Health related quality of life and its predictors among postpartum mother in Southeast Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Post-childbirth, woman's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is significantly impacted, leading to decreased daily activity, reduced self-care, challenges with breastfeeding and baby weaning, and increased medical costs for both mother and newborn.This study aimed to assess the HRQOL and its predictors among postpartum women in Southeast Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Southeast Ethiopia between March and May 2022, involving randomly selected sample of 794 postpartum women attending immunization services in public health facilities. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire, and descriptive statistics were computed. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to predict HRQOL, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals used to estimate associations. Results: The study revealed that the overall HRQOL, physical component summary, and mental component summary of quality of life had mean scores of 43.80 ± 27.88, 45.39 ± 28.58, and 42.20 ± 28.15(mean ± SD) respectively. Walking to the health facility (AOR = 2.09; 95% CI: (1.31,3.31); using public transport (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.69-3.93); having the fear of COVID-19 (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.08-1.99); having health facility admission history during the recent pregnancy (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.08-2.44); having postpartum depression (PPD) (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.57-2.89) were predictors of a lower level of overall HRQOL among postpartum women. Conclusion: The study found that nearly half of postpartum women in Ethiopia have lower HRQOL, with factors such as transport use, recent baby's pregnancy admission history, and postpartum depression (PPD) significantly affecting their overall, physical, and mental HRQOL. Fear of COVID-19 was found to be significantly associated with lower overall and physical HRQO. The implementation of appropriate strategies addressing identified factors is crucial for enhancing the HRQOL among postpartum women in Ethiopia.

The moderating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, in a cohort of rural and regional healthcare workers. During major lockdowns in Victoria, Australia 2020-2021.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial pressures for healthcare workers across the world. The association between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, and the role of psychological resilience have gained research interest. The current study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, in Australian rural/regional healthcare workers and determine whether resilience modifies this association. Most participants were nurses (38.0%), mean age was 44.9 years, and 80.5% were female (N = 1313). An adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that the highest tertile of the Fear of COVID-19 scale was associated with higher odds of moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 2.27, 6.11; p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 2.30, 5.28; p < 0.001). Healthcare workers with high level of fear of COVID-19 and low level of resilience were much more likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (OR = 12.27, 95% CI = 6.65-22.65, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 12.21, 95% CI = 6.93-21.50, p < 0.001) when compared to healthcare workers with low level of fear of COVID-19 and high level of resilience. A cross-sectional design was used and therefore cause and effect between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress cannot be inferred. Longitudinal research is needed to investigate the possible causal relationship. These findings highlight the potential mental health effects of fear of COVID-19 on HCWs and demonstrate the importance of resilience as a possible moderator of these effects.

Parental intention on getting children COVID-19 vaccinations: Invariance evaluation across parenting roles and COVID-19-like symptoms experiences among Iranians during the pandemic period.

Countries worldwide are facing challenges with increasing the COVID-19 vaccination rates for children. This study examined associations between perceived knowledge, coping appraisal, threat appraisal, adaptive response, maladaptive response, and intention, and possible variance across parents (mother or father) and COVID-19-like symptoms experiences regarding parental intentions to vaccinate their children. A total of 836 Iranian parents with children between the ages of 6 and 12 y completed measures assessing perceived knowledge, coping appraisals, threat appraisals, intentions, adaptive responses, and maladaptive responses. Multigroup structural equation modeling revealed that perceived knowledge was positively associated with both coping and threat appraisals, coping appraisals positively associated with adaptive responses, maladaptive responses, and intentions to vaccinate, threat appraisals positively associated with adaptive and maladaptive responses, and adaptive responses positively associated with intentions to vaccinate. The invariance evaluation revealed no differences across parents or COVID-19-like symptoms experiences in parental intentions to get their children vaccinated. The findings suggest that cogent information regarding childhood COVID-19 vaccination may boost parents' knowledge influencing their appraisals, adaptive responses and intentions to vaccinate their children. Specifically, coping appraisals and adaptive responses appeared to be important mediators between knowledge and intentions to vaccinate. Furthermore, intentions to vaccinate children may not be strongly influenced by parental roles or COVID-19-like symptoms experiences. These findings may help multiple stakeholders promote COVID-19 vaccination rates among children, and countries should further examine ways of increasing rates based on their specific needs.

Relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health of Chinese nurses: The mediating effects of psychological capital and burnout.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between fear of COVID-19 and mental health of nurses and the effects of psychological capital and burnout in this relation. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The online surveys were conducted among mainland Chinese nurses. Participants (n = 445; average age 32.89 ± 6.76 years) completed an online-questionnaire based on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Psychological Capital Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Professionals Scale and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey. Data analysis was conducted by Pearson's correlation analysis, Harman single-factor test and the bootstrap method for mediating effect testing. RESULTS: (1) The study demonstrated a significant direct effect of fear of COVID-19 on nurses' mental health, as well as on mediating factors such as burnout and psychological capital. (2) Regression analyses confirmed that while psychological capital bolstered mental health, burnout undermined it, with fear of COVID-19 further imposing a negative influence. (3) Fear of COVID-19 exerted an effect on the mental health of nurses by the independent and chain intermediary functions of psychological capital and burnout, resulting in a total mediating effect of -0.233.

Quality of life among residents of Gaza, Palestine: the predictive role of mental distress, fear of COVID-19, and social support.

BACKGROUND: Living under siege and deteriorated health, social, educational, and economic conditions and isolation with scarce opportunities to fulfil basic needs and aspirations affect the civil population's mental health and perceived quality of life. In this cross-sectional investigation, we explored the consequences of mental distress, fear of COVID-19, and social support for QoL in the Gaza strip. METHODS: Nine hundred seventy nine (32.9% males; 67.1% females; mean age was 35.2 years; s.d. = 11.4) adults were recruited in the Gaza strip. We used the Fear for COVID-19 scale (FCS-19), The WHOQOL-BREF Scale, Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to assess relationships between quality of life, fear of COVID19, mental distress, and social support; a hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess the association between QoL as the dependent variable and demographic variables and fear of COVID19, mental health, and social support as the independent variables. RESULTS: QoL was positively associated with perceived emotion, instrumental, and support seeking. Depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of COVID19 were negatively associated with quality of life. Gender was significantly associated with lower QoL. The study highlighted that the level of fear of COVID-19 was negatively influencing individuals' quality of life (QoL). This fear was negatively associated to psychological distress, gender, place of residence, and family type. Lower-educated and poorer participants had lower QoL scores. Conversely, female gender was notably linked to a lower QOL. The hierarchical regression confirmed that COVID-19 was an added burden for the Palestinian population. The fear of COVID-19 term added a 6.2% variance in QoL. In the final analysis, all predictors were statistically significant, with the fear of COVID-19 term recording a higher contribution of 22.5%, followed by depression term with 21.5%, perceived emotional 18.5%, income at 15.4%, and perceived instruments at 14.8% towards QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners and policymakers must consider the severe violation of human rights when developing psychosocial programs to intervene in the COVID-19 crisis.

Spirituality, Intolerance and Fear of COVID-19: Psychological Distress Among Older Adults in Pakistan.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of spirituality, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and fear of COVID-19 as correlates and predictors of psychological distress among older adults in Pakistan and also assess the gender differences among research variables. Using a quantitative correlational survey research design, a sample of 150 (75 = Men, 75 = Women) older adults aged 55 years and above from different cities of Pakistan were approached through a non-probability purposive sampling strategy. Participants completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale IUS-12, Fear of COVID-19, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-K10. Spirituality has a significant negative relationship with psychological distress. Whereas, IU (Inhibitory anxiety and prospective anxiety) and fear of COVID-19 have a significant positive relationship with psychological distress. Results also showed that spirituality, IU dimensions, and fear of COVID-19 emerged as significant predictors of psychological distress among older adults after controlling for the effect of covariates. In addition, elderly females significantly showed more spirituality, less IU, and fear of COVID-19 as compared to elderly males. It is proposed that mental health care plays an important role in treating the psychological needs of older adults in pandemic situations and that further study is needed to develop effective solutions for older persons in stressful situations such as pandemics.

The effect of fear on health information searching behavior during the pandemic: The case of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fear can cause people to panic, lead to erroneous decisions, and trigger inappropriate behavior. This study aims to investigate the effects of fear of COVID-19 on the perception of the reliability and the use of health information sources. METHODS: This study is both a cross-sectional and explanatory study. The participants selected by convenience sampling method were 323 students attending a state university in Turkey. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Health Information Sources Survey were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and linear regression analyses were used. RESULTS: The participants' mean FCV-19S score was 2.30 ± 0.93 on a five-point Likert scale. In the range of 0-10, the information source with the highest reliability perception mean score was the doctor (8.05 ± 2.54), whereas that with the highest usage was the Internet (7.98 ± 2.77). Although the fear of COVID-19 had a negative effect on Internet use (b = -0.38; p < 0.05), the effects on the use of other health information sources were positive (b = 0.37-0.83; p < 0.05). Trust in radio (b = 0.60; p < 0.05) and newspapers/magazines (b = 0.49; p < 0.05) also increased with fear. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that as university students' fear of COVID-19 increased, the use of the Internet for health information decreased; however, the use of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health workers, scientific articles, television, radio, and newspapers/journals increased. Nurses were the source of information whose use increased the most, along with increased fear. The findings can guide health policies to be followed. Not only doctor talks but also nurse talks and scientific videos should be increased on the Internet, social media, and other mass media.

Associated factors for fear of COVID-19 scale in long-term care settings in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) score and sociodemographic, health, emotional and behavioural factors, in a cross-sectional observational study in 447 older adults living in long-term care (LTC) settings in Madrid (Spain). METHODS: The sample was stratified by nursing home ownership, geographical location, and size. Multiple linear regression analysis was used using backward elimination to identify factors that explained associations with fear, and logistic regression models were used to examine its role as a predictor of adherence to preventive measures. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 83.8 years, most were female, had had COVID-19, and were worried about the pandemic. The average score of the FCV-19S was 18.36 (SD: 8.28; range: 7-35), and the variables associated in the multiple linear regression model (explained variance: 34.00%) were being female, lower level of education, satisfaction with life and the residential home, and higher worry about the pandemic. The logistic regression models showed that fear of COVID-19 was a predictor of adherence to preventive measures like wearing facemasks, washing hands, and avoiding physical contact. CONCLUSIONS: fear of COVID-19 was significantly related with sex and subjective factors as life satisfaction and worry; and it influences older people's preventive behaviour. Interventions aimed at reducing fear and promoting adherence to preventive measures would improve their mental health and well-being.

Fear of COVID-19 and PTSD: The Protective Function of Problem-Solving Appraisals in Mental Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic was experienced by many people as a major traumatic event, and it contributed to high levels of fear, anxiety, and PTSD. Negative cognitive appraisals have been consistently implicated in the onset and maintenance of psychological distress, but there is far less research on the protective role of adaptive appraisals in mental health outcomes. The current study aimed to address this gap by investigating the role of problem-solving appraisals in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and PTSD. Participants were students (n = 322) who completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Problem-Solving Inventory, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and the five-item short version of the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants had a mean age of 26 years (±10.2; range 17-63). The results revealed that problem-solving appraisal mediated the effects of fear of COVID-19 on all the dimensions of PTSD. However, moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that the mediation effect was moderated by anxiety. In this regard, the indirect effects of fear of COVID-19 on PTSD were only significant for respondents with low anxiety levels. Our findings suggest that intervention efforts need to focus on identifying and actively targeting maladaptive appraisals of the problem-solving ability as well as addressing anxiety-related symptoms that may impede coping.

The mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health problems: a cross-sectional study among nurses.

Fear of being infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could trigger mental health problems among nurses at the frontline. In such a situation, coping strategies are needed to deal with the imminent threat. The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effects of coping on relationships of fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome among nurses who were in contact with COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was used to recruit a sample of 278 nurses who treated COVID-19 patients in four government referral hospitals in Indonesia. A bootstrap resampling procedure was used to test the significance of the total and specific indirect effects of coping on relationships of Fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome. The nurses reported moderate levels of fear of COVID-19, considerable anxiety and depression, and a moderate level of coping. We found coping to be significantly negatively correlated with the reported levels of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome (p < 0.001). Coping mediated relationships of fear of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic syndrome after controlling for relevant confounders for each dependent variable. This shows that enacting coping mechanisms is important to achieve an adaptive effect on nurses' mental health. Proper assessments and interventions should be tailored and implemented for nurses who have contact with COVID-19 patients to facilitate their use of coping strategies when needed in stressful situations.

Perceived risk of COVID-19 hurts mental health: the mediating role of fear of COVID-19 and the moderating role of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety have been found prevalent during all phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late December 2022, almost all COVID-19 control measures were lifted in China, leading to a surge in COVID-19 infections. The public's perceived risk and fear of COVID-19 would be increased. This study aims to examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the Chinese general population and explores the mediating role of fear of COVID-19 between COVID-19 perceived risk and depression/anxiety and the moderating role of resilience between fear of COVID-19 and depression/anxiety. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Wenzhou, China, immediately following almost all COVID-19 control measures lifted. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, COVID-19 perceived risk, fear of COVID-19, and resilience, respectively. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimator and adjusted for significant background factors was performed to test the moderated mediation. Data obtained from 935 participants were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression and anxiety was 23.7% and 9.5%, respectively. The present study revealed positive associations among COVID-19 perceived risk, fear of COVID-19 and depression/anxiety, and negative associations between resilience and fear of COVID-19/depression/anxiety. Fear of COVID-19 partially mediated the association between COVID-19 perceived risk and depression/anxiety. Furthermore, resilience significantly moderated the association between fear of COVID-19 and depression/anxiety. Two moderated mediation models were constructed. CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety were prevalent among Chinese adults during the final phase of the pandemic in China. The significant mediation role of fear of COVID-19 implies that reducing fear of COVID-19 may effectively alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, enhancing public resilience during an epidemic crisis is crucial for promoting mental health.

Fear of COVID-19, workplace phobia, workplace deviance and perceived organizational support: A moderated mediation model.

This paper aims to test a moderated-mediation model examining therelationships between Fear of COVID-19, workplace phobia, work deviance behaviourand perceived organizational support among hotel employees. An online questionnaire was administered to collect data, to which 481 responded. Data was collected from full-time frontline employees working in the Maldivian hospitality industry. The moderated-mediation model explained 44% of the variance in workplace deviance behaviourscan be predicted bythe fear of COVID-19, perceived organisational support and workplace phobia. The findingsshowthat perceived organizational support reduces the negative impact of COVID-19 fear on workplace phobia and deviance. Results suggest that to reduce the negative effect of the pandemic, organisations should adopt support measures across different managerial levels at different scales rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions.

The relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process in Turkey.

AIMS: To determine the relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process. BACKGROUND: Individuals with chronic diseases are a sensitive group during the COVID-19 pandemic process; it is thought that self-care management may be adversely affected as a result of their more intense exposure to the psychological, physiological and economic effects of the pandemic. In the literature, there is no study examining the effect of perception of COVID-19 and fear of COVID-19 on self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases. DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 322 individuals who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinics of a university's Health Practice and Research Center, met the inclusion criteria, agreed to participate in the study and had a chronic disease. Questionnaire form, Perception of COVID-19 Scale (P-COVID-19), The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale (SCMP-G) were used to collect data. STROBE checklist was used to report the present study. RESULTS: In the study, it can be stated that individuals with chronic diseases had a moderate to the high perception of contagiousness and dangerousness of COVID-19, they had a moderate-high level of fear of COVID-19 and their self-care care management was above moderate level. There was a significant positive correlation between P-COVID-19, FCV-19S and SCMP-G in the study. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the perception of COVID-19 contagiousness and the fear of COVID-19 had a positive effect on the self-care management of individuals with chronic diseases. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Determining the level of COVID-19 perception and fear of COVID-19 and their effects on the life of the individual, and evaluating self-care management during the difficult pandemic process will increase the success in the holistic nursing care and management of chronic diseases.

Relação entre videogames de ação, mindfulness e medo da COVID-19 em universitários / Relationship between action video games, mindfulness and fear of COVID-19 in university students / Relación entre videojuegos de acción, mindfulness y miedo al COVID-19 en estudiantes universitarios

A interação com videogame aumentou significativamente na pandemia de COVID-19. Por outro lado, um aspecto atencional que pode apresentar alterações relacionadas à quantidade de interação com videogames de ação é o mindfulness. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar uma possível relação entre o uso de videogames de ação (em horas semanais), o mindfulness e o medo da COVID-19. Para tanto, solicitou-se a jogadores e não jogadores de videogames de ação com idades entre 18 e 29 anos (n = 384, M = 21,6, DP = 2,6) que respondessem à Escala de Medo da COVID-19 e à Escala de Facetas do Mindfulness. Os resultados não demonstraram relação significativa entre uso de videogames de ação e mindfulness, mas apontaram que jogadores de videogame de ação apresentaram menos medo da COVID-19. Discute-se como o escapismo proporcionado pelo jogo pode explicar, em parte, uma diminuição da atenção a informações relativas à doença

Interaction with video games increased significantly in the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, an attentional aspect that may show changes related to the amount of interaction with action video games is mindfulness. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify a possible relationship between the use of action video games (in weekly hours), mindfulness and fear of COVID-19. To this end, players and non-players of action video games aged between 18 and 29 years (n = 384, M = 21.6, SD = 2.6) were asked to respond to the Covid Fear Scale and the Facets of Mindfulness. Results did not demonstrate a significant relationship between the use of action video games and mindfulness, but showed that action video game players were less afraid of COVID-19. It is discussed how the escapism provided by the game can partly explain a decrease in attention to information related to the disease

La interacción con videojuegos aumentó en la pandemia de COVID-19. Por otro lado, un aspecto atencional que puede presentar cambios relacionados con la cantidad de interacción con los videojuegos de acción es el mindfulness. Luego, el objetivo de este estudio fue verificar una relación entre uso de video-juegos de acción, mindfulness y miedo al COVID-19. Se pidió a jugadores y no jugadores de videojuegos de acción de entre 18 y 29 años (n = 384, M = 21,6, SD = 2,6) que respondieran a la Escala de Miedo al COVID y la Escala de Facetas de Mindfulness. Los resultados no demostraron una relación significativa entre uso de videojuegos de acción y mindfulness, pero señalaron que jugadores de videojuegos de acción tenían menos miedo a la COVID-19. Se discute cómo el escapismo proporcionado por el juego explicaría en parte una disminución en la atención a la información relacionada con la enfermedad

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

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

Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19 tuvo impacto directo en la salud mental. Organizaciones internacionales han enfatizado la vulnerabilidad de los pueblos indígenas. Los enfoques de salud mental digital brindan terapia en línea como una opción de tratamiento basada en evidencia, efectiva y accesible; sin embargo, los datos son limitados en población indígena. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el diseño, desarrollo y evaluación de la eficacia de una intervención en línea autoaplicada sobre síntomas psicológicos de depresión, ansiedad y miedo al COVID-19 en una muestra de población maya. Método: Se diseñó un es tudio cuantitativo longitudinal prospectivo, donde se midió a un solo grupo antes y después de recibir la intervención en línea, implementada de abril a septiembre de 2021, que constó de seis sesiones impartidas vía WhatsApp, en español y maya. Resultados: La evaluación inicial se implementó con 82 participantes que fueron evaluados mediante el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente, Escala para el Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada y Escala de Miedo al COVID-19; 18 participantes permanecieron para la evaluación posterior. Se observaron di ferencias estadísticas en las medidas pre- y post- de depresión y ansiedad, pero no miedo al COVID-19. Conclusiones: Este estudio arrojó resultados positivos de la primera intervención de salud mental en línea implementada en la población indígena latinoamericana. Estudios futuros podrían considerar el desarrollo de intervenciones similares para otras comunidades indígenas en América Latina.

Attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions and COVID-19-related stress and fear among college students across three waves.

Background and Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of college students, leading to increased psychological distress. This study explored potenital predictors to better understand the factors that influence and mitigate student COVID-19 stress in the evolving landscape of residential colleges. Specifically, we investigated the roles of COVID-19 fear, loneliness, and attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions. Methods: Employing a longitudinal online survey design, we collected data over the fall 2020 semester from 122 first-year college students enrolled in a small mid-west liberal arts college. Participants completed the same survey three times: Wave 1 in August, Wave 2 in October, and Wave 3 in November. Results: Fear of COVID-19 (Time 1) was a significant predictor of increased COVID-19 related stress at both Time 2 and Time 3. Interestingly, loneliness (Time 1) moderated the effect of fear of COVID-19 (Time 1) on attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions at Time 2. Moreover, students' negative attitudes toward COVID-19 restrictions and feelings of loneliness increased over the course of the semester. Conclusions: These findings suggest that college students' wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 stress is influenced by a complex interplay of perceptions of COVID-19 (stress, fear, attitudes) and feelings of social isolation (loneliness). Further research in this area is crucial to provide targeted support and interventions to promote students' mental health.

Fear of COVID-19, Stress and Coping Strategies among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic's Second Wave: A Quasi-Intervention Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its related consequences caused a higher risk of mental health problems for nurses. Hence, this study aims to reduce the level of fear and stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and promote active coping among Egyptian nurses. Methods: This quasi-intervention study was conducted on 125 nurses working at Benha's University hospitals, who were selected by a systematic random sampling technique within the time interval of March 2021 to July 2021. The study was conducted using the fear of COVID-19 scale, the stress scale of depression, anxiety and stress scales, and the Brief (COPE) inventory scale. Results: The mean ages of the studied nurses were 36.70 ± 9.50. Almost half of the studied nurses were males and married. Before the intervention, 47.2% of nurses had severe stress levels while 82.4% had a high level of fear of COVID-19. Experience years, type of department, and worries about vaccine side effects were the predictors of the fear of COVID-19. A significant difference (p = .000) was found between both mean stress and fear scores pre-intervention (15.27 ± 5.47 and 25.56 ± 6.13) and post-intervention (4.87 ± 2.14 and 11.92 ± 2.43). The most prevalent coping strategies among nurses before the intervention were self-distraction (5.03 ± 1.53), followed by behavioral disengagement and self-blaming. However, after the intervention, religion was found to be the utmost coping mechanism (6.12 ± 1.17), followed by positive reframing and acceptance. Conclusion: The majority of the nurses in the study reported a significant fear of COVID-19, and around half of the nurses had severe stress as a result. After the intervention, the stress and fear scores were reduced by half or even less. Age, longer work experience, and worries about the vaccine were the predictors of fear of COVID-19. The coping strategies used after the intervention shifted toward active coping strategies. Clinical Trial Registration Number: 10-11-008-701.

Fear of COVID-19 Predicts Depression, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and Is Mediated by Positive and Negative Affects-A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected both the physical and mental health of the general population. People with cardiac diseases seem to be particularly vulnerable to the implications of the pandemic. However, studies on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs) are lacking. Thus, we aimed to explore the level of fear of COVID-19 and the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ICD patients. Furthermore, we aimed to identify novel predictors for anxiety, depression and PTSD, including COVID-19-related variables, and to assess whether positive affects (PAs) and negative affects (NAs) mediate the relationship between the level of fear of COVID-19 and anxiety, depression and PTSD, respectively. The data of 363 patients with ICDS who had been prospectively included in this study between 2020 and 2023, were analyzed. Potential predictors for anxiety, depression, and PTSD were identified using logistic regression. To identify indirect mediating effects of PAs and NAs, we applied the PROCESS regression path analysis modeling tool. The prevalence of anxiety was 9.19%, of depression 10.85%, and of PTSD 12.99%. Being unemployed was the strongest predictor for anxiety (OR = 10.39) and depression (OR = 6.54). Younger age predicted anxiety (OR = 0.95) and PTSD (OR = 0.92). Receiving low social support was associated with anxiety (OR = 0.91), depression (OR = 0.88) and PTSD (OR = 0.91). Patients with a history of COVID-19 (OR = 3.58) and those who did not feel well-informed about COVID-19 (OR = 0.29) were more likely to be depressed. Higher levels of fear of COVID-19 predicted anxiety (OR = 1.10), depression (OR = 1.12) and PTSD (OR = 1.14). The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and anxiety or depression was fully mediated by PAs and NAs, while NAs partially mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and PTSD. Vulnerable subgroups of ICD patients may need additional psychological and educational interventions due to fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression and PTSD during the pandemic.

Fear of COVID-19, Perceived Stress, and PTSD: The Serial Mediating Role of Sense of Coherence.

The literature has identified that a sense of coherence plays a protective role in the relationship between adverse events and mental health. The current study examines the role of a sense of coherence (SOC) in the relationship between fear of COVID-19, perceived stress, and dimensions of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants (n = 322) were students at a metropolitan university in South Africa who completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale, and the PTSD Checklist. Path analysis was used to conduct a serial mediation analysis. The results show that SOC mediates the relationship between perceived stress and the dimensions of PTSD but does not mediate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and PTSD. Furthermore, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and dimensions of PTSD was mediated by serial perceived stress and sense of coherence, supporting the hypothesis that higher levels of fear of COVID-19 leads to higher levels of perceived stress. However, while high levels of fear of COVID-19 increase perceived stress, SOC significantly mediates the subsequent impact on PTSD symptoms.

Social media addiction as a mediator of the associations between fear of COVID-19, mental health symptoms, and problematic alcohol use.

Background: Fear of COVID-19 is a risk factor for anxiety and depressive symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, drinking to cope with psychological distress has been proposed as a key mechanism leading to problematic drinking. The goal of this study was to test social media addiction as a mediator linking fear of COVID-19 to mental health symptoms and problematic alcohol use. Methods: In between April 6 and July 2 of 2022, 250 participants completed an online survey as part of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Path analyses were conducted to test the mediational pathways. Results: Using the polythetic classification scheme, 13.2% (n = 33) of participants were classified as having social media addiction. Compared with participants without social media addiction, participants with social media addiction spent significantly more time on social media platforms and on digital communications with a family member or friend. They also reported greater fear of COVID-19, higher anxiety symptoms, and higher depressive symptoms. Path analyses indicated that social media addiction mediated the associations of fear of COVID-19 with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, there were indirect pathways linking fear of COVID-19 to problematic alcohol use through higher social media addiction and higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Social media addiction may be a maladaptive coping mechanism that individuals with high fear of COVID-19 utilized to deal with uncertainty and perceived risks during the pandemic. Findings underscore the need to examine cognitions related to fear of COVID-19 and address excessive social media use in the context of mental health and alcohol interventions.