Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on sleep patterns and the related problems among nursing students.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on sleep patterns and quality among nursing students in our college. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out. METHODS: A total of 302 nursing students aged 18-25 years, representing both genders and various academic levels, participated in this study. A pre-validated, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sleep quality during COVID-19 and it was distributed through various social media platforms for data collection. RESULTS: Female students comprised the majority (92.1%) of participants. Of 332 nursing students, 302 completed the questionnaire, yielding a 91% response rate. Statistically significant differences were observed before and during the COVID-19 lockdown regarding the need to sleep after waking, feeling refreshed upon waking, satisfaction with individual sleep patterns and experiencing restless and troubled sleep (p = 0.001). Additionally, approximately one-third of nursing students (32.9%) reported poor sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic, with minimal impact on the total sleep hours among the studied cohorts. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has statistically significant impacted nursing students' sleep quality and levels. Acknowledging these challenges and planning for providing supporting measurements is essential to ensuring that nursing students can maintain their physical and mental health, which is critical for their ability to provide quality healthcare.

Bidirectional associations between sleep and anxiety among Chinese schoolchildren before and after the COVID-19 lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic has critical implications for mental health in children. This study examined how the COVID-19 lockdown affected sleep duration and anxiety symptoms in Chinese school-aged children and the bidirectional association between sleep and anxiety before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A school-based longitudinal cohort study was conducted to examine the relationship between sleep duration and anxiety scores before and after the COVID-19 lockdown from January to May 2020. Generalized estimating equations model was used to identify variables that contributed to the changes in sleep duration. The bidirectional relationship between sleep duration and anxiety symptoms was explored by cross-lagged analysis. 7681 children completed two waves of surveys were included in the analysis. The daily exercise duration, anxiety symptoms, and sleep duration decreased significantly during the lockdown compared with that before the lockdown. Based on generalized estimating equations model, older age, secondary school, and higher anxiety scores of participants were positively associated with sleep duration, while female and no COVID-19 infection history were negatively associated with it. Cross-lagged analysis showed higher anxiety score of children before the lockdown was significantly associated with shorter sleep duration during the lockdown; and shorter sleep duration of children before the lockdown was also significantly associated with a higher anxiety score during the lockdown. Under the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were longitudinal, bidirectional associations between children's anxiety symptoms and sleep duration. For school students, mental health services and sleep education should be considered in the daily health education curriculum.

Social and Health-related Changes in Hispanic Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to explore changes in health-related behaviors and social practices in Hispanic cancer patients during a government-mandated lockdown and their relationship to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted on data gathered by a longitudinal cohort study to describe the unmet needs of Hispanic cancer patients living in Puerto Rico exposed to Hurricane Maria in 2017, earthquakes in 2020, and COVID-19. However, our study solely focuses on the data from the COVID-19 pandemic period. RESULTS: Most participants were women (n = 72) with breast cancer (81.2%). Participants exhibited changes in religious practices (60%), physical activity (58.4%), and sedentary behavior (50%); 31.4% experienced changes in eating habits and sleeping patterns. Responses to the study questionnaire involved staying connected with family (85.5%) through phone calls (78.2%); 69.9% of the participants reported observing shifts in the family dynamics. A strong majority endorsed the government-imposed isolation measures (95.6%). Patients not undergoing treatment were likelier (r = -0.324; P = .010) to support the measures. Finally, younger patients experienced more work-related changes (r = -0.288; P = .017) and were less inclined (r = -0.293; P = .011) to find the isolation measures appropriate. CONCLUSION: This paper describes the lockdown related changes in health and social behaviors sustained by cancer patients, changes which could potentially impact their overall health and health-related quality of life. Our results fill an existing gap in our findings and contribute to understanding the experiences of cancer patients (in particular, Hispanic patients) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guardians' perceptions of the benefits of dogs in family dynamics during the pandemic. / Perceções dos tutores sobre o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar durante a pandemia.

During the pandemic, there were a lot of lockdowns that brought changes to the population's daily routine, reducing social interactions, changing work and study methods, isolating the family at their home, which brought changes to family dynamics. These changes sparked the interest of nursing students in carrying out a research study. Starting from the question: What is the role of the dog in the family dynamics in times of pandemic? and the objective: identify the guardians' perceptions about the role of the dog in the family dynamics in a period of confinement, a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was carried out, collecting data through a focus group with six guardians from different families. Bardin's protocol was used to analyze and process the data. Three categories emerged in this study, highlighting the benefits in terms of mental health, physical and psychological well-being of the family with the presence of the dog, its importance in strengthening family ties and the lessons learned from adopting the dogs. We conclude that, in nursing, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the dog in the family since it brings benefits to its dynamics.

Com o confinamento imposto pelo SARS-CoV-2, houve mudanças na dinâmica familiar. Para os estudantes de enfermagem este foi um assunto que gerou interesse em investigar. Partindo da questão: Qual o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar em tempo de pandemia? e do objetivo: identificar as perceções dos tutores sobre o papel do cão na dinâmica familiar num período de confinamento, enveredámos por um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, com recurso a focus group e amostra de seis membros de famílias diferentes. O tratamento e análise de dados seguiu o protocolo de Bardin. Identificámos que a existência de cão numa família influencia a sua dinâmica através dos benefícios obtidos quer a nível da saúde mental e bem-estar psicológico, quer a nível da saúde física. Igualmente, destacaram-se vantagens, apesar de algumas desvantagens. O vínculo afetivo entre cão e família, advém da reflexão sobre legislação portuguesa, proteção dos direitos dos animais, responsabilidades dos tutores e configuração familiar. Concluímos que na enfermagem, é necessário relevar a presença do cão na família uma vez que traz benefícios para a sua dinâmica. Esta torna-se uma visão inovadora quando pretendemos contribuir para a manutenção da saúde familiar focada nas necessidades de cada indivíduo, família e comunidade.

Mental Healthcare in Pediatrics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call for International Public Health Action.

Public health measures associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), such as lockdowns and quarantine of suspected cases, can negatively affect children's mental health status. Although the current crisis provides personal growth and family cohesion opportunities, pitfalls appear to outweigh the benefits. The magnitude and quality of its impact on children depend on several factors, including anxiety, lack of social contact, and a reduced opportunity for stress regulation, along with an increased risk for parental mental health issues, child maltreatment, and domestic violence. Children with special needs and social disadvantages like trauma experiences, disabilities, pre-existing mental illness, e.g., autism spectrum disorders and hyperactivity, and low socioeconomic status, may be at higher risk in this context. Here, the potentials social support can provide for pediatrics, both healthy children and children with special needs, are reviewed after an overview of quarantine's adverse effects on this special population during a pandemic. The most common psychological issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are sleep disorders, mood swings, depression, anxiety, decreased attention, stress, irritability, anger, and fear. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on children's physical health includes weight gain, reduced physical activity, immune dysregulation, and cardiometabolic disorders. All support systems, involving parents, teachers/school counselors, pediatricians, mental healthcare workers, and Health and Art (HEART) groups, need to enter the scene and make their share of children's mental health care.

Does COVID-19 Related Lockdown Restrictions Impact People With Musculoskeletal Disorders? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: As a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related lockdown restrictions, people with musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders could be at increased risk of physical and psychological disabilities. This review aimed to summarise the impact of COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions on people with MSK disorders. METHODS: Six electronic databases were searched for studies in the English language published until June 10, 2024. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research. Two reviewers independently abstracted data from the included studies. Data were summarised using narrative synthesis, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 637 articles, 129 of which were removed as duplicates. Fifteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were analysed. The sample size the studies reviewed ranged from 40 to 1800. Having MSK disorders during COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions led to increased risk of pain, stress, depression, anxiety, MSK related injuries, decreased quality of life and increased use of emergency department. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report that COVID-19 related lockdown restrictions led to increased risk of pain, MSK injuries and healthcare resource utilisation as well as decreased quality of life among patients with MSK disorders. These results may help inform policy and management strategies in future for people with MSK disorders to mitigate the negative impact of pandemic.

Resilience during lockdown: a longitudinal study investigating changes in behaviour and attitudes among older females during COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, on March 23, 2020, a strict lockdown was implemented in the UK. This was followed by alternating periods of less restrictive lockdowns until most public health restrictions were lifted in the summer of 2021. While these measures were necessary, they significantly affected people's daily activities, lifestyles, and mental well-being.This paper presents a longitudinal research study that focused on females aged 55 + in the UK, aiming to understand how COVID-19 and the subsequent 15-month period of lockdowns affected their lifestyles and emotions. The study collected data through online surveys, where respondents reported the frequency and mode of access to activities, and their positive and negative emotional experiences during distinct study phases that encompassed both lockdown and less strict periods.In contrast to previous studies highlighting vulnerabilities for females and the elderly during lockdowns, this research found that the studied group maintained an overall positive outlook throughout the study period and successfully adapted to the lockdowns by increasing their engagement in certain activities, in particular, activities like 'getting active'. In addition, our findings indicate rapid adaptive behaviour change towards many online activities, such as cultural activities. However, the study also revealed negative emotions and a decrease in some activities during the second lockdown in 2020 and the subsequent lockdowns in 2021, underscoring the challenges inherent in prolonged periods of confinement. In addition, the study found negative affect associated with some activities, including working and studying from home.The findings provide valuable insights into how females aged over 55 coped with stressful circumstances, which can inform the development of resilient and mental health-conscious public health policies and responses in preparation for future pandemics or other hazards.

Long-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changes related to school-aged children in Bandar Abbas, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Despite the end of the COVID-19 lockdown and reopening of schools, the long-term effects of quarantine on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle of children and adolescents remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of the lockdown on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changes of children and adolescents in Iran. METHOD: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2022. The target population comprised one hundred students aged between 10 and 16 years old. Our study obtained students' weight and height data from records maintained by school principals or physical education instructors before and after the quarantine period. The BMI z-score (zBMI) was calculated for each time point. The researchers also provided a questionnaire to collect the students' demographic and lifestyle status changes during school closures. RESULTS: We found that the zBMI increased significantly from - 0.02 ± 1.64 to 0.36 ± 1.12, and the number of individuals with overweight and obesity increased by 3% during quarantine (P ≤ 0.05). These changes were more pronounced in males and students aged 14-16 years old. We also found that eating habits, sleeping time, sleeping patterns, screen time (time spent on social media per day), and physical activity had significant negative changes during quarantine, and a significant increase in zBMI was observed among students who experienced negative eating behaviors, altered sleeping patterns, and decreased physical activity during school closures. CONCLUSION: As prolonged school closures due to the COVID-19 lockdown aggravated students' health and lifestyle status, our findings can aid in proper planning to establish an appropriate framework for the diet, physical activity, and sleeping quality of students during extended school closures.

Experiences of food insecurity in the Roma population before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the food insecurity experienced by the Roma population of the Valencian Community (Spain) and the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown. METHOD: Quantitative, cross-sectional exploratory study using a questionnaire that collected information on socioeconomic status and situations of food insecurity experienced before and during lockdown, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The questionnaire was applied by health workers from the Roma community with people over 18 years of age. A descriptive analysis was carried out stratifying by sex, calculating Chi-square test to identify differences in the variables of the experiences of food insecurity. RESULTS: 468 people participated (57.1% women/42.9% men) who expressed: worry about a lack of food (67.3%); eating the same type of food (37.2%); not being able to eat healthy foods (34.4%); feeling hungry and not being able to eat (9.6%). Around 2.1 percent stated that they could not eat for a whole day, and 65 percent reported that they had to ask for or provide help to be able to eat. When stratifying by sex, it was found that women had more experiences of food insecurity. Except in the case of having stopped eating for a full day, where the percentage remained constant, an increase was observed in the other experiences of food insecurity during lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: A large part of the Roma population studied, especially women, experienced situations of food insecurity before COVID-19 that were aggravated during lockdown. This situation was compensated for by community support networks.

COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantines and Mental Health Among Adolescents in Norway.

Importance: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase when mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, often emerge. Stringent public health measures and quarantine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic could threaten adolescent mental health. Objective: To investigate the associations of public health measures and quarantine experiences with mental distress among Norwegian adolescents and to explore if certain vulnerability factors moderate these associations. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal cohort study used repeated measures to capture variations in mental distress explained by the stringency of public health measures and quarantine experiences. Data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child cohort study were linked to national health registries and a national stringency index from April 1, 2020, to February 17, 2021. Participant included 7787 Norwegian adolescents aged 16 to 18 years. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to October 2023. Exposures: Stringency index of public health measures and quarantine experiences including recent quarantine (within the last 2 weeks) and quarantine frequency (cumulative number of quarantine episodes). Main Outcome and Measures: Mental distress was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist across 6 data collection waves. Results: In this study, 7787 participants were included in the analysis (4473 female [57%]; mean [SD] age, 17.0 [0.6] years). Stringent public health measures (ß = 0.18; SE, 0.02; P < .001), recent quarantine (ß = 0.11; SE, 0.02; P < .001), and frequent quarantine (ß = 0.08; SE, 0.01; P < .001) were associated with higher levels of mental distress. The associations between public health measures and mental distress were not moderated by sex, age, prepandemic anxiety or depression, or genetic liability for mental health conditions. Frequency of quarantine appeared to be more strongly associated with mental distress among younger adolescents (ß = -0.04; SE, 0.01; P = .008), those with parents with lower education (ß = -0.04; SE, 0.01; P = .007), and those with lower genetic risk for depression (ß = -0.03; SE, 0.01; P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, younger adolescents, those with parents with lower education, or those with low genetic liability for depression appeared more vulnerable when being quarantined several times. These findings emphasize the need for targeted support strategies to better protect adolescent well-being during future crises. Adolescents who experienced increased mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic may be at risk of continued mental health problems and in need of ongoing support.

University students' preferences of learning modes post COVID-19-associated lockdowns: In-person, online, and blended.

Online teaching accelerated during COVID-19-associated lockdowns. At that time, it was assumed that university students wanted to revert to in-person sessions at the earliest opportunity. However, when in-person sessions were re-introduced, student attendance was not as high as expected. Therefore, we examined students' preferences of learning modes. Students (n = 968) from different UK universities, degree cohorts, study levels and biological sexes were given four learning-mode options: Face-to-face sessions for lectures and tutorials (in-person), Live online sessions for lectures and tutorials (Online-synchronous), Pre-recorded lectures and live online tutorials (Online-mixed-asynchronous-synchronous), and Pre-recorded lectures and face-to-face tutorials (Blended: in-person and online-asynchronous). Students ranked these options as per their preference via an online anonymous survey. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28. Results showed that the most frequently selected 1st and last choices were In-person and Online-synchronous modes, respectively. For the majority, above choices were the same across study levels and biological sex, but across degree cohorts, the 1st choice was either In-person or Blended. Proportion of students selecting In-person mode as their 1st choice (52.2%) was almost equal to the combined proportions of those selecting other learning modes as 1st choices (47.5%). Amongst degree cohorts, In-person mode was least preferred by Language Education students and most preferred by Bioscience and Sports & Exercise Science students. The latter cohort also preferred Online-synchronous mode more than other degree cohorts. Blended mode was preferred more by Language Education, Computer Science and Psychology students but preferred less by Sports & Exercise Science and Pharmacy students, compared to other degree cohorts. Ordinal regression revealed that Sports & Exercise Science students preferred Online-mixed-asynchronous-synchronous mode less than Language Education students. Undergraduates preferred In-person mode more and Online-mixed- asynchronous-synchronous mode less than postgraduates. Preference differences between biological sexes were insignificant. Thus, we identified students' preferences of learning modes and propose that not biological sex, but discipline and study level can predict/influence preferences.

Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Youth Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

Importance: Adolescence is a period in which mental health problems emerge. Research suggests that the COVID-19 lockdown may have worsened emotional and behavioral health. Objective: To examine whether socioeconomic status was associated with mental health outcomes among youths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is a multisite 10-year longitudinal study of youth neurocognitive development in the US. Recruitment was staggered where the baseline visit (ages 9 to 10 years) occurred from 2016 to 2018, and visits occurred yearly. The COVID-19 lockdown halted research collection during the 2-year follow-up visits (ages 11 to 12 years), but eventually resumed. As some youths already underwent their 2-year visits prior to lockdown, this allowed for a natural experiment-like design to compare prepandemic and intrapandemic groups. Thus, data were gathered from the 1-year follow-up (pre-COVID-19 lockdown for all youths) and the 2-year follow-up, of which a portion of youths had data collected after the lockdown began, to compare whether a period of near social isolation was associated with mental health symptoms in youths. The prepandemic group consisted of youths with a 2-year follow-up visit collected prior to March 11, 2020, and the intrapandemic group had their 2-year follow-up visit after lockdown restrictions were lifted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Assessments included measures on income-to-needs ratio (INR; derived from total household income), the Child Behavior Checklist (a measure of mental health symptomology), and the Family Environmental Scale. Results: The final sample included 10 399 youths; 3947 (52.3%) were male; 2084 (20.3%) were Latinx/Hispanic; 6765 (66.0%) were White; 4600 (44.2%) reported caregiver education levels below a 4-year college degree; and 2475 (26.2%) had INR either below 100% (indicating poverty) or between 100% and less than 200% (near poverty). Among youths in the intrapandemic group, worse mental health symptoms (eg, more total problems, greater depression, and greater anxiety) over time were associated with being from a household with higher socioeconomic status (eg, when comparing individuals who differed by 1 unit on INR between prepandemic and intrapandemic groups from 1-year to 2-year follow-up, their expected difference in total problems score was 0.79 [95% CI, 0.37-1.22]; false discovery rate-corrected P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with disproportionately negative mental health outcomes among youths from higher socioeconomic status backgrounds. Although this study does not shed light on the direct mechanisms driving these associations, it does provide some support for positive outcomes for youths. Future studies are needed to understand whether these associations persist over longer periods of time.

New project sheds light on the worldwide use of solitary confinement.

Solitary Confinement.

Compliance and Experience of Quarantine during the 1st Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Mumbai.

BACKGROUND: At the beginning of the pandemic, quarantine was thought to be the most effective way to contain the spread of the virus among international travelers and any potential carriers. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the type of quarantine, compliance to quarantine measures (QM), mood, and any social stigma faced during that period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval from the institutional ethics committee, a telephonic interview survey was conducted. Individuals above 18 years of age visiting the only functioning COVID-19 screening outpatient department at Kasturba Hospital between March 1, 2020, and March 10, 2020 were included in the study. A total of 263 individuals were interviewed. RESULTS: Out of 263 respondents, 71% and 34% of individuals had a history of international travel and contact history, respectively. Only 63% had read the guidelines on home QM. Among individuals quarantined, 127 that living alone in their apartments, 60 were in a single room with relatives outside, 37 were living with family members because they did not have another room, and 39 were staying in a facility quarantine center. On assessing the QM followed, wearing a mask was the least followed (46%). The average score of compliance to QM was 82.6%. Seventy-two per cent rated their mood as "5" on a scale of 1-10. Social stigma was reported by 7.6% of respondents. CONCLUSION: Among the early set of quarantined individuals in the city during the first wave of the pandemic, average score of compliance to QM was high even though lesser people recalled reading the guideline on home QM.

Sleep quality and related factors among healthcare workers in designated quarantine hospital site in post-pandemic based on the health ecological model: a cross-sectional study in Nanjing, China.

Aims: This study aims to assess the status and related factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) in designated quarantine-hospital-site (DQHS) based on the model of health ecology. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2022, which included 351 valid samples. We measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which encompasses seven dimensions: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each dimension is scored individually, contributing to an overall sleep quality score. Factors associated with the sleep quality of HCWs in DQHS were divided into individual, behavioral, interpersonal and social dimensions. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to identify the potential factors associated with sleep quality among HCWs in DQHS. Results: HCWs in DQHS had a statistically higher sleep quality than the Chinese national norm. HCWs who were female, afraid of Coronavirus disease, had more negative emotions, frequently worked overtime, were married, and had a higher income were more likely to experience worse sleep quality (p < 0.05), while those who worked between 51 and 70 h weekly, treated over 10 patients daily, and engaged in more health behaviors may have better sleep quality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a worrying level of sleep quality among HCWs in DQHS. The government, hospital managers, and families should collaborate to ensure the sleep quality of HCWs in DQHS.

Clubhouse virtual programming: A trend analysis of member engagement patterns before, during, and after pandemic lockdown.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the mental health of individuals with serious mental illness, with restricting social gatherings and limiting access to essential community and psychosocial support services. For programs like clubhouses, adapting typically in-person programming to online settings led to the creation of virtual clubhouse programming that persists at many sites even after reopening. Although it has been documented how clubhouses adapted their programming online, it has not been investigated at the individual level how those programs were utilized over time, by different member cohorts, and how they persist in comparison to one another. METHOD: The present article presents descriptive and inferential statistics, analysis of variance, and secondary trend analysis of the Fountain House clubhouse in-person and virtual engagements of three member cohorts who enrolled in either three time periods before pandemic restrictions (the prior cohort), during pandemic restrictions (the pandemic cohort), and after lockdown restrictions (the reopening cohort). RESULT: Initial findings show that the prior cohort sustained their overall rate of engagement across time periods. The pandemic cohort had a significantly higher rate of engagement than the prior cohort within the during period but demonstrated a significant decrease in engagement rate between the during and after period. Prior and pandemic cohorts had statistically similar virtual and in-person engagement ratios in the after period, but the reopen cohort differed significantly with a predominant ratio of in-person engagements. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Member engagement trends within in-person and virtual offerings across the three different pandemic related time periods indicate important considerations for the sustainability and innovation of clubhouse virtual programming. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

[The impact of alcohol and other psychoactive substance use during the covid-19 pandemic: problems and consequences].

This article discusses issues related to the use of surfactants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global nature of this crisis has had a significant impact on the lives of people around the world, including their mental health. The introduction of quarantine and «isolation¼ measures have become one of the measures to control the spread of the disease, but such restrictions have led to various adverse psychological reactions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as cases of self-mutilation and even suicide. All of these factors can negatively affect other aspects of health and lead to increased use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Stress, social isolation, the unpredictability of the future, loss of a job or income - all these can be motivating factors for people to turn to alcohol or other substances in search of relaxation or emotional support. However, such strategies are short-term and irrational, since alcohol consumption only worsens the mental state and further increases the risk of developing mental problems.

Socially isolated, but not lonely in lockdown: Exploring the role of reflective functioning as a protective factor in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Loneliness is a pressing public mental health issue. So far, there has been a paucity of investigations focused on the individual differences modulating this subjective feeling in the face of difficult circumstances, e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the present study aimed to investigate the role of mentalization; given that the construct comprises reflection abilities that might be particularly relevant to the pandemic's interpersonal challenges. METHODS: A survey representative of the German population was conducted from May to June 2020 (N = 2503). We examined mentalization, operationalized as reflective functioning (RF) and measured using the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), both as a protective factor against loneliness on its own and as a moderator of the association of social isolation with loneliness. RESULTS: Of the overall sample, 822 (32.8 %) individuals reported social isolation. Worse RF was moderately associated with higher levels of loneliness (r = 0.433, p < .001). A linear regression model (controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and general personality pathology) confirmed this positive association, but also indicated an interaction effect of RF and social isolation in the statistical prediction of loneliness. Stratified models showed that RF was a comparatively weaker statistical predictor of loneliness among the socially isolated. DISCUSSION: This representative population study expanded our knowledge about the factors shaping loneliness in the population. RF emerged as a potentially modifiable protective influence. Further research needs to clarify the mechanisms through which it mitigates loneliness. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design does not give insight into the temporal association of RF and loneliness.

The impact of lockdown on child adjustment: a propensity score matched analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an inestimable impact worldwide, challenging the daily lives and interactions of children and their families. In 2022, Shanghai implemented a three-month lockdown in response to an acceleration of positive cases during the pandemic period. This restrictive policy provided insight into the impact of the lockdown on children's social adjustment and the role of parent-child conflict during this process. Mothers of preschool-aged children participated in this study and completed the Chinese version of Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method, two matched groups were formed: pre-lockdown group and post-lockdown group, with a total of 574 preschoolers (N = 297 in each group; Mage = 4.36, SD = 0.86) were recruited. The results showed that the lockdown directly impacted children's emotional symptoms. Additionally, the parent-child conflict mediated relationship between the lockdown and children's adjustment. Specifically, parent-child conflict deteriorated children's emotional symptoms, hyperactivity-attention problems, and prosocial behaviors. These findings highlight the significant impact of the severe lockdown on children's social adjustment and the role of parent-child interactions during this period.