This study aimed to compare stress reactions and coping resources among the Jewish population in Israel during two different crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and the current Iron Swords War. The study included 421 respondents during the COVID-19 period and 604 respondents during the Iron Swords War. Participants completed self-report questionnaires designed to evaluate sense of coherence, hope, and Community resilience as indicators of coping resources and the Brief Symptom Inventory as a measure of psychological distress. Overall, the mental state of the entire population was more severe during the Iron Swords War than it was during the COVID-19 period (p0.001> (. Sense of coherence and hope were both strongly negatively correlated with psychological distress (p<.001). Moreover, hope, sense of coherence, gender, and age were significant predictors of psychological distress (p< .01). These findings indicate the importance of personal coping resources, such as sense of coherence, during times of crisis. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups. Policymakers should prioritize mental-health services and targeted interventions in emergency response plans.

The purpose of this brief report was to examine the association between COVID-fear with psychiatric symptoms severity and substance use risk in an outpatient population with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and whether these associations were moderated by treatment engagement, especially after providers had shifted from an in-person care model to a telehealth format. A total of 136 patients receiving outpatient treatment for comorbid substance use and mental health disorders completed self-report questionnaires on their psychiatric symptoms, substance use, and treatment engagement (i.e., frequency, length, and helpfulness of phone and video sessions with a mental health counselor, psychiatrist, or primary care provider) in the past month between November 2020 and March 2021. Results showed that COVID-fear was significantly associated with psychiatric symptom severity, but not substance use risk. Additionally, perceived helpfulness of phone counseling sessions moderated the associations between COVID-fear and global psychiatric symptom severity, such that COVID-fear and global psychiatric symptom severity were positively associated when perceived helpfulness was low, and not associated if perceived helpfulness was high. The present results highlight the importance of directly addressing fears specific to a national emergency, as well as for providers to build strong rapport with their clients.

A thorough and current analysis of the burden and evolving trends in depressive disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021 remains unavailable. Employing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, we evaluated the burden of depressive disorders at the global, regional, and national levels, stratifying the analysis by age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI). To examine trends in depressive disorders during the epidemic, we calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), and age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR) across all levels from 2019 to 2021. Furthermore, we performed a frontier analysis of depressive disorders across various countries, incorporating risk factor analyses at multiple levels. In 2021, the global incidence of depressive disorders stood at 357.43 million, while the prevalence was recorded at 332.41 million, accompanied by 56.33 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable upward trend in ASIR (EAPC = 8.33 [-0.46 to 17.9]), ASPR (EAPC = 6.02 [0.28 to 12.09]), and ASDR (EAPC = 7.13 [-0.18 to 14.97]) for depressive disorders on a global scale. The burden of depressive disorders is most pronounced among females and individuals aged 60 to 64 within their respective subgroups. From 1990 to 2021, the burden of depressive disorders consistently remained highest in the low SDI region; however, it experienced the most significant increase in the high SDI region during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, the burden of depressive disorders was highest in central sub-Saharan Africa, Greenland, and Uganda, while the Andean region of Latin America, along with Bulgaria and Belarus, experienced the most significant increase in depressive disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, bullying victimization, intimate partner violence, and childhood sexual abuse contributed to 6.47%, 4.91%, and 2.65% of the ASDR for depressive disorders, respectively. The global burden of depressive disorders has markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, gradually shifting from low to high SDI regions, particularly in North America and Europe.

This study investigated the role of sleep quality in the link between social connections and depressive symptoms among older adults.

A total of 1,230 older adults participated in this study following the lifting of the lockdown. Network analysis and random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) were conducted to examine the relationship between social connections and depressive symptoms. A multi-group RI-CLPM analysis identified potential differences in this relationship between good and poor sleepers in the context of online and in-person social connections.

The results showed a stable interrelationship between social connections and depressive symptoms in older adults. Sleep quality moderated this association across temporal responses in online but not in-person social connections.

These findings underscore the urgency of addressing the adverse influence of lockdown by facilitating in-person social connections and improving the sleep quality among individuals with limited online social interactions to protect against depression.

Religious coping has a constant association with mental health when dealing with distressing events in life. In this case, the religious coping theory of Pargament can be a theoretical model for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to investigate how positive religious coping can help us to overcome a negative life event. This theoretical study tried to find positive models of religious coping approaches, develop a concise measurement of these religious coping approaches, and investigate their effects on mental health in difficult situations. We reviewed the psychological impact of the pandemic, specifically negative psychological effects, e.g., fear of getting sick, anxiety, and distress. The article presents an effectual, theoretically suggestive way to assimilate religious aspects into patterns and studies of coping, stressors, and mental health. This paper argues that religious coping can help us to overcome mental stress during a difficult situation.

Our study was conducted to estimate intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence and associated factors among trans and cisgender women at risk of or living with HIV during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and August 2020 through telephone surveys with cisgender and trans women enrolled in two cohort studies in Rio de Janeiro. We assessed IPV employing the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale during the initial months of shelter-in-place ordinances. Regression models evaluated the factors associated with IPV for each population.

We surveyed 796 women, and 341 participants (47.78%) were eligible and included in the current analysis. All cisgender women and 41 (64.06%) trans women were living with HIV. Overall IPV prevalence was 27.86% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 23.34-32.88). IPV was 63% higher among trans women than among cisgender women (prevalence ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.14-2.34, p=0.008). Loneliness was significantly associated with IPV in both groups. Younger age and binge drinking were associated with IPV prevalence among trans women. For cisgender women, IPV was associated with withdrawal of cash transfer programs during the shelter-in-place.

Trans women experienced significantly more IPV than cisgender women in the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic. Plans to prevent and address violence against cisgender and trans women, especially those with heightened vulnerability that may be associated with living with HIV, are needed in public health planning for future pandemics.

Common mental disorders represent psychiatric co-morbidity in medical illness, which leads to poor adherence to treatment, increased exposure to diagnostic procedures and the cost of treatment, longer hospital stay, and increasing the risk of complications that result in morbidity and mortality among patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards. There is a dearth of evidence related to the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors among adult patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards, particularly in the study area. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors among adult patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards of public hospitals in the Harari region, eastern Ethiopia.

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 640 randomly selected patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards from November 15 to December 15, 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Data were collected by interviewer-administered structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Self-report questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess the presence of common mental disorders. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between independent and the outcome variable. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant with an adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

The prevalence of common mental disorders among adult patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards was found to be 45.3%, with a 95% CI: of 41.3-49.2. Age 41-51 years (AOR = 1.732, 95% CI: 1.030, 2.913), age 51 and above (AOR = 2.429, 95% CI: 1.515, 3.894), staying at hospital for 1-2 weeks (AOR = 1.743, 95% CI: 1.065, 2.853), staying at hospital for more than 4 weeks (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.77, 3.29), history of mental illness (AOR = 5.841, 95% CI: 2.274, 15.004), stressful life events (AOR = 1.876, 95% CI: 1.206, 2.9196), current substance use (AOR = 1.688, 95% CI: 1.75, 2.650), and poor social support (AOR = 2.562, 95% CI:1.166, 5.629) were factors significantly associated with common mental disorders.

The prevalence of common mental disorders among patients admitted to non-psychiatric wards was high. It appears to be significantly associated with age, length of hospital stay, history of mental illness, stressful life events, current substance use, and social support. The study suggested that patients who are admitted to non-psychiatric wards should be screened for common mental disorders and its associated factors as part of routine inpatient care.

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects almost one-third of adult women. This is often taken as a section of the aging process and incurable In general, women perceive UI as more of a social issue and a taboo rather than a medical problem; they are reluctant to discuss the matter or seek assistance.

This research was conducted to investigate the level of social isolation and depression in female employees with UI during the COVID-19 pandemicMETHODS:The study was done with 533 paticipant. The study data were done using the Nottingham Health Profile Social Isolation Scale (NHPSIS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

The total scores of the NHPSIS and BDI were found to be 18.55±3.3 (minimum = 5, maximum = 25) and 49.22±11.4 (minimum = 12, maximum = 60), respectively. In the Pearson correlation analysis, a strong, statistically significant, and positive correlation was discovered between NHPSIS and the average BDI total scores among women.

The level of depression and social isolation were obtained to be high among UI women who had a mix UI, high frequencies of UI, belong to higher age groups, singles, and high body mass index. It was showed that the levels of depression and social isolation scores were showed to be high in women had UI.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with later cognitive decline. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of different types of ACEs are unclear. This study examined how ACEs impact cognitive function, specifically deprivation-related ACEs (DrACEs) and threat-related ACEs (TrACEs). Additionally, we explored the potential role of cognitive reserve (CR) and depression in these relationships.

Data were taken from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) of 2014 and 2020. CR, depressive symptoms and cognitive function measures were collected from 2020. ACEs were assessed at the 2014 Life Course Survey. The main analyses included 7113 participants aged 45 years or older. To explore potential associations, linear regression and SPSS Macro PROCESS were employed.

Among middle-aged and older adults, only exposure to DrACEs was associated with cognitive function ((β = -0.101 [95%CI: -0.150, -0.052]) for DrACEs = 1; (β = -0.250 [95%CI: -0.333, -0.167]) for DrACEs ≥ 2). The indirect effects mediated by CR and depressive symptoms were statistically significant.

The use of retrospective self-reported data for ACEs may introduce recall bias.

Chinese middle-aged and older adults who have experienced DrACEs exhibit poorer cognitive function, while the association between TrACEs and cognitive function was not significant. And the impact of DrACEs on cognitive function was mediated by CR and depressive symptoms. Further research is necessary to validate our findings, establish causal links, and uncover the underlying mechanisms involved.

Background: Quarantine is one of the most effective strategies to control outbreaks of communicable diseases. Individuals under isolation or quarantine experience both physical and mental effects. Therefore, given its widespread implementation around the world, it is pertinent to analyze this effect on physical and mental health. The psychosocial impact model, which divides four dimensions into two main points, exposure or protection and positive or negative responses, was used to analyze the psychosocial impact of quarantine. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the psychosocial impact of people exposed to or protected from quarantine. Methods: We conducted a search for primary articles in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we meta-analyzed five of them. Results: Quarantined individuals were more likely to experience anxiety (K = 4; OR = 2.62) and depressive symptoms (K = 6; OR = 1.61) compared to those who did not undergo quarantine. Researchers discuss a twofold increase in the probability of anxiety or depression among those in quarantine. As a result, advancing interventions that reduce this impact is critical for both health and the global economy. Conclusions: In terms of economic variables, the non-moderation of GDP per capita and the moderation of the GINI index stand out, demonstrating that countries must move toward policies that promote the reconstruction of more resilient and inclusive societies.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic led to social isolation and widespread lockdown, resulting in loneliness and lack of emotional support, which have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes. This study aims to explore the relationship of loneliness and emotional support with depression and substance use among young adults and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A cohort of 1227 participants was recruited from three ongoing cohort studies in the metropolitan area of New York City, USA. Data was collected through telephone interviews using preset questionnaires during wave 1 (March-August 2020), wave 2 (September 2020-February 2021) and wave 3 (March-August 2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression models were used to test the association between loneliness and emotional support, and the mental health outcomes; depression and substance use, with adjustments made for age, gender, race, employment status, living conditions, and marital status. Additionally, the effect modification of respondent type and living alone or with others was examined.

At wave 1, loneliness showed a significant positive association with depressive symptoms (OR: 2.56, 95%CI: 2.19-3.00, P = < 0.001) and an increase in substance use, such as smoking tobacco using cigarettes, pipes, or cigar (OR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.24-2.04, P = < 0.001), alcohol consumption (OR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.07-1.42, P = 0.003), and marijuana/other substances (OR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.26-1.96, P = < 0.001). Conversely, emotional support showed a significant negative association with depressive symptoms (OR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.62-0.81, P = < 0.001) but a non-significant association with increase in tobacco smoking using vapes and e-cigarettes, alcohol consumption and marijuana and other substances. However, a significant negative association was observed between emotional support, and increased tobacco smoking using cigarettes, pipes, or cigar (OR: 0.73, 95%CI: 0.58-0.93, P = 0.011). The associations of loneliness and emotional support with mental health outcomes were stronger at wave 2 compared to wave 1. The modifier effects of respondent type and living condition were non-significant.

This study indicates that increased loneliness is associated with a higher likelihood of depression and substance use, while higher emotional support is linked to a reduced likelihood of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the consumption of many drugs, among which antidepressants stand out. This review evaluated the frequency of antidepressant use before and after COVID-19. Once the most consumed antidepressants were identified, detecting a variation in the frequency of consumption on the different continents, an overview of their life cycle was carried out, specifying which antidepressants are mostly detected and the places where there is a greater concentration. In addition, the main metabolites of the most used antidepressants were also investigated. A correlation between the most consumed drugs and the most detected was made, emphasizing the lack of information on the occurrence of some of the most consumed antidepressants. Subsequently, studies on the effects on aquatic life were also reviewed, evaluated through different living beings (fish, crustaceans, molluscs, planktonic crustaceans and algae). Likewise, many of the most used antidepressants lack studies on potential adverse effects on aquatic living beings. This review underscores the need for further research, particularly focusing on the life cycle of the most prescribed antidepressants. In particular, it is a priority to know the occurrence and adverse effects in the aquatic environment of the most used antidepressants after the pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies reported that restricted living conditions were associated with worse subjective sleep quality. This effect might have been caused by reduced light exposure during lockdowns. We investigated light exposure levels, subjective and objective sleep and physical activity levels in older adults during restricted and free-living conditions after the pandemic. Ninety-one participants (62.7 ± 8.4 years) recruited from the community using social media with 44 participants (63.4 ± 8.9 years) completed follow-up during free-living conditions. Participants wore an actigraphy device and completed sleep diaries for 7 days during each condition. Light values were extracted in hourly bins across the 24-h period and objective and subjective sleep were compared between the conditions. There was an increase in mean 24-h light exposure during restricted-living (1103.7 ± 1024.8 lux) compared to free-living (803.0 ± 803.6 lux; p < 0.001). This was partially related to participants spending 18 min more in bright light conditions (>1,000 lux) during wakefulness in restricted living (2.6 ± 1.9 h) compared to free-living (2.3 ± 2.0 h; p = 0.036). Despite differences in light exposure, there were no significant differences in objective and subjective sleep parameters between the two conditions. More research is required to better understand behaviours related to light exposure and how this may impact on sleep.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has had different public health problems among students. During COVID-19 outbreak, students were distant from scholastic area and social collaboration and affected by different mental health problems. A comprehensive analysis on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students in Ethiopia is limited. The aim of this study is to explore and summarize the impact of COVID-19 on students' mental health in Ethiopia.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane Library, CrossRef, African Journals Online and Google scholar databases were searched from December 2019 to June 2022. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment of study were done by two authors independently. I² statistics was used to assess heterogeneity. A random effect model was used. Stata 16.0 was used for statistical analysis and graphics.

Eight studies were incorporated. From 7 studies report, the pooled prevalence of stress was 35% (95% CI 23-48%, I2 = 98.20%, Tau^2 = 0.03, p < 0.001). From 6 studies reported the pooled prevalence of the anxiety was 44% (95% CI 30%-57%, I2 = 97.90%, Tau^2 = 0.03, p < 0.001). From 5 studies reported the pooled prevalence of depression was 44% (95% CI 23%-65%, I2 = 99.10%, Tau^2 = 0.06, p < 0.001). Likewise, the factors of mental illness were summarized.

COVID-19 significantly affects mental health of students in Ethiopia. Anxiety, stress and depression were the most reported mental health problems. Timely psychological counseling for students is important to decrease mental health problems during the pandemic situations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the global experience of anxiety and depression owing to social isolation and government-mandated quarantine for transmission reduction. To date, literature surrounding the mental health effects of COVID-19 for the U.S. population is limited.

This is a retrospective study from a large metropolitan Detroit health system. Patient encounters between December 23, 2018 and June 22, 2021, with March 23, 2020 being the start of Michigan state-wide lockdown, were used to define pre- and post-COVID-19 encounters, respectively. The data were divided into Detroit and non-Detroit on the basis of patient ZIP code. All patients aged ≥13 years with a visit with a family medicine provider were included. Outcome variables included Patient Health Questionnaires-2 and -9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7 scores; diagnoses of depression, anxiety, adjustment, and grief disorders; antidepressant prescriptions; and behavioral health referrals. Logistic regression was used to determine the incidence of composite mood disorder, depression, and anxiety.

A total of 20,970 individuals were included in this study: 10,613 in the Detroit subgroup and 10,357 in the non-Detroit subgroup. A total of 88.2% of the Detroit population were Black, and 70% were female. Logistic regression shows that the incidence of composite mood disorder decreased with increasing age (OR=0.787, 0.608, 0.422, and 0.392; p<0.001). Male sex is a protective factor (OR=0.646, p<0.001). Federal insurance is the only factor presenting a statistically significant increased risk (OR=1.395, p<0.001). There was no statistical difference between residing in urban and suburban areas in the incidence of composite mood disorder (OR=0.996, p=0.953).

This research demonstrates that residing in an urban setting did not increase the risk of developing a mental health disorder during the COVID-19 period.

College students showed a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression, with medical and nursing students experiencing particularly elevated levels of mental health challenges.Optimism significantly influences overall well-being by promoting a healthy lifestyle and cognitive responses. However, the association of optimism with sleep quality, stress, and mental health in college students remains unexplored. This study aimed to (1) explore the associations of optimism with sleep quality, stress, and mental health and (2) ascertain whether sleep quality and stress mediate the association between optimism and mental health among college students.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys with students from health science majors at a public university in the northeast United States from September to December 2022. A total of 222 students participated in the study, providing data on sociodemographics, optimism, sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression. Parallel and serial mediation models were utilized to examine the potential mediating roles of sleep quality and stress in the association between optimism and mental health.

The study found that optimism influences anxiety and depression through both direct and indirect pathways. In line with predictions, the parallel mediation analysis revealed that the impact of optimism on anxiety (βtotal = -0.598, 95% confident interval [CI]: -0.778 to -0.392) and depression (βtotal = -0.724, 95% CI: -0.919 to -0.519) was mediated by stress and sleep quality. Furthermore, the serial mediation models revealed that stress and sleep quality co-mediated the relationship betweenoptimism and anxiety (indirect effect [IE] = -0.074, 95% CI: -0.135 to -0.029) or depression (IE = -0.084, 95% CI: -0.142 to -0.036) in a sequential manner.

Optimism was negatively correlated with poor sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression. Enhanced optimism was linked to high sleep quality and less stress, anxiety, and depression. These insights emphasize the potential for school-based optimism interventions to improve sleep quality, ameliorate stress-related concerns, and alleviate mental health challenges in college students.

Research on the mental health and quality of life (hereafter QOL) among fire service recruits after the end of the COVID-19 restrictions is lacking. This study explored the network structure of depression, anxiety and insomnia, and their interconnections with QOL among fire service recruits in the post-COVID-19 era.

This cross-sectional study used a consecutive sampling of fire service recruits across China. We measured the severity of depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms, and overall QOL using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. We estimated the most central symptoms using the centrality index of expected influence (EI), and the symptoms connecting depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms using bridge EI.

In total, 1,560 fire service recruits participated in the study. The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) was 15.2% (95% CI: 13.5-17.1%), while the prevalence of anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5) was 11.2% (95% CI: 9.6-12.8%). GAD4 ("Trouble relaxing") had the highest EI in the whole network model, followed by ISI5 ("Interference with daytime functioning") and GAD6 ("Irritability"). In contrast, PHQ4 ("Fatigue") had the highest bridge EI values in the network, followed by GAD4 ("Trouble relaxing") and ISI5 ("Interference with daytime functioning"). Additionally, ISI4 "Sleep dissatisfaction" (average edge weight = -1.335), which was the central symptom with the highest intensity value, had the strongest negative correlation with QOL.

Depression and anxiety were important mental health issues to address among fire service recruits in the post-COVID-19 era in China. Targeting central and bridge symptoms identified in network analysis could help address depression and anxiety among fire service recruits in the post-COVID-19 era.

The early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak inflicted vulnerability on individuals and societies on a completely different scale than we have seen previously. The pandemic developed rapidly from 1 day to the next, and both society and individuals were put to the test. Older people's experiences of the early outbreak were no exception. Using an abductive analytical approach, the study explores the individual experiences of vulnerability as described by older people hospitalised with COVID-19 in the early outbreak. In these older people, we found that the societal context and the individual experiences of vulnerability were inextricable linked. The study demonstrates that despite significant individual stress, informants displayed an interesting ability to also view their situation to reorient their perspective. The experience of vulnerability is both conditional and individual, which imposes a degree of unpredictability that neither they nor others were able to negotiate. The article discusses the phenomenon of unpredictability in light of a modern society with regard to how individuals and society may encounter unexpected events in the future where the potential to reorient will be vital.

The COVID-19 lockdown represented an immense impact on human health, which was characterized by lifestyle and dietary changes, social distancing and isolation at home. Some evidence suggests that these consequences mainly affected women and altered relevant ongoing clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status and changes in diet, physical activity (PA), sleep and self-reported health status (SRH) as perceived by older adult men and women with metabolic syndrome during the COVID-19 lockdown.

We analyzed data from 4681 Spanish adults with metabolic syndrome. We carried out a telephone survey during May and June 2020 to collect information on demographics, dietary habits, PA, sleep, SRH and anthropometric data.

The mean age of participants was 64.9 years at recruitment, and 52% of participants were men. Most participants (64.1%) perceived a decrease in their PA during confinement. Regarding gender-specific differences, a higher proportion of women than men perceived a decrease in their PA (67.5% vs. 61.1%), Mediterranean diet adherence (20.9% vs. 16.8%), sleep hours (30.3% vs. 19.1%), sleep quality (31.6% vs. 18.2%) and SRH (25.9% vs. 11.9%) (all p < 0.001).

The COVID-19 lockdown affected women more negatively, particularly their self-reported diet, PA, sleep and health status.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major outbreak in the 21st century and has led to significant mental health hazards worldwide. To address this issue, a systematic review has been conducted to analyze existing literature on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of the general population, as well as the associated risk factors.

A comprehensive search was carried out on PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, covering all available literature up until February 20, 2024. This search was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, ensuring a systematic approach. The selection of articles was based on predetermined eligibility criteria, ensuring the inclusion of appropriate and suitable research. In the final analysis, a total of 15 articles focusing on depression and anxiety, 11 articles on stress, and 7 articles on psychological problems were included. These articles specifically examined the outcome variables within the context of English language and specific areas. For the meta-analysis on maternal health services, 11 articles were included for family planning, 25 articles for postnatal care services, 16 articles for institutional delivery, and 14 articles for safe abortion services. These articles were carefully selected for the final pooled analysis.

According to a recent systematic review, anxiety, depression, stress, and psychological distress have been prevalent in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates of 40, 41, 23, and 41%, respectively. The review also identified various sociodemographic factors that have impacted the country's response to the pandemic, including female gender, age, marital status, incarceration, low income, and lack of social support. Furthermore, the review found that maternal health services have experienced significant reductions during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in psychological distress, which in some cases, is severe enough to require clinical treatment. It is crucial to prioritize efforts to address the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health as a global public health priority. Additionally, it is important to pay attention to maternal health services during COVID-19 mitigation programs.

Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive measures affected various aspects of people's lives, while also representing an important risk factor for people's mental health. In the present study, we examined the negative psychological consequences of the preventive measures on people's mental health and the protective factors that strengthened their mental health and well-being during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A study, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods based on a Delphi protocol, was conducted with a sample of Slovenian professionals who worked with people from different demographic groups (i.e., children and adolescents, emerging adults, the adult working population, the elderly) during the pandemic. We conducted (i) a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 11 professionals and (ii) a quantitative study where 73 professionals completed a structured online questionnaire. Results: Experts recognized the disruption of informal face-to-face social contacts as the measure with the greatest impact on people's lives across all groups studied, the effect being particularly evident in relation to individuals' development period and socio-demographic characteristics. An individual's ability to adapt to change and emotional support provided by family or other close persons contributed significantly to maintaining mental health and well-being during the pandemic. Conclusions: Considering the interplay of various COVID-19-related risk and protective factors for mental health, enabling and promoting the maintenance and development of social relationships (including through alternative pathways) should be a priority aspect of (mental health) intervention for all demographic groups.

Research on the mental health of university staff during the COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a high prevalence of probable anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among academic and non-academic staff in many parts of the world. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and resilience among a sample of faculty and staff members working in the Higher College of Technology campuses in the UAE. From September to November 2021, a cross-sectional study was carried out using an online survey. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, The Patient Health Questionnaire (9-items), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to assess anxiety, depression, and resilience. The impact of COVID-19 was assessed using a designated list of questions. The results demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the mental health of the studied sample of university workers, with almost 16% of the participants having moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms. This study highlighted significant differences in the participants' depressive and anxiety symptoms due to sociodemographic differences. Depression and anxiety symptoms were most prevalent among females, those of UAE nationality, and never-married workers, with females scoring 5.81 on the PHQ-9 compared to only 4.10 in males, p = 0.004 *. UAE-national participants had significantly higher mean PHQ-9 scores than their non-national counterparts (6.37 ± 5.49 SD versus 4.77 ± 5.1 SD, respectively, p = 0.040 *). Overall, the total mean scores of all participants were below the assumed cut-off threshold of having a high resilience level (29.51 ± 7.53 SD). The results showed a significant difference in severe depression symptoms as a result of the impact of COVID-19. These results could imply that the COVID-19 pandemic might have augmented negative mental health impacts on this sample of university workers. This study highlighted some areas where the responsible authorities can intervene to further protect and enhance the mental health of university workers, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elevated maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with altered fetal brain development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, prenatal maternal psychological distress more than doubled.

To examine the association of the pandemic and rising maternal psychological distress with brain growth in newborns using quantitative 3-dimensional volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

This prospective cross-sectional study recruited mother-infant dyads at Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022) into a longitudinal infant brain development study and compared them with an existing normative healthy cohort (recruited March 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019). Exclusion criteria included multiple gestation pregnancy, known or suspected congenital infection, documented chromosomal abnormalities, or any maternal contraindication to MRI, as well as prenatal COVID-19 exposure. Infants with structural brain abnormalities or a postnatal confirmation of a genetic syndrome were excluded.

Psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic.

Prenatal maternal mental health was evaluated using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale. Neonates underwent nonsedated brain MRI. An ordinary least squares linear regression model was used to measure the differences in regional brain volumes of neonates born before vs during the pandemic with and without exposure to elevated prenatal maternal psychological distress after adjustment for neonatal sex and gestational age at MRI and maternal age and educational level.

A total of 159 mother-infant dyads were included in the analysis: 103 before and 56 during the pandemic (median gestational age of infants, 39.6 [IQR, 38.4-40.4] weeks; median maternal age, 34.5 [IQR, 31.0-37.0] years). Eighty-three infants (52.2%) were female. Among the mothers, 130 (81.8%) had a college degree and 87 (54.7%) had a graduate degree. Forty-four mothers (27.7%) identified as Asian, Hispanic, or multiracial; 27 (17.0%), as Black; and 88 (55.3%), as White. Scores on anxiety and stress measures were significantly increased in the pandemic cohort. Infants of mothers with elevated maternal distress showed median reductions in white matter (-0.36 [95% CI, -0.61 to -0.11] cm3; Q < .001), right hippocampal (-0.35 [95% CI, -0.65 to -0.06] cm3; Q = .04), and left amygdala (-0.49 [95% CI, -0.84 to -0.13] cm3; Q = .03) volumes compared with infants of mothers with low distress levels. After adjusting for the cohort effect of the pandemic, elevated trait anxiety remained significantly associated with decreased left amygdalar volumes (-0.71 [95% CI, -1.12 to -0.29]; Q < .001).

In this cross-sectional study of maternal-infant dyads prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, regional neonatal brain volumes were associated with elevated maternal psychological distress.

Few pandemic studies have explored positive aspects of mental health employing an intersectional perspective. Our intersectional investigation aimed to identify mental illness and well-being differences between groups identified as psychologically vulnerable during the pandemic by the World Health Organization (immigrants, minorities, and people with psychiatric diagnoses) and people without pre-existing risk factors while controlling for sociodemographic variables.

This cross-sectional survey included 1,134 participants (76.1% women) aged 18 to 76 years. We used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales to assess mental disorders and the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules to assess well-being.

Through a variable-centered approach, multivariate analysis revealed significant mental health differences between the groups: depression (F2.1131 = 72.7, p < 0.001), anxiety (F2.1131 = 78.0, p < 0.001), stress (F2.1131 = 85.9, p < 0.001), and subjective well-being (F2.1131 = 53.6, p < 0.001). The groups also differed when a person-centered approach was used to analyze the variables jointly through latent profile analysis. We identified six mental profiles consisting of different levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being. The risk and intersectional groups were more likely to be characterized by the generalized suffering (ORrisk = 0.85, ORintersec = 0.93) and profound anguish (ORrisk&intersec = 0.97) profiles. After controlling for demographic variables, mental health disparities were partially attributed to participant risk conditions.

Based on our results, we emphasize the urgent need for public health policies that consider the specificities and vulnerabilities of minority and risk groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant mental health challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations, including non-binary gender individuals. The COMET international study aimed to investigate specific risk factors for clinical depression or distress during the pandemic, also in these special populations.

Chi-square tests were used for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance. Risk Ratios (RR) were calculated, and a Multiple Backward Stepwise Linear Regression Analysis (MBSLRA) was followed with those variables given significant results at screening and with the presence of distress or depression or the lack of both of them.

The most important risk factors for depression were female (RR = 1.59-5.49) and non-binary gender (RR = 1.56-7.41), unemployment (RR = 1.41-6.57), not working during lockdowns (RR = 1.43-5.79), bad general health (RR = 2.74-9.98), chronic somatic disorder (RR = 1.22-5.57), history of mental disorders (depression RR = 2.31-9.47; suicide attempt RR = 2.33-9.75; psychosis RR = 2.14-10.08; Bipolar disorder RR = 2.75-12.86), smoking status (RR = 1.15-5.31) and substance use (RR = 1.77-8.01). The risk factors for distress or depression that survived MBSLRA were younger age, being widowed, living alone, bad general health, being a carer, chronic somatic disorder, not working during lockdowns, being single, self-reported history of depression, bipolar disorder, self-harm, suicide attempts and of other mental disorders, smoking, alcohol, and substance use.

Targeted preventive interventions are crucial to safeguard the mental health of vulnerable groups, emphasizing the importance of diverse samples in future research.

Online data collection may have resulted in the underrepresentation of certain population groups.