The Intersection of COVID-19 and Mental Health among Vulnerable Populations

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 31433

Special Issue Editors

1. Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia, Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: health inequalities; social determinants of health; sexual and reproductive health and rights; life-course and well-being; social justice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: medical sociology; public health; discrimination and disparities in health; health promotion among most-at-risk populations; culture of safety in healthcare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

While many uncertainties remain as to how the pandemic will progress, studies have agreed that the mental health and well-being of the most vulnerable and at-risk groups have been affected differently in the COVID-19 era. A significant and enduring impact is expected; therefore, it is imperative for future studies to continue to consider the multiple mental health and wellbeing effects among the most vulnerable and most at-risk populations.

How do we define ‘mentally vulnerable groups’ in the context of COVID-19? We expect contributions that include immigrants or racial/ethnic minorities; LGBTQI individuals; children; the elderly; pregnant women; prisoners; homeless, unemployed or socioeconomically disadvantaged people; those with certain medical conditions; health workers, and most-at-risk-identified populations, and reflect on how different intersecting identities place people on multiple disadvantages.

We welcome Original Articles and Review Articles based on comprehensive literature reviews from different academic disciplines that engage issues of mental health, wellbeing, quality of life, resilience, hope, and fear of threats, such as psychology, psychiatry, cognitive and behavioral sciences, public health, sociology, anthropology and philosophy based on theoretical analysis or empirical studies with different methodological approaches. We also invite presentations that discuss the wide variety of ethical and human rights issues that arise from the challenges of COVID-19. 

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • mental health coping during COVID-19;
  • experiences of social distance;
  • stigma and discrimination;
  • hope, stress and fear;
  • comparisons on vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups;
  • mental healthcare services;
  • mental health and wellbeing;
  • primary care and mental health;
  • public policies and mental health.

Dr. Violeta Alarcão
Dr. Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • social determinants of mental health
  • COVID-19
  • vulnerable populations
  • hope
  • fear
  • resilience

Published Papers (15 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 382 KiB  
Article
Mental Health and Well-Being of Migrant Populations in Portugal Two Years after the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Violeta Alarcão, Pedro Candeias, Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska, Sónia Pintassilgo, Fernando Luís Machado, Ana Virgolino and Osvaldo Santos
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050422 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
In Portugal, like in other European countries, the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the risk of poverty and social exclusion faced by migrants. This study aimed to assess mental health and well-being, and their social determinants, among Brazilian and Cape Verdean immigrant populations two years [...] Read more.
In Portugal, like in other European countries, the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the risk of poverty and social exclusion faced by migrants. This study aimed to assess mental health and well-being, and their social determinants, among Brazilian and Cape Verdean immigrant populations two years after the COVID-19 pandemic while exploring the role of positive psychological factors such as resilience and perceived social support. We conducted a cross-sectional survey combining online and face-to-face questionnaires for data collection between February and November 2022 on dimensions of mental health considered potentially relevant to the post-pandemic context: psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. Overall, 604 immigrants were included (322 Brazilian and 282 Cape Verdean); 58.5% of those surveyed were women and 41.5% were men. The results revealed that gender (being a woman) was associated with both psychological distress and depression, higher education was associated with anxiety, and that, for the three mental health dimensions under analysis, the perception of discrimination and resilience were negative and positive predictors, respectively. Findings can inform the design and implementation of relevant public mental health promotion programs with a focus on equity targeted to the general population. Such programs would help to address the psychological and social impacts of this long-term, insidious global pandemic that has challenged governments, health care systems, health care professionals, individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Full article
12 pages, 429 KiB  
Article
Sleep and Lifestyle Habits of Medical and Non-Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown
by Ivana Pavlinac Dodig, Linda Lusic Kalcina, Sijana Demirovic, Renata Pecotic, Maja Valic and Zoran Dogas
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050407 - 13 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
It has been shown that the measures of social distancing and lockdown might have had negative effects on the physical and mental health of the population. We aim to investigate the sleep and lifestyle habits as well as the mood of Croatian medical [...] Read more.
It has been shown that the measures of social distancing and lockdown might have had negative effects on the physical and mental health of the population. We aim to investigate the sleep and lifestyle habits as well as the mood of Croatian medical (MS) and non-medical students (NMS) during the COVID-19 lockdown. The cross-sectional study included 1163 students (21.6% male), whose lifestyle and sleep habits and mood before and during the lockdown were assessed with an online questionnaire. The shift towards later bedtimes was more pronounced among NMS (~65 min) compared to MS (~38 min), while the shift toward later wake-up times was similar in both MS (~111 min) and NMS (~112 min). All students reported more frequent difficulty in falling asleep, night-time awakenings and insomnia (p < 0.001) during lockdown. A higher proportion of MS reported being less tired and less anxious during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (p < 0.001). Both student groups experienced unpleasant moods and were less content during lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period (p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the need for the promotion of healthy habits in the youth population. However, the co-appearance of prolonged and delayed sleep times along with decreased tiredness and anxiety among MS during lockdown reveals their significant workload during pre-lockdown and that even subtle changes in their day schedule might contribute to the well-being of MS. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1537 KiB  
Article
Study of Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life after SARS-CoV-2 Infection among the Elderly
by Diana Vrabie and Beatrice-Aurelia Abalașei
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050381 - 05 May 2023
Viewed by 1356
Abstract
COVID-19 significantly impacted the population by affecting physical health; social distancing and isolation influenced psychological health. This may have negative consequences, especially for older people. There is a lack of studies about the association between COVID-19 and exercise capacity among the elderly and [...] Read more.
COVID-19 significantly impacted the population by affecting physical health; social distancing and isolation influenced psychological health. This may have negative consequences, especially for older people. There is a lack of studies about the association between COVID-19 and exercise capacity among the elderly and improving quality of life after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to identify the potential sequelae of the COVID-19 disease regarding physical function and quality of life among people over 65 years old. This study recruited a total of 30 participants. A 6-minute walking test, somatic and functional measurements (including weight, height, HR, blood pressure and SpO2%) and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life—BREF Questionnaire were used to assess aerobic capacity and quality of life. Experiencing COVID-19 can negatively impact exercise capacity. The results suggest that men may have worse sequelae than women after experiencing COVID-19. The lower values of SpO2 in the COVID-19 group during the 6-MWT indicate a reduction in the gas diffusion capacity, which can be attributed to potential lung damage following having contracted the disease. Lockdown periods seem to have had a significant impact on the physical health, relationships and environment of the elderly people included in this study. We can conclude that physical effort may potentially impact exercise capacity and quality of life among post-COVID-19 elderly in a positive way, but further studies are needed to confirm its benefits. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 284 KiB  
Article
Clinical Sexologists’ Perceptions of the Potentials, Downfalls, and Best Practices for Digitally Delivered Therapy: A Lesson from Lockdown Due to COVID-19 in Portugal
by Ivanilda B. Costa, Andreia A. Manão and Patrícia M. Pascoal
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050376 - 04 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1251
Abstract
Professionals who work in clinical sexology intervene in situations related to mental health, such as sexual dysfunctions and marital conflicts, often with vulnerable populations, e.g., people with chronic illnesses or trans people. In this work, we wanted to understand the perceptions these professionals [...] Read more.
Professionals who work in clinical sexology intervene in situations related to mental health, such as sexual dysfunctions and marital conflicts, often with vulnerable populations, e.g., people with chronic illnesses or trans people. In this work, we wanted to understand the perceptions these professionals have about using Internet interventions and how they perceive—based on their COVID-related experience and the reflections it brought about non-face-to-face interventions—the use of online interventions. During the first lockdown due to COVID-19 in Portugal, we used an online survey and collected answers from 39 Portuguese sexual health professionals to open questions about the use of Internet interventions. The data were analyzed following the summative content analysis procedures. Our results showed that sexual health professionals had several difficulties in clinical practice during the lockdown period, such as the perception that sexuality moved to the backseat in people’s lives. Even so, they stated that Internet interventions have several advantages, such as easy accessibility and excellent promotion of social justice. However, disadvantages were also pointed out. The current study allowed us to understand clinicians’ perception of the impact of the pandemic on sexual healthcare access and brought recommendations for good practice of sexual medicine with e-health. Full article
12 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
Factors That Impact the Relationship between Perceived Organizational Support and Technostress in Teachers
by Patricia Solís, Rocío Lago-Urbano and Sara Real Castelao
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050364 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2157
Abstract
In the last two years, the obligatory use of technologies due to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the technostress suffered by education professionals. This study investigates the relationships between technostress and perceived organizational support and the influence of certain socio-demographic variables. An online [...] Read more.
In the last two years, the obligatory use of technologies due to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the technostress suffered by education professionals. This study investigates the relationships between technostress and perceived organizational support and the influence of certain socio-demographic variables. An online survey was administered to 771 teachers working in different educational stages in various autonomous communities in Spain. Perceived organizational support was found to be significantly correlated with technostress. Women tend to experience more technostress in general and significant gender differences were also found in the dimension of anxiety. The analyzed data also suggest that perceived organizational support is higher in private schools. In urban centers, teachers’ technostress increases in higher educational stages, such as secondary education and baccalaureate. Further work is needed to develop school policies that address the needs of teachers and provide support for those at risk of technostress. In addition, there is a need to design coping strategies and prioritize the most at-risk sectors to improve their overall health and well-being. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 471 KiB  
Article
Concern about the Spread of COVID-19 in Regular Basic Education Teachers When Returning to Face-to-Face Classes
by Edwin Gustavo Estrada-Araoz, Judith Annie Bautista-Quispe, Zaida Esther Callata-Gallegos, Ronald Raul Arce-Coaquira, Yony Abelardo Quispe-Mamani, Percy Samuel Yabar-Miranda, Yolanda Paredes-Valverde and Rosel Quispe-Herrera
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040346 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
During the health emergency caused by COVID-19, a series of sensations such as fear, stress, and concern about contracting the virus were developed. Despite the fact that in recent months infection rates have been significantly reduced due to vaccination campaigns, the return of [...] Read more.
During the health emergency caused by COVID-19, a series of sensations such as fear, stress, and concern about contracting the virus were developed. Despite the fact that in recent months infection rates have been significantly reduced due to vaccination campaigns, the return of teachers to face-to-face classes established in Peru from April 2022 has increased once again the fear that contagion levels could grow. Therefore, the objective was to analyze the concern of regular basic education teachers about the spread of COVID-19 when returning to face-to-face classes. A quantitative investigation was carried out; the research design was observational and the type of study was descriptive cross-sectional. The sample was made up of 648 teachers who responded to the Scale of Concern for the Contagion of COVID-19, an instrument with adequate psychometric properties. The results show that 43.8% of teachers had moderate levels of concern about the spread of COVID-19, 38.7% had low levels, and 17.5% had high levels. Teachers reported most recurrent concerns about some risks in educational institutions and the fear of spreading COVID-19 to their relatives or people with whom they lived. On the other hand, it was found that some sociodemographic, occupational, and medical variables were significantly associated with this concern (p < 0.05). Then, it was concluded that teachers had moderate levels of concern about the spread of COVID-19 when returning to face-to-face classes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 271 KiB  
Communication
Increased Depression and the Worsening of Depressive Symptoms Associated with Physical Inactivity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Phase Cross-Sectional Study
by Luana Lemos Leão, Weslley Gomes de Araújo Valadares, Nayra Suze Souza e Silva, Stênio Fernando Pimentel Duarte, Alfredo Maurício Batista de Paula, Desirée Sant´Ana Haikal, Sérgio Henrique Sousa Santos, Jeane Soares, Joelton Cruz, Jordana Santos, Gustavo Leal Teixeira and Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040340 - 19 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1033
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of depression and other mental disorders in the general population, influenced by various individual and contextual factors. Physical activity (PA) interventions offer a promising approach to mitigating the negative mental health effects of the pandemic. This [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of depression and other mental disorders in the general population, influenced by various individual and contextual factors. Physical activity (PA) interventions offer a promising approach to mitigating the negative mental health effects of the pandemic. This study aims to analyze the association between PA and depressive symptoms. A total of 785 individuals aged 37.4 ± 13.2 years (72.5% female) were evaluated at two different time points: the first between 2018 and 2019, and the second during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Depressive symptoms, demographic, and socioeconomic data were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory to estimate depressive symptoms. Frequency analysis and binary and multinomial regression were employed for data analysis. The prevalence of mild depressive symptoms increased from 23.1% before the pandemic to 35.1% during the pandemic. Our findings reveal that practicing PA before the pandemic was a protective factor (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.30; p < 0.001) against mild depressive symptoms. Additionally, individuals who continued to practice PA during the pandemic had a lower chance of presenting mild (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.30) and moderate/severe (OR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.27) symptoms. Furthermore, our study shows that PA, which was already a protective factor before the pandemic, remained protective during the pandemic, even for those with the highest levels of depression. Full article
13 pages, 518 KiB  
Article
New Times, New Ways: Exploring the Self-Regulation of Sport during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship with Nostalgia and Well-Being
by Heetae Cho, Mun Yip Kinnard Chen, Hyoung-Kil Kang and Weisheng Chiu
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13030261 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has negatively affected individuals’ participation in sport activities, while sport participation is an important regulator of well-being. The current study investigated the effects of the nostalgia for sport activities and self-regulation of sport activities on subjective well-being. A total of [...] Read more.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has negatively affected individuals’ participation in sport activities, while sport participation is an important regulator of well-being. The current study investigated the effects of the nostalgia for sport activities and self-regulation of sport activities on subjective well-being. A total of 302 responses were collected from participants who had engaged in sport activities before the lockdown period. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings showed that nostalgia positively affected the self-regulation of sport and subjective well-being. In addition, self-regulation of sport was positively associated with subjective well-being. Based on the findings of this study, policymakers can implement interventions that promote an individual’s feelings of nostalgia, as it might lead them to engage in sport or promote self-regulation. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 587 KiB  
Article
From Academic Resilience to Academic Burnout among International University Students during the Post-COVID-19 New Normal: An Empirical Study in Taiwan
by Thanh Xuan Tran, Thi Thuy Tien Vo and Chen Ho
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13030206 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3688
Abstract
(1) Background: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative for higher education institutions to understand the socio-psychological issues of international students, a potentially vulnerable population on campuses, to assist them in pursuing their academic path while maintaining their psychological well-being. [...] Read more.
(1) Background: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative for higher education institutions to understand the socio-psychological issues of international students, a potentially vulnerable population on campuses, to assist them in pursuing their academic path while maintaining their psychological well-being. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of academic burnout among international university students in Taiwan during the new normal and to explore the protective role of academic resilience. (2) Methods: Three hundred and eighty-three international university students in Taiwan were recruited and surveyed via the online self-administered questionnaire during the Fall semester of the 2022–2023 academic year. The data of sociodemographic characteristics, academic burnout, and academic resilience were collected and analyzed. (3) Results: The overall prevalence of high academic burnout was 12.01%. The majority of participants perceived significant depression and anxiety (detrimental factors) but moderate to high perception of academics and relationships (protective factors). There were significant relationships between resilience components and burnout symptoms. (4) Conclusions: Resilience may help to reduce burnout among international university students during the post-COVID-19 new normal, thereby protecting their mental health. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 644 KiB  
Article
Psychological Effect of Discrete Outbreak Events of COVID-19 on Health Information Search in China
by Yan Liu and Peng Zou
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13020109 - 28 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1321
Abstract
Community transmission events occasionally happened in the long-term pandemic, which led to repeated outbreaks of COVID-19. In addition to potential physical threats, the outbreaks could also lead to psychological stress and influence their health behaviors, especially for vulnerable people. It poses a great [...] Read more.
Community transmission events occasionally happened in the long-term pandemic, which led to repeated outbreaks of COVID-19. In addition to potential physical threats, the outbreaks could also lead to psychological stress and influence their health behaviors, especially for vulnerable people. It poses a great challenge to both physical and mental health management. However, little is known about the impacts of discrete outbreak events of COVID-19 on people’s reactions to health concerns in the long-term pandemic period. In the current study, we discussed the impact of discrete outbreak events of COVID-19 on health information search for specific symptoms in China from a perceptive of susceptibility. The empirical study was conducted after the first wave of outbreak events ended in China from June to October 2020. Three typical outbreak events happened during this period, and a total of 1800 search index data for 60 cities in China crawled from Baidu search engine were included in the data set. Using the real-world searching data, we conducted a panel data analysis to examine the psychological effect of discrete outbreak events on the symptom search and the moderation effect of the geographical distance. It was found that discrete outbreak events significantly increased the symptom search, and its impacts were various in different regions. More health information search caused by discrete outbreak events was found in cities which were closer to the outbreak area. Implications for healthcare were discussed. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 907 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in Emotional Valence and Social Media Content Engagement Behaviors in Pandemic Diaries: An Analysis Based on Microblog Texts
by Ran Feng and Alex Ivanov
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13010034 - 30 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2631
Abstract
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are individualized, which means that our emotions and behaviors would experience changes of different degrees. These changes have led to subtle connections within the social media context. This study concentrates on pandemic diaries posted on microblog sites [...] Read more.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are individualized, which means that our emotions and behaviors would experience changes of different degrees. These changes have led to subtle connections within the social media context. This study concentrates on pandemic diaries posted on microblog sites during the lockdown period in China and explores the association between gender, emotional valence in diaries, and social media content engagement behaviors. Through computational methods, this study found that males and females tended to present significantly different emotional valence and social media content engagement behaviors. A negative correlation existed between emotional valence and comment behavior in female diary texts. Moreover, the pandemic proximity had a moderating effect on emotional valence and social media content engagement behaviors. This article attempts to explain the emotional and behavioral characteristics related to social media diaries and express concerns for the emotional health of disadvantaged blog users in the severely affected area during the pandemic. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1382 KiB  
Article
The Effect of COVID-19 Safety Protocols on Hospital Workers’ Mental Health: A Moderated-Mediation Model of COVID-19 Anxiety and Psychological Resilience
by Fang Yin and Zhanchun Feng
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12120477 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Social distancing measures can create psychological issues, especially among hospital staff who constantly deal with emergency patients. To explore the mediating role of COVID-19 anxiety on the association between COVID-19 safety protocols and mental health, and to test the moderating role of resilience [...] Read more.
Social distancing measures can create psychological issues, especially among hospital staff who constantly deal with emergency patients. To explore the mediating role of COVID-19 anxiety on the association between COVID-19 safety protocols and mental health, and to test the moderating role of resilience between COVID-19 safety protocols and COVID-19 anxiety, this work collected data on hospital staff in terms of COVID-19 safety protocols, psychological resilience, COVID-19 anxiety, and improving staff mental health. The effects of the use of COVID-19 safety protocols on COVID-19 anxiety and the mental health of hospital workers in China were also analyzed. The experimental results showed that resilience remarkably moderated COVID-19 safety protocols and COVID-19 anxiety among Chinese hospital staff. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 363 KiB  
Article
Uneven Implications of Lockdown Amid COVID-19 in India: From Harassment, Stigma, Crime, and Internally Displaced People to Stress and Coping Strategies in the Middle/Upper Class
by Shagufta Nasir, Mohammad Ghazi Shahnawaz and Lydia Giménez-Llort
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12100348 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2487
Abstract
A content analysis of an English Newspaper, The Times of India (the world’s largest newspaper by circulation) during the first national lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic identified nine different categories culled out from a total of 129 news categories reporting unprecedented COVID-19 stories. [...] Read more.
A content analysis of an English Newspaper, The Times of India (the world’s largest newspaper by circulation) during the first national lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic identified nine different categories culled out from a total of 129 news categories reporting unprecedented COVID-19 stories. Half of them portrayed two sides of a coin: from daily wagers and migrant workers, including internally displaced people (23/129), harassment and stigma (4/129), and crime (3/129) to stressors and coping strategies for middle/upper class individuals (39/129). Reports evidenced increased vulnerability in the lower layers of Indian stratified society. Yet, two years later, the uneven implications on physical and mental health are scarcely studied by scientific researchers. Full article
22 pages, 1413 KiB  
Article
The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Fertility Intentions of Women with Childbearing Age in China
by Tinggui Chen, Peixin Hou, Tiantian Wu and Jianjun Yang
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12090335 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3470
Abstract
On 31 May 2021, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed the policy that a couple can have three children, and rolled out more supportive measures to further optimize the fertility policies. However, while the Chinese [...] Read more.
On 31 May 2021, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed the policy that a couple can have three children, and rolled out more supportive measures to further optimize the fertility policies. However, while the Chinese government is further optimizing its fertility policy, the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 is raging around the world, which threatens the implementation of China’s fertility optimization policy. Based on this, this paper firstly explores the impact of COVID-19 on women’s fertility intentions. Secondly, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this paper constructs a structural equation model to quantitatively reveal the specific factors that affect women’s fertility intentions under the epidemic, as well as their impact paths, and then puts forward corresponding suggestions for the government to solve the problem of fertility, aiming at delaying population aging and optimizing population structure. The research results show that: (1) COVID-19 lowers the fertility intentions of women of childbearing age. (2) During the pandemic, economic pressure emerged as the biggest factor affecting women’s fertility intentions. The decline in income caused by the pandemic has become an important factor in preventing women from having children. (3) The conflict between work and childbearing is still an important factor affecting the fertility intentions of women of childbearing age. The government’s provision of perfect childcare services and their strengthening of the protection of women’s employment rights and interests will greatly reduce women’s anxiety about childbearing. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 636 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Well-Being of Migrant Populations in Europe: An Equity-Focused Scoping Review
by Violeta Alarcão, Ana Virgolino, Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska and Júlia Neves
Behav. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12100393 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1974
Abstract
The pandemic is aggravating health inequalities, particularly mental health inequalities, while revealing the social determinants of these inequalities, including migration as a social determinant that mediates the interaction of social, economic, cultural, institutional, and structural factors with health indicators. Therefore, it is of [...] Read more.
The pandemic is aggravating health inequalities, particularly mental health inequalities, while revealing the social determinants of these inequalities, including migration as a social determinant that mediates the interaction of social, economic, cultural, institutional, and structural factors with health indicators. Therefore, it is of most relevance to identify the multiple interconnected factors that influence the mental health and well-being of migrant populations. A scoping review was developed to map the research performed in this area and to identify any gaps in knowledge, following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. MEDLINE, Scopus, and WHO Global Health research databases on COVID-19 were searched from January 2020 to October 2021. The review followed the inclusion criteria Population/Concept/Context (PCC): Population-Adult International migrants (including refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants); Concept-determinants of (and factors influencing) mental health and well-being; Context-COVID-19 anywhere in the world. Of the sixty-five selected studies, eleven were from European countries and were the focus of this review with special attention to health inequalities experienced by migrants in Europe. The results cover a diversity of themes related to the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of migrants (country-level environmental factors, social determinants of mental health, mental health indicators and outcomes), responses (such as solidarity and resilience), populations, and study methods. The evidence found can inform recommendations and interventions focused on health promotion and mitigation of the inequalities accentuated by the pandemic. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop