scholarly journals The Association between COVID-19-Related Wellbeing with Materialism and Perceived Threat

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 912
Author(s):  
Fei Teng ◽  
Jiaxin Shi ◽  
Xijing Wang ◽  
Zhansheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Individual Characteristic ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
American People ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Total N ◽  
Profound Impact

The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on people’s wellbeing. Here, we proposed that an individual characteristic might be associated with wellbeing; that is, materialism. Specifically, we conducted three studies (total N = 3219) to examine whether people with high levels of materialism would experience poorer wellbeing (i.e., anxiety and depression, in the current case). The results showed that materialism was positively associated with depression (Studies 1A, 1B and 2) and anxiety (Study 2). Moreover, such a relationship was mediated by people’s perceived threat of COVID-19 (Study 2). These findings were observed in both Chinese and American people. The findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical contributions.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and Psychological Risk Factors for Anxiety and Depression: Findings from the Covid-19 Health and Adherence Research in Scotland on Mental Health (CHARIS-MH) Cross-sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Hubbard ◽  
Chantal den Daas ◽  
Marie Johnston ◽  
Diane Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Illness Representations ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Risk

Abstract Background Investigations about mental health report prevalence rates with fewer studies investigating psychological and social factors influencing mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Study aims: (1) identify sociodemographic groups of the adult population at risk of anxiety and depression and (2) determine if the following social and psychological risk factors for poor mental health moderated these direct sociodemographic effects: loneliness, social support, threat perception, illness representations. Methods Cross-sectional nationally representative telephone survey in Scotland in June 2020. If available, validated instruments were used, for example, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) to measure anxiety and depression. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect. Results A total of 1006 participants; median age 53 years, 61.4% female, from all levels of area deprivation (i.e., 3.8% in the most deprived decile and 15.6% in the most affluent decile). Analyses show associations of anxiety and depression with sociodemographic (age, gender, deprivation), social (social support, loneliness) and psychological factors (perceived threat and illness representations). Mental health was poorer in younger adults, women and people living in the most deprived areas. Age effects were exacerbated by loneliness and illness representations, gender effects by loneliness and illness representations and deprivation effects by loneliness, social support, illness representations and perceived threat. In each case, the moderating variables amplified the detrimental effects of the sociodemographic factors. Conclusions These findings confirm the results of pre-Covid-19 pandemic studies about associations between sociodemographics and mental health. Loneliness, lack of social support and thoughts about Covid-19 exacerbated these effects and offer pointers for pre-emptive action.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and psychological risk factors for anxiety and depression: Findings from the Covid-19 Health and Adherence Research in Scotland (CHARIS) cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Hubbard ◽  
Chantal den Daas ◽  
Marie Johnston ◽  
Diane Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Illness Representations ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Psychological Risk Factors ◽  
Health Report ◽  
Psychological Risk

ABSTRACTBackground: Investigations about mental health report prevalence rates with fewer studies investigating psychological and social factors influencing mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aims of the study were to: (1) identify sociodemographic groups of the adult population at risk of anxiety and depression, and (2) determine if the following social and psychological risk factors for poor mental health moderated these direct sociodemographic effects: loneliness, social support, risk perception, and illness representations. MethodsCross sectional nationally representative telephone survey in Scotland in June 2020. If available, validated instruments were used for example, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) to measure anxiety and depression. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect. Results1006 participants; median age 53 years, 61.4% female, 3.8% in the most deprived and 15.6% in the most affluent areas. Analyses show associations of anxiety and depression with sociodemographic (age, gender, deprivation), social (social support, social isolation, loneliness) and psychological factors (perceived threat and illness representations). Mental health was poorer in younger adults, women and people living in the most deprived areas. Age effects were exaggerated by loneliness and illness representations, gender effects by loneliness and illness representations, and deprivation effects by loneliness, social support, illness representations and perceived threat. In each case, the moderating variables amplified the detrimental effects of the sociodemographic factors.ConclusionsThese findings confirm the results of previous studies about associations between sociodemographics and adult mental health. Loneliness, lack of social support and thoughts about Covid-19 exaggerated these effects and offer pointers for pre-emptive action.

scholarly journals Christian No More: Christian Americans are Threatened by Their Impending Minority Status

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Lyn Al-Kire ◽  
Michael H. Pasek ◽  
Jo-Ann Tsang ◽  
Wade C. Rowatt
Keyword(s):  
Political Ideology ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Total N ◽  
Majority Group ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Demographic Shifts ◽  
Religious Landscape ◽  
Christian Nationalism

Christian Americans are on track to become a minority of the U.S. population by midcentury. Research on racial demographic shifts shows majority-group members experience status threat when reminded of similar demographic changes. Public debate about religious freedom and the role of Christianity in America suggest that fast-changing religious demographics similarly elicit threat, and trigger defensive political stances, among Christian Americans. In two preregistered experiments (total N = 766 Christian Americans), reminders of religious demographic shifts evoked perceived threat to religious rights and freedoms, which in turn accounted for increases in Christian nationalism, conservative political ideology, and support for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Results illustrate how America’s fast-changing religious landscape can evoke threat for Christians and how this threat may influence political reasoning.

scholarly journals Linkage of Maternal Caregiver Smoking Behaviors on Environmental and Clinical Outcomes of Children with Asthma: A Post-Hoc Analysis of a Financial Incentive Trial Targeting Reduction in Pediatric Tobacco Smoke Exposures

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8502
Author(s):  
Mandeep S. Jassal ◽  
Cassia Lewis-Land ◽  
Richard E. Thompson ◽  
Arlene Butz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Asthma Control ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Total N ◽  
Post Hoc Analysis ◽  
High Category ◽  
Smoking Behaviors ◽  
Caregiver Anxiety ◽  
Post Hoc

(1) Background: Monthly variability in smoking behaviors in caregivers of pediatric asthmatics yields questions of how much and when does smoking reduction result in improved environmental and clinical outcomes. (2) Methods: Post hoc analysis of data from a 6 month pilot randomized-control trial occurring from May 2017 to May 2018 in Baltimore City (MD, USA). The initial trial’s primary intervention explored the utility of financial incentives in modifying caregiver smoking behaviors. Post hoc analyses examined all dyads independent of the initial trial’s randomization status. All caregivers received pediatric tobacco smoke harm reduction education, in addition to monthly encouragement to access the state tobacco quitline for individual phone-based counseling and nicotine replacement therapy. Maternal caregivers who were active cigarette smokers and their linked asthmatic child (aged 2–12 years) were grouped into two classifications (“high” versus “low”) based on the child and caregiver’s cotinine levels. A “low” cotinine level was designated by at least a 25% reduction in cotinine levels during 3 months of the trial period; achieving ≤2 months of low cotinine levels defaulted to the “high” category. Twenty-seven dyads (caregivers and children) (total n = 54) were assigned to the “high” category, and eighteen dyads (caregivers and children) (total n = 36) were allocated to the “low” category. The primary outcome measure was the correlation of caregiver cotinine levels with pediatric cotinine values. Secondary outcomes included asthma control, in addition to caregiver anxiety and depression. (3) Results: Caregivers with 3 months of ≥25% decrease in cotinine levels had a significantly greater mean change in child cotinine levels (p = 0.018). “Low” caregiver cotinine levels did not significantly improve pediatric asthma control (OR 2.12 (95% CI: 0.62–7.25)). Caregiver anxiety and depression outcomes, measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-4 scores, was not significantly different based on cotinine categorization (p = 0.079); (4) Conclusion: Reduced pediatric cotinine levels were seen in caregivers who reduced their smoking for at least 3 months, but clinical outcome measures remained unchanged.

scholarly journals A Time-Lag Study on Perceived Threat of COVID-19 in Hindu Religious Community: Moderating Role of Hindu Religious Coping

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
I Nyoman Sueca ◽  
I Nyoman Sumertha ◽  
I Wayan Winaja
Keyword(s):  
Religious Coping ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
The Body ◽  
Religious Community ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact on developing various psychological stressors in society. Grounded in cognitive appraisal theory, the current study has been conducted to investigate the moderating role of Hindu religious coping in mitigating the impact of the perceived threat of COVID-19 in developing perceived stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression among the Hindu residents in Bali, Indonesia. The current study contributed to the body of knowledge regarding religious practices acting as a coping mechanism to help the community cope with crises scenario such as COVID-19. Using a longitudinal field survey, data were collected at two different times from 423 Hinduism believers who actively practiced religion and lived in Bali, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using measurement and structural models in SmartPLS. Results revealed that the perceived threat of COVID-19 impacted a higher level of stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression among the target sample. Results further depicted that the intensity of the perceived threat of COVID-19 to develop negative stressors among those individuals is low who believe in Hinduism and practice religious obligations on a regular basis. This reflects the moderating role of Hindu religious coping in decreasing stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression among Hindu believers aimed at COVID-19.

scholarly journals The immediate psychological response of the general population in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Royes Joseph ◽  
Dhfer Alshayban ◽  
Jisha M Lucca ◽  
Yasir Abdulaziz Alshehry
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Response ◽  
Distress Symptoms ◽  
Severe Anxiety

AbstractBackgroundThe health and economic burden of pandemic diseases significantly cause psychosocial problems. The outbreak of COVID-19 may differentially exacerbate anxiety and stress in people subjected to the real or perceived threat of the virus.MethodAn online cross-sectional survey was carried out to assess the general population’s immediate psychological response during the initial state of the outbreak in Saudi Arabia. The study used brief screening tools PHQ-4 for anxiety-depression symptoms and IES-6 for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.ResultsAmong the 584 respondents, 19.8% and 22.0% reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms respectively. According to the combined PHQ-4 score, 14.5% of participants showed moderate to severe anxiety or depression disorder. Overall, 64.8% met the level of clinical concern for posttraumatic stress disorder and 51.3% met the level of probable posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Multivariate analyses showed that females, non-Saudi nationalities, and those who had a history of mental illness were more vulnerable to anxiety and depression disorders than their counterparts, whereas a higher prevalence of distress symptoms was reported among those who prefer Arabic over English for communication. It was found that people whose colleagues or family infected with the disease were more likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety or depression and distress. The study further showed that the higher the perceived threat, the higher the chances of exhibiting anxiety-depressive disorder symptoms and distress symptoms.ConclusionThe findings might be a matter for serious concern, and considerable attention is required from authorities and policymakers regarding early detection and treatment of these illnesses in order to reduce the burden of the pandemic related mental illness.

scholarly journals Does Exercise Influence Kynurenine/Tryptophan Metabolism and Psychological Outcomes in Persons With Age-Related Diseases? A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117864692199111
Author(s):  
Anthony Lim ◽  
Christel Harijanto ◽  
Sara Vogrin ◽  
Gilles Guillemin ◽  
Gustavo Duque
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Kynurenine Pathway ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Total N ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Disease Outcomes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Central Registry

Background: The kynurenine (KYN) pathway has been implicated in many diseases associated with inflammation and aging (“inflammaging”). Targeting the kynurenine pathway to modify disease outcomes has been trialled pharmacologically, but the evidence of non-pharmacological means (ie, exercise) remains unclear. Objective: We aim to assess the evidence of the effects of exercise on the kynurenine pathway and psychological outcomes. Methods: Under Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials. The main outcomes were changes in kynurenine pathway metabolite levels and psychological outcomes. Results: Six studies were analyzed (total n = 379) with exercise demonstrating significant concomitant effects on kynurenine pathway metabolite levels and associated psychological outcomes in domains of somatization, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: Exercise has significant concomitant effect on kynurenine pathway metabolite levels and psychological outcomes. However, clear limitations exist in determining if the changes in the kynurenine pathway can fully explain the changes in psychological outcomes, or whether different diseases and exercise interventions act as confounding factors.

Determining Emotional Tone and Verbal Behavior in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 660-672
Author(s):  
Suzanne H. Kimball ◽  
Toby Hamilton ◽  
Erin Benear ◽  
Jonathan Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Verbal Behavior ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Tone ◽  
Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽  
Quantitative Results

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional tone and verbal behavior of social media users who self-identified as having tinnitus and/or hyperacusis that caused self-described negative consequences on daily life or health. Research Design and Method An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. Two hundred “initial” and 200 “reply” Facebook posts were collected from members of a tinnitus group and a hyperacusis group. Data were analyzed via the LIWC 2015 software program and compared to typical bloggers. As this was an explanatory mixed-methods study, we used qualitative thematic analyses to explain, interpret, and illustrate the quantitative results. Results Overall, quantitative results indicated lower overall emotional tone for all categories (tinnitus and hyperacusis, initial and reply), which was mostly influenced by higher negative emotion. Higher levels of authenticity or truth were found in the hyperacusis sample but not in the tinnitus sample. Lower levels of clout (social standing) were indicated in all groups, and a lower level of analytical thinking style (concepts and complex categories rather than narratives) was found in the hyperacusis sample. Additional analysis of the language indicated higher levels of sadness and anxiety in all groups and lower levels of anger, particularly for initial replies. These data support prior findings indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression in this patient population based on the actual words in blog posts and not from self-report questionnaires. Qualitative results identified 3 major themes from both the tinnitus and hyperacusis texts: suffering, negative emotional tone, and coping strategies. Conclusions Results from this study suggest support for the predominant clinical view that patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The extent of the suffering described and patterns of coping strategies suggest clinical practice patterns and the need for research in implementing improved practice plans.

Mental representation of economic crisis in Italian and Swiss samples 1The authors would like to thank Maurizio Mistri for his help in the construction of items. This research was supported by a grant from the Italian Murst (ex 40%).

2001 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Savadori ◽  
Eraldo Nicotra ◽  
Rino Rumiati ◽  
Roberto Tamborini
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Mental Representation ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
National Context ◽  
Cluster Procedure ◽  
Total N ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Important Symptom

The content and structure of mental representation of economic crises were studied and the flexibility of the structure in different social contexts was tested. Italian and Swiss samples (Total N = 98) were compared with respect to their judgments as to how a series of concrete examples of events representing abstract indicators were relevant symptoms of economic crisis. Mental representations were derived using a cluster procedure. Results showed that the relevance of the indicators varied as a function of national context. The growth of unemployment was judged to be by far the most important symptom of an economic crisis but the Swiss sample judged bankruptcies as more symptomatic than Italians who considered inflation, raw material prices and external accounts to be more relevant. A different clustering structure was found for the two samples: the locations of unemployment and gross domestic production indicators were the main differences in representations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document