. This study utilized the Gaming Motivation Scale (GAMS) to capture the relationship between different types of motivation to play and negative mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and social phobia). Participants were 77 adults (age 18-40 81% male) who play 20 or more hours of video games a week. To mitigate the potential, influence the COVID-19 pandemic had on gaming habits, participants were asked to identify gaming habits prior to COVID-19 (between March 2019-Febuary 2020) and after (since March 2020). The study's hypotheses were that higher endorsements of "amotivation scores" on the GAMS will correlate with higher depression scores;that those who endorse higher "introjected regulation" will show higher levels of depression, anxiety, and social phobia scores;and that those who endorse higher "integrated regulation" will have lower levels of anxiety, social phobia, and depression scores. It was found that the GAMS was not a significant predictor of mental health problems, and no relationships were found between number of hours spent playing, motivation type, and mental health outcomes. Although the hypotheses were not supported, the results give rise to a possible interpretation: That adults who spent a large amount of time playing video games do not necessarily experience mental health problems. The overall levels of clinical depression, anxiety, or social phobia were in fact fairly low. Motivation to play video games and time spent playing do not necessarily correlate with mental health itself. Even though the number of hours spent playing video games increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, time spent playing did not correlate with negative mental health symptoms. With a history of stigma towards video games, the study's findings may reiterate the importance of comprehensive assessment to create stronger distinctions between clients who present with clinically significant uses and those who engage with gaming in the context of a passion or a hobby. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)