mental and physical health
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2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitjan Morr ◽  
Xiqin Liu ◽  
Rene Hurlemann ◽  
Benjamin Becker ◽  
Dirk Scheele

Loneliness has been associated with detrimental effects on mental and physical health and is increasingly recognized as a critical public health issue which may be further exacerbated by societal challenges such as increasing urbanization, an aging society as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. We here review recent findings on the neurocognitive mechanisms and brain alterations that underpin social disconnectedness, therapeutic approaches for chronic loneliness and how these lines of research can be integrated to improve the efficacy of loneliness interventions in healthy individuals and patients with mental disorders.


2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Cristina Barbosa Pereira Queiroz ◽  
Christian Luiz Da Silva ◽  
Nilton Cézar Lima ◽  
Jamerson Viegas Queiroz ◽  
Carmem Kistemacher Barche ◽  
...  

A pandemia COVID-19 intensificou a diversidade de tecnologias de aprendizagem na educação superior, de maneira impositiva, desmistificou usos remotos, à fronteira da totalidade do ensino à distância a todos cursos superiores, em atendimento aos protocolos sanitários. Todavia, os eixos de aprendizagem (Ensino-Pesquisa-Extensão), tiveram que se adequar ao emprego das tecnologias educacionais. Sob essa abordagem, emergem questões, buscando examinar impactos que os docentes vivenciaram na pandemia para assegurar continuidade de tais eixos. Os dados contaram com 560, respostas válidas, de docentes da educação superior, distribuídos em todas regiões do Brasil. O estudo de abordagem quantitativa contou com o método da estatística não paramétrica, teste qui-quadrado, teste exato de Fischer e U de Mann Whitney. Resultados demonstraram que a adaptação e adoção de novas estratégias aos eixos de aprendizagem foram superadas pelos docentes sem identificações de impactos notórios que gerassem barreiras ou impeditivos. Entretanto, as relações familiares e sociais, assim como a saúde mental e física dos docentes, despertaram como impactos percebidos. Estudos foram sugeridos empregando expectativas diversas, sob contextos que analisem a exclusão digital e a saúde mental como interseccionalidade e enfoque de discussão em período pandêmico e pós-pandemia em países em desenvolvimento.   The pandemic COVID-19 intensified the diversity of learning technologies in higher education, in an imposing way, demystified remote uses, to the border of the totality of distance learning to all higher education courses, in attendance to sanitary protocols. However, the learning axes (Teaching-Research-Extension) had to adapt to the use of educational technologies. Under this approach, questions emerge, seeking to examine the impacts that the teachers experienced in the pandemic to ensure the continuity of these axes. The data counted on 560 valid answers from teachers of higher education, distributed in all regions of Brazil. The quantitative approach study relied on the non-parametric statistical method, chi-square test, Fischer's exact test, and Mann Whitney's U test. Results showed that the adaptation and adoption of new strategies to the learning axes were overcome by the teachers without the identification of notorious impacts that would generate barriers or impediments. However, family and social relationships, as well as the mental and physical health of the faculty members aroused as perceived impacts. Studies were suggested employing diverse expectations under contexts that analyze digital exclusion and mental health as intersectionality and focus of discussion in pandemic and post-pandemic period in developing countries.


2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Van Bogart ◽  
Christopher G. Engeland ◽  
Martin J. Sliwinski ◽  
Karra D. Harrington ◽  
Erik L. Knight ◽  
...  

Loneliness has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes. Past research suggests that inflammation is a potential pathway linking loneliness and health, but little is known about how loneliness assessed in daily life links with inflammation, or about linkages between loneliness and inflammation among older adults specifically. As part of a larger investigation, we examined the cross-sectional associations between loneliness and a panel of both basal and LPS-stimulated inflammatory markers. Participants were 222 socioeconomically and racially diverse older adults (aged 70–90 years; 38% Black; 13% Hispanic) systematically recruited from the Bronx, NY. Loneliness was measured in two ways, with a retrospective trait measure (the UCLA Three Item Loneliness Scale) and an aggregated momentary measure assessed via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) across 14 days. Inflammatory markers included both basal levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α) and LPS-stimulated levels of the same cytokines. Multiple regression analyses controlled for age, body-mass index, race, and depressive symptoms. Moderation by gender and race were also explored. Both higher trait loneliness and aggregated momentary measures of loneliness were associated with higher levels of CRP (β = 0.16, p = 0.02; β = 0.15, p = 0.03, respectively). There were no significant associations between loneliness and basal or stimulated cytokines and neither gender nor race were significant moderators. Results extend prior research linking loneliness with systemic inflammation in several ways, including by examining this connection among a sample of older adults and using a measure of aggregated momentary loneliness.


2022 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Hassem ◽  
Nicky Israel ◽  
Nabeelah Bemath ◽  
Tarique Variava

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed physiotherapists to unique work-related challenges. However, there is a lack of research regarding the mental health and lived experiences of South African physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.Objectives: To determine levels of mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and resilience and coping strategies used by a sample of South African physiotherapists with and without exposure to patients with COVID-19. Lived work experience, perceived health and sources of support were also explored.Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, mixed-method design was used. Physiotherapists completed an online survey comprising: a demographic questionnaire; scales assessing mental and physical health, burnout, depression, anxiety and coping strategies and six open-ended questions. A total of 171 physiotherapists participated in our study, 43.3% of whom were exposed to patients with COVID-19.Results: The exposure group scored significantly higher on self-reported mental health, anxiety, depression and burnout than the non-exposure group. No significant differences were reported for physical health and resilience. Significantly more maladaptive coping strategies were employed by the exposure group. Participants’ lived experiences highlighted similar experiences, as well as work-related challenges. Both groups reported that primary sources of support were significant others, but highlighted the lack of organisational support.Conclusion: Irrespective of the degree of exposure to COVID-19, the mental health and lived experiences of physiotherapists working in South Africa has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.Clinical implications: Understanding physiotherapists’ well-being and lived experiences during the pandemic may guide workplace interventions. Our findings suggest the need for psycho-educational intervention programmes to be implemented at an organisational level.


2022 ◽  
pp. 002214652110668
Author(s):  
Timo-Kolja Pförtner ◽  
Holger Pfaff ◽  
Frank J. Elgar

This study analyzes the longitudinal association between precarious employment and physical and mental health in a dualized labor market by disaggregating between-employee and within-employee effects and considering mobility in precariousness of employment. Analyses were based on the German Socio-Economic Panel from 2002 to 2018 considering all employees ages 18 to 67 years (n = 38,551). Precariousness of employment was measured as an additive index considering working poverty, nonstandard working time arrangements, perceived job insecurity, and low social rights. Health outcomes were mental and physical health. Random effects models were used and controlled for sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables. Results indicated that the association between precariousness of employment and mental and physical health is mainly based on between-employee differences and that prolonged precariousness of employment or upward or downward mobility are associated with poor health. We found evidence of polarization in health by precariousness of employment within a dualized labor market.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Ong ◽  
Betul Urganci ◽  
Anthony L. Burrow ◽  
Tracy DeHart

The wear and tear of adapting to chronic stressors such as racism and discrimination can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Here, we investigate the wider implications of everyday racism for relationship quality in a sample of 98 heterosexual African American couples. Participants reported on their experiences of racial discrimination and positive and negative affect for 21 consecutive evenings. Using dyadic analyses, we show that independent of age, gender, marital status, income, racial discrimination frequency, neuroticism, and mean levels of affect, participants’ relationship quality was inversely associated with their partner’s negative affective reactivity to racial discrimination. Associations did not vary by gender, suggesting that the effects of affective reactivity were similar for men and women. These findings highlight the importance of a dyadic approach and call for further research examining the role of everyday racism as a key source of stress in the lives of African American couples.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262325
Author(s):  
Nazish Imran ◽  
Fauzia Naz ◽  
Muhammad Imran Sharif ◽  
Sumbul Liaqat ◽  
Musarrat Riaz ◽  
...  

Background COVID-19 has posed unique challenges for adolescents in different dimensions of their life including education, home and social life, mental and physical health. Whether the impact is positive or negative, its significance on the overall shaping of adolescents’ lives cannot be overlooked. The aim of the present study was to explore impacts of the pandemic on the adolescents’ everyday lives in Pakistan. Methods Following ethical approval, this cross-sectional study was conducted through September to December, 2020 via an online survey on 842 adolescents with the mean age of 17.14 ± SD 1.48. Socio-demographic data and Epidemic Pandemic Impact Inventory-Adolescent Adaptation (EPII-A) was used to assess the multi-dimensional effects of the pandemic. Results Among the 842 participants, 84% were girls. Education emerged as the most negatively affected Pandemic domain (41.6–64.3%). Most of the adolescents (62.0–65.8%) had reported changes in responsibilities at home including increased time spent in helping family members. Besides, increase in workload of participants and their parents was prominent (41.8% & 47.6%). Social activities were mostly halted for approximately half (41–51%) of the participants. Increased screen time, decreased physical activity and sedentary lifestyle were reported by 52.7%, 46.3% and 40.7% respectively. 22.2–62.4% of the adolescents had a direct experience with quarantine, while 15.7% experienced death of a close friend or relative. Positive changes in their lives were endorsed by 30.5–62.4% respondents. Being male and older adolescents had significant association with negative impact across most domains (p<0.05). Conclusions Results have shown that COVID-19 exert significant multidimensional impacts on the physical, psycho-social, and home related domains of adolescents that are certainly more than what the previous researches has suggested.


2022 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 153331752110647
Author(s):  
Guerry Peavy ◽  
Ann M. Mayo ◽  
Cynthia Avalos ◽  
Amanda Rodriguez ◽  
Benjamin Shifflett ◽  
...  

Coupled with aging, chronic stress experienced by dementia caregivers often leads to deteriorating health. Comparing caregivers and non-caregivers, we tested whether depression and loneliness mediate the relationship between caregiver status and a measure of chronic stress, the Perceived Stress Scale. Seventy-six cognitively normal older adults (mean age 72.7) were identified as caregivers or non-caregivers based on the functional independence of a paired family member. Caregivers reported more perceived stress, depression, and loneliness than non-caregivers. Using multiple mediation analyses, we found that loneliness and depression mediated the relationship of caregiver status with perceived stress. The loneliness effect on perceived stress was both direct and via its relationship with depressive symptoms. The findings suggest loneliness as a likely point of intervention to reduce caregiver stress. Initiatives to enable caregivers to maintain or develop social relationships apart from caregiver responsibilities may mitigate stress and its negative impact on mental and physical health.


BMJ Open ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e053094
Author(s):  
Jane C Falkingham ◽  
Maria Evandrou ◽  
Min Qin ◽  
Athina Vlachantoni

ObjectivesCOVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and women. Concern over direct and indirect effects may also impact on sleep. We explore the levels and social determinants of self-reported sleep loss among the UK population during the pandemic, focusing on ethnic and gender disparities.SettingThis prospective longitudinal study analysed data from seven waves of the Understanding Society: COVID-19 Study collected from April 2020 to January 2021 linked to prepandemic data from the 2019 mainstage interviews, providing baseline information about the respondents prior to the pandemic.ParticipantsThe analytical sample included 8163 respondents aged 16 and above who took part in all seven waves with full information on sleep loss, defined as experiencing ‘rather more’ or ‘much more’ than usual sleep loss due to worry, providing 57 141 observations.Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported sleep loss. Mixed-effects regression models were fitted to consider within-individual and between-individual differences.ResultsWomen were more likely to report sleep loss than men (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.9 to 2.4) over the 10-month period. Being female, having young children, perceived financial difficulties and COVID-19 symptoms were all predictive of sleep loss. Once these covariates were controlled for, the bivariate relationship between ethnicity and sleep loss (1.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.4) was reversed (0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8). Moreover, the strength of the association between gender and ethnicity and the risk of sleep loss varied over time, being weaker among women in July (0.6, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.7), September (0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.8), November (0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.0) and January 2021 (0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 0.9) compared with April 2020, but positively stronger among BAME individuals in May (1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.1), weaker only in September (0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0).ConclusionsThe pandemic has widened sleep deprivation disparities, with women with young children, COVID-19 infection and BAME individuals experiencing sleep loss, which may adversely affect their mental and physical health.


Genealogy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Helen Parker-Drabble

Family historians could increase their understanding of their ancestors and themselves and improve the mental health of living and future generations if they consider the psychological history of their forebears. Genealogists could then begin to recognize their family’s unique psychological inheritance that can appear as a result of trauma, depression, or addiction. The author explores three generations of a Parker family branch from Huntingdon/Norfolk, England, to show family historians how such considerations can shed light on their family’s psychological legacy. The author does this by introducing us to her great-grandmother Ann grandfather Walter, and mother Doreen through the lens of attachment theory, and their adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as poverty, bereavement, and addiction. Attachment matters because it affects not only how safe we feel, our ability to regulate our emotions and stress, our adaptability, resilience, and lifelong mental and physical health, but attachment style can also be passed on. In addition, this paper utilizes attachment theory to speculate on the likely attachment styles for the three generations of the Parker family and looks at the possible parenting behavior in the first two, the effect of alcoholism and the intergenerational impact of trauma and depression.


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