Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.6
2.6
Journals
Medicina
Special Issues
Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
share announcement

Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology & Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 11261

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vita Poštuvan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
Interests: suicide research; suicide prevention and interventions; mental health; bereavement and postvention; human rights; CBT; mindfulness
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in this Special Issue on the public mental health crisis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

There are many reports that mental health problems increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This could be due to many different reasons, as mental health is the result of a complex interplay of risk and protective factors both at the individual level and at the interpersonal and societal levels. Many specific groups are found to be at greater risk, such as adolescents, young adults, women, and the elderly.

This Special Issue will therefore provide an opportunity to examine the various factors that contribute to specific at-risk groups or populations and to provide data about the changes in prevalence during this specific period. There will also be an opportunity to evaluate preventive public mental health and health approaches or other interventions that serve the better good. This Special Issue will thus give a chance to reflect on preparedness and resilience to better manage future crisis situations.

Dr. Vita Poštuvan
Guest Editor

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. Medicina 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 1800 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

  • mental health
  • pandemic
  • resilience
  • prevention
  • risk factor
  • preventive factor

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 1860 KiB  
Article
Attitudes of the Lithuanian Population toward COVID-19 Vaccination and Evaluation of Its Effectiveness: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Artur Airapetian, Benedikt Bachmetjev and Rolandas Zablockis
Medicina 2024, 60(2), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60020313 - 12 Feb 2024
Viewed by 777
Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study delves into the attitudes, beliefs and determinants influencing the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among the Lithuanian population. Materials and Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional study design, a total of 3166 respondents were surveyed. Results: The findings reveal a [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: This study delves into the attitudes, beliefs and determinants influencing the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among the Lithuanian population. Materials and Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional study design, a total of 3166 respondents were surveyed. Results: The findings reveal a significant disparity in vaccination rates based on socio-demographic factors, with higher uptake observed among individuals with a university degree, urban residents and those in higher income brackets. Personal beliefs, particularly regarding the vaccine’s efficacy in pandemic management, played a pivotal role in vaccination decisions. This study also highlights the influence of external factors, such as the activity of the “anti-vaxxer” movement and the introduction of vaccination certificates. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions and comprehensive public health campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy and promote widespread immunization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 916 KiB  
Article
A Lonelier World after COVID-19: Longitudinal Population-Based Study of Well-Being, Emotional and Social Loneliness, and Suicidal Behaviour in Slovenia
by Vita Poštuvan, Nina Krohne, Meta Lavrič, Vanja Gomboc, Diego De Leo and Lucia Rojs
Medicina 2024, 60(2), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60020312 - 12 Feb 2024
Viewed by 868
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) goes beyond the consequences of the infectious disease, especially as the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus have had a very profound impact on people’s social relationships and everyday [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) goes beyond the consequences of the infectious disease, especially as the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus have had a very profound impact on people’s social relationships and everyday lives. Several studies have investigated these effects, but there is a lack of longitudinal studies in Central Europe. Objective: The aim of our study was to observe changes in well-being, loneliness, and suicidal behaviour before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the same population-based cohort. Materials and Methods: A representative sample of 440 participants completed online questionnaires at four time points: 2019 (wave 0), 2021 (wave 1), 2022 (wave 2), and 2023 (wave 3). Results: The results show significant changes in the levels of well-being and loneliness over these periods. In particular, both social and emotional loneliness increased during the pandemic, while emotional loneliness increased to a greater extent without further decreases. Well-being appeared to increase after pandemic-related restrictions diminished but decreased again one year later. No significant changes concerning suicidal ideation were observed. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way in which people perceive their well-being and especially their relationships with others. From the data, we can conclude that people’s worldview is now lonelier than before the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 305 KiB  
Article
“It Bothered Me”: The Mental Burden of COVID-19 Media Reports on Community-Dwelling Elderly People
by Natasa Maksimovic, Tatjana Gazibara, Jelena Dotlic, Marija Milic, Vida Jeremic Stojkovic, Smiljana Cvjetkovic and Gordana Markovic
Medicina 2023, 59(11), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59112011 - 15 Nov 2023
Viewed by 675
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Elderly people may have difficulties understanding the quality and quantity of information about the COVID-19 epidemic, which can put an additional mental strain on their health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the processing of [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Elderly people may have difficulties understanding the quality and quantity of information about the COVID-19 epidemic, which can put an additional mental strain on their health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the processing of COVID-19 information among older people. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in summer 2021. The sampling was based on the snowball method. This approach allowed us to communicate with the next potential participants relatively freely and without reservations. Two female researchers (both MD, PhD) conducted the interviews. All interviews were held in Serbian. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The interviews were conducted with 13 participants (average age 71 years). The analysis of qualitative content suggested that four topics could be identified: (1) sources of information, (2) information interest and need, (3) reporting of information and (4) suggestions for better reporting. The participants were troubled by the excess of information, repetitive information about death tolls, unqualified people in media discussing the pandemic and inconsistent reporting. These features caused the participants to feel the psychological burden in processing all the pieces of information. Conclusions: The elderly people in Serbia followed mainstream media to get information about COVID-19; however, they perceived a variety of problems with reporting, which made the understanding of the information difficult and psychologically burdensome. These findings should be taken into consideration when delivering health-related information to elderly people. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
11 pages, 819 KiB  
Article
The Effect of COVID-19 Outbreak and Incidence on the Health-Related Behaviors and Depression of Gyeongnam Residents in Republic of Korea
by Young-Mi Seo and Ki-Soo Park
Medicina 2023, 59(9), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59091672 - 16 Sep 2023
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of COVID-19 brought about changes in the health behaviors and depression levels of residents in Gyeongnam in Republic of Korea, and whether the prevalence of COVID-19 was related to differences in [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of COVID-19 brought about changes in the health behaviors and depression levels of residents in Gyeongnam in Republic of Korea, and whether the prevalence of COVID-19 was related to differences in health behaviors and depression levels among different regions. Materials and Methods: The researchers utilized raw data from the 2019–2020 Community Health Survey in Gyeongnam and conducted analyses using SPSS 25.0. The study included a total of 35,880 participants from 18 cities and counties in the Gyeongnam region (17,942 participants in 2019 and 17,938 participants in 2020). Results: The results of the comparative analysis between pre- and post-COVID-19 occurrence showed that, after the occurrence of COVID-19, the smoking cessation rate and monthly alcohol consumption rate among current smokers decreased, while the high-risk drinking rate increased. The rate of physical activity (walking) increased, but the prevalence of depression experiences and depressive symptoms also increased. Furthermore, the comparative analysis between areas with a higher number of COVID-19 cases and those with a lower number of cases revealed that areas with a higher number of cases had higher monthly alcohol consumption rates, as well as a higher prevalence of depression experiences and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Considering that the occurrence and severity of COVID-19 had significant impacts on the health behaviors and depression levels of residents in Gyeongnam, this highlights the need for active intervention and management by the national and local governments in response to the occurrence and management of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to address the health status and health behaviors of the local population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 332 KiB  
Article
Is There an Association between Increased Stress and Smartphone Addiction? Insights from a Study on Medical Students from Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Haytham I. AlSaif, Zeyad A. Alhozaimi, Alhanouf S. Alrashed, Kholoud S. Alanazi, Mohammed G. Alshibani, Turky H. Almigbal, Saad M. Alsaad, Abdullah A. Alrasheed and Fahad D. Alosaimi
Medicina 2023, 59(8), 1501; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59081501 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1709
Abstract
Purpose: Smartphone addiction is prevalent among medical students, and there is a concern that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic fueled a rise in smartphone addiction. Earlier studies suggest a link between excessive smartphone usage and negative outcomes such as depression, stress, and [...] Read more.
Purpose: Smartphone addiction is prevalent among medical students, and there is a concern that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic fueled a rise in smartphone addiction. Earlier studies suggest a link between excessive smartphone usage and negative outcomes such as depression, stress, and reduced academic achievement. However, there is a dearth of both local studies in Saudi Arabia and studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic exploring the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with academic performance, depression, and perceived stress, which is the purpose of the current study. Methods: In 2021, a cross-sectional research project took place among medical students at King Saud University and the Vision Colleges located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An online self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic variables, grade point average (GPA), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version (SAS-SV) was deployed. Results: Three hundred and fifteen students participated. Around 47.9% of students reported smartphone addiction, and the mean SAS-SV score was 32.31 ± 12.01 points. Both PHQ-9 and PSS-4 scores showed a significant positive correlation with the SAS-SV score (r = 0.216, p < 0.001 and r = 247, p < 0.001, respectively), while GPA did not (r = −0.027, p = 0.639). An adjusted analysis showed that the PSS-4 score was positively associated with the SAS-SV score (odds ratio (OR) = 1.206, p < 0.001), while the PHQ-9 score was not (OR = 102, p = 0.285). Conclusions: Smartphone addiction is prevalent among medical students and associated with perceived stress. Additional research is required to gain a deeper comprehension of this issue and to assess the success of intervention initiatives aimed at encouraging healthy smartphone usage, particularly in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
10 pages, 345 KiB  
Article
Breastfeeding Practices and Postpartum Depression in Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Mariana Chávez-Tostado, Karla Verónica Chávez-Tostado, Gabino Cervantes-Guevara, Guillermo Cervantes-Cardona, Diana Mercedes Hernandez-Corona, Tonatiuh González-Heredia, Miriam Méndez-del Villar, Fernanda Isadora Corona-Meraz, Milton Omar Guzmán-Ornelas, Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho, Andrea Socorro Álvarez-Villaseñor, Enrique Cervantes-Pérez, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco, Natalia Guadalupe Barrera-López, Noelia Esthela López-Bernal and Alejandro González-Ojeda
Medicina 2023, 59(7), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59071330 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1527
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding is a characteristic process of mammals that ensures delivery of an adequate nutritional supply to infants. It is the gold standard food source during an infant’s first months of life. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, people [...] Read more.
Background: Breastfeeding is a characteristic process of mammals that ensures delivery of an adequate nutritional supply to infants. It is the gold standard food source during an infant’s first months of life. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, people in quarantine have experienced a wide range of feelings, which may make isolation challenging in terms of maternal health. This study focused on the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and postpartum depression (PPD) among Mexican women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 586 postpartum women who completed an online survey 4−8 weeks after delivery from April to December 2020 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The aim was to identify potentially depressed mothers according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and describe their breastfeeding practices. Results: The mean maternal age was 30.4 ± 4.6 years, the mean EPDS score was 9.6 ± 5.0, and the PPD prevalence according EPDS scores was 27.1%. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was reported by 32.3% of mothers in the first 48 h and by 70.3% of mothers 48 h after delivery. EBF was associated with a lower prevalence of PPD during the first 48 h (p = 0.015) and after the first 48 h (p = 0.001) after delivery. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was reported by 385 (65.7%) mothers. PPD was less frequent in mothers practicing SSC (20.3%) than it was in those not practicing SSC (40.3%) (p = 0.001). A higher percentage of mothers practiced SSC breastfed (66.9%) and used EBF (150, 79.4%) (p = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Results suggest that the pandemic emergency and restrictions imposed on the population significantly affected the well-being of mothers after birth, and that these effects may have posed risks to the mental health and emotional stability of postpartum mothers. Therefore, encouraging BF or EBF and SSC may improve or limit depressive symptoms in postpartum mothers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
11 pages, 441 KiB  
Article
Association of University Students’ COVID-19 Vaccination Intention with Behaviors toward Protection and Perceptions Regarding the Pandemic
by Chrysoula Dafogianni, Freideriki Eleni Kourti, Ioannis Koutelekos, Afroditi Zartaloudi, Evangelos Dousis, Areti Stavropoulou, Nikoletta Margari, Georgia Toulia, Despoina Pappa, Polyxeni Mangoulia, Eftychia Ferentinou, Anna Giga and Georgia Gerogianni
Medicina 2022, 58(10), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58101438 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1325
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health problem. Vaccination is suggested to be one of the most efficacious precautionary measures, in combination with other protective behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of students’ intention [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health problem. Vaccination is suggested to be one of the most efficacious precautionary measures, in combination with other protective behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of students’ intention to get vaccinated about COVID-19 with protection behaviors and perceptions about the pandemic. Material and Methods: The study sample included 1920 university students who electronically completed two validated questionnaires anonymously and voluntarily from December 2020 to January 2021. Results: Results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that as the perceived general risk was getting lower, the number of protective behaviors significantly diminished (p < 0.001). Additionally, respondents who believed that they had minor or no personal risk had undertaken significantly fewer preventing behaviors in comparison with participants who thought they had major personal risk (p = 0.006). However, the experience of respondents with people having COVID-19 had statistically significant association with undertaking more preventing behaviors (p = 0.004). Lower general perception of risk had statistically significant association with lower determination to obtain the vaccines of COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Personally knowing someone who had the coronavirus and undertaking more behavioral changes due to the coronavirus situation were significantly related to greater determination to obtain the vaccines of COVID-19 (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The results of this study can provide universities with the appropriate information about the improvement of COVID-19 vaccination strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 519 KiB  
Article
Sleep Disorders and Their Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from Peruvian Medical Students
by Cesar Copaja-Corzo, Brayan Miranda-Chavez, Dariela Vizcarra-Jiménez, Miguel Hueda-Zavaleta, Marco Rivarola-Hidalgo, Edgar G. Parihuana-Travezaño and Alvaro Taype-Rondan
Medicina 2022, 58(10), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58101325 - 22 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2750
Abstract
Background and objectives: Sleep disorders are a common public health problem among college students. The objective of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and its associated factors in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study—we conducted a [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Sleep disorders are a common public health problem among college students. The objective of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and its associated factors in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study—we conducted a secondary analysis of the survey “Nomophobia in medical students in Peru” database between 2020 and 2021. Sleep disturbances were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To evaluate associated factors, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: We analyzed data from 3139 participants from 18 cities in Peru (61.1% were women, median age: 22 years). 43.4% had a quality of sleep that could require medical attention; the PSQI dimension with the highest score was daytime dysfunction. The poor sleep quality was associated with symptoms of anxiety (aPR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.27–1.72), depression (aPR: 2.03; 1.72–2.39), or nomophobia (aPR: 1.28; 1.09–1.51). Conclusions: Sleep disorders were a common problem among Peruvian medical students and were associated with anxiety, depression, or nomophobia symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Mental Health Crisis during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-8
Back to TopTop